Me Made May - May 15: P4P Cocoon Cardigan, Halla's Elora Dress, & Wardrobe By Me's Love Yourself Hipsters

Today is gloomy and doomy in the skies and my mind. 

I've been working from home full time for almost 2 months. And pretty isolated. 

Thank you Vestibular Migraine. I would rather a "Regular" migraine that goes away after 1 to 7 days. This has been non stop since December. 

I will be meeting one of two of my assigned neurologists next week - thank goodness!  Living like this is frustrating, depressing, and I'm just spinning all the time. 

But because I'm me, I keep going. I keep working. I keep doing what I can do around the house. I walk the dogs (one at a time). I cry (a lot). I feel alone. I sew to find my happy and sparkle again. 

I really want my sparkle back. 

I want my life back. 

I thought dealing with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 14 years was bad. I never wished that on anyone else. Now I'd wish CFS on someone over Vestibular Migraines any day. 

And anyone who says, "It's just a headache," I want them to FEEL what I feel just for a week. Good luck dealing with that. Then they'd NEVER say it's just a headache ever again.

Just because I may not visibly look like I'm suffering, I'm great at putting on a smile, give a laugh, and try to mask my pain and isolation.

 It's unbearable most of the time. I'm fortunate to have drive and will to keep going. 

What do my daily symptoms entail?
- Dizziness
- Full blown vertigo when exposed directly to LED and Fluorescent lights
- Swaying (like I actually sway due to the dizziness)
- Derealization (I feel like I'm here...but not really)
- I see flashes in my vision
- Eyes can't always focus
- Muscle weakness - especially my legs
- Rotating numbness of my arms, legs, and face (I thought when my face started going numb that I was having a stroke - my General Doctor thought I had Multiple Sclerosis)
- Sometimes my legs go numb from my feet to knees and I need a cane to walk (waddle)
- Slurring of words
- Brain fog (forgetting words, where I am, where I am going - like driving somewhere and having no idea where I'm driving to!)
- Lack of focus
- Photophobia (light is not my friend - hence working from home - our office put me into 2 months of full blown vertigo, tears, and nausea every single day)
- Misophonia (I had this before - but sounds can make me angry)
- Lack of Balance (I can't Downward Dog or do Warrior 3 at the moment)
- Neck is so sore - no matter how many times a day I do my stretches
- Other symptoms that I've written down (As my memory is shot)

And that's daily.

Every 3-4 days I get the lovely head pounding that people associate with Migraines. These last 2 to 7 days along with the above symptoms. Sometimes it's all pressure in the front of my face, but the last week, I've had two migraine episodes that felt like a clamp on my head - like a REALLY tight headband that I can't take off.

It's exhausting.  Some days I want to give in and just lay in bed and not get up. 

But I can't let my brain win.

I think.

So behind the camera, I'm just a girl waiting for help, alone in my own mind. 

At least today's outfit makes up for it?

Today I'm sporting my Elora Dress and Cocoon Cardigan. 

Halla's Elora Convertible Dress

I modified this strapless dress to have straps, as I fear strapless dresses will fall down, and I prefer straps. 

The bodice is made from some knit fabric I won with my first sew along - it's Sew Cute!

The skirt is one of many sarongs I've collected on my journeys to Mexico.  It made the perfect Elora Skirt!

I have two Eloras, and I love wearing them in the warm weather. It also covers my knees, which is a must! 

And look at the bust ruching - isn't it pretty? 

Patterns for Pirates Cocoon Cardigan

I've made 3 of these. 

Two for myself, and one for Mom.

This one has MINIMAL stretch, so the arms were tight for a bit, but my second one has stretchier fabric, thus a looser fit that doesn't cut off my circulation. But it's lightweight, so perfect for warmer weather. 

I'm always cold, so always need some sort of cardigan or hoodie. 

It has pockets, and covers my hips and behind, so I find it flattering - and I can get away with wearing it in the office (when I go in - I'm a bit scared of my work from home accommodation ending, and having my head go back into photophobia hell). 

Both of these were easy sews and great staples for anyone's wardrobes. 

I'm also sporting the comfy Wardrobe By Me Love Yourself Hipsters....soooo comfy and I forget I'm wearing underwear. 

I'm wearing underwear!  

I'll show you my good undies pics with my head chopped off!

Sew On!

Me Made May Day 10 - G + G Super Sleeve Top and Rebecca Page's Circle Cardigan

So, today I am wearing a repeat.


It's cold in our basement where my home office is...so unless it's a maxi skirt, I'm somewhat limited with my pants.


PLUS I wanted to match my top.


Me Made May...I'm still wearing all me-made clothes with 66% unworn previously this May. So it's counts.

Today's frock includes:


Rebecca Page's Pippa Pants


I love them. They are cozy, fit perfect, and make me happy.


I don't care that I've worn them twice in a week.


Check out full details here

George + Ginger's Super Sleeve Top


I admit I bombed this one. I love the fit of all my G + G patterns, but I chose the wrong fabric for the sleeves.


The fox fabric is a Cotton Lycra Interlock - WAY too thick for the flutter sleeves I was going for.


I colour blocked the top part of the bodice due to lack of fabric, and matched it with my Tardis Blue Cotton Lycra.


I just do it - I seem to colour block more these days as I want to get every inch out of the amazing fabrics I find!


So I took off the flutter sleeves, hoped that the arm holes weren't totally geared for sleeves, and made it into a Tank Top instead. With self-drafted binding with some lycra fabric. And it works!


In hindsight, I could of just cut some of the blue fabric I have left (much lighter) to make the sleeves again, but it's coming close to summer, and I couldn't be bothered.


So not so much a super sleeve, but I don't have as many tank tops as I thought I did. So it worked out in the end.

Rebecca Page's Circle Cardie


I love my Circle Cardie - it's under an hour from cut to finished, and I love the waterfall cascade.


As I'm always cold, this is the perfect year round Cardigan for me! 


More on the Cardie in a previous post!


Sew On!

Me Made May: Day 8 - Sansa Pants & Valencia Top

Today I am sporting a dressier outfit than I have lately - I am afterall working. From home.

I dressed up for the dogs?

No matter the reason - I dressed up for you guys! And I'm running out of super casual pants at this point. I'll be getting into my skirts and dresses soon.

I love today's combo regardless!

- The Bella Sunshine Design Sansa Pants

I can get away with wearing these at home and work - I even had my lunch walk with Fynn in them. They are THAT versatile with the right fabric.

Check out more of my Sansa thoughts here:

- New Horizons Valencia Top

I LOVE how sultry I feel in this.

And I can eat a big meal and not worry as it's loose enough to hide the evidence.

I also sewed it for the first time without instructions!  Check it out!

Until Tomorrow!

Me Made May- May 6th

Today is starting out with some Yoga stretches for my neck, hips, and lower back. 

This calls for digging through my closet for a top I haven't worn in a while, and my new favourite pants!

- Halla's Stardust Tank Top

This was another fall-in-love-with-Halla pattern that tested my skills! 

The Star came out much better than I anticipated (I just took my time), and I adore the mix of fabrics (Black Rabbit Fabrics) that I used. 

It reminds me of the Geek I am.

The arm holes are perfect without gaping, and it was such an easy pattern to grade. 

You can also make the Stardust with just plain front and back, side blocking, and even sleeves with its recent updates. 

- Rebecca Page Pippa Pants

I'd had this pattern laying around since it came out last Fall (?), but hadn't attempted it yet.  

I am *so* glad I did though!  

Check out my Pippa Post here:

They are SUPER comfy for every day wear! 

So these are a great way to start the day and to get my ever sore body back on track. We should all do it in comfortable style that fits our bodies perfectly. 

Me Made May - May 5th!

So Me Made May continues (go here to find out more details - it's not too late to make yourself accountable for a me-made wardrobe!) with early morning fishing. 

We ended up not going up to camp this weekend, as there is 2 feet of water on the lowest part of the main road from the river, and it's apparently gone up another 6" overnight!  So glad we're not there, as with no Interweb and being totally off grid, we'd have no idea until we attempted to get home Sunday!  

Mind you, a Hovercraft could get us through without any issues. 

Today I woke up at normal work time (5am), and Husband was excited to go fishing. So we went fishing.  

But who says fishing has to be unstylish?  

I threw on some oldies but goodies in my wardrobe this morning:

- Halla Patterns Soho Top

This is one of the first patterns I sewed up last year (when I started sewing my wardrobe), and made me fall in love with Halla.  

I repurposed an old sweatshirt for the turquoise pocket and cuffs, the white is a cheap Fabricland fabric I'd meant for a work top, and the feathered fabric is from Black Rabbit Fabrics 

The only thing I would change, is using regular tunic version vs the tall version - it's a bit long, but still comfy.

I *do* need more pullovers/hoodies though - I lack this in my wardrobe and will make one this month, especially since I'm currently working at home full time. The basement is cold, and I've become a hoodie hog. 

- More 2 Hug's Cozy Sunday Pants

I do have a complimentary Sunday Top with a front wrap and hood that goes perfectly with these pants too!  

I did add a cuff to the bottom, have side pockets, and tie front.  

They are SUPER comfy and I wear them often at home and at camp.

The fabric is from Black Rabbit Fabrics again, and very Canadian, eh!  

I don't lack pants, so this is something I certainly don't need to focus on in my current wardrobe. 

Anyhow, back to sewing up a new Rebecca Page Pattern (it's adorable!!!) that I feel everyone will love and be inspired by!  

And remember:  It's Gonna Be May!

Justin Does not appear impressed by Fishing 

Me Made May - May 3rd!

Welcome Back!

It's Gonna Be May continues with my unintentional (yet intended) co-ordinating outfit - I even made my pants today.

Sorry to those who wanted a no-pants-party - not happening, even while I'm working from home.

Today's me-made attire consists of:

- Bella Sunshine Designs Maggie Top - long sleeves, tunic length, with scoop neck

I also repurposed a stupid small t-shirt I got from Wish.com (everything is too small there, even when you think you order the right size!), hence the square unicorn.

But see what I did there?  I am a Unicorn amongst a field of Deer - I'm hilarious! Right?!?

- Bella Sunshine Designs Eden Leggings - capris length mid rise band.

I'll show you a picture of my band from my original photos, but it sparkles, and everyone needs a bit of sparkle in their life. And unicorns.

I'm 5'-2", and took 2-3" off my leggings to obtain the capris length (otherwise they would look like short full length leggings, and that's just insanity!), AND I won this fabric through a fast finger Auction with Okee Dokee Fabrics.

And the fabric length really only went the length of my leggings. And it worked out for me! 

I'm good at improvising!

Alternatively, with short fabric lengths, I colour block - both for fun and to use up scrap fabrics, but also because of fabric length or width limitations. This happens way too often to me.

I need a sewing fabric Sugar Momma. I'd totally promote all the fabric in such a fabulous way that everyone would want it!

That will happen as likely as me winning the LottoMax.

- Twig + Tales' new Forester Coat - Round hood (HOODS!), welt pockets, back belt, and Unicorn Fabric as part of the lining!!

The lining in the coat has 3 different fabrics, as I lacked one solid lining colour. AND I really wanted to use my fleecette unicorn fabric in a coat. Twig + Tale screams whimsy, thus this was the perfect coat for it.

The outside is a slightly stretchy fleece - not recommended for the coat, however, I sized down and the width has the no-stretch fleece fabric, and the length has the under 20% stretch portion of the fabric (I can't think of the correct terminology right now - thank you Vestibular Migraine Brain Fog!), so it worked out well.

And of course, Justin joined me to sing out, "It's Gonna Be May," with me again - our daily ritual this month!

I'm sporting my new TheraSpecs (anti-migraine glasses) so I can look like a cool singer like Justin or Bono. Maybe they have migraines too? Cool!

Try out one or all of these patterns - the leggings and top will take you less than a few hours, and the coat will be a bit more of an adventure for a few afternoons - but well worth the labour of love!

Sew On!

It's Gonna be May! Days 1 & 2

There's a weird thing going on in the PDF sewing world - #MMMay2018 - Me Made May - to encourage us to:


- Start integrating not-as-often worn self-made clothes into our regular rotation


- Creating new garments to mix and match with older garments


- Figure out what we are missing from our wardrobes


- Finish off any unfinished projects


- Just be awesome!


Sign up here as a pledge to yourself!

Justin is joining us all month long...because I giggle everytime I think, "It's Gonna Be May"

I've started May off with a few outfits of lesser worn and newer clothes.


May 1st included
- The Open Back Pullover by Greenstyle Creations - with hoodie and open back options


- The Trendy Tank by Winter Wear Designs (my new crush designer!) - I colour blocked the top and bottom portions as I lacked full lengths of fabric for a full top or back as part of no-buying-fabric April.


- Not me-made Tardis joggers


I actually lack me-made joggers as I still have 3 pairs that aren't worn out and that I like. Weird liking store-bought clothes these days!  Next fall I'll be in the running for new joggers...although I do not some quick drying joggers for camp...hmmmm.

May 2nd included:


- The Apple Cardigan by Bella Sunshine Designs - I opted for the long version and it's super comfy and perfect for spring and summer evenings in this light cotton lycra fabric.


- The Bonnaroo Tank Top by George + Ginger Patterns - again, another mash up due to lack of fabric - with lace ribbon bows vs the sewn version of bows in the patterns - these are easier and I was lazy


- Not-Me-Made Lululemon pants that are going on 4 years strong. Actually my Pippa Pants by Rebecca Page Patterns are very similar. I love my Pippas too






I must be thinking of Justin in this picture. I blame the top.


So get ready for daily May pics!


See what's coming out of the closet!