above are just a small selection of some of my favourite outfits for the last month, the entire collection for the year so far can be viewed in my Year of Handmade flickr album, here
So, a mere 30 days to go… Wooooooweeeee!
Honestly, I’m now just like, yeah, whatever no biggie. Coasting. Yep, counting down the days; One. At. A. Time… but y’know, otherwise pretty chill ;P
All my clothes are of course holding up perfectly fine, clothes are a piece of cake. Obviously I’m going to keep on wearing my self-made wardrobe, forever probably. Can’t see that changing, in the foreseeable future anyway. Shoes-wise, gawd… definitely counting down the days there… my white thongs; well I have to admit I’m quite looking forward to hurling them off a 1000ft cliff with great force I mean, gracefully retire them as soon as I possibly can. These have been my summertime walking shoes all last summer and this one too, they’ve done haaaaard duty and are looking pretty rough. Those snowy-white straps are not so snowy now, I can tell you! But unfortunately they are essential to my wardrobe, mostly because they are kinda rough now. In my lifestyle where I do a lot of walking/gardening/spending time in the country; I really need rough-and-tumble, grunge-y footwear. I was fairly devastated when we were at our beach house recently doing a weekend of heavy duty gardening (as seen here), and some of the cork underneath finally wore through and one wing of one thong pulled through.. aaaagh! I still need those tacky things!! So, a few blobs of liquid nails and new heels made of furniture felt later – it’s all I had! – and they’re mcgyver-ed together enough to see out the last month. They look awful but I just don’t care… I’m sure my walking friend E thinks I’m completely bonkers, persisting in wearing them whenever we get together for a walk.
Not going to complain now; it’s summer, I LOVE summer… dressing for summer is easy, and making summer sandals is very easy. I have actually been toying with the idea of making a new pair. It’s funny, the end is in sight, and I’m actually dreaming of making new shoes!! I must be crazy, boom! proof right there…
So, I am really impressed that those white things have lasted this far! I’m sure I have storebought ones that wear out more quickly. I had to chuckle s bit at your determination to get through the last month. And that red and white check dress continues to be one of my favorite Carolyn makes. I want one!
You are such an inspiration. While I won’t be making my own shoes, I am working towards making 90% of my wardrobe. Since I sew, knit, crochet and weave, I should be able to accomplish this with all my retirement free time. Love seeing your makes.
thank you so much Ellen! I wish you luck with making your own wardrobe; I’ve found it to an extremely fulfilling and rewarding thing to do, and I hope you do too xx 🙂
You are a marvel 🙂
thank you so much Kay! 🙂
I cannot believe you’ve been wearing handmade shoes for an entire year. That’s impressive!
thank you Kelly! and yes I have! It hasn’t always been easy, but I know I will be super chuffed if I do manage to achieve my goal at the end; which at this stage seems like I will!!! 😀
I always love it when you do a review of your “mades” 🙂 It must be fun for you to see them all in a row as well. I love it that you’ve worn your white thongs to shreds! Talk about a success – I think you should definitely make another pair – you KNOW they won’t go to waste 🙂 I’m still puttering along with my first ever shirt (princess seams in the front and back) – still at the muslin stage but the fit is coming along just dandy which thrills me no end. I look forward to making as many of my own clothes as humanly possible but making my own shoes is definitely not in the foreseeable future…that might be a great project for my partner actually! He’s an artist/carver 🙂
thanks so much Kathleen! yes, making your own clothes is extremely rewarding and self-fulfilling… even if no one around you even knows you do it! it still gives me a creative and enormously satisfying thrill, every time 🙂
Looking gorgeous as ever. Hang in there with the sandals! Jo x
thanks so much Jo! xx 🙂
Making it through a year on handmade shoes is definitely tough. I’m impressed you’ve made it this far. The sandals might be worn out but I think it was a worthwhile experience for you.
I really like the red cardigan in the top row. Could you tell me the link to the original post? What’s the pattern? You are a great inspiration, thank you!
thanks so much Meg! All the details about the cardigan are here Paprika Cardigan
Epic! Hang in there! And I’m getting that pattern posted this week – so slack!
ahaha I love reading your posts, that’s brilliant you’ve managed to fix those white shoes to make them last – such determination! I still can’t believe you’ve made everything you’ve worn for almost a year – you’re such an inspiration!
Wow, I checked out your link to all your outfits! I really love your style and how you put things together. I struggle with that.
Your shoes have done really well to last this long. There are many professionally made shoes that would not go the distance.
I’ll be really interested to find out what you intend to do about shoes in the future. To make or not to make?
thank you Norma! I will probably continue to make shoes every now and again, but am definitely looking forward to allowing myself to wear some of my favourite ready-to-wear shoes again, that have been languishing at the back of my cupboard… I haven’t even let myself to look at them all this time! but am definitely excited about re-embracing them again 🙂
“a few blobs of liquid nails and new heels made of furniture felt later”…just genius. You are so inspirational. And so flippin’ talented. Brava!