On my to-do list || May
It suddenly dawned on me, at about the end of April, that there were two months left before the summer holidays. Two Months!!!?? In terms of scheduling and deadlines, I'm still kind of flapping about somewhere in mid-March. {Breathe...}
Balcony garden
Right, now I've got that off my chest, let's get on with the business of making in May. Spring took a little siesta last month, but it's back with a hop and skip. I've been putting my wee seedlings out every day, and bringing them back in with my very diligent little helper every evening. He is lethal - sorry, highly effective at drenching - when armed with the watering can. Which is, quite clearly, exclusively his.
MeMadeMay 2016
May is also the month of all things handmade wardrobe, of course. I haven't taken the #MeMadeMay pledge of wearing a handmade item every day (because I don't have anywhere near enough of them to do so!) and I don't even aspire to an entirely handmade wardworbe. Supporting a sustainable model of consumerism, in which we - makers and buyers alike - value high quality, long-lasting and ethically-produced items is very important to me. Nevertheless, I do love the idea of a wardrobe made with love at least in part by me, as I've discussed before.
Hence, I've started a Pinterest board of what I think will be truly wearable wardrobe staples for me, inspired by Libby and Ioana's efforts to create a gallery of Great Wardrobe Basics on Instagram.There's WAY more on the board than I can make this May, or even in the next many Mays, but I've started. The first project I'm tackling is the Ruby Top, which I'm planning on doing two versions of: one with two contrasting Art Gallery fabrics, and one with a crochet lace yoke. I've never done crochet lace, so that'll be interesting...
I've also got a Milo vest for the Bean on my knitting needles after seeing lots of cute versions of it on Carie's blog, Space for the Butterflies. Finally, I'm making an effort to mend and maintain some of the items I've made in the past after reading about Jen's inspiring #MendItMay pledge on My Make, Do and Mend Life. If you've got a few lackluster woollies knocking about too, I wrote some tips on how to give them a little TLC.
Emmy + LIEN designs
In terms of my own designs, there have been a couple of interesting developments. The first set of instructions for the Dally Dahlia Blanket is now live. I kind of surprised myself by managing to get that up within the time frame I'd set!
The first test sample of the Bretonbone Top is finished and there's another in the making, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer for the pattern than I anticipated. This is due to a very exciting opportunity appearing for me, so I hope you won't mind too much. I'll reveal more as soon as I'm able to (think late summer)..
Everything else is still languishing at the planning stage, so for now I'm just squeezing lots of pretty yarn. My current favourite is the mint green, an organic cotton by MoYa. I'm hoping to publish a review of it soon, so watch out for that. And, eventually, find time to actually use it.
Are you taking part in MeMadeMay or MendItMay in any way? I'd love to hear what you're working on this month!
