tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73786007557999934002024-02-21T08:43:47.809+00:00Ellie-LouSewing, knitting, baking, vintageEleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-29185726972390552872015-05-01T09:34:00.000+01:002015-05-01T09:34:35.549+01:00#NatStatWeek Day 5 - SallyMakesArt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWVH479mWrEOd8KQX7UkZv_pylBSaSSlcY_xn4VTrI1kCARfNPK9XVaAPL5igBe95L-epUHSa8jriwJJbdYaIJlfQUSzAiJUvnZaVkgKMnXV8jUdiFO0wXF6U_nmBTRelRgWaJzF_qi0/s1600/Sally+Makes+Art+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWVH479mWrEOd8KQX7UkZv_pylBSaSSlcY_xn4VTrI1kCARfNPK9XVaAPL5igBe95L-epUHSa8jriwJJbdYaIJlfQUSzAiJUvnZaVkgKMnXV8jUdiFO0wXF6U_nmBTRelRgWaJzF_qi0/s1600/Sally+Makes+Art+1.png" height="256" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sallymakesart.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sally Makes Art</a> is featured on Day 5 of my National Stationery Week feature. I'm a massive fan of simple but gorgeous cards and love the plain backgrounds and pops of wonderful colour on Sally's work. Sally is an art graduate who hoards pretty paper. Luckily, she does not hoard what she makes because then the world would be without such wonderful cards as this "<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/221704502/new-i-love-you-to-pieces-card-recycled?ref=shop_home_active_9" target="_blank">I Love You To Pieces</a>" card </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpFPD8-_LZ-yp5vy-YMIDob-g0eICCzclazGOAYqahx-mERAFu3fOkx4lrwglljzG7FpJJQHlJbkPJELYrLgzM6RvXeGaFLH1tA0yJMSfCZkm0JW5RRA53k7s7i-CSgRmOk-qdywQSFs/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpFPD8-_LZ-yp5vy-YMIDob-g0eICCzclazGOAYqahx-mERAFu3fOkx4lrwglljzG7FpJJQHlJbkPJELYrLgzM6RvXeGaFLH1tA0yJMSfCZkm0JW5RRA53k7s7i-CSgRmOk-qdywQSFs/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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and these <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/174619441/pack-of-5-handmade-square-envelopes-made?ref=shop_home_active_17" target="_blank">amazing envelopes</a>. Can you imagine getting post in that?! A whole new meaning to Happy Mail. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIZcPOFNa5NRdzf07QpD9RFy9Hzw-R3c9usM6L6iXbTToGKODtYWghFRl-YQH54_ZA3YNP1lLsgKanpH01yc1NEQ5Is4NV3YClKJ7n0mQEjhf0kSueZJMnMtHjdu2E8twzGau6VC0DX4/s1600/IMG_7303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIZcPOFNa5NRdzf07QpD9RFy9Hzw-R3c9usM6L6iXbTToGKODtYWghFRl-YQH54_ZA3YNP1lLsgKanpH01yc1NEQ5Is4NV3YClKJ7n0mQEjhf0kSueZJMnMtHjdu2E8twzGau6VC0DX4/s1600/IMG_7303.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sally's are blank for any occasion. There's an "<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/174865550/i-heart-london-westminster-recycled-card?ref=shop_home_active_2" target="_blank">I Heart Westminster</a>" card that I'll be getting for a colleague who's leaving our office to be London based for a while. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU85D2Gi_NNPJ7LcODVJhnzh9jyBYs1GDVxAFHDrs8rjpFiUHAgpXOHadOxQj-35xLjFIZjEqkkttrpvupiMYQO6vHC-Fu2j60VJR9TtvZHDNdqKhPgzdKYmrBRulOq9Ddj2smWgsuH10/s1600/IMG_7716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU85D2Gi_NNPJ7LcODVJhnzh9jyBYs1GDVxAFHDrs8rjpFiUHAgpXOHadOxQj-35xLjFIZjEqkkttrpvupiMYQO6vHC-Fu2j60VJR9TtvZHDNdqKhPgzdKYmrBRulOq9Ddj2smWgsuH10/s1600/IMG_7716.JPG" height="219" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's gorgeous and features a cut out of a 1996 road map showing Westminster. I really like how the brown of the card brings out the yellows, greens and blues we all remember from those pre-SatNav days when you nervously read the map for your dad while he was driving you.<br />
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Excitingly, Sally Makes Art is undergoing a massive re-stock so there will be more wonderful cards appearing online very soon. In the meantime, I've become uncommonly obsessed with pegs...and I am a bit blaming Sally. Look at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/203266368/pretty-pegs-set-of-5-decorative-clothes?ref=shop_home_active_15" target="_blank">these</a>! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSaVQ_NxsbqhtV0wtY_e0GKZlpTA5bX8p61Q8m_3rZcqeIB2WD6hQJP6lUuzoK6dLQ7clvEEMPmOjzcToHx5FgQHyttFameibEllYe3TJCwxBSJW-GxC1EPMVt8HjRmdYh6DH3OFrjb8/s1600/IMG_9577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSaVQ_NxsbqhtV0wtY_e0GKZlpTA5bX8p61Q8m_3rZcqeIB2WD6hQJP6lUuzoK6dLQ7clvEEMPmOjzcToHx5FgQHyttFameibEllYe3TJCwxBSJW-GxC1EPMVt8HjRmdYh6DH3OFrjb8/s1600/IMG_9577.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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They'd definitely make dashing outside to get the washing in when it's just started to rain much more festive.</div>
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I hope you've enjoyed my featured makers this week - there'll be a post over the weekend on my favourite organising blogs and links so you can use your stationery ideas to organise your life! </div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-24010359298540523322015-04-30T08:55:00.000+01:002015-04-30T08:55:39.584+01:00#NatStatWeek Day 4 - Oh Squirrel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunmDv0icFfwV4vN8v0b_odgBGO64BQav7AzvBu2Do-Or71ThswQ-Bm1OzrhQVqFnZh72s40K4Yx8ybrehwXxk57YrYPR1cj8OKRv3QgQTd-l3Uibd02z_uhUQbMjHPokoeiApPV-bmHE/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiunmDv0icFfwV4vN8v0b_odgBGO64BQav7AzvBu2Do-Or71ThswQ-Bm1OzrhQVqFnZh72s40K4Yx8ybrehwXxk57YrYPR1cj8OKRv3QgQTd-l3Uibd02z_uhUQbMjHPokoeiApPV-bmHE/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+6.jpg" height="89" width="640" /></a></div>
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For Day 4 of National Stationery Week, I'm focussing on Katie from <a href="http://www.ohsquirrel.co.uk/" target="_blank">Oh Squirrel</a>. Katie's range of greetings cards, badges, pencils and gifts have a vintage feel with a modern twist. There's also a card for every occasion, including one I should buy in bulk reading <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/209490189/sorry-for-being-a-crap-friend-forgetting?ref=shop_home_active_18" target="_blank">"Sorry for being a crap friend & forgetting your birthday"</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodegd-Hf_0ST6jEpK5pmI22WmsIpV-frBLHsnxqSRVofhsSNcPHe7BQVRrSo3u07Y3Rhf0Ubak_FDbpYd1cDQ0DcBdKsYQ4cvfvgFkpwGFYVLgdUtcysRP1cMKJXswiDDqlIKy944fkc/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodegd-Hf_0ST6jEpK5pmI22WmsIpV-frBLHsnxqSRVofhsSNcPHe7BQVRrSo3u07Y3Rhf0Ubak_FDbpYd1cDQ0DcBdKsYQ4cvfvgFkpwGFYVLgdUtcysRP1cMKJXswiDDqlIKy944fkc/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love a mix of textures in basically anything, so these cards with photos stitched to the front is really appealing. Hopefully, I can get more organised and start sending the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/209478772/happy-birthday-bestie-handmade-stitched?ref=shop_home_active_19" target="_blank">"Happy Birthday Bestie"</a> card instead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3apjoRHEejqLNqvwePxZtLJY8CmY-qg78QbK3Q9UfK154htj8eiHPe7lVVDphCrR5P4kBgZ71_GmCkgiDcxXVScXWnlvz_5B4Q49kFjdw7dC38EqOeTq5aK3zY154n5Q1Av7LLJJpQk/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3apjoRHEejqLNqvwePxZtLJY8CmY-qg78QbK3Q9UfK154htj8eiHPe7lVVDphCrR5P4kBgZ71_GmCkgiDcxXVScXWnlvz_5B4Q49kFjdw7dC38EqOeTq5aK3zY154n5Q1Av7LLJJpQk/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Getting organised obviously needs a new notebook (who else keeps theirs for best?!) and this<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/170416056/oh-i-bloody-love-a-good-list-quirky?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=i%2Bbloody%2Blove%2Ba%2Bgood%2Blist" target="_blank"> "I Bloody Love A Good List"</a> notebook could have been made for me. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMMbxNvyYN7mL36I-Eh_X09pgwk-Gz0k6hInYvNkLDLxkTe-cRozgXAAbwynTS4LmuQIK-czqCq48Gmw6FOHBAmcdJk8OfgyxdOhRjb4xY16H-iBuE3LXmvlYgzt-EG1CqzOtPy4VKSM/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMMbxNvyYN7mL36I-Eh_X09pgwk-Gz0k6hInYvNkLDLxkTe-cRozgXAAbwynTS4LmuQIK-czqCq48Gmw6FOHBAmcdJk8OfgyxdOhRjb4xY16H-iBuE3LXmvlYgzt-EG1CqzOtPy4VKSM/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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And who remembers those pencils you used to get in your Christmas stocking with your name embossed in gold? Surely it was not just me. Katie has the answer for this nostalgia with some gorgeous pencils with more grown up writing on them. The "<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/221845658/genius-at-work-i-am-working-very-hard?ref=shop_home_active_12" target="_blank">I Am Working Very Hard</a>" pencil in this set would be very well used by me...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VqfWfx6rY-5CR-VUnPu_NTdJt0SMKryLgKw3QggLRQZf4JNN5lwnfIXBljVVS_p1nfooy3y716vBoOxqLKzqFcgth0Lb45ktwil9W6bz0eB4Wjhc7o4brvud1ucKGKfU2noU0p9FzSo/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VqfWfx6rY-5CR-VUnPu_NTdJt0SMKryLgKw3QggLRQZf4JNN5lwnfIXBljVVS_p1nfooy3y716vBoOxqLKzqFcgth0Lb45ktwil9W6bz0eB4Wjhc7o4brvud1ucKGKfU2noU0p9FzSo/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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What I love most about <a href="http://www.ohsquirrel.co.uk/" target="_blank">Oh Squirrel</a> is the mix of nostalgia with modern. The range of badges is completely beautiful - polka dots and zig zag lines and swirly script - and I'd want to wear one everyday. I'll probably settle for just one on my birthday though, and this "<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/163187206/birthday-girl-badge-polka-dots-or?ref=shop_home_active_3&ga_search_query=birthday%2Bgirl%2Bbadge" target="_blank">Birthday Girl</a>" badge is right up my street.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjh31VKGxh_w30AFq7kpdGU2XwFAxgjEPmMnRE8TxKYtR-58f2f65jgLm8IHr2x_s1i037L_OiOg10gbhPxc4d1489dftHfAgk20NQdF4xMbl3yAyfw8Uv9q4RBML_9gSkiGwJnp3Ajs/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjh31VKGxh_w30AFq7kpdGU2XwFAxgjEPmMnRE8TxKYtR-58f2f65jgLm8IHr2x_s1i037L_OiOg10gbhPxc4d1489dftHfAgk20NQdF4xMbl3yAyfw8Uv9q4RBML_9gSkiGwJnp3Ajs/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+5.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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All pictures courtesy of the Oh Squirrel Etsy shop. <br />
<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodegd-Hf_0ST6jEpK5pmI22WmsIpV-frBLHsnxqSRVofhsSNcPHe7BQVRrSo3u07Y3Rhf0Ubak_FDbpYd1cDQ0DcBdKsYQ4cvfvgFkpwGFYVLgdUtcysRP1cMKJXswiDDqlIKy944fkc/s1600/Oh+Squirrel+1.jpg" style="left: 323.64px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 411.11px;" width="96" />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHa6cIlNBhiJZqH0-TBaWh7eUIv_cgzoUst7KSZEut6MM8VRdwSQAZr0CAlUbyhEO_cWzp3wgPeSUeH5ig_Z-HYpue9xESSifAuUIymjhdQdm4_O8qqbXa6YBwwOunGdyCWFLBBUekcc/s1600/Inky+Collective+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHa6cIlNBhiJZqH0-TBaWh7eUIv_cgzoUst7KSZEut6MM8VRdwSQAZr0CAlUbyhEO_cWzp3wgPeSUeH5ig_Z-HYpue9xESSifAuUIymjhdQdm4_O8qqbXa6YBwwOunGdyCWFLBBUekcc/s1600/Inky+Collective+1.jpg" height="137" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm really excited about this, Day 3 of National Stationery Week. The wonderful Jen from <a href="http://www.inkycollective.com/" target="_blank">Inky Collective</a> has shared some excellent 'behind the scenes' photos (come on, I'm not the only nosey person here am I?!) and, if that wasn't enough, she's answered some of my nosey questions too. What a star!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Craft Fox Market in London</td></tr>
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So, let's meet Jen:</div>
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I'm Jen and I design and hand print cheeky letterpress stationery, with an antique press, on recycled card, in London. I started printing last year after my daft husband bought me an Adana 8x5 for Christmas (2013). I ran my first <a href="http://www.inkycollective.com/2014/08/print-isnt-dead-magazine-launch/" target="_blank">workshop</a> last August and started selling around the same time. This year I have started working with a Vicobold Press, which can print much larger areas and is slightly less exhausting as it's motorised. </div>
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I also write a <a href="http://www.inkycollective.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> for creatives, interviewing designer-makers, reviewing workshops and generally hoping to inspire people to "find creative adventure"!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjU5MzL5ofq4xx2TUwYGwv4MOxwv1NWbroH4xCCHF1brRxFtFyN8p_0rEYCDTpNHctDWho2ZCvxoRzG1UMjgOLQMKwswxsENYwsrVOtNufaveRIWmUZ6oqOwjrqbr9TTexlEqZcVcMDM/s1600/Inky+Collective+Letterpress+Vicobold.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjU5MzL5ofq4xx2TUwYGwv4MOxwv1NWbroH4xCCHF1brRxFtFyN8p_0rEYCDTpNHctDWho2ZCvxoRzG1UMjgOLQMKwswxsENYwsrVOtNufaveRIWmUZ6oqOwjrqbr9TTexlEqZcVcMDM/s1600/Inky+Collective+Letterpress+Vicobold.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Adana (top) and Vicobold (bottom) presses. Supercool!</td></tr>
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<em>What is your favourite thing about stationery?</em></div>
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Oh my goodness, where to start. My favourite thing, I suppose, is that it's a very hands on, tactile thing. Even with the convenience of Google Calendar and all those memo apps and what not, there is no comparison with a beautiful paper diary or journal. My desk is absolutely chocker with paper, inks, pens, rulers, post its, washi tapes, and I own more pairs of scissors than any one person really needs. But that's not going to stop me filling my boots next time I'm in a stationery shop!</div>
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<em>What is the best piece of stationery you ever owned and how did you end up using it?</em></div>
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As a printer I am very fond of paper and ink, so from that perspective the best piece I owned was some 100% cotton, 600gsm card. I bought it to print my own business cards, and I used the offcuts to make bookmarks, so nothing went to waste. I was quite pleased with myself about that!</div>
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The other thing is probably washi tape. I use it on everything! To add detail to gift tags and envelopes, as props in my photos, and even to help keep things where they should be during the printing process!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bJj0PA7TnmU2fyM0dVJhUDz-EjumYgT877OR0WhyphenhyphenlaG8fJbyZAK97kS4gZSkacK8cMtXTOfW2Df6ExXsjz5_XgvmYbUiY38BkSXQ2Gzl1cSvxDvfyU4CEyAji82dtR7VviNnmxTqt4g/s1600/Inky+Collective+Letterpress+postcards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bJj0PA7TnmU2fyM0dVJhUDz-EjumYgT877OR0WhyphenhyphenlaG8fJbyZAK97kS4gZSkacK8cMtXTOfW2Df6ExXsjz5_XgvmYbUiY38BkSXQ2Gzl1cSvxDvfyU4CEyAji82dtR7VviNnmxTqt4g/s1600/Inky+Collective+Letterpress+postcards.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>What is your favourite part of the designing/making process?</em></div>
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My favourite part (and I think other printers will agree with this) is when, after several practice prints, you get everything lined up right, and a perfect impression. Letterpress is a laborious and fiddly process but it means it's all the more satisfying when a print comes out just right.</div>
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Jen has an absolutely gorgeous range of wonderful products. AND they're currently on sale at her <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/InkyCollective" target="_blank">Etsy store</a>. And that includes this rather fitting card (which, I suspect might be a bit of a lie for some people sending it, but shh!)</div>
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There really does seem to be something for everyone - with bookmarks, sensible cards for your mum, business cards for new ventures and wonderful cards for everyone you know. <br />
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Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-25009374197140890042015-04-28T07:47:00.000+01:002015-04-28T07:47:26.566+01:00#NatStatWeek Day 2 - The Green Gables<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKqrk_qGkdMlrTX6TJ0bBTIwxp25FQtQW6MaqBFhVldR-qYCGUnSpZdQBxM6E_ikEZUpWV6rMxgBpkn4RZau9enYV3D85kKq1_kRdzqhy5eDScpM0TK2RgDlHe7PC534Vl6tfhVYcFJQ/s1600/Green+Gables+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsKqrk_qGkdMlrTX6TJ0bBTIwxp25FQtQW6MaqBFhVldR-qYCGUnSpZdQBxM6E_ikEZUpWV6rMxgBpkn4RZau9enYV3D85kKq1_kRdzqhy5eDScpM0TK2RgDlHe7PC534Vl6tfhVYcFJQ/s1600/Green+Gables+1.png" /></a></div>
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I was introduced to <a href="https://thegreengables.co.uk/store/" target="_blank">The Green Gables</a> at Christmas by <a href="http://claireabellemakes.com/" target="_blank">Claire</a> and <a href="http://www.mabismab.com/" target="_blank">Emma</a> who ran the Stationery Lovers' Christmas Swap that <a href="http://ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/stationery-lovers-christmas-swap.html" target="_blank">I participated in</a>. It was great fun and I was introduced to lots of brands, including this one. I've been back The Green Gables a few times to get new notebooks and the odd present and here are some of my favourites on my wish list:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggn2mNJzLJgnJPiYsFTdjWKpa3BQR6WR1IleoRDqwHni9ZO6X0KG9xWm8UvqSBNWOeKMQzpdscWDA7jPhkwZH6ZsBsajCnY-QHS_0hztO6IMx-Bs6egy1mQQbpqQwOH4pJDapZQoeHQpI/s1600/Green+Gables+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggn2mNJzLJgnJPiYsFTdjWKpa3BQR6WR1IleoRDqwHni9ZO6X0KG9xWm8UvqSBNWOeKMQzpdscWDA7jPhkwZH6ZsBsajCnY-QHS_0hztO6IMx-Bs6egy1mQQbpqQwOH4pJDapZQoeHQpI/s1600/Green+Gables+2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love a list and I love a motivational quote, so this notebook is ideal for me. Available from the shop <a href="https://thegreengables.co.uk/store/product/get-stuff-done-list-note-pad/" target="_blank">here</a> I urge you to go and look at the other notebooks and planning accessories. Even if you live in a tip, you'll want to get organised.</div>
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I mentioned <a href="http://ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/national-stationery-week-beginnings.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a> that I love writing sets, and <a href="https://thegreengables.co.uk/store/product/seaside-letter-writing-set/" target="_blank">here's </a>my favourite one from this store:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EPbnQkPH3bTdASaovv9HKcZgypMjJBKNS2JxpNY4Zp10BPIvXxlcq6UjLD6wlF3lOM6pAfYf-6FKICP92CRg1QObi-gwenvZZKz2EnRPv0kbogZaQoIpF3rYCM6hEmRzc-tGL1HH-jk/s1600/Green+Gables+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EPbnQkPH3bTdASaovv9HKcZgypMjJBKNS2JxpNY4Zp10BPIvXxlcq6UjLD6wlF3lOM6pAfYf-6FKICP92CRg1QObi-gwenvZZKz2EnRPv0kbogZaQoIpF3rYCM6hEmRzc-tGL1HH-jk/s1600/Green+Gables+3.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love the detail on this set, and the packaging it comes in is wonderful!</div>
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The Green Gables have some really unique products as well, including their <a href="https://thegreengables.co.uk/store/product-category/stationery/happy-notes/" target="_blank">'Happy Notes'</a>. The Happy Boy cards below might come in handy for encouraging the bigger boys to do the washing up...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVPlDMAnqUANfRhXzuew5gasVNlzAmyWVWDg71U8U1XUuJQhc1zq8qZw73GGDFRFdXl7Og2KBYs1v2gEkf86TMfTe9MjBgQHbr7JkbmYmwG4J159xR2ySsh5xYhWiofXI6UQ6hyphenhyphenFQVD4/s1600/Green+Gables+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVPlDMAnqUANfRhXzuew5gasVNlzAmyWVWDg71U8U1XUuJQhc1zq8qZw73GGDFRFdXl7Og2KBYs1v2gEkf86TMfTe9MjBgQHbr7JkbmYmwG4J159xR2ySsh5xYhWiofXI6UQ6hyphenhyphenFQVD4/s1600/Green+Gables+4.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Things are really exciting for me at the moment and I think these <a href="https://thegreengables.co.uk/store/product/a6-ideas-and-doodles-pocket-notebooks/" target="_blank">notebooks</a> will come in handy. I love the bold black and white design.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowjbgjGs1TURjLWijStxi9TxIybb7Gvp1Bx7bG6Cb0lhvBDQ4qGes7e-kGekd_nd9cKASBcu2ZTmpKfS9Tys-GZYE1-FPgRgP0UPZ4I2Fjv2ITC6qCMdluNYu4RyXfzksdQJf_S4aqww/s1600/Green+Gables+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowjbgjGs1TURjLWijStxi9TxIybb7Gvp1Bx7bG6Cb0lhvBDQ4qGes7e-kGekd_nd9cKASBcu2ZTmpKfS9Tys-GZYE1-FPgRgP0UPZ4I2Fjv2ITC6qCMdluNYu4RyXfzksdQJf_S4aqww/s1600/Green+Gables+5.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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And how's <a href="https://thegreengables.co.uk/store/product/acts-of-kindness-jar/" target="_blank">this</a> for counting your blessings and spreading a bit of joy? What a cute idea - a jar to select random acts of kindness from and you can pay forward the kindnesses extended to you!</div>
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I hope you've enjoyed my selection from <a href="https://thegreengables.co.uk/store/" target="_blank">The Green Gables</a> - pop over to the <a href="https://thegreengables.co.uk/store/" target="_blank">site</a> and have a look for yourself. <br />
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You can also enter a competition on the site to win six months of subscriptions to the <a href="https://thegreengables.co.uk/store/happypaperclub/" target="_blank">Happy Paper Club</a>. Obviously, if you win and I don't, I will do a cry.</div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-78270021251462762522015-04-27T20:45:00.000+01:002015-04-27T20:45:09.006+01:00National Stationery Week - The Beginnings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0FJrLLMa7553HgLtXjEb1fISh3V46hfTiXRPVTH-7xghu8bWMgmwcAC98x5jpUK_vP5a0kMVMtESIhKn7lTlHaBzVisMRLKsJ0e7cNI6RII7UEARoT_SK1HUZf9MZEtYQOMgbfHHeH4/s1600/NatStatWeek+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0FJrLLMa7553HgLtXjEb1fISh3V46hfTiXRPVTH-7xghu8bWMgmwcAC98x5jpUK_vP5a0kMVMtESIhKn7lTlHaBzVisMRLKsJ0e7cNI6RII7UEARoT_SK1HUZf9MZEtYQOMgbfHHeH4/s1600/NatStatWeek+1.png" height="113" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAcQjRw" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalstationeryweek.com%2Ftell-us%2F&ei=GY4-VbawFZfxapG_gOAG&bvm=bv.91665533,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNHAptYLb1i_GkzxLUw3H-Tcku_0nQ&ust=1430249359055010" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk" saprocessedanchor="true"></a> </div>
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I am so excited that there is such a thing as <a href="http://www.nationalstationeryweek.com/" target="_blank">National Stationery Week</a> (by the way, if you ever have bother remembering the difference between stationEry and stationAry, think of E for Envelope and you've got the right one for lovely papers and pens and pencils). Anyway, I've loved stationery ever since I was a kid. I had an uncle who worked in the local paper mill (sadly now closed) and he used to come to our house with reams of coloured paper. I swear, I remember salivating at the even thickness of each colour, set into a neat stack and just for me to play with. Even then, I remember the pure joy that came with getting pretty, new things, and the First Page Fear that follows everyone with a new notebook through school and into adulthood. </div>
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So why do I love stationery so much? I really don't know. All I know is I can't resist washi tape, I'm obsessed with buying new notebooks and I love, adore, covet, writing sets. Oh my god, writing sets. I can't help myself. And who doesn't love getting some personal mail through the post? Even if it's just to say 'hi', it adds a spring to my step for the day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Crafted writing set - letter writing paper - vintage paper - eco friendly recycled brown envelope - pastel light rustic - europeanstreetteam" height="240" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/052/1/7622112/il_570xN.661494094_5uqa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at this gorgeous set from Russia <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/205639246/crafted-writing-set-letter-writing-paper?ref=sr_gallery_16&ga_search_query=writing+set&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery">https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/205639246/crafted-writing-set-letter-writing-paper?ref=sr_gallery_16&ga_search_query=writing+set&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery</a></td></tr>
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Stickers. Oh...stickers. Who remembers collecting them at school? And swapping them? I still get a stocking at Christmas (I am 30) and my mum put stickers in there for me last year. I swear, I was more excited by that than any of the other things in it. But I never use them. I never use my new notebooks and I struggle to break into a new stack of post-its or use a new pencil. What if it runs out? What if the idea I started writing down is rubbish? Then I'll have a notebook with just...garbage in it and it'll be spoiled forever! And what if...what if...what if...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O_2OKqJx-lQ3bQDQCIvXM2DuHXzc9eu3pl79ORsQDYvRUYs592RedWLrXoCYjhWs3WiVgZMUul2wCJEwfGrs32Kc4hyphenhyphen2hotvdcWgI8Nzsu7QNk5-bcwOMoZCHDNn1fFn0guBTwS7p68/s1600/Just+A+Card+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O_2OKqJx-lQ3bQDQCIvXM2DuHXzc9eu3pl79ORsQDYvRUYs592RedWLrXoCYjhWs3WiVgZMUul2wCJEwfGrs32Kc4hyphenhyphen2hotvdcWgI8Nzsu7QNk5-bcwOMoZCHDNn1fFn0guBTwS7p68/s1600/Just+A+Card+1.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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As regular readers will know, I really like to support small businesses and am fully behind buying handmade. I've been wanting to feature the <a href="http://www.justacard.org/" target="_blank">'Just A Card' campaign</a> for a while, as well as other campaigns striving to encourage the teaching of crafts and garner support for small, handmade companies. Of course, you can go to Paperchase, but you can also go to any number of small designers on Etsy and get a better product for the same price that helps put millions into the economy. So buying small is really buying big.</div>
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So I've got a tonne of stationery I haven't used. And I really want to use it. So I will. I pledge, on this day, the first day of National Stationery Week 2015, that I will use my wonderful washis, my pristine pens and my nude notebooks. Beautiful things are there to be used, and use them I should. Over the next few days, I'll be featuring my favourite stationery designers and hopefully you will be inspired to buy 'just a card', or treat yourself to something else. Who knows the possibilities of that first blank page of a notebook? </div>
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Enjoy this week! Follow the hashtag #NatStatWeek on Twitter and you will not be disappointed with the range of beautiful products being showcased. </div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-30425052146228723482015-04-26T20:28:00.000+01:002015-04-26T20:28:14.473+01:00Miss Maguire Goes To York<div class="irc_mutc" style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Festival of Vintage" height="224" src="http://www.york360.co.uk/whats-on/posters/festival-of-vintage.png" width="320" /><a class="irc_mutl" data-ved="0CAcQjRw" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.york360.co.uk%2Fwhats-on%2Fdiscover-vintage&ei=uzU9VfCIMM_6aMf4gJgJ&bvm=bv.91665533,d.d2s&psig=AFQjCNFP78PdgY-EkTWemXil9KGSV0kLXg&ust=1430161159938349" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk" saprocessedanchor="true"></a></div>
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This weekend was the Festival of Vintage at York Racecourse. The lovely Caroline from <a href="http://sewladidavintage.com/" target="_blank">Sew La Di Da Vintage</a> was there, and I offered to come and help out. It meant I could stroke her lovely fabrics all day, and impart some of my enthusiasm for her patterns to the vintage fair goers. Don't worry, I've saved some of the enthusiasm for here! <br />
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For the event, Caroline kindly gifted me her latest pattern, the <a href="http://sewladidavintage.com/index.php/vintage-sewing-patterns/product/121-miss-maguire" target="_blank">Miss Maguire</a> three piece set. It's a wonderful A-Line skirt (with those all important pockets), a gorgeous little crop top and a lace swing top. She also sent this incredible rose print fabric, which is truly adorable. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh239NKqhKLqsqiCtJxUzEegr_lNU17h4HJv4jMc9tDq9upe7Q0XAsr5agHbdnp_ajbrbDdCeU6okMkNhdTWcNuYS_U4xqoORH_5hkPjhCAGAm_80weAlk1gl4kLqnf9bruduwXO7FmDmg/s1600/Miss+Maguire+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh239NKqhKLqsqiCtJxUzEegr_lNU17h4HJv4jMc9tDq9upe7Q0XAsr5agHbdnp_ajbrbDdCeU6okMkNhdTWcNuYS_U4xqoORH_5hkPjhCAGAm_80weAlk1gl4kLqnf9bruduwXO7FmDmg/s1600/Miss+Maguire+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have <a href="http://www.ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2014_07_01_archive.html" target="_blank">previously made the French Gypsy Dress</a> by Sew La Di Da, and this outfit sewed up just as easily with comprehensive instructions complete with photographs. I was also able to insert my invisible zip perfectly on the first attempt, which was worthy enough of a photo in itself:</div>
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The only adjustments I made was to add a lining to the skirt to prevent that terrible sticking to tights issue. Other than that, it was straight out the envelope, two darts, some straight seams, a couple of button holes and a hem. The added skills here with the button holes are ideal for someone who's looking to step things up a notch but still have a really well-fitting and excellent outfit at the end of it.</div>
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Caroline has also persuaded me (it wasn't difficult) to go on her <a href="http://sewladidavintage.com/index.php/sewing-workshops-devon/product/43-body-blue-print" target="_blank">Body Blue Print</a> class. Perfect excuse for a summer holiday to Lyme Regis. I do not think I'll bring the Mr. </div>
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Excitingly, I've also got some more fabric - possibly the best fabric I've seen - and her <a href="http://sewladidavintage.com/index.php/vintage-sewing-patterns/product/1-strapless-dress" target="_blank">Audrey dress</a> to make, so keep your eyes open for that post. </div>
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P.S. I got to sell fabric to customers, which meant ripping lengths of cotton. Possibly the most fun I've ever had. But I think I managed to play it cool...</div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-17989571357109335812015-04-17T17:27:00.000+01:002015-04-17T17:27:10.284+01:00Since I've Been Gone...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBNe9ji5qImSihtVcn8UpCKKQkYFjipXyy0Vhs55rTB-bgz7QGIGGCKif19zElceei1XGmuDANeElEoPLVZo9SvrpRzW90qVYjR9rlfDr8ZhvhH6U-Vo7QrvZTj2Hi9CwrGk-acRe_z4/s1600/E&R257+(640x427).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBNe9ji5qImSihtVcn8UpCKKQkYFjipXyy0Vhs55rTB-bgz7QGIGGCKif19zElceei1XGmuDANeElEoPLVZo9SvrpRzW90qVYjR9rlfDr8ZhvhH6U-Vo7QrvZTj2Hi9CwrGk-acRe_z4/s1600/E&R257+(640x427).jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's been just over a month since my last post. I had such grand plans to keep posting right up until the wedding but things did get a bit busy. The Mr is still working in London during the week, so things are difficult with two households to run. So planning the wedding has taken priority over everything - I've barely made anything not wedding related for weeks! But I thought I might share a post about our wedding and the lead up to it.</div>
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When <strike>we</strike>* I started planning this wedding, I knew I wanted to do as much of it myself and support small businesses too, which is something really close to my heart. The hen do and the wedding were as homemade and handmade as budget and time would permit. So who wants to see some pictures? </div>
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*I did run stuff by the Mr, but largely he let me do what I wanted; SCORE!<br />
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First of all, then is the Hen Do. Held in Drink Shop Do, it was a lovely sedate couple of hours of embroidering pants, drinking cocktails and having afternoon tea. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4g_32dE5VFmQNWijNrRjg4LRe_1EkymH3NgdMpBON7GNzOm3nZLn6X-NFRa4-pBZIctCR1RvkFcG-ZFzkeBxBEyXCMzslunvXB6rZ0nB1vPhbbthbgtI5S4pst2d-3MuvZuvkDW9RxU/s1600/IMG_0508%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4g_32dE5VFmQNWijNrRjg4LRe_1EkymH3NgdMpBON7GNzOm3nZLn6X-NFRa4-pBZIctCR1RvkFcG-ZFzkeBxBEyXCMzslunvXB6rZ0nB1vPhbbthbgtI5S4pst2d-3MuvZuvkDW9RxU/s1600/IMG_0508%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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The food was excellent - super tasty food and drink all round really:<br />
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I also made some<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LemonCatShop" target="_blank"> party bags</a> for all the guests, which included <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SarahWestwood?ref=shop_sugg" target="_blank">name badges</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BahariBlossom" target="_blank">bathbombs</a>, sweeties and home made cookies (that I took a day off work specifically to ice). <br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>My best buddies Becky, Lisa and Serife had also added lots of special touches without me knowing - Lisa made name rosettes, Serife made a 'bride to be' sash and Becky made a scrapbook that included some unflattering pictures of me as a child, and some of me looking slightly more glamorous when I got a bit older. <br />
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As for the wedding, I shan't go on about it other than to say it was an excellent day. It was great to have everyone we love in the same room, to catch up with old friends and make new ones. And I was sober! I have no idea how that happened, but I was just so nervous it barely crossed my mind. <br />
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My dress was not made by me - I just couldn't deal with that level of stress! - but I bought it from an EXCELLENT Etsy seller called <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LaceMarry" target="_blank">Lace Mary</a>. She is amazing and the service was incredible. <br />
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The flower in my hair came from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LovelyFlowersField" target="_blank">LovelyFlowersField</a> and the veil from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BelledeBenoir" target="_blank">BelledeBenoir</a>. <br />
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The photos below are courtesy of <a href="http://www.aaweddingphotography.co.uk/featured-wedding/eleanor-richs-kirkstall-abbey-wedding/" target="_blank">Alex Abott Wedding Photography</a>. I honestly cannot recommend Alex highly enough - for two people who hate having their photo taken, we really were put at ease and all the shots he took are brilliant. <br />
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Last but not least, a wonderful cake-topper made by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/people/TailorMadeToppers" target="_blank">TailorMadeToppers</a>. It's basically the best thing I've ever seen...<br />
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<img height="320" src="https://img0.etsystatic.com/045/0/37396247/icm_fullxfull.56230592_lygrh4g4e5w88gowwko8.jpg" width="180" /></div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-62612915140663209962015-03-05T07:30:00.000+00:002015-03-05T08:36:09.174+00:00World Book Day - What reading means to me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.mabismab.com/" target="_blank">Mab is Mab</a> recently blogged about what books mean to her and it got me thinking. Today is <a href="http://worldbookday.com/" target="_blank">World Book Day</a>, which quite frankly is the Best Day. A whole day dedicated to books.
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t read. For me, reading was not only enjoyable but an escape from everyone else. I’ve never been particularly sociable, and neither is my family, so reading has always featured in life for me - I think we read to avoid each other! It makes me sound dull, but I found the games my school mates played futile and silly, and I could never really work out the rules and social nuances that to most are quite literally “child’s play”. So I used to sit on benches reading Nancy Drew books. At seven, all I wanted was to be Nancy Drew: I wanted a Ford Mustang, to be eighteen, to have people think I was clever enough to solve these ridiculous mysteries. I soon discovered Point Romance (my sister read Point Horror) and I still love the cheesy “boy-meets-girl, happily-ever-after” trope in films and books.
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As the youngest, I desperately wanted to be taken seriously so I spent my pocket money on those £1 Penguin Classics you used to get: Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights. I tried Moby Dick but, as the lovely Mr put it years later, “it’s just not a very good book”.
My love of reading grew from not wanting anything to do with anyone, and I still use a book as a means to hide and an excuse to ignore everyone. I’m never without one – I went to a gig alone and sat in the bar reading Skagheads waiting for it to start, sat in traffic on the M25 reading Madame Bovary, whiled away hours on the train with The Goldfinch. I used to drive on nights out with my friends. Nightclubs are awful when you’re sober so, when I got bored of the music and the drunk revellers, I’d go to the loo and sit in a stall and read until it was time to go home. By the way, a book is a great way of making a clutch bag easier to carry.
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But now, I also see the social side of books. I’ve been in book clubs and met top girl <a href="http://theblogofhappythings.com/" target="_blank">Liz</a> when she started one in Greenhithe. I studied literature with the Open University. A chance sighting by the Lovely Mr’s friend of a book in my bag the first time I met him gave inspiration for conversation rather than awkward silence while the Mr got the drinks in.
And, it may sound twee, but with a book you are never truly alone. I’ve been on adventures with Huckleberry Finn, fallen in love with Greg from <span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><a href="http://ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-nerdy-night-out.html" target="_blank">The Chocolate Run</a></span> a thousand times, and cried so hard I hurt my neck at Black Beauty. Some books stay with you for life, which is more than can be said for people in real life.
Like Alice in Wonderland, I really do go down the rabbit hole with books and can’t stop myself reading. In my first job, I just had to finish a novel before I could do any work so sat in the loos to finish that final chapter before I could log on. The other week, I tripped up the steps reading my kindle on the way in to work because I just couldn’t put my book down.
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This World Book Day, I will be rereading Pride and Prejudice. What will you be reading?
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-2259449171842736382015-02-22T18:03:00.000+00:002015-02-22T18:04:22.229+00:00Book Review: Delicious!I've never done a book review for my blog before, and it might seem a bit odd as it's nothing to do with sewing either, but it is a very, very good book. I don't imagine it's something I'll do often as I am voracious reader and get through at least two a week so reviewing might become tiresome for all! I often recommend books to people when they ask, but reviewing isn't something I've thought I've doing but, it's been a week and a half and two whole books since and I still can't stop thinking about this story.<br />
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To be honest, I read this entire book thinking that it actually happened, that it was a non-fiction account of Billie's adventures through taste, history and, for want of a better term, "finding herself". I won't give too much away about the plot, but it really is a riot for the senses, I cried on the bus and I was so disappointed to find the last page. Especially when I found out it was a novel. Oh how I wished that Billie and Mr Complainer and Sal were real, that there really was a Timber Mansion with secret rooms and mischievous librarians leaving a treasure trail, that I could eat Teresa's homemade mozzarella, taste the salamis that adorn Sal's deli.<br />
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There's a gingerbread that features heavily in the novel, and there's even a recipe for it at the end. I've not tried it yet, but anything that involves bashing your own spices in a pestle and mortar gets my vote. <br />
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It is the brilliant writing of this novel that brings it to life, that makes you think that you really are friends with Billie, that she's taking you on her journey. And made me think she was real. Personally, I find taste difficult to describe, and I can't imagine being able to isolate flavours like she does; so writing about it must be quite tricky. Like if you <em>feel </em>music, or trying to describe what a 'gut feeling' feels like. <br />
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I gave this book five stars. I never do that. I hope that, if you choose to read this, you'll agree. <br />
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And for sewing fans, the sewing posts will resume shortly. It's just that my sewing is currently top secret. And there'll be some craft and goodie related posts coming soon, too, so set yourself up with a good book (see above) and check back soon for pretty crafts and homemade frocks. I'm off to Google Candelabras. Don't ask...Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-2779101511304746402015-02-17T18:56:00.001+00:002015-02-17T18:56:08.539+00:00Finding Inspiration: Granny Square BlanketOoh, I'm excited! I spent quite a bit of time last night enthusiastically and madly pinning all manner of wonderful ideas to my latest <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ehughes0897/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> board - <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ehughes0897/granny-square-blanket/" target="_blank">The Granny Square Blanket</a>. I've been toying with the idea of a Granny Square blanket for a long time but was inspired by a pattern I saw in issue 48of Mollie Makes magazine and I've been musing ever since. <br />
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But what even is a Granny Square I hear you cry? And, moreover, why, in the name of all that is holy, is it called a Granny Square? Well, my dear friends, I have some answers. A Granny Square is a square (duh) made of crocheted yarn that starts in the middle and works out and can, as you will see if you patiently read this post, into all MANNER of wonderful motifs, from very simple to the downright wacky. Why is it called a Granny Square? Damned if I know. Probably because who else has the time to sit around crocheting squares? Seriously though, if you know, please let me know in the comments below. Every day is, after all, a school day.<br />
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So, the learning bit out of the way, let's look at some pictures. As I mentioned, I got a bit excited when I was doing my pinning yesterday. Some of my pictures were of beautiful, grown-up, muted palettes, like this:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Sunburst Granny Squares Blanket: free pattern" class="pinImage" height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5b/58/9f/5b589f481e3845ac32be93a18cf6e10b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="160" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from Ravelry</td></tr>
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Some were more complex variations of this grown up style using different sized squares:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="I am saving this for the idea of using different size granny squares in a blanket. This of course, could be any color combo of 4 of your choosing." class="pinImage" height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8c/b7/88/8cb78880035c9e3911805b6d8f1ac43e.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/26574806@N04/5232013914/in/pool-crochet_afghans">https://www.flickr.com/photos/26574806@N04/5232013914/in/pool-crochet_afghans</a></td></tr>
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Then, things got out of hand. Sunflower Granny Square? Er, yes please!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="http://beacrafter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/1-DSC05497.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://beacrafter.com/crochet-sunflower-granny-square/">http://beacrafter.com/crochet-sunflower-granny-square/</a></td></tr>
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How about an owl? An owl?! In frigging crotchet?! To go on a blanket?! Of-bloody-course!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Owl Granny Square Crochet Pattern" height="200" src="http://photo.craftgawker.com/wp-content/uploads/craft/2012/11/181780.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://craftgawker.com/post/2012/11/08/40413/">http://craftgawker.com/post/2012/11/08/40413/</a></td></tr>
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Then, there's this rather tasteful Cath Kitson-esque one, which after seeing the wonderful owls might be a bit of let down. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="CSS_LIGHTBOX_SCALED_IMAGE_IMG" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2JFUEY7NCj1P6Rd5SD5bry4quV-byJL6xXgXNe6l4sHo8cUrqIaqgkDSwTIPBPH1pq3O0zpCtA9SBvLOMm-4FUhNsj9MKuGqESiEVhov2VUNd_pIqtPPnCXnjkfHCbinjbI08aAJNjE/s200/Painted+Roses+Blanket+Pattern.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="133" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sandra-cherryheart.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/painted-roses-blanket.html">http://sandra-cherryheart.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/painted-roses-blanket.html</a></td></tr>
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I urge you to look at the rest of the board, and I'm sure you won't be able to resist making an owl granny square. Even if it's only the one to put in a lovely grown-up blanket... There's also an absolutely magic Tetris one. Absolute genius.<br />
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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, and I'm looking forward to sharing my progress, just as soon as I've decided on my theme.Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-19177650835883683822015-02-15T16:01:00.000+00:002015-02-15T16:01:59.016+00:00Shop Review - Fabric LandThere is such a wealth of excellent fabric shops online now, and they cater for all budgets. I've been hunting for a crepe de chine for a pretty party dress for a while now and, having discovered that you can get some very beautiful Liberty crepe de chine for an eye-watering £49.99 per metre, I decided to look elsewhere, just so that I didn't have to remortgage the house to wear a pretty frock.<br />
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After googling "crepe de chine" I stumbled across <a href="http://www.fabricland.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabric Land</a>. After my eyes became accustomed to what is possibly one of the worst bits of web design ever, it's an absolute treasure chest of excellent and cheap fabrics. <br />
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After some perusal, I settled on 'Morning Glory' at a much more affordable £3.99 per metre. <br />
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<img height="320" src="http://www.fabricland.co.uk/8bb%20008.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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They also have a really good range of linings and interfacings, which I also made use of!<br />
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You can't order online, but you can order by phone or by email. I wrote down what I wanted because they were closed by the time I'd finally made my choice and took the post-it with me when I left for work the following day. I had to travel down to the London office so, having arrived much too early for the train, I decided to give them a call. After reeling off my order, we then had the nightmare of address and payment details while the train announcement lady went mad with her announcements, and then the train announcement man kept telling people not to skateboard in the station. So I was not surprised when the parcel arrived incorrectly addressed (thank heavens we got the house number and postcode right!)<br />
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I was really pleased with how quickly my fabric arrived - I ordered on Thursday morning and our friendly post lady knocked first thing on Saturday morning. So I've been spending the weekend making a party dress, but you'll have to wait a while for that post. <br />
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What shops do you like to use for your online fabric shopping?Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-60768031440683819532015-02-11T08:36:00.001+00:002015-02-11T08:36:58.173+00:00Stationery Lovers Christmas Swap<div style="text-align: justify;">
I never thought I would, but I have fully embraced the world of social media. Particularly after the summer's Northern Sewing Meet-Up, I am definitely ringing all the bells to herald The Internet. Even if I still don't know what html is. </div>
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So, imagine my delight when I heard through Twitter (of course) that there was a Sewing Secret Santa AND a Stationery Lovers' Christmas Swap. I joined both, of course, and set to work researching my partners for each. </div>
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Obviously, I'm quite late in blogging about Christmas generally but, I got round to it eventually (it was lovely, I stayed in with the Mister, I had two weeks off). </div>
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I'll blog on the Sewing Secret Santa another day (the pictures are on my old phone and I can't find the lead to get them off. It's been two weeks...) but for today, here is what santa brought for me from the delicious world of paper:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAmeFXz-KRHIL4YgYubOjDzE8jUppLQlRpJiweuyYpFZYc819ocSKtCMogD5tnhj8bMu0LasXaOG4WBa5I5PUQ9JjxHq4Y4OSRxRSg3vQtnuq_zdvet7MvmJGt3tb-CXiJItpZF7LUH0/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAmeFXz-KRHIL4YgYubOjDzE8jUppLQlRpJiweuyYpFZYc819ocSKtCMogD5tnhj8bMu0LasXaOG4WBa5I5PUQ9JjxHq4Y4OSRxRSg3vQtnuq_zdvet7MvmJGt3tb-CXiJItpZF7LUH0/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mini picture cards, 'don't forget' stickies with a little fox, pen and pencil, pretty greetings card, tree document markers, squirrel notebook</td></tr>
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I'm not sure where any of it comes from, but it is all totally beautiful. I particularly love the squirrel notebook as it reminds me of my walks around St James Park when I worked in London. And this little card is good for reminding me that it won't always be this cold!</div>
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I had a small issue with this swap, in that my partner didn't swap anything. Or, if she did, it didn't arrive and she didn't reply to my email checking she'd got mine ok (post was horrific this Christmas). But Emma from <a href="http://www.mabismab.com/" target="_blank">mabismab</a> kindly sent me this to compensate, and so that I could still join in. Hoorah!</div>
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Overall, I definitely recommend getting involved in these present swaps. Who knows what treasures you'll find? And, if you spent Christmas buying people boring presents (my dad asked for extension leads), buying things you love but for someone else is even better than buying things you have no interest in, even if the other person loves it. </div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-35865225018796462112015-02-08T19:02:00.000+00:002015-02-08T19:02:02.861+00:00Tilly Francoise Dress<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, well, well; it has finally happened. A dress I've made that I actually really do properly love! And it fits as well. </div>
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Tilly & The Buttons has done it again, a deceptively simple dress that will flatter almost everyone and, for those who made the Tilly Coco as well, a chance to make a more tailored dress and try and some new techniques. Although I've been sewing for a long time, I've never done darts like this before and this is a first for self-covering buttons (I love it, I could do it all day). </div>
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I had a couple of issues: </div>
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1) I thought I'd melted the zip with the iron when I went to try it on the other day. Luckily, after trying it again today before I took it out and replaced it, it was probably just getting caught in Monday's thermal vest. </div>
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2) I have a job reaching for the zip to get it all the way to the top. With the Mister in London during the week, let's hope this doesn't lead to a Phoebe from Friends incident. </div>
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3) I have come so close to matching the pattern on the back. </div>
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4) I need a couple of little darts at the neck line to take the fullness out of the shoulders.</div>
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5) My front facing won't lie flat. </div>
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But all in all, I love this dress. Look at that beautiful tab!</div>
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I'll definitely be making many more of these dresses - it'll become a wardrobe staple I'm sure. </div>
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A note on the fabric - it comes from B&M Fabrics in Kirkgate Markets. It is kind of a twill weave tartan and it doesn't get stuck to tights. Warm and practical: double win. </div>
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What would you use to sew a Francoise?</div>
<br />Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-73596229474575614112015-01-24T17:59:00.002+00:002015-01-24T17:59:42.073+00:00Judy's Vintage Fair...in LEEDS!I have moved house! Twice, actually, since my last post August. I now, very much permanently, live in Leeds. And I love it.<br />
Although I've been a number of times before (obviously) I'm really enjoying exploring the city, our new village and the surrounding area. Today has been no exception and we went to <a href="http://www.judysvintagefair.co.uk/" target="_blank">Judy's Vintage Fair</a> at the <a href="http://www.leedscornexchange.co.uk/" target="_blank">Corn Exchange</a>. I've been to these fairs before in Spitalfields in London, and to be fair, it's much the same - vintage clothes and accessories and vintage <em>style</em> clothes and accessories. I bought some vintage-style sunglasses for £5, even though the Lovely Mister said they were too big for my head (he thinks everything is too big for my head, mostly because I have a small head). <br />
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The Fair was also a perfect excuse to use my new bag! I made this!<br />
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Not the tote bag, actually; I bought that and all the ingredients to make this and some other projects from this month's Mollie Makes magazine from <a href="http://www.cloudcraft.co.uk/" target="_blank">Cloud Crafts</a>. I've only just discovered this supplier and I shall definitely be using them again - my parcel arrived super quickly, and it is an absolute treasure trove of goodies for all kinds of crafts.<br />
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Lunch was courtesy of <a href="http://www.crowdoffavours.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crowd of Favours</a>, my favourite place to eat in the centre (we've been there twice already and we've been here six weeks) and had burns night food (game pie for me!) and a shot of Laphroaig (which I obviously pointed to on the menu). Usually, I like a bourbon but this was super tasty - smokey AND peaty. I even had it without a mixer, which pleased the Mister no end (I once poured Co-Op own brand coke at 79p for 2 litres into a thirty year old Jura. I thought he was about to have a stroke).<br />
Things are still pretty busy for me, but it's so good to be out doing things and making stuff again. I really missed it!<br />
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Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-78130029521547796572014-09-24T21:21:00.000+01:002014-09-24T21:21:08.509+01:00Foxy Frock Part 1<div style="text-align: justify;">
I swear, I need to get less busy. Surely, it shouldn't be a treat to sit down?! I've finally managed to squeeze in a little bit of sewing. It's taken me many weeks to get to this point, but today, I sewed the Clemence skirt to the Lilou bodice to make a jolly good start on my first Tilly & The Buttons 'Love at First Stitch' project. </div>
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So, I traced off my pattern (good little me), failed to make a muslin (the bodice darts are off as a result - bad little me) and started pinning the bodice pieces to that lovely fox fabric I bought at Leeds market on the <a href="http://ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/wellthat-was-long-break.html" target="_blank">Northern Meet Up</a> I went on a few weeks ago. Then this happened:</div>
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Yes, the pattern is too wide for the fabric and there is not enough fabric to split into panels. I'm not going to lie, my teddies did get thrown from the pram - I really wanted to do a pleated skirt! - but then I got a grip, got my ruler and drafting paper and made the pattern for the Clemence skirt.</div>
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Soon, I had all my pattern pieces, used the tiny bit left over to cut the bow belt pattern and some pockets and barely had enough fabric. Very pleasing! I finally managed to get it all cut out, sewed the bodice, realised I had slight bagginess on the side front boob area, but it's not too bad and I'll do a bit more...adjusting before I sew the lining to the bodice. I really should make a muslin!</div>
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The mister went out tonight, despite his horrible cold, so I had a guilt-free evening of sewing. The skirt is now sewn to the bodice, I put it on me and I LOVE it! I can't wait to finish the wee little thing. Despite how keen I am to get it done, I did not fancy inserting an invisible zip when I'm a bit tired. So I've got some sewing to look forward to.</div>
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Also, I've decided to make generic petticoats for my frocks. It'll save money on lining, and time too! So once I've got a little slip for under this one, I can wear it without fear of it getting caught on my tights and riding up. </div>
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I've got the love back :-)</div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-53750521880810597402014-08-31T18:44:00.000+01:002014-08-31T18:44:08.991+01:00Well...that was a long break.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tomorrow is the first day of September, which means that it has been two months - two whole months! - since I last posted on my blog. I am so ashamed.</div>
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So why have I been gone so long? You know when someone says, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"? Well, if someone had said that to me over the last few weeks, I'd have thrown the chuffing things back in their face and screamed, "I haven't got TIME!!!" then sat on the floor sobbing until someone brought me ice-cream and whisky. Dear reader, I moved house. Yes, I know, people do this all the time but, to cut a long story short, we ended up moving into my Grandmother's house, which meant clearing forty years' of Stuff. She's not here, she's in a nursing home, but our moving in and her moving out are in absolutely no way connected.</div>
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Unsurprisingly, there has been no sewing and definitely no time for blogging. I used my down time for napping. If I'd been a more organised blogger, I'd have prescheduled posts; but I'm not, so there were none. </div>
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You may now put away your violins because this weekend marked lots of good. In date order (because it's easier that way) I made a <a href="http://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/products/coco" target="_blank">Tilly Coco</a> and went to a Sewing Meet-Up. Both of these things were ace. And, in a divine coincidence, I wore the Coco to the Meet-Up, meaning one neat blog post. </div>
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Unless you don't follow other sewists on Twitter, or read any other sewing blogs the Coco is one of the most popular patterns on the planet since the <a href="http://byhandlondon.com/products/anna-dress" target="_blank">BHL Anna</a>. EVERYONE has made one. And, finally, now I have too. It's easy to see why this pattern is so popular - so easy, so clear, so stylish. And oh so quick. Having never sewn with a knit fabric before, and being terrified of said fabric, I managed a pretty damn good effort in just a few hours sewing (it took me a morning. I was done by lunch). </div>
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This photo of me wearing my Coco was taken by the lovely Myfanwy at the Leeds Sewing Meet-Up yesterday. This segues me quite nicely into said meeting, which was, quite frankly, an absolute hoot. People who sew are lovely people. This is a fact demonstrated by the ten ladies pictured below, plus Amy's mum who had left prior to this photo being taken. Recounting the day will be too upsetting for those who weren't there as it truly was ace, however, I did buy FOUR new fabrics (with projects in mind and everything) and got a tartan in the fabric swap. In a fit of organisation, I also managed to get threads to match all these new delights, and I've already washed, dried and pressed them ready for turning into something (hopefully) magnificent. </div>
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I got on the train back to London a very happy camper. And also still very full from lunch at <a href="http://www.crowdoffavours.co.uk/" target="_blank">Crowd of Favours</a>, where the food is fantastic, plentiful and cheap. </div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-23809539722167073442014-07-01T21:19:00.000+01:002014-07-01T21:19:00.413+01:00French It Baby!<span lang=""><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A slightly delayed post for a slightly delayed birthday party. My aunt and her new husband turned 60 in March and February respectively. Because they live in North Yorkshire, they thought it would be cold and dismal at that time of year and a celebration would best be put off until summer, when the sun was bound to be out and everyone could do country dancing in little cotton frocks and bare feet. Well, it was warm and cotton frocky and bare footy when we left London on Saturday. It was raining when we got to North Yorkshire. It was also freezing. I had only brought a cardigan, which in hindsight was ambitious even in the south.</div>
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But the outing did mean I could wear my new "<a href="http://www.sewladidavintage.com/index.php/gypsy-dress" target="_blank">French Gypsy</a>" dress from Sew La Di Da Vintage. Originally, I planned to make the Sew Over It "Betty" dress for this party, but continued abortive attempts to make the bodice fit are turning that particular project into a rather Herculean task. "French Gypsy" has NO shoulder seams to contend with, so my wonky shoulders were not a problem (my wide shoulders were later in the form of chaffing, but that might be over enthusiastic stretching of the elastic when I sewed it in). </div>
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I used the heart print cotton I got at the <a href="http://ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/londons-excel-and-female-solidarity.html" target="_blank">ExCel in April</a> having originally wanted to use the paisley print bought at the same event but it’s basically two inches wide and not suitable for such a big and swishy skirt. </div>
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This pattern sewed up really quickly and easily. There are very few pieces and even with my French seaming (too lazy for the over locker!) only took a day (albeit a long one) to put together. I also sewed the midriff section on upside down, which is always hilarious when you’ve done very neat French seaming and your interfacing frays. </div>
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There’s a lot of hand-sewing: all round the neck and arms (sewing on the HOMEMADE bias binding!) and the hem is about a mile long. Obviously, I was still sewing this at 11pm the night before the party, when we had to get up obscenely early to get to Yorkshire in time for lunch. We failed, because I am an eejit who misread the train times. </div>
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After much jollity at the party, for which I am eternally grateful to the Lovely Mister for talking to my drunk mother for most of the afternoon while I spoke to a lovely psychotherapist and a soon to be retiring headmistress about the joys of sewing. To give LM an afternoon off from awkwardly taking photos of me on his camera phone, I made use of the very pretty bedding garden and my dad’s camera that he wore around his neck like a tourist at all times apart from when dancing. He was actually mistaken for the photographer several times. So that’s why I look awkward. And also bloody freezing because it was about eight o’clock by this time and I’d lost feeling in my feet. </div>
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I do so love this dress. Hopefully, next time I wear it, I won’t be imploring my father to hurry up before I die of frostbite having had to remove my cardy…</div>
</span><br />Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-71179635614444157012014-06-24T21:05:00.000+01:002014-06-24T21:05:00.894+01:00Making The Most Of Home<div style="text-align: justify;">
We might have to move house. There, I said it. But the fear is still there. Our lovely house is under offer and someone else will (hopefully) be living in it very soon. Obviously, I am leaving copious instructions of to care for the roses that I can't take with me, and labelling the vegetable patch so someone else gets to eat home grown carrots this year. </div>
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We both love this house but it's not really big enough for the full size drum kit (the Lovely Mister's; I cried when he moved it in - it's huge) and all our...stuff. The Lovely Mister is obsessed with moving; honestly, it's all he talks about. Me? My head is well and truly in the sand. I know where I am with this house: I know its lovely quirks and what we've done with it, I know what the local shop sells and I have my own seat on the train to work (creature of habit? Moi?). So, yeah, not looking forward to moving, especially as it's only a temporary half way move before we make a proper move (hopefully) next year. Not even moving into a dream forever home, just a rented house in an area we don't know. </div>
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So, in positives, I'm trying to make the most of where we live now. More trips to London, and more trips to Rochester, where I went this weekend.</div>
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Rochester is the lotus flower growing from the mud of the Medway towns. Sorry if you live in the other Medway towns (like me) but really, look out of the window and then argue that comment. Rochester is beautiful - a castle, Dickens, arts, crafts and lots of pretty alternative stuff too. The High Street is cobbled and wonderful, frequently visited by tourists and home to many, many independent shops and restaurants. Here's my pick of the best:</div>
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<u>Rocket</u><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It took me ages to get this photo. An old lady walked across the shop front and walked the slowest I have ever seen a living human move. But look at those gorgeous dresses!</td></tr>
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Along with its sister store "<a href="http://www.kisskissheart.com/" target="_blank">Kiss Kiss Heart</a>", Rocket sells a range of rockabilly clothes, kitsch shoes and incredibly beautiful cool jewellery including a wonderful necklace with a skull on angel wings with two mini pistols, toadstool earrings and this ring, that I bought on a whim. </div>
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I also bought some dice earrings to put in my new(ish) extra ear piercing. I couldn't get the back off the last earring in there, so had to go to my parents' to get my dad to use some special pliers to get the back off. He hadn't noticed the extra piercing until it was pointed out to him, and my mum. My dad asked why and was dissatisfied with my answer of "because it's cool" and the subsequent "but it's supercool" and my mum said "you're over eighteen, you can do what you like with your body" which basically means she hates it. I love it. And I stand by its supercoolness, especially with my new dice earrings.</div>
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I'm in love with everything in this store, and you can shop online <a href="http://www.jgthi.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<u><a href="http://www.donvincenzo.co.uk/don_ftp/HOME.html" target="_blank">Don Vincenzo</a></u></div>
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This is easily the best restaurant in the world. I love it - best garlic bread, best pizza, best service. Go there. You will not regret it. You'll need to book, it gets busy.</div>
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<u>Tony Lorenzo</u></div>
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Continuing the food theme, Tony Lorenzo is a great deli/sandwich bar. Tony Lorenzo even has his own CD. It's pretty good! Eat in, take away, and take your time choosing between the fillings. My favourite: the turkey mix or the hoisin duck.</div>
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Well, that's the end of the post. But did you sew? I hear you ask. What did you make? Well, I did sew and I did make something, but it's not quite finished yet, so you'll have to wait for the weekend when I wear it to family party. Weather permitting. It will be in North Yorkshire after all...<u></u></div>
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Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-54778595167811082882014-06-20T15:05:00.000+01:002014-06-20T15:05:38.251+01:00Wardrobe Architect - week 1<div style="text-align: justify;">
A while ago, I posted my discovery of the <a href="http://www.coletterie.com/wardrobe-architect/the-wardrobe-architect" target="_blank">Wardrobe Architect</a> and my delight at finding it. As usual, I've not been able to commit myself fully to it (I discovered it when I was supposed to be finishing my dissertation and now all the things I'd already put off during my degree are joyfully taking up all my time, which is wonderful, but I still find more I want to do. I will never learn). I am still incredibly inspired by the whole Wardrobe Architect thing, and so what if I don't stick to the weekly schedule? I can still be excited, especially when I saw that the "Do These Sound Familiar?" <span style="color: black;">list</span> was basically me:</div>
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<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;"><strong>You acquire things you don't use </strong></span><span style="color: black;">- oh my God, <em>all the time. </em>Our house is ridiculously full, I buy things on impulse <em>all the time</em> usually under a misguided idea that it will make my life better when the reality is I have no money, a situation that is not going to get better if I continue my spendy ways. Wardrobe Architect could save my bank balance</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>You feel regret over purchases </strong></span><span style="color: black;">- oh my God! <em>This too!</em> I regret buying things all the time - even buying a chocolate bar at the station because my train is cancelled - that 89p (89p?!) confection isn't going to get me home any quicker, won't make SouthEastern run a decent service and will just spoil my dinner and make me feel guilty and cause the usually lovely Mister to say "hashtag fatty" when I fess up. (NB The Mister does not think I'm fat; neither do I. Although if I continue to eat portion sizes to rival his, this may be reassessed)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>You buy things that are "close enough" </strong></span><span style="color: black;">- I do not like settling when buying things, yet I always seem to be doing so. Part of this is lack of time to shop around and part is laziness. The rest is just that I don't feel like I have the ability to find exactly what I want. Also, the thing I want is usually more expensive than the cheaper alternatives and the alternative usually leaves me feeling a bit empty.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>You make clothes that don't really fit your life well </strong></span><span style="color: black;">- why do I keep making party dresses? What's wrong with me? My <a href="http://ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-nerdy-night-out.html">Nerdy Night Out</a> details my lack of desire to Go Out so why is everything I make so formal? I love wearing dresses but I think my fabric choices make things a bit too formal. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>You feel like your wardrobe is all over the place </strong></span><span style="color: black;">- er...yeah! See ALL the points above.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>You don't know how to put outfits together </strong></span><span style="color: black;">- ditto. Nothing matches/goes. </span></div>
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(adapted from Colletterie blog)<br />
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So you see, I really do <em>need </em>this in my life. Especially after I threw away a load of clothes last week, not helping my "nothing to wear problems". Now if only I could find the time...<br />
<br />Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-50354439307923343412014-06-15T21:27:00.001+01:002014-06-15T21:27:12.493+01:00When All I Thought About Was Sewing...And Did None<div style="text-align: justify;">
This week has been a rather trying week. Work has been pretty shitty, all in all. Busy, which is good, but also learning that, lovely as most of my colleagues are, there are some that have an agenda, who are rude and unpleasant and who I'd very much prefer not to have to spend time with. That said, the beauty of my job means I don't have to talk to many people if I chose not to. </div>
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Another beauty of my new office is that everyone is super intelligent and interesting and I can walk into the kitchen on any given day and find conversations about economics and politics and films happening. I can quietly wash my mug and boil the kettle and learn about the price of oil and why it affects so much and go back to my desk with a new nugget of information. </div>
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In some ways, this lone working is quite nice, because if I'm feeling a bit anti-social I needn't explain this to anyone and can just go to the park, listen to some music and pretend that I'm not surrounded by tourists and City Boys.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Better than looking at Outlook</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Winterfylleth, this was an ideal way to spend a lunch break</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cheerful route back to the office</td></tr>
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My busy week meant I was too tired to sew in the evening when all I could think about whilst I was working was sewing. I've got into a huge rut - I can't sew any dresses because I can't make the bodices fit, I think I know what I'm supposed to be doing but I'm too tired to be sure. And because I don't want to start anything until I've done this project, I can't do anything else. So I'm stuck. Not sewing. Not knowing what to do. No clue, no sewing, no dress.</div>
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My lack of creativity has led to a funk. Without an outlet, I get (more) tetchy, (more) angsty and generally a bit unhappy. It's that feeling you get when you want to eat a bar of chocolate but will yourself not to, when you know you shouldn't do something, but you can't help it - it's all you can think about. That tightness in your throat, that restlessness in your legs, the tingling in your fingers.<br />
The unsettled feeling of not creating seeped into everything this week - my mood at work, my inability to get into any of the books I started reading, to pick an album and listen all the way through rather than flitting from artist to artist, song to song without finding that one tune that gets you at that precise moment. Dissatisfaction that chocolate can't solve, that whisky won't numb, that nothing but that one thing you don't know and can't find will erase. I tried everything.</div>
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But finally it was Saturday night and I was sitting in Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank and Mark Lanegan cured me. He's done it before, with his growling raspy voice that stops you in your tracks, reaches down your throat and makes you want to cry the deep, hard tears you cry at the end of a Richard Curtis film (the good kind of tears). Seeing him live was just the tonic I needed. I came out feeling soothed, calm, and ever so slightly more positive. If you've not discovered the magic of Lanegan, try my favourite album of his "Bubblegum" or my close runner up "Blues Funeral".</div>
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I still haven't done any sewing or fit fixing because I spent today doing laundry, playing with the dog, eating home grown raspberries, going for a run I'll definitely regret tomorrow and going through my clothes and chucking stuff out I don't wear. I have very few clothes left. I best get sewing.</div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-32816229407602751962014-06-09T21:36:00.002+01:002014-06-09T21:36:55.354+01:00Ultimate Trousers. And the Most Stupid Thing EVER<div style="text-align: justify;">
God, this post has taken a while to get round to. Where, dear reader, does time GO? I get in from work and ten minutes later, it's bed time; or so it seems. So no blog post since I went on the Sew Over It Ultimate Trousers course last week. </div>
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I have to say, I really enjoyed my day there. The other girls were lovely; Julie, the teacher, was great; the lemon drizzle cake was the tastiest cake ever. Sadly, my trousers did not come out as well as I envisaged:</div>
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It's quite hard to see because of the spots but there's a bit of erm...a baggy crotch and a saggy bottom issue going on. The top also gapes at the waist, which I think is because of my terrible overlocking skills on the facing. And I had to lengthen the front because I have a long torso. </div>
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I was slightly disappointed that the baggy/saggy issues weren't addressed during the class. Having spent £95 on the class, I pretty much have a pair of trousers I'll seldom wear and no idea how to fix the issue. I'd definitely recommend the classes, but more if you just want to learn to sew rather than learn to fit. Oh, and the other girls on the course made amazing trousers with no fit issues, so I think it's just me and my peculiar shape/lack of shape rather than the pattern.</div>
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So, onto the Most Stupid Thing EVER. If you've read my blog before, you may remember that I am OBSESSED with my bodice fitting issues (read about the obsession <a href="http://ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/my-shoulder-seam-shame.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/admitting-defeatbut-carrying-on.html" target="_blank">here)</a>. My current project is the Sew Over It <a href="http://shop.sewoverit.co.uk/collections/homepage-top/products/betty-dress" target="_blank">Betty Dress</a>, which I plan to make in navy blue cotton. I want a bodice that fits goddamn it. So I watched my Craftsy Course, I traced off my pattern pieces, I increased the seam allowance by another 3/8" to give some wiggle room in the muslin, then I clatted about making a muslin with lines sewn on it, as per the course. Then I went to see my Granma for help. This is after I tried to get the Lovely Mister to help. Here's how that went:</div>
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Me: Can you just pin up the back to hold the back closed?</div>
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LM: How do I do that?</div>
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Me: Do you not know how to put in a pin?</div>
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LM: No. Why would I know that?</div>
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Me: You've never pinned anything?</div>
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LM: No.</div>
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Me: (brief silence whilst agog). Well, this is how you do it (shows LM slowly on spare fabric)</div>
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LM: (looks at me like I've just performed alchemy. I show him again.) Right got it.</div>
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Me: OK. Be careful. Just go up the line I pressed in the back.</div>
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LM: What?</div>
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Me: The crease! (lengthy pause) </div>
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LM: I think I've done it</div>
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Me: (not convinced as I don't feel very secure in the bodice) Really?</div>
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LM: Yeah, I think so.</div>
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Me: (feeling round the back, immediately prick myself on a pin) Have you just poked it through the fabric? </div>
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LM: Yes! That's what you showed me!</div>
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Me: How have you fucked this up? How can you not know how to pin?! (has a sit down as hysterical laughter has descended on the house. Dog looks confused.) You're useless. I'm going to my Gran's.</div>
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So I trotted off to my Gran's leaving the Lovely Mister to recover from his ordeal listening to a record. (Honestly, how does he put up with me? Also to contend with this weekend, trying to get some knit fabric to lie flat during which I was almost moved to tears. A saint I tell you).</div>
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Now, who's tried to explain to an eighty-seven year old woman that you would like to do something she has been doing for the last seventy years differently? Any takers? No, didn't think so. But I tried. I failed. We did not do it like the Craftsy course. But the bodice did fit by the end (BTW, did a full bust adjustment (1/2") who'd have thunk it?!) and I came away with lots of drawing on me. Including making the shoulders narrower. </div>
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This should have been the red light for me - I do not have narrow shoulders. My shoulders poke out of every top. I cannot wear capped sleeves for risk of losing my arms if I put my hands above my head.</div>
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When I finally sat down to do some sewing over the weekend, I realised my cataclysmic error. Remember the extra 3/8" I added to the muslin pattern pieces? Yeah? I added 3/8" to the centre front as well. Where it says 'cut on fold' I added a total of nearly an INCH! AN INCH!! So the darts are screwed, the back is screwed and my Granma's gone on a holiday so I'm now stuck! I had to take the bodice to work today and ask a colleague I know enough to talk about sewing with but not enough (as it turns out) to help me pin bust darts in the ladies' loo to help. </div>
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What. A. Numpty.</div>
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Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-72673175369464305852014-05-30T21:11:00.004+01:002014-05-30T21:31:11.433+01:00Did I Just Network??<div style="text-align: justify;">
I absolutely heart Twitter. I have found several delightful things to do via other people's tweets and have loved every single one. </div>
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Since leaving my last job, my dream of running my own business in the creative industry seems much more achievable - my life is more my own now, more predictable and my mind is freer to think, imagine and plan. So the School for Creative Start-Ups "Make Good Festival" on this weekend was marvellous. And of course I found out about it via Twitter.</div>
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I'll admit it right now, I was ridiculously excited to be at Make Good - I was going to be able to speak to people who'd realised my dream and I could find out how they did it. So I didn't really make a particularly good impression to the graduates with my exuberance. </div>
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I have never felt more inspired or part of a community as I did for the few hours I was at the festival. Loads of graduates from S4CS in the Old Selfridges Hotel, tonnes of brilliant, original ideas from possibly the loveliest people I've ever met. Here is my selection of the loveliest:</div>
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<strong><u>Jessica Mae</u></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from @JessicaMaeStyle</td></tr>
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Jessica O-George from <a href="https://twitter.com/JessicaMaeStyle" target="_blank">Jessica Mae</a> is a Personal Style Concierge. I'm not going to lie, I was slightly intimated. Jessica is gorgeous, and, as you'd expect, incredibly stylish. She's not all about shopping either: she teaches her clients about what clothes suit their body shape, suit their needs and utilise garments you already own as well as identify gaps (which means shopping, but focussed shopping). She was with<a href="https://twitter.com/denvertronix" target="_blank"> Lucy Denver</a>, personal trainer from Denvertronix who was also lovely. Between them, we'll all be stylish and fitter. And Jessica doesn't grab tits Gok Wan style. I checked.</div>
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<strong><u>Betty Etiquette</u></strong></div>
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Oh how Betty and I laughed. She is lovely; truly, truly lovely. She's also dead set on getting people writing to each other with pen and ink, rather than endless texting and emails. I could not agree with this more. So much so, I signed one of her pledges:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnletpzoOgCBm7ORiUo-p24u4V7wPrDD__ljHYmuCbOktoaikZXuuncC6m2pRs92F2X04HMcskOLXBluvpXbDfhd_Kg0FOUYRS0jLQ2wYlkjD8C_MXw4dIzKYZlBvxde4-ayngn8rq45U/s1600/WP_20140530_007%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnletpzoOgCBm7ORiUo-p24u4V7wPrDD__ljHYmuCbOktoaikZXuuncC6m2pRs92F2X04HMcskOLXBluvpXbDfhd_Kg0FOUYRS0jLQ2wYlkjD8C_MXw4dIzKYZlBvxde4-ayngn8rq45U/s1600/WP_20140530_007%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
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Her designs were amazing too and arranged into collections - cool spring tones, American style pennants, thick water colour brush messages. The cards were on different weights of paper too, which really added to the whole effect of the beautiful, and very reasonably priced, cards. Betty's <a href="http://www.bettyetiquette.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a> contains lovely images of her cards and I've bookmarked it for future celebrations, particularly as I've been given the role of Birthday Monitor at my new job. Yeah, that's right, I got me a supplementary role.</div>
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Betty Etiquette is also on my favourite social media site and you too can follow the creative loveliness at <a href="https://twitter.com/BettyEtiquette" target="_blank">@BettyEtiquette</a>. And, as I say, Betty is lovely - we laughed tonnes. </div>
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<strong><u>Handmade by Bex</u></strong></div>
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I am OBSESSED with these embroidered embroidery hoops. I also love that Bex and I both got excited about her incredibly neat stitching. If you've had a new arrival recently, or are searching for the perfect congratulatory gift, the frames on the right contain embroidered birth announcements. Bex does commissions, works around looking after her children (I told you these people had the life I wanted) and was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and, quite frankly, a genius with a needle and thread. Her items are also really reasonably priced, really on trend and would make a lovely country cottage addition to any home. Take a look at the rest of her work on her <a href="http://www.handmadebybex.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a>. Honestly, the stitching is ridiculously neat - an absolute thing of beauty. Of course, there's also <a href="https://twitter.com/HandmadebyBex" target="_blank">twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HandmadebyBex" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</div>
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<strong><u>Miss Goodweather</u></strong></div>
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I <em>might </em>have embarrassed myself at this stand but, wait for it, Tara makes and sells breathable, <em>waterproof</em> cotton dresses. WATERPROOF DRESSES!!! That is basically what I was like at her stand, which was in itself a thing of beauty:</div>
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Tara was also inspirational. She did a job she hated and JUST QUIT without any real plan other than she wanted to make stuff. And she came up with this! WATERPROOF DRESSES! Amazing, truly amazing. And, incredibly affordable. The <a href="http://www.missgoodweather.com/dresses" target="_blank">website</a> has a collection you can buy AND, I've just seen, hoodlets are coming soon. I need this in my life. Find the delightful Miss Goodweather on <a href="https://twitter.com/MissGoodWeather" target="_blank">twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/missgoodweather" target="_blank">facebook</a>. I defy you not to become as excited as me about this. </div>
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And, having suitably embarrassed myself with delight, there was even time to chat to Tilly from Tilly and The Buttons who helped me with my shoulder seam problem, which was lovely of her.</div>
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When I met up with the lovely mister afterwards I had a sudden realisation. I networked! I, who not four hours prior had been sympathising that my boss has to do three whole days of networking (and evenings too!) next week. Maybe the crafty kind of networking is networking I can get on board with. </div>
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I am truly inspired by all these creative and talented women. I wish them all every success in the future and have no doubt that they will continue to be amazing. And they all, every single one, persuaded me to go for it and sign up for the next year of S4CS. Maybe I will!</div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-78987859190180975222014-05-29T18:00:00.000+01:002014-05-29T18:00:03.033+01:00The Second ThingIn a <a href="http://ellie-louh.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/jadore-sewing.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>, I mentioned I'd made TWO things in a weekend but I cheekily only blogged the Paris Skirt. The reason for that was that the second garment I made to be a gift for the lovely mister's niece. This frock!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7vB29BbwkEObb2NCfRbc6erkS8fQaApeQ9TKjYe6DXaG7EKerohCqnNDTlHKprOYtfQtNoXClv6K8AsrM9xKu-cMCSQDewB1niXCK6cnxldcU-LMo15guTSI423_vvfrz15LVcENOQg/s1600/WP_20140515_003%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7vB29BbwkEObb2NCfRbc6erkS8fQaApeQ9TKjYe6DXaG7EKerohCqnNDTlHKprOYtfQtNoXClv6K8AsrM9xKu-cMCSQDewB1niXCK6cnxldcU-LMo15guTSI423_vvfrz15LVcENOQg/s1600/WP_20140515_003%5B1%5D.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've never sewn anything for a child before, so this was definitely a first. As you can see, I had a slight problem with sewing the lining to the bodice but apart from that, I'm very pleased with my efforts. Alas, the frock was much too small so it is now in the cupboard waiting for my as yet unborn niece to attain the age of two in two years and one month's time. Ho hum.<br />
This pattern also came from the Sewing Bee book but I made some changes to the design - I didn't use an exposed zip for a kick-off. <br />
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There are reviews on Amazon that the patterns with the Sewing Bee aren't that great. The skirt for me came out just fine, however, I think that the age three frock made above is inaccurate. I don't really know how big a child is supposed to be at different ages but from looking at the mister's niece, this might have fitted her a year ago. So, if you have this book, make sure you really measure properly to get the right size.<br />
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<br />Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-87945890052467348582014-05-27T13:25:00.000+01:002014-05-27T13:25:25.437+01:00Wardrobe Architect<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Not only do I now get bank holidays off (every one!) but I also get a Privilege Day today. Slightly depressingly, the lovely Mister is at work and it's pouring with rain so this has somewhat sapped my motivation. But I've used the opportunity to make a lemon cake and do the ironing and now I'm catching up on my blog reading. </div>
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I follow a number of sewing blogs and it's great to be part of such a friendly and informative on-line community. I learn about new patterns, new fabrics, fitting issues and generally get to see what other people are making. Given that I seldom get to see my crafting friend Serife on account of our schedules never aligning, I am somewhat devoid of people to speak to in Real Life about sewing and making. </div>
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I discovered <a href="http://somanypatternssewlittletime.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sew Little Time</a> through another blogger and I love what Joanne makes. Since I've had time today, I've been catching up on her posts and found <a href="http://somanypatternssewlittletime.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/joining-wardrobe-architect.html" target="_blank">this</a> from January (she posted about it in a more recent entry - I've not got that much time on my hands!). Discovering Wardrobe Architect has literally come at the best time. This morning, whilst I was ironing, I was thinking about my wardrobe: how nothing matches yet I have way too many clothes - it's seriously out of hand. I'd love to also participate in Me Made May next year and long for the day when I have an entirely self-sewn wardrobe like the delightful <a href="http://ooobop.com/" target="_blank">Ooobop</a>. This shouldn't be too hard to achieve given that I surely don't need twenty t-shirts and six pairs of jeans. </div>
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So I'm on the Wardrobe Architect journey, a lot later than the everyone else but hey, who says it's bad to be late to the party? I will be blogging my progress and I hope I inspire some of you to join in. </div>
Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7378600755799993400.post-61330294065590048652014-05-25T12:14:00.000+01:002014-05-25T12:19:44.331+01:00My Nerdy Night Out<div style="text-align: justify;">
I am no fan of a Big Night Out. In fact, just a Night Out is sometimes enough to make me want to climb under the duvet and not come out until morning: proper morning where you can have egg on toast or cornflakes and do something constructive, not morning where you eat a botulism infected kebab and get into bed leaving one foot rooted on the floor to stop your drunken self being sick. So this week I was unusually excited about Friday night because this Friday night I was Going Out. </div>
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It all started with Twitter as I'm more frequently finding the best things do. Dorothy Koomson, author of my favourite book <em>of all time </em>was going to be at Brixton library reading from her latest novel The Flavours of Love (which is actually an emotional thriller/crime novel, not something you buy at the airport and finish in twenty unsatisfactory minutes). The event didn't start until seven so I had at least two whole hours to kill in London by myself (because I know literally no one who'd go to this with me) so after obsessively looking at the library on Google Maps full of fear of becoming lost in Brixton, I realised it was very near Coldharbour Road, which was very near to Atlantic Road, which, hang on, houses Simply Fabrics. I could go there, thought I, and then, another brain wave: 'I'm going on the Ultimate Trousers workshop at Sew Over It next week, I'll get my fabric; Clapham's not far'. So I plotted bunking off work early (I do extra every day so this isn't nearly as naughty as it sounds) and go to Sew Over It in Clapham, then Simply Fabrics in Brixton, then use Tesco clubcard points to eat out (I am that skint) and then go to the library. </div>
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I was thwarted, as usual with these plans. First, I managed to bunk off twenty-five minutes early and that's it. Then I got to Clapham North and forgot the road name for Sew Over It and the 3G wasn't working. Eventually, though, I made it to Landor Road:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpQuiXI0n-J35efwD_yJ1nd2uTHYj-s54JoRsfuf0pjSHxgdH2rCxA6dqrkTqBRJ5l4pqUoVW7iNWf7sZrG1O88TIyGMcwhL_9HtoC-QUGjDAh4oxHTYNIklrk-0XvXFbTMwbP7UILUs/s1600/Sew+over+it1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpQuiXI0n-J35efwD_yJ1nd2uTHYj-s54JoRsfuf0pjSHxgdH2rCxA6dqrkTqBRJ5l4pqUoVW7iNWf7sZrG1O88TIyGMcwhL_9HtoC-QUGjDAh4oxHTYNIklrk-0XvXFbTMwbP7UILUs/s1600/Sew+over+it1.jpg" /></a></div>
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So I found it and things started looking up. The shop was smaller than I expected but this was actually quite a good thing. I wanted <em>every </em>fabric there. There is a wide choice of designs and fabric types and I spent some time looking for the perfect fabric. I ended up with this fabric for my trousers:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPQkiegJjTH2kS4ueUTDx27kFAIUXAAReaihtlA1uKwLQtvWVPHBdHWhPsi90sIfWBoKD2c53rjjsHrwPgXT5-h8QkML6yxY88-kSuWIQMhUs202dkM3uVR1tLxw3YtCA1aAtLJdSlBU/s1600/Fabric+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPQkiegJjTH2kS4ueUTDx27kFAIUXAAReaihtlA1uKwLQtvWVPHBdHWhPsi90sIfWBoKD2c53rjjsHrwPgXT5-h8QkML6yxY88-kSuWIQMhUs202dkM3uVR1tLxw3YtCA1aAtLJdSlBU/s1600/Fabric+1.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
and then realised that it's the same fabric from the photograph advertising the class. But the staff in the shop were so friendly and were as excited as me when I announced I was off to Brixton to Simply Fabrics. <br />
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Back on the tube, where I got shut in the door (again) because I can never hear the beeps, and off to Brixton.</div>
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I have never been to Brixton before. I have been to Vauxhall because I used to work there, but I have never gone to the end of a tube line. I was incongruous for a multitude of reasons, primarily that I was nowhere near cool enough to be walking down Atlantic Road with its reggae music and jerk chicken shops. After several near misses with traffic (the traffic lights in London make no sense to me) I made it to Simply Fabrics.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQp3vITGvEUU0RNMQviammSh99N7elD82OEMNBeA2hHfY3jDS4Jr3UlMxlMmuU_4faQrXq2rQLLiGIXysQLliL47SZBQQHlkzMSZwo43toCnLAeceX_SXSQmYCSizXy-WggN6qt_d7eE/s1600/Simply+Fabrics.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQp3vITGvEUU0RNMQviammSh99N7elD82OEMNBeA2hHfY3jDS4Jr3UlMxlMmuU_4faQrXq2rQLLiGIXysQLliL47SZBQQHlkzMSZwo43toCnLAeceX_SXSQmYCSizXy-WggN6qt_d7eE/s1600/Simply+Fabrics.png" /></a></div>
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It is somewhat different inside from the trendy Sew Over It but, my word, what choice. There was so much choice that I purchased nothing. I am putting this down to cowardice and fatigue and also that they didn't have the fabric I wanted to make my Coco dress. But I spent thirty minutes playing with fabrics, wondering whether a cute white fabric with daisies printed on was too see through for a blouse with no vest (it was) and stroking silks, linens, cottons, a weird neoprene and some ready quilted tartan. I will definitely go back to Simply Fabrics, but maybe when I feel slightly less on edge from a failed early off from work and the knowledge that I was the least cool person in the whole place. </div>
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My final thwarting was that I had failed to find a Tesco ClubCard participating restaurant that didn't involve going all the way to Herne Hill to eat alone in Pizza Express and then come back to Brixton to the library. What if I didn't get served and eat in time? What if the trains weren't regular enough? What if, what if, what if? So I went to Marks and Spencer and bought a salad. This led to another conundrum - I was alone, all the benches at Brixton Oval would have involved sitting with Other People, and I absolutely hate eating in the street, much less eating standing up. So I went across the road to the church yard having spied an empty bench, which I sat on and then realised my error. To my left, a group of hobos drinking cans and making a lot of noise. To my right, a pile of discarded trainers. By this time, I was both hungry and anxious to get into the library to get a good seat so I manned up and ate my M&S food with hobos and old trainers and tried not to sink into despair that I was never at one with my environment - I'm the one eating KFC in St James' Park and M&S in the hobo's churchyard, jeans when everyone's in a frock, a frock when everyone's in their onesie.</div>
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This near despair led me to a corner shop for a Yorkie and a bar for a whisky and coke. As I was alone, I spent my time on Facebook (naturally) and reading about interwar Britain on my kindle. I was the least cool person in the bar by a country mile. </div>
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Finally, it was time to go to the library. I sat in the front row, even though I know this is not cool and even though I know that this is not the done thing. I sat next to an American lady who was a food writer (I know this people despite hating Other People, they do like to speak to me. Everyone else there must have loved Other People because no one else was getting spoken to). I was not the least cool person at the library. People were outwardly very excited. Inside, I was very excited but I like to think I looked cool, a bit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3A82hyphenhypheng1lNN1gIpUwEZrA0nitoO7UgVImhiBOFoGRPHVX8H3WVjF-NTB5V81O7ov9r6LQuufLim-zp6Zms4io2zN1k-XxoFG_-5V9wybxKYX81vtWxwGwVImek7359SmV-gpo3pLuS4/s1600/Book2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3A82hyphenhypheng1lNN1gIpUwEZrA0nitoO7UgVImhiBOFoGRPHVX8H3WVjF-NTB5V81O7ov9r6LQuufLim-zp6Zms4io2zN1k-XxoFG_-5V9wybxKYX81vtWxwGwVImek7359SmV-gpo3pLuS4/s1600/Book2.jpg" height="320" width="177" /></a>Dorothy (feels weird just using her first name) Koomson was excellent - she read twice, answered plenty of questions and then, LOOK! She signed my copy of my favourite book <em>of all time</em> 'The Chocolate Run'. </div>
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And then, she let me have my photo taken with her! </div>
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So fabric, food, alcohol, books and Dorothy Koomson: my night may have been nerdy but my god was it good.Eleanorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01205932768244369773noreply@blogger.com0