New shoes and thinking about the avant grade

I haven't done any sewing this week. Too busy at work, plus the students have moved back in next door and have been partying till half 6, which is when I get up for work. Bless 'em.

So I've been very tired. So tired. 

Anyhow, we dragged ourselves out of bed on Saturday and drove down to Rushdensimplicity to a factory sale of Grenson shoes. I've never owned proper handmade shoes and these were all 40 and 50 quid instead of about 200. 

This got me thinking about my wardrobe and I decided I need to branch out from the big pattern companies and try something more adventurous than an endless series of shift dresses. (I think this may be part of my turning 40 crisis. Which has coincided with a Fleetwood Mac reunion. This could all get a bit Stevie Nicks....). So I have ordered a copy of Drape Drape 2, a Japanese sewing book that I've been reading about on the blogosphere. Apparently some of the patterns are fairly mindblowing, but there are some knit patterns that look wearable. There are 3 books in the series, but I thought I'd start with this one and see how I got on. 

I've persuaded a friend to come to Barry's fabric store in Birmingham in a couple of weeks, which gives me time to work out what patterns to make and how much fabric I need! I can't wait to get started. 

I've also been envying Dolly Clackett's new Anna dress/ Charlotte skirt mash-up.... Maybe next time....