Been ages since I did a makeover update. The other month all of my black jeans decided to expire – as you can imagine that made me very grumpy since I’d just cleared out most of my clothes. It meant jean shopping… what I find the most intimidating of shopping adventures.

I was against buying the same cheap black trousers because I figured a couple of months down the line I’d be writing a pretty much identical post to this. I decided to use it as an opportunity to add a little bit of colour into my wardrobe and went for these coppery coloured trousers instead. I’m really chuffed with them. They’re comfortable, easy to look after and they’re different.

I’m making an effort to add a few new colours and patterns to my daily outfits, accessorizing a little differently too. I braved some stripey hand made legwarmers the other week and I’ve started bringing out the odd pair of shoes I tend to overlook in the mornings. It’s becoming fun finding new ways to wear old things. It’s cheaper too.

Sorry I’ve been quiet! It’s been a busy but very fun weekend. Tom’s 30th, parties, cowboys, visiting friends, being visited by friends, drinking weird beer, late night fires, working at the cinema and then tidying and eating expensive ham and chocolate biscuits (not together)! mmmmm….

A little D.I.Y project for the house. I’ve got enough fabric for a couple of chairs – I just need the chairs now.

Another little project I finished this morning is my mouse (it’s quite big so possibly a rat) tea cosy. I found the pattern for free here- there are some amazing patterns on that blog. I saw one during my last visit up to Orkney in someones window and wanted it. So it was a bit of a surprise when I came across a pattern so quickly – I didn’t even own a teapot when I started making it. Funny what knitting will make you do… I’m going to alter the eyes a little – bigger beads are needed I think.

An update on the make over mission! Finding comfortable and well fitting top layers are tricky and when you do find one a year or so down the line, when it’s beginning to look a little worse for wear, you start to wish you’d bought 1 or 2 spares. Well I’m prepared this time. I found a lovely lightweight, well fitting jumper with pretty button detail on the back – good for layering as the seasons cool down but I can imagine it’ll be quite comfortable when it heats up again too. Plenty of room to move about, sit and stand and still feel smart and relaxed in. So anyway, I bought 3 – different colours of course (black – basic requirement, teal, dark dusty pink) but essentially the same jumper 3 times round. Today I’m being brave and wearing the dusty pink one…

I’ve started wearing skirts again, which means I’ve been on the hunt for some new winter legs (and by this I mean tights). I found these pretty tights in New Look – somewhere I never thought to go for tights BUT they’re actually really affordable and they have a big selection too. I tend to wear block colours and the textured tights break up the outfit a little and add some well needed pattern and detail – win win!

I’m slowly getting my head round all this and I still have a couple of tatty things in the cupboard I need to pluck up the courage to part with. It was a nice feeling waking up today with 3 lovely new items of clothing to choose from instead of thinking “I’ll wear whatever’s clean and dark”. Progress? I think so.

We have a table! We wanted a double drop leaf table so we could use it as a breakfast bar most days but have the extra optional table space if anyone visits. Right now though we only have one chair so we have to take it in turns.

Our sofa is drowning under cushions and I refuse to get rid of any of them – no matter how much of a faff it can be sometimes to sit down.

And illya is loving her hideously pink and fluffy cushion cover. I cheap alternative to the expensive sheep skin rugs that were at the old house. I think she assumed they were siblings because they got cleaned and nibbled from time to time. I was going to get her one so she had a little bit of comfort during the move but when I saw the price tag I did a little shudder. Fortunately I found this tough pink monstrosity and it’s living up perfectly to it’s cat mat job.

It’s begun…

In my last post I mentioned my current wardrobe crisis and what I thought I should do about it. Your wonderful positive feedback and stories have encouraged me to commit to this project and this post marks the beginning. Not the most beautiful picture to begin an adventure with but the most meaningful (and believe it or not those bags are big and heavy – they look so tiny in this picture!). I’ve also removed 4 coats from my cupboards, one of them had bus tickets from the start of 2010, so you can tell how long it’s been since I last wore it – it’s time to go! I’ve gathered most* of the guilty of being unflattering and worn out clothes and sorted them into bin or charity bags. I’m ready.

*Throwing out stuff is hard… and I’ll be honest with you – there are still a couple of offending items remaining in my drawers. They will be replaced but I’m predicting this adventure as a slow and thoughtful one. I don’t expect one or 2 shopping trips to solve my little battle with fashion. I’m preparing myself for those difficult and annoying times ahead. So I decided it was probably a good idea to keep hold of a couple of tatty basics until I find their well fitting replacements – otherwise I’ll have nothing to wear – and that will be even more stressful!

I will try and do a couple of ‘make over’ related posts every week (at least one) but you never know, some weeks might be a lot slower than others. I am really looking forward to sharing all this with you and I hope you enjoy the ride and find little bits of it inspiring and/or entertaining.

Beginners luck: I found this beautiful skirt yesterday. It fits like a charm, it’s comfortable and easy to clean. That’s another important ‘must’ for my new wardrobe, I don’t want to get things that need to be dry cleaned. I can’t afford it and I don’t really have the time – plus I sometimes feel a little bit nervous wearing them out and about because I’m frightened I’ll drop or spill something on them. I’m clumsy so it’s inevitable. Anyway, I’m pleased as punch with my new purchase… bring on the rest!

On a more house related note we got the BEST housewarming gift from Tom’s sister (THANK YOU SO MUCH!) the other day. Check out this handmade beauty!!!! I LOVE IT! It even has a tiny illya on it!

I made one of these yesterday! It’s probably the first time I’ve made it my mission to hunt down the yarn recommended in a pattern. Same colour, same everything. And I’m so pleased with the result. The pattern is in the Simple Knitting book I mentioned in this post (about the cushion cover I was working on – which I also just finished, pictured below).

Sorry for the grainy picture – it’s quite a dark room.

I seem to be prepping for a winter that feels like it’ll never come – The suns shining and we’ve been forecast a warm start to October… sigh… I’m really not a big fan of summer – I’m in my comfort zone when it’s cold and fresh. I went out and bought a new winter coat yesterday too hoping in some way that might influence a sudden and dramatic change in the seasons. Nothing so far.

I’m also having a bit of a wardrobe crisis. It’s full… and I don’t like any of it anymore… . Nothing fits properly and there are very few things I can wear and say honestly that I feel comfortable and like me wearing them. Other than take the offending items to the charity shops I can’t really see how to get out of the rut. I think I need a bit of a makeover but I don’t know where to start. I’ve never found it easy replacing bad clothes with good ones. A lot of the time fashion and current trends are against me and my body shape – this is a battle I’m very familiar with. I’m going to make it my mission to introduce some changes and it’ll probably help to document and blog about what these changes are and how the makeover’s going… So fingers crossed this works and I keep my camera on me at all times…

I’ll keep you posted!

I’m back! Armed with some pictures of my new studio and our sleeping room. Looking back I wish I’d dug my camera out and taken some before and after photos because we’ve done a little decorating since we moved in last week. Our bedroom walls were a mixture of mid blue and “Almond” cream – It was like sleeping in a block of blue cheese. Below is an example of the previous colour scheme but in person the blue was stronger and darker… The whole back wall and the alcove (where the book case now stands) were that blue colour and the rest of the walls were the overly warm cream… *shudder* But this is a tale with a happy ending because as you can see from the pictures all those colours are gone and the room feels clean and spacious!

The room I’m using at the studio also had a strange colour combo going on. The walls were lilac and deep dark purple. Now for anyone who has visited the projection rooms where I work at Broadway will know they’re also dark and purple. Working at home would’ve felt too much like being at my other job and I don’t think that would’ve been good for the brain. We got rid of the darker purple and ideally I would’ve liked to remove the lilac too but we have a huge wardrobe in that spare room (which has come in handy because we have lots of stuff!) and it would’ve been too much of a mission to rattle everything about. I’ve come to terms with the lilac now and I have covered most of it in pictures and postcards.

It’s such a good feeling having so much space put aside for making and creating. I’ll take some snaps of the rest of the house to show you in my next post.

PS – my Etsy shop is now open!

I’m causing chaos to my work space by “organising” EVERYTHING. I’m moving house in 8 days (eeeek) and I’ve been covered in dust for 2. I think it’s going well :)

This does mean my shop will close its doors for a week or 2 until we arrange the broadband and work space at the other end. I’ll keep you up dated on here. The shop will close on WEDNESDAY 31ST – my last post office day will be THURSDAY 1ST.

This is just a quick post because the time has come to edit my shoes… sigh…

My drawings start off really scruffy and by the time I’m armed with a pen they look awful! I’ve mentioned in previous posts about how I try to be a perfectionist when it comes to doodling in sketchbooks and I find it really tricky to let my hair down, so to speak, and just draw. But it’s a really nice feeling when a picture you almost give up on  turns into something your’re really pleased with. I think what I’m trying to say is: Scruffy is good.

And now there is a new print in the shop :)