Pictures. Ta-da!



That's the one that earned the cash. This is what it was based on:

The gap between posts is getting longer and longer. Partly a result of no longer having an office computer, as a result of no longer having an office in which to keep it (what with not having a job and all). Also partly just laziness and do-it-later-ness.

I had a meeting last week to sort out my dissertation for the coming year. I'm calling it "Conceptualising mental health and mental illness: cultural and biological perspectives". Or something along those lines. I haven't met my supervisor yet but a couple of my friends know her and I get a good vibe, although I'm worried she may not crack the whip to quite the extent I require to get my finger out my arse and do some work. Or to stop me going off on stupid tangents. I spent an hour and a half in the library directly following the meeting browsing fashion and costume design. Ho-hum.

The first question I want to address is why we say mental health, when what we mean is mental unhealth. Or just plain insanity, in my case.

On the knitting front, I finished the commissioned piece, and got paid at the princely rate of just under a quid an hour. Not counting the cost of materials. I'm justifying this with the thought that I would be knitting anyway so it's nice to be paid any amount, and I have to build a reputation before I can start charging more. Once again, ho-hum.

Back home for a few days after a fabby weekend with The Foghorn, mom, Auntie R, and her son.

Every year the four of them spend two weeks at Centre Parcs in Nottinghamshire, it's really The Foghorn's holiday, and the rest of us are just window dressing and bum wipers.

I go along for the first weekend as it takes two cars to lug all the stuff there, and Auntie R doesn't have one. I also give mom a break by sleeping with The Foghorn, who can't be alone overnight in a strange place as she has quite severe epilepsy and has 4-5 seizures every night. She also tends to go to the loo when she has a fit. Which is fun at 3am.

Despite the lack of sleep (and being woken one morning with Foghorn repeatedly hitting me in the arse, leaving a fist-sized bruise which is slowly turning a fetching shade of ochre), I had the loveliest time. So much so that I am returning on Friday for more.

It gave me a chance to catch up on some of my less academic reading. Namely InStyle, Vogue, Elle... you get the picture. I love the changing season, and working out how to adapt my current style to the new trends and weather. It's a particular challenge this year as I'm now living on a student budget again, meaning I am having to be more creative than ever.

For the time being, I'm going with items such as the grey cowl-necked clingy jersey sweater dress I bought last winter, plus the new one I am knitting in fine grey and pink cotton. My collection of beautiful vintage and high-street minidresses - mostly empire line or shift styles. These worn together with footless or brightly-coloured opaque tights which I can pick up for a few pounds at Primark.

I have my drainpipe jeans and slouchy pin-stripes which should see me right through winter. Worn with customised t-shirts, plain vests (and cardigans I've made myself), or soft jumpers.

I'm on the lookout for a couple of 80's style 'bodies' too. Remember them? Will look fantastic with drainpipes or loose trousers, and if they can't be found I'll improvise with second-hand leotards or swimsuits.

My one problem at the moment is finding belts small enough to fit my waist. High street sizes are way too big (most "smalls" are actually 26", which isn't small in my book). Children's versions fit and are affordable, but are hard to find in suitable styles. At the moment I have a wide lilac suede one that I picked up on ebay, and another in woven brown leather that I happened upon in Oxfam a couple of months ago.

My only rule is that I can only buy from discount high street shops (e.g. Primark), second-hand (but only from charity shops and ebay, not boutiques), or high street items if at greatly reduced prices (such as the Vila trousers and top and Ichi jumper I picked up at Hammonds last week - all three cost me just over 20 quid). No designer labels. No boutiques. Nothing, in short, that costs money.

This is of course neglecting to mention all the fantastic things I shall be designing and making myself. More on them to come.

Super busy for the past few days working on my first ever commission!

I wore a knitted dress into the office a couple of weeks ago that I'd made myself, which is just utterly beautiful and looks machine-made. I had that wonderful moment when someone asks where you bought something, and are able to say, "Well, actually..."

Anyhow, one of the women in the office said she would like something similar and, get this, would pay me! EEEEEeeeeek!

I sat down with her and designed a top based on the same lace pattern I'd used for the dress. I'm making it in very fine silver-grey mercerised cotton, which I love for lace knitting as the pattern really "pops".

I've sped along with it and am nearly at the top of the main section (I'm working in the round), I have a few more increase rows for the bust shaping, then a couple of inches of lace (with short-rows to make it higher at the front than the back), camisole straps - which I may use ribbon for instead of knitting them - and then I'm done.

My first commissioned piece, designed by me from scratch, and sold for a profit. I think that's something to be proud of.