Plus Sized Fashion: Scarlett and Jo at Evans and a bit of Hell Bunny. Jeans that don't fit from collectif.

Yeah. I've been buying again. first up is this Blue floral button front dress from S&J. I like a bit of S&J. Their clothes are always comfortable and well cut. I really liked the shape of this dress on the Evans website, and it was in the sale for £20. 

I didn't love it so much when I tried it on though sadly. There wasn't enough fullness in the skirt for me (actually thats fair enough, its quite a 40s style and the skirts weren't full) but I prefer more, well, swoosh. I love the yolk detail, but I just felt frumpy. So I returned it. I'm at the point where if something doesn't make me feel grand, I won't keep it.

Then there was this. The printed mesh front dress. I think that I would actually love this in another colourway. I adore fluted sleeves and I like the sweetheart detailing, but I feel this does nothing for me, and in all honestly I don't need more work wear (I wear jeans most days anyway) so I returned this to. Check me out being all strict with myself!

Don't laugh. This is what it looks like when things spectacularly don't fit. I bought these collectif Rebel Kate jeans in my normal collectif size (18) for half price. I think I probably need more like a 24. I am keeping them as a measuring gauge (because I started a Body Transformation course nearly 3 weeks ago - I won't go into that here as its not very exciting and involves the gym and an eating plan) I shall see if the gap has shortened in a few weeks time <snort>

What I did keep. I saw this Hell Bunny harriet dress being worn by someone on facebook a couple of weeks ago and she/it looked lovely. I've seen it advertised a million times and never given it a second glance as it looked pretty ordinary, but all of a sudden... I WANTED IT!

I think its the colour and the bodice fit and the swishy skirt that made it a must have for me. Only found one in the UK on the Rockamilly site, and as fate would have it, whilst I was umming and ahhing about spending the full price on a frock (I normally won't) she posted a 20% discount code. Well, okay then. It came. I loved it immediately.

Its our 11th wedding anniversay today, so I wore it for a meal out with JP on Saturday. It was a fairly bad hair day so I stuck a flower in it and off we went :)

He looks thrilled doesn't he. He hates having his photo taken!

Catchup on Social and Family!

Its been a while. So I'll do two posts. This one is a summary of what we've been up to without mention of me crafting!

First up - end of October was Sashas Hen do.

 

Michael Jackson Tribute Night +Wyboston Lakes 

It was a good laugh, even though the food was pretty bad. They ran out of potato (who runs out of potato?!!) So gave me extra aubergine. Lucky me. 

When we complained, they gave us luminous green risotto to go with our beef instead. Mmmm....

I did get to wear my Hell Bunny pansy dress which was originally meant for mother in laws wedding though :) Bit tight on me (not the dresses fault) and I had to sew the straps down because for some reason they fasten at the back with buttons. That's a disaster just waiting to happen

Just a garden centre shot. Cos I like it.

There was an overnight trip to Bewilderwood at half term...

...followed next day by a visit to Norwich Castle

There was a Halloween Party @Houghton Mill 

With a walk by lantern light (or disco-ball-on-a-stick in Noahs case)

There was a Halloween Party at the Comrades Club - almost missed it as I thought it was on the Saturday when in fact it was on the Friday. Found out half an hour before it started. 

I still won best dress adult though, simply by putting this frock on (bought on sale in Sainsburys in Norwich the day before)

We had an afternoon at Nene Park in Peterborough...

...and another trip to the garden centre

It was my 'babys' 6th birthday. He had a bouncy castle party for all heroes and princesses.

My Captain America (yes I forgot his costume for his own party - daddy had to dash home and retrieve it)

He got a lovely shiny keyboard...

...and a beautiful red haired doll (complete with Anna outfit I bought from China)

I can't believe my lovely boy is six already :)

We visited the Cambridge science centre. Joey looks good in a space helmet - no?

I only bought ONE dress in the sales (and it wasn't on sale) This is Lindy Bop. I wanted to go festive for the upcoming Christmas Market

And most recently, we visited @Wimpole Hall where they are currently doing lots of lovely christmas activites. (Its free for National Trust members, which we are)

The boys put on a light puppet show

Made pomanders and lavender bags

Decorated gingerbread shapes

had a wander to the walled garden, past huge christmas trees

then had a massive tantrum because the hot chocolate was finished and the crafty cottage shut as we arrived too late. We won't go into that...

Finally - it was decoration day at school last Friday. They all wear festive jumpers and make decorations all day. The parents are allowed to come in and help

And our tree

A day trip to London (Fit Modelling & Goldhawk Lane fabric binge)

As posted back in Jan this year, I was chosen as one of the three plus size models for the upcoming Voodoo Vixen plus size range, and so on Tuesday I travelled into London for a 2nd dress fitting session. I was only in there 20 minutes but I love the dresses they have chosen to upsize and I am soooo hoping they let me have one after the shoot! I didn't get to see the other girls Sarah and Helen this time sadly as we couldn't make the same date, but will at the shoot which will hopefully be scheduled quite soon. I wore my Hell Bunny Souvenir dress which I won in the Hello Dolly competition. Is it good to wear a rival brands dress to a fitting session? Well why not. Keep them on their toes :)

Of course as I was only there for 20 minutes, that left me a fair bit of time to indulge in some fabric shopping. I hopped on the tube and headed for Shepherds Bush market, and Goldhawk Road - the fabric lovers mecca.

It was all a bit overwhelming frankly. Like a kid in a sweetshop, I was almost unable to choose anything at all. Then I spotted the Hawaaian fabric I'd been after. The stuff they used for this Hell Bunny dress. 5 metres for £25. Bargain! I probably could have haggled. I think you're probably supposed to, but I didn't. It would cost twice that much on ebay so still happy. 

What I really want to make for my 40th birthday night out dress at Whittlebury Hall, is a hawaiian sarong style dress. Not halter. I love the look of halter, but I don't like the feel of it, and hate wearing halter bras. So I want something a bit like this stop staring dress:

I've decided I'm going to attempt it with my new fabric, as a hybrid of Butterick 5880 (for the skirt) and Vogue 8280 for the bodice (view A)

I may well change my mind before I start it, so we shall see what happens! I also bought some gorgeous red cotton which is crying out to be a sarong dress as well. Its lighter than the hawaiian stuff and will probaby drape better, but I'm not sure I have time to make both. I ended up spending about £75 quid on fabric, which was quite restrained, and I have enough for 3 dresses, and quite a lot of bags!

I should also mention that I'm happy to follow the Curvy Sewing Collective, which is pretty much what it says on the tin. Ladies with curves, who sew! 

I generally don't specifically point out when I'm sewing, what size it is that I'm using. Or at least I don't think I do, because mostly it isn't really relevant. 

I don't have issues finding patterns in my size (I'm a UK 18, however for sewing purposes I'm a 20 or 22 as they are not generous like shop sizes!) However I am always happy to see the outcome of a sewing pattern on someone who is more fuller figured, as I can get a better idea of what something's going to look like on me. I do have to make adjustments on most things I make and alter. 

My arms are chunky and some patterns just don't take this into account when grading. I am short-waisted and always need to chop off a couple of inches around the midriff region. I have a portly stomach which is proportionally bigger than my bust and hips (even though I have a massive arse LOL)

So all tips and advice and suggestions coming from this new site are most welcome.

Hell Bunny, Womens Hour, Wedding Bag and various outdoor events

I'm so busy at the moment, its all a bit crazy with end of term approaching and Noahs last days of nursery.

Firstly, my prize from Hell Bunny finally arrived. If you recall, I won the Hello Dolly Competition (see page 31 http://www.hellbunnyrag.com/the-brand-new-issue.php) and my prize was a dress of my choosing from this seasons catalogue.

I chose the souvenir dress, because it was so cute and quirky, and also because I wanted something quite modest for my hols.

I had to do some adjusting. Major tedium. I am short waisted and I had to remove two inches from the shoulder seams, because it was saggy in the neck region, sat two low on my waist, and you could see my bra strap at the back.

Unfortunately this of course meant that the underarms were raised and are therefore now a bit tight. I haven't got the patience at the mo to adjust this and I can live with it, but at some point I need to think about snipping away at the armholes.

I do absolutely love it though.

They held a nursery garden party at Ducklings to say a farewell to the school leavers. This is Noah getting his certificate (and his duck!).

It was the St Annes Sports Day. Joey did really well - here he is pulling faces with Bobby. Joeys is fourth from the left. He earned 10 housepoints for his efforts :)

It was the biggest weekend of the year in our small town - Godmanchester Gala Weekend (Joey sang in the school choir, but I couldn't get a photo of him)

WW1 poster for Joeys school project. 

I have already researched my family tree, so we picked some relatives and decided to do a piece about what they would have been up to during WW1, mostly assumption and guesswork I hasten to add.  I can only track back through one side, as my mothers side is Thai and I have no contact and therefore no information about that. 

My great-grandfather Peter was a labourer at a foundry works in the Middlesbrough region, so we decided that he must have stayed on the home front during the war and possibly made munitions. His brother James, going by the only family photograph I have of the Robertsons, was a policeman. So we decided that he probably stayed on the home front too, doing policemanly duties.

Noahs last day at Littlefoot Toddler Group. I've been taking the boys to this group at the local baptist church every term-time Wednesday for years. Its quite sad to reach the end of an era.

Plus I was on Radio 4 Womans hour! Talking about out of school care. Don't ask my why they picked our school - I have no idea - I was accosted at the door when dropping off Joey and had no warning. The journalist shoved a mike in my face and started grilling me!

Listen here http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2005_25_mon_01.shtml

I'm on at just before 12 minutes.

I also wanted to share this. The lovely Emma got married earlier this month. Her bag (shown in pic) was one she commissioned from me (SheWearsRedFeathers) a while back. Doesn't she look stunning!

So you see its all been a bit busy. There just aren't enough hours in the day!