Tuesday 29 September: Bethan Elfyn's mini boot at the Social

A lovely monthly event for all folky/ indie/ acoustic music lovers, plus some great djs - and we'll have a stall there next Tuesday, with button badges, some new zipper pouches and maybe some cakes!

Bethan Elfyn presents a late night music show on BBC 1 "BBC Intoducing in Wales" for unsigned bands.   The Social is a lovely tiny bar in Little Portland street, just of Great Portland Street, London W1.

For information on Elephants, Them Squirrels and Cat Mouse Cat, please click here. Quite an exciting night!

Doors open at 7pm and entry is only £2!
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Some amazing dresses from Louise Goldin

I was amazed by Louise Goldin collection on Sunday! Some enchanting dresses, in pastel tones in cream, yellow, lilac and light blues, but not girly at all, despite the pleating, the frills, the emphasis on the bust, the sheer and shimmery fabrics, the contrasted edgings that looks like black lace... Feminine but directional and very cutting edge! I wish I could pattern cut like that! Some sweets little shorts too! A very glamourous s/s collection!

Fashion week...

As I stepped out for lunch today, the ubber trendy crowd outside sharply reminded me that fashion week has just started! The office is sandwiched between the two venues. My window has"views" to the Exhibition and the catwalks are happening on the other side. I am always in awe at the efforts some people make in the morning, it is rather inspiring. I must look really frumpy in comparison - but then I do not need to dress up for the day job, which is probably better. At last, I do not have clothes in my wardrobe that reminds further me that I do have a very very dull job, even if it is only temporary.
Looking at the fashion crowd I could feel a - slight - pang of envy... The day job seems even less engaging than usual despite the fact it's Friday...
So, to cheer myself up, I had a quick look at the online shows. I was pleased to see that bright colours were on the menu at Ashish:

Crazy animal prints, the star and stripes, bright pompoms, madly coloured fair-isle prints, and some gorgeous head pieces! Yes the Ashish woman must be fun-loving and does make an entrance! The fourth picture seems almost restrained!

Cooking and baking

I started my fencing class last night and because the class was only an hour long, I decided to go to see Julie and Julia at the Coronet in Notting Hill. I was a bit tired but really loved it. Well I would see anything with Meryl Streep anyhow!
I am not much into cooking myself and stick to making soups. But I used to bake quite a lot and somewhat don't anymore. I still love all the decorations, the silver beads, the flowers, the icing, the decorated cases, well I can get a little overwhelmed in the home baking aisle of a supermarket! Baking can be very relaxing too, but my kitchen is really too small and the cooker does not work properly... Plus, I seem to put on weight just at baking! My macaroons used to be pretty goods but now I tend to buy them. Watching the movie made me feel like baking again, and seeing this biscuit couple from Laduree tempts me to experiment more with decorations!

Vintage reading...

Whilst I’m sadly not a great reader, I’m becoming a prolific collector of old sewing books, as well as old sewing patterns. I cannot quite say that I’m looking a learning new technique. I do use the books, but the fab illustrations are part of the attraction. I have just added the Golden Hands sewing encyclopaedia published by Collins in the early 1970s. At under £1 it is a real bargain! I love it so much that I yesterday ordered the knitting version – I can’t quite knit so yes, it could be useful… So as well as very practical home sewing knowledge, you get some lovely and very 70s illustrations:

great reversibles:

some great skirts cut from the same patterns:


pinks and corals - great colour combinations:


how to ruffle:


how maybe best not to measure:


figures types: not sure which one I am...

I’m also keen on old sewing patterns, but had to stop myself from purchasing these. Not only I can pattern cut most things that I would want to make, but I do not have all the time that I could wish.