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










Comments

  1. Kim17 May 2015 at 16:48

    Oh! I feel so bad for the loss of your birthday gifts. It is just the thing I would absentmindedly do - I have thrown the children's christmas money out before with the wrapping paper and then had to spend hours going through the rubbish on boxing day. Looking back it brings a smile, but at the time I was so mad with myself. And I like to put things like that somewhere 'safe' then completely forgetting where that safe place was.

    My week has also not been great, various mishaps plus an infestation of some kind of mite in the kitchen. So I have been doing little else but cleaning and re-cleaning the kitchen in an OCD type way. At least we are not alone in our misery :) I do hope your luck changes for the better soon, that beautiful yellow shirt is bound to cheer up anyone who wears it, I'm sure. Take care. x

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  2. Jennifer Hays17 May 2015 at 17:29

    I'm so glad you're feeling better after sharing your top. I really like it and it looks so nice on you. I wish I could wear that style but I carry all my weight in my torso and tops like that make me look pregnant. Not a good thing. I do love them though and I think yours is lovely. I'm sorry about your birthday money and the scarf. Both are a serious bummer. I hope things look up for you soon. In the meantime, enjoy your gorgeous creation.

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  3. driftwood17 May 2015 at 18:15

    your yellow top is wonderfully sunny even if the weather is not. hope this week is a better one xxx

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  4. Leanne17 May 2015 at 20:16

    Hey Christina,
    I lost two hundred pounds last year. It was given to Marc and I by his Dad, as a family Xmas present. I must have thrown it away. Marc often brings it up. I absolutely adore your top. It would flatter me very much. It looks as if it would be forgiving for a forty five year old post three kids tummy. I like yellow too. I am a recent convert. I always thought that it wouldn't suit me, because I am a blondish red head, with freckles and brown eyes. I do like mustard shades of yellow best.
    I am sending you good vibes for a brilliant week.
    Leanne xx

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  5. sustainablemum17 May 2015 at 20:33

    There must be something in the air this week, I keep reading about mishaps! Sorry to hear about yours. Your top is wonderful, I do love the colour. I am intrigued about you saying that everyone can wear yellow they just need to find the right shade, I sure haven't found mine yet......so for the moment I give it s very wide berth!

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  6. Louise17 May 2015 at 20:45

    Oh no! How annoying to have thrown away the money, that's really awful, but I guess you have to just not dwell on it and recognise that life is still good! Things can only get better I guess!

    The top looks great!

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  7. Thomasina Tittlemouse17 May 2015 at 21:05

    So sorry about your birthday money's disappearance. I do things like that and end up having to go through unpleasant bins to check for stuff. My husband dreads me saying "I think it may have gone out with the recycling!" And has long-sufferingly gone through more wheelie bins than I care to recall! If it's any consolation in my experience things like this do still turn up sometimes because you haven't put it out with the recycling but in that safe place which you knew you'd remember because it was so safe only actually it s so safe you can't remember! I really hope this is the case with your birthday money and that you get a lovely unexpected surprise when you come upon it when you're not thinking about it at all at some stage in the future. Hope your cold goes away quickly and that your gorgeous yellow top continues to cheer you on. E xx

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  8. Meredith17 May 2015 at 21:20

    I think you deserve a lot more than a fancy camping mat. So sorry about the missing money and gift card, such a bummer. But on the bright side the sun came out, your got some bargains for the boys and your yellow blouse is wonderful. Thank you for another real post. Much of our days are not perfect, not by a long shot. Have a good week.
    Meredith

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  9. Mac n' Janet17 May 2015 at 22:52

    Sorry about the loss of your birthday money, sometimes we're our own worse enemy. I threw out a check one time, we were lucky they issued us another one. Pretty top, really like yellow, wish it liked me instead of making my skin look green. I've tried many shades to no avail.

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  10. mamasmercantile18 May 2015 at 07:53

    Such a shame about the lost money, you never know it might turn up in a really unlikely place, fingers crossed anyway. The top looks wonderful, I love the fabric particularly the colour. Some great finds at the car boot sale.

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  11. Unknown18 May 2015 at 08:47

    I love your new top Christina. It's the sort of style I like and the fabric you used is just perfect. It would look great with cropped trousers and sandals this summer. Again, I wish I have your sewing skills..I'm sorry to hear about your lost money. That is so annoying. I hope the week ahead will have plenty of lovely things to cheer you up and I hope you get yourself some other fancy treats and not just the camping mat! Go on! X

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  12. Unknown18 May 2015 at 13:22

    You are having a rough go of it lately, aren't you? May this week bring you ease and joy only!! Love your top. Very sunshiney! I like the gathering n the back the best. Subtle femininity!

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  13. Penny18 May 2015 at 18:24

    How awful to throw out your voucher and money! You have bounced back well from that disappointment, and your yellow top is really lovely, and suits you so well. You are good natured to help out at the school car boot sale, I used to dread the school bring and buy sales at primary school, the boys used to come home with the most appalling rubbish which they were of course SO delighted with!

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  14. Helen 18 May 2015 at 19:48

    I'm so sorry about the money it's so frustrating - I once forgot to take money from a cash machine and it got taken off my balance. I love the new sunny top though and I hope it brings some nice happy sunny times :)

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  15. Alison19 May 2015 at 12:37

    What a bummer about the birthday money, may it turn up somewhere you least expected in the house and give you a pleasant surprise! Your lovely yellow top is indeed sunny, I like the idea of two finishes and have to admit to probably going with quick and dirty for a first go! You'll have to show off your new labels next time :-) xx

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  16. Angel Jem19 May 2015 at 18:20

    Bad luck with the money. I hope it turns up for you!

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  17. Jo19 May 2015 at 18:57

    What a sunny top, I love it! You need my yellow shoes now, that would really cheer you up! I am not keen on puffy sleeves either and have learnt to insert them in a way that does not add inches to me width-wise. Make another one it really suits you. I have made something with your fabric. Will post next week when it stops rain ing and I can take some pictures - outdoors! That has you thinking I guess ?? Jo x

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  18. Judy H19 May 2015 at 22:24

    Such a shame about the money - just try and forget it - I don't think there's a single one of us who hasn't lost something valuable at some time in our lives so you're in good company. When I was small, my dad bought me two beautiful gold bangles from Trinidad; they were gone within the year. Love the top - have just looked the pattern up on Easy and it looks like a possible future project. Judy X

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  19. Gillian20 May 2015 at 17:04

    Your top is beautiful and I love the yellow. Such a shame about your birthday money. Maybe it will turn up some day in the place you put it to keep it really safe. My hairdresser threw out her wedding ring by mistake if that makes you feel any better.

    I’ve nominated your blog for the Two Good Reads Tag; hope you don’t mind.

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  20. Jo@awholeplotoflove20 May 2015 at 17:33

    I' trying to play catch up, gosh I'm sorry to hear about you birthday money I truly hope there is a chance that it will still turn up. I do so like the fabric you used for your top it such a lovely shade. I hope I find something similar x

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  21. The Creative Academic20 May 2015 at 21:15

    I'm so sorry about your birthday money (and the cold - boo hiss). what a pain in the behind! :-( but fab top. I love the fabric - it really suits you :-) sorry my commenting has been so sporadic - I'm still reading avidly. xx

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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