jodiwodes

Happy New Year!

2012-01-14T13:15:00.001+01:00

It has been a while since I have blogged. It's a New Year. Things will change. Things are changing. I'm going to start posting more regularly!

I am going to lose one of my jobs in less than a week (but this is in a way good news). I am looking forward to being able to spend some proper time sewing! I have been working so much for the past few months, it feels like all I do is work. In Hungary they say that how you spend January 1st is how the rest of the year will go. I didn't work that day. But I have been working every day since then and will only get my next day off next Friday so it doesn't seem to be very true...

I have a couple of goals for this year:

I would like to exercise more, in the autumn I swam almost every day but then I went away on holiday and kind of lost that rhythm. So I'm aiming for exercising at least 5 times a week.
I want to not move flats. I realised why I always feel so unsettled. I move so much more often than I thought I did. I counted, I have moved once a year on average for every year of my life. And since I was 18 I have moved TWICE A YEAR ON AVERAGE. It is ridiculous. Of course it has had its benefits - I have lived with lots of different types of people and in lots of different places but it is tiring... So, this year I want to move max once.
I really want to improve my Hungarian. I have started reading Ablak Zsiraf :) It's a book which every Hungarian child learns to read with, it's a lexicon aimed at 7-10 year olds :) I think it's great! I want to finish that in the next few months.
And I would like to finally, properly start up an etsy shop!

Here is a dress I made last year. This is my most worn dress these days. I wear it probably three times a week! I love it. I need more long sleeved dresses. It's the Jonny pattern from BurdaStyle.

The only changes I made were to add pockets and to lengthen the sleeves and the skirt.

I'm so proud of myself - I actually bought a solid fabric and used it! A dress which doesn't have a print to clash with everything else I own!

The buttons have little gold crowns on them.

You can't really see it, but behind us was a sign saying something like "no sitting on the steps, no hanging out". So many signs in that area "Cameras are watching you", "No trespassing" etc etc. More signs than in Germany!

Ahoy!

2011-12-19T16:42:00.000+01:00

It was my friend's work Christmas party on Saturday night. I couldn't really turn down the invite for a cruise on the Danube, unlimited drinks and delicious dinner... The theme was 40s - 50s sailors. At first I was going to wear my stripe madness dress but I can hardly even breathe in that dress, how would I be able to gorge myself with all the yummy refreshments?

So then I was thinking to wear one of my polka dot dress but I wasn't totally happy with that solution (the right colours but not really sailor like....). I got home from work on Saturday at about 5pm, started getting ready for the night, doing my makeup and stuff. Then at 5:30 I decided to make a dress. At 6:30 I was out the door! One of the quickest dresses I have ever made. I didn't even try to really match the stripes, quite a liberating feeling!

The stripes look black in the pics but they are a very dark navy. This was some jersey I had left over from my Pride Parade dress. Yay for stretchy fabric - can eat as much as you like then.

There were hundreds of people at this party and EVERYONE dressed up. I was so surprised. People in captain hats, striped tops, even a pirate or two!

Drinking, dancing, darts and csocsó. It was a fun night!

Needlebook tutorial

2011-12-14T14:08:00.000+01:00

When I was in New York I was an "intern" at BurdaStyle. Just for a week or so :) I was soooo excited about it - getting to help out at one of my favourite websites!!! I was staying with my friend in Brooklyn so every morning I would catch the subway to Manhattan where the BurdaStyle office is. It is nice to "go to work" in a new city, even just temporarily.

The lovely AnaJan was also an intern there. I met her last winter in Serbia and I was so glad she was in NY at the same time as me. Actually I had emailed her before I booked my flights when I still wasn't sure whether to go and when she said she was going for a whole month I almost died of envy and was like "right, I am going too!!".

It was so nice to have someone to get up to mischief with, a partner in crime :) Ahhh I adore that girl!

One of our tasks was to make some quick, easy projects so I made a little needlebook. At the book launch party one of the fun activities was sewing up your own little bag. There were some leftover bits of the printed fabric so I used that and some felt I found in the supplies closet. It only took about 20 minutes. Here is the tutorial. Very easy to whip up a few of these for small gifts for Christmas...

In the BurdaStyle office with two of my fave BurdaStyle members: Helene (CarotteSauvage) and Ana (AnaJan). I had so much fun hanging out with these girls! They really made my time in New York special.

Help! Who made that coat?

2011-12-01T21:35:00.000+01:00

A year or two ago I saw a blog post by someone who made a very long, warm winter coat. I can picture the woman perfectly but I just cannot remember her name. She made her coat really warm with some kind of insulation fabric. I want to find that fabric. I think she is Canadian, has a daughter, the coat was a bit shorter at the front, but basially ankle length... She has short hair... Anyone out there in sewing bloggerland know who I am talking about?

I want to start making a winter coat soon, I'm thinking of how I want it to be.

BurdaStyle Book Launch Party

2011-11-21T05:14:00.002+01:00

I'm in New York! When people ask me why I came to New York and I say "for a party" it sounds so extravagant and ridiculous. The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook party was last week. I made a coat which was in the book and I kept getting emails from the BurdaStyle team about the upcoming party and it was too tempting to pass up.

The book contributors were invited to go bowling with the BurdaStyle team. It was a nice way to get to know people the night before the party. Some people were definitely better bowlers than others. Hahaha. Wish I had video of that... We had a lot of laughs.... :)

The party was held in a cool bookstore in Manhattan. I got to meet and hang out with some of my favourite BurdaStyle members like AnaJan and CarotteSauvage!

There was a photo booth which was lots of fun. Here I am with Vlad and Sterling. I'm staying with Sterling in Brooklyn and he has been such a lovely host!!

With some of the book contributors and BurdaStyle people: Grace is wearing the skirt she made for the book. Jenn is a moderator on the site, David is BurdaStyle's Community Manager, Helene - aaaah this girl! An amazing ball of energy! You really cannot tell from her photos... Nettie made a gorgeous dress. Ana I met last winter when I was passing through Belgrade.

And my friend Nicole came! We studied together in Budapest way back in 2006.

I read a lot of sewing blogs and follow what a lot of BurdaStyle members are creating online and this event was just such a great opportunity to meet lots of these talented people in real-life. I met some people I now consider friends.

It was a really good night, I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks BurdaStyle!

BurdaStyle Book and New York

2011-11-04T18:21:00.000+01:00

BurdaStyle, my favourite sewing website, just released their first book! It's a sewing handbook with five patterns and lots of variations made by different BurdaStyle members from around the world. You can read more info about it here.

I submitted some sketches for two designs and they picked the coat for me to make! I was sent the pattern and some beautiful wool and I had a crazy week last summer making a warm autumn coat for a tight deadline. And now finally the book is out!

I decided about a week ago to go to New York. I go on Monday for two weeks. I am soooooo excited!! I haven't felt this excited about something in a very long time. Flight prices weren't as high as I thought they would be so I decided to go on this trip instead of buying an overlocker.... Will have to start saving again for that when I come back :)

I can't wait to meet up with my friends there. And to see a new city! I have spent a day or two in the US on stop overs and the people I met didn't exactly make me really interested in that country (I was 17, travelling alone, and met loads of weirdos... this will be very different. Still going alone but I'm ten years older and will now be able to legally drink :)

I am sooooo looking forward to New York!

Lomtalanítás and a New Acquisition

2011-09-28T21:42:00.000+02:00

So, I kind of gave up on taking pics for Self-Stitched-September. It was just taking too much time.. I have still been wearing just stuff I have made myself though. You just have to trust me ;)

Last Friday in the 7th district was lomtalanítás. It is a yearly (twice yearly?) event where everyone throws out all their junk onto the street and you can take anything you want. Aaaaah I wish I had taken pics. I love that there are these huge piles of stuff on the street and it makes the city look like a dump yard. LOVE IT! I was wandering around and I found some old clothes which I want for the fabric. There was one garment which I grabbed just because I really liked the green fabric, I didn't even really look at what it was. Got home, and it is actually a skirt which fits me perfectly! Just a horrible mid calf length... So many things I could do with it... maybe turn it into a dress...

Anyway, I had really been looking forward to lomtalanítás because I wanted to find a table to put my sewing machine on (I have been using my kitchen table which isn't a great solution). I asked David to keep his eyes open for the size/height table I wanted. He was like "actually, I might know something." He had seen an old sewing table in a flat he had just been in. I went and had a look.

It had the sewing machine inside!!!!! Isn't she a beauty. David talked to the owner, and I could buy it!!

I did a little research, this machine was issued beginning 1908 in Wittenberge, Prussia.

I have no idea if it works. The needle goes up and down fine if I turn the wheel thingy. It needs a belt thing to connect the treadle with the other stuff. No, my sewing machine terminology isn't great...

I don't even have a clue how to thread this machine!

Even if the machine doesn't work, I am happy just to have this beautiful table.

How can I found out what model this is?

S-S-S Day 12 - Spanish Omlette!

2011-09-13T22:11:00.000+02:00

Day 12

I wore one of my favourite dresses. Its a modified Burda 7829.

About a week ago I was working alone on a crazy chaotic day when a guest arrived from Spain. We were chatting and I was telling him how I used to live with two lovely Spanish girls and how we would have Spanish omlette nights in our flat. I jokingly asked him if he could make me a Spanish omlette. I was in the office last night and HE BROUGHT IN A SPANISH OMLETTE HE HAD COOKED FOR ME!!!! Such a sweetheart! I love how I sometimes meet such lovely people at work. It makes me so happy. I have got given a lot of things at work but never home cooked food before!

S-S-S Days 7-11

2011-09-11T14:27:00.003+02:00

Day 7
On the Self-Stitched-September flickr group the girls are doing a weekly photo. Everybody tries to do the same thing in their Wednesday photo. This week the theme was "at work". I think I was a little overdressed for a day at work... But I wanted to keep up the variety. I couldn't remember the last time I wore a skirt. It must have been at least May.

Cut out t-shirt
Wine silk skirt.

Day 8

It was cold! And it rained. Really felt like the first day of Autumn! A good reason to wear pants for the first time in about four months.

Blue wrap cardigan
Static pants (Burda Mag Sep 2010 #108)
Lace and polka dots top (I made this a few months ago but this was the first time I wore it)

Day 9

This was a nice day. It was back to summer weather again. I started repeating outfits. I could have continued a bit longer but I didn't really want to wear the other garments I have...

Polka dots and pintucks dress

We had a look at a huge beautiful flat which is available for rent. Gorgeous high ceilings, lovely white walls.... lots of space for having fun.

Oh the possibilities!

I loved the light in there.

Day 10

I wore my black and white dress but didn't take any photos, so you'll just have to trust me. This was such a productive day. I bought new folders and plastic sleeves so I can get all my patterns organised instead of having pieces of paper all over my flat. I went to the market and got talked into buying far much more fruit and vegetables than I planned on. I somehow ended up with about two kilos of grapes... Those little old men and women at their stalls... I bought some homemade jam from one old néni. So much easier than making it myself!

I made some sporty shorts. Soooooo nice to sew after about two months of no sewing. And so nice to start and finish something in one day.

Day 11

Another beautiful sunny day.

Blue floral dress (Burda 7829)

S-S-S Day 6

2011-09-07T16:53:00.002+02:00

In the day when I was at work I wore my red plaid dress with my black and white belt. It was kind of cool weather (only 24 degrees in the day...).

In the evening I went out with some friends. We went to check out a new project which is on this month, [SZOBA|R|T] They will be putting on exhibitions and concerts. If you are in Budapest, definitely have a look, it's a cool little place.

I put on a dress which took me countless hours to make but only gets worn about twice a year (usually during these self-stitched/me-made challenges when I don't want to repeat my clothes so much) - my striped madness dress. Also, it was one of the least clashing garments I could wear with my striped jacket. My wardrobe is full of prints and more prints... I still haven't made some solid basics like I have wanted to for a long time. I wore my sparkly leggings too.

I love my jacket.

So does Dávid. When he saw it he was like "I want one too".

Mr and Mrs Stripe

So I made him one! I used Burda 8186 for his and Burda 7757 for mine. I made the shirt he is wearing in the pic too.

S-S-S Days 4 and 5

2011-09-05T15:55:00.000+02:00

Day 4

I wore my other scalloped polka dot dress and my petticoat. I would love to get some nice pics of my petticoat sometime. It is one of my favourite items. It is three tiers of sheer lavender organza - I love it.

Day 5

I'm wearing my black and white dress and the belt I made to go with it, and my petticoat. I didn't actually want to wear this today but for the sake of variety I put it on. If I wasn't posting pics I would have put on one of the dresses I wore in the first few days of September...

S-S-S Day 3

2011-09-04T14:11:00.001+02:00

Day 3

I had another day off. It was so nice. I got up early and went swimming.

Bikini, self drafted

I made this bikini a couple of summers ago. It is getting a lot of use now. I've started swimming every day. I leave my makeup bag there so I HAVE to go. I am loving starting my day in the water. It is so relaxing.

Stripes and Scallops, Polka Dots and Pintucks dress

Self-Stitched-September Days 1 and 2

2011-09-03T20:29:00.001+02:00

So Self-Stitched-September has started.

Day 1:

I met up with a friend for an early coffee and wore a dress I made a few years ago which I still love.

Blue floral Burda 7829

In the evening I went out for a couple of drinks so I got changed. I didn't realise til later, but I put on a very similar dress to what I had been wearing earlier... Is it obvious that this is my favourite pattern ever?

Colourful summer dress, modified Burda 7829

Day 2

A day off work. I was so happy to have a day just to hang out with one of my good friends and relax and wander around the city and not have to talk to any stupid guests.

One of my fave summer dresses, Burda 8693

Soon it's September!

2011-08-31T20:16:00.000+02:00

I can't wait for September. August has been passing so quickly but I kind of can't wait til it's over. Less tourists should be coming so work should be a little easier. I am exhausted. I just want to lie down and sleep for a week....

Fun things will be happening in September.

I'm going to take part in Self-Stitched-Sept '11. The amazing Zoe has organised another self-made clothes challenge for September. Another month of wearing clothes I have made myself. Actually I have just been wearing self-made clothes since the end May... Wearing my own clothes makes me happier.

This challenge will be good though because:

I will have to make some sporty clothes.
I need motivation to finish/repair the growing pile of clothes that I am setting aside at the bottom of my wardrobe. For example, the pair of pants I made last September which I have worn a lot but still haven't hemmed....
Also, I don't want to bore everyone showing the same 3 dresses I have been living in all summer so I have some motivation to vary what I am wearing.

Busy Summer Days

2011-08-30T14:34:00.001+02:00

More than a month since I have posted anything... Been so busy. In July I worked at kids camps in different parts of the country. It was a good experience, I got to see some new cities, got to know some other ones better. Lots of time spent I met so many different types of people. It was a very challenging month but the kids and all the fun and laughs we had made it worthwhile.

This little boy was so cute and funny!

Finally an activity these little terrors could agree on doing - painting. Being alone with 9 seven year and eight olds... not so easy.

On the last day of every camp the kids performed a play in English (!). This was one of the plays.

Such creative kids! This kid is a hedgehog.

More fun with paint...

At the end of July I got back my old job which I had quit last year. And now that company is bigger so I am doing the same work, in two places... I have only had three days off this month. Pretty exhausted... I haven't had any time to sew! I miss sewing.

I have just moved into a lovely little flat. I can't wait to unpack my sewing machine. It is nice to have a proper place to live after almost a year of being a gypsy. It has been a pretty interesting year so far but I want to be a bit more settled. I've decided to stay in Budapest, at least for another year.

I love summer. I hate summer

2011-07-20T23:02:00.000+02:00

Summer makes me happy. Summer makes me fat. Summer makes me unhappy.

I noticed one of my fave dresses, one which has always been very comfortable to wear, was so tight around the bodice when I was wearing it yesterday. Tight like I was constantly conscious of it. With all this travelling of late (camps in different cities) I can't really do any sewing (can't carry my machine), but I figured I can at least bring some supplies for tracing a few patterns, and some fabric to cut out. Tonight I traced out one of the patterns and then I was thinking about the tight dress. So I got out my tape measure. My waist and hips are both 4 cm bigger than normal! That is one whole freaking Burda dress size bigger! With what I want to make that is almost a big enough difference to not be able to put the garment on! With Burda patterns, for me, generally the pants/shorts/lower half stuff fits if I use the size my measurements say to use. With the jackets I think it is best to go one or two sizes smaller than suggested... Freaking terrible having to trace out the pattern again, in a bigger size.

I think this weight gain is because of too much alcohol and Hungarian food. I don't actually normally eat much Hungarian food but at these camps they provide all the food and it is so heavy. And the morning tea/afternoon tea are usually pastries/bready things... And sometimes there are extra pastries... And it is hot and there are ice creameries everywhere.

I miss cooking for myself....

I am not the kind of person who diets but I can limit my alcohol intake... Sooooo, I am writing this here, so I have some motivation to keep this:

I'm not going to drink or eat ice cream until I am 4cm smaller.

With the alcohol and going out and the happiness, I am not sure which is the chicken and which is the egg. Anyone else normally put on weight in summer?

Bracelets, Paint and Győr

2011-07-14T22:07:00.004+02:00

I'm in Győr at the moment. It's a pretty little city halfway between Budapest and Vienna. Being on the train coming here, it was like another world. Definitely not a Hungarian train. It had been forever since I'd been west of Budapest. The train was full of German speakers. I have heard more German on the streets here in Győr than English. It's so close to Austria, it was tempting to just stay on the train... I haven't been to Austria since 2006, which is kind of crazy when I think about it... I have passed through, but not stopped.

I am working at a kids summer camp. This one is good because it has such a high ratio of girls to boys (10 to 3). Most of these girls love doing craft stuff as much as me. We have been making beaded bracelets. Some girls even brought in more beads from home so we would have more colours. I taught them how to do a knotted bracelet with thread too (the kind that was super popular when I was about 11). I told them to tell me if they were bored of it but they are always asking if we can go and make more bracelets. Seriously, I think we could make bracelets for the entire 8 hours and they would be happy. It would be great if there was a market for these, I would have my little sweatshop all ready with HAPPY workers...

Such pretty colourful grass... The beads got spilled on the grass at least once every beading session. A nightmare to pick up.

My new necklaces.

One of the most productive bracelet makers...

We got the kids to be our tour guides and show us around the city. They were actually such informative guides. Later it turned out one of the mums works for the tourism office there. She is trying to build tourist numbers to Győr. Go visit Győr!

Did you know that the Bazilika in Győr has a painting of the Virgin Mary which weeped tears of blood in 1697? Me neither. That's it surrounded by all the gold stuff.

Saw the tomb of Apor Vilmos. I never knew who he was before this either (I just knew him as the square at the end of the 105 bus).

We will perform a little play tomorrow so we were making a background for that. All the boys went out to play football and us girls had fun painting, making a big mess.

This is my newest dress by the way, will post about it when I have proper pics.

Water got accidently spilled on the painting at times....

Feet painting... :)

It was a pretty great day!

The End of Me-Made-June - Day 30

2011-06-30T23:01:00.000+02:00

It's the last day of June. Finally, the last post about my Me-Made-June outfit. This month has seemed to pass really quickly, but at the same time, seemed endlessly long. Does that make sense? Maybe it is because of all the travelling I have been doing this month. Next month won't be like that, I have a lot of stuff I want to get done in July. I want to stop with all this moving around, flitting from one place to another.

Today I wore one of my polka dot dresses and my blue wrap cardigan. There was rain and thunder and lightning. Summer storms...

As I was walking to the bus stop I saw a woman who had an umbrella which I thought would match perfectly with my dress. She was nice and let me pose with it!

Pécs - Me-Made-June Days 26-29

2011-06-29T22:36:00.000+02:00

I have a few days of Me-Made-June to catch up on. I have been in Pécs without much internet access.

This is the main square in the centre of town. Such a a picturesque city!

Pécs is a gorgeous city in the south of Hungary. Last year it was one of the European Capitals of Culture. I had been wanting to go there ever since I came to Hungary and finally, after more than five years, I made it!

Day 26

On Sunday I caught the train down, wandered around the city a bit in my red and white striped dress, had lángos for dinner, watched the last concert of a little festival that had been going on.

Day 27

Monday morning I got up at 5.45am. I was kind of in disbelief when I was setting my alarm clock, that the first number would be a 5....

I got a job working at an English summer day camp. That's why I went to Pécs, to learn how it all works. That's also the reason why I dressed like a Bavarian boy.

I thought it would be better to wear shorts for spending the day running around with kids. My lederhosen seemed like the most comfortable option from my me-made shorts. So I wore them with the white blouse (Burda 7381) that I made to go with them (none of my other me-made tops seemed to fit...). When it got cooler in the evening I put on my aubergine cardigan.

I didn't wear the lederhosen straps. It is hard enough to take these off with five buttons to undo, let alone seven of them!

Day 28

Yesterday was another early start. I decided to be brave and wear a mini dress even though I would be spending the day playing with kids again.

This is with my favourite of the kids. She was soooooo cute!

I even managed to play Stuck in the Mud in my dress! Shorts would have been better though. I need to get some kind of sporty shoes... Sandals are really not the best for running in... I slipped over trying to catch one of the kids while playing Duck Duck Goose and skinned my knee. I have gotten so many cuts and bruises and new scars this month... it is ridiculous!

I showed the kids how to make origami dogs and boxes. This kind of work is a great way to do all the craft stuff I love!

Day 29

I wore my red and white striped dress again.

I had a delicious ice-cream in the centre of the city (they actually give proper scoops of icecream there, not like the stingy Budapest icecream sellers who use the tiniest scoopers you will ever see, and then they scrape off the scoop so it is just a half scoop! I ate an icecream pretty much every single day in Pécs...). I people watched for a while, then got on the train back to Budapest. A lovely woman was seated next to me. We chatted the whole trip so the time just flew, it was great! That's one of the things I love about travelling alone - all the people you can meet along the way.

Midsummer - Me-Made-June Days 24 and 25

2011-06-25T20:54:00.001+02:00

On the discussion on the Me-Made-June flickr group there is a thread about things people have learnt so far this month. I was thinking about it and have really realised how few clothes I need/wear. I have been wearing the same couple of dresses over and over this month, even when I have been in Budapest and had access to most of my wardrobe. I just counted - I have worn my polka dots and stripes dress 8 times this month... I actually thought it had been more, it felt like more! So I wanted to be a bit more varied for the rest of the week and wear some of my other me-made clothes. But then I woke up yesterday, Day 24, and put on my fave summer dress... (I had already worn that about 4 times already). The dresses I wear all the time have a few things in common - they are comfortable, they are light, they don't make me feel too hot and sweaty in this summer heat.

In the other Me-Made/Self-Stitched Challenges last year I tried to vary my outfits a lot, not to bore everyone, but this month I don't care :)

So this is me at my sewing machine in the middle of the night in my fave dress. You have all seen proper pics of it millions of times. I'm making a pair of shorts.

Day 25

Today I am wearing my scallop necked polka dot dress. I love this dress. This fabric is so light, it feels so weightless. While I love that about it most of the time, on windy days like today... well... I think I flashed about a hundred people while walking around. The slightest breeze picks up the skirt. It is made up of eight gores, the hem is more than four metres long.... It is kind of fun though, it makes me feel kind of Marilyn Monroesque. I'm wearing it with my petticoat, I think it needs it.

Me-Made-June Days 19-23

2011-06-23T18:55:00.000+02:00

I haven't been at home for a few days so I need to catch up with the Me-Made-June stuff. I have to upload pics to the MMJ flickr group too and see what all the other ladies have been wearing. At the start of the month it is still all fresh and fun but towards the end of the month all the photo taking/blogging gets to be a bit of a chore.

Day 19

I stayed in my pjs all day and did lots of sewing. Here you get a glimpse of my new pj top and my blue wrap cardigan.

Day 20

I took a train to Füzesabony to visit my step-sis. It's a not so nice village in North East Hungary. I wore my polka dots and stripes dress. After all my travelling earlier this month this dress quickly became my favourite for travelling in. It's easy to wear, comfy, suits most occasions.

After the kids went to bed we were hanging out and Ági got the idea to straighten my hair. It reminded me of when were teenagers and would stay up all night chatting, even before we knew each other's language.

So here you see me with the straightest hair I have had since I was a baby. It was so strange, it felt so flat, I felt like I was bald.

Day 21

I wore my blue floral dress. This is with Tomi, Ági's youngest. He's so cute.

Then I went to Eger which is a beautiful city only 16 min by train from Füzesabony. I went for a wander around the city while my friend was at work. There were people giving out free beer!!! And there were a few choirs singing in front of the church in the main square so I stopped to watch that and drink my free beer. I love Eger!

Day 22

In the morning Adorjan and I went to the market and got lots of fresh fruit then sat on his balcony to eat breakfast.

I kinda loved how at the market they had signs up warning you about the local pickpockets.

Day 23

Today. I wore my polka dot and stripes dress. Again. I have worn this dress practically every second day this month. We got up early. Adorjan went to work. I got a kakaós csiga (my fave type of Hungarian pastry) and went and sat in the big park in Eger to eat it. It's a beautiful park. I really want to start getting up earlier and doing more stuff like this, enjoying the daylight.

Then I got on a train and headed home to Pest.

Rainbows - Me-Made-June Day 18

2011-06-19T04:50:00.003+02:00

I'm in a sad mood now. I am listening to sad music. Great music, but sad. Songs by friend Dóri. She is an amazing singer, listen to her songs.

I just got home. I thought tonight would be so fun but it was really shitty. Well, there were good parts of course, but I only spent about 5 min in one bar... First place we went to had a huge line. There never used to be lines in Budapest... At least not in the places I went to. So we bought some jager and drank on the street and gossiped :) That was fun. So we thought of going to the gay after party. That had a big line too and it was 2000ft! I am not paying that much to go to a bar where the majority of guys won't even be attracted to me... so I got a gyros at my fave gyros place. I hadn't been there in about two years (!!! how could that have happened??!) and the guy there still remembered me :) That made me happy. Then I saw someone I didn't expect to see which made me sad. Went to Instant. That was shit too which is why I am home.

The songs are getting happier :)

Tonight I am wearing my blue jacket, my fave summer dress, and my sparkly black leggings. It is really hard for me to take self pics and get my whole outfit in!

Today, in contrast to this evening, really was nice!

I sewed up my rainbow dress. All two seams. Oh yes, probably the most simple garment I have ever made. No hems, really just the two side seams, no other sewing! When I was a kid I had a white jersey top which I loved that had these stringy things like this at the bottom. It had a bead on each string. I had been thinking about doing that kind of thing for a loooooong time and I finally got my chance.

Hard to believe that yesterday this was just boring navy and white striped jersey. The colours didn't turn out quite as bright as I thought they would (I watered down the paint to make it easier to use) but I still like the effect.

The Pride Parade was on. I went and met up with a few friends there. It was nice, but strange. Because Hungary is full of crazy intolerant people there were barriers up to separate the parade people from the crazies.

And hundreds of police in their riot gear... There would be police right by the marchers, then a big kind of no mans land, then more police...

So along the whole long walk you see very few people who aren't actually in the parade... just a couple of people in their balconies and windows, some workers in the very few shops that were open.

There was lots of pink and rainbow flags and umbrellas.

Dávid wore a shirt I made him!

I used Burda 7767. I used the collar from view A and the shirt front from view B. For some reason they didn't match up properly but I think the result is ok.

I cut the sleeves off at the elbow because ~~I didn't want to figure out how to sew cuffs~~ I didn't have enough fabric. And besides, Dávid always rolls his sleeves up to the elbow anyway. I also didn't put a button at the top of the neck because then he would button it right up and I think that looks stupid. Oh the power! Making other people's clothes you can stop them doing the things you don't like :)

I bought this fabric at the Sali Pazari in Kadiköy for 1.50 lira. Istanbul feels so far away right now.... This fabric wrinkles like crazy. It's a blue gingham, quite stiff.

I love fabric paint! MMJ Days 16 and 17

2011-06-17T23:37:00.002+02:00

Day 16

Yesterday I spent most of the day in my pjs. Doing some sewing and drafting a pattern for a new pj top. I had to get dressed to go meet my friends for drinks. So I wore my polka dots and stripe dress and my blue wrap cardigan.

This is my friend Tats and his darling girlfriend Ola. They make such a cute couple!

Day 17

I was wearing my blue floral dress all day. And then I took it off to check the fit of a new dress I am making at the moment and then it was just so much easier to put my pjs on than to do up all the back buttons on my dress. Yes, lazy of me.

I have been to a few craft shops today, hunting for fabric paint in all the colours of the rainbow. I wanted these paints so badly I went allllll the way to Üllői út (ok, it's only about 5 or 6 tram stops but that felt pretty far when I usually walk everywhere). It is Pride Week here in Budapest so I want a rainbow dress to wear tomorrow :) I had been thinking of sewing together strips of different coloured fabric but then when I was lying in bed this morning I had this brainwave to use this striped jersey I bought in Istanbul instead!

How much fun is it to paint something! I completely lost track of time and so now I don't even know if I will go out tonight. I'm in a lazy mood. And I want to finish my dress...

I think the colours look good in these proportions but this was not what I was planning at all. I think the sun must have gotten to me. There were about 28 white stripes to paint. 28 divided by the 7 colours of the rainbow is 4. So I started painting the colours with 7 rows for each colour.... I had already started the yellow when I realised what I had done... And I only bought 6 colours anyway because I count blue and indigo as both blue!

In the next pic you have what I was wearing, what I am wearing, and what I hopefully will be wearing tomorrow.

Halfway through! - Me-Made-June Days 13, 14 and 15

2011-06-16T03:01:00.001+02:00

This month is passing really fast. Already halfway done with Me-Made-June.

Day 13

On Monday it was a public holiday, something about 40 days after Easter? I don't like public holidays here - everything is shut and I haven't worked a 9-5 job, well, ever so I don't have the benefit of getting paid for a day off. I would just do away with public holidays. Except maybe St Stephens Day on August 20th (because there is a nice big fireworks display).

I met up with Vitaly in the afternoon. We checked out the Czech beer festival that was going on. I wore my Come Back Summer dress (modified Burda 7829).

Then wandered around the city a bit. This is the Bazilika. It was a really hot day. Sweating.

Day 14

I had picked a huge bag of sour cherries on the weekend that needed to be used up. This is the fruits of my labour: jam!

I hadn't realised what a huge amount of fruit you need to make a small amount of jam. And what a lot of time. I spent two and a half hours squeezing the stones out of the cherries (these were smaller than usual ones). Got covered in cherry juice. Next time I am choosing an easier to prepare fruit.

I wore my black and white dress.

Day 15

I wore my fave summer dress (Burda 8693).

I got a lot of looks on the street. I don't know if that was because the split in the front of the skirt is so high or because I haven't done my hair since the weekend...

Getting out of the city MMJ - Days 11 and 12

2011-06-13T01:56:00.002+02:00

Day 11

I got to wear one of my favourite dresses. I hardly ever have an occasion to wear this dress. It is one of my many versions of Burda 7829. Basically every seam and hem on this dress has been sewn at least twice since I first made it.

I have replaced the bodice, added aubergine coloured pockets, then changed the pocket fabric to black so they weren't visible, shortened the hem, let out the sides.... When I think of all the time I have spent on this dress...

I went to watch an opera. One of my friends was performing in it. I love going to the opera - seeing the costumes, the backdrops. It was held at the Royal Palace in Gödöllő. My first time going there (kind of crazy since it is only 30km north of Budapest...). The gardens are very nice, I would like to go back there sometime and explore a little.

Day 12

I wore my pink and red plaid dress (modified Burda 7831)

We went to Mogyoród to have a garden party. We ate the most delicious bográcsgulyás (a Hungarian soup). Olyan finom volt!

This is me pretending to help cook.

Dávid found some ping pong balls in the garden...

Me-Made-June is actually feeling harder now that I am back in Budapest and have access to a lot more of my me-made clothes. It was so easy having only four dresses to choose from, it really saved a lot of hmmming and hawing over what to wear.

This is how we open wine bottles in Hungary...

Getting home - MMJ Day 10

2011-06-11T16:57:00.005+02:00

This was a really great day. Lots of luck and coincidences.

We stayed in Sofia Thursday night with the last driver who picked us up that day!

So sweet of him to host us. Vit was wearing a t-shirt I jokingly told him to buy the day before and he actually did...

We started hitching at 8am. It took us ages before anyone stopped.

Vit trying to improve our chances... :)

We were standing near some traffic lights and everyone was smiling at us and a lot would wave - I love Bulgaria. The people are so nice and friendly there.

I was wearing my polka do and stripes dress. It was so cold so I put on my sparkly leggings, my blue wrap cardigan, later my blue striped jacket, and my scarf I got in Morocco. Basically everything I could put on without wearing a couple of dresses.

Finally one guy picked us up. He was in a small truck with a freezer. Second time in two days having frozen backpacks. Cold! That guy only took us 6km but at least that took us past some of the turnoffs. Had to wait a bit but then a Turkish driver picked us up in his Mercedes. He was planning to drive to Belgrade (where we wanted to go) then through Zagreb and then Austria to his home in Germany. Because of us he changed his route and went via Budapest instead of Zagreb!!!! So amazingly nice of him. So I was back in Budapest before 7pm! A lot quicker than the 18 or so hours it would take by train.

Then had a funny night in Pest, running into lots of people I know completely by chance, even one of my friends who lives in Istanbul! The friend I hung out with my last night there!!

Hitchhiking all the way from Istanbul to Budapest was such a great experience. I was amazed by the generosity of the people who picked us up. We got given so much stuff, a lot of it very random - a can of pineapple, lip gloss, a camel clock, a huge bag of pistachios, bottles of water, lunch cooked for us... People went completely out of their way to help. A lot of people are scared to hitch but there are so many good hearted people out there - try it!

Now that I am back I finally have time to check out all the pics on the flickr group of the other Me-Made-June participants.

Cherries and motorbikes - MMJ Day 9

2011-06-09T16:46:00.002+02:00

Another morning spent up in the cherry trees. I'm wearing my polka dot dress. It's actually pretty ok for climbing trees in.

Vitaly and I left Hisaria. He tied our backpacks onto the back of his friend's Harley (it's an army one) and we headed to Sopot 40 km away to drop off the bike. Now I see why bikers wear leather.... the wind, the biting rain.

Now it is hot though. We hitchhiked from Sopot to here, Plovdiv. Only took us around 3 minutes of waiting and the truck driver dropped us right by the city! It is nice to be resting in a cafe, not walking around with my heavy backpack. I bought quite a lot of fabric when I was in Istanbul which adds lots of weight.

I love Hisaria! - MMJ Days 7 and 8

2011-06-08T19:56:00.003+02:00

I got a pic of me in my me-made bikini! In the middle of the night on Monday we went into the centre of Hisarya where there are some hot springs. The water is flowing from taps into these narrow basins so you can fill up bottles of water. This whole area is full of mineral springs. The different waters heal different things. We plugged up the holes in the basins and bathed there! We each had our own basin. It was so nice. Hot, hot water. You had to lie on your side because the basins are so narrow but they are long enough to completely submerge yourself.

Day 7

Yesterday we started the day with cherries again. I wore my fave summer dress.

Zhivko's friends joined us so it was me and five guys for the whole day. We decided to go swimming so we crammed into a car and went 40 km to the "old mountain". Such beautiful scenery there.

The water in the river comes down from the top of a mountain so it was very cold and very fast flowing. So we couldn't really swim - we just jumped in the water and hopped right out onto the sun warmed rocks.

They all had a bit of a laugh at me because I was so inappropriately dressed for outdoorsy activities. My shoes especially are not good for hiking. They got covered in mud a few times... I am going to throw them out I think as soon as I find some new ones.

It was such a lovely day. We ended the night with dinner together outside with fireflies flying around!

Day 8

Today I am wearing my blue floral dress which is great because the skirt is full enough for tree climbing. My dresses from the past few days were too narrow. We filled ourselves with cherries again. So nice to be high up in the trees, picking cherries and putting them straight into my mouth. I don't think I had climbed a tree since I was a kid! Then lying in the grass, enjoying the sunshine.

I love this place so much! I am loving all the nature and eating all the fresh fruit.

Highways and Hisaria - MMJ Days 5 and 6

2011-06-06T20:16:00.003+02:00

Two days, one dress. My stripes and polka dots one.

Yesterday we started hitching from Harmali in the early afternoon.

First we got picked up by a nice truck driver.

We didn't get far and then the highway was closed and we had to take a detour through the villages. The scenic route... It was nice though, beautiful scenery.

The third driver we had was absolutely crazy. So full of energy. He had this infectious happiness. So we changed our plans. We had been trying to go straight to Hisaria but we decided to go with these guys to their destination, Karlovo, instead. We went to a waterfall and this crazy guy Nikol gets out his climbing gear, climbs down to a good spot, and jumps down from near the top of the waterfall into a pool! Afterwards he pointed out a plaque which was in memoriam to a guy who died there instantly when he jumped and hit his head on a rock... I don't know if you can see him in this pic but he is crouching on the rock that is to the right of the start of the waterfall.

Then the guys were so nice and drove us to Hisaria which was out of their way. Had a beer with them.

Then met up with my CouchSurfing host, Jivko. I love CouchSurfing, you can meet so many great people with it. If you don't know it, check it out! He showed us a bit around the town. Hisaria is a historic place, thousands of years old. Walked by the old Roman city walls. I wore my blue wrap cardigan then cos it was getting cooler.

Jivko is living in the forest so we walked out to his place in the moonlight. Camped there last night. So nice to be in nature, to hear the crickets chirping. And I saw fireflies for the first time!

So today, Day 6, I am still wearing the same dress as yesterday. Our lunch was delicous strawberries and cherries we picked. Oh so good!

We came across some men shearing sheep by hand. It is so nice to walk around in this area!

Turkey to Bulgaria - MMJ Day 4

2011-06-05T02:32:00.002+02:00

I got up very early this morning, caught the tram over to Eminonu and went to a huge haberdashery that I found the other day. I was so lucky - it opened at 8am so I got there right after that. I was suprised how bustling that whole area was at such an early hour. I bought tons of bias binding and zips and needles. The shop has 7 floors - so much stuff. Two floors just of buttons!

And they have a kind of zip cave in the basement.

Istanbul really is a great place if you like to sew...

Then I left Istanbul. I hitchhiked out with a cool Latvian guy I met the other day - Vit. I wore my blue floral dress.

We only had to wait about 2 or 3 minutes between rides, it was great. Three trucks and we got to the border. The first driver was a bit of a sleaze (he kept touching my foot under the table when we stopped for tea and was doing these funny gestures at me when Vit wasn't looking!) The next didn't talk much. The third was an absolute darling. Matti from Iran. He cooked us a lovely lunch!

So delicious.

We were not thinking properly when we got to the border and left our backpacks in the truck and walked over the border to Bulgaria (we weren't allowed to stay in the truck for whatever reason). It took us only about 15 minutes.

We naively thought the truck would be right after us. FIVE HOURS later and our truck crossed... Guess the border control go kind of crazy with searching the trucks... By then it was after 10pm....

Our sad "where are our bags????" faces. We were actually laughing about the situation most of the time though.

So now I am in a cheap hotel somewhere in Bulgaria. I don't know exactly. The town's name start with an H... Alcohol is so cheap here! Cocktails and mixed drinks for about 1 euro... :) A nice end to the day. Later when it got cooler I put on my striped jacket and my sparkly leggings.

Istanbul - Me-Made-June Day 3

2011-06-03T23:01:00.002+02:00

I wore my other new polka dot dress. I love thıs dress. Wıll wrıte more about ıt another day when I have more tıme.

I went to an art gallery on Istıklal. Nıce to escape the crowds of that street. Saw some ınterestıng vıdeos about people who belıeve they have been reborn ın new bodıes. Thıs followıng quote was at one of the ınstallatıons.

I went and sat by the water at Karakoy agaın. So nıce to breathe ın the salty sea aır. I ate the most delıcıous fısh sandwıch I thınk I have ever had.

Thıs evenıng I went for a walk around the streets wıth a Hungarıan frıend. So nıce to be able to speak Hungarıan ın Istanbul! Was a lıttle cool so I wore my blue jacket.

Thıs was on the front of some random shop. Isn't thıs much nıcer than just paıntıng your buıldıng a plaın colour.

Me-Made-June Days 1 and 2 - Luck!

2011-06-03T22:35:00.003+02:00

Thıs month has started so well!

Excuse my lack of commas I can't fınd them on thıs keyboard.

Day 1

I wore one of my fave summer dresses and my blue strıped jacket.

Thıs was a day fılled wıth luck. I got back to Istanbul and my Turkısh sım card wasn't workıng. I went to Vodafone and they saıd my card had been cancelled by the owner. I was so pıssed off. I went back to the shop where I had bought the sım card to ask for a new one. They saıd ok but I needed to have my passport on me to get a new Vodafone number. (I never carry my passport only when I cross borders). So they saıd I could get a Turkcell sım card ınstead (thats one of the other major carrıers). I wasn't so happy about that but I saıd ok cos I really wanted to be able to call people. I was lookıng through the avaılable numbers lookıng for a good one. And I found my number! The one whıch had been cancelled!!

Then on a whım I walked down a sıde street and found a lıttle store fılled wıth pens. They had callıgraphy pens! I had to get my mum to send me some callıgraphy pens a few years ago because I haven't been able to fınd them anywhere ın Hungary (I've looked ın about 20 stores...). So now I have new callıgraphy pens!

I sat at one of my fave spots at Karakoy and watched the boats for a whıle.

Then I was walkıng across the Galata Brıdge. Some waıters made me stop and gave me free tea and coffee (the benefıt of beıng a female ın Turkey).

I was tellıng one of them how I wanted to fınd fabrıc. He told me about a market whıch was on that day so I went and found that. Such luck! It was huge. The Carsamba pazarı. It's ın a very conservatıve area of Istanbul so I wouldn't have dressed ın a dress wıth such a hıgh front openıng ıf I had known I would be headıng to Fatıh :)

There were a lot of tables covered wıth fabrıc. The sellers stand ın ıt - you just can't reach everythıng from the sıdes of the table.

I had been wonderıng where all the women ın Istanbul hıde (Taksım ıs full of men whenever I go to eat ın the lıttle restaurants I am usually the only female customer and all of the staff are men...). So anyway. I found the women! They are all at the market. Shoppıng! Kınd of crazy there. My tıp: wear proper shoes. There are a lot of women wıth prams and they can be pretty pushy. I love the markets here! So much fun.

I bought a bracelet from one vendor and then he bought me a tea!

Day 2

I wore my new polka dot mını dress. It has strıped scallops at the necklıne and hem. And my blue strıped jacket.

I went to the Prınces Islands wıth a group of people. We went to Buyukada the bıg ısland. Walked up to the hıghest poınt there. So nıce to be outsıde walkıng around ın the sunshıne wıth fresh aır. no cars. people goıng past ın horse carrıages and on bıkes.

I had thought ıt would be too cold to swım so I dıdn't take my bıkını wıth me. It was warm but not hot hot.

But when we got down by the water I was just so tempted. It had been more than 5 years sınce I had swum ın the sea!!

That's what happens when you lıve ın a landlocked country... So I went ın ın my dress. It was soooo nıce to swım! There was a hılarıous moment when we saw somethıng bıg and whıte/cream under the water rıght near us when we were 50 metres from the shore and panıcked. No ıdea what ıt was. Maybe a gınonormous jelly fısh. Whatever ıt was we just wanted to get away from ıt as fast as we could. I'm laughıng now thınkıng of ıt.

Waıtıng for the ferry back we saw these adorable kıds dressed up.

Getting ready for Me-Made-June

2011-05-29T16:54:00.000+02:00

I'm going to Istanbul tomorrow morning! I can't wait to see my friends there. And to eat lots of mussels and fish sandwiches. And to take ferries between Europe and Asia. And to go to the Tuesday market in Kadiköy. And to spend hours relaxing in the hamam. I'm excited.

I had been thinking to live in Istanbul but now I have changed my mind, I'm going to stay in Budapest. I love this city too much. I had already bought my ticket back to Istanbul though so I am making it a fabric shopping trip.

I have just started packing. I am trying to pack as light as possible so I can fit more fabric into my backpack. Since I am only wearing me-made clothes for Me-Made-June I am only going to take clothes I have made with me (and start June early). I am thinking of about four dresses. Maybe five. I don't want to take too much stuff, but I also don't want to bore everyone wearing the same dress everyday... Any thoughts on the ideal number of outfits? I only have one me-made skirt with me at the moment and that is a wintery one so I am not going to take that. I don't know what happened to all the other skirts I have made. I don't have my shorts with me either. So it's just dresses.

I am aiming to be back in Pest in about a week, maybe 10 days. I will probably travel back up through Bulgaria and Serbia. That is my plan at the moment but these things always seem to change :)

So here is what I think I will take:
- My favourite summer dress
- Blue floral dress
- My two new just made this week polka dot dresses. You will get to see them properly in June. Is it strange to take two dresses made from the same fabric though? They are pretty different in style.
- Petticoat (I need this to go with one of my polka dot dresses which I am definitely bringing).
- Blue striped jacket
- Bikini (I don't know if it is warm enough to swim in the sea yet but I will probably be staying at a hamam so I will use it there)
- Navy jardigan (I don't love this, but it is quite warm so it's good if I end up taking any night trains).
- Blue wrap cardigan
- Pjs
- Sparkly leggings

Looking at that list, it seems like a huge amount of stuff. Maybe I should reduce it a little? I managed to go all of March with just one skirt and one dress plus tops... And for the whole month I just spent in Istanbul I had 1 skirt, 1 dress and 1 pair of pants plus tops/jackets. I am only taking one pair of shoes, ballet flats. Hmmm, what to leave out of my backpack??

Budapest! Imádlak!

2011-05-26T09:32:00.000+02:00

It is so nice to be back in Budapest. I love this place, especially when the weather is great. It has been so warm. 28 degrees some days! I have been trying to wake up early which is pretty easy when you get up and the sky is a beautiful blue and the sun is shining.

There have been a few thunderstorms too. Is it bad that I am happy when it rains because it makes me not feel guilty about staying in and sewing? I feel like I should be outside, doing things, but really I would prefer to be making pretty dresses.

I have been going for picnics though, enjoying the parks. It is so nice to sit on grass in the sunshine! Enjoying the little things.

This isn't my bike. Unfortunately. Wouldn't it be nice to have a bike to match every dress!

I do have a blue bike to go with blue dresses though. I will post more about this dress another day. It has pleats at the hem which makes it really easy to bike in.

I am trying to improve my bread making skills. Making lots of beer bread. I want to learn how to make jam to go with it. Any jam makers out there? Any good tips or recipes?

Help! How to save my dress??!

2011-05-15T23:34:00.002+02:00

I spent hours and hours this past week working on a red and white striped (cotton?) dress. I was making it for a party my friend was organising in Budapest so I really had to race. The lovely Ruth (a great BurdaStyle member I met) let me use her sewing machine at her place in Istanbul! I couldn't have finished the dress in time without her. Thank you Ruth!

I like making clothes for occasions... even if it leads to a lot of stressing (I was carrying the dress all around with me so I could hand sew to finish it up whenever I had some time - at cafes, on the ferry...). I've realised that hand sewing really isn't that slow if I am not trying to make the stitches even lengths... I hand sewed the back seam, the zip, the straps, the hem and the top of the bodice.

I didn't prewash the fabric. I know, I know, you should always prewash... but I really wanted to get it started and didn't have very good access to a washing machine. I left a scrap of the fabric on the floor, it accidently got some water on it and I noticed the red bled into the white! I don't want the white stripes to turn pink!

It gets worse.

I wore the dress on Friday night with a blue leather belt. The belt left some blue colour on my dress! So now I need to figure out how to set the red and wash out the blue. Any ideas??? Different sources say to try salt and vinegar for setting, while others say that doesn't work...

I forgot to get proper pics. The bodice actually does sit properly when I am standing normally. My friend Christopher was wearing a top made for him by our friend Tamara. So many stripes everywhere this year... Tamara is a designer from Georgia. She is very talented. She has just launched a sunglass collection. And she makes shoes! Aaaaargh I am so jealous of that fact, I would love to learn shoemaking.

Salı pazarı/Tuesday Market

2011-05-04T02:48:00.000+02:00

I love the internet! I posted a message on BurdaStyle saying that I wanted to meet some sewers in Istanbul to go fabric shopping and a lovely woman, Ruth, contacted me. So this morning I got up early (at 9 which is very early for me.... especially since I was playing backgammon til 3.30am with the guy who owns the cafe next door). Then I walked down to the water and caught the ferry to the Asian side. I love that - going between continents in 20 minutes.We met up in Kadiköy and went in search of the Salı pazarı (Tuesday Market). After a bit of walking we found it. So much fabric! Such low prices! A lot of it has some flaws (the end of the rolls aren't printed right, some is stained, some is weirdly sewn together). But a lot of it is really nice fabric. There were tables covered in buttons, ribbons, zips. Sewers paradise! If my wallet/backpack were bigger I would go crazy buying stuff there.

My stripe addiction continues. I couldn't resist this red and white striped fabric. I think it will become a dress.

There were lots of women there, sorting through all the piles of fabric. When you see something you like you really have to hang on to it to make sure the other woman don't grab it. Fun experience :)

Then we went to another area still on the Asian side and checked out the fabric district there. Istanbul is so big. So many different districts, so many hard-to-remember place names. I like how in this city shops are grouped by type. Like there is a street with about twenty stores all in a row, all selling lights and lamps. Or an area where there are five wig shops next door to each other. It's a little strange for me but I like the convenience of it, especially when it means I can visit lots of fabric shops in a short amount of time.

I hear this song every day. So I have grown to quite like it :) Either it is on the radio all the time or Yasar (he works at the hamam where I'm staying) puts it on.

My knitting is slowly coming along. I have done about half of one sleeve (and started the second because I don't really know how to continue the first....). Where can I find a trilingual (English/Turkish/Knitting) person??

Joining Me-Made-June

2011-04-30T19:33:00.004+02:00

I have many clothes making hours ahead of me. Zoe has just announced Me-Made-June. Following on the success of her Me-Made-March/May and Self-Stitched-September challenges she is organising another one. Last year I participated in MMMay and SSS. I didn't join in MMMarch this year though for a few reasons: I was travelling, I didn't have so many me-made clothes (I threw away loads in a moment of madness) and also, SSS still felt too fresh. September was quite tiring for me (in the end I stopped taking photos of my outfits, I was getting sick of it).

Now though I feel up to the challenge again. And it will be June! Summer!! A different season means different clothes, I can wear my favourite summer dresses! Also, I won't have to wear so many layers so I won't need to make so much stuff.

So here is my pledge:

'I, Jodi Wade, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-June '11. I endeavour to wear
only garments I have made myself (with the exception of lingerie, hosiery and socks) each day for the duration of June 2011'

I am looking forward to June. I have been knitting away like crazy, especially now that I want to finish my jumper by June.

I have been carrying my knitting around with me everywhere.... It is good to be able to make something while I am 1000km away from my sewing machine.

I spent about half an hour in the yarn store, getting the lovely man who works there to explain the pattern to me. He couldn't translate everything though so I will have to wing it a bit. I haven't met anyone who knows knitting terminology in both Turkish and English...

In other news, I got a lovely surprise today. My blue dress is Member Project of the Week on BurdaStyle!!!!

Knitting in Turkish

2011-04-25T17:31:00.001+02:00

I found a great yarn store just around the corner from where I am staying in Istanbul. There was a great striped jumper pattern in a free booklet so I decided to try it. Even though it is in Turkish... At the moment I am doing fine but when it comes to the shaping for the armholes then I will need a Turkish knitter to translate for me...

The pattern is meant to be made up with a wool. I spent a lot of time going through all the different wool colours, trying out different combinations (the jumper has five colours), the man was helping me choose.

I had pretty much decided on the colours, then the man was like, "you shouldn't use wool, it will be too warm". (!!!)

I had wanted to make a nice jumper for cool Spring nights. Somehow he could magically tell that I am a slow knitter. So I followed his advice and had a look at the cottons. I chose four of the colours, and then he suggested a dark orangey brown I would never have looked at.

The colours look a bit different in real life. The end one is a mint green...
They looked good together so I bought them. Then I started knitting, got to the point when I should start the dark orangey brown. And I just couldn't. Not my colour. Luckily the man let me swap it :) I chose a light brown cotton instead and I am happy with that.

I have been enjoying my days, knitting a lot, befriending cafe owners, spending hours and hours relaxing in the hamam.

Coffee, popcorn, knitting...

So far I have done this much:

This year is like the year of stripes. I see colourful stripes everywhere....

(Happy) Blue Spring Days

2011-04-21T08:02:00.002+02:00

I have a new jacket! It's a light wool mens suiting fabric. I love it! One of my goals was not to purchase a patterned fabric (because I have so much patterned stuff already that it is pretty difficult for my self-made clothes to match...). So I'm not going to count these stripes as patterned - if only because the stripes are both blue. Also, I am trying to stick to colours that work together so I have chosen blue as my base.

I used Burda 7757. I think it is discontinued. I made View C, the longer one with the pocket. It wasn't so hard to make, even without English or Hungarian instructions.

I took the libegő up into the Buda Hills with my friends earlier this month. It was so beautiful up there, all the wildflowers out in force. My talented friend Zsuzsi Pal took the photos. Look at more of her pics on flickr. Thanks Zsuzsi!

See the buttonhole? It's a bound triangular buttonhole. I really need to learn how to do regular bound buttonholes... I did want to do one but didn't have any net access while making this to look up how they are done...

Market Memories

2011-04-20T08:45:00.002+02:00

A couple of years ago I went to a weekend market in the Hungarian countryside with my ex boyfriend's mum. She loved going to markets. So we went even though it was my ex's birthday :) We spent hours there, browsing through all the stuff, bargaining with the sellers. It was great. I found some bright blue fabric. There wasn't so much, only about a metre, but I was able to squeeze a dress out of it.

I drafted a basic dress pattern with a waist seam. It has a little pleat at the front neckline.

All the photos in this post were taken by my friend Zsuzsi Pal. Check out her other photos here. She wrote an article about me last year and we needed to have photos to go with it so we did a little photo shoot. If you want to read the article it is here on page 12. Zsuzsi wanted me to wear blue so I had to hurry to finish this dress which I had started a year previously. The neckline and armholes are bound with a ribbon (this was before I learnt the Hungarian word for bias binding... ferdepant).

I shouldn't make clothes for others

2011-04-18T19:07:00.002+02:00

A friend of mine asked me to make her a pinafore dress. She had photos of her friend's one which she wanted me to copy. Exactly. I actually thought the original dress looked kind of ugly but it was what she wanted. So I made it. And I love it. I was wishing I didn't have to give it to her.... But she had bought the fabric and already paid me for it so I had to :(

The stretch satin was a dream to work with. It was so easy to sew.

The top part is lined with the same fabric, for the skirt I used some pale blue lining fabric I had left over from the spring jacket I just made. Lining it like this means no hemming. Yay!!!

I made Joja a dress last year which I also didn't like at first but which I fell in love with as well. Maybe I will have to make myself a pinafore dress....

I am in Istanbul again. I spent most of today in a lovely cafe. Cafe Kafka. It's great! My new favourite place. I spent hours in there drinking coffee and hot chocolate, eating cheesecake, writing in my diary. The owner was showing me around the place. He said when it opened 22 years ago there were only two cafes in Beyoglu! And now there are about 3000...

There about 5 floors of rooms which you access with a narrow staircase. Cosy couches. Great atmosphere. Aaaaaaah I love it there!

The Tulip Festival is on. The city of Istanbul plants thousands of tulips everywhere, it's so nice!

I love bias binding!

2011-04-10T20:52:00.002+02:00

I have just learnt how to use bias binding on necklines and sleeves. OMG. I cannot believe I never learnt this years ago! It is such a nice way of finishing edges. It makes them so nice and clean. Is it sad that I kind of get giddy happy looking at the inside of my dress necklines now?

I was using BurdaStyle's Anda dress pattern and in it it explained how to use the binding. I made an Anda a few years ago but I guess I didn't really read the instructions back then because I just sewed the binding over the edge so it shows on both sides. I feel like my eyes have been opened up. Here are the instructions. I think I should take some sewing lessons. Or buy some sewing books. I used to have a really great sewing book, the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. My dad bought it for me when I was a teenager. I wish I had it here... I think the shipping cost from New Zealand would be too high though, it's a big book.

I had to bind a v-neck too and these instructions came in very handy.

I have been doing lots of sewing this weekend. I made two dresses. The pink one and the polka dot one. I think it just needs to get a wee bit warmer to wear them.

Spring Sewing

2011-04-07T17:37:00.002+02:00

I am loving Spring! The warm weather really makes me want to make new spring-like clothing but the sun makes me want to go outside and lie in the park...

There are so many daffodils out now so I am buying a fresh bunch every time I go to the market. Looking at them makes me so happy. I put them next to my sewing machine so I can breathe in their scent whenever I want.

Yesterday I took the libegő (chair lift) up into the Buda hills. I love how the BKV have just crossed out the year so the tickets can still be used.

Walking through the forest up there made me think of one of my favourite poems. You can get a glimpse of my new jacket. We took tons of pics so will have them up soon.

I have a slight stripe addiction. The last three fabrics I've bought have been striped... I made my jacket out of the dark and light blue wool. The yellow is now a dress. I am deciding what to do with the blue and gold.

A dress or a skirt? It is quite a light fabric, horizontal stripes. Actually I think it is lining fabric, I don't care, I love the colours. I found it in a second hand shop. I think it is acetate (2.30am burn tests.... insomnia...). I didn't know that acetone dissolves acetate... Anyway, I have about a metre and a half of it. Enough for a dress if the skirt isn't too full. Any ideas?

Trip to Istanbul

2011-04-02T18:16:00.001+02:00

I was travelling for about three weeks of March so I couldn't participate in Zoe's Me-Made-March 2011. I packed quite light... one skirt (that I didn't make), one dress, a couple of tops. (Also I got rid of lots of my Me-Made clothes at the end of last year in a moment of insanity so I don't actually have so many options anymore). I did wear some stuff I had made everyday though.

I spent two weeks in Istanbul - it was great! The people were so friendly, met a lot of different people.

This post is not really going to be about clothes or making stuff but more about my trip. So be prepared for lots of photos and videos :)

Wandering around Beyoglu I saw a little shop that was full of wool and crafty stuff so I just had to go in. The woman working there was so sweet.

She showed me how to tie a headscarf in the Muslim way.

I spent the rest of the evening wearing a scarf out and about. Such a different experience. It was kind of like having tunnel vision. I couldn't see (or be seen) without turning my head. It really made me feel much less noticable to men.

It is so easy to meet people there. This is with Mustafa (a dj we met) and Dávid at Magma. It is this little club run by some very friendly Kurdish people. It was 2 minutes walk from where we were staying so we would see these guys quite a lot.

This is Hür. He makes the most divine chocolate eclairs I have ever tasted in my life. Hür was in love with a woman named Marla ten years ago. They broke up and he named his patisserie after her. And she doesn't even know!

Here Dávid is wearing the hat I crocheted. It goes quite well with his nose.

This was one of my favourite little restaurants. It was right opposite the hamam where we were staying so we spent quite a bit of time there practicing our Turkish.

It's the perfect country for people who like to drink a lot of tea. Like Dávid...

This next video is of Tarek. He was a guy I hung out with a little bit. He sings at a restaurant in the old town.

For most of trip we were running late to catch our trains and buses. We took the night train from Belgrade to Sofia. It was pretty funny because our Serbian friends got on the train to help us buy the sleeping car tickets and then the train departed with them still on it! They had to wait about 20 minutes until the train stopped so they could get off.

We spent about an hour playing dress up on the train. First I was a gypsy girl. Edo's mum gave me that scarf. She is so sweet, whenever I visit her she gives me some clothing/accessories!

Then we were a wartime nurse and patient. We got given some sheets by the conductor. We were like little kids. It was so much fun!

And Dávid was a Turkish man :)

Watching the birds in the Topkapi Palace Gardens at night.

Red Lace

2011-04-02T17:02:00.001+02:00

I had been wanting to make a lace dress for a while after seeing this beautiful Erdem dress:

and then Gertie's dress.

I drafted a pattern using my basic bodice block and added a full circle skirt to it. It is red stretch lace (it would have been better to use non-stretch but I saw this fabric and just had to buy it...). It's underlined with a beige lining fabric.

These pictures were taken at a train station in Eminönü in Istanbul.

It's a v at the front and curved at the back.

It was warm that day but not as warm as the pics may suggest (it was snowing only a few days before this...). This was my actual outfit that day. I got quite a lot of looks... People there dress in a much less colourful way than me...

That morning we had stopped for coffee at this little "cafe" (tiny plastic chairs and tables set up on the grass by the water) in Karaköy and a group of business men invited us to join them. Such lovely, friendly people in that city!

And friendly stray kitties. I really wanted to keep this kitten!

I'm back!

2011-04-02T01:01:00.000+02:00

I haven't blogged in a very long time... I hadn't really been doing much sewing in the winter. I have been moving around quite a bit and it wasn't so easy to set up my sewing machine.

So I spent my winter doing other stuff. I learnt how to crochet! That was something I had wanted to learn for a very long time (my nana tried to teach me about 15 years ago but I thought it was too hard - this was after she taught me how to knit. Now I think crocheting is easier than knitting!). Thank you Jess for teaching me!

I crocheted a hat.
It had been so long since I had made a pompom that I had kinda forgotten how to do them!

I had been at my friend David's place one night and he asked me if I wanted his straw hat. I didn't so he opened the window and flung the hat out. We were in a pharmacy a few weeks later and the straw hat was there!!!

There was a lot of cake baking and lunches and dinners with friends.

After we ate the heart of the cake....

It's funny looking back through my last months of photos. There seems to be a heart theme. Liz made these sugar cookies for Valentines. It was really fun decorating them. And even better eating them.

I have pics of a red dress I made to post but I am too sleepy to do that now. Tomorrow...

Sewing machine for sale!

2010-11-19T11:59:00.000+01:00

I am selling my sewing machine so if anyone in the Budapest area is interested, let me know. It's an Elna 1000. I also have a MOUNTAIN of fabric, and a lot of notions (buttons, zips, thread, etc) that I want to sell as well. I also have some patterns too. Basically a whole lot of sewing related stuff.

A photo from summer

2010-11-09T11:18:00.000+01:00

When I was in Serbia in the summer ELLE Serbia magazine took a picture of me when I was wearing a dress I made!! I finally managed to find the pic!!! It is in their Street fashion, avgust 2010. I made that bag too.

Photo: Predrag Janjatović

Scarf Weather

2010-10-13T22:52:00.000+02:00

I haven't posted anything for some time.... I wasn't so well at the end of September so I couldn't be bothered with all the photo taking and blogging for Self-Stitched-September although I did keep wearing stuff I had made right up to the end. You will just have to believe me without the photographic evidence :)

I haven't done much sewing at all lately but I have picked up my knitting needles again. I made a striped mohair scarf. I love it, it's so warm.

SSS - Days 19 and 20

2010-09-21T11:30:00.001+02:00

Day 19

I wore my black and white dress, belt, petticoat, and aubergine cardigan. It was beautiful and sunny in the morning and reasonably warm - lovely for biking around. It was a nice day at work - all the terrible guests left :)

Day 20

I wore my new pants, black cut-out t-shirt, aubergine cardigan and later my plaid jacket.

SSS - Days 15, 16, 17 and 18

2010-09-18T17:25:00.001+02:00

Day 15.

Why should going out clothes be restricted to when you are actually going out? I made this dress a couple of years ago but I had only worn it out twice. It is not really appropriate for a day at work (sheer/ very low cut back.... see pics here) but then I had a brain wave. I could just wear it with a top and it would look like a skirt!

I wore it with my new polo necked top. Looking at the pics I think look so conservative. Not my usual style. This top makes me laugh when I wear it. It is like something one of those poncy people who go to all the exhibition openings would wear. Maybe I should wear it with cord. Cord pants? The arty people seem to adore cord :) This is like a way to play dress up but no-one knows I am doing it :) Like my own personal secret Halloween. Does this make any sense?

This is also the kind of top I would wear if I was a burglar :)

After work I went looking for some fabric. In the second hand shop that is just down the road from my work I didn't find any nice fabric. But I found lots of nice wool!

600 grams of wool for only 1000ft!! That is less than 4 euro! I got 4 balls of a beautiful turquoise 100% mohair. This is going to be my motivation for learning to follow a knitting pattern properly - I want to make a cardigan. The lady in the shop was like 'it's so easy, don't worry!'. So I am just going to trust that she is right.

I also got pink, purple, navy and blue polyacryl/mohair. That is going to become a long stripey scarf.

Then I went to the fabric store on Király and they are having a szövet sale. Wool suiting(? I think that is what szövet means) for 630ft/m! So I got black and white fabric for my new pants. It looks kind of like static on the tv - black and white close up and grey from afar.

Day 16

I spent most of the day sewing while watching old episodes of Ally McBeal. It's such a great show! So I was in my pyjamas and half finished new pants for pretty much the entire day. Until I had to go out. So I put on my turquoise zebra dress.

Day 17

I got up at 6am because I really wanted to wear my new pants. Did a bit more sewing on them before work. All I have left to do is hem them (I just tucked them up, it didn't really show that they weren't finished) and change the position of the hook and eye.

They are pattern 108 from the September 2010 Burda magazine. I really like them! It is so nice to wear pants after more than two weeks in just skirts and dresses.

It was a cold, rainy day. I wore my polo neck, my aubergine cardigan and my plaid jacket.

Day 18

I just had to wear my new pants again! This time with my loose black top and blue wrap cardigan.

SSS - Days 13 and 14

2010-09-15T12:00:00.000+02:00

On Day 13 I wore my colourful summer dress (modified Burda 7829) and my aubergine cardigan. I wish I had better pics because I really love this outfit!

Yesterday, Day 14, I wore my turquoise zebra dress, blue wrap cardigan and plaid jacket.

SSS - Day 12

2010-09-12T22:51:00.000+02:00

Today I am wearing a refashioned jumper, my black cut-out t-shirt, and my mauve satin skirt. I will have to upload the before pics of this jumper. I bought it back in January for an ugly pullover party but ended up wearing a different jumper. I removed the sleeves and the collar. It was so hard to pull over my head. Where do these tiny-headed people live? I took it in at the sides too to make it more flattering.

The label made me laugh. 64% polyacryl, 27% wool, 5% angora, 2% viscose, 2% METAL.

It was so lovely and warm in the morning sunshine. I biked to work. I love biking on Sunday mornings - the streets are pretty quiet, not so many people out and about.

SSS - Day 11 - A new dress

2010-09-12T13:13:00.002+02:00

At first I wasn't so enthusiastic about Self-Stitched-September. I wasn't looking forward to a month of mismatched outfits. But this week I have been doing a reasonable amount of sewing. I made a jacket/cardigan, a polo necked top and then yesterday a dress. It is nice to have a few more items to add some variety.

I lengthened pattern 121 from Burda September 2010 (the one I just used to make a top with) and made a dress. I was looking through my stash for some kind of stretchy fabric and found this. I bought it more than a year ago planning to make it into a bikini (I bought two metres of it. I think I thought that it was such amazing fabric that I would want to make a million swimsuits out of it... hehe. In the end I couldn't find any white swimsuit lining fabric so I didn't use it at all...). It is the same fabric as the bikini I made last year, just a different colour.

This fabric is great, it doesn't fray at all (it's spandex). So I didn't have to finish any seams. I didn't have to hem it either! Such a quick dress to make :)

I wore it with my black and white belt and my navy jardigan. It was a pretty warm night so I was fine like that.

I wasn't sure if the dress looked really cool or really terrible. Neither of my flatmates were home to ask so I got changed about five times before getting up the courage to go out in it :)

SSS - Days 9 and 10

2010-09-10T23:34:00.003+02:00

Day 9 was really nice. It was so warm! I wore my favourite dress and my sparkly leggings. And I was completely fine outside like that. The Hungarians on the street though - they were in completely buttoned up jackets, scarves. I even saw an old woman in a knee length wool coat! I have been here nearly five years but I still do not understand this part of the Hungarian thinking. Once the weather becomes cold enough to wear cold weather clothes it does not matter if later there actually is a warm day or not, those cold weather clothes will still be worn until at least March...

I bought my first Burda magazine!! Exciting for me! The September 2010 issue. I was leafing through it thinking 'why didn't I buy this magazine years ago?! There are so many garments to make!'. Then I had a look at the pattern insert. OMG. Now I had heard that they have a lot of lines. But I just did not expect this....

Minor freak out. Couple this with the fact that all the instructions are in Hungarian. But then I figured out how the patterns work - very happy moment!

I made up 121 which is a skivvy. I don't think I have owned a skivvy since I was about 14! I could not figure out the instructions for the collar at all even though it is a simple garment. Thanks Mariann for translating for me! I asked her if she could help me and she had a copy of the magazine on her table right there with her!

I think I will be buying this magazine every month now. It is only 945ft for the Hungarian issue (and the man in the Burda shop loves me so he gives me a 10% discount on top of that. Is this a sign that I spend far too much money on sewing related things?). So many patterns for such a low price!

Day 10

Today I wore my new skivvy. Isn't that such a terrible word? Maybe I should say polo necked top?

It is made from a pretty sheer knit with black velvet polka dots. I wore it with my Marie skirt and sparkly leggings, and later in the evening when it got cold and I was walking round in the rain - with my aubergine cardigan and plaid jacket.

SSS - Day 8

2010-09-09T20:27:00.003+02:00

I had a lovely relaxing day off work. Well it was relaxing until I cut out the pattern pieces for the Jorinde jacket from some fabric I bought a week ago for it. After I cut everything out I had another look at the instructions. Oh my god... Has anyone made this pattern up?? There are no pictures at all. And the instructions are very confusing.

"Piping pockets with covers, front dart:
Pin the piping straps onto the pocket edges (cross edges where the pocket opens) of the front pieces, the right sides are facing. Allow the piping straps to overlap approximately _” (1 cm) along the front dart lines. Stitch the piping along the seam line.

Do a diagonal cut along the front dart lines to the bottom seam end; do not enclose the piping straps. Press the allowances apart. Fold the piping straps around the pocket opening, inside the pocket and make sure that the width of the piping is distributed equally. Stitch along the seam line. Stitch the darts, thereby enclosing the piping ends. The fold lines of the piping meet. Press the darts towards the front center. Pin the lining onto the allowances of the lower piping, stitch narrowly along the allowances. End stitching 1/16” (2 mm) before the marked side seam. Press the pocket pouch downwards."

So hard to figure it out.... So I left it and watched the first episode of Project Runway Season 8 with Marko. Love that show! It's always good for a laugh.

I wore my beige dress (Burda 7954) and new navy jardigan (jacket/cardigan) (modified Jonny)

SSS - Day 7

2010-09-08T10:30:00.002+02:00

I really like this outfit. I wore my aubergine cardigan, floral blouse, mauve satin skirt, and plaid jacket.

SSS - Day 6

2010-09-07T11:44:00.001+02:00

I spent the morning doing some sewing for me. I made a collarless jacket/cardigan. It is cardigan like fabric but constructed more like a jacket (inset sleeves, darts, facings).

It is a navy blue wool blend so it's nice and warm. I modified BurdaStyle's Jonny dress pattern to make it. It does up with hooks and eyes.

Again another mirror pic. I am sure I will be wearing this a lot this month so there has to be better photos of it sometime.

I also wore my turquoise zebra dress. And when I was outside at night, my plaid jacket too. No Indian summer here this year....

SSS - Days 4 and 5

2010-09-06T01:13:00.001+02:00

Yesterday was great! Bridget, one of my good friends from high school who I hadn't seen in about seven years, came to Budapest with her hubby for one night. So good to catch up!

We did the touristy thing. Went up to the castle district.

I wore my plaid jacket, black Marie skirt, and aubergine cardigan. The scarf is one I got in Morocco. Its colour completely changed after I washed it. It used to be bright pink!

We went into the Marcipan Museum. I was super excited and amazed by all the marcipan creations and took far too many photos.

Can you believe this is marcipan!?

Isn't this just absolutely amazing!

That night we went to a party where we saw some pretty cool bands.

I changed to my wine silk skirt, sparkly black leggings, sheer and lacy black top, and plaid jacket.

I have learnt that alcohol doesn't really stop the pain of ground shock...

Then today, Day 5, I worked all day and forgot to ask anyone to take a pic for me so here you get a mirror one.

I wore my red and pink plaid dress, my black and white belt, my blue wrap cardigan and my plaid jacket. Yes, I did double plaid. I have to tell myself "at least it's not as bad as double denim...". I must get on to sewing my new solid colour jacket tomorrow!

SSS - Days 2 and 3

2010-09-04T13:58:00.001+02:00

On Day 2 I went out to dinner with my workmates. I wore my loose black top, my greyscale mini-skirt, and my plaid jacket.

Yesterday, Day 3, was really busy. I did some clothes alterations for a client, had a couple of English classes, then went to work at the Loft. I think it is kind of funny that I am doing alterations for someone else - I can't remember ever actually having done any alterations on my own store-bought clothes...

I wore my black and white dress, aubergine cardigan, and later, my plaid jacket. Yes, this dress really does not go well with plaid.... No photo of that... This is one of the bad things about this challenge - I just don't have enough clothes in solid colours.

Self-Stitched-September starts!

2010-09-02T11:18:00.001+02:00

So Self-Stitched-September is here already!

It is like Me-May-May, a group of people wearing things they have made for the month. It is organised by the amazing Zoe. This time she has managed to get more than 160 people joining in! You can see the list of them here. There is a Self-Stitched-September flickr group where you can see what people have been wearing.

When I first heard about SSS I had such high hopes for myself - I wanted to make underwear and knit socks and cardigans to wear for September. Of course I didn't touch my knitting needles this summer.... Even yesterday was the first time I used my sewing machine in three weeks!

So I will have revised rules for myself. I will wear just clothes I have made myself except for lingerie, hosiery, shoes and socks and sleepwear (it is so cold here. I think it is 10 degrees at night. So there is no way I am going to sleep in my tiny little pyjamas. I don't want to freeze to death in my sleep).

This is my outfit from last night. I wore my cut-out t-shirt, Marie skirt, blue wrap cardigan, and plaid jacket.

I went to watch my friends' great blues band, T.Rogers, play. I like going to their concerts. I can go out alone and there are always lots of people I know there.

It was Jerome's last night out in Budapest (good luck for Spain Jerome!!).

More pics of my newest dress

2010-08-02T22:45:00.000+02:00

I wore this dress yesterday so I could get some more photos of it. It's the one I wrote about a couple of days back, Burda 8693.

Can I call what these shoulders are yokes? Even if it doesn't go right across the dress? I top stitched whatever it is.

Now I have a slight belt addiction. It's funny how people's tastes can change. Nowadays I don't like dresses without any waist definition as much as I would have a few years back. And I definitely wouldn't have worn a waist belt! I think I read too many sewing blogs written by people who love 50's fashion. The only shaping this dress has is two bust darts so I think it needs the belt.

It's a wee bit wrinkled from sitting down at work...I don't know what this fabric is. It has a nice sheen to it and it's very light. But it wrinkles really easily. I love the colours of it though.

Polka Dots and Rubber Chickens

2010-08-01T16:38:00.002+02:00

I made this dress a few months ago. I wanted to wait until I had some nice (outdoor) pics of it but I have realised if I think like that nothing will ever get uploaded!

I modified Burda pattern 7831 - it is a blouse pattern - a lot to make this. I changed the front completely - I got rid of the darts and made it a wrap front. I got rid of the collar too. I used the sleeve pattern pieces but instead of adding elastic in a casing I pleated them a little at the hem. The skirt is just three trapezoids. I just learnt (relearnt? It's been so long since I did geometry) that word. I thought they were called trapezes but then I googled it....

It is a very light, see though blue polka dot fabric. In Hungarian it's called something like muslin but I don't think it is what people generally think of as muslin....

I made a white under dress to wear with it using the bodice of my all-time favourite pattern, Burda 7829, with a circle skirt attached.

Picnics and playtime

2010-07-28T20:04:00.001+02:00

I love picnics. I love eating outside. Earlier this month, before my flatmate Piero moved back to Italy, we organised a little picnic on Margit sziget.

This is Piero :)

I had just finished this dress so I wore it. It's Burda 8693 - I'm not sure if this is still in print, I found it in a box of older patterns on sale. It is marked as "easy". I'm sure it is easy if you have proper instructions to follow. If you buy Burda patterns in Hungary they come with the instructions in about six languages - but not English or Hungarian. So I was going by the pictures mainly (and not every step had a picture). I was using the German instructions but pattern instructions can be hard enough to understand in your mother tongue as it is! The part I had trouble with was the hidden buttons - it buttons down the front but it has this piece that hides them... I'd never done one of them before.

I found the fabric in a second hand shop for 450ft! It was only 1.30m long but luckily it was really wide (like 180cm!) so I managed to just squeeze in the pattern pieces.

I went to the shop and bought six nice grey buttons without even measuring the dress to see how many I would need. So of course I didn't have enough. I went back to the shop the next day to get another button and as soon as I went in the man working there was like "another button?" I didn't have to even say anything! And then he gave it to me for free! Even now though I am wondering why I needed to get matching buttons when they aren't even visible....

I made some picnic place mats to take. I found this lovely floral linen blend and a tiny green gingham to use for them.

I used them the next day for another picnic too. This time up behind the Citadella on Gellért hegy with Tom and Zsuzsi.

Look how flexible Zsuzsi is!! I was amazed.

The area where we were sitting was pretty popular for people walking their dogs. There was one cute dog called Lujzi who kept coming around, eating our food, drinking our coffee (!).

I love Serbia!

2010-07-14T20:30:00.003+02:00

I spent last weekend in Novi Sad at the Exit Festival. It was great - I met some really good people and saw some of my absolute favourite bands (Placebo and Faith No More!!).

Serbia is one of my favourite countries - I love going there, the people are so nice, I can eat burek everyday, it's great for partying and there are cafes everywhere.

Novi Sad is a gorgeous little city on the Danube, I really liked it.

This is my new favourite dress by the way. I will do a post on it when I get some better pics.

I was wondering what to do about a bag for my stuff while at the festival cos I don't have proper pockets on most of my garments and I didn't want to have shoulder bag - and carrying a clutch is really not a good idea when drinking is involved (I learnt that the hard way a few years ago in Amsterdam...). So I made a bag that has loops I can thread onto my belt. I told Marko and he was like 'I want one too!'. So I started them the day before leaving. I seem to always end up having stressful days of too much sewing before any trips or events when I want new things made in a hurry. I thought I needed a travel bag too.... I was glued to my machine for hours.

I made up my own pattern for the travel bag because I wanted it to be a certain shape (the top of it is curved) but I based it on Merita's travelers bag. I put in a second hand vintage metal zip (I have a new favourite second hand shop which is practically next door to my job - very dangerous...).

It has three pockets on both sides.

It came in handy as a pillow for the long train ride home.

I made the straps a bit too long, makes it a little difficult to carry. I bought this fabric more than a year ago to make a jacket but then changed my mind about it so this was a bit of stash busting. It is a blue/grey upholstery fabric. It's soft but strong.

The belt bags are pretty similar. Mine has a slanted flap, Marko's has a rectangle one. Mine has a bit more top stitching and another vintage metal zip. I spend far too much time touching the zipper pull - it is just so smooth and soft, I love it!

This is a cool Serbian girl I met, Alex.

It also works with fabric through the loops to make a hand bag.

That's the fortress in the background.

This is Marko's bag.

Exciting news: BurdaStyle Book!

2010-07-12T18:43:00.000+02:00

BurdaStyle is one of my favourite online communities. It is a great group of people who sew. There is going to be a BurdaStyle book released next year. There will be 5 patterns included with the book and there are 60 "designers" who are making up their own variations of these items. I am making a coat which will be in it! I am super excited!

I found out a few months ago but we had to keep it hush hush until BurdaStyle officially announced it (2 weeks ago) and then I was super slow in writing this post...

I have started making a muslin for it but have to get a wriggle on - have a tight deadline for finishing it. This is a busy month!

Bean Bags for the Loft

2010-06-26T17:24:00.002+02:00

I made some new covers for the bean bags at the Loft because the old ones were, well, old and faded. I made a pattern by cutting up an old cover. They have darts and a zip on the bottom. I stitched all the seams twice for strength. The fabric is IKEA cotton. Nice and bright and cheery (and a print to hide the inevitable stains).

This is Spock and some random hostel guests.

Spock and Lucy. She's from New Zealand too. It has been great hanging out with her - reminiscing about all the great food that you can get in NZ (lamingtons, pies, microwaved Cookie Times...).

Me, Tom and Dan

How is this possible?!

2010-06-23T19:17:00.000+02:00

A couple of months ago I started making a blue georgette dress which is basically going to be the same as my black and white linen dress. I cut out all the pieces for the bodice, interfaced them, started sewing. Then I had to move a lot of stuff around in my room (old furniture went out, new stuff came in) and somehow I lost a few of my cut out pieces of fabric. So I thought I would leave it until I found them again (I didn't want to re-cut them because then the skirt would have to be shorter and/or less full than I had envisioned). I am still looking for those missing pieces and decided to cut out the dress again this time in a nice grey fabric that has a little sparkle in it. I cut out all the bodice pieces, pinned some together and put it on hold for a few days because I didn't have any grey thread. I bought some thread yesterday. I started sewing it up today and realised some of these pieces are missing now too!!! It is freaking ridiculous! Maybe I should just sew the blue and grey pieces I have together? It makes me want to scream! And I even tidied up my room. This is why I don't like cleaning!

Summer Bag

2010-06-14T12:49:00.000+02:00

I made this bag last summer. I saw the fabric and it was just begging to be turned into a bag. It's lined with an old sheet. It has a couple of pockets on the inside - and a tiny one for my lip balm - very important. I go crazy without lip balm....

These shorts used to be my favourite jeans back in 2006. They were straight leg jeans but after a few years of wearing skinny pants I couldn't wear them any more. They just felt too humongous. So the other day I cut them short and hemmed them. I was actually thinking about going a bit shorter but my friend Tom was like "but your minge will hang out!!". Thanks Tom.

T.Rogers groupie

2010-06-13T12:42:00.001+02:00

My friends have a great blues band called T.Rogers. I went to watch their concert last night so I wore my newly refashioned T-Rogers tank top. Such a nice way to spend a Saturday evening - drinking delicious beer, listening to good music, chatting with friends.

They have been playing at this smoky, sweaty pub, Fregatt, every week for something like 10 years! I have been going to their concerts since I arrived in Budapest. I actually went to one of their concerts before I met any of them.

Ferci gave me this t-shirt a few years ago but I never wore it because it was this big unflattering mens t-shirt with a neck that strangled me. It didn't even have side seams - it was one of those continuous tube t-shirts....

I haven't finished any of the hems because it stretches when I try. It doesn't fray though. If I find some suitable binding I will apply that otherwise it will stay as is.

Apples and Cherries

2010-06-08T23:00:00.004+02:00

I made these shorts a few months ago but it hadn't been warm enough to wear them so today I finally got my chance.

I made them from some stash fabric which has apples and cherries on it. It wasn't even my fabric - someone else left their fabric stash behind when they moved out of the flat where I live now!

I made my own pattern for these shorts. They have four darts at the back, a side zip, an apple button (I was really quite super happy to find the perfect button after sorting through tons of them in the button store), and pockets on the back.

They have a tendency to ride up a bit when I walk around- is the solution to this just to make them bigger? They are completely comfortable when I am just standing around normally.

After the market I was looking into the Serbian church's garden and they have a swimming pool in there!!! I need to figure out some way to sneak in there.... Pity they have such a huge fence around the place....

Lessons from Me-Made-May

2010-06-01T12:01:00.000+02:00

I have learnt a few things from Me-Made-May.

- Wearing stuff I have made myself makes me happier! It feels good to wear things I have put my time and effort into. Plus, it is a trillion times better getting a compliment on something I have made myself opposed to a store-bought item. I even liked doing my laundry during this month - pulling all my me-made stuff out of the washing machine, it was satisfying.

- I don't really need more clothes (at least for this season). I managed to get through the month with just two cardigans. Sure a few more items would make mixing and matching easier (like a solid coloured jacket), but they are not necessary. Usually the things I need are actually things I want. I need to change my thinking on that. There is too much clothing waste everywhere. And in my case, I buy far too much fabric which I really do not need.

- Before May started I was a little worried about how I would get through an entire month without certain items (like my H&M tank tops which I previously wore pretty much every day layered under other things or alone). But I barely even thought about them! I have too many rarely used things taking up space. I'm going to cull my wardrobe which shouldn't be too difficult since at the start of the month I separated all my me-made stuff from the store-bought.

So I want to say a huge thank you!! to Zoe for creating Me-Made-May. I enjoyed this challenge a lot, the ups and downs of it and following everyone on the flickr group. I am looking forward to being a part of Self-Stitched-September!

'I, Jodi, sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-September. I endeavour to wear only handmade and refashioned items of clothing every day for the duration of September 2010'.

There are three months until September so that is plenty of time for me to make stuff like socks and underwear - things I don't have me-made of.

Me-Made-May: Day 31

2010-06-01T01:52:00.001+02:00

The last day of Me-Made-May! This month passed so fast.

I spent my morning and afternoon sewing stuff for other people - I think tomorrow I will do some work on stuff for me. I can't believe I still haven't finished my polka dot Spring trench coat! It doesn't really matter though since it is too cold to wear it anyway. It is freezing again! The weather has been so crazy this month. Brrrrr.

I decided to bike home from work this evening. It was just spitting a little when I closed up the office but like 30 seconds later it started pouring. I got drenched and there were huge puddles and the passing cars sprayed water on me :(

So here I am all bedraggled in my plaid jacket, blue wrap cardigan and black holiday dress. I'm wearing my one and only pair of me-made undies too. No pics of them...

Here you can see my dress better. I love this dress but rarely have occasion to wear it. It's another Burda 7829. I think this is my favourite of them.

Me-Made-May: Day 30

2010-05-30T23:55:00.000+02:00

I tried but failed to block out the light.... Not tall enough...

I made this dress last year. It was a maxi dress until just a few hours ago. It was a little too narrow so I couldn't step like I wanted to (same problem as with my Marie skirt...). So it never got worn... Now problem fixed with a little help from my trusty scissors!

Here is a pic of what it was like before:

It was a really easy dress to make. It is just a big sewn up rectangle with smocking and a little gathering at the centre front...

Me-Made-May: Day 29

2010-05-29T21:19:00.000+02:00

I can't believe this is the 3rd to last day of Me-Made-May!! This month has passed so ridiculously quickly. I'm kind of sad about that. I am really looking forward to not having to take photos and blog every day though.

Today I am doing a 13 hour shift at work. It has been pretty quiet, all the guests have arrived already, and there were only two overbookings!

I am wearing my turquoise zebra dress and now my aubergine cardigan too. It was such beautiful weather here today!

I went in to the little shop just opposite in the morning and the girl working there said she liked my dress. After I said I made it she asked if I can make her a dress. People say this all the time but this girl was actually serious! She said to think about what I would charge.

If you sell clothes you make: how do you decide prices?

Me-Made-May: Day 28

2010-05-28T22:19:00.000+02:00

I had a class with my students in the late afternoon. They live in Wekerle and it's so nice there. The air smells sweet and fresh, there are kids riding their bikes around, it's so quiet and peaceful.

I'm wearing yet another Burda 7829. I used to like this version more than I do now. It is a little too roomy at the waist but I am too lazy to take it in, I would rather make something new.

I got this necklace a few years ago in Transylvania. It's magic.

Well that's what the guy I bought it from said. He unfortunately couldn't explain properly in English what it means. I am a sucker for the word magic. I just love it. Not enough people nowadays believe in magic.

Me-Made-May: Day 27

2010-05-28T12:13:00.001+02:00

I finished a new mini-skirt skirt just in time to wear it out. I made it from leftover fabric from some costumes I made last year so all it cost me was the zip. The back looks the same as the front with the five stripes. I drafted the pattern myself. The great thing about a panel skirt is you don't need to put darts in.

I wore my sheer lacy top, belt, sparkly leggings, and my plaid jacket too.

There was the opening party of a new hostel/bar. They have lots of trees and plants in a big courtyard, I think it will be a nice oasis in hot weather.

I'm just putting up the following photos because they make me super happy.

I'm just realising now I don't have any photos showing the jungle-likeness of the place... Next time...

Me-Made-May: Day 26

2010-05-27T14:17:00.001+02:00

I spent the day hanging out with my beautiful friend Astrid. Such a nice day!

I love this sign, it says 'at home zone'. It's at a lovely square with cafes, young people, and sunshine.

I wore my light blue and red satin dress (Burda 7954). It's the same dress as on Day 19 but now you can actually see what it looks like properly.

In the evening we went to a Bollywood dance class so I changed into my blue floral dress (Burda 7829). I had never been to a dance class in my life. It was so much fun! I didn't realise how uncoordinated I am. We laughed a lot. (I think the Southern Comfort we drank before going helped with that...). I was glad to be wearing cotton - it was a real work out. I'm glad I didn't check their website before going otherwise I probably wouldn't have gone - it says something like 'you are guaranteed to sweat'. I want to go every week now though!

Me-Made-May: Day 25

2010-05-26T21:17:00.000+02:00

I wore my black and white linen dress that I wore on Day 5. I wore it with my lavender petticoat to give it some oomph.

I have to do a proper blog post on both of these one of these days. Looking at these pics makes me realise I really should wear the belt I made to go with this with it.

Sorry the pics aren't so great - these are what I took once I got home from work...

Me-Made-May: Day 24

2010-05-25T21:16:00.001+02:00

I wore my plaid jacket, aubergine cardigan, and black dress. I got caught in the rain walking home from work.

Me-Made-May: Day 23

2010-05-24T10:21:00.000+02:00

This was a beautiful day in many, many ways. I was in a fantastic mood. I had a 13 hour shift at work but it was fun and the guests were great and the tiredness made me giddy with happiness.

I wore my red plaid dress and my aubergine cardigan with my plaid jacket in the evening when it got cool.

Me-Made-May: Day 22

2010-05-23T18:40:00.000+02:00

I went round to the Loft. Practically the whole birthday cake I had made was still there so we lit the candles, did some drawings, basically continuing with the 3 year old activities.

I wore my stripey dress. I made this dress last year using some of the bodice pieces from Burda 7829 (Yes, I have a million and one dresses made using this). I spent hours and hours over a couple of weeks on this dress, making all the stripes match up perfectly, but I think that was the third time I have worn it. I can't take deep breaths in it, and it makes me sit up straight. Boning + completely non-stretch upholstery fabric will do that to you... No pain no gain though. I love the way it looks....

I wore my blue wrap cardigan, black and white belt, and plaid jacket too.

This photo would be perfect if my eyes were open....

We went to watch the game. Well, ok, not really... I hate team sports. They watched the game. I had a beer.

Me-Made-May: Day 21

2010-05-22T13:40:00.003+02:00

Happy Third Birthday Loft Hostel!!

I can't believe the Loft is 3 already. Wow. Time flies. So to celebrate we dressed like 3 year olds.

This is the same blouse (Burda 7831) I wore the day before - isn't it versatile! :) I whipped up this skirt just for the occasion. I used the waistband from the Marie skirt, the rest is just rectangles. The pink fabric is from my stash (actually it is fabric Zsuzsa left behind when she moved out - thanks Zsuzsa!), the buttons were going to be on my polka dot trench before I realised that was a terrible idea, the lining fabric is also from my stash so the only thing I had to buy was a zip. The suspenders cross over at the back but I didn't get any pics of that.

I was inspired by the clothes in one of my favourite movies ever - My Neighbour Totoro. The girl in this picture is actually like a mix of the characters Satsuki and Mei but I don't care, I love this picture.

We had fairy bread.

I made a cake. We had vodka jelly.

We got humongous pizzas.

Actually went to Fregatt to watch T.Rogers play dressed like this....

After that I ran home and got changed into something a little more grown up.

It was a really fun night!

Me-Made-May: Day 20

2010-05-20T16:42:00.002+02:00

I am really enjoying Me-Made-May and seeing what all the other Me-Made-Mayers are wearing!

I put on an outfit today that I thought was a little boring but when I came out of the bathroom my flatmate said it was sexy so that kind of changed my opinion of it. I feel like a sexy secretary!

I went to the market with my basket, feeling ridiculously overdressed. This felt like playing dress-up - fun at home but not quite the same outside.

That's my plaid blazer (Steffi from BurdaStyle), new black skirt (Marie from BurdaStyle), and white eyelet blouse (Burda 7831). I made that basket liner too and the colours match my outfit for once :)

So, I am at the market, buying my bananas and apples and everything and my favourite stall holder gave me his phone number! And then a random person complimented my Hungarian! I am going to start dressing like this all the time!! I don't care any more if I can't walk properly in this skirt - it's worth it!

Me-Made-May: Day 19

2010-05-20T00:52:00.001+02:00

I had today off work :) And I have the next two off as well :) You know what that means: lots of time for making stuff! I drafted a pattern for a panel skirt and have sewn most of it already. I am using leftover fabric from some other projects so I don't have huge amounts to work with. I was thinking of making it into a dress so I have just spent the past half an hour draping scraps on my body, trying to come up with cool combinations for a dress bodice. I probably should invest in a dressmakers dummy but I do love draping on myself.

So, after all that I think this skirt is going to stay a skirt anyway. What colour do you think I should use for the waistband? Or just go waistband-less? Are waistbands really necessary?

Today I wore my tartan trench coat, aubergine cardigan and blue and red satin dress.

Me-Made-May: Day 18

2010-05-19T02:39:00.000+02:00

Blogging everyday is hard! I'm so sleepy. Today I wore a colourful dress I made last year. I used Burda 7829 and changed it to a halter neck dress. I also wore my aubergine cardigan and my black and blue tartan coat too (which I have been wearing everyday since Saturday because it has been so cold. It's 8 degrees. My building actually turned the heating back on today after shutting it off about a month ago!)

The wind is howling outside. I want real spring!