a new sunny top

Thank you for sharing your own mishaps on my last post, and for being so encouraging and nice in general. Just when I thought the week couldn't get any worse, I noticed that I have lost my Birthday money. Yes, all of it, and a voucher for a local yarn shop, too. After searching the house for the little unassuming white envelope in which I had stuffed both voucher and money, I have to conclude that it is now somewhere in the Glasgow recycling facility, along with all of our other paper waste. Since Richard and I are the only ones ever tidying up in here, the chances that I personally threw out my own money are rather high. I feel exceptionally stupid. I am sorry mum and Richard! I was so looking forward to spending it. Just imagine what I could have bought but now won't. I have also got a stinking cold, not helped by the fact that I was standing around the school play ground for three hours yesterday, helping out at the PTA car boot sale. It is unusually cold for May, windy and rainy. To add insult to injury, I just melted one of the ballet show scarves I was sewing for Annie's ballet class. My iron is of course sticky, too. I am going to have to confess tomorrow. Did I mention my foul mood already?

I didn't want to be morose and grumpy so shortly after my last post but I did have to get this off my chest. I really wanted to show you some pictures of my yellow top. I do love to wear it. I finished it a couple of weeks ago but haven't had a chance to write about it yet. I used the Zsalya Dress and Top pattern by KateNRose. There are two views, a short top with long sleeves and a tunic with short sleeves. I made a combination of both, a short top with short sleeves. The sleeve edge is curvy. The pattern was accompanied by well written instructions. What I particularly liked was that there are instructions for a clean & fancy finish, and instructions for quick & dirty finish. I chose the clean & fancy because I couldn't help myself. The pattern is a downloadable pdf and the pattern pieces fitted together really well. Would I make another one? Yes, in all likelihood. I would maybe make straight sleeve edges, distribute the sleeve gather over a longer stretch to make it less puffy and I would cut the yoke a bit lower because I like to see the necklaces I wear.

I used a bright Anna Maria Horner fabric for this top. I do love yellow and I think I wear it well. I know lots of people don't like to wear yellow but I really think it is a great colour and there is a shade for everybody's skin tone and and hair colour. Of course I am still winter pale and rather washed out on the photos.... but I am remaining optimistic for some good weather. Someday soon I hope.

I have some fabric left which I shall make into a couple of zippered pouches for teacher presents. 

I bought myself some sew-in labels for my handmade wardrobe. I wanted those for ages. They are white with magenta writing and look very haute couture. Next I'll be sewing a dress to impress. I have just printed out a pattern and sticky-taped it together All 60 pages. Unfortunately I misplaced my measuring tape and can't cut the pattern, or the fabric because I do only have my bust measurements. I bought a ruby red linen/cotton blend for the dress. I do love red.

I just remembered something funny from yesterday's car boot sale. The boys each got some money to spend on anything they liked. James bought himself a scooter for a pound! Then he came running with a book, asking if he could buy it. It was 'War and Peace' and weighed about two kilos :-) I recommended some lighter reading. Alistair bought plastic figures and two games. The latter he wanted to take to the dump to get rid off (si.c!) I bought him a 'new' Ridgeback bike instead, for £10. It is a perfect fit and doesn't need much work at all, just a few minor adjustments.

I am feeling a bit more cheerful already! And right on cue, there is some sunlight breaking through the clouds. I think I am going to use some of my savings to treat myself to a fancy insulated camping mat. I deserve it, don't you think? Have lovely week my friends! Cxx