Today is “Blue Monday” - so called because of a pseudoscientific calculation that it is the most depressing day of the year: Christmas is a fading memory, the days are short and grey, everyone’s still broke and payday is still a week away. Along with many others, I experience Seasonal affective disorder, so to combat the instinct to hibernate the month away, I like to focus on planning and action, looking forward to the year ahead. I know that resolutions aren’t for everyone, but I find setting out plans and goals to be a really positive exercise for me. So my goals for 2019 include:
Walking my commute: I am fortunate to live reasonably close to my place of work, so I have the option to walk the 3.5 miles or take the train. While taking the train does give me an extra 20 mins of duvet time, walking to work sets my day off on the right foot, energises me for the day, and saves cash. So I’m making a commitment to myself not to hit snooze and to get my walking shoes on in the morning. It’s also nice to essentially gain an hour of time to just get some headspace to think and plan, or listen to a podcast, or browse Etsy or Instagram (yeah I walk around with my nose in my phone sometimes and that’s fine, stop judging me).
Growing my brand: I’ve spent some time this past month reflecting on where I want to take Tuppence Ha’penny. I have lots of ideas and plans - from projects and tutorials, to fashion history research pieces, to hosting an Instagram challenge - I just need to figure out how to take them forward.
Making time to create: This is incredibly important to me, and I’m fully committed to ensuring I take time each week to either sew, draw, or create new fabric pattern designs.
Taking my sewing skills to the next level: My 2019 Make Nine list includes several projects to push me out of my comfort zone and level up my skills. I plan to tackle a trapunto project, sewing sheer fabric, beaded embroidery, pattern drafting / grading, millinery projects, and more!
Practicing body positivity: While I’m all about body positivity for other people - my Instagram feed is full of awesome, stylish ladies of all shapes and sizes - I’m less good at applying the same principles to myself. I need to start practicing what I preach, and accept and love and embrace my body for what it is, not on how it measures up to other ‘grammers or Mrs. Maisel’s vital statistics or an imagined self-conception.
Getting outside more: While it’s tempting to spend my whole weekend engaged in indoor activities, when the sun does make an appearance I’m making a conscious effort to get some vitamin D - even if it means braving the chill. A bright, crisp Sunday this weekend put a spring in my step on the walk to colourful Notting Hill to take these pictures.
This outfit combines several of my favourite things: bright pastel shades, vintage plastic/celluloid jewellery, and 1950s knitwear! I love playing with combinations of three or more colours, and I decided to go for a pastel twist on the classic primary triad, in a turquoise-shaded blue, lemon yellow and baby pink.
The necklace was a favourite find in a local antique store when I lived in Chichester. I think it originally had a double strand, but it had been broken and fixed at some point and was a little weird looking. I took out some links to shorten it, and re-used them to extend a vintage celluloid bracelet into another necklace. The vintage celluloid leaf earrings I’ve paired it with almost look like they’re made as a companion to the necklace, they’re such a good match.
