New sewing project with a dash of self confidence boosting.

Sorry things have been quiet here recently. I have rediscovered Tumblr. Actually I have distanced myself a little from blogs and Instagram recently. I started to feel like they were effecting my self confidence. When you have these perfect lives, styles and bodies thrust at you every waking hour of the day, you start to question yourself. I know deep down that these bloggers and Instagramers only show the best parts of their, lives much like I tend to do. But I really did feel like it was having an effect on how I felt about myself and my life. It also changed the way I started to blog. I wanted to use this space to document things in my life and to share it with like minded people. Instead I started to focus on how I could look like these perfect people and have lives like them. Does that make sense? I hope it does.

Tumblr for me is more of a safe place full of fandoms. They give me a warm feeling and make me proud of myself and my interests. Although I know I use my fangirl ways as a type of escapism, it doesn't effect or decrease my self esteem, it actually makes me feel far more content and happy.

Anyway, this was meant to be about some sewing I have done this weekend, bit of a heavy start to the post huh?

So this year I have gotten my sewing machine out a few times, after years of it sitting lonely in a box in my parents loft. I made a skirt earlier in the year which you can see here.

I had planned on making more, but I sort of forgot about it. I have been so desperate for some just plain coloured circle skirts to wear with t-shirts and jumpers, basically an all year round skirt. If I do find ones I like, and that's a big if. They are usually far too short. Or if they are long enough the fabric is usually horrible or the pattern or colour isn't to my taste. So basically although I have searched long and hard I really haven't had much luck. I know exactly how I can fix this and have something that is perfect, I know I can make them really easily, but you know.... I'm pretty lazy haha!

This weekend I had, had enough. I wanted to wear some at work with clear tights and t-shirts as it gets so warm in here. So Saturday I popped to the fabric shop and picked up two colours and on Sunday I got to it!

I had my pattern from my previous skirt, which I had altered length wise so that cut a lot of time off compared to the first one I made. I was too safe and made it far too long, and after washing the fabric I got straight into it!

I picked a lovely hot pink colour for the summer, I also thought with black it could add a real pop of colour to miserable cold days too. Again this one was far too big round my waist like the first one I made, I believe it is to do with cutting it on the bias of the fabric. One website suggests making the pattern smaller but I didn't alter that as I thought it was far more easy to cut some extra off than try and add some if it was too small.

The skirt came together really easily and the waist band looked really good on it too. I was so happy with the end result!

I also picked a charcoal grey colour with a hint of blue to it. Both fabrics were a thick jersey material. I like this material as it flows nicely and doesn't cling and has a good weight to it. But it is also super soft and comfy so will be great on warm days and casual days (which are most days for me at work).

This skirt was a little trickier to sew. The pink fabric was stiffer and had a texture to it, where as this one was very soft and more stretchy which meant the ends kept rolling up and was harder to control. I took my time with this one more and I was happy with the result.

The only thing I wasn't as happy with was the waist band as you can see the seam through the fabric, but that doesn't matter too much as I tend to wear my tops over the top of the waist band.

This one also came out too large as well, and i discovered its actually easier to sew the waist band on and then cut it afterwards as I know the waistband is a good fit.

I am really happy with the end results, and I am also really happy to have something that is the exact length, colours and style I want. The price also isn't too bad. One reason I am reluctant at times to make my own clothes is it can cost considerably more. But these two cost me just under £30 and that was for 2 meters of fabric each, I think if I did it again I would only need 1.5 meters. 

I am super happy with these, and I hope you agree but I think they look fab with a t-shirt or even a jumper style top (FYI the top at the top with the cherries is my absolute favourite!). I don’t have any plans at the moment to make more but I will be keeping an eye out for fabric. Also if you made it to the end (kudos to you) and know of anywhere that sells jersey geeky fabric then please PLEASE point me in that direction as I would love to make some Star Trek, or Walking Dead  or or or… to be honest with my list is huge so please do send me a link!

I did mention in my previous post, but please do check out AnnikaVictoria’s YourTube channel, this is where I found the tutorial to make these! She has LOADS of amazing videos and idea to get you DIY-ing! 

I really hope to do some more sewing this year, including two cosplay ideas! Fingers crossed I can be less lazy for the second half of the year ha!

Lets start again with a new week.

So I was unwell last week, struck down with a hideous cold. I was SO thirsty and tired and by Sunday evening my throat was hurting and I felt ill.

I went into work Monday and that was ok, I was late in because of an appointment but by the evening I felt pretty rough. I was off Tuesday and only did a half day Wednesday. No Gym and comfort ate all week! UGH! Did not need to get such a terrible cold right now.

I am however feeling much better and thank goodness my nose has finally stopped running.

This weekend has been usually busy for us, but a productive one. I started sewing again hurrah!

I've been looking for a year or so for just some plain skater skirts. I just want some simple colours that I can wear through the winter and summer. Can I find any? NOPE... they are either horrible colours or too short or too clingy or bunchy. Something so simple has been impossible to find. 

While in town I visited the fabric shop and this time I actually left with something. It was a spur of the moment buy, but I want to start sewing again this year so I thought why not start with a skirt!??

I followed a YouTube video and started to make my skirt. It was REALLY easy actually. I picked a stretch fabric that was a nice heavy weight so it will lay nicely and not cling too much. It meant it would be easy to make too no need for a zip. 

I really regretted buying the fabric, I was convinced I would screw it up. I did have a few hiccups along the way but I am SO SO pleased with the final result. 

I love how it looks with T-Shirt type tops, I love this kind of geeky yet girly look. It works so well with the grey and black too! 

I am also really pleased how it looks with jumpers too. The fabric lays very nicely and it isn't TOO clingy so if I wanted to tuck my top in I think I could! I usually end up untucking them though as I find them uncomfortable though. 

I want to make a grey skirt too, so I might look for some fabric in the week to do that. Then I will have a nice selection to wear with different outfits! 

I haven't sewn in YEARS and my machine was so dusty and dirty, but I was surprised how quickly I picked it up again! I am hoping to show off some handmade dresses at some point this year!

So although this weekend WHIZZED by and I feel like I missed most of it, at least I have been super productive woo!

2015 update 1 month in!

2015 update as this is the year when things will be amazing!

Well so far 2015 has been a bit bumpy. I think January is always a hard month, it is dark and cold. The year ahead seems never ending and a pressure to save money and lose weight after Christmas is all a bit over whelming. I have not lost my Christmas weight which annoys me.! However I have managed to save a considerable amount of money. When I get paid in 3 weeks I should be able to pay off my big credit card and also my smaller one. That leaves me with a tiny over draft which is very manageable. This is pretty exciting, but at the same time I have all this money just sitting in a savings account and I know that in a months’ time it will be gone and I will have nothing to show for it. The idea of moving out has always been far away that it’s always been a conversation of, well in the future blah blah blah! But now it’s soo close (5 months tops) and things are moving we are actually buying house things and starting to plan, but it also feels TOO far away!

In April I will start saving money, and that money will be used to rent myself a flat and not plugged into debt. I know it is the right thing to do and wait as this time next year when I am debt free and hopefully have some savings and also have my own flat I will be so pleased I did it. Otherwise I could be sitting here with my own flat, no savings and still having debt hanging over my head!

So after I have moved out I know want to have my FIRST proper holiday with Matt. I have decided I like the look of Menorca. I spent the weekend obsessing and picking a nice hotel. The likely hood that we be able to afford this is October is probably pretty low, but it has cheered me up having another plan and something else to really look forward to. I just cannot wait to have my money to spend in the present and not pushing it into things I bought years ago and most likely was a waste of money.

So this week is my EATING WELL starting point (although I say this every week haha) I have just over a month until Matt’s birthday and I want to get back down to what I was before Christmas. It is only 5-6 lbs so it is very doable!

I have treated myself last week to a few new items which I thought I would write about on here too!

What annoys me at the moment too is how people chirp is and go ‘OOH WHY ARE YOU BUYING THAT YOU ARE SAVING’…. 1. It’s not your business how I spend my money even if I am saving. 2. I actually got all of these bits with my Christmas money and vouchers…..

I got this LOVELY shirt in the sale in New Look with my voucher. I love the fit and the colour and it’s so comfy, I just love checked shirts when it is a bit warmer.

I then got this skirt from Topshop. My old denim skirt had to retired when I dropped 2-3 skirt sizes alas. So I am very happy to finally find one I really like and is partial all year round! It is a little tighter than what I would usually wear but I love it, a new style to get used to!

And this is a top I had seen in Debenhams, I fell in love with it and I’m not even really sure why. It looks comfy and I adore the colours in it! It thought it would be great for spring, cooler evenings in summer and autumn so something I plan to get a lot of wear out of!

So that is how 2015 is going. Money wise… VERY good and new goals to hit this year! I really hope I can achieve all this, this year!