Show and Tell

Very quick update before I run back out to work again!


So here's what I did with my me-time Sunday... I made a skirt!

I'm pretty proud of this little cutie, it's the first sewing project that a) I've completed in a day and b) had no help with whatsoever. Squee!  It's from the Sew and Save book, which I highly recommend.  The only thing I'd do differently next time is make it in a fabric with more drape.  And also make it a lot smaller lol, think I'll be taking it in again at the weekend!

The cardi is made by moi also, it's from the Stitch n Bitch book and was the first cardi I ever made.  Obviously, the wonkiness is totally intentional and part of the pattern (I've come along a lot since!).

This outfit's had a lot of compliments today, I was pleased as punch to tell everyone it was almost entirely handmade.  Shoes are vintage '40s from my favourite Vintage V, and the t-shirt's from, umm, Topshop... That's Meg the Bicycle in the background too!

Have you made anything you're really excited about recently?

Jen xxxx

Weekend Round-up

Hi everyone! Hope you've all had lovely weekends :)


I was planning on doing another Saturday Morning Cinema yesterday, but I fell asleep during both movies, oops!  So instead here's a quick round-up of what the weekend had in store for me...


1) I got up super early on Saturday and baked lots of yummy cupcakes to take home for the mamma bear and my sister:

They are so so tasty... I used this recipe for a simple vanilla cupcake and then tried lots of different flavoured buttercreams... there's some mixed with blueberries, some with rose syrup and some with a plum and cinnamon jam (they're definitely my favourites!)  Happily, they went down a storm!

2. My sister needs things to do while her beau is working away, so while we were both together I taught her to knit.  She did really well! After a couple of glasses of wine though, it got a bit silly...

What a cutie :)

3. And finally, I finished my last ever essay for my Masters!!!! Well... I still have my final placement to do, and my dissertation if I want the full award (which I do).  But it's my last 'proper' essay and that's a lovely feeling.  Can't wait to print it off and post it, I think a celebration is in order.

What fun have you been up to this weekend?

Jen xxxx

Getting my knit on...

Despite the ever impending university deadlines, it's not all work work work round here.  I'm having a bit of a knitfest at the moment (my knitting comes in waves of productivity) so I thought I'd show you what's currently on the needles!

As an after Christmas treat, I bought myself a copy of Vintage Knitwear for Modern Knitters.  I'd been tempted with it for a while, but I buy so many pattern books that I kept putting it off.  Finally I gave in and settled into my first project.  It's a lovely little cardigan from the 30s.

Isn't it darling?  Given that most of my knitting happens on the bus between offices, I think it's progressing quite well.  The wool I'm using is more navy than in the photo (silly camera phone!), and I'm  contemplating using a lovely 'Gryffindor Gold' that the ladies in my office gave me as a birthday present for the accents instead of white... any thoughts?

After seeing this beautiful suit, I'm really inspired to go back to another work-in-progress that fell by the wayside.  This is from a lovely little 1940s pattern book that I stumbled upon in a charity shop near my work:

It's lovely but the pattern is very monotonous and I have the world's shortest attention span... I'm about 6 inches in having started it in August.  Oops!

So there's my projects... is anyone else knitting up a storm these days?

Love Jen xxxx

Back in the game...

Phew.

So. Ofsted have gone, my overtime is diminishing and it's Easter. Bring on two weeks of no evening work AND a long weekend to boot!

To celebrate, as soon as my uni seminar was over and done with, I started knitting this. And, if I finish it quickly enough, next week will be spent making this rather awesome creation. Think I'm on a bit of a neck-tie love at the moment; I love neck scarves, but since I got my bow tattooed on the back of my neck I like showing it off, so incorporating cute ties on my sweaters is definitely appealing :) Not having any time to sit down and craft these last few weeks has been quite stressful for me... I need to be making! So there's lots bookmarked on ye faithful macbook and I can't wait. This weekend also finally saw the planting and potting of purple cauliflowers (yay!), chilli peppers and lavender so it's all finally coming together.

I repeat, phew.

On another note, does anyone else watch Lark Rise to Candleford? I watched the last episode today. And I cried. That's mostly thanks to my dear mama though, who teased me by making me think there was a sad ending for my favourite couple. But there wasn't, hurrah!

Right. I have a cup of tea, and 'Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict' waiting for me... see you tomorrow for some peachy keenness!

Jen xxxx