Progress!

Hello again!

It's really been some time since last time I was here. Well, I have some good news to share! I was enrolled to a course, through my work that'll let me work with different assignments. What I'm talking about is a sloyd-course, that'll let me teach in sloyd from year 1-6 and grade them. This course gives me the possibility to teach, not only in woodworking, but also sewing and handicraft, which I'm so thrilled about!
I had to choose one direction for the course, and choose woodworking, since I'm not really good with that, and thought that if I chose that I can work with it if needed, and not only with the sewing and handicraft part. We had under week 7 a 1 week meetup and tried different techniques that wee need for the home assignments. As of such, we got 4 assignments, one is making hangers, a set of three with only carving. The second one is making a cheeseboard, only with sanding techniques and woodfiles. The last creation we should make is a fruit bowl where we use hollowing techniques, to give the bowl a depth. The final assignment is not a thing we make, but we are going to sharpen 3 tools, one knife, one chisel and one random cutting tool. And, we are going to make all this before the next meetup, in week 17. As of now, it's the last day of week 9, that gives me 7 weeks, and I haven't really started yet, since I don't have sharp enough tools, but are going to sharpen them soon.

My sewing plan has been put on a hold, I haven't found the inspiration to sew. One skirt is finished, 1 is soon done, just need final assembly, and 1 pair of culottes are going to be cut out and hopefully sewn today. I bought the Tania Culottes pattern yesterday from Megan Nielsen, who is AMAZING with her patterns. I love them all, and will probably buy all patterns at some point. And I have realized that I'll most likely change some patterns out from my sewing plan for other patterns, and change the fabrics, since I don't love the fabric choice anymore. And I may need to buy more fabrics, to sew my items, but since I have a sew from my stash - challenge and I'll do my best to sew from the stash, if my pattern pieces allow it.

Also, I'm doing my best to reduce my yarn stash, and thought I might as well make some Christmas gifts in advance, since I always end up stressing it in November. Oh well, need to clean and sort my fabric stash also, so I know which pieces is large enough to sew clothes from, and which is just scraps.

Oh well, more for next time!

Stashbusting challenge 2016!

Don't we all have a little too much of stashed fabric at home, that we just can't seem to sew something of? Maybe they're too pretty, maybe you just like to pet it, either way it's still there, mocking you on the shelf. So, to reduce my stash, and get space for new fabrics that I love and WILL use, I have decided to join the "Sew our stash" challenge!

I am going to follow these rules for the stash busting challenge:

1. Use fabrics only from stash - Only buy if needed to finish a garment.
2. Only use patterns I have, or that are free.
3. Aim for wearable muslin (Don't have enough fabric for both a muslin and the finished garment.)
4. Follow my sewing plan! First, sew the garments on my plan, and then sew other things.
5. Be creative! Go outside my comfort zone, patch different fabrics, colors and materials.
6. And the most important of them all, wear the garments I have sown. They won't do any good just hanging in the closet.

These are my rules, guidelines etc, what you wanna call them. I'll follow these as closely as I can, and hopefully I'll reduce my stash, to at least half (in my dreams though :P )

New years resolutions and SWAP-update!

Happy new year!

The new years celebrations was really nice. We were at my brothers house last night, ate, played board games and hung out. It's was really fun and a nice way to end the vacation I got over Christmas. The fireworks was really nice, but we were a little scared a few times, as the rockets turned downwards a few times while we were out. I think that the fireworks have started to not go as high anymore, they need more push upwards to be safe.

I have some new years resolutions this year!

1. Sew only from my stash. I only get to buy something new if it's needed to finish a project.
2. Stop drinking coca-cola. I need to stop since I want too keep my teeth.
3. Start eating healthy. I need to start making everything from scratch, not buying anything ready-made.
4. Start working out. I really need this, since I'm sick a lot, and hopefully, with a good diet and exercise, I'll be more healthy.
5. Start streaming for reals, and maybe earn some money from it. Point is, as long as it's fun!

These I hope I'll keep, and if possible, we're going on a vacation this summer, to japan! Hopefully we'll get the money saved, but I have to keep in mind that I'll be losing 6-7000kr on other travels, for my course this spring. I need to go from the most southest parts of Sweden, to the northest parts, kind of. and hopefully I'll find some cheap tickets, and not pay as much for them.

I have during this 1.5 weeks sorted through my patterns and needs for my wardrobe, and made 3 sewing plans. 1 for pearshaped body (like I have), 1 for spring, and one for summer.

I am giving the Sorbetto pattern a new go this spring, as a top, and 2 dresses. My toille is really good, fits like a charm after some tweaks. This brown fabric is the cut out pieces for the top, with flutter-sleeves. I have prepared fabric and sewing thread for 12 patterns, ready to cut out, and sewn. And, as my resolution, ALL FABRIC ARE FROM THE STASH! This make me so happy, but, I haven't really made a dent in my stash yet. The closet looks all the same. Well, hopefully I'll see some changes after the fall and winter plan is also sewn. 

One thing I also need to do, is finding some art to hang om the walls at home. It's so empty, and echoes still. Maybe I'm just too picky, I don't know, or it's just because I haven't really looked for some art yet. Probably the later.

Well, I'm off to watch the last of the fireworks people have and are currently shooting outside. Even tough it's annoying that they have been shooting since November, it's still as beautiful.

Christmas aftermath

I'm still alive!

Phew! It sure has been an intense Christmas this year. Going from celebration to celebration, and finally when we're home, there's new years to prepare for. 

This year was the first time we celebrated at home on 24th, with my mother and grandmother and uncles. And on 25th we went to my fiances family over night, going home on 26th.

I got some nice things from my fiancee, an electric blanket, so I'll never be cold, and a webcam, so I can start streaming for reals now. 

Also, I got in on the course I wanted! I'm gonna study sloyd, so I can work with what I love, Sewing and such! I'm really happy with this, because I'll probably be the youngest by 10 years or so there.

Well, this was a short one, more to come before new years!

Thrift tuesday.

Thrift tuesday.

My finds at the local thrift shop last week is following:

A chemists measuring-glas-thingie (apparently called ”conical flask”. Like my name better.) I just thought this was cool, and for like $1 I thought that was a real catch!

 I also bought some cookbooks, one with information about everything, and a book with a fun name : ”Koka soppa på en spik”, which means ”cooking soup with a pin”. It's a saying in Sweden where this is said, you cook up dinner with like everything to get the taste and such, because there was not much food or spices around. This was a long time ago though.

I also found the last sweaters so I can begin my cardigan finally!

And of course some woolfabric :) Can't resist those.

And this week I bought some christmas-decorations, since I don't really have much. I found some santas, some mushrooms and a snowman! I Love snowmans! 

Next time I hope to find some more awesome things to buy! Ja nee!

Package!

I went to pick up my package with some things I ordered some weeks ago, and I was so happy with all of the things! I bought a pair of shoes that I needed for winter, a cookbook with recipes for drying everything, a flint and steel, and a winter cap! Though, I ordered 2 pair of shoes in different sizes, I need to send the smaller ones back, and a athletic bra, that just didn't fit at all. Hate buying clothes over the internet ^^

These are real Sorel-boots in size 39. I really love them, although they are a bit hard to walk in.

The flint-striker, in magenta!

The most awesome cookbook ever! I am going to buy ingredients for the energybars this week too, and try them.

The most warm hat ever. It's lined with fleece i think, and super hot. Love it.

This is my bounty of things I got. Though I have to pay for them, but since this is the first time I have every bought stuff online for trying on at home, I need too call their support so I know what to do. Their store is downtown, so if I can, I want to go down there and just turn them in there if possible. I'll know by tomorrow what to do.

SWAP

SWAP-sunday.

SWAP. Sewing with a plan. That's what I have been up to. This is a "challenge" if you may say, or just a new way to see the wardrobe. The "rules" is that you draft a plan, for the next season, either summer, autumn, winter or spring. You find 6 pieces you need in your wardrobe, find the right kind of pattern you want to use (or draft your own) and start making the pieces. And, when the time is near end, you'll post progress post about how long you've come, some changes or just how it went with the plan. And at the end, you'll post a collaboration picture of all pieces you sewn, with a post about just what ever you want the others to know about, struggles os changes to pattern.

In my winter-plan this time I have these pieces planned:

For the cardigan I'll use thrifted merinowool or lambswool sweaters, I have found them all in my local thriftshop!

I hope to be able to present some pieces by 13 December, when the winter-plan is supposed to be ready. So far i have 0 pieces. That's right, and I sure hope that I can present at least 1 or 3 pieces. I also need new clothes, but since I have decided to either buy new clothes from thrift, gifting or sewing, I can't just go and buy new ones. Oh well, I'll just have to wait and see what happens with my plan.

 I also have this additional plan for when I'm either done, or for changing some pieces out completely.

Hopefully I can get my inspiration on, right now it's very non-existing, so all I do is knit. 

Tune in for next weeks SWAP-post! (If I made any progress ;) )

Thrift Tuesday

I went thrifting last weekend, and found some things i really liked. I found 8 cones of sewing thread for overlock/coverlock machines, and only paid like $10 for it. Super fancy! I especially liked the turquoise ones, and that it was so much of each left. I'm sure these are gonna be useful for me, since I started sewing more last month and filling my wardrobe with homemade pieces that fit my body and fills my gaps in my wardrobe.

I also found some wool-blend fabrics that I'll use for a dress or skirt, and maybe something else. The fabric is slightly itchy, but it good fabric so I'll just find the right pattern for each fabric.

Three blue bowls is my next find. I really loved them when I saw them, and thought, "why not?" and bought them for when eating sushi, or japan-inspired food, for holding the rice.

I found 4 sweaters of 100% merino wool which is my best thrift find this time I think. A black one was for my fiance, and rest is for my winter plan. It's gonna be a cardigan with pattern from an Ottobre magazine. I just need to find 2 more sweaters that work with the purple which this one was in, since the pattern calls for 3 different colors.

I have also found some books i fell for. One is for home remedies, one is a Finnish cookie-recipe-book (I can't read Finnish :S ) and a mushroom booklet. Although it's almost too late for mushroom-hunting this year, it's good for next year though. The remedies book is for me, who get sick easily, and I need to know some tips and tricks for keeping myself healthy and in top-shape. And the Finnish book, well... It just looked so fun, and the pictures looked really tasty.

Next week we'll see what I find at the thriftshop!

Future posts.

So! I thought about starting some weekly posts, that occur every/every other week, if that particular topic was used or so to say. I have thought about some posts that I would like to write about, and thought I would share them with you guys so you know whats coming ;)

Monday: Mend-it-monday / make-it-monday - I'll either mend some clothes or make something, it just have to be made by hand.

Tuesday: Thrift-tuesday - I'll share my thrift finds or post something related to my finds.

Wednesday: Workout-wednesday - As it says, I'll post about my workout, some info and maybe what I do as workout. We'll just see what comes.

Thursday: Throwback-thursday - Not so sure about this, Maybe I'll post about some memories, or stuff I remember. Dunno at this stage though.

Friday: Fabulous-friday / Fucked-up-friday - Either I post about fashion, or something about gaming. Not really decided yet.

Saturday/Sunday: Sewing-/SWAP-/Slacker - One of these will be used. SWAP is Sewing With A Plan. Progress on my sewing plan for each season, and how it progresses, changes and/or difficulties I'm experiencing during my sewing.

So! These are the topics I'll have for my posts for now, and some random posts also, if there pops up something I wanna share with you guys!

Long time no see!

And I'm back! Again. Oh well, sometime I gotta come back. I hate that my blogging comes in intervalls, and that I'm not so capable of keeping up with the blogging for a longer period of time (read more than 2-3 blogposts at a time). Therefore I'm going to do my best keep blogging, about my life, things i love and my work.

And to start this of, I'll make a announcement.

I found out that my body is a pear shaped one, and apparently I'm not so good at dressing such body for the best apparel. This is something I really need to get working on, starting now! And whilst I found this a few days ago, I joined a facebook-group in which we make a plan for each seasons and sew our own wardrobe, based on the plan. I'll post my plans here, and progress on my clothes as I make them.

For the pearshaped body I found this blog: https://dressesforjulie.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/style-tips-and-tricks-for-the-pear-shape/ Where she talks about the problems with a pearshaped body, and some solutions that worked for her to dress fashionably whilst promoting and hiding different bodyparts. I really liked the style-tips she had, and I went and scavenged  in my wardrobe for items resembling the ones she had on her pictures.

This image tells the specific "requirements" for ones with a pear-shaped body. And, I fall into this category, since my chest is small, waist is smaller than bust, and hips are larger than bust.
Source: http://www.adesignerinfashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/pear-body-shape.jpg




For now I'll try to make blogpost about this discovery and solutions, wardrobe refashion and making the new wardrobe to fir my bodytype, that at the same time is fully usable in my work as a kindergarden teacher/free-time teacher.


Until next time! ~Ja nee