First week back to work after six weeks off was a bit of a shock to the system. I struggle with routines, and well I struggle with lots of things that mean fitting into rules and regulations to be honest. I've been trying really hard to get my body clock back to work and school hours. At my natural rythmn I'm wide awake late at night and like a zombie at 8 am, so even earlier is pure hell. The world ticks to another time, so I have to sort myself out every now and then to fit in again. I also missed my girlies and the freedom to do as we pleased every day, but thankfully I have a job and also long weekends with all of them. They had a great time at Grandma's and we had a bit of time to be just us. Now whenever I think give me space if they're driving me nuts I'll try to remind myself how much I hated the peace in our house. I thought come Tuesday night, this is what it'll be like when they leave and I didn't like that reality at all.
Now on to matters of a making nature. Alongside missing my girlies, I kept planning more and more stuff I wanted to make when I had the time to. I also popped in various places and bought a few supplies for Friday stitchery. Rain was planned for today and as I was minding a friend's children while she was at work I thought a home day would do us all good. The girls made video's and then sewed their own felt brooches so all busy bees you see.
As you can see my mind's turned to checks. A real change of direction for me from my usual florals, but since getting my Japanese dress book I've been picturing the designs in checks and more simple patterns.
I also popped into a certain lady's shop and grabbed a couple of bits that I'd fallen for. I've been a toadstool fan since reading my first Mabel Lucie Atwell annual aged six and feel drawn to most designs. Little Bun had talked me out of buying a toadstool bag before as she said it was too expensive (when you have an 11 year old moral conscience shopping with you it can be disconcerting). Buying teatowels at more than half the price, I reasoned, was a blinking good plan. I also just had to have the brooch too, especially as it was the last one.
I didn't buy these teatowels for the job intended neither you know. I had a plan to turn them into my own bag, a Happy Shopper bag to be exact. Once breakfast was done and dusted I got going, along with a sleepy Lily kitten who flopped in an exhausted heap for company.
A wee while later the bag I'd pictured in my head was born. I've only added a white trim at the moment, but I feel it still needs something else, maybe red buttons or a flowery brooch, we'll see once I've stared at it for a bit.
This one is most definately a keeper (in case you've got your eye on it my naughty gnome lover pal) and will be used daily methinks as I love it.
I really don't think you can have enough bags, or shoes, or brooches, or rings, so if you can make your own it does make it all a bit better on the purse strings.
Somehow it was quite an industrious morning, just lovely being at home with everyone. Alongside making the Toadstool Happy Bag, I ran up a new top, which to be fair I did cut out the shapes for late last night. I also stitched it the wrong way late last night. This proves my brains too tired for concentrating on stitchery at midnight so I'll not be doing it again as it was tedious unpicking it all this morning.
I went for another Scoop Neck Overblouse in the blue checked seersucker as I loved the shape so much. This time I changed a few things. I left off the neck frills, made the sleeves less full and used a contrasting bias binding tape (I always need a bit of floral somewhere).
With the first top I made for myself I didn't gather the neck up as much either so it scooped across my shoulders. This time I pulled the gathers tight so the neck was as intended. It does drape far better being gathered up properly to be honest.
Now after such a productive stitchy morning we do have some buns I made to munch on, but no other real food. I've made the superb decision of going to get fish and chips and cheesy pies for the non-fishy eaters here so we can put off food shopping for one more day at least.
* quick note to the lady who said hello in JL. I realised on the way home you meant lovely hairdresser Jane, sorry for my vagueness.
Ta ra for now, off in search of unhealthy food.
