This week has been (even more!) heavenly (than usual): cloudy skies, proper rain, figuring out some tricky issues with our houses, and the most precious day with 
@vincentnijman for my 53rd birth day anniversary... Lots to metabolise and transform - and we settle deeper into the new year cycle for us together, as we enter year three of our sacred union and year two on our blessed land.
So the main theme of our #homesteadinglife here is Making Do And Mending; the whole project is about using what already exists and/ or is growing here, or finding stuff that others are throwing out and reusing it.
In the spirit of this theme, and the fact that we're now much further away from markets (that have fabulous 50c and €1 bargains!), we're revisiting many garments that have already gotten pretty worn through by our enthusiastic homesteading - this week I've been embarking on an extensive patching quest.
Beloved Vincent's glamorous dungarees - which I made for him last year - have been sitting since the spring, waiting to be patched. Sorry, Amore! The trouser aspect ripped in multiple places, as the original fabric was cotton and well pre-worn.
This can be a downfall in reinventing clothing using vintage stuff; especially with delicate cottons and silks, thin wools, etc. - unexpected happenings can occur when a fabric has been stored for many years, then is suddenly brought out into the light! And then worked hard in!!
Vincent is a manly Natural Man, and so he works his clothing and shoe collection intensely: we are overdue a trip back to Guardia, to stock up on sandals for him, as between his athletic movements and our extremely steep mountainside land, we're yet to find an appropriate footwear (that lasts more than a few weeks)!
And I'm yet to catch up to speed with the repairs and adjustments - some of which, like the buckles reinforcement, are quite fiddly and time consuming. I do tend to put these kinds of jobs to the side, whilst I pour my excitement into new dresses and coats and things 🤭😋
Talking of which - here are some snapshots of my latest (possibly) dress project; a big pink flouncy thing, married with a feisty, celebratory Indian-ish cotton fabric - the latter of which has had to be cut gingerly, as it also ripped through the seat due to its age. The new shape hopefully is forming around the more substantial areas of the old trousers that I cut up.
I like how the two contrasting fabrics have a tentative connection; their leaf/ confetti pattern seems to mirror. I'll try to create a finished garment that brings harmony rather than clashing...
And talking about not clashing!
Any advice about working a treadle table? I got the cinghia (the leather belt to connect sewing machine and treadle under the table) on, and it seems like the right tension.
The peddle/ treadle machinery is oiled and moving nicely - the hand-moving of the side wheel of the machine is perfectly smooth. It just seems very difficult to get a continuous smooth stitch.
I think that this is a bit like (re?)learning to ride a bike! A matter of coordination, and letting go of overthinking with the front lobe brain! I'll get the hang of it, but should practise on scraps of fabric, not jumping in at the deep end with a precious seam on a new dress, like I did a few days ago - oopah!
Back to the sewing table I go - Vincent is making tea and brekky, and we have another beautiful creative day unfolding in front of us today. 🤗👐🙌👋
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