April 2020
Hi Everyone,
I hope you're managing in your particular situation and are well and safe.
Here at the Haywood's, my two children have been at home for the past 3 weeks, doing school at home. I like having them here. Routine? No-one gets out of bed before 9am, we get the academic stuff out of the way before lunch, then they ride bikes, make things, practice music, get told off for turning on the tv or sneaking off to play minecraft, do domestic chores under sufferance ("you're working us like slaves!"), or help me shovel manure onto the new garden bed. It surprises me, in a good way, what they're capable of.
We live in a fairly isolated area anyway, so staying at home is not a huge adjustment. I wonder, is it harder for people who go out a lot to adjust to being at home all the time, or is it harder for those who are isolated anyway and now see no-one? (Probably both.)
It was a strange sort of time to launch Zero Waste Sewing. We had a book launch mid-month just before everything shut down - read about it here and view it here on Clare library's facebook page. 14 outfits from the book were paraded by 7 women of diverse shapes and ages; the parade starts around the 15.45 minute mark.
Historian Mary Warner wrote a review on her blog - if possible (since she's changing her website around) subscribe to her monthly newsletter 3 O'clock Punch for interesting glimpses into the museum and curating world.
Some things you might enjoy
Put a smile on your face with these quirky barcodes on Instagram.
Looking for glamour in your life? Virtual frocktails is on the 4th of April - that's tomorrow! Essentially one dons one's best me-made frock, pours a drink and posts on Instagram using #virtualfrocktails. The official drink is a Quarantini, which is the same as a martini, but you drink it alone. I'm "going". I've never been to a real frocktails because (ironically) I was too isolated, but now that we're all in the same situation I'm chilling the glasses and applying the lippy!
Read about a retired couple who took up cosplay.
The Getty museum asked people to re-create famous pictures using only things they had at home. My children saw these and now badly want to do one!
Could you not buy clothes for a decade? These people did.
Madeline Vionnet's famous little horses dress - a researcher does some sleuthing.
Feel like visiting a museum but can't due to isolation? Here's a huge collection of links to virtual museum resources. There's something for everyone here.
Making clothes from fish skins? One of the few last women who knows how.
Fabulous, fabulous lace. Some of this is absolutely breathtaking.
On the blog lately...
The zero waste coat that makes me look like a Jedi - or does it???
The official Zero Waste Sewing book blog tour. (Gee, it seems like ages ago now.)
Yay! It's publishing day and blog tour roundup.
A great way to procrastinate: ticking off that bucket list without actually doing anything.
...and on the blog archives
A collection of sewing nitty-gritty:
Overlocking: how does one secure the beginnings and ends?
3 beaut cushion sewing tips.
How Liz Haywood sews an invisible zip.
How to sew perfectly matching checks and stripes.
Pop-up sewing classes and night classes
Like everything else: unfortunately cancelled.
Life is certainly going to get tougher, but we'll get through this with resourcefulness, carefulness, loved ones, and plenty of soap and water.
Thank you health care workers, supermarket staff and other unsung heroes!
Cheers and very best wishes,
Liz