fanbloomingtastic

Me Made May '13 Week One update (and me waffling on about mental health and the Living Life to the Full website)

2013-05-09T11:34:16-07:00

This is a bit of a weird one. I apologise for the stream-of-consciousness of it, if you just want to look at Me Made May pics, please scroll down.

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If you saw my last post (or follow me on Twitter), you'll know I'm fighting the depression end of my cyclothymia at the moment. But I decided the regularity and keeping-goingness of Me Made May as I'd pledged to do it (including the spring cleaning of closet and sewing lair) would do me good.

So here's the first week's pics though you'll understand why I look pretty 'not usual Tempest' in them. I always think it's good to keep a record of what I'm going through. Actually that's a lie. I've only just realised, perhaps in the last 5 years, with a lot of help from psychotherapists/analysts/CBT counsellors and my lovely NHS mental health care support team, that keeping a record of the ups and downs and plateauing is a good thing. Often when I'm in deep I think it's the end of the world and it's always been like this and I'll never climb out. But keeping a record of the times when I did feel better and started functioning OK again helps me realise the sun will come out again. Similarly, it's useful to see the times I'm hitting the hypers because they're the best indication that a low will be coming some time and I can start buying in food and stopping saying yes to things in readiness to weather the storm. I'm blabbering. Anyway, these pics might help me record the passage through in a new way than just words in a diary. If I suddenly stop and things go quiet don't worry though....the sun DOES always come back eventually.

By the way, if you're reading this and need help....there's an excellent FREE website called Living Life to the Full that has little videos and cognitive behavioural therapy exercises you can work through for ANYONE experiencing some sort of mental health issues, even if it's just not being able to get the energy to tackle anything, or feeling down....don't ever belittle your mental health, if you don't feel right the BEST way to tackle it is to take some form of ACTION, if you feel able, it's also ok to have duvet days when you need them, but try to set a limit on how long you're going to give in to feeling depressed before trying to take a step forward. Anyway.....sorry, I really am all over the place and we haven't even got to the photos yet haha.......if you need some help PLEASE TALK TO SOMEONE. SO MANY OF US are going through EXACTLY what you are now and there is help out there. I'll pop some links and numbers at the bottom of this post if you need immediate help, but check out the Living Life to the Full website too......I've found it incredibly useful and it's free, you can pick the exercises when and where you want, you don't have to do all the exercises/watch the videos - just what you need....I know the name of it sounds a bit new-agey, but it was created by a psychiatrist expert in CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) with the Scottish NHS and some mental health charities, and honestly it's a good place to start. Click on the pic for the link:

OK, enough about mental health, here's the Me Mades I wore last week:

Day One:

My lobster dress, the make details including me smiling in pics can be found here.

I love the print and generally like the dress, but seeing as I'm using Me Made May '13 to examine my wardrobe for repairs/alterations needed and points I can learn from stuff I've made, here's my thoughts:

the dress didn't have pockets - it NEEDS pockets (since last week, I've so far added one pocket, but improvements are taking time as the dress is full-lined),
I need to stop making dresses with bateau necklines....they look fine but the high necklines make me feel constricted and put me off wearing these dresses on a more regular basis.
the bodice fit isn't fantastic, but hey, I made a fully-lined dress in a week for the Sew Weekly challenge so that's cool. If I can be bothered some time I need to take the bodice and lining apart and take it all in by about an inch from the bottom of the armsyche to the waist. I probably won't be bothered though and will continue to wear the dress to evenings out or at Thanksgiving.
I need to wear the dress to Red Lobster sometime. It's had fab responses at Chilis and Applebees....it will totally rock at Red Lobster.

Day Two:

One of my favourite muck-about dresses, one I can just fling on in a morning without thinking.

Here are the make details and pics of me not particularly smiling in it as it was for a Sew Weekly challenge in the week of the Newtown school shootings.

There's not much wrong with this dress. It does. The black linen does pick up EVERY SINGLE cat hair and fabric thread when I'm sewing, but that's ok. And the black and white Alexander Henry (I think) print does pull sideways, slipping off the shoulders after a little wear because I cut it from a tiny off-cut so neither piece is cut correctly on the grain but both slightly on the bias, so they stretch slightly. But that's ok. It's a muck-about dress. It's good on a bad day. And it possibly looks even better in winter with a colourful long-sleeved top under it....see the original post about the make for pics.

Day Three:

Another absolute go-to 'throw-it-on-in-the-morning-and-don't-have-to-worry-about-dressing' dress. You can tell I'm down, I've got my 'security' cowboy boots on too....they're like a security blanket but muckier.

I'm trying though, I've thrown a little jewellery.

Though there's not much wrong with this dress....hence why I wear it so much....I should have probably stabilised the neckline a little better....it drifts off my shoulders, and I keep thinking about sewing some velcro bra-strap clinger-ontos (there's probably a proper name for those, little straps you can velcro closed underneath your bra strap to keep the shoulder in place), but haven't yet gotten around to it.

Here's details of the original make and some pics of me being silly and posing in the dress on a good day.

Day Four:

Should have ironed it, but didn't have the energy. Though this shirt/dress unfortunately gets me attention when out and about....I can't hide in it, it's still a comfort outfit. I made it after my LBD (little balck dress) debacle and it's comfy and quirky and can almost raise a smile in me if I'm not too far down. I think I was too far down this morning.

I'm pretty happy with it as it is. No improvements needed.

Here are the details of the make and pics of me dancing to Talking Head's Stop Making Sense in it, as you do.

Day Five - Cinco de Mayo:

Just the red skirt as a Me Made this time. It's one of my Bowie Sew Along/1940's Sew for Victory contributions....see make details and more very silly photos of me in it as David Bowie and/or a Farm Girl here.

The skirt is too big at the waist, which is fine when I wear it with braces (suspenders for you Americans)....but as it's an incredibly useful staple garment in my wardrobe, it could do with fixing. AND IT NEEDS POCKETS!!!!!

Day Six:

OK, it's quiz time.....try and work out if I was feeling happy or sad on this day? Blimey, how ON EARTH did you guess that one correctly?! I'm stunned. (Does sarcasm come across in print?)

My Wenlock Onesie, made (no surprises here either) for the 2012 Olympics last year. And regularly wheeled out when I need a slob day.....or want to do impressions of the Emperor from Star Wars....should have worn this on May (the) 4th (be with you) really shouldn't I?

Nothing on this needs altering, it does exactly what it promises when you climb inside it and snuggle down.

Here's the original post about it's make, photos of me being very silly in it and why I loved Wenlock the London 2012 mascot....we're connected you know.

Day Seven:

If ever there was a 'throw-it-on-in-the-morning-and-all-will-be-OK' dress, my Spider Man dress is it.

This is probably my Me Made that gets the most wearings out, and it is actually wearing it out.

Here's lots more pics of me pretending to be Spider Man on a kids' climbing 'web' and details of the make.

I made the mistake because of the hectic speed of being part of the Sew Weekly challenges last year and making each garment in a week of using cheap red shirting cotton for the contrast sections. These are beginning to look washed out. The Spider Man fabric looks fine, but the red blocks let it down a little in real life. I won't make that mistake again. I'm gradually trying to buy better quality fabrics for makes (unless I can grab some absolute bargains in Goodwill and my other favourite thrift stores (charity shops)).

Otherwise this dress is just perfect, I adore the pockets and the fit and the zip. Yep, the eagle-eyed of you will realise this is made with the same pattern (McCalls 6324) as the Day Two dress above. It's a very cool pattern.

Btw, if you want to see all of the things I've sewn at once, and gets links to the original posts, then I've almost completed the 'Things I've Sewn' archive page....there are now links to 50 of the posts and will soon have all my makes on there.

OK, that's your lot....move along now.

If you've scrolled down for the additional mental health links and numbers, here you are:

Need immediate help?

In the USA, call 1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

In the UK, call 08457 90 90 90 for the Samaritans, you're not alone.

Find a helpline for your country through Befrienders Worldwide.

Get help - Mental Health America

Get help - Mind, the mental health charity

All the very best my friend, big big hugs. It will get better, but you might just need some help from people who know what they're doing.

Crawling back towards the light.... (to the tunes of a Mariachi band)

2013-05-07T13:38:45-07:00

Bear with me, I'm in the pit with my cyclothymia.

I'm OK, I've been dealing with this **** for over 30 years now (though only diagnosed in last decade) I have strategies and support and I SHALL RETURN!

But I just need to climb out of the hole slowly otherwise I'll fall over again (you know when you stand up too quickly after sitting/lying down too long....well it's mental illness equivalent of that....just. need. to. take. it. slowly).

If you're new to the blog, here's a bit of an explanation about my mental health and the world's most fabulous support: Team Devyne.

But whilst we're all waiting for me to be back of 'normalish' form, here's some pics of how we annoy the neighbours in Arizona by whole-heartedly celebrating Cinco de Mayo every 5th May, with mariachi band music blaring, silly dancing, Mexican food and of course, much whacking of the piñata (I hope no one finds our wearing of sombreros offensive, it's our equalivent of wearing party hats).

And here's a soundtrack for viewing the pics:

(if the Grooveshark Player isn't appearing in your reader, you might need to click through to the post on Fanbloomingtastic)

It's one of our favourite songs from our Cinco de Mayo playlist, though unfortunately, not by our favourite band.....I beg you, if you like to laugh, you NEED to go to iTunes and check out El Zopilote Mojado by Mariachi Aguila Real....it's seriously worth the 99c or even just listening to the 1 min 22 secs of the preview. At least one of the violins is out of tune, and it is so beautifully bad....it's my favourite piece of Mexican music of all time, I'm in stitches every time I hear it.

Btw...I know we're not Mexicans or Americans but we do like to adopt as many of the USA's holidays as possible, and as it's a celebration of the Mexicans beating the French in Puebla in 1862, as Brits it's nice not to be the 'evil foe' for once....yep, 4th of July is coming, the time when I try to pretend I'm Canadian for a couple of weeks to avoid the cone of shame and taunts about Evil King George.

But I think I'm covering all national bases here:

OK then....off to take things easy (actually, I'm painting the TARDIS stash cupboard, the mathematics of panel sizes occupies the voices in my head and stops them dissing me), I WILL be back soon with lots more colourful silliness I promise.

MAY! Me Mades, Mermaids (ok, swimsuits) and Messes Unmade

2013-04-30T22:01:35-07:00

Now, you're all going to think this coming the day before the start of May is a result of my 'lastminuteitis'...

...but you're wrong.

I PLANNED to leave announcing my Me Made May pledge until today.

Honest, guv'nor. Look, how could you doubt this face?

No, really....ahh whatever. I believe me.

So May starts tomorrow. And these are my plans for May....

I'm in! I joined in Me Made May '12 but dropped out because I was doing the Sew Weekly challenges as well....it all got too much. Plus I'd only been sewing for a short while and didn't have enough garments....well, after a year of sewing at least one garment each week, I do now (possibly too many) and some are sitting unworn because they need a little work/love (and quite a few need pockets adding) so....

'I, Tempest Devyne of fanbloomingtastic.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '13. I endeavour to wear a minimum of one handmade garment each day for the duration of May 2013 and during the month mend or alter me-made garments hiding in my closet so I can wear them more often after May 2013'

I'll be posting pics of whatever I wear each day as part of the Me Made May '13 Flickr group and have a round-up once a week here on Fanbloomingtastic.

I'll also be joining in with the Me Made May Flickr group's themed Friday photos....check out the discussion boards to find out more. I think the theme for this Friday is water.

Zoe, the host of Me Made May each year reports this year is going to be a record-breaker.

But if I'm spring-cleaning and make do and mending my me mades, I think it's about time I also had a good old spring clean of my Sewing Lair. Which is where this comes in:

I'll be joining in Hannah at Hugs & Kisses' Spring Clean Your Sewing Space. She's going to be giving out tips each Monday throughout May.

This also means finally finishing the TARDIS....more about that tomorrow.

AND as someone at school today mentioned there are only 20 schooldays left of the Arizona school year (we break up for summer hols....translation: summer vacation....on May 29th), it means the days being a lifeguard to Melchett and Goth Child and all the assorted friends who appear each holidays (vacations/breaks) to use our pool is fast approaching. I have one swimsuit that is suffering pilling and chlorine damage...

...I need another, or two, if I am to fulfill my Baywatch fantasies (you should see me jogging around the patio, actually, you shouldn't, not unless you wish to lose your lunch). So I'm also joining in with Katie of Kadiddlehopper and Leila of Three Dress Project's Swimalong Sew Along.

I think I might even need a superhero styled swimsuit...don't you think?

Much more about this in the next few days, weeks.

An hopefully that should keep me occupied. And stop me from overstretching myself as per usual.....though Miss Crayola Creepy's Great Gatsby Sew Along is calling me.....please keep me from it's seductive sirenly calls......please.....

My old man said follow the van, and don't shilly shally to the Challis Chalet on the waaaay....

2013-04-29T12:39:56-07:00

(The voices of a hundred thousand cockneys can now be heard shouting it's "don't dilly dally, not shilly shally!" and ignoring the fact that I included a Challis Chalet but not a cock linnet....and if you don't know what on earth I'm talking about...here).

Anyway...

Once upon a time I bought an elasticated skirt from my Goodwill store (translation: thrift store, charity shop) in their fortnightly (translation: every 2 weeks) 50% off sale. I had to buy it because it smiled colourfully at me. And was only $2.98 (£1.93).

It looked like this:

It sat in my stash for over a year...and then Lady Katza on Peanut Butter Macrame announced a Challis Focus month and invited people to come to the Challis Chalet to learn about the fabric. I learnt a lot. Challis isn't a term I'd come across before. I think it's because in the UK I'd call it vicose, and probably be doing this incorrectly.

I ransacked by stash for some challis, having learnt what it is from Lady Katza but could only find this skirt, and 7/8th of a yard of this:

...which trying virtually every pattern for sleeveless tops on it that I could, I haven't been able to find a suitable solution for it yet. If I'm honest I want to save it to use as a contrast in a bowling shirt....so this is staying in the stash for the time-being until I can afford a nice royal blue solid to match it up with.

So I was left with this meagre contribution to the Challis Cause...a refashion of an elasticated skirt.

I can't decide if I like it or not.

What do you think?

It feels a bit sleeveless scrubs to me. I wonder if I can just rock it?

By the way, now you can see now why, though being as short sighted as Mr Magoo, I don't usually wear my glasses in pics....it's not vanity, it's just they're reactolite (transitions, photochromatic lenses) and as soon as I step outside in Arizona they go dark.

Anyway back to rocking it, whaddaya reckon?

Hang on, I know....rocking things always works better when I channel Iris Apfel (grabs appropriate sunglasses), how about now?

I dunno.

There's just something about it now that makes me want sing and dance this...

It's having an effect already....uhh ohh I feel strange, something weird's happening to my head....aaayyeeeeeh....

OK, it seems I've answered my own question. I'm most definitely going to rock it as the eccentric polka dot afro circus lady.

Or it might become a painting top....that way the splashes won't show up much.

Sorry about the earworm I've now given you, circusafrocircusafro polkadotpolkadotpolkadotafro!

Forgive me ;)

For more beautiful uses of challis, check out the Challis Chalet Flickr Group....perhaps I just need to increase the size and variety in my stash (from the other side of the United States I can hear Mr D shouting no!)

Megan's Zou Bisou Bisou dress (Julia Bobbin's Mad Men 2 Sew Along)

2013-04-24T23:28:02-07:00

This post is a multi-media experience in honour of it being a Mad Men themed sew. Here's a complimentary soundtrack to read it by, click play:

(if you can't see the Grooveshark playlist box, you might need to read this post in the original on Fanbloomingtastic.com...I know it sometimes doesn't appear in readers).

Update: Though I finished this dress a few days late for the deadline, the wonderful Julia Bobbin included me in her fantastic update...you HAVE to check out all the fabulous dresses and outfits people from all around the world have made for the sew along.

So....

...this was supposed to be an entry to Julia Bobbin's Mad Men 2 sew along. But I failed. Mostly my fault, some life getting in the way.....which I should have allowed for, so all my fault. The deadline was Monday, but after a month of working on Bowie Sew Along, then dropping a 'Betty' shirtwaister I was making because I saw some concertina pleat chiffon, perfect for Megan's Zou Bisou Bisou dress instead. I also did a Draper last year, making a Betty inspired dress, so it only felt right to move along to the new Mrs Draper this year.

Here's Megan's original:

And here's mine....yes, it's navy blue. Well, you didn't really expect me to make a LBD (little black dress) did you? Not after my previous 'excursion' into the world of black outfitting.....shudders....

I say dropped everything, I didn't drop my procrastination. I don't know what's up with me recently, I need a rocket underneath me to get anything done. Admittedly I was having to upgrade a size 16 pattern to my 20-24 figure and draft a new collar and sleeves....but still, why didn't I just do half an hour each day till my sewing mojo came back? I dunno.

Anyway, I was nearly finished on Sunday night when I tried the dress on and realised I'd gathered the sleeves too tightly at the top (rather than gathering more gradually around the sides) so rather than sitting flat in the armsyche, as soon as I slightly raised my arm I got a jutting up wing at the shoulder. Does make sense? I should have taken a pic, here's a beautifully drawn illustration...

By the way, if you're a proper seamstress and I'm getting all this wrong, please go easy on me....I do learn by my mistakes. In hindsight I probably should have drafted a shallower curve at the top edge of the sleeve, but cutting it now to adjust would make sleeves too short.

I planned to get up early Monday, unpick sleeves, make armsyches slightly larger (the top was hanging off my shallow shoulders) hem it, take photos and post. But on Monday morning I woke Melchett up to discover that her left eye was swollen and closed tight shut. We went to see our eye doctor who decided after various tests it was an allergic reaction to a bug bite just below her eyebrow. I'd include some photos but she's very sensitive about people seeing her like that.

So we've had 3 days of her off school on anti-histamines, cold compresses, hydrocortisone cream, cucumber slices, pain killers....you name it. And 2 nights of crying about the itch not stopping till near 1. I'm blooming shattered, let alone Melchett.

But that explains the number of out-of-focus pics this time.... to take her mind of things, she decided to be my stylist and photographer....with one eye....it didn't stop her bossing me around though:

Ah Melchett :)

Anyway, the make....

The Facts

Fabric: 2.5yds navy sateen in sale $17.50 (£11.42), 1 yd concertina pleated chiffon in sale $9 (£5.89).

Patterns: New Look 6000 (main body shape), McCalls 9461 (basis of new neckline), self-drafted sleeves.

Year: Contemporary and 1968.

Notions: 1 yd silver rhinestoned ribbon with coupon $7.99 (£5.22) ....coloured in with navy blue sharpie.

Time to complete: 26 hours (with lots of distractions), biggest time: drafting and unpicking.

First worn: 24th April 2013.

Wear again? Yes, with industrial strength underwear to suck me in.

Total Cost: $34.99 (£22.51).

Blimey that Megan Draper's let herself go ;)

Still haven't quite got that swayback adjustment mastered yet, but bearing in mind both patterns I adapted only go up to a 16 and I'm a 20-22-24 (in descending order along with bust-waist-hips), and I mashed them up with a self-drafted sleeve, I'm impressed. I might not have gotten the swayback right.....but that's the best darn lapped zip I've done yet!

I'm learning. It's fun.

Here's how I worked out the sleeve...

I basically found the biggest bell sleeve piece I had in my patterns and using the piece I'd drafted for my Bowie blouse for the top curve (in hindsight I think too severe), I made a pattern piece significantly wider. I suppose I could have gone even wider, but I was being a cheapskate and trying to fit it in a single yard of pleated chiffon. I COULD and SHOULD have made it slightly longer as I was winging it, because later when I altered the shoulder on the dress, it hitched the sleeve shorter to meet it. If I'd made the sleeve over long with that basic bell shape I could have always altered it after insertion.

The rhinestoned neckline and cuffs are a silver rhinestoned trim that I had a 50% off voucher for....I coloured in the silver backing with a navy blue marker to make it look like Megan's. The sleeve cuffs are closed with velcro. This explodes open with violent dancing, I may have to upgrade to a button on each.

Talking of mad Mad Men dancing.....

Made with gif maker picasion.com

Told you this one was a multi-media experience. Right, I'm off for a lie down. After a cuppa tea. Don't mention April Challis Chalet Shinanigans for a couple of days will you? I'm sure I can procrastinate that one head-long into Me Made May....

Don't forget to pop over to Julia Bobbin's Mad Men 2 Sew Along round-up to check out all the good people who got their projects in on time ;) Next time....Mad Men Sew Along 3, that one I'll get in early....yeah tho!