Mayday bank holiday reflections

What a lovely weekend this has been, filled with almost all my favourite things - Bristol, sewing, knitting, sunshine.  And for a change, I thought to get the camera out and take a few snaps. 

I was approached by a friend at work, wondering if I sew.  She knew that I am craft crazy, having once been to my flat and seen the oodles of yarn and fibre spilling out of bags.  She is getting married, on a fairly tight budget, and was looking for someone to help make bridesmaids dresses.  I think the intent was to get me to make one dress, but somewhere along the way, I've seemed to have taken on all three.  Not sure how that happened.  And here's where it gets interesting.  I don't actually own a sewing machine...  But I know loads of people who do, and I've always been tempted to get one, "when I have more space" was the logic for postponing this step, but that's all changed now.  Especially as someone else has approached me to make his daughter a prom dress.  So all going according to plan, but this time on Wednesday, I should be the proud new owner of a shiney new sewing machine.  So excited.

So my weekend has comprised of a trip up to Bristol to go pattern and fabric shopping for the prom dress on Saturday.  I love Bristol, and am going to be so sad to be leaving it behind  There's just something about it that puts a smile on my face and a little extra energy in my steps.  I really must get round to going up a few more times before I leave.  We had a very successful trip, and a lovely lunch out.

Yesterday, after a lazy start and a little errand running trip into town, I stopped procrastinating and made a start on the dresses.  I insisted on making trial dresses for all of the bridesmaids, and I'm really glad I did, because the pattern has a lot of positive ease, and they found the dresses (made according to the measurements I was give) way too big.  I've finally had all the pinned trials back and made a start on cutting out the real fabric.

This consisted of turning my tiny little flat into a sweat shop.  I have next to no room to layout even half of the eight and a half meters of fabric I've been given.  I managed but gently folding and draping around my ironing board.

 

Several hours (8-10, I lost track!) later, I was left with three little labelled piles.  And one very large pile of scraps.

 And a tip for all you out there, I would advise you *not* to cut out three dresses, back to back on your floor.  It's like some sort of weird yoga.  I ache everywhere today!

And today, after a very lazy start and lie in, I went for a wonder round Ninesprings.  The little area of Yeovil that looks like it should inspire fairy tales and other enchanted things.  And it was alive!  Life everywhere.  Yet at the same time tranquil.  And so sunny.  And of course, there was knitting in the sunshine. What more could I ask for.

There were some amazing reflections in the lake.  Kinda makes me want to get more into photography.  But for now I'll stick with the knitting, spinning, felting, dying and sewing!

Rules, what rules?

As y'all can probably tell, it's gone one in the morning and I'm only just starting to think of going to bed. It's all very well, I've decided, making rules, but you have to follow them, and this is where I come undone. I have virtually no self-control.

I'm going to blame Cheltenham. I'm not sleeping very well here at all. It's either too hot (waking up sweating and unable to cool down) or too cold. If it's too hot and I turn down the heater as much as possible and open the window (what a waste of energy!) then it's really noisy as we're on a pretty busy road. What's a girl to do? I had the afternoon off today, and I ended up falling asleep for a couple of hours. I was that tired. Which also probably explains why I'm still awake now. I am getting tired now, so hopefully will manage some good rest.

I spent lots of time buying yarn today, but it wasn't (all) for me. I feel it's a little more justified if I'm helping out a friend, and poor laid up Sarah has really taken to her crochet, so I'm really excited, and have even got her to sign up to Ravelry. I feel slightly less like an absolute nerd when one of my friends is part of it too. Lol, I know that sounds silly but there you are. So I got Sarah some more yarn today, which will be winging it's way to her tomorrow, once I get round to going to the post office. Something which I was going to do this afternoon.

Lalala! Screw it, I refuse to apologise or feel guilty about my nap. I clearly needed it and I enjoyed it. So rules, shmules. For tonight at least.

The fabric shop idea has faded in my mind somewhat as I tried to look it up online today before heading out there, and all I could find out about it was that it sells furniture, upholstry fabric and curtains. So I'm less enthused about the idea of it now. Don't know if I'll bother, which is just as well, as much as I can vaguely justify buying yarn, I really can't justify fabric, I really wouldn't have the time or resources to do anything with it. And driving all the way there just to look is not exactly environmently friendly. So I think it's on the back burner for now. But that may change if I get bored! Lol!

*yawn*, yup definitely time to go to bed now. Nighty-night!