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#SparkSomethingGood – Update

Published by Thimberlina

Earlier this week some of the Yorkshire Spoolettes headed into Leeds and volunteered their time to help make syringe driver bags for our local hospitals and hospices. It was part of a big campaign which Marks & Spencers are running for 24 months and heading to different parts of the country, working with lots of different charities having fun and sparking something good within the local communities.

If you want to see if there is anything is happening in your area click HERE to be taken to a website called Neighbourly where you can see what charities need help in your area.

Or if you have a project that needs help, head over and you may be in luck! It’s not just about Marks and Spencers, lots of organisations use Neighbourly.

And here’s the launch video for Spark Something Good from 8 months ago:

I really don’t know how I didn’t know about it already! But I’m so glad that Alex emailed me and I was able to help out along with some other Spoolettes, and the other lovely volunteers.

I wasn’t able to go to the 1st day but those that did broke all records of previous bag making days in other towns and made 121 in only 8 hours!!

Karen went on the first day and I ‘pinched’ a couple of her pics…. Here she is….!

And with Alex…..

I’m surprised they had time for photos after smashing all records and making so many bags!!

On Day 2 I volunteered for 4 hours. Friends were shocked – it was Tuesday our golfing day, the sun was shining and it has to be something special for us to give up our golfing time!

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Raring to go at the start of our session with Helen and Alex.

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Fiona and Margaret

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Helen

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Quality control…(only kidding!)

In just over an hour I managed to make 6 bags when a lady approached Julie and asked if we could possibly make a special bag for her that would accommodate a feeder device which she has to carry around for 12 hours today.

Slight pressure then when i needed to come up with something. She told us how big it needed to be, and that it would need a pocket on the front, and a hole above the pocket. No problem!

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All the other bags and been pre cut and all we had to do was stitch them up.

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This special bag needed to be quite a bit bigger and have a thicker strap for comfort.

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There was plenty of spare fabric to be able to make just want the lady needed.

The lady came back just as I was about to finish. I was able to make the strap just the right length and she was chuffed to bits!

Cyber mum arrived for a session too and though it’s been a while since she has dusted off her machine at home she was soon firing on all cylinders and whipped up a few bags!

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One of the best bits of the day (and there’s no photo) was the Marks and Spencer’s biscuits that accompanied the coffee!!

This is just a few of the bags we made after the end of our first session.

If you’d like to get involved the bags are really easy to make. HERE’s a link to the Making for Charity Website.

You’ll find downloads of the patterns and also a list of areas across the country who are in need of these bags. But as Julie says on the site, if you’re area isn’t listed she will be able to put you in touch with someone locally who is from your local hospice or hospital where they will be much appreciated. Making for Charity also have a Facebook page. There’s more info on there, and lots of photos from Monday and Tuesday.

I hope this post has inspired you to help out and make one or two. I’m going to make one with the fabric left as I complete each project (it’s it’s suitable). And the Spoolette’s are going to get together every few months (not sure where yet!) and get a bit of a sweat shop going and hopefully make quite a few.

If you’re local to Leeds they can be dropped off at the Briggate M&S store and they will make sure they are passed on.

Before i go, the final total of what all the volunteers did over the 2 days.

217 syringe driver bags

2 custom made bags for diabetic patients

1 custom made bag to carry a feeding device.

That’s amazing to say the initial 2 day target was 80 bags.

Well done ladies!

#MMMAY16

Published by Thimberlina

I, Thimberlina of https://thimberlina.wordpress.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May ’16. I endeavour to wear at least 2 me made items each day for the duration of May 2016, and to not wear my RTW jeans at all!

That’s it! Pledge done. Now relax and look forward to taking part for the second time and looking forward to reading everyone else’s me made posts.

If you would like to read more about Me May May click HERE to be taken to SoZoWhatDoYoKnow’s blog to read all about it and sign up too.

The Need for Ease – Simplicity 1696

Published by Thimberlina

Is it just me or do you trust the stitches more on RTW garments than something you make your self?

How many times have you laid flat on your bed, sucking in your tummy in an attempt to fasten your favourite trousers?

I used to do, but since making most of my clothes there’s no way I’d put my stitches through such strain! I generally air on the side of caution and make sure there’s plenty of room to move and breathe. And also to lessen the chance of splitting open the seams and avoiding embarrassing situations. And often things then end up a bit too big.

So I made another pair of Simplicity’s Amazing Fit trousers.

I’ve made them once before in a black cotton sateen with a small amount of lycra. Whilst the fit isn’t amazing I’ve worn them loads, mainly for golf. I often let in and out the back centre seam depending how thin/fat I’m feeling. Big mistake when making these the first time – I didn’t bother with belt loops.

I knew exactly which fabric I wanted to use as I searched through my stash. A John Kaldor cotton sateen I picked up last year from John Lewis in Newcastle. I was a bit gutted when I realised there was not stretch in them.

I was just able to scrape the pattern out of the 1.5 metres. There wasn’t much left!

As the pattern’s quite bold and random I didn’t attempt any pattern matching which thankfully turned out ok. Phew! And no blooms that I’ve notice have ended up in any inopportune places!

As the cotton was quite soft to touch I reinforced the pocket opens with piping.

And made a few too many strips for belt loops. That way I could be choosy – I wanted to be able to match them with the waist band so then if I chose not to wear a belt they would blend in with the fabric.

The trousers were a fairly quick make. As usual it’s the cutting out and preparation that take the longest!

The zip went in like a dream and my overlocker was on it’s best behaviour when finishing off all the seams.

Except I had a slight hiccup when sewing one of the side seams and managed to take in a little of something into the seam that shouldn’t have got sucked in! I tried them on and couldn’t really tell so just left it! I think it was only about 1/2 an inch on one side, but the heart rate did rise until I realised it wasn’t so disastrous as first thought.

Then there was the dilemma of full length or capri? H did the initial photo shoot. Must remember to wear a T shirt bra in future!

Excuse the brightness – you may need to adjust your screen!

It wasn’t the most successful photoshoot H has ever done for me. Whilst there was lots of pics to choose from, these 3 were the best!! Maybe it’s not all his fault – a tight pink golf top and pink wedges is not a look I’d even go to the corner shop in so god knows why I thought it would be ok to send around the world on my blog!!

One day maybe I should write a post containing photo shoot flops!

Within a week or so of making these I came to try them on again and found them a little big big on the waist. All the exercise must be paying off!

Mmmm.

I could’ve let them hang lower….

But then I would have loads of excess fabric in the crotch area…

I couldn’t nip them in on the back due to my fancy criss cross belt loops so after a little deliberation I opted to make a tuck next to the 2 front belt loops, creating a pleat on either side.

I wouldn’t normally choose to make anything with pleats around the tummy put they turned out ok, and weren’t really noticeable in the busy fabric.

I stitched the pleat down, hiding the stitching under the belt loop.

Ta da…!

Only a little bit of ease….

And slightly better styling with flat shoes and my Morris blazer. I’ve only wore them once on a sunny day last week and managed to catch my dad to take a couple of pics.

I’m still undecided whether or not to shorten them to wear as capri pants. What do you think??

If you’re a bit scared of making pants after reading all the horror stories out there on the internet I’d definitely recommend the Amazing fit patterns. There’s quite a few different styles out there now. They allow extra room in the seams and explain where to adjust each seam for different fitting issues. I would go with a stretch woven though for and add the belt loops. And not too much ease!

Is it just me or do you add too much ease too?!

The Monthly Stitches themed challenge this month is flower power‘. I think they might just qualify for this don’t you!!

Path

Published by Thimberlina

Public footpaths. There’s absolutely loads round and about where I live. Not quite as spectacular as some I’ve seen posted this week but serve their purpose just the same.

Here’s my nearest one – it runs down the side of our house.

And opposite our house it continues on it’s way. This footpath I used every day when I walked H to ‘little’ school and made an otherwise 20 minute walk to school only 5 minutes.

Linking in again with the 52 Week Photo Challenge from:

#SundaySevens 59

Published by Thimberlina

Hello!

Hope you’ve all had a lovely week! I’ve been crazy busy doing all sorts and not even had time to catch up on my blog reader at all. I don’t think I’ve even caught up from last weekends Sunday Sevens. Hopefully this week will be a little more sedate.

At the start of the week I met one of my lovely work buddies who left a couple of years ago. I won’t say retired as she doesn’t seem old enough. I met her in between the first and second coat of paint I was giving my mums downstairs loo! And just for a change we went to Jeremy’s bar. Chicken salad – and no pudding!! I was thinking about my waistline as Portugal is only around the corner.

Just arriving at my mums for the second coat. Luckily I’d put plenty of dust sheets down – I managed to catch the open tin of paint in mid flight but there was still enough on the floor to use for the second coat! Oops!

Wednesday H and I crossed the pennines and headed to the Trafford Centre. It’s not somewhere I’d normally go but the hubby won a £50 gift voucher to spend in John Lewis. After spending ages in the haberdashery and finally deciding I didn’t need any more fabric I headed to the shoe department and bought these beauties! I always struggle with what to wear on my feet when I’m abroad and as these have laces they’ll expand with my chubby little feet!

I continued getting the ‘miles’ in this week. 25km walking, 7km golfing and 20km on my bike. Here’s a view as I was walking one evening – on the horizon you can just make out the Pennines.

Friday turned out to be a really wet day. It did’t start out wet, but 1/2 hour into our golf match the heavens opened. Despite getting drenched and beaten by our opponents Mags and I were still smiling. We were playing in the first round of an inter club knock out competiton.

Friday night we went out with some of the parents from H’s footie team. A very late night with maybe one too many glasses of wine. And I learnt something new. Though it might be a load of rubbish. Next time your smiling for the camera for a selfie (or whatever!) put your tongue on the roof of your mouth. It’s supposed to lift your chins! It kept us entertained during the evening as we tried it.

The next day I must have ~~had a hangover~~ felt out of sorts as I gave my cooker a good clean!

After browsing my magimix cook book I decided to make their version of a fish pie. Layers of thinly sliced potatoes with chopped haddock, parsley, spinach and a few other bits n pieces whizzed up. Very nice! We finished the leftovers for tea tonight.

Sunshine today for H’s footie match. They managed a 4-2 win and moved one point clear from the bottom of the league.

This week i’ve managed a few bits of sewing. Mainly mending and shortening but I did make another polo top for golf. I did lots of basting and it payed off – the placket was perfect first time, despite using a slippery jersey.

Natalie from Threads and Bobbins thought up the Sunday Sevens over 18 months ago as a way of posting snippets of your week that maybe wouldn’t warrant a blog post all on their own. You don’t have to sign your life away to join in – just jump in and out as you please – or go for the long haul like me. It’s fun for us all to find out what goes on outside the sewing room, and also for ourselves to look back on as it’s so easy to forget all what goes on as life speeds on by.

#SundaySevens 58

Published by Thimberlina

There’s no rules to Natalie’s Sunday Sevens! Head over to Threads & Bobbins if you want to read more about it, and join in too!

This week has been all action packed! H has been to Austria skiing, I’ve walked/jogged 42 km in 7 days making a conscious effort to get out there at least 45 minutes a day, and the hubby’s been busy in the garden!

Apologies for the next photo – it’s not mine, it’s an advert for my golf club. But after organising the Spoolette trips I’ve been really surprised to find out just how many people read my blog who are almost on my doorstep. So to those of you who aren’t so far away I thought you may be interested in this…… Free taster sessions and cheap golf for those who fancy trying it. You don’t need clubs or golf shoes or anything.

A visit to Jeremy’s bar again in Brighouse. This time with Glennis, cyber-mum and MIL. I really can’t think of anywhere with a better view.

H skiing…..

Earlier in the week I pegged out my bedding on the line and went for a run. Gorgeous blue skies.

10 minutes later it’s looking rather dark. I ran faster but by the time I got home my bedding was wetter than when I pegged it out 😦

Saturday I did my first park run in ages. It was my 7th one and the time I ran was exactly the same as my first one – to the second! How weird is that! This is the long slow drag towards the end. Slightly blurred as i wasn’t going to stop!

The hubby and H have been busy in the garden today. They’ve been digging out a place for a new shed at the bottom of the garden. The garage will be demolished soon and we need somewhere for all the gardening things.

The last couple of days I’ve been making my first self drafted top for golf. I chopped up an old one that was a bit small and tatty. After copying the pieces and making a few adjustments I ended up with this. Definitely a bright and sunny top! Do you recognise the yellow tape Del? It’s perfect! When H saw it he asked if I was going to the circus??!! Cheeky!

(feature image at the top, everyone limbering up for the park run!)

Until next time….x

Help Needed – #sparksomethinggood

Published by Thimberlina

Yesterday I received an email from Alex who blogs at Sewrendipity asking for help from the Yorkshire Spoolettes to join her and others in making special tote bags for the local oncology units and hospices. Of course you don’t have to have been to any of the Spoolette meet ups to volunteer – if you sew and are from Yorkshire or there abouts yours automatically a Yorkshire Spoolette! And if you’re in the UK but not local read on as there are going to be similar things going on around the country.

Here’s an example of what will be sewn on the day – all cutting out will be done in advance (yay) so there’s only sewing to do!

And here’s the syringe driver…

Here’s the email from Alex which has all the information you’ll need to volunteer, including links. When you register and volunteer it can take 24 hours before you receive a confirmation email that you’ve been accepted as a volunteer.

Hello Ali and Amanda

Hope you’re well!

I have a mission for the Yorkshire Spoolettes, hope you’re keen to help!

M&S is organising a very cool sewing project in Leeds on 18th and 19th April and I was hoping you can lend a hand to spread the word, and even join if it’s not too far away or complicated. I will be there on the 18th for sure and a bit on the 19th as well in the morning, but dashing back to London for a meeting in the afternoon, so would be great to meet or see you again (looking at you Amanda :D).

In a few words, we’re taking over shop floor space in M&S Briggate store and turning it into a sewing studio, complete with sewing machines and all necessary tools. Over the two days, we are inviting people to volunteer their time and sewing skills to make special tote bags out of M&S fabric décor that is no longer needed. The bags are pre-cut and especially designed to be used in hospitals’ palliative care or oncology units and in hospices for a piece of medical equipment called Syringe driver unit (please see attached image to get an idea). We will be donating them to Macmillan Nurses at St James Hospital in Leeds, St Gemma’s Hospice and Wheatfields and Wakefield hospice, who will be handing them out to their patients. As they are single use because of infection control, such bags are always needed, so we are hoping volunteering with us will spark something good and people will continue making them. Each one will make a difference to a patient going through a very difficult time in their life. Apart from being very practical (some patients carry the syringe drivers in plastic bags or in socks pinned to their robes), the fact that someone took the time to make them by hand brings a bit of joy to the recipients of our bags. If you add the recycling aspect of reusing the M&S décor (please see attached image of what a completed bag looks like), we believe this is a very worthwhile project to get involved in. More info on our charity partner’s site: http://www.makingforcharity.co.uk/

We have set ourselves a target of 100 bags that can only be achieved with the help of some lovely volunteers! We can take up to 80 people, in 2h slots over the 2 days. The volunteers do not need to bring anything. If they can sew a straight line, we’ll be happy to have them join us! If they are experienced, even better, we might just smash our target! To manage the event better, we are working with a social media site called Neighbourly, where you can register as a volunteer, for the particular slot you can attend (10-12, 12-14, 14-16 and 16-18), on the 18th or the 19th April. Each slot is an ‘event’, so you will have to scroll down to find the right one on the right-hand side. This is the link to access Neighbourly and register: https://www.neighbourly.com/project/56f3b075c333bd04187e076a/information

The event is part of a national volunteering campaign M&S is running all over the country, called Spark Something Good. Every month for 24 months we’re going to a different city (London, Dublin, Manchester, Swansea and Edinburgh so far) and we ask our customers and staff to volunteer for 24 local projects that will make a difference in their community. So even if you have friends who don’t sew, there are 23 other really great causes to get behind! See all projects in Leeds and Bradford on Neighbourly: https://www.neighbourly.com/company/56f3c36dc333bd04187e1fc3/following

We would very much appreciate your help in spreading the word in the sewing community, so we can fill all our volunteering spaces and make as many bags as possible.I have prepared some assets to post on your Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram and a poster to print out and display. Please also use #SparkSomethingGood, so we can see your posts.

Do get in touch with any questions and I hope to see you in the sewing studio in M&S Briggate on the 18th or 19th April!

Many thanks and happy sewing,

Alex

There’s already me, my mum, Margaret and Karen who have volunteered. I hope a few more will be able to too.

Any questions please get in touch – if I can’t answer them I’ll contact Alex.

Thanks Ladies!

#Sunday Sevens 57

Published by Thimberlina

Hi! A belated happy Sunday Sevens!

Fancy having this in your back garden! A 253ft chimney, known as Wainhouse Tower. Those of you who watched Happy Valley will have seen it or maybe not noticed it. Despite it’s prominence it’s quite hard to get a decent photo of the tower – I’ve been trying for ages – but last week I went to a job nearby just as it was getting dark.

It’s open to the public on bank holidays and other selected dates and those who dare climb the 403 steps will be rewarded with an amazing view over Happy Valley!

Quite a bit of rain last week. H and I went out for a run/jog but it was a definite run past this puddle before any cars came and splashed us!

I won the first prize in the Easter raffle at the golf club. A much better prize than the wine I didn’t win last week! Or was it the week before!?

Shopping for a new suitcase – H went to Austria with the school on Saturday. I might need a big one too for my golf trip! Only 16 sleeps!!

On Saturday I had 2 forgiven pieces of post. Some goodies from Del and a quilting pattern from Kate. This cheered me up as I was gutted that I couldn’t see H off on his trip as I was working. Thankyou ladies! 😔 (the feature pic is my sewing box after it’s had a tidy up and a home found for my new quilting ruler. It’s perfect for sewing up the splendid sampler blocks).

Curry night out with some work buddies.

Whilst shuffling the vehicles round at the start of my shift I spotted the most amazing sunrise. It didn’t come out too well and I wasn’t able to persevere for a better one, sorry.

The cafe featured in Happy Valley is in Elland which is in ‘my patch’. When they showed it they had the real staff serving on which i thought was brill’. And best of all it opens on Sunday mornings when every where is closed!

I tried to cut out a pattern whilst parked up in Elland. It was a bit tricky and I soon got a call so had to abandon that idea!

If you’re not sure about Sunday Sevens and want to give it a whirl head over to Threads and Bobbins to find out more – link on previous Sunday Seven posts!

Cheerio for now!

Friends

Published by Thimberlina

Crazy Friends…..

Golf Friends….

Work Friends….

Lovely cricket mum Friends……

Blogging Friends

Best Friends…..

I’ve had a delve into the archives for this week’s photo challenge and smiled a lot! All photos are between 3 and 5 years old except the work photo when we went out for a curry and the ‘lips‘ had a night out!

Joining in the 52 Week Photo Challenge from:

Nanacathydotcom

Rainbow Junkie

The Aran Artisan

Wild Daffodil

#SundaySevens 56

Published by Thimberlina

Hello and Happy Easter!

Hope you’ve all had a lovely week! We’ve had some good news – the plans have been pleased for our house extension, so now all we have to do is find a builder!

I’ve just enjoyed a late breakfast of coffee and chocolate before heading off to work. With a bit of luck your Easter Sunday will be more nutritious and you’ll have time to spend with your loved ones.

Natalie from Threads and Bobbins thought up the Sunday Sevens as a way of posting snippets of your week that maybe wouldn’t warrant a blog post all on their own. As usual for me there’s one or two foodie photos!
I really can’t help proper laughing every time I see this photo. It was taken last Sunday evening whilst waiting to go into the hotel restaurant for dinner. I asked the hubby to take my photo, which he obviously did. We were sat in a beautiful quiet room with huge high ceilings. As he took the photo the anti red eye flash appeared to light up the whole room and hubby’s camera then snapped a photo of my look of horror and embarrassment! I wasn’t expecting the flash to be on 😳

My starter – Spinach soup served with a poached egg, salmon and under the salmon there were 2 slices of sautéed potatoes. It really was the best soup I’ve ever had!

The next morning my Northumbrian breakfast. From the bottom – eggy bread, sausage, black pudding and caramelised Apple. I also ate 2 slices of toast and 4 Danish pastries!

Out on the course the Greenkeeper had his dog working with him!

Still smiling despite the hubby beating me 2 days running!

I played in my Styl arc misty jeans which were really comfy. As there not really denim jeans they’re OK to play in – proper jeans on the golf course are a big no no!

Back home and back to my sewing machine. I think Rory missed me, he doesn’t usually try and sit on my overlocker

I’ve had this chocolate quite a while (weeks not months!). Del sent me it so I could try some American chocolate. I’d heard bad reports but was pleasantly surpised and enjoyed all three. H drew a chart and we all tried each one and put them in order of preference . We all had the same answer….. 1. Ghirardelli, 2. The Organic and 3. Hershey’s. Without look back at what Del told me about each one I’m not sure if that’s the order of best to not as best chocolate. I can’t say worst as I really liked them all, but not as much as a Galaxy bar from back home!

I’ve managed to get out twice this week running. I did 5 1/2 km but had 1 minute walking after every 5 minutes running as I’m not quite as fit as I was. I always pass this house with the fancy privets but am normally running, but as I was walking for a minute I could snap a quick photo.

Yesterday we had a lovely lunch at Jeremy’s in Brighouse before I started work.

Family selfie at Jeremy’s… My lip smacking new top having its’ first outing.

Last night I came across a new family of chicks, how cute are these!

So another week and another Sunday Sevens showing what I’ve been up to. If you want to join in too head over to Natalie’s blog and see how you can join in too.