Clothes Party

As I mentioned, we were at a kids clothes party at the weekend. A friend of a friend sews children's clothes and sells them in a shop in Bremen as well as online. She also offers these parties on weekends and evenings.

This was the second one I have been to. At the first I bought a top and trousers for Isabella. This time I got her a hooded jacket and skirt, and Joshua trousers, slippers and a hat, all for 48 Euros.

Now I am planning my own party for November. I'm going to invite all the mums I know from different groups and hope to get a few of them together.

It's nice to feel like we're really putting roots down and building up contacts through the children.

Make it Monday - Cotton Knickers

I came across this poject from the New Craft House through Mollie Makes. It's something I'd never made before and it was a small project which was suitable for beginners.

I've never worked with elastic this much and that was the trickiest bit but they're a good fit and I'll be making more in future.

I'd recommend it for anyone who sews and wants to make more of their own clothes. The fabrics from the New Craft House are so pretty and varied.

Summer Manifesto #10 Wear more dresses

July has been the hottest month yet and helped me get out of my usual jeans and into a more summery attire of dresses and skirts. There was a stretch of about two weeks when the jeans didn't see the light of day.

I realised just how boring my wardrobe had gotten when colleagues and pupils commented on the change and I hope to keep up the variety all year round, especially now that I'm sewing my own dresses too.

Here's to a warm, more stylish summer!

30 Things - Get back to my pre-pregnancy weight

To be fair, I didn't go through the same post partum diet and exercise regime that most new mothers have to. Of course breastfeeding helps but ten weeks of illness did this for me. They say it's easiest with your first anyway. I guess we'll see.

For the last week I have been back in non-maternity clothes. There are still things that don't fit but they didn't fit a year ago either. Having gotten ruthless with Isabella's wardrobe this week, it's my turn next - watch this space.

Sewing Project 2014: 15 - Girl's Dress

This idea came from browsing through ourcollection of craft books. I found it here. My friend's daughter turns two next month and I wanted to make her something. The instructions are aimed at making a dress for a five year old but had tips to scale it up or down.

New things for me in this project were working with elastic (I'm not sure how long it will last) and making those spaghetti straps. Unfortunately, you need to fit the straps while the child wears the dress so I'll have to send them seperate.

I'll be asking my friend for feedback - especially with the elastic but all being well, I plan to make more in future. It really was a quick and cute project!

Maternity Wear

C&A

It was so nice to get out and about today and invest in some new clothes. I've been avoiding buying new clothes for so long in an attempt to save money, I'd quite forgotten how good it feels. It really makes you look forward to having the chance to wear the new outfit, you feel all sparkly and new in it, all of that seemed extra special in the maternity section today - imagining this bump getting bigger, imagining a whole new future when these clothes don't fit anymore...

I got a skirt like the one above, two new tops, some small and a lovely summer dress suitable for church among other thing. It feels great to have more than one pair of trousers and two tops that I can leave the flat in.

Another added benefit that a colleague told me about a few months ago - even though it's still something of a capsule wardrobe, that's a huge plus, it takes half as long to get ready because you're not spoiled for choice. It makes up for the fact that it takes me twice as long to put socks and shoes on now... 

Wardrobe Clearout

It's strange but true that just a couple of weeks ago, someone with as many OCD characteristics as I have could lay claim to this wardrobe.  Finally sick of wading through crumpled up tops, to find something that fit and looked decent for work, I decided to do something about it.  I knew I couldn't cope with another winter of conducting that morning search in the dark!

Although I haven't bought all that many new clothes in the last three years, I have finally managed (thanks to my lovely, kind parents) to move all of my clothes with me to Germany and the result is the chaos you see above.  I have been three different dress sizes over the past ten years or so and my wardrobe still contained all of the evidence of this.

It took two days of sorting, but I finally weaned out everything that didn't fit (excepting a couple of sentimental items) and everything with a hole or other irreparable damage.  

I learnt two things about myself during this process:

1. I wear way too much black!

2. I'm a hoarder.

Both things to work on in future.

The wardrobe was already sorted into sections (tops, jumpers, bottoms, dresses, etc) and there was even space for my jewellery and toiletries but it was getting a little cramped.

I'm already benefiting from the new organisation on a morning as I know that whatever I lay my hands on will fit!  It's certainly sped things up, and along with some other adjustments to my daily routine with my new timetable, it's really helped me settle into the new school year.

Here's how it looks now:

I feel better just looking at it!

I'm hoping that an added benefit to this project will be a bit of financial relief in selling some of the undamaged clothes that just don't fit any more.  There are some pretty good pieces in there.  I'm ashamed to say that some had never even been worn.  

The cleared out clothes

I haven't decided what format the sale will take yet but I'm working on it and plan to put half the profits towards my debts and half towards some new, well fitting, brighter clothes!

Scarf!

Over the weekend I finally got to grips with my new circular knitting needle and this scarf pattern.

Once I got over the problem of knitting with five rolls of wool by inventing this little gem (Pete's new favourite toy of course), it went very fast and I finished it the day I started.

Easy for those relatively new to knitting and there was no need to be as scared of the circular needle as I was!

Policke Hamburg

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As I mentioned, Nico and Dad both got their suits for the wedding from Policke in Hamburg.  It was quite the round trip from Bremen both times we went there but so worth it.  We did try Bremen first but there are only two decent suit shops here and they only sell the suits as a set so if you need a different size trousers to the ones they suggest for the right sized jacket, you're stuffed.

Policke had so many benefits.  First of all, they sell the matching trousers and jackets separate so it's perfect for any size.  Also, they just took one look at Nico and knew what size he needed.  They translated the sizes in the blink of an eye (English and European are different).  

They are extremely helpful and really know their stuff.  The range is incredible; four floors of suits that look like the image above.  Then they have separate premises on the same street where you can buy shirts, cufflinks, ties, shoes...just about anything you could need to go with your suit.  The staff were equally friendly and helpful everywhere and they do alterations if you need them too!  

For all this service, you would expect the prices to be through the roof but they were on a par with, if not better than, those in Bremen.  Highly recommendable. 

Winter's Here!

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I don't care what the official line is (Winter starts on 21st December), Winter is actually well and truly here.  The beautiful Autumn colours and temperatures have gone and the snow arrived yesterday!  Luckily it hasn't settled yet and I can still cycle to work, just well wrapped up, but it was beautiful to watch yesterday morning.

Adding to the winter feel around here, we put our tree up on Saturday and started a special advent calendar (more on those to come).  While we were in town on Saturday I also bought these lovely cozy pyjamas and lived in them for the rest of the weekend - so comfy!!  And I'm in a Small!! 

This winter I'm looking forward to a lot of things, apart from Christmas we've got a visit from England, a visit to England, my first German New Year, the Xmas market and a nice Gluehwein.  I'm sure there's a lot I've forgotten - I just can't wait!!

Shopping!

On Monday we went into Bremen to do some shopping ready for our holidays.  It did mean a lift on the clothes ban but I think I've done well to say those were the first trousers I have bought in over two years.  Anyway, the holiday clothes will be in our holiday pictures but I thought I would share these piccies with you now.

I've been thinking about getting a lightweight waterproof jacket for a while now as my waterproof coat was bought for a skiing holiday and is way too warm in Spring never mind Summer and my other lighter coats are not waterproof...and I live in Germany.

I fell in love with this one at first sight.  I love the colour, it had everything I wanted and was in the sale.  We had different pictures to decide which size was best.  One of the interesting things about shopping on Monday was that I don't know European clothes sizes and it was actually quite a nice experience to shop for comfort rather than a number.

I'm also hoping that buying a raincoat will secure us this gorgeous weather for the rest of the holidays!

Diet inspiration

Just what I needed this month - a little inspiration on the old diet.  What better than the sight of all my clothes - most of which were bought last time I was at goal weight and no longer fit.  After spending a whole afternoon finding space for them all in the flat, I need to justify not chucking out everything that didn't fit.