Me-Made-May 2015: Days 11-15

Hello all! Me again, back with the third installment of this year's Me-Made-May challenge.

Day 11: Sewaholic Cambie (3) and Colette Astoria (1) 

This was worn to the first exam of the semester at uni. I'm really loving these dress and sweater combos I've got going on at the minute, they're really comfy and really me. 

Day 12: Lisette 1419

A day simply spent revising, finished off with an evening meal out with friends. This outfit even received a compliment off one of the girls from our uni's craft society, so I would mark it as a definite win! 

Day 13: Sewaholic Belcarra and Colette Astoria (2) 

I wore this to my second exam and then to travel home on the train. Not my favourite outfit of this month but it did draw a compliment from my mum as she picked me up from the train station! 

Day 14: By Hand London Anna (1) and Colette Astoria (1) 

Oh dear...didn't I say I was going to try and mix up my outfits a bit? Sorry! The weather around here is sunny but still a little shy of warm, so my summer dresses are still tucked away in the back of my wardrobe. Hopefully I will be able to document some different garments before the month is out! This was worn to go into town with my boyfriend. 

Day 15: By Hand London Anna (3) 

So far today I have watched three episodes of my favourite TV show (Detectorists, anyone?), painted my nails and eaten chips and curry for lunch...not the most exciting of days I'll admit! Luckily I'm heading over to my boyfriend's house for tea in about half an hour so I just have to conquer the boredom until then. Hopefully, judging from the weather outside, it will be warm enough tomorrow to try and sneak in a wear of one of my summer dresses! 

So, there you have it. I know I've already mentioned this, but another five days of the challenge have really highlighted once again that I desperately need some more Me-Made tops in my wardrobe. I will have to get going on that! Another plan is to have a go at the Sew Over It Ultimate Trousers...the pattern is not in my collection yet so that may have to be remedied soon. 

How is your Me-Made-May going?

Beth x

WeaverDee.com

Hello all!

Just a quick one today to let you know of a new online sewing shop! WeaverDee.com launched yesterday with a lot of introductory discounts on their stock of sewing patterns, sewing supplies and sewing machines, with free UK delivery until 18th May. They are also running a fantastic prize draw with the winner receiving a Bernina 330 sewing machine, and eight runners up receiving a voucher to their online shop. What are you waiting for? Get on over their and enter!

Happy shopping :)

Beth x

Me-Made-May 2015, Days 6-10

Hello everyone!

I'm back again with more documentation photos of this year's #mmmay challenge. 

Day 6: Sewaholic Renfrew Dress and Colette Astoria (1) 

My sincere apologies for the awful lighting in this photo. I wore this outfit to travel home from uni; it was really comfy and not too warm on the train. 

Day 7: Self Drafted Skirt

This was just a day of hanging around my house writing my essay - not the most interesting of days really! I love the way the skirt looks with this blouse though, it's one of my favourite outfits. 

Day 8: By Hand London Anna (1) 

This was my first ever Anna, and I still like it tremendously. It looks good with cardigans and sweaters, or on it's own for warmer days. 

Day 9: By Hand London Anna (2) and Colette Astoria (2) 

This was the second Anna I made, which has a really gorgeous strawberry print. I think it looks great with my new Astoria sweater! I made this version up in a navy sweatshirt fabric with little coloured flecks, and it matches all my dresses like a dream. This outfit was worn to babysit an incredibly cute little girl all day and play endless games of Hide and Seek! 

Day 10: By Hand London Anna (3) and Colette Astoria (2) 

Yes, I have developed a thing for my Anna dresses paired with my new Astoria sweaters. Sorry not sorry! I really love the way this combo looks, but to stop things getting too boring I'll try and switch up my outfits in the next five days. This was worn to revise, see my boyfriend and travel back to uni for my first exam. 

So, 10 days in and I've still managed to not repeat an exact outfit! I doubt this will last though - some garments have already made multiple appearances. I'm really learning a lot from the challenge already. My wardrobe is definitely suffering from a handmade top deficiency, which is something I feel I need to work on in future. However, I've been getting a lot of wear out of my Anna dresses which I hadn't touched for over a month before the challenge started, so I'm glad it's helped me to get those into rotation again. 

How are you finding Me-Made-May so far? 

Beth x

Profoundly Loved Blog Party

Hello everyone! How are you all?

Rather excitingly, I've been nominated to take part in the Profoundly Loved Blog Party by Kaitlyn of Kaitlyn's Simply Vintage. I've never been chosen to take part in anything like this before, but I really enjoyed thinking about my answers. Here are the seven questions I was asked and the answers I gave: 

1) Tell me about something you love and why. 

I love reading. Through my entire life, I've always been a reader; I can't remember a time when this wasn't my absolute favourite thing to do. Books have the ability to transport us, to play on our emotions, to capture our interest and slow us down in this busy, bustling world. They document the best, the worst, the happiest, the saddest, the most brilliant aspects of humanity. They make us feel, they make us think, and above all, they give us a sense of belonging. I've never read a book where I felt unwanted, or uninvited. Books suck us in and make us a part of them. In my mind, to read is to live. 

2) What is one thing you do that makes you feel like "I could do this forever"? 

Something I could do forever is travelling up and down preserved railway lines. As a family we often visit the East Lancashire Railway near Manchester, which puts on events like Diesel and Steam Galas, making use of locomotives which no longer serve the main line. The sound they make, and the ability to lean out of the window and wave at people as you pass are things that have been lost in the transition to newer, electric trains, but which I feel make for a more enjoyable journey. The sense of adventure, freedom and joy is heightened on a train ride which involves a plume of smoke billowing into the sky. It makes me feel more alive, somehow, and I love that. 

3) What do you love about yourself? 

I love my sense of morality and the acceptance I have that being different is ok. I think of myself as a socialist, everyone has the right to equality, but in a world where so often people believe they should be more important than another, I sometimes feel alone in my beliefs. Similarly, I often get the feeling I'm slightly out of sync with the rest of my peer group, though whether this is simply the choice to not act like a typical student - I'm teetotal, which creates a surprisingly large barrier between me and others at uni - or something deeper rooted than that is hard to put my finger on. Despite this though, I've not changed for anyone so far, and I doubt I ever will. For this, I'm proud. 

4) What advice would you give someone who doesn't think he/she is beautiful? 

I have this struggle with my boyfriend on a daily basis. For me, beauty begins on the inside. Often when you meet someone, they may not be the textbook definition of beautiful, but after getting to know them and realising how good they are inside, their appearance changes accordingly. I'm also a strong believer in the saying 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.' To me, this is true; everyone is beautiful to someone. In my eyes, my boyfriend is one of the most beautiful people I've ever known, not just because of his physical appearance, but because I know how kind and selfless a person he is. Naturally though, he never believes me. 

5) What is the best piece of advice you've ever received about confidence? 

I don't really have any words of wisdom on this topic; I'm a naturally shy person, a fact I'm constantly being reminded of by my seminar leaders at uni. However, confidence comes in all shapes and forms, and I think once people can accept themselves for who they are and embrace their flaws, confidence will naturally follow. Learn to like yourself, and others will like you too. 

6) If you were your own daughter, what important thing would you tell them? 

I would tell her to not be afraid of living every day to its fullest. To explore, to travel, to have adventures, to make friends. To live her life the exact way she wants it, because we only get one shot at this. Make it count, and above all, have fun. 

7) A verse, poem, sonnet, ancient old proverb, that inspires you to love yourself and others. 

I've chosen a quote from Jimi Hendrix which I feel perfectly sums up what is so often wrong with humanity, but inspires so much hope. 'When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.' 

Thank you Kaitlyn for the nomination. I'm passing this onto Kristy of Scientific Sewing and Kylie of Stitches and Spoonfuls, but don't feel obligated to take part if you would rather not :) 

Thank you, as always, for reading. 

Beth x

Me-Made-May 2015, Days 1-5

Happy Me-Made-May everybody!

We're five days in and so far I'm really enjoying this year's challenge. I can already tell what a difference a year has made to my wardrobe - no repeat garments so far! What I had forgotten is how boring photographing myself every morning can be. However, I do like being able to look back and see what outfits I came up with during the month to help identify wardrobe gaps, so I'll persevere! 

Here are my first five me-made outfits: 

Day 1: New Look 6483

This outfit was worn to travel home from uni (you can see my suitcase in the background) and go shopping in Chester. It's a really comfortable top, but the neckline feels slightly too high when I wear it with a cardigan. I'll change this in future versions to be sure of a 100% wearable garment. 

Day 2: Sewaholic Cambie

Ahh, I'm back at home now and the awful self photography can begin - yes, I am standing on my bed! It's the only place in my room where the whole of me was in shot. I wore this outfit to the opticians and then just hung around the house, so a pretty relaxed day. I've worn this dress many times and always feel nice in it. 

Day 3: Sewaholic Belcarra

A new self stitched garment! I absolutely love this top. It fits great (I cut a straight Size 0) and the fabric, a lightweight cotton, was lovely to work with. I wore this top to see my boyfriend and he actually noticed it was new! It must be good! This definitely won't be the only time you see this top this month. 

Day 4: Floral Dungaree Dress

This is a pretty old make, put together last summer before I went on holiday to France. There's definite room for improvement - I've learnt so much since I made this - but it's still a favourite, and really comfortable. It was worn around the house and to start an essay due next Monday. 

Day 5: By Hand London Anna and Colette Astoria 

As long time readers will know, the Anna is a favourite dress pattern of mine; this is my third version. The sweater is a new make though - it's Astoria from last month's edition of Seamwork Magazine by Colette Patterns. I chose a gorgeous cream sweatshirt fabric with little flecks of colour and used a 0.5mm zig zag stitch to sew it up. The inside is so soft and snuggly! This outfit will be worn to travel back up to uni later today for the last craft club meeting of the year. 

So, there are my first five days of Me-Made-May documented. Only 26 days to go...

If you are taking part in MMMay15, I wish you all the best of luck and can't wait to see your outfits! 

Beth x

Forties Weekend

Hey guys! How are you all?

Things have been a little quiet on the sewing front here recently. I've been battling with a particularly difficult essay over the last couple of weeks, but mercifully I got it finished off yesterday in time for the deadline, which is tomorrow. Now that's over and done with, hopefully I should be able to get back into sewing again soon!

In the meantime, I have some exciting news to share with you - I'm going to a Forties Weekend! It's taking place at the East Lancashire Railway (a preserved line) near Manchester from 23rd-25th May, and is based all around the fashions, music, food and transport of the decade, with a particular focus on the Second World War. You can read more information here.

I'll be attending the event on the Sunday (the 24th) and have already begun to plan my outfit. You have to go to a Forties Weekend in the correct attire, right?! I am definitely going to be stitching up this gorgeous vintage pattern that I ordered a few months ago from a shop on Etsy:

I absolutely adore the bow blouse version in the bottom right, but I am struggling to envision what fabric it should be sewn in. Something nice and lightweight so the bow isn't stiff, but beyond that I have no idea - colour? design? Then there's the question of what to wear it with. Should I make a simple calf-length skirt, or hunt around online for a forties trouser pattern? Suggestions please!

On top of that, I've not even begun to think about my hair yet. It's not exactly vintage in appearance, but I am awful at styling it. If anyone has any ideas for easy ways to get my curly hair into a suitably forties-looking style, I would be so grateful if you could leave a comment below!

It should be a really good day out, I'm so looking forward to it!

Have a good week everybody,

Beth x

Me-Made-May 2015

Hey guys!

May is nearly upon us again and that means only one thing: Me-Made-May! If you have been living under a rock for the past few years and have never heard of M-M-May, it is the brilliant invention of Zoe from So Zo... and you can read all about it here.


I took part in M-M-May last year where I pledged to wear an item of self stitched clothing once every two days. At the time, I'd only been sewing for about five months so I was really pleased with myself when I managed to complete the challenge. This year though, I have a far bigger range of self stitched clothing in my wardrobe, so I've modified my pledge to reflect this. Here goes!

I, Beth Holmes of www.sewingsoothesthesoul.blogspot.co.uk sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May 2015. I endeavour to wear at least one self-stitched or refashioned garment or accessory each day for the duration of May 2015.

With just over a week to go until the start of the challenge, I'm digging out all my older makes from the depths of my wardrobe to see if I can fit them in throughout the month. M-M-May is all about showing love for our handmade garments and I know that there are many old makes of mine that are more than a little neglected. I've also featured refashioned items in my pledge because I've recently had a bit of refashioning spree, turning old dresses that are now way too short for me into summer tops, which I want to try out and give a chance to make it into my regular wardrobe rotation. Finally, accessories! With no chance to sew up a pair of trousers before the challenge begins (Zoe makes it clear panic sewing is not condoned!) and very few self stitched tops, I know there are going to be times this coming month where I'll feel like wearing a very ready-to-wear outfit. So, I've featured handmade accessories into my pledge so that on days I'm wearing shop bought clothes I'm still channelling the M-M-May vibe.

So, with May fast approaching keep your eye out for my documentation posts where you can get a glimpse of how I fit my self stitched clothing into my regular everyday wardrobe. If you feel like taking part too, hop on over to So Zo... and get yourself signed up as a participant! You can choose a pledge that suits your own needs and it is so much fun, bringing a real sense of achievement and love of our handmade clothing.

Have a great week everybody,

Beth x