Only in the UK...

After returning from a lovely family holiday in Dorset, it struck me when I was unpacking that we had taken (and used!) a vast assortment of items.  From hats and hand warmers, sunglasses, suncream, shorts, skirts to leggings, long boots, fleeces and wellies - almost four seasons in one week.  After the terrible bout of wet weather the UK has experienced in the last month, only 2 wet days out of 7 was marvellous!!

Years of UK holidays when growing up has made me resilient and resourceful and I am reaping the rewards now.  I remember building dams in the drizzle and rain in a Snowdonian stream behind our home for the week - in fact, this was the same holiday where we experienced earth tremors from an earthquake in nearby Porthmadog.  I even remember galloping Miranda- like everywhere when all I could think about was horses and looking forward to going riding on holiday.  It never did me any harm and did wonders for the imagination - this might not be true for kids now as they rely on gadgets, games and gizmos far too much.

Ship ahoy!

and another one!
I seem to have hit a bit of a hiatus on the craft front.  I'm in between crochet projects and have both too many ideas and projects ready to go - I'm not sure what to start first but may opt for an easy project that requires a low level of concentration.

On the sewing side of things, I have just made the brave (code for foolish) decision to embark on a dress that has to be ready for a fast approaching deadline - this was early June but now moved to July.  When you can't find the style or colours you like on the high street, plus not having the budget to blow either, I am going to have to take matters into my own hands.

I love this Simplicity pattern 2927 for either a dress or tunic.  The beauty of the Project Runway patterns is that you can really put your mark on a garment as there are plenty of design tips and almost limitless possibilities.  I even drew up a croquis for this pattern and also for Simplicity 2588 as I was torn between the styles.














I've done much scouring of the shops and internet alike for smart frocks and I was staggered when looking in a local boutique at the prices being charged for the simplest of styles.  On closer inspection, I really find it hard to justify the price when the quality of finishing and sometimes the fabric does not fit the exorbitant price tag.  Anybody would think I was an expert seamstress but I like to think that I have quite exacting standards.

Polished cotton in a sophisticated  black and creamy beige

I've found a gorgeous classic fabric with a paisley design in my local fabric shop and am going to get cracking and cut the pieces out over the next week.  I have to make sure I have plenty of time to pin it and cut it out in the one session - with a little person and three cats on the prowl I have to make it an evening job.  Oh how I would love a hobby room but that's just a distant dream...

I will keep you posted on the progress of this and hopefully will get my crafty mojo back up and running.  If I could only decide whether to make myself a cardigan, finish a hexagonal block cushion or ... I think I may be tempted into making a cardigan for my rapidly growing daughter as this has the added benefit of being smaller therefore quicker gratification.  Oh decisions, decisions ...