An American in Leeds

I landed at Leeds Bradford airport two years ago today. My boss dropped me off at my temporary apartment, and I fell flat on my face for 16 hours straight. It's been a strange couple of years, I admit. Moving to any new place can be a wild ride, but moving to another country is a roller coaster of wackiness. Between learning to use the washing machine, learning to drink beer properly, deciphering British social rules, and figuring out what an aubergine is, I sometimes feel like I just got off a carnival ride and I'm going to puke. Just kidding about the puke bit. A little. Growing up, I didn't understand social cues. I treated other kids as my own personal experiment to learn how to behave properly. I ended up having a mental catalog of cues and their appropriate responses in order to get through everyday social interactions. That catalog has undergone heavy revision in the past two years. I worry a little about what's going to happen when I eventually move back to the ...

My fascinating friend J. Lo came to visit me. She knows everything (and I mean everything ) about Medieval church architecture and the people involved, but only tells you the really entertaining parts. She's like a textbook mixed with gossip rag. Because I let my friends push me around, J. Lo dragged me to York to see York Minster (which always makes me think of cheese), among other things. We also climbed to the top of the crossing tower: And saw part of the wall: Sewing alert: Crepe wrap dress at York Castle As always, the rest can be found here.

This weekend I completed the shell of my Fall 2010 Lady Grey: Taken during a brief break in the torrential downpours we're having today. Well, mostly completed. Because of the way the lining is attached, you don't put the collar on until later. This pattern seems to call for a lot more fabric than you actually need. The first time I made this coat, I bought the recommended amount of shell fabric, and ended up with a ton left over. (By the way, if anyone has any ideas on what to make with a couple yards of spring green tweed-like material, let me know.) This time, I cut back on the amount by about 1.5 yards because a) the fabric was stupid expensive (but was exactly what I wanted, so I sucked it up), and b) I didn't want a pile of leftover fabric. Then I panicked, thinking I wasn't going to have enough. I ended up still having about half a yard leftover. I didn't have enough to cut the belt in one piece; I'll have to sew two pieces together, which is really no bi...

I've had Florence + The Machine in heavy rotation the past few weeks. I'm writing a review about interferon regulation. Florence helps me think of other things when I'm not writing. I ventured out to Lawnswood Cemetery in North Leeds on Saturday. As usual, more here. On Sunday, I made Coq au vin, the Julia Child way. It turned out really nice, even without lighting the cognac on fire.

Shell Lining Please excuse the crap pictures- I was doing my cutting at night. I do not, however, wear my sunglasses at night. The cutting of my Lady Grey coat has begun. The rest of the Sew-A-Long people are doing their muslins right now. I figured I would get a jump start on my real coat, since the weather will be right for it sooner rather than later here in Leeds. I cut my tissue patterns, I don't (typically) trace. And I use pins instead of sewing weights. I feel like I'm a bad home seamstress because of this. It's mostly because I'm lazy, and like to spend as little time prepping stuff as possible. I like sewing. Cutting is the dullest part of sewing for me. To prepare for cutting this coat, I raided the bargain DVD bin of the local British WalMart (aka Asda). I got LA Confidential and Casino Royale. (As an aside- the cashier remarked how my boyfriend will be having a good night. Uh, dude, these are for me, WTF, Batman?). I like watching thrillers/ action movies w...

I do quite a bit of sewing. It's one of my obsessions. There's something incredibly satisfying with making my own clothes. I don't do a lot of tailoring, so I can't say it's making something that fits just right. I think it's being able to make something in the color I want, the style I want, and the fabric I want (usually- good fabric can be touch-and-go here in Leeds). I've joined a Sew-a-Long . We're sewing the Lady Grey coat from Colette Patterns. The Sew-a-Long is doing a muslin mock up. I am not bothering with the muslin because a) I am a lazy ass, and never do muslins, and b) I've made this coat before , and it fits beautifully. Anywhoodle, here's my fabric: The charcoal grey is for the shell. The print is for the lining. The buttons help keep the coat closed when wearing it. Because I'm doing this coat as part of a Sew-a-Long, this means that I will be posting updates as I sew it. Lucky you, blog readers! See how I snuck the sewing u...

1. I take pictures of the ground: 2. I wear big, vintage glasses on occasion. 3. I sometimes put product in my hair to texturize it, aka make it look like I haven't washed it in a few days. 4. Then, I pull it up in a bun and muss it up a bit, to make it look like not only I haven't washed it, but that I slept with it in a bun. 5. I get into arguments of New Order vs. Joy Division. For the record, I fight for New Order. 6. I own an iPod touch. I don't actually like it, though- the screen is too sensitive, and I end up yelling at it No! I don't want to listen to THAT! which makes me look extra crazy. 7. I write a blog. Where I post pictures I have taken of the ground. Need I say more?