Tag Archives: Accounting

2012; a retrospective

31/12/2012 6:30 am \ 71 Comments \

Here we are, the very last day of the year! and a good time to reflect… was the year fabulous? was it awful? was it so humdrum we now cannot remember a single thing?
Of course, the beauty of having the blog is that a whole bunch of stuff is documented in black and white buff yellow and there is just no escaping the truths within; good or bad, wrought by my own fair hand.
A favourite picture from each month of the year… June has two because I just had to have one each from Italy and Paris!
January

February
March
April
May
June
Italy!
Paris!
July 
August
September
November
December
Thoughts on the year?
I am quite comfortable now in making my own entire wardrobe.  It’s been years (3? 4?) since I bought any RTW clothes.  I’m kinda happy with just about everything that I’ve made, only a handful of things per year get chopped up or passed on to others who liked them more than I did.  I’m getting better at letting go of things that are tatty or past their best, and allowing myself to wear the newer and exciting things I’ve made, with less fear of “mucking them up”.
The big big big thing of the year for me….?
 I’m sewing my own lingerie now!!  This is something I always thought would be beyond me, so I am so glad I got brave and gave it a whirl.  My own self-made bras are so soft and comfy and well-fitting compared to any RTW thing I have worn in the past.  
Another personal best for the year was sewing my own raincoat…  I did it!  I cannot tell you how proud I am of that thing (smug self-pat on the back)
  
You can skip this next bit if you found it dull…  The Finances.  So this year I set out to account for my sewing habit.  Like Ebenezer Scrooge I obsessively totted up every last cent, for every single thing sewing related that I used this year.  And I know I said I would disclose all the sewing I did for my family, including gifts, but I have decided not to.  I’m OK with that.  I mean, I know what I spent, but the secret will die with me.  The following is only just the sewing for ME!
 
Total expenditure: $1330.73.
Number of garments made, counting each set of 1 bra+ 2 undies as one garment: 65
(plus 15 items for family)
Average cost per garment: $20.47
Favourite garment: Ivory trench coat
Any fails?: my double sleeved shirt got worn only a few times before I decided that bright-ish shade of sky-blue was awfully unflattering on me… fortunately Cassie likes it and took it.  It is a dress on her, and she looks adorable in it!
Garments made from old fabric: 29
Garments made from new fabric: 38 (yes, these numbers add up to more than 65, but two garments were made from both old and new fabric, and I counted these in both categories)
Refashioned garments: 12
Most expensive garment made: Peppercorn cardigan $108.70
Number of times worn:  ohmigosh, countless.  Probs at least 40 times during the winter and early spring.
Least expensive garment made: 18! garments were free!
 
So.  This is more than I thought I would spend, I had actually estimated about $1200 for me-sewing, but overall I don’t think this is too bad.  Of course, I am very fortunate that a lot of my fabric is given to me; however that is actually a normal state of affairs.  Since everyone in my life knows how much I love to sew, I do receive a lot of fabric; both cast offs from other people’s stashes, as well as in the form of gifts for my birthday and for Christmas.
There were some items that bumped up the total more than I expected, particularly lingerie.  Just the findings, elastic and the moulded bra cups that I like cost $25 per set of bra plus 2 undies, and that is before buying any fabric or lace…  and considering I made five sets this year… well lingerie turned out to be a more costly habit than I anticipated!
But so what; I’m making my own lingerie!!!  Wooo hooo!  Plus, each set is still far less expensive than anything I would buy, so I’m satisfied.  There will be more.
 
I also discovered that knitting is kinda an expensive hobby relative to sewing.  Yarns are quite dear compared to fabric.  But am I going to give up knitting? heck no.  I will take better care of my knitted items from now on though!
 
So, I am looking forward to the New Year already!
Please let me say, Thank You to all those who read my blog, and who take the time to comment; your presence and your support is very much appreciated.  Big hugs to all of you!
Also my very best wishes to all for a wonderful 2013, and I hope it brings to you all that you’ve been hoping for!
See you next year!

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here’s a thought…

30/11/2012 8:00 am \ 10 Comments \

Details:
Top; from Pattern Magic 3, of grey marle jersey knit, details here
Shorts; Burda 7723 modified, of grey/beige corduroy, details here
Thongs; Havaiiana

The last day of the month, the time of reckoning is at hand; and verily, an unexpected snag has raised its ugly head…  
You see, while I, of free will and sound mind (ha!), elected for this year to account for how much I spend on sewing my wardrobe and on everything sewing-related really, including all the random bits and bobs for Craig and my children; I’m shy when it comes to personal gifts.  Like, the birthday pressies I made for Mum and Dad this month, and Christmas is coming up, and since my family do read my blog…  and yeah, seeing a price tag on a pressie is so so tacky, don’t you think? and all the love and the care and the thought, and the hours of sewing, ahem that go into a handmade gift are not accounted for, but become somehow negated when a number is placed upon it.
I didn’t think of this in the beginning, since everyone’s birthdays and Christmas are at the end of the year it has taken me this long to twig that this might happen…
SO I have decided on a plan.  I am still going to tally and publish the costs of my sewing habit but there is going to be an addendum for this and next month.. a Secret Tally.  I’ve already made things for my children and for Craig that I have tallied separately throughout the year, and I will add the costs of everyone’s birthday and Christmas pressies into that at the final tally next month.  So, those costs will still be accounted for and published, but as part of a separate, whole and unitemised sum.  
My own personal clothing expenditure will continue to be itemised… does that sound fair and open and honest?
I hope so, because whatever; that is how it is going to be!

So behold, the noble n’ neat, nitty-gritty for November…

Blood Orange top
Fabric;
previously accounted for
Patterns;
Vogue 1247, used previously
Lingerie holders;
gift
Total
cost: free
Seafoam and sand set
Fabric, hook and eye closure, bra cups;
all leftovers and recycled from previous set
Blue chiffon and white lace for the new crotch; $10.87
Patterns;
used previously
Elastic; $3.49
Underwires; $2.49
Total
cost: $16.85
All laced up skirt
Fabric; after using a birthday gift voucher from friends, $4.98
Zip; $2.30
Total
cost: $7.28
Miscellaneous purchases
no miscellaneous purchases this month
Total costs for November:  $24.13
the Secret Tally, to be accounted for next month:
Dad’s “cement” birthday shirt and Mum’s “pomegranate” birthday shirt
A random thought for the day…
from Truth Theory
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A petticoat and an ISTJ

30/10/2012 11:00 pm \ 24 Comments \

OK, so I have posted about this new… er, thing before; and in a comment janesewandtell expressed surprise that a petticoat should have a zip … the answer of course is that even though I did describe it as a “petticoat” of course it really was only masquerading as a petticoat.  Actually it is a bonafide dress, and can very well be worn as one!
So I thought it really deserves its very own post to show what it looks like on!  Since it has a fitted bodice it does need a zip so that I can actually get it on and off.  I supposed I described it as a petticoat since it is made of a lusciously soft silk that is kinda flimsy.  Meaning it can be worn underneath a loose lightweight thing like my tunic top and function quite well as a slip.  But the fact is that as the weather warms up this is the kind of light and airy sundress I will love to pop on and wear on its own too!
So here ’tis!
And sorry to mess with your heads, but I’ve accordingly copied the petticoat/dress’s info from the original post it shared with the tunic top to here  🙂
I used Burda 8071, a terrific basic pattern I have used ten times before; for ten different dresses and petticoats.  This is the eleventh!  To see a gallery of my previous versions of this pattern, go here  🙂  The bodice is lined with ivory silk charmeuse, leftover fabric from this top.
All the seams are French seams and all other raw edges are finished with HongKong seaming, in a lightweight ice-blue cotton leftover from this shirt.
Details:
Dress/petticoat; Burda 8071, powder blue silk
Sorry, you can’t see them very well in the picture above but I am wearing these sandals; a gift from Misano. 
I loved reading about sewbusylizzy’s Myers-Briggs personality! and no one is going to be surprised to find out that I am a ISTJ; the Examiner, or the Duty Fulfiller.  The type of person who sees out to the bitter end what she has started even if she is hating it. This explains why I am dutifully continuing with the year of self-auditing my sewing habit, which I am heartily wishing I had not started… is everyone bored stiff with my meticulously accurate but excruciatingly dull accounting??  That’s OK.  I wouldn’t blame you one little bit  🙂

OK, the Organisational Odds n’ sods for October…
Cut me a little black skirt
Fabric;
a re-fashioned ball gown
Patterns;
Vogue 1170, used previously
Zip; recycled from the same dress
Hook
& eye; from stash
Total
cost: free
Stellar lingerie set
Fabric;
leftovers
Pattern;
used previously
Dye; (first time used, bought at a 30%off everything sale at Spotlight) $7.77
Bra cups; $12.95
Hook and eye closure; $2.49
Underwires; $2.49
Elastic; 2x $3.49= $6.98
Ribbon; $0.10
Total cost: $32.78
Just add water bathers
Fabric;
$28.00
Pattern;
McCalls 2772, used previously
Swimwear elastic; $4.99
Thread; had already
Total
cost: $32.99
Welcome to the Fold tunic top
Fabric;
gift from Craig
Pattern; Vogue 1309, $8.75 on special
Zip; $2.50
Thread;
had already
Total
cost: $11.25
Of the palest blue shirt and dress
Fabric, zip and thread;
gift from Cassie
Patterns;
all used previously
Buttons; gift from ElleC
Total
cost: free
Perchance to dream jammie bottoms
Fabric;
from my friend C
Pattern;
self drafted
Buttons and thread; had already
Total
cost: free
Slender Man mask
Fabric; $13.19
Zip; $0.65
Total cost: $13.84
Miscellaneous
No
miscellaneous purchases this month
Total costs for October, not including Tim’s mask:  $77.02
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September summary

03/10/2012 1:00 pm \ 9 Comments \

(random holiday daily outfit  🙂 )

Details:
Top; top “b” from “shape shape” (formerly known as Unique Clothes Any Way You Like) by Natsuno Hiraiwa, white cotton, details here
Shorts; Burda 7723, hot pink linen, details here
Hoodie; refashioned oversized cardigan and Tshirt, details here
Scarf; knitted by me, details here
Thongs; Havaiana

and some silly stuffy sums for September

White-y Tighties

Fabric;
$10.00
Pattern;
Burda 7863, used previously
Jeans zip;
$1.99
Jeans button; had already
Total
cost: $11.99
Pretty in Pink
Fabric;
$8.00
Pattern;
Burda 7401 (on special) $7.50
Fabric for the HongKong seaming; $7.00
Total
cost: $22.50
Blue-Grey hoodie
Fabric; $15.00
Pattern;
self-drafted
Total
cost: $15.00
Stripe-ly
Fabric;
leftovers from Craig’s hoodie
pattern; self-drafted
Total
cost: free
Mustard bandage
Fabric;
gift from Mum
Pattern;
from Burdastyle magazine a gift from Alexandra Mason
Thread; $2.68
Total
cost: $2.68
Wicked Witch of the East set
Fabric;
leftovers
Patterns; KwikSew 3300 and McCalls 2772, used before
Underwires; $2.49
Closure; $2.49
Elastic; 2x$3.49= $6.98
Cup Inserts; $12.95
Total
cost: $24.93
‘nother hoodie
Fabric; $20
Pattern; self-drafted
Total cost; $20
Full Moon
Fabric; from my friend C
Pattern; from Pattern Magic 3, used before
Total cost; free
Brocade dress with zips
Fabric; birthday gift from Sam
Pattern; traced from Pattern Pyramid Burdastyle magazine, free
Zips; $18.49
Lining fabric; $8.39
Total cost; $26.88
Bared ankles capris
Pattern; Vogue 1115 (on special) $8.75
Fabric; $10.00
Zip; $2.29
Total cost; $21.04
Miscellaneous

No
miscellaneous purchases this month

Total cost to add to my wardrobe this month (not counting the kiddles’ stuff, naturally)  $87.52

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The Gentle Art of Preservation

05/09/2012 3:32 am \ 18 Comments \

… otherwise entitled: Further Developments in the Case of the Super-Prolific Citrus Trees
Our lemon tree’s desire to give give give and just keep on giving…. well,  I have been doing more good things with our produce  🙂  Limoncello!!  Aah, the taste of Italia, si?
And thank you all for those links to recipes for Limoncello, I used this one, the link sent to me by Sue, thank you!
Limoncello
6 lemons
750mL vodka
225g sugar
435mL water

Place the lemons in a saucepan and cover with boiling water.  Set aside for 1 hour to soak.  Drain and pat dry.  Finely grate the lemons, and combine the lemon rind and vodka in a jug.  (You don’t use the juice from the lemons in this recipe, but obviously the lemons can be juiced and the juice can still be used somewhere; waste not want not   🙂  )
Heat the sugar and water in a saucepan over a low heat, stirring for 5 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved.  Increase heat to medium and bring to the boil.  Cook without stirring for 5 minutes, or until the syrup begins to thicken.  Set aside to cool.
Add cool syrup to the vodka mixture and pour into an airtight container.  Seal and store in a cool, dark place, shaking occasionally, for 1 month to develop the flavours.
Strain the vodka mixture through a fine sieve, into a clean sterilised airtight bottle.  Discard the rind.

Note: This liqueur must be served well chilled.  Place it in the freezer for 1 hour before serving.

We are now so looking forward to long hot summer evenings taking tiny sips of limoncello in tonic water… I can taste it already.  Oh maybe that is because I just did.. hehehe  😀
And remember my plan to drink a-lemon-a-day?? well I am very pleased to report that  I have not been sick or felt even vaguely under the weather all this winter!  I’m positive that has been due to my (almost) daily dose of Vitamin C!  My family likewise has been perfectly well all winter, which is awesome.
From our cumquat tree:
Cumquat marmalade
2 cups cumquats, washed and sliced finely
2 cups water
juice of 1 lemon
2 cups sugar
if you have bumper crops of cumquats, double the quantities
Wash and slice fruit finely and remove the seeds, but don’t throw them away.
Place the fruit in a large saucepan, cover with water and soak overnight (8 hours).  Put the seeds in a separate small bowl and soak in a small amount of boiling water overnight also.
Next day, strain the liquid from the seeds.  Discard the seeds and add the water to the cumquats.  Cook gently on a low heat until the fruit is tender and the liquid is reduced by half.
Add the sugar and lemon juice.  When the sugar has dissolved, turn up the heat and boil rapidly while stirring constantly until the mixture jells, around 30-45 minutes.
To test if the marmalade is jelling, spoon a little onto a cold saucer.  if a skin forms and it glazes on the surface and wrinkles when touched, it is ready.  If it is still runny, boil for a little longer and test again.
That recipe is from an old Burke’s Backyard facts sheet.  Slicing the cumquats is fiddly and a bit of a pain, but I just set myself up in front of the TV and knocked off a huge batch over one evening.
(Later edit: I’ve had enough comments utilising a variety of different spellings for me to wish to confirm that “cumquats” with a “c” IS the correct spelling here in Australia  🙂  )
I neglected to mention it previously, but we have a little lime tree as well (pictured in the background of my limoncello above) and it too has been gallantly producing a bountiful harvest… so:
Lime curd
rind and juice of 5 limes
6 eggs
1 1/2 c sugar
125g butter

Lightly whisk the eggs and sugar together in a saucepan, then add the other ingredients.  Whisk continually over a medium heat until the mixture has thickened to a custard-like texture then allow to cool in the pan.  Decant into sterilised jars.

This is the same recipe I used for my lemon curd just with one extra lime added in, since the limes are a little smaller than the lemons.  I also added a titch of green food colouring to distinguish it from the lemon curd, but I think this could have been a bad idea.  According to my family it looks like jars of slime.  
Oh.  Mmmm.  Right.  Not such a hugely appetising description, mebbee?!  Previously it was a perfectly delectable shade of yellow.  So I would NOT recommend the green food colouring  🙂 
But whilst it may look slightly dubious I can assure you it still tastes absolutely delicious!  I think I like it even more than the lemon curd!

Finally, boring (sorry) but here are my additions for August

Grey Jersey set
Fabric; $5.00
Patterns; KwikSew 3300
$11.75 and McCalls 2772, used previously
Underwires; $2.49
Cup inserts; $12.95
Bra closure;
$2.49
Elastic; $7.98
Buttons; old, from stash
Total cost: $41.66
A tee or three, & “Sleeve”
Fabric; white Tshirts;
fabric previously accounted for, striped Tshirt and sleeve Tshirt, all
refashioned old garments and leftovers
Pattern; self drafted
Total cost for the 4
Tshirts: free
Spiral leggings
Fabric; birthday gift from
friends
Pattern; from Pattern Magic
3, been used before
Total cost: free
Red Riding Hoodie
Fabric; from an old cardigan
and Tshirt
Zip; $2.99
Thread; $2.68
Total cost: $5.67
Bees on white cotton set
Fabric; $7.50
Patterns; KwikSew 3300 and
McCalls 2772, both used previously
Underwires; recycled from
old bra
Cup inserts; $12.95
Bra closure;
$2.49
Elastic; $2.99
Embroidery thread; old,  from stash
Total cost: $25.93
A Man-Hoodie
Fabric; $37.48
Thread; broke into a new
1000m reel of black $13.95
Pattern; self drafted
Total cost: $51.43 (but I am not including this cost in the total for my own wardrobe)
Sparkle-osity
Fabric; about $50.00?
Yellow
jersey; $12.00
Pattern;
self-drafted
Brass
Snaps; $4.95
Total
cost; $66.95
With Military Precision
Fabric;
all leftovers
Lining;
$8.39
Pattern;
from the Pattern Pyramid… free
Buttons;
$5.70
Total
cost; $14.09
Miscellaneous
No miscellaneous purchases
this month
Making the total for the second third of the year; $499.02
and my running total for the year so far $1132.06
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You are all so brilliant!!

31/07/2012 8:52 am \ 7 Comments \

Woa, you are all so fabulously switched on and fashion-icon-savvy!!  hehe, might I just add; far more so than my husband, who had no idea  …   😉
Yes, of course, everyone was correct, I was Annie Hall.  My husband went Hawaii 5-O; in a loud Hawaiian shirt, his bright red jeans, boaters and a straw hat.  And thank you, we had an absolute ball!  we stayed alive; celebrating raining men, proclaiming our will to survive and asking to be taken to FunkyTown until the wee small hours….   
Naturally one of the fun-nest parts of any dress-up party is checking out and discussing everyone’s costumes… there was a Bianca Jagger, and some Abba’s and more afros, bellbottoms, safari suits, psychedelic minis and gogo boots than I’ve ever seen in one spot.  Giving me an illogical desire to hunt down a pair of glossy plastic gogo boots, ahem…. must resist…  
There is one guy in the group who, for every single fancy dress party, no matter what the theme; wears a fat-Santa suit…  He adds some accessory that is a token nod to the theme, this time it was a peace sign necklace … 😀

For those who wanted to enter into the draw… ElleC, I will be contacting you to send you the pattern.

Now, while I was digging through my stuff trying to settle on a costume, I found and initially thought I might wear this old thing… and you’d think surely I must have shown all my “old things” by now, hopefully this is the very last!
I’m pretty embarrassed to show it here, it is a rather hideous waistcoat, that I knitted during my teenage years.  I was pretty into Kaffe Fasset knits back then, and this was one of my earliest attempts at his style of colour mixing and matching.   The triangles design is his but I made up the knitting pattern myself…  it has no side seams, but was knitted in one piece in the round, and just joined at the shoulder seams; then I picked up stitches around the armholes and the front to knit up the ribbed bands.   It was knitted in the intarsia method, and sadly has a few moth holes now  🙁  but that’s OK since it’s not as though I was actually going to start wearing it again, except if we got invited to a bad taste party, maybe  😀

I have made a “new thing” though, a gloriously fashion-forward piece of haute couture…
kidding...!  
My old peg bag finally had the richard and I made another one.  It is all leftover fabrics; a small piece of rust-red upholstery fabric (from my friend C) for the outer shell, and lined with some of the blue-grey knit leftovers from this little jacket; so it is double layer for extra durability, and exactly the same shape and style as my old one (which I also made).  I re-used the same old clothes hanger for the top.  Both my grandmothers and my mother always made their peg bags just like this one, and I have inherited a preference for the style.  Mum goes the extra step of hand embroidering “PEGS” onto hers in beautiful script; if I had half her talent and patience then maybe my peg bag would be a bit more visually stimulating!  Mine has more of a slapped together rustic-chic look about it… hehe

(and I know the accounting is boring and I kinda half-wish I had not started, but I said I would so I will see the year out!  :S) 
…so, some judicious jottings for July

My Raincoat
Nylon Rip-stop; $22.50
Polyester net lining; $4.99
2 dress zips for pockets; $1.98
Open-ended zip; $2.99
Thread; $2.68
Seam Grip; $17.95
Eyelets; from stash
Cord; $1.49
Cord Stops; $1.19
Velcro; $4.00
Pattern; self-drafted
Total cost: $59.77
Seafoam lace lingerie set
Fabric; $13.90
Bra cups; $8.99
Patterns; panties were a free download, and the bra was self-drafted
Hook and eye closure; $2.49
Underwire; $2.49
Total cost: $27.87
Cassie’s Raincoat
Nylon Rip-stop; $12.60
Polyester net lining; $9.98  
(yup, being white = “bridal” = twice the price of the black net I used in mine…!)
Thread; $2.68
Open ended zip; $3.49
2x Dress zips for pockets; $1.98
Seam Grip; $17.95
Cord; $1.49
Cord Stops; $1.19
Eyelets; from stash
Velcro; from stash
Pattern; self-drafted
Total cost: $51.36
(y’know what though? I’m not going to include this one in my year’s total since it is not part of my wardrobe  🙂  )
A Velvet-y Dress
Fabric; $27.00
Pattern; self-drafted
Total cost: $27.00
Peppercorn cardigan
Yarn; $108.70
Pattern; a free download
Buttons; a gift from Mum
Total cost: $108.70
New-Old Hoodie
Fabric; made from all old clothes
Pattern; my own design
Thread; had the right colours already
Buttons; from my stash
Total cost: free
Peg Bag
all leftover free fabric and a re-cycled hanger
Miscellaneous
This month I also
purchased:
Seam Un-picker;
$3.95
Sewing machine light bulb; $7.95
Total cost: $11.90

o hai there…
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On lemons, cats and hearts in the grass…

30/06/2012 4:33 am \ 11 Comments \

Fabio contemplates boughs laden with lemons, and dreams of a summer awash with limoncello…

a furry feline line…

and verdant love in unexpected places…

May and June were lean in handmaded-ness… but soft! all is now beyond sweet memory since riches beyond measure were contain’d within.

Fret not dear reader, I have not yet gone mad.  
Shakespeare, y’know.  
Watched Romeo and Juliet last night…  :D)

Ombre Dyed Velveteen Skirt here
Fabric; $17.94
Zip; $2.29
Dye; previously accounted for
Hook and Eye; previously accounted for
Lining; leftover from my Red Emperor ball gown
Total cost; $20.23
An Unusual Dress here
Pattern; Vogue 1281, first time used, $8.75
Fabric; old Tshirts, free
Total cost; $8.75
Mustard Cable Knit Scarf here
Yarn (I still have two and a half balls leftover); $80.50 
Pattern; my own design
Total cost; $80.50

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Delightfully tacky

30/04/2012 3:48 pm \ 36 Comments \

I like the clashiness here.  A reminder that nature can beautify anything…  The rose is a late autumnal bloomer from my garden; some litterbug chucked the Coke can onto our verge and in the act of picking it up to toss into the recycling bin I suddenly saw artistic possibilities.  We don’t actually drink the stuff ourselves  😛
And below; quinces from my parents’ garden.  
That classy platter is actually an old fan guard/cover that I picked up off a neighbour’s verge in a council toss-out.  Pretty cool, huh?  Fair dinkum, best neighbourhood recycling scheme ever conceived!

So next, I am participating in me-made May, and we are travelling later in the month.  
Now I’ve had some thoughts about blogging during me-made May; and I would welcome your feedback, please!  In the past, I have posted an daily outfit picture, and blogged a few thoughts each day.  I find this an easier way for me to keep motivated and keep going with it.
But I have read quite a lot of negative feedback on other blogs about the apparent boredom of “having” to look at people’s daily outfits; and if the blogger is participating themselves, lots of apologising about the “posting overload”, whatever that means.  I’m bemused by this; since the feedback on the me-made flickr group is always the polar opposite; that people really do like having a bit of a squizzy at everyone else’s daily outfits.   I know I enjoy sneaky-peeking into other peoples self-stitched closets and sharing a bit in everyone’s daily lives, too!
So please tell me, what are your thoughts?  Do you tune out during the me-made months, or do you, like me, enjoy a daily sticky-beak at all the self-stitched goodness?
A lot of participants are talking about how they are going to up the ante this time.  I am opting to go ALL me-made, and mix-it up with a different outfit for each day like I always have for these challenges, and truthfully I don’t think I can up the ante more than that!  So I will try to aim higher with my photography, and do my best to capture beautiful and/or interesting images each day.  Sound fair?  🙂
I am pretty up-to-date with posting my recent creations, with only one new thing up my sleeve, yet to be photographed.  It has been a very productive month for me  😀  but this is going to be offset next month when we go away.  So, although there will not be stacks of new things over the next six weeks, I am hoping to post some lovely scenery on my blog here, along with my hopefully groovy-doovy outfits.
And I am sure going to try my best to keep it up during our travelling schedule, later next month.

And after all that, an addendum; the abysmally astronomical additions for April…

Ivory Trench Coat
Outer fabric; a gift from my friend C, from her late mother’s stash
Facing fabric; $14.81
Lining fabric; $21.43
Pattern; McCalls 5525, used before
Buttons; $4.20
Total cost; $30.44
Curtain skirt
Outer fabric; a gift from my friend C, from her late mother’s stash
Lining; leftover from the trench coat above
Zip; $2.20
Pattern; Vogue 1247, used before
Hook and eye; bought a new packet of 3 for $3.45
Total cost; $5.65
Leatherette skirt
Fabric; $57.98
Lining; $6.99
Zip; $1.42
Pattern; Vogue 1170, used before
Started one new overlocker thread; $1.00
Total cost; $67.39
Clipped Wings, a top
Fabric; I’m not sure since I bought this last year, guestimating $20
Pattern; drafted from Pattern Magic 3, which I have used before
Total cost; $20
Sapote cotton cardigan
Yarn; $62.70 (bought during the 30% off sale, yay!)
Pattern; used before
Buttons; $5.40
Total cost; $68.10
Gingham PJ’s
Fabric; $17.45
Elastic; 1.05
Buttons; leftover from another project
Total cost; $18.50
Ultramine corduroy skirt
Fabric; $7.01
Lining; $4.19
Zip; 0.99
Pattern; Vogue 1170, used before
Thread; $3.20
Started one new overlocker thread; $1.00
Buttons; from stash
Total cost; $16.39
Strawberry Pink jeans
Fabric; $13.21
Zip; $1.99
Facing fabric; recycled old PJ’s
Jeans button; from stash
Total cost; $15.20


The running total for the first third of the year; $633.04

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