Tuesday, 10 January 2017
The Sewcial Media: 2017 My Year of Sewing not Fixing
The Sewcial Media: 2017 My Year of Sewing not Fixing: This year I will be doing more sewing. When Ivy decides something, Ivy does something. I regretted hardly sewing in the last few years. ...
2017 My Year of Sewing not Fixing
This year I will be doing more sewing.
When Ivy decides something, Ivy does something.
I regretted hardly sewing in the last few years. I actually am an expert sewer (sewist? Better?). I even made my own wedding dress! I have been sewing for forty years, ever since my grandmother taught me. She taught me everything I know. I have never been to a single evening class to learn sewing.
However in recent years
I have always only done the necessary. I did not bother making things which were merely decorative. Hence, I only made curtains, sofa covers, mended jeans, hemmed skirts, children's clothes, costumes, patched children's jeans, alter things - shirts, sleeves, hems and so on. The fixer. There was always a deadline. There was a reason. A practical, down to earth reason. It is needed, and it is needed now.
But this year I want to make something beautiful, stop being a fixer and become a creator. That is the first aim.
Now my first project
really, really should be a vintage dress. I bought the pattern already from Tesco Extra from the magazine stand (one of those magazines which caught my eye). It was an impulse buy, agreed. I will go for the one on the right (the third one, long sleeved). I like the the first one too but at my age it will look very auntie-ish. It would suit a young girl. You have been warned.
Second reason I need to sew: I am having anxiety attacks. This is due to doing crowdfunding my book. It is not for the faint-hearted. I'm finding it very tough. Although I am around 5 weeks in, and 41% funded, I do not know if and when my book is fully funded. I am human, after all, and people who buy books are human. No robot or machine can predict the outcome. Sewing is very calming, did anybody ever mention that? True.
Third reason: After I had focussed at losing weight and sobering up, I am back to square one. Over the Christmas and New Year break, I put back on the 2 kg I fought hard to lose since September. It's alcohol and chocolates, I know it is. Three months' work down the drain. Sewing will not exactly help me lose weight but it will keep me from gaining weight, let's put it that way.
When Ivy decides something, Ivy does something.
I regretted hardly sewing in the last few years. I actually am an expert sewer (sewist? Better?). I even made my own wedding dress! I have been sewing for forty years, ever since my grandmother taught me. She taught me everything I know. I have never been to a single evening class to learn sewing.
However in recent years
I have always only done the necessary. I did not bother making things which were merely decorative. Hence, I only made curtains, sofa covers, mended jeans, hemmed skirts, children's clothes, costumes, patched children's jeans, alter things - shirts, sleeves, hems and so on. The fixer. There was always a deadline. There was a reason. A practical, down to earth reason. It is needed, and it is needed now.
But this year I want to make something beautiful, stop being a fixer and become a creator. That is the first aim.
Now my first project
really, really should be a vintage dress. I bought the pattern already from Tesco Extra from the magazine stand (one of those magazines which caught my eye). It was an impulse buy, agreed. I will go for the one on the right (the third one, long sleeved). I like the the first one too but at my age it will look very auntie-ish. It would suit a young girl. You have been warned.
Second reason I need to sew: I am having anxiety attacks. This is due to doing crowdfunding my book. It is not for the faint-hearted. I'm finding it very tough. Although I am around 5 weeks in, and 41% funded, I do not know if and when my book is fully funded. I am human, after all, and people who buy books are human. No robot or machine can predict the outcome. Sewing is very calming, did anybody ever mention that? True.
Third reason: After I had focussed at losing weight and sobering up, I am back to square one. Over the Christmas and New Year break, I put back on the 2 kg I fought hard to lose since September. It's alcohol and chocolates, I know it is. Three months' work down the drain. Sewing will not exactly help me lose weight but it will keep me from gaining weight, let's put it that way.
Sunday, 8 January 2017
How to Make a Shark Pencil Case FREE PATTERN template
"Oh the shark has... pearly teeth, dear... and he shows them... pearly white!" so goes Bobby Darin. This song is from an opening scene from my novel Heart of Glass. It is the inspiration behind this cute shark pencil case.
Level of competence - Intermediate and up. But don't be put off. The whole thing is really good for your brain as you have to think from inside out all the time before you actually invert the damned thing.
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| Holy schmoke! He's got cigars! |
You will need:
2 fat quarters
a 6 inch industrial zip (pearly teeth, dear)
2 buttons around 1" diameter
Sewing machine, thread, scissors, pins, you know, basically the works.
NOTE: the pattern here is to scale already. Make sure you print each at A4 size. Allow for 1 cm seam allowance, not included in the pattern.
My son likes Escher, so I used an Escher cube geometric design fat quarter which he chose, and a Japanese net design that he also chose. It was a nice thing to do with him. He is very good at cutting and pinning. I did the machining but everything else, like inverting and joining up, he could do well.
1. Cut out all the templates and pin them to the fabric right sides together, and cut allowing 1 cm allowance in addition to the paper templates.
2. Make the tail and fins first. Right side (RS) to right side, sew. Snip the notches and invert the shapes. Stay stitch.
3. Fitting the zip. I hate doing this by machine, so I handsewed it. Pin two of the body RS together, sandwich the top fin between them. Places the bottom of the curved edge of the in 1 and 5/8 inch down from the longer straight edge of the body. Stitch the pinned seam.
4. Join the remaining body today, but leave out the fin.
5. Place top edge of one joined body RS together with the zip, positing it centrally along the zip. Stitch into place. Snip notches and turn RS out. Iron at this point if you wish and if you are a perfectionist (like me). Otherwise you can just carry on but it won't be neat and flat.
6. Repeat and pin the other joined body to other side of the zip. Stitch. Zips are tricky. Just make sure they are lined up and perfectly level. Otherwise you will have a headache later on and you have to unpick. We don't like unpicking, right?
7. Place one lining piece RS together with one joined body piece. Sew to the zip along the same seam. Create a sandwich of body, zip, lining. Repeat with the other lining piece and the other joined outer body.
8. Pin RS side fins together with one joined body piece. At the bottom of the curved edge put each side fin 1 and 1/4 inches down from the zip.
9. Place the two joined body section RS together. Now the fins are sandwiched. Sew and close the tail end.
10. Stitch the lining pieces RS together leaving a 2 inch gap on one seam.
11. Using this gap, invert the pencil case, pushing the lining to the inside.
12. Sew the buttons on. In my case, I sprayed them antique gold (they are fabric covered buttons but they were white and I don't have black spray or black buttons). Anyway the boss said it looks fine.
13. Now fill it with goodies and admire your work of teeth-gnashing art. Impress fellow users at the British library or a cafe of your choice where you are working!
Monday, 12 December 2016
New 90 DAY CYCLE - CROWDFUNDING MY BOOK!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the 90 day SSS cycle from Joe Wicks. However, it must be some kind of crazy coincidence - but I am now starting a new regime - yes, I am a masochist!I am crowdfunding with Unbound, a publishing imprint of Penguin Random House. More on this here.
My book is a pacy, modern 1980s literary thriller set in Chicago and Macau. I need to crowdfund it because the voice of an ethnic minority like mine is under-represented in the world of English fiction. I am after all a post-colonial writer. I am not only writing in my second language, I am writing about immigrants.
I am well pleased with the results of the 90 day SSS and I am feeling light and agile. I feel revived and energetic and that I am able to take on something as demanding as crowdfunding.
I have no problem doing more than twenty or thirty sit-ups now. Plank - I can do 2 minutes. Push ups are more an issue. I think of the men's style one, 10 is plenty and I can do about 20 of the 'women's style'. I love the exercises which are all standard stuff, it's like being in school again. I can't stand Zumba or barre fitness or any of these crossover categories with banging music. If I am doing ballet, I am doing ballet, none of this mixed exercises.
Oh you have to ignore my puckered or wrinkly tummy. There is nothing to be done about this except tummy tuck. This is what a tummy looks like after giving birth twice! The skin is permanently stretched.
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
CYCLE THREE: 90 day SSS Pop the Cork! I am at the end of my training now!
So I am in a routine now, it's been quite stable. Never had I cheated on the exercise, I always did the four times a week exercise even if it is already late at night or if I am tired.
Weight has stabilised at 47.4 kg but it would be nice to go down to 46 something. This is because once you lose weight you feel very light and energetic. You will be less tired and will have even more energy to work, play, think. I am more productive and alert than I had ever been.
Cheats
The only areas I cheated was with sugar and alcohol. I will never be able to go for three months without white carbs or sugar or alcohol. That is my heartline. I am absolutely crazy about donuts, croissants, cake, chocolates, Prosecco. Once I touch it, that's it. I have to keep going and finish it, even if I am actually cutting down on the amount. For example. I allow myself a croissant every week rather than every day. Plus there have been birthdays, celebrations. Alcohol I am allowing myself once a week.
Once you touch alcohol and sugary snacks, you feel tired and lethargic and so the cycle begins again.
Weights and multitasking
I find this section very dull but luckily there are periods of rest as long as 1.5 minutes which I use wisely in reading novels or doing household chores. So the dullness is only in short bursts. I am just putting up with it because it is part of the routine. In this cycle, the actual total time of exercise is shorter, i.e. 35 minutes in total, so one can't complain. Previously in Cycle Two it was taking up to between 45 and 55 minutes and so many resting periods that I was folding laundry. I worked out that in a 45 seconds rest period you can fold 3 items of clothing. Guys, don't join a gym. You will never be able to do what I am doing, which is multitask to the max when exercising. Thank you Joe. I will be ironing during the long periods of rest next. Don't tell me people just stare into space for 1.5 minutes. I read about three pages of a gripping novel or if it's artsy and hard to get into, I read one to two pages.
The end is the beginning
Now that I am in Cycle Three, I feel like this is the beginning, not the end. I also have become quite philosophical about food and healthy living. It is a sustainable way of living. I will be costing the NHS less as I take responsibility over my own well-being and my family's of course.
Here is the most recent photo. In two weeks the three cycles would be finished. I will be celebrating!
Weight has stabilised at 47.4 kg but it would be nice to go down to 46 something. This is because once you lose weight you feel very light and energetic. You will be less tired and will have even more energy to work, play, think. I am more productive and alert than I had ever been.
Cheats
The only areas I cheated was with sugar and alcohol. I will never be able to go for three months without white carbs or sugar or alcohol. That is my heartline. I am absolutely crazy about donuts, croissants, cake, chocolates, Prosecco. Once I touch it, that's it. I have to keep going and finish it, even if I am actually cutting down on the amount. For example. I allow myself a croissant every week rather than every day. Plus there have been birthdays, celebrations. Alcohol I am allowing myself once a week.
Once you touch alcohol and sugary snacks, you feel tired and lethargic and so the cycle begins again.
Weights and multitasking
I find this section very dull but luckily there are periods of rest as long as 1.5 minutes which I use wisely in reading novels or doing household chores. So the dullness is only in short bursts. I am just putting up with it because it is part of the routine. In this cycle, the actual total time of exercise is shorter, i.e. 35 minutes in total, so one can't complain. Previously in Cycle Two it was taking up to between 45 and 55 minutes and so many resting periods that I was folding laundry. I worked out that in a 45 seconds rest period you can fold 3 items of clothing. Guys, don't join a gym. You will never be able to do what I am doing, which is multitask to the max when exercising. Thank you Joe. I will be ironing during the long periods of rest next. Don't tell me people just stare into space for 1.5 minutes. I read about three pages of a gripping novel or if it's artsy and hard to get into, I read one to two pages.
The end is the beginning
Now that I am in Cycle Three, I feel like this is the beginning, not the end. I also have become quite philosophical about food and healthy living. It is a sustainable way of living. I will be costing the NHS less as I take responsibility over my own well-being and my family's of course.
Here is the most recent photo. In two weeks the three cycles would be finished. I will be celebrating!
Wednesday, 2 November 2016
CYCLE TWO: Week 4 Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
So despite the dullness of doing weights, I have been doing well and then came half term. We went away for a night. It was wonderful staying at the Marriott in Swindon.
During half term, I ate out for about three days. I had pizza express, burger at Five Guys, alcohol,
Krispy Kreme (it was Halloween),
the works. It was the best Krispy Kreme I ever had and I had to buy three because that is about 13p cheaper than buying singles.
Even so, I blame my children who knew my weakness and worked on it, leading me down the path of temptation of eating monster sweets. From sweat to sweets. From burpees to bloatees.
And look who's sorry now. Just over three meals I managed to put on 1.7kg. And of course the big tummy was back. It loves me and always finds the first opportunity to return.
Such hard work gone down the drain. So I am starting my spartan regime again. Low carb, low sugar, low fat, high protein meals such as cauliflower and lentil curry on a bed of spinach:
Today is Week 4 of my CYCLE TWO. I am finding weights very boring. I was better when it was just Cardio HIITs. So not perfect but I am still trying hard and not giving up.
During half term, I ate out for about three days. I had pizza express, burger at Five Guys, alcohol,
Krispy Kreme (it was Halloween),
the works. It was the best Krispy Kreme I ever had and I had to buy three because that is about 13p cheaper than buying singles.
Even so, I blame my children who knew my weakness and worked on it, leading me down the path of temptation of eating monster sweets. From sweat to sweets. From burpees to bloatees.
And look who's sorry now. Just over three meals I managed to put on 1.7kg. And of course the big tummy was back. It loves me and always finds the first opportunity to return.
Such hard work gone down the drain. So I am starting my spartan regime again. Low carb, low sugar, low fat, high protein meals such as cauliflower and lentil curry on a bed of spinach:
Or smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and avocado:
It has taken me a full five days to lose 0.3 of the 1.7 kg I gained.
Today is Week 4 of my CYCLE TWO. I am finding weights very boring. I was better when it was just Cardio HIITs. So not perfect but I am still trying hard and not giving up.
Thursday, 13 October 2016
1927 Vintage Flapper Velvet Dress FREE PATTERN
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