Anna, Anna, Vogue, remake retro

After launching myself into Me Made May 2014 (#MMM14) without much thought or review of my hand made wardrobe, I fared much better than expected with a rather successful 30/31 days. One day off for feeling icky, and that was before I’d made the pj pants. Well done, I say!

Self drafted and screen printed skirt, vogue, remake skirt, skirt I made 14 years ago

One of the things I really enjoyed was trying out some new patterns, plus Sew Indie Month has just started for June so I may have unintentionally progressed towards this months challenge, but suspect I won’t really make the dead lines. My favourites were the Coco dress by Tilly and the Buttons (I now have 3) and the Belcarra Blouse from Sewaholic. I’ve just deconstructed my favourite a-line skirt made from 1920’s silk that I made 15 years a go but no longer fits. I’ve done some quick calculations and with a contrast sleeve, it shall refashioned into a blouse. I love the word blouse. “I wore a blouse today.” So much fancier than wearing a shirt or a top. Blouse. Going to add that to my list of favourite words, including allure and homoglebin (the last is a word I made up accidentally when talking to a paediatrician in hospital and I said it with such confidence that it was a few minutes before we figured out I had in fact meant haemoglobin. I’m sure it could be added to the medical dictionary).  ButI digress….

Cambie, Lady Skater, Skirt made 14 years ago, self drafted skirt from vintage dress

Also the sewing community on instagram which I mentioned in last weeks post. Getting acknowledgement/recognition/affirmation of ones sewing skills on IG is very interactive, doesn’t take a huge amount of effort like signing in or adding your details for commenting, and is so much better than just seeing the stats behind the scenes on your blog that are just numbers without faces. Not that I don’t want people reading my blog, of course I do! It’s just there is a certain level of anonymity there. Although I know when my bestie in Berlin reads my blog, because the stats say “1 view Germany”. Love it.

Lady Skater, Anna, Anna, Lady Skater

What I really didn’t enjoy was the self portraits required each morning (selfies sounds too Paris Hilton for my liking…..). Every morning between organising breakfast, seeing to lunches, doing an underpants audit (seriously, B2 is notorious for trying to go to school sans underpants. Don’t ask…) and trying to put on lipstick so I don’t look like a corpse and then trying to avoid the double chin. So difficult. But, needs must as Sylvie would say. I do admit to having Bruce take some photo’s on the last day because it was Saturday. However due to a number of unfortunate external factors, including respective moods, I rejected them and took one last snap in the mirror. Nostalgia and all. Plus my creepy doll got in on the action. She was part of the experience. There was also a bear bum photobombing below if you look carefully. Not it’s best angle…..

Anna, Belcarra, Parjie crotchet, Belcarra

So, it was a happy #MMM14. I’ve had some lovely comments on my outfits and the only real gap I’ve identified in my wardrobe is a need for more black opaque tights. Lots of them. Saving up to go to Wolford.

Coco, self drafted skirt and screen print t, french lace Anna, Lady Skater

Next week I’m going to share some of my sewing tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the past 15 years of sewing. Some you might know, some I’ve only recently discovered in the last couple of months and then wondered how ever did I survive without knowing them before.

Coco, Vogue, self drafted skirt, self knitted top

Here’s to happy sewing days.

Self drafted pi’s, vogue with spesh dying, indigo dyed scarf, vintage Anna.

Curtsey.

Pips.

PS if you have any of your own super sewing tips, leave a comment and I’ll be sure to include them in next weeks post and link them back to you.