experiments in dressmaking: the tartan dress

Over the last three months I imposed, upon myself, a spending ban on fabric. This is because I've got a big old stash, full of lovely stuff, that wants using (or losing). I started my crusade against the over-flowing stash box with my chambray dress, and this tartan beauty is the follow up...

Like the chambray dress, it's from Tanya Wheelan's Ultimate Dressmaking Guide - basic bodice and gathered skirt but with the addition of capped sleeves and a little white collar. Given my history with zips (and the fact that the last two were disastrous), I opted for a side one and I'm rather pleased with it! It's not invisible (let's not run before we can walk) but it's neat! (Gotta take the little victories.)

The skew-whiff bodice is rather annoying but I can honestly tell you I didn't notice until I'd finished adding the collar (which I redid three times!) and by that point I'd had enough (and that's why I'd never make an good dressmaker). The collar too, is a bone of contention. It really should go all the way round to the back but it was driving me nuts and I just wanted to stop. And that's the mature and measured reason why it's only collared at the front. At least she's one of kind, eh? :)

All criticism aside, I am very pleased with it, she's had four outings already and a few compliments to boot. I've already started on another dress (all in aid of using up my fabric stash of course), here's a sneak peek...!

a weekend in the peaks

Autumn really is the best time of year and never is that more apparent then when you're hiking through beautiful countryside, the peak district did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the month, 11 of us stayed a couple of nights in a cute little village in the Hope Valley. The weather on the Saturday was perfect for our 9 mile walk on and around Stanage Edge, insanely windy yes, but also gloriously sunny. I took a lot of photos. The rest of the afternoon/evening was spent in the pub(s) drinking local ales, eating hearty grub, playing games back at the hostel and, as it was bonfire night, watching the fireworks and playing with sparklers. Sunday was a bit of a wash out but we did manage a quick wander around picturesque Castleton before driving back to the big smoke.

As I always say, I'm super lucky to have an excellent bunch of friends to escape from the city with. The peaks was our last adventure this year, but rest assured there'll be lots more to come in 2017 :)

Reading & Seeing 30

The Year of Living Danishly
One woman's experience of living in 'sticksville on sea' (a town not far from Legoland headquarters) in Denmark after her husband gets a job with the tiny brick giants. It's an insightful and amusing account as she navigates the Danish way of doing things (work, the school system, childbirth, numerous traditions, pastries and flag poles). The book really made me want to live in Denmark or at the very least, made me think that I could manage somewhere other than London and even the UK!

Homegoing
An incredible look back through history told through the bloodlines of two Ghanaian sisters, torn from their families and forced into the slave trade, in one way or another. The story starts in the 18th Century and spans two hundred years, each chapter focusing on the next generation. Every character faces prejudice and adversity even in the decades after slavery is abolished. Despite only having a chapter with some of the characters, I was very invested in them, which made it harder to have to leave them behind and move further forward in time. I can honestly say this is one of (if not the)  best book I've read this year so far.

All the light we cannot see
Work book club's choice and a good one too. Set during the second world war it follows the experiences of two children: an orphan boy from Germany with a talent for radios; a blind French girl with a very special item in her possession. It's beautifully written and terribly sad, a strong reminder that nobody wins in war.

Acceptance
The third and final book in the Southern Reach Trilogy and I had hoped that it would answer all my (millions of) questions. Some fascinating stuff happens - my tiny mind nearly exploded - but I can't say I'm completely clued up on what actually happened... My sister tells me that a film is the pipe works which I'd be keen to see, perhaps it'll shed some light on things!

I've seen some great films in the last couple of months, starting with Bridget Jones' Baby. My expectations were pretty low but it was very funny. It's a tried and tested formula but it works and Renee Zellwegger is on form! Next, probably my favourite movie of the year so far, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. I don't want to give too much away, but it involves a boy and his foster father being hunted through the New Zealand bush. I really like the humour (see also, What We Do in The Shadows) and the scenery is stunning. In Swiss Army Man, Paul Dano is marooned on an island and is about to kill himself when he finds Daniel Radcliffe (a v.flatulent corpse with other various hidden talents) who inadvertently saves him and brings him back to society. It's weird, very weird, like nothing I've ever seen before. I'm glad I've seen it but I don't need to see it again. Lastly, Doctor Strange. Another Marvel romp and a surprisingly good one! Dr Strange is a highly successful neurosurgeon until a car accident damages the nerves in his hands beyond repair. Reaching the limits of western medicine, he takes a trip to Kathmandu to seek the help of The Ancient One (the fabulous Tilda Swinton). The cast is great, particularly Cumberbatch (arrogant, grumpy, comical - definitely a little sherlock-esque), the story is well-paced and the special effects are rather spectacular. The clip in the end credits reminds you that it's a Marvel production but Doctor Strange is a welcome change to the 'hero' movies of late.

Around the middle of October we saw Aurora perform at the Shepherds Bush Empire. It was great to go to a live gig again and she was awesome, both her voice and her candid chatter between songs. I've never been to a music gig where the artist talked so much! Highlight was probably Conqueror.

Also last month, I saw an interview with Tim Peake (and Tim Kopra) at The Royal Albert Hall. It was a fascinating insight into what it's like to be an astronaut and live on the ISS. All the astronauts seem to be really into photography, spending much of their free time down at the Cupola observation module on the station. The pictures of the earth are breathtaking. Tim Peake comes across as such a lovely, down to earth (excuse the pun) man, which makes a lot of sense, as Tim Kopra said, you have to be smart to be an astronaut but at the end of the day what you really need to be is someone people don't mind spending lots of time with :)