UFOs Identified and Eliminated.

Firstly, hello and welcome to my new follower “adventures in dinner”. Thanks so much for visiting and Donna, I really appreciated your comment on my post about Mum. So thanks, it cheered me up no end!

It was a really productive weekend, if (being really honest now) a little bit lonely.

I had dinner with my parents on the way home on Friday, then popped into the supermarket. I will update my shopping page when I get a moment this week. £34.52 spent in Tesco. However, I did buy the final knife from their offer before it closed yesterday.

So I am not sure if it is allowed, if it is then this was my first ever No Spend Weekend.

I went to bed early Friday night and was up at 7.30am with the flat totally cleaned and vacuumed by 11.30am. “J” can round at 12.30 and I was able to serve up salmon steaks (donated by my mum) with baked potato served with sour cream and chives (courtesy of mum’s garden) and some reduced sugar snap peas / mini sweetcorn medley. Then I did jelly and ice cream for pudding. Yes, jelly and ice cream. Honestly, try it, give an adult jelly and ice cream this weekend and they love it as a one off. Takes you back to your childhood.  I also gave her my left over knife vouchers and she went off to buy 3 delighted.

“J” left about 3ish and I went and got out my sewing machine and overlocker. I moved my tailors dummy into the lounge and unfolded the ironing board.

Time to start on the Unfinished Objects (UFOs) that have been littering W Towers

1) So until about 8pm I then just concentrated on finishing my second wrap dress. I cut the piping and attached it to the neckline. Fitted the sleeves and hand sewed the sleeve ends and piping. I then put some detailing work on the ties and attached then after hemming the edge from both fold overs.

Basically the whole thing is done bar the hemming. The dress is far too long and needs a good foot cutting off. Whilst I could have done it on the mannequin, I decided to leave it until another pair of eyes was around. The last bit of hemming should take 20minutes. What do you think?

2) Shortened The Chaps new work suit trousers as they were far too long. I messed this up to begin with (more haste, less…) and got into a right panic thinking I had ruined them. I find in these situations, it is best to put everything down. Make yourself a cup of tea……ok or a rum and cola and not think about it. 30 Mins later I went back and looked at them. Realised I could sort it out with a lot of unpicking and went to bed. I finished them the next day.

3) I repaired the holes in my bed linen (base fitted sheets just pop open at the corner I find). It takes 10 seconds to repair on the sewing machine. Another UFO down

4) Repaired the holes in both pockets of my white winter jackets. As I normally bung my house and car keys in there small holes 2 months ago had grown in size until I could put my whole hand through into the lining of the jacket. I will admit I did not patch them properly. But as they are pockets, no-one will know and it means I can use my jacket again.

5) Sewed a button back on my work black trousers.

6) Sewed button back on my favourite TK Max winter wool smart coat.

7) Put my first item on eBay to sell, a sticky fingers blue suit. We will see how it goes.

I have not done as much as I wanted, as on Sunday as I woke up with a dreadful headache and could not get going until about 1 o’clock.

I also did all my washing and ironing and started out sorting this pile ready to file this week.

I was hoping to get on with my bag I am making too, but The Chap rang, he was back from traversing Tryan in Wales and had cooked a Thai curry and invited me round.

A quick bath and I was there. It had been a week since I had seen him and I was so glad he was back.

After a year together spending all weekends with him, not having him around I was a bit lonely. But, my gosh I am pleased all those nagging sewing jobs got done.

What about you, did you tackle a UFO?

Frugally yours

Abigail

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Ebay, PayPal, Dress and Debt

Yesterday, I wrote about how obsessed I was becoming with paying off my debt as soon as possible.

I will give you an example.

Last night getting ready for bed I suddenly remembered (don’t ask me why but I did) that I had over £10 credit sitting in an online account. I grabbed the laptop and logged in to check. Sure enough I was right. A few swift key punches and the money was transferred to my bank account.

A few more keyboard punches and it was knocked off the Credit Card.

Ok it was not a lot, but it was something! And “something” helps.

£10 is about 1% of my debt. Only another 99 £10s to find.

I will give an updated debt figure at the end of the month.

I joined PayPal last night too. I still have to wait to go through the authorisation process, and then link PayPal to Ebay. But, at least I am doing something. I am trying.

That pleases me.

Well here it is, an update on my latest sewing project. Another wrap dress.

I am writing this now wearing the original wrap dress. It is so comfortable.

I have made a few changes and cut the “cross over” at the front lower. It will not be quite as low when finished as I am intending on piping the raw edge. I prefer these dresses when worn with a vest top underneath in a contrasting colour.

Currently the sleeves are only tacked in and need to be machined. The piping needs to be completed and attached. There are some artistic details to finish on the ties and the hemming. At my rate of sewing about 3 –4 hours and it will be done. Hopefully another goal down in a couple of weeks.

Not quite a No Spend Day today. Bought a coke at lunchtime for £1. About £15 spent since Saturday.

With a long weekend approaching, I am really looking forward to 3 days off work. So far the Chap and I have nothing planned, but I would not mind a cinema trip, other than I just want to not spend. He is over in Scandinavia this week with work, back tomorrow and back over next week. Poor guy, he works hard. So I have promised to cook tomorrow night at his place. I am thinking just a pizza made from scratch with this easy crust recipe.

What are you doing this extended bank holiday weekend? And does it involve spending?

Frugally yours

Abigail

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It Is All About the Bags today.

Sorry for the radio silence for a few days, this weekend was busy busy busy.

Mum and I had such a lovely day mooching around the shops together in Birmingham. We spent ages looking at every stall in the rag market, walked all round Sefridges. Wandered into a few shops and had a coffee together.

She bought me some material for my next project (my last birthday present) taken from this Amy Butler book I got for Christmas (also from my parents).

I am going to make the bag on the cover and should be ready to start in 2-4 weeks. I love this book there are about 12 bags to make with insutructions and the paper patterns are held in an envelope at the back - brilliant idea. I have a similar book for clothes by someone else.

This is the material. The red cherry is for the outside and the plain red for the handles and the lining. Really looking forward to getting started.



It looks orange in this photo - it is actually all cherry red

I will try and remember this evening to prepare a post on my wrap dress with photos so you can see how it is developing. Really pleased so far.

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I am obsessed with my debt at the moment.

I wake up thinking about the wretched thing and I go to bed at thinking about it.

Just focussed on how to speed up reducing the amount I owe. On my May Goals page I stated I wanted to pay off an extra £40 this month on top on the £201 I knocked off last week for May.

Well, I emptied my rainy day coin jar last night and bagged everything up ready to make an additional payment on Saturday morning. (my hands were filthy and I am amazed at how much cents, drachmas, euros etc I have picked up.) It will reduce Credit Card 1. I will reveal exactly how much on the next debt repayment post at the end of May.

I have also finally joined Ebay and am going to try and get rid of some clutter to help clear space and earn money. I have never sold anything before (much more of a “buyer” than a “seller” – hence my current situation) so this could be interesting. Any hints on how to sell items would be most gratefully received.

And finally, in line with my obsession to pay off my debt, I am really trying to curb daily spending.

 

Some supermarket shopping on Sunday: £4.58

Drinks etc since Monday - £1.00

Total: £13.06

Not great, I think I can do better and will not spend more than £3 between now and Friday.

Quiet week this week, The Chap is away with work and evening class has been cancelled. So maybe a little baking, ironing and catching up on chores whilst in my PJs – sounds like a good “no spend necessary” plan to me.

Frugally yours

Abigail

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Coffee & Hot Chocolate and a sandwich on Saturday  - £7.48 (outrageous!)

Material Bought, Check! (& The Great Debate)

I had such a lovely weekend. I was at the National Exhibition Centre on Saturday. All day and it was glorious!

The "Sewing for Pleasure" and "Hobbycraft" show was on. It only comes once a year and is a must for any sewing or hobby enthusiast. A few favourite stalls.

"The Silk Route" I am going to purchase some Indian Carpet Silk online to make a swing jacket like this (without the collar). Just beautiful unusual fabrics.

My absolute favourite "Fabrics Galore" actually had 2 stalls this year. Which is so much better as I was queuing for over 40 minutes to buy the dog fabric last year. This year I bought the heart fabric on the left.

£15 / m and I only wanted ½ m. My friend "P" noticed a fault in the fabric for the last ½m on the roll. So the kind people gave it me for free. Brilliant! The fabric on the right is for contrast, I am thinking it will make a nice bag.

Total Spent c £20. Could have been a lot worse!

"P" and I had a wander around the Hobbycraft section, she is an artist. But really it was mainly aimed towards card makers and scrapbookers. Not our thing, but fascinating to see what you could do.

We arrived at 9.30AM and left about 4isPM. Honestly, being surrounded by like minded people, seeing everything that there is to offer in my chosen hobby. It was like Xanadu for me.

And finally...
I got this sent to me Facebook Account. It has caused huge amount of debate with everyone I showed it to. Obviously B is the only way to hang paper.  I also "educate" anyone who is hangs it differently....:o)

"A" people are mad, mad do you hear me?

And finally finally: The Lost Hour, I would have spent re-threading my over locker. Now I have to do it tonight. Bum!

Frugally yours
Abigail
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Food Waste Friday

The holy grail of Food Waste Friday - no food food waste. Brilliant! Ages since that has happened.

However, I have some items on the cusp that I will have to munch my way through pretty swiftly.

On the top shelf is a Sweetheart Cabbage and 2 small lettuces (letti??). The lettuce has a use before date of the 6th March - it looks fine to me.

On the bottom shelf is a packet of celery, it does look a bit dried but I might have a go at cooking it and then freezing it to be used in stews / soups at a later date.

All of those items came from my parents before they went away. I should have remembered. Doh!

Yes, that is all my nail polish in the door shelf. It makes them last longer to be kept cool. Some of those bottles of delight are over 3 years old and still in good shape to use. Gives visitors a bit of a shock though when they open the door. :o)

I am really looking forward to tomorrow the Sewing For Pleasure and Hobbycraft show is on at the National Exhibition Centre and I am going with my friend "P" (she introduced me to The Chap so we like her a lot!) we have been looking forward to it for a few weeks.

I have given myself a budget of £50 to spend and hope to come back with some material and maybe some more patterns as they are quite cheap there. Just general loveliness really.

Mind you I bought this material there a year ago (I thought it looks like the Radley Dog).

Any ideas folks what I can do with it? 

I hope you have a fantastice weekend. Rest, relax and enjoy.

This weekend I MUST clear the paperwork and make more bread.

Don't forget the clocks go forward an hour on Sunday.

Frugally yours.

Abigail

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Wrap Dress Part 1 and Other Stuff. x

Hello and welcome to my new follower - Lena. Thanks so much for visiting! x

Been a weekend full of simple pleasures. Saw The Chap, did a bit of shopping and sorted out my home.

Not rock n roll, but it made me happy. I got some of those chores done, I wanted to do last week after work.

First I had to but some extras, and went to Iceland first to stock up on freezer fast food. I do this about once a quarter and spend circa £15, today was £12. It is food with little vitamins etc, but it does provide something to eat of those evening when you want to take a shower and get out to something hot.

I then went to Lidl and spent £13

I did get some bargains there, the cola was 39p per bottle, and as Tesco have seen fit to 'retire' my caffeine free own brand I will have to try and this. The shaving foam at the back was 89p  and 160 tea bags cost me £1.99.

I also bought some garlic powder for 59p. I have never used this before, but when you live alone you end up throwing away garlic, which is a waste, plus nowadays it is pretty tricky to buy only 1 bulb at a time. Perhaps this might be a good alternative.

March's Shopping £101.09. Going a bit over budget.. oops

I have also managed this weekend to make more thyme and honey rolls.

I did not have any wheatgerm, so used cornmeal, and vegetable oil in stead of sunflower oil. They tasted fine to me.

And finally I started on another wrap dress. Getting started is always the hardest part for me. First I laid out my material making sure it was evenly folded.

(Having a bit of floor space helps). I then laid out the pieces from the pattern and pinned it in place ensuring all the paper templates were right side up and even to the grain of the material.

Cut out, it looks like this.

That's enough for now, I will start putting it together this week.

It has gone quickly this weekend, and I am not ready to go back to work, still cannot shift this headache. Oh well perhaps a Baileys nightcap will help.

Frugally yours

Abigail

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I Rattle!

I have had a headache since Monday, today is Thursday. It is not fun.

Not a migraine, just a dull ache that starts at the back of the neck in the morning, and slowly investigates the rest of the skull during the day. I have taken paracetamol, aspirin, and ibuprofen, they work for a limited time.

Sitting hunched over a PC clutching a phone between shoulder and ear whilst listening to people bemoan the state of the economy, does not help.

Whinge over...

The result of this headache, is that I have got home every evening this week and done nothing. Yesterday, I sorted out the ironing then went to bed. If I was an American, I would say "It sucks" as I am not "This is just irritating, what what" :o)

I have restocked on bread, making two loaves on Tuesday.

I really wanted this week to cut out my new dress for work, look everything is ready to get started.

I love this fabric and think it will make a beautiful dress. Hopefully this weekend I can get started.

On the plus side it has been a low spend week, £3.80 spent since Monday not including petrol. Which is very helpful as the bank balance is starting to look a little low since paying for the car tax.

I visited my parents this evening on the way home from work. They are going off on holiday tomorrow, so I will not see my Mum on Mothers Day. I dropped off her card and we had a nice chat. I really miss them when they go away.

She took the opportunity to empty the fridge of fresh produce, so I have come away with 'free' goods. A pointed cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber. All destined for the bin. Brilliant!

Looking forward to the weekend, and spending some time on my hobbies. I want to cut out the new dress, go to the library, and order the book for April's Book Club. All very pedestrian, but I enjoy it and now in my 30s, stuff it I like my pursuits. I get a lot of pleasure from them. My work is not my life, it merely facilitates my other interests.

What do you get pleasure from?

Frugally yours

Abigail

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Dress Completed!

I am really excited, I finished my current sewing project last night and I am absolutely delighted with the result.
So much so I wore it to work this morning.

I have to say the pattern has been very clear to follow.

I love the frugality of this dress, the pattern I found in a box of my grandmothers after she died, it had never even been cut out and the material my mum bought me as a present from a market at £4 per metre. The only thing I had to buy was some cotton at about £2 per reel.
It has to be the cheapest work attire that I own.

The photos are from last night at class, so today I just teamed it with neutral tights, black high heels and I put a white vest top underneath for modesty.

I love it!

Not sure what the next project is, I have a pattern for a swing jacket I am dying to try, but no material to make it in.      
So I am thinking that I will make this dress up again over the next few weeks before I visit the NEC Sewing Show 23 – 25th March and hopefully I will be able to pick some fabric up there for the jacket.

I am still munching my way through the roast chicken from Sunday. 1 more dinner servings to go and it will be finished. Plus lunch today was Chicken Dinner soup and it will be again tomorrow, actually it is more like a chicken dinner smoothy. :o)
I am giving chicken a miss for a while after tomorrow evening…

Total spend today 70p on a can of pop.

I got home this evening to find this little bugger waiting next to the bath (sorry about the poor pic), ERGH! I hate spiders especially ones like this - the size of an 8 yo child! It has gone to the big web in the sky now. I know they are the good guys, but I will never be one of those people who can pick them up.

Oh BTW, here is the pizza I made on Friday. Using the easy crust recipe. I can highly recommend it!

Frugally yours
Abigail
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Hobbies Help

Evening!I am feeling a lot more hopeful and positive today. Thank goodness, I was a bit down in the mouth yesterday wasn't I? To tell the truth I had some rather worried family after yestersdays post.

It is best to concentrate on the positive and one of those is is my current project

Yes, I am making a dress for work.

Actually it is a little further forward than this picture would suggest. I do not really enjoy dresmaking, but the amazing sense of satisfaction I get from finishing and wearing what I make, well I feel proud and I do not get that feeling from work.

Actually, I am not bad at dressmaking, I have...ahem....won a couple of first prizes locally. The last dress which won was this.

I think having a hobby is really important, to retain your sanity and identity. TO create something makes you feel proud of yourself. I do not get much pride from my work in recent times.

Anyhoo the wrap around dress should be complete in the next couple of weeks. I will blog about it again then and show you the finished article.

I have completely used up my £5 budget today for this week. But have enough to get me through until the end of tomorrow i.e. drinks etc.

I believe it snowing most places, well not currently in Staffordshire. Darn it! Fancied having tomorrow off "snowed in" cough cough.

I hope Visitor you are safe and warm if it is snowing near you. I am and well that is more important than being a little skint isn't it?

Frugally yours
Abigail
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