Saturday 28 November 2015

November blues and a lucky win

November is always an odd month. I miss being outdoors as much, and hate it when it's dark at four in the afternoon.

A couple of weeks ago it was confirmed that the place where I've worked for the last nine years is to close in the spring. At the moment none of us really know what we'll do next. Although in one way, it's good to see new possibilities ahead, I know we have emotional weeks to go through while we wind things down.

Harvey was twelve recently, and is doing OK for his age. He still has times of appearing quite vacant, and he sleeps a lot, but in himself he seems content.
 

  
I follow a few blogs about sewing, and this week had a stroke of luck in a book giveaway. The blog is A Stitching Odyssey, and I was so excited to win this, which arrived in the post this morning...
 
If any of you watched The Great British Sewing Bee last year, you will remember runner up Chinelo Bally. Her way of working freehand was fascinating, just using measurements, not patterns, and The book explains how to do it! I am really looking forward to trying out some of Chinelo's techniques. They look very creative and liberating, compared with using our traditional paper patterns.
 
Marie at A Stitching Odyssey has another great giveaway going on right now, for some lovely fabric. Do have a look if you are a fabric fetishist like me!
 
So, I may be out of work soon, but I shall not be short of things to do. With metres of fabric already in my drawer, I may even have a whole new wardrobe before too long. Watch this space.

10 comments:

Jenny Woolf said...

I hope you will find another job that you enjoy, and also have some time for stitching!

joanne fox said...

Thank you, Jenny. I hope so too!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

That's a shame about your job, Joanne, but it may open up other exciting doors for you. I remember seeing Chinelo's way of working. Well done on winning that book!

joanne fox said...

Thanks, Rosemary. Looking forward to starting on some new sewing projects.

bazza said...

Hello Joanne. I'm sorry to hear that you may be made redundant. Maybe you could become a full-time writer? My wife retired from Barnardo's this week and I retire from the NHS (Mental Health triage) in three weeks so we are both having to reorganise our lives around lots of leisure-time!
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s fabulous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

joanne fox said...

It's been on the cards for a while, Bazza, and however things work out, I do plan to be writing more. Hope you both enjoy your well deserved retirement! I'm sure you'll have lots to do. It's just about getting the balance right, isn't it.

Linda D said...

I know so many people who have been made redundant or forced to take early retirement. I know it can be upsetting - especially if you've enjoyed the job and had no intention of leaving - but it can also be the opportunity to try something different. At least you've got a little bit of time to start making new plans. Freelance writer? Dressmaker? Dog walker? No end to the possibilities!

joanne fox said...

Yes, there are lots of changes going on in all areas of work and I'm lucky to have a few options. Thanks for visiting, Linda!

suzy doodling said...

Looking forward to seeing your creations, Joanne. xx Happy New Year. xx

joanne fox said...

Oh, too many plans, Suzy, too little time!