I wish......

..........I had time to sit & sew without interruption; I could daydream without interruption about what I'd like to sew; I could wander at will on my own in my favourite places.
But life isn't like that is it?
I have managed to half complete a pair of cropped pants. The off white linen has become pants, not finished because they need lining & I haven't got around to it. I did some down & dirty sewing with a pair of PJ shorts for the holiday - I will be vaguely presentable if I'm seen outside the caravan, I already have a top that will match. I just want a cardigan type wrap to complete the idea! I have seen lots of tops that I like in Burda WoF & also some neat kids tops in Ottobre that I could grade to fit me. No idea if any will suit me but hey, you see some sights on holiday so I'll just fit right in! No, what I want to do is repeat a style I managed to carry off a few years ago when even the French mistook me for being French!! OK my accent is pretty good, the look was probably achieved more by accident than total design though.
DS received a Wii for his birthday & I have had to insist on getting out of the house to take a break from it, not just DS but DD & myself too. We took the new car out to Rusland which is my most favourite place in the entire world. We took the dogs for a walk through the woods & had a wander around the church yard where Dad's ashes were scattered in 2001 during the foot & mouth epidemic. The intention back then was to scatter them on a favourite walk of his but of course the fields were out out of bounds so the church yard it was. It is a beautiful place, so tranquil & peaceful. Today Joe & I had a look inside the church & it is as lovely inside as out. This photo was taken a couple of years ago on a bright December morning.I must try & go back on my own as there are more walks I want to do. We abandoned the planned walk as lifting two medium/large ageing dogs over stone stiles is a none starter!

This time I really have finished!

I started to cut out & then changed my mind about the planned top. Back to the wardrobe & I realised the top from V2925 I made a few months ago not only had the right neckline but it wasn't too long to go under the jacket & the navy was about the same shade as the trousers! Problem solved. The pics my friend took for me didn't quite cut it one way or another so I had to let my, 10 yr old on Thursday, son take them in DD's bedroom once we'd cleared a space against the white wall - the others are bright pink! I wish I could have found my phone as the auto focus camera on that is pretty good, instead Joe had to try & use my Nikon & lense which means some of the pics are not quite focused but they will have to do. I'm usually the photographer in the family so pics of me are few & far between.
I like the jacket with the trousers better than with the dress & as for the bag - well that's better with the pants as well!

Finished

I finished all my June Capsule Contest yesterday. It took me a week to muster up the enthusiasm to finish the bag but it's done now & I don't like it! Well I do - but not with the capsule. My DS says he won't be seen out with me if I use it. It is far bigger than I imagined it would be so it's definitely a stop & stare bag! It might be fun to see how much attention it gets when I go out. Next I have to get photos of me wearing the creations, hope the weather's nice tomorrow & DS is in a co-operative mood!
I need to decide what to sew next. Something quick & simple again, I have skirt & blouse fabric & Burda WoF calling me, or the white Vogue pattern jacket? I also want to do the nightwear sewalong but I don't think I have any fabric, I need to decide on styles too. No PJ's, I get too hot these days, although some summer PJ's would be good for the holiday in case someone catches sight of me outside the caravan in the mornings. In fact I need some holiday clothes as well. Most of all I need some shoes & sandals but I need time on my own to go & buy some, Shoe shopping & DS don't go hand in hand.
On a completely different subject, work is a pain. I discovered a while ago that I was doing the same work as a supervisor at another hospital within the trust. I'm on a payband 2 steps lower so I complained. The outcome to date? I have to rewrite my job description & then the "new" supervisors job will be advertised. So I'll have to re apply for my job. I'm not happy. What happened to internal promotion?

Progress

I've got somewhere with my sewing for a change. Not finished yet but on the way after a couple of false starts. The beige trousers have been relegated to a second capsule (if I get it sewn up!) & a pair of navy in a different style substituted. The jacket is done & the dress too. Just have a top to make if I ever finalise a style, & I decided to make Linda Ghee's Fish Bag as my accessory which I may get started later tonight. Or not.
I made a top from my chosen fabric but it just doesn't go with the jacket. It does go with the pants & some others I have so not a lost cause. The beige trousers also go with other tops so that's good.
I have some off white linen that is an exact match for the off white of the dress which I have been deliberating about whether to make a jacket or a pair of trousers. I think the jacket's winning. Probably Vogue 8480
So the Capsule patterns so far:
Vogue2925 for the trousers. Vogue 8472 for the dress & jacket, the dress was lengthened by about 5" & the jacket by 2". Fabulous Fish Handbag from Linda Ghee.


All garments displayed on my new friend who is currently nameless & doesn't yet have my bust - hence the dress isn't quite right on her! The back of the jacket is gathered onto the yoke , a detail that I was'nt sure about but quite like now.













I'm changing the name from Summer Holiday too as this isn't a packable wardrobe, maybe I'll call it A Summer's Eve to fit with my casual but attempting to look smarter when I go out look!

Ready to sew

Well if I can get myself away from this computer I will be! Another fabric shopping trip & I've got fabric for the JCC. Plan B, Summer Holiday is the one as I couldn't find any pink camo anywhere at a price I'm prepared to pay to make up Plan A, Hooked on Pink! Trousers already made in the beige. I've opted for the Keep It Simple Stupid approach so I have a chance of finishing in time. The accessory is currently a fly in the ointment as I really don't know what I want to make. I'm sure something will suggest itself be it bought or made before the end of the contest.

Time Flies

Or so it seems. I'm not sure I've done very much but don't seem to have found enough time to blog. I have however got my sewing mojo back. At least when I get the opportunity to sew! I have committed myself to the June Capsule challenge over at Stitchers Guild
It is still at the planning stage but I should be able to manage one of my two ideas. Plan A,
Hooked on pink, is a capsule to wear on my fishing trips instead of boring old camo & just to annoy the anorak. I need to find some pink camo fabric for a waistcoat though & probably buy a baseball cap in pink camo. And I've some pattern drafting to do.
Summer Holiday is plan B, pinks & purples & beige pants.
I discovered I already have some tops that will go with either the jacket in the pink, or the trousers, in beige, although not necessarily both at once! Had I realised this I might not have bought the pink & blue batik but I do like it. The beauty of this colour choice is that I can make more capsules of clothes that will fit in with some of these colours & thus expand the options so I'll never be able say I've nothing to wear!!!! Black for example will go with the pink as a pair of trousers or capris or something, even a skirt, & black in a jacket will go with the beige pants, and both will go with the tops. Then I'll have a black base to add other colours to & expand the options. Or navy instead of black - another classic combination. You see sewing with a plan does work. SWAP. (Look at how it works when done right, scroll down the page for fantastic wardrobing skills.) Just split into smaller bite size pieces, hopefully easy enough to stick with, seeing as I didn't get going with the official SWAP.