Adventuring

Ever feel like you're just working and coming home and working then coming home? I'm a total homebody, there's nothing I love more than being cosy on the sofa watching something on Netflix, however occasionally I get cabin fever and have to get out and about.

This is when we go on what I call an adventure. I love revisiting all the places I went when I was younger and Yorkshire is such a beautiful place there's endless towns and villages to visit.

Here's a few places we've visited recently:

Lindley reservoir which was on the way to Pateley Bridge, we had to stop and take a photo of the gorgeous scenery (despite blocking the road a wee bit). Why are phone cameras so rubbish sometimes? This picture does the scenery absolutely no justice in the slightest.

Brimham Rocks, a fascinating rock formation near the Yorkshire Dales. I wish it wasn't so windy when we went because I really wanted to climb up to the top but when I tried to get a photo I nearly blew away!

Obviously we HAD to get some sweets from here, I have a major sweet tooth.

Please excuse my finger, this is Gary's photo taking stance (to stop being blown over!)

He wasn't happy with the wind

But much happier with tea and cake inside him.

Is there anything better than a Yorkshire tea room??

Mmmm, jam then cream...people who put cream THEN jam on are certifiably insane.

Pateley Bridge was a tiny village, it had one main street (but 4 pubs and 5 tearooms - that's yorkshire for you!)

This is New Miller Dam in Wakefield which is a lovely walk and we were blessed with some sunshine.

Near Castle Hill in Huddersfield

This was in the peak district, a place I forget the name of, we climbed to the top of this rock formation and felt like we were on top of the world!

Hardcastle Crags, near Hebden Bridge, which is another lovely walk.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Although a lot of the places we visit are in and around Yorkshire we have been abroad too. Most recently:

A surprise trip to Paris for my 25th birthday!

We have been many places in the short while we have been together and I envisage many more, to find someone who shares my love of these day trips is quite fantastic. I love our adventures, getting in the car and going on a road trip, full of bacon sandwiches and dreaming of high tea or a pub lunch and then coming home at the end of the day. Perfect.

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

Dressmaking wishlist

My head is full of ideas I'm just a little short on time!

Here's my wishlist of things I really really want to make:

This gorgeous blue gingham dress is beautiful, but I'm not entirely sure it's me and will probably stay as inspiration for a shorter dress (I really dislike midi lengths on me despite having long legs, it just doesn't look right).

This is a Cabbages and Roses skirt I saw on eBay but didn't buy, I dislike the C&R over the top silhouette and so will recreate this skirt to be a little more wearable day-to-day. I'm still looking for wool felt that comes in metres.

This is a basic circle skirt, I tend to wear dresses more because matching an outfit is very simple, but I would like more variety in my wardrobe and a basic skirt (with a bow, obviously) will be perfect.

This is Tilly and the Button Coco top which can be modified to make a dress, after a quick scout on eBay for striped jersey I've decided it needs to be added to my handmade wardrobe. Also I am OBSESSED with stripes which makes this a total no-brainer for me! It would work really nicely with the skirt above as a basic but fabulous outfit.

This is Tessuti's Eva linen dress which is doing the rounds on instagram, a beautifully flowing dress which will be perfect in white linen (£3 pm on eBay!)

Every time I see my first handmade dress it makes me smile, it's not perfect by any means but it was made by me and that sense of pride is worth more than any dress you can buy.

I've decided to write a blog post every weekend (work makes me exhausted and brain dead which is not the ideal mind frame to be writing with!) so please follow me on Bloglovin or Instagram to see what I'm up to during the week.

Have you got the dressmaking bug?

Amy

Tips for dressmaking

I am a complete sewing amateur. I started sewing in January 2013 when I first bought a sewing machine. I've done some hand sewing here and there but lack the patience for it. 

Dress making for me is a real no brainer. I like sewing, I'm really stingy and I like to be a little bit original. I admired the Cath Kidston Garden Birds dress but it sold out, I found the fabric on eBay and so decided to make my own!

Here are some tips for complete total amateurs like me:

First up, you know how sewing blogs and books etc tell you to measure your pattern and adjust it to your size? Well yeah. Do that. I stupidly assumed because I fit a certain size in a shop it would match the pattern. Nope. It didn't. Which resulted in me having to do some DIY on the back of the dress to make it fit. Make sure you measure the usual, bust, waist, hips but also across your shoulders, the length of your torso etc. 

Next up, make sure you have enough fabric! I can imagine you reading this rolling your eyes and saying "how much of an amateur are you!?" The answer is very and I still managed to make a dress! It's that easy.

Anyway, I did not read my pattern and realise that you have to double it up to have enough fabric which resulted in me having to do some jimmying of fabric and the back being a teeeeny bit longer than the front (but it looks like it's supposed to be like that, result!)

The whole thing took about 4 hours and cost £15. I highly recommend it, it's a very satisfying and makes you feel very smug when someone says "I like your dress" and you reply "oh thanks, I made it".

Next up, a felt wool skirt and a floral tea dress. When I have some pennies that is!

February in pictures

1. Started a new crochet blanket using a starburst pattern that was loosely based on one I saw online (I swear I booked marked it and then lost it!)

2. Loving the springtime weather

3. Gary's birthday meal of pulled pork, was incredible! I used this recipe

4. Valentine's meal, I'm not a fan of valentines purely because you shouldn't need one day to show someone you love them, you should do it all year around. However we had a quiet cosy night in and I had tea cooked for me, it was perfect!

5.  and 6. The little adventures we've been on.

7. I've finally set up a twitter purely for crafty makes, follow me here and an Etsy shop for my little makes

8. Completely fell out of love with my new blanket, I'm just not friends with red, I'm more of a blue person

9. Springtime walk.

February was all about long leisurely walks in the spring sunshine and being at peace, it was much needed. This year is going far too quickly for my liking, but I'm enjoying seeing where it takes us.

How was your February?

Amy x

Blog redesign

Hello!

My blog has had a little redesign which reflects my style and taste, I hope you all like it.
It was designed by my other half Gary Wood, if you're interested in something similar please don't hesitate to ask!
I can't wait to get a custom domain and redesign it properly.
Please leave me some feedback in the comments below

Amy x

Wishlist

Forever trawling the internet for goodies to fill my basket. There are however a few things I "need", first up is some craft storage;

I'm desperately in need of something pretty and cheap to store all my fabric, ribbon etc in and this £35 set of drawers from Matalan are perfect! I don't want to buy something more expensive/permanent as we want to buy a house eventually and it might not all fit.

I've had my eye on a nice lamp base so that I can make a pretty lampshade and I think this one will do nicely!

It's from wilkos and is £22, I've seen a few other cheaper ones and I'm still on the hunt for that perfect base, curvy and shapely.

Something else I desperately need is a new wardrobe and this Next one made me gasp out loud

It's perfect, it's the right colour, size, style but most of all it's reasonable. It makes my heart swoon!

A wishlist of mine wouldn't be complete without a little CK, this apron will be perfect (and I definitely do not want to cut it up and make pretty things with it.... maybe I should buy two....)

Looking back I'm surprised how much of my wishlist is for the home, it's usually full of clothes, I'm turning into a real homebody.
Money is a bit tight at the moment so for now my wishlist shall just be a wish but soon my pretties soon.......

What are you currently wishing for?

Amy

Positivity

The last few weeks have been tough for us financially and with that and the rubbish weather, I've been feeling a bit down.
The weather really affects my mood, anyone else feel the same? I've put all my projects on hold (started a new one then stopped), I just can't seem to get going at the moment.

I'm generally a positive person and not crafting plus the weather and work being stressful we've been having a bit of a tough time.
I've been feeling sorry for myself a far bit and a few posts I've seen online about other people's lives really hit me. A couple of people I know (but don't speak to) have gone through some incredibly tough times and it really puts things into perspective.

Our new motto is: Be Grateful.

We have a house, money to pay bills, our health and most of all love for each other.
What more do you need in life really?