Thursday, my day off

My posting appears to be a recurring theme with belated blog posts; it's just been another busy time.

Today has been my day off, (yay) I love being part time, it does break the week up and no longer experience the mid-week hump. Thursdays are becoming my quilting group meet up, this most likely my busy day  where  Tuesday's are more my quiet days

The day began by adapting a sewing pattern I printed from the internet, I modified the top arms holes by using another patterns sleeves, copying the arm seams and cutting the pattern. I cut out two different fabrics to make a top, lace for part of the top, sleeves and jersey cotton for the main body.

I felt like dressing up and donning make-up; at times, I do occasionally feel the need to goth up. My outfit: Blouse, polyester chiffon from Next charity shop find, skirt made me for less than £2 and PVC boots Primark. 

This is a close up of the fabric of my skirt its lycra that looks like embossed leather. 

Before attending the quilting group, I ventured to a fabric shop I haven't been into for a while and found some lace print poplin for £5.50 a metre, which may use for a summer top, still in consideration for the fabrics use.


I head towards the Shipley Art Gallery and quilting group.

I'm highly enjoying the quilting group as I've finally discovered a use for my scrap fabrics. Most of the ladies who attend the group are retired, and the younger members are in their late fifties, making me the youngest member at 27-years young. It still amazes me the sprightliness of the members despite being in their ages and, the oldest member is 95; she attends with her daughter is crafting regular by knitting and quilting.

All the members have a vast wealth of knowledge; everybody is so supportive and friendly offering their wisdom and experience. Everybody has often donated old quilting books and magazines for inspiration. I started the project without any idea of what wanted to create, so one of the members suggests making a nine square pattern. Most of the colours are a combination of designs using blacks, greys and dark purples, I managed to find some pink scraps of fabric in my sewing class, so I showed these to the members who recommended I should use them and I they make the other pattern and colours stand out. On first accounts I felt sceptical, now the patchworks progression I can see the impact. My patchwork will become a cushion cover. 

Scraps I found in my class

My current nine patch works

I got lift home started to sew up the top; I cut out earlier on the day. 

I met the boyfriend at the pub and afterwards, we decided to eat out at a local Italian restaurant. My posting appears to be a recurring theme with belated blog posts; it's just been another busy time.

A Tale of Two Bloggers -My outfit.

In my previous post a Tale of Two Bloggers. The lovely Jane left a lovely comment about my pseudo-victorian outfit. I've managed to find selfies on my phone; I forgot I took. Since starting this blog, I've developed an obsessive habit of taking photos of my unusual outfits with the intention of posting, often I forget to posts. 

I have, to be honest, I don't dress this day every day,  it's a rarity.  Normally, it's chunky knit jumpers with no makeup and DM's or converse;  I prefer comfort over style. 

I apologise in advance for the over enlarged photos and poor quality, it's the best I could do. 

My Outfit 

The top is a jumper with a faux ruffle blouse sewn into it. It was the first time the top's been worn.  it's been hidden away in the black hole of my wardrobe waiting to be worn. All I remember is from the charity shop, not v. expensive and originally from Next. 

Like the top it was the first time I wore the skirt; I sewed it, using my favourite simplicity pattern 5914

I also donned my commissioned necklace (from Pikku Panda Designs) which suited the outfit hanging from a 40-inch silver chain 

 

The Tale of Two Bloggers.

 A couple of weeks ago, I got so enthralled to finally meet Jane aka Breaking the Angel. Since last August both of us have attempted to meet up with each other, because of circumstances this never happened until last week on the 4th February. We finally met at Jane’s regular haunt, the Phil and Lit Society. Jane  invited me for a cup of tea and Tunnock tea cakes.  

The Phil & Lit is known as the Literary and Philosophical Society a Library built in 1825, it’s the largest independent library outside of London  and home to over 160,000 books and periodicals dating from the 1500’s. The library hosts lectures, concerts, reading, workshops and books lunches. I hope that’s right Jane Lol. Jane knows far  more about the Phil & Lit since she’s a member and regularly volunteers there.

I’m delighted Jane choose the venue as it's was my first time visiting the Lit and Phil. It's snuggly hidden away on the main street near the train station. The building is designed in late Regency Roman style.  When, I first entered the building, it had a grand yet, a simply decorated forum with large portraits of prominent members.  I enter the library with It's sort of seventy’s quaint charm with a solid wooden desk and on opposite side of the room  a serving hatch for tea and biscuits. The place felt very nostalgic and felt like the way a library should feel.

I'm divulging too much when I first met Jane was waiting for me while reading a Newspaper from the early twenty century. First impressions, I was felt elated to be finally meet the person behind the blog rather than communicating over social media. Jane was so welcoming and friendly with a very open and warm personality. My experience felt more like meeting up with an old friend rather than meeting a new one.  I guess blogging we already know each other. 

Jane invited me over for to take a seat and for a cuppa of tea, she explained it often got busy we were better off -getting seats while we could. Jane came back with a cup of tea and biscuits. Unfortunately, the hatch was out of Tunnock's tea cake.  The first thing I noticed we had in common was we both enjoyed black tea. 


Once settled with a cuppa and biscuits, we had a long and lengthy discussion about various subjects of blogging, our personal interests, lives, our views on being goths, and many more things. One of the most heartfelt parts was Jane's experience of the recent loss of her loved Sally, and she was still recovering from Sally's loss.  In a short amount of time, we discussed a wide variety of topics. 

Regrettably, Jane had to leave to attend a meeting before she left. Jane quickly give me the tour of the library and upper levels. 

My favourite part has of the library was the ladies parlour that resembled more of small ladies lounge with furniture from the cities. Sadly, I didn't take a picture. 


I'm finally happy to met Jane, considering the unusual circumstances of being alternative bloggers from within a small county such as Tyne and Wear. In my brief encounter with  Jane, I discovered a warm, charming and friendly person,  passionate about writing and literature. I found most enduring and infectious about Jane was enthusiasm for the Lit and Phil Society and who introduce me to a new place to visit. I'm looking forward to meeting up with Jane, again. 

Change of lifestyles

Since last November, I've been experiencing arrange of issues including pain intermittent pain, experiencing pressure on my eye drums, tinnitus (that always been there and never bothered me too much), vertigo and dizziness.  The dizzy spells are the worst out all the symptoms as impacts my balance, and I experience constant spinning  around me, most of these episodes often minutes I often have to stop and sit down, 

I finally went to the doctors who referred me to an ENT (Ear, Nose and throat ) consultant, who prescribe me with Betahistine Tablets. The medication has made such an incredible impact where I rarely experience any dizziness at all. 

So on Tuesday, I attended vestibular testing where I was assessed to determine the causes for my symptoms. The assessment lasted about an hour and a half; the first test was a quick lifestyle questionnaire of how the sign affected my life, the audiologist asked and about my medical history, and I was asked to do basic exercise. The worst of the experience was when
the Audiologist placed a tight helmet, which felt very uncomfortable I ended up feeling claustrophobic. Any the helmet was linked up to computer recording my eye movement can commonly cause dizziness and vertigo. During this phase of the assessment, my eyes had to follow a red light without moving my head. The last part was to recreate an episode of dizziness, where the audiologist blew air into my ear canal. 

The Audiologist explained the results found there was nothing wrong to suggest the reason for my dizziness, and she continued to explain about 80% of cases are often unexplained. Despite not finding out the reason, the Audiologist suggested about making lifestyle changes that would ease the symptoms 

Lifestyle changes included adapting to low sodium and high potassium diet, regularly eating, ensuring I'm well hydrated, and excising for at least twenty minutes a day, even walking.    

Another suggestion to avoid all products containing Aspartame is typically found in diet products, sugar-free or low-fat, personally, I avoid most of the products as I don't like the taste. One the things that are scary is the amount of aspartame found in cordial pop, which I love as I dislike the taste of water. Fortunately, I've found two shops that don;t use the sweetener pastime one from Marks Spencers and Waitrose. that sell cordials that use other sweeteners that have less harsh effects. 

The final step it to avoid all caffeine, which isn't too bad except this includes tea. Unless it's all decaf or fruit tea, but I have sensitivity already to caffeine I've found tea never had many problems I'm more than happy not to eat chocolate, drink coffee or coke ever again, but tea is the one that I'll need to give more consideration and research.

Last Saturday

In my previous posts, I've mentioned about trailing out different crafts so far: creative writing, quilting, intaglio printing utilising- dry point and mono printing. Ok, the quilting hasn't been as successful, over the last few weeks I have been meeting up with different people on a Thursday afternoon I'm hoping to attend in due course.

While researching about the quilting group, that I've started to attend at the Shipley Art Gallery. I noticed the same venue held a monthly silk painting workshop. It's advertised as a workshop, it's more of meet up, but the groups are so friendly there willing to share skills for those interested. 

I'm skipping forward a little too much returning to the post.As many of my readers knows I'm try new crafts and skills out it turning out to be incredibly fun.  I wanted to attend the group but this time, I even got my friend Kerry-Anne, who share my love of crafts to come along. Last Year, we made glass bubble together.

As I previously stated, the event was incorrectly advertised as a workshop, it was more of an interest a group meet up. Despite the confusion, the group were so friendly and welcoming. They were more than happy to share their skills and equipment.  Both Kerry-Anne and I have done silk painting but not since we were both at school.

 The group started by cutting silk pieces up and mounting the silk on a wooden panel; they permitted us to use their silk paints and paint brushes. First we had to apply guttering to prevent the silk paint running through all the fabric.

The different techniques include

1. Painting onto dry silk 

2. Painting on silk mixing wet paint with dry paint. 

3.Mixing paint with dry paint perfects for any landscape 

4. Using salt 

It was interesting learning all the different techniques and the effects it produces to make the paint permanent the group offer to "fix" the pattern on the silk by steaming it. As I previously stated everybody was lovely and even offered to Kerry-Anne and me to have some cake;  we didn't take the offer up. 

Kerry-Anne and I had a great experience with groups completing the task, Kerry- Anne suggested about joining the group and attending every month as it would allow us to see each other more often. The group did mention about contributing a small amount of £3 which went towards using the venue and purchasing beverages. The cost is an incredible price considering how expensive craft course can be. 

We visited Newcastle's to browse the local charity shop, especially for the one that sells clothing for a pound. We manage to find some great bargain, Kerry- Anne was more prosperous in her rummaging ending up with a bag full for less than £10 and I managed to find a black pattern bag, for £1.99, top for a pound and a pair of combats for £2. I've been looking for a pair for a while and never found 

anything.

I love the design, especially,  the oriental frog clasp 

The bag I bought, Kerry- Anne tempted to purchase it, 

as she suggested it's the type pattern I like. 

I'm very happy I listened to her. 

My Outfit