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

Me-Made-May15 - Week two!

So! The first week of Me-Made-May 15 has ended, and I found that it wasn't that hard to create outfits that matched and looked good with my refashioned and sewn wardrobe.

I have made 4 more outfits , and with the last posts outfit, that makes 5 (I'm keeping my pledge here!)
These are the outfits:

Monday: Refashioned Jeans,
Darned black cardigan and
shortened shirt.

Tuesday: Shortened shirt,
refashioned grey highwaist skirt and
maroon tights.

Wednesday & Thursday: Sewn Jeansdress,
Grey longsleeve shirt and
Maroon tights.

Monday: Refashioned blue/white top and
Jeans.

I added todays outfit because it was today I wrote^^' Well, I had the Jeans outfit for 2 days because I really like that dress, so I counted it as 2 days. I found that on todays photo I managed to do a pose without looking too wierd, also need to take photos from straight infront, and not downwards.

A REALLY good news is that I got the job I wanted for the autumn and forward! I work in school as a resource-afterschool teacher (not sure what the title is in english) and It's onwards from august! Second year working and I get my first fulltime, onward job! One problem is still here, I really need a drivers license to get there. But don't worry, I'll take an intense-course this summer and get one in like 2 weeks if I don't fail the finals :)

Also, my seedling are growing fine, I'd love them to be just a little bigger, but hey, This is a first-time balconygardener (although I have grown veggies before when we lived in a house). It's hard to get everything right, and I need to water them so they don't die etc etc. Oh well, I think we'll have some tomatoes this year atleast:)

Well then! See you guys next week! :)

Me-Made-May15, week 1.

So! This weeks Me-Made outfit is this! My refashioned Bright-blue Jeans! With a regular t-shirt and a grey cardigan :) Simple and easy.

Refashioned bright-blue jeans,
boom-tshirt (New Yorker)
and grey cardigan (gift)

This is my first day of Me-Made-May 15 and more is to come! I have been trying my best to finish up my pieces for this challenge, but I'm way behind ^^' I have at the moment these items:

• Bright-blue jeans
• black jeans
• flower circleskirt
• grey highwaist skirt
• blue/white blouse
• purple dress
• colorblock dress (staple dress)
• jeans dress
• 70's dress
• black cardigan

These items isn't really that much, but I think I'll manage with my pledge still! And, I'll do my best to finish more items and sew clothes that I'll use, hopefully!

My other interests have been taking up my time also, my gardening, beading and knitting. I have just finished a babydress to my friend who is having a baby in september, and some more items are being knitted at the moment. 

Also, I'm going to shift jobs! The place I work at right now don't have place for me to trill work there in august, so I have been searching other jobs around town and got a few interviews to visit. I have almost decided on which job I'll accept, IF I get an offer from them. It's in town, as an art-teacher in classes 4-6, and afternoon care of 3-4 grades. Hopefully I get it! It's also only(!) 75% and to make it more worth it, I have applied for a course on distance to be a sewing and crafts-teacher(not quite sure how to translate this) and it's a 2 year course on 50% speed. After that I'll have more jobs than I can get! :) Looking to the future!

I have also started to create some things for baby and toddlers, because they're small and don't require much fabric, and they're cute! Also I need some for my future kids, and I might aswell start now, since I'm quite slow on making things :)

This is all for now, I'll be back in a week and post about my outfits!  Bye!

Update about MMMay'15!

So!

Here is an update about Me-Made-May 15-challenge. I have been busy trying my best to finish my to-do-list of clothes and have completed 4 more items since last time! The blue/white blouse is finished, the black and blue jeans have been adjusted to fit my waist, and converted the purple shirt to a dress. I have tried to make a pattern for the reversible shift dress, but I can't seem to get the pattern right. Next item I'll make will probably be some of the tops, sewing from scratch to make the lists smaller, some at a time.


Refashion:

• Red shirt
• Grey highwaist skirt
• Plaid pants
• Striped jersey dress
• Black vest cardigan
• Black flower cardigan
• Jeans blouse/tunic

Sewing:

• Front pleat top
• Boxy top
• Sheer top
• Easy peasy top
• Easy peasy top (as dress)
• Skirt w/ cellphone pocket
• staple dress
• Reversible shift dress

Done:

• Flower circle skirt
• Jeans dress
• Blue/white blouse
• Black jeans
• Blue jeans
• Purple shirt

I have sown some seeds for my vegetable balcony garden and they are slowly germinating! I have 3 tomatoes growing, hoping at least one of them will survive and make little tomatoes later in the summer. Some radishes have also grown, and mangetout. I'm just hoping for the weather to get better and we get more sun so I can place the plants in my small greenhouse over night.

Oh well, Next time I hope that I have sewn at least 5 more items, since it's only 16 more days of April left and I need to finish up as much of the list before that to be able to fulfill my pledge of wearing at least 5 items a week for May. Just need to get started sewing ;)

I'm back!

So the time has come to join the Me-Made-May '15 - challenge! I have actually awaited this moment since last year, when I chose not to sign up as I stumbled upon it in late April, and didn't have more than 2 hand-made items in my closet. Therefore, here is my pledge!

 I, Malin of http://cozycraftingdiy.blogspot.se/, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '15. I endeavour to wear atleast 5 handmade of refashioned items each week for the duration of May 2015.

In addition, I'll:

• try to use my current wardrobe in outfits that is well put together,
• wear every me-made or refashioned item atleast once during the period,
• finish up the items in my list from my previous post if I don't finish them before May 1st.

If you haven't heard about this Me-Made-May-challenge, you can read all about it on this blog: http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.se/2015/03/me-made-may15-sign-up-here.html and she'll tell you all about it! :)

Now to something completely different!

My bf and I went to Ikea yesterday and bought some things that we needed at home, like a sofa-table that's not gigantic, a 4 slot Kallax and a Råskog rollingwagon(translation?) And all sorts of small knick-knack that we "need". And today I bought a small greenhouse for the balcony where I can finally start seeds outdoors! Soon I can eat some veggies I hope!

Also, I have finished one refashion item since last post, the blue/white blouse and I have actually worn it to work already(need to try them clothes out ;D) Next I hope to have sewn one item from scratch, and atleast refashioned 2 items under week 15 from now. I need these deadlines so I actually get to work and don't just let them lay there and "I'll do them later".

One big thing I need to start this easter-weekend is setting grades on the 6th-graders in art, since I'm the one in charge of that now since the spring semester started. My goal is going through all 50-ish works they have turned in for grading. There are still some left who has been sick a lot, and I gave them another week to finish up (we only have one 80 minute class each friday). Oh well, better get started sooner or later!

And tomorrow is my B-day! I'm turning 25, and it feels wierd. I'm halfway to 50! My bf is at his parents house for easter dinner, while I'l stuck at home watching the neighbors cats. And he'll bring me 2 "gifts" his grandmother found at home, essential pieces for weaving on a table-loom. I can finally start weaving! :D Just need to clean them throughout though. 

Sewing list

So! After a long time again I shall again blog!

I have this year so far found that I will try my best to blog atleast once a week, and to achieve that and to make sure that I don't slack is that I'm going to join the Me-Made-May '15 challenge! And the reason for that is that I still is going for a self-sufficient lifestyle, making my own efforts to an environmentally friendly lifestyle, like growing my on veggies and sewing my own clothes. I just recently bought a second-hand overlock so that I can sew in jersey and therefore sew almost anything! Also, my new mannequin, that I named "Kurt" is helping me in my creations for my Me-Made-Wardrobe.

I have so far sewn a jeans dress, made from 3 pairs of old "man-size"(is that even a word?) jeans, with another dress as guidance. The fit is superb! I really like the dress, and will tweak the pockets soon, as they are starting to unravel at the top edge :(

Moving on to my list of things I'll do my best to complete before Me-Made-May starts!

Refashion:

• Blue/white blouse
• Red shirt
• Black jeans
• Blue jeans
• Grey highwaist skirt
• Plaid pants
• Striped jersey dress
• Black vest cardigan
• Black flower cardigan
• Purple shirt
• Jeans blouse/tunic

Sewing:

• Front pleat top
• Boxy top
• Sheer top
• Easy peasy top
• Easy peasy top (as dress)
• Skirt w/ cellphone pocket
• staple dress
• Reversible shift dress

Done:

• Flower circle skirt
• Jeans dress

So! As I line them up like this, Is looks so overwhelming with all the items, but I thought that is I start with 1 sewing and then one refashion, the list don't seem so long after all, since the refashions go much faster than the ones I sew from scratch.

Also, On the 1:st of april, I can sign up to the challenge and write my pledge here aswell, so until wednesday, you'll have to wait to read it! :)