Wardrobe Update

I think Autumn officially starts tomorrow. However here it seems to have started today, with a chill rain.
This triggers the putting away of summer clothes and the appearance of Autumn ones.

Themes for this Autumn include:

Second Hand September: an Oxfam campaign to only buy second hand clothing for four weeks. Not actually a hardship as even designer clothes are available second hand on the internet, in posh charity or consignment shops. Save the world, we have never needed to feel we are doing something good more than now.

Quilting: I bought a body warmer (second hand) and unexpectedly love it. I am now hoping to acquire a quilted jacket to go with it. Autumn/Winter outdoor wear for me ideally has a country type vibe, the sort of things you find in large garden centres or country sports outfitters.

Lounge wear: I made a hoodie and I love it. I am planning another with a front zip. Autumn brings the need for comfort.

Quirky jumpers: I love weird jumpers, especially glitter ones

Corduroy is back in fashion: maybe some cord trousers with a 70s feel

More jeans as I currently live in them.

Digging out those favourite things you’ve hard forever such as my purple velvet jacket and long black wool coat, both dating from approx 1996.

Topiary Gate

Last weekend I went to a Gaming Club picnic at Crathes Castle. I was very taken with these two weird topiary trees flanking a mysterious garden entrance. I printed this mostly in black to reflect the mysterious and slightly looming quality of this ancient garden.

Here is the original photo, as requested.

Rock Rose

I spotted this lovely rock rose on Huntly Street while visiting the cathedral. The colours and geometry of the flower particularly appealed to me. The painting also escaped a spectacular exploding paint tube incident! This is in acrylic, some neat, some watered down. I like to select a limited range of paints for each picture and try to keep things as simple and quick  as possible. 

Sewing Update

Getting back into sewing now! I bought the book ‘Tilly and the Buttons: Stretch’, and am starting a project sewing loungewear/nightwear/sportswear (interchangeable in my book). First project is a hoodie. Here are the pieces laid out to cut out the fabric in my hall. I really enjoy sewing and owe a debt of gratitude to the ex friend who wouldn't help me with a sewing project I needed doing, necessitating me buying my first sewing machine and learning this. And to my infinitely more lovely friend who gave me her old sewing machine she wasn't using. You know who you are x

Duthie Park Flowers

I could endlessly paint the flowers in the greenhouses at Duthie Park, one of my favourite places. It’s always full of colour and tropical things. Bit of a daub in acrylic here but I like the colours.

Leopard Sewing

I made a leopard pattern dress. I love leopard pattern. This has pockets and I went for a fairly conservative design as the fabric is pretty outre.

Travel Sickness Tips

I have been long plagued by travel sickness. I used to take tablets for this but they make me very sleepy. I have been trying the following instead, which seem to work.

Dry Biscuits, preferably ginger. Nibble them.
Drink, preferably Innocent lemon and ginger.
Mints to suck.
Look out of windows.
Travel in front of cars.
Face forward on train. First class if possible for comfort.
Keep cool temperatures.
Stay relaxed and comfortable.

Linocut heart

I loved this heart motif I spotted on some historic iron gates in Cluny! Here it is in linocut.