Bye Bye For July

Here's my last post for a while.
I will be taking July off blogging to get some work done ready for my course in September.
I need to do it now as once the school summer holidays begin at the end of July I won't have a minute to myself.
I will be popping up to take a look at your blogs from time to time but for now farewell.

Today I wore:

Dress - Ciel
Shoes - Clarks

Book Launch

Just one more week to go at the school where I have been working as a writer in residence with poet, Norman Warwick.
This is just one of the four classes we have worked with every week.
Norman and I were asked to create a project to help raise vocabulary standards across the school.
Way back in March when we were first asked to work with the pupils I was reading Studs Terkel's book Working.
I love the way Studs Terkel captures an era by interviewing people and suggested that we collect the voices of the pupils before the school closes in two years time.
Each week Norman and I have delivered a fast-paced workshop which has resulted in some fresh new writing that has been collated into a book called Voices Of Beardwood.
The end of the project next week will culminate in a celebratory book launch with all the parents invited.
If you are interested you can buy a copy or get a free download here.

Here Comes The Rain

I love the simplicity of this dress.
It is super cool and loose yet there is still a shape to it.
It rained today and for the first time for a long, long time I welcomed the rain as my plum trees were looking a bit parched.

Today I wore:

Shoes - Clarks
Dress- Gap

The Agony And The Ecstasy

We had friends round to watch the World Cup match.
England faced their old foes Germany.
And lost.
Badly.
On the upside we had a lovely barbecue.
The sun shone.
And it's still shining today.
What's there to be miserable about?

I wore:
Sandals - Clarks
Skirt and t-shirt - Gap

Thursday June 24

So tired today so it's back to the old faithfuls.
Striped shirt.
Denim skirt
Red Shoes.

Today I wore:
Skirt - Marks and Spencer
Top -Primark
Shoes- Clarks

59 all - You Cannot Be Serious!

A mad day today.
I left the house at 7am and didn't get home until 10pm.
During the day I was working at the prison and in the evening I was presenting a PR Workshop for the women's enterprise agency, Train 2000 in Liverpool.
It was a long and tortuous drive from one place to the other.
This was made worse by the soaring temperatures and listening to England play in the World Cup on the radio.
At least the roads were pretty clear.
I thought my day was long until I turned on the radio for the drive home and heard about the marathon match at Wimbledon between Mahut and Isner which was stopped at 59all.
Can you believe these men had been playing tennis for ten hours?
Maybe my day wasn't so mad after all.

Today I wore:
Shoes - Clarks
Skirt - Principles
Vest - H & M

A Perfect Day

"It's such a perfect day.
I'm glad I spent it with you."

I love Lou Reed's Transformer album.
I was introduced to Lou Reed in 1984 by an old boyfriend who used to work as a DJ on Radio Piccadilly.
He had the early morning show and he used to play my favourite song, "Walk On The Wild Side" at 6am during the summer months.
Today is a perfect day - a warm June day with blue cloudless skies.
I love where I live on days like this and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Today I wore:

Shoes - River Island
Dress - Oasis

When The North Wind Doth Blow

Sunny but cold thanks to a biting North wind.
I spent the day in Liverpool with my daughter and knew I would be on my feet for a long time.
This outfit was built for style and not comfort.
However, I knew I was going out in the evening and could play dress up with my new maxi.
I had put off buying a maxi thinking it would drown me but I saw Kimberley's reply to a Reader's Query about how petite girls can wear a maxi and I am so grateful for her advice.


I wore:
Day
Fitflops
Dress- Joe Brown
Cardigan - Asda

Evening
Dress - Next
Shows River Island

A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far Far Away

Back to the Blackburn High School where I am working as a writer in residence.
The pupils have been a pleasure to work with - they are so full of life, ideas and enthusiasm.
At least most of them.
There was one 14-year-old boy who could barely lift his head off the desk.
He had told me that he couldn't see the point of school and preferred to hang out on the streets with his mates, chilling and watching films until 2am.
I saw him as a challenge.
How to engage this boy?
We were experimenting with new ways of starting a story.
We began with Once Upon A Time.
Norman - the poet I am working with - asked the students for different ways of saying "Once" "Upon" "A" and "Time."
We still didn't have this boy depsite some imaginative takes on story openings.
Then I asked: "Come on, what is another way of starting a story?
"Think. Think of the opening of Star Wars."
My young student took his head off the table.
"Miss. Miss. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away."
That was it.
We had him - for the rest of the lesson at least!
Today I wore:

Shoes - Clarks
Skirt and Vest - Gap

It's All Gone Pear Shaped

Had a very busy day today so it was just as well that the evening was dedicated to Me.
Well me and a friend actually.
I invited Denise to attentd the Me Spot event at the Hard Day's Night Hotel in Liverpool after reading about it all on Kate's blog.
Sadly Kate wasn't at this event so I haven't yet had the chance to meet up - but it was a great evening nevertheless.
Denise and I hopped on the train to Liverpool and arrived at 7pm.
We had a lovely Tapas meal and then went to the hotel for the event which was such a good laugh - much needed in the middle of a busy week.
There was a masterclass on flirting with the Big Brother psychologist Jo Hemmings.
The event photographer was Rob who I have worked with for many years and I felt so sorry for him as his every move was analysed by Jo who is also a body language expert.
Next came a beauty session and Denise was chosen to be the makeover.
This was followed by a talk with a stylist who assessed all our body shapes.
I was always under the impression that I was an Hour Glass figure but no, I am apparently a pear shape.
As I have rather generous boobs I was surprised although I have to agree with the big hips part.
It also explained why I have trouble with the toursers.
The stylist pulled out a pair of silky Palazzo Pants and said these were the trousers which suited all body shapes.
Except mine.
"Stick to dresses and skirts. They work best for you," she advised!

Today I wore:
Shoes - Clarks
Skirt - Marks and Spencer
Blouse - Sara Berman

A Letter To My Daughter On Her 13th Birthday

June 12th 2010

Dear Briony,

Happy 13th Birthday.
I know that right now the money we gave you for your birthday is probably your greatest treasure but I hope you will find great treasures in this diary for many years to come.
I started writing a diary when I was about eight or nine after watching a Blue Peter programme on Anne Frank who was given a diary for her 13th birthday which was also on June 12th.
And I have kept a diary (on and off) since then for the past 30 and more years.
My diary has been a great friend to me.
When I have experienced great things like meeting your dad; getting married and giving birth to all four of you, I have been able to keep those wonderful memories alive by re-reading my diary.
When I am upset or worried I write about my fears or "sorrows" as Anne Frank called them and once they are outside of me and on paper they are so much easier to bear - a case of better out than in!
And I am not sure I would have become a writer if I hadn't kept a diary.
Through the process of recording my thoughts and feelings I got to appreciate the pleasure and power of words.
A diary helped me make sense of the present and look forward to the future while taking pleasure from the past.
I know I have waffled on a bit but I do hope you read the passge I have enclosed about Anne Frank and that you tuck this letter away somewhere in your diary.
This Five Year diary will take you to your 18th birthday and life as a fully-fledged grown-up but through recording the last five years of your childhood you will give yourself a priceless gift.
Much love,
Mum xxxxxxxxxxxxx


Extract
Taken from The Diary of A Young Girl
By Anne Frank

Wednesday, 5 April 1944

My dearest Kitty,
Unless you write yourself, you can’t know how wonderful it is; I always used to bemoan the fact that I couldn’t draw, but now I’m overjoyed that at least I can write. And if I don’t have the talent to write books or newspaper articles, I can always write for myself.
But I want to achieve more than that. I can’t imagine having to live like Mother, Mrs Van Daan and all the women who go about their work and are then forgotten. I need to have something besides a husband and children to devote myself to! I don’t want to have lived in vain like most people. I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death! And that’s why I’m so grateful to God for having given me this gift, which I can use to develop myself and to express all that’s inside me!
When I write I can shake off all my cares. My sorrow disappears, my spirits are revived! But, and that’s a big question, will I ever be able to write something great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer?
I hope so, oh, I hope so very much, because writing allows me to record everything, all my thoughts, ideals and fantasies…

Le Birthday Weekend

We had a lovely weekend.
My sister in law decorated the house and garden and created a fantastic celebratory atmosphere for the birthday boy and girl.
After lunch out in a nearby pub my sister in law invited some friends (35 of which half were children) to their home for the England match.
After the game we blew out the candles on the cakes.
The next day was a charity Family Bike Ride around the village to raise money for the local church and we all took part after borrowing some bikes.
I wish we lived closer to my brother and his family.
The children are just 1, 3 and 6 and change so much in between visits.
As the weather was a bit iffy I packed jeans, a skirt, a top and a couple of dresses that could be worn with or without jeans.

I wore:
Black and White Dress - TK Maxx
Red Dress - Joe Browns
Jeans - Top Shop

Summer Capsule Wardrobe Challenge Winners

Of course everyone who took part is a winner.
And before I announce the two winners I wanted to recap on everyone who has taken part.
And a big thank you to Gerry of BBM who designed this wonderful Polyvore.
Sheila
Biba
Franca
From Sneakers To Stilletos
Meli
Eek
Cara
Cid
Kate
Elegance Maison
Kiki
Lorena
Kasmira
LyddieGal
BBM
Mrs Hall
Bluerose
Ebbandflo
Jennifer
Case
Courtney
Flickr friends
City Mouse
Claudia
And the winners are:
Elegance Maison and Lorena.
Please email me (workthatwardrobe@gmail.com) your address and your prize will be in the post.
Congratulations to everyone who took part.
The next challenge will be a Back To School special in September.

My Summer Capsule Wardrobe Challenge

And here it is.
My Summer Capsule Challenge.
I have been overwhelmed by the creativity of fellow bloggers and will file a full round-up next week.
However, I am off on my travels later today.
It is my daughter's birthday on Saturday - a birthday she shares with my brother which means both me and my mum gave birth on the same date!
We will be spending the joint birthdays at my brother's house on the day that England play their first World Cup match against USA.
Have a wonderful weekend.
My capsule:
Dress - Ciel
Jeans - Top Shop
Skirt/Top - H & M
Vest - H & M
Cardigan - not shown but worn every day with every outfit - Tesco.

Kiki's Bag

I couldn't wait to share this with you.
Here is the bag Kiki made out of an old pair of jeans and my favourite (no longer wearable) skirt (created from a no longer wearable dress).
Kiki added a few of her own odds and ends into the bag and even created a corsage out of the skirt waistband and zip.
It came all gift-wrapped too.
I took this bag on its first trip to Bristol this week and I hope to take it on many more journeys.
Thank You Kiki!

Summer Capsule Challenge

I am looking forward to seeing everybody's collection.
I have a very busy week this week and have decided to make one post at the end of the week.
I have also picked up my bag from Kiki and can't wait to show you all - it is amazing!

Is It A Skirt Or Is It A Dress?

I love the idea of multi-functional clothes.
I bought this dress/skirt from Marks and Spencer a few months ago and intended to take it to Seville with me.
I wish I had - it is lovely to wear.
I can't wait to try it as a skirt especially using the Long and Lean model.


Today I wore:
Shoes - Birkentstocks
Dress/Skirt - Marks and Spencer

Do you come from Kansas?

I love the varying responses my attire provokes in the prison.
Today's inquiry was: "Do you come from Kansas?"
As The Wizard of Oz was one of my favourite films I got the comment straight away.
Others are not so straight forward.
A bit like the men I work with!

Today I wore:

Shoes - Clarks
Skirt and Necklace - Principles
Vest - Gap

Thrifty Ways

I bought this skirt in a charity shop a few weeks ago.
It cost 99p and it was the day I bumped into Kiki again.
I first met Kiki on International Women's Day and I was so inspired by her joie de vivre and talent.
A former social worker Kiki now spends her time making designer bags from recycled materials, volunteering for Oxfam and looking after her grandson.
I have commissioned Kiki to make a bag from my favourite skirt and just look what she has planned.
I can't wait to show it off.

Today I wore:
Shoes - Fitflop
Skirt - Oxfam ( H & M)
Vest - Gap
Necklace - Monsoon

Long And Lean?

This is my version of Lorena's inspiration.
I had versions of all of the clothes in the article and decided to give it a try.
I opted for boots instead of open toe sandals as I was working in the prison but I was impressed with the results.
Thanks Lorena!












I wore:
Boots - My daughter's
Skirt - Dorothy Perkins
Vest - H & M
Jacket - Oli

May Array