Find your why

This is probably the most common motivation tip that people start with for all things health and fitness. I’ve put “find your why” on my to do list many a time. However, can I really truly grasp it? No. Not really. I can think of loads of reasons why I want to be healthier and …

Make do and Mend charity evening

In what accidentally seems to be shaping up as a year of charity, I was very eager to help when an email popped up from Charlotte inviting me to help at her fundraising evening. Charlotte was raising money for Marie Curie in honour of her mother. She decided to host an evening at my local …

Unicorns!

Upcycled Charity Shop Raid to Victorian Teacher Outfit

Can you believe my colleague said that this look genuinely suited me? I don’t know exactly what she meant, but this is not going to be my look of choice, don’t worry. One of the many joys of being a teacher, is having to dress up on frequent occasions. It used to be so embarrassing …

Back to sewing dresses for my little girl #buildingblockdress

It's been a while since I've made anything for Hazel, I enjoyed every minute of this make! It all started with H rifling through her wardrobe and demanding to wear a dress - for size 12-18 months. I looked at the dress and realised that I thought I may be able to make one fairly …

Nothing to Report

I couldn't believe it when I saw it was May since my last blog. After two years of obsessively sewing, I stopped. I had read of this happening to other people, but now it's my turn. The spark has completely gone out. I made Hazel a birthday dress on auto-pilot. I have had a good …

Mental Health Awareness Week – Part 2: Seven Ways Sewing can help your Mental Well Being (and 4 ways it doesn’t!)

As promised, I thought I would write a second blog for Mental Health Awareness Week on how sewing helps keep me sane. I think sewing really took over just as one of my other obsessions came to an end - horses! I had a gap in my "me-time" that needed filling and sewing seemed to fit …

I’ve just escaped from an institution and I’m on my way to a toga party – How do I look? #sewmystyle

In real life, I find it difficult to hold my tongue. I was elsewhere when "tact" was being issued. In internet land, I try to keep things positive; shine a good light on things. But seriously? This dress was an absolute load of balls. It is the Bridgetown backless dress by Sewhouse7. I made it …

Cow Print A-line dress – My Moovalous World Book Day Make

Hazel's World Book Day outfit happened on a whim. I hadn't planned to make her an outfit at all, but I found myself twiddling my thumbs on the weekend and the idea popped into my head. Her favourite book is "Click Clack Moo" by Doreen Cronin. I've had it for years as I have a …

End of year ramble; minimalism, new year’s resolutions and sewing plans…

People don’t believe me at first when I say I’m not doing Christmas. I’ve “not done it” a few times now. It’s not really a bah humbug thing, but a combination of wanting to make it feel a bit more special and not allowing buying things to take over December. I do meet up with …