It’s been a while… life and sewing update!

Well hello there puddings!

You know you have neglected your blog for too long when your mum texts you and tells you to update it!! That’s what happened this morning and she is right, I love blogging and I needed a kick up the derriere to get back to it so here I am.

I have so much news and stuff happening that I just thought I would do a catch up post – knowing full well that you all probably know all this if you’ve been on any of my social networks recently as I don’t seem to shut up about most of it but as this blog is also a record for me to look back on I’m just going to say it all again – in one place… for the grandkids… or something!! 😉

So firstly, and most importantly my biggest news is I’m pregnant!

This is already so out of date – a picture from my 12 week scan – but now I am 18wks tomorrow and much bigger and so is the little bean in my tummy… it’s now around the size of an artichoke, bell pepper, pomegranate, banana (length wise)  or hedgehog! Yes I have ALL the apps and can’t wait each week to see the comparisons to vegetable and animal!

I did have a rough first trimester – I was just such a cliche – all day nausea, dizziness, no energy whatsoever and not wanting to eat until the hunger started around wk 15 and since then I have been ravenous.  I’ve been  feeling SO much better though and apart from the odd queasy moment (especially in the morning) and headaches I am definitely someone that prefers the second trimester. I have ENERGY again – I actually want to do things and I have to say I am really feeling happy. I know every pregnancy is different and I know there are so many that have had an awful time so I almost feel bad for saying that but I think it’s really important to share every side to every story especially to those of you that are worried about how having a baby will effect you – in truth, I have no idea but now I’m on this side I can say that just getting excited about meeting your new human will help you through. It is just so exciting!

Of course now I’m getting excited about what this means to my sewing – ummmm MATERNITY CLOTHES! I know, I know – you don’t wear them for long and a lot of people would say making a maternity wardrobe is a waste of time BUT I am not that person. I want to wear things I have made throughout this experience and I have hardly anything that A) fits me and B) I want to wear, so why wouldn’t I use my favourite hobby, sewing, to fill that gap?! Of course I’m going to! I know I will probably think I can do a lot more than I actually can (!) but at the moment I have a long to sew list of mat. wear and that is sure to become baby makes nearer the time (I’m due in April btw.) Right now I am cutting out a maternity hack on Closet Case Pattern’s Morgan Jeans and I’m really hoping to live in those with big cosy jumpers all winter long. I did get some mat. dungarees and a dungadress whilst I was on tour in Germany and I have worn the former pretty much every day so I can’t wait to rotate them with something memade!

The other thing being ‘with child’ (love the old fashioned terms!) has prompted is a HUGE declutter and changing lots of things in the flat that my husband, Stephen, and I have really got stuck into so I’m doing a destash this week – each evening I am putting up 20 items or so for sale on my instagram account @gabberdasherydestash and it’s all going cheap – a lot of it are amazing fabrics I was given including Liberty silks from the 60s so my biggest challenge is to know and describe what type of material it is… does anyone else struggle with this?! I should do a course! Anyway I am also selling yarns and some books too so do drop by if you like a good bargain!

In other big news yesterday was the launch of the Sew Surprise Advent Calendar box that my Stitcher’s Brew Podcast sidekick and sewing wife, Megan (@pigeonwishes) have been working on for nearly 2 years with our husbands. We originally tried to get it out for Christmas last year but with Megan being really ill at the beginning of her pregnancy and me touring in with my band Europe it became apparent that we would put all our energies into making it perfect for 2018 instead so IT’S OUT and we are so proud of our baby! In fact, I just checked and there are only 10 left of our limited edition of 100 for this year which is UNBELIEVABLE – we are so so sew happy and thankful to everyone for their support on our new venture. We are really sorry that we can only deliver to the UK this year but honestly if you saw the prices we were quoted to even mainland Europe for the weight and size of our box you would agree that is just isn’t plausible yet BUT the plan is roll this out in a big way next year and be fully international.

Ooh whilst we are on the subject, the Podcast, has been going strong – we’ve had so many great guests inspiring us endlessly and the last one, Episode 33 is back to just us two catching up and introducing the box. We have lots lined up for the rest of the year and beyond and are already planning cramming in as much as possible early next year so I can take a ‘maternity leave’ March to June like we did with Megan and the 30 episodes in two months start to this whole journey! It’s crazy to think we haven’t even been going a year yet and it feels like we’ve always done it.

Last but most definitely not least, I wanted to update you on Gabberdashery Patterns and where we are up to!

When Barbara and I had our first meeting back in June – she rocked up with her beautiful 3 month baby, Mint and I confided in her that my husband and I had just started trying for a baby too to which she jokingly said ‘I bet you’ll be pregnant next month’ – turns out Barbara is clairvoyant and was totally spot on! So after a storming start of getting the pattern cutter sorted, making toiles and all sorts of plans I suddenly hit the height of the sickness bit and found it hard to even read an email let alone sew a sample for 3 months – Barbara was amazing and did what she could sewing the samples and meeting me on facetime to talk through everything any chance we could get but honestly I felt useless and also completely unable to help so we paused. I am so lucky to have gone into business with someone that totally understood as she felt similar in first first trimester and not only was ok to let me take my time but also there giving me support and advice throughout.

So then we were into October – and poor Barbara and Mint got sick, I was back on it but she now needed the healing time so I made the samples and had to do the photoshoot without her (she was very missed) as time was not on our side with a growing bump and our chosen photographer going back to University it had to be then. She was better for a little while but its a virus that has come back with vengeance and completely knocked her and her whole family back down so I am giving her all the time she needs to get back on her feet like she did for me.

To cut a long story short we are actually nearly there – our pattern testers have been amazing and are just patiently waiting in the wings till everyone is healthy and happy – then there will be no stopping us!!  We hope to have the pattern out within the next 3 weeks but you know, I’m not going to put pressure on this or promise anything because the thing I have realised the most this year is health and family must come first – everything else will happen when it’s meant to and when we are ready we can’t WAIT for you all to see our first pattern!! There is also number 2 pretty much ready to go too so mayyybeee you’ll have two patterns from us before Christmas – let’s just see how it plays out!

Oh and I also have something else up my sleeve that will appear in the next couple of weeks – this is a project my husband came up with for me and I wanted to share it with the sewing community – I’ll say no more!! I know SUCH a tease!!

AND vlogmas is coming up and I’m already excited – I will definitely be trying to stick to my usual video every day in December and this time I AM NOT GETTING SICK! 😉 The bump and I are already planning adventures and lots of time with Hobbes too!

It feels good to talk even if no one listens – although mum, you better have cos you started this! 😉

SEW much love, seriously having you all along for the journey means the world to me.