The Year that Was

Hi,

This year I kept a list of the books I read... I've often meant to but this year I managed it. It's been a good reading year for me - 41 books! Some are children's novels so there is a mix of time needed to read them.

I'm also partway through several other non-fiction books which I hope to complete in 2018.

I've put my absolute favourite/s in bold. (At least one per category)

I've blogged a lot of them because I was kindly sent them for reviewing - I really do like being sent books for review. In 2018 I am planning to start studying again (part time) and working (part time) so I'm not sure I will manage as much reading.

Here's the books - in categories:

Children's Novels
The Young Magicians and the Thieves Almanac
The Changeover
Helper and Helper
Wave Me Goodbye
Chase

YA Fiction
See You in the Cosmos
Midnight Sun
Things A Bright Girl Can Do
Expelled
Catch Me When You Fall
The Truth and Lies of Ella Black

Adult Fiction
Her Mother's Secret
The Earth Cries Out
The Last Debutante
Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay
Little Breton Bistro
Keep Me Safe
The Suicide Club
Come Sundown
Saints for All Occasions
Trip of a Lifetime
NightHawk
Together
The Music Shop
Sensible Shoes - Sharon Garlough Brown
Two Steps Forward - Sharon Garlough Brown
Barefoot - Sharon Garlough Brown
The Club of Queer Trades - G K Chesterton

Non- Fiction - mainly about creativity, faith or the arts
The Knowledge of the Holy - AW Tozer
Found - Micha Boyde
Walking on Water - Madeleine L'Engle
Personality and Prayer - Ruth Fowke
Gastrophysics - Charles Spence
The Insect and the Buffalo - Roshan Allpress
Option B - Sheryl Sandberg
The Choice - Edith Eger
The Contemplative Pastor - Eugene Peterson
Called or Collared - Francis Dewar
Every Good Endeavour - Timothy Keller
The Artisan Soul - Erwin Raphael McManus

Other
Kneeling in Bethlehem (Poetry) - Ann Weems

There are some other books I read but I only counted books that I read every word of.

What books have made you smile, laugh, delight in 2017?

What's on your reading list for 2018?

love you more than a proper list xxx

December Makery

Hey Up Friends,

So I've been trying to get some making done and dusted before the year winds down.

As part of Dressember I was sponsored to make two new dresses.

Vogue 8469

I made this in a crazy patchwork look fabric and paired it with a beautiful shot dupion silk sash. Both fabrics  are second hand.

and my totally TNT pattern The Ruby Dress by Simple Sew

I have lost count of how many of these I have made (this isn't the only one I haven't blogged about). I made this out of second had denim I got at the Steiner fair recently. I absolutely love this dress and I'm all kinds of excited about how much fun I will have accessorising it.

I also made to large drawstring bags for my boys to unwrap on Christmas Eve because we had temporarily misplaced our stockings.

Re-sewed several zips.

Made 9 produce bags for my sister for her to use when shopping.

Fixed The Atlas' jeans

and let out the seams in a dress that I had done the wrong seam allowance on.

So, you know, there has been sewing it's just the blogging that's been disappointing!

love you more than mending jobs done xxx

Wearing all the Dresses

Hey Y'all,

So as you may have read I have been doing Dressember which is a fundraising drive for two charities - The International Justice Mission and A21.

It's been amazing and I've ended up with sponsors for every day of December which has really blown me away.

As part of that mission I've been getting the ever faithful Atlas to take pictures everyday and sometimes my sons.

Because I've been a bit missing from here lately I thought I'd share some pics of the December that has been Dressember so far.

I do hope you had an appropriately well-fed, family fueled Christmas.

I've spent today clearing out my sewing room with my favourite sewing partner in crime, my sister. I might share some pics.

Also apparently I love putting my hands on my hips! ;-)

love you more than keeping up to date xxx

Simplicity 3688 Version 3

Heya Lovelies,

I bought this lovely creasy fabric from Annah Streton fabrics a while ago when they had a big sale on.

I quite this Simplicity pattern. It's high and fitted across the waist and really wide in the leg. Which either makes the pants look more formal or like PJ pants... or both simultaneously.

I'm looking a bit dishevelled in these photos because I've been teaching all day and it's end of year concert o'clock!

I discovered once I'd made them that these pants will only be appropriate with beige coloured giant nana undies. (It's an exciting life I lead!)

Top and necklace also handmade by me.

Done! Now tomorrow I'm into a month of dresses for a great cause.

love you more than the perfect set of undies xxx