Cleo Dungaree Dress

Pattern: Cleo by Tilly and the Buttons

This pattern had been on my radar for a while but I had resisted the temptation to get it as I was not sure it was really me. That was until my little sister requested one so of course I had to make myself one as a practise run first.... (excuse the awful photos!)

 Fabric Used: Purple velvet that has been in my stash for 8.5 years that I used some of to make e her first party dress!

Other bits: Clasps came from ebay, as always!

Size Cut: 14, no alterations

Making it: It was a really simple and quick make and the finished item looks really good, like it took much longer. To be honest I was a bit sceptical about the pattern, I am not a great indie pattern fan, but the pattern was great.

The Finished item: I am still not sure this is very me, I feel my bust is too big for the front flap and I am struggling with what to wear underneath it. Any suggestions? I have worn it though and it is comfy so I might even be tempted to make a denim version sometime!

Side Note: These photos (the ones where my arms were by my sides were horrendous and not fit for the blog!) made me start unofficially doing slimming world, I have not been this big in 20 years and the extra padding has to go! These were taken in 5 weeks ago and I started 4 weeks ago. 10lb down so far!

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A New Love - Hand Lettering and Calligraphy

 I've been cheating on sewing.... calligraphy and hand lettering have become something of an obsession since Christmas and they are so much fun! I have a few books I have been learning from and also doing You Tube tutorials.

It has been a lovely, if at times inky, way of relaxing in the last few months. Life has been busy with doctors and dentists for e and my Granny and loads of cello related things for E so there have only been 10 mins here and there to actually do anything remotely crafty.

I did squeeze in an evening to make the Cleo dress at the end of February but am currently unofficially doing slimming world so am not making anything else until the summer when I should hopefully reach my target weight (8lb down so far). Calligraphy is a lovely substitute.

A lot of what I have been practicing is Bible quotes, it has actually been quite meaningful, more than I imagined, but I will get all deep and meaningful in another post!

Nothing is really good enough to frame yet but that hasn't stopped me. Al and I celebrated 20 years of being together at the start of March and I made him this:

I also needed something to fill a frame in my downstairs loo. I wrote this Albus Dumbledore quote and did a few doodles on it.

It is hung by the light switch of course!

My next task is to learn to use the more traditional calligraphy pens that were my Mum's. I follow Seb Lester on Instagram and he is apparently doing an online calligraphy course sometime, I will definitely be signing up!

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