This year for Me Made May, I didn’t pledge publicly before like I usually do. Part of that was due to surgery recovery and not being on top of things before or even 100% sure I would do any documentation or keep up my pledge. But I knew I would do sketches at least. My Body Model started the #sketchmystyle challenge for May. I did come up with the following challenge for myself:
- Wear “me mades”
- Sketch “me mades”
- Try not to repeat
- Follow themes: Dresses, skirts, comfy, rainbow
And if I didn’t achieve it or achieved it in part, that’s okay since surgery recovery hasn’t been as smooth as I had hoped.
I made 31 sketches of 31 outfits. I got 29 pictures of said outfits. Except for 2 outfits, they were all according to the themes for each week. I didn’t care to document how many “me mades” I wore but just that I wore them. I usually have three or more pieces on, because 98% of my underwear is made by me and then I wear leggings underneath everything until I switch to short leggings in the summer.
Dresses
From May 1 to 10, with the exception of 2 days, I wore dresses.
I wore Belmont leggings most days but didn’t always draw them in. Starting on the first line left to right: Turner dress, McCall’s 7624, Verity dress, Moneta dress; second line left to right: Simplicity 1549, Myrtle dress, Burda wrap tunic, and McCall’s 6887 with Jenna cardi.
Two days during this period didn’t get documented but did get sketched:
On the left, Prefontaine shorts and a RTW shirt; on the right, Concord tank top and Belmont leggings.
I was not feeling well so I took a day of rest.
Skirts
From May 11 to 17, I wore skirts. Starting on the first line left to right: Concord tshirt with Pavlova skirt, Swoon scarf neck cardi with self-drafted skirt and crop top using Simplicity 8096, modified Cedar dolman with Pavlova skirt. Second line left to right: Upton skirt with Brit top, Burda cowl neck with self-drafted skirt, Concord tshirt with self-drafted skirt, Concord tshirt with Pavlova skirt.
This is definitely my preferred style. I find skirts and tops to be the most comfortable for me. I love dresses, but skirts just feel more comfortable outside of say… the next bunch of looks….
Comfy
First line left to right: modified Cedar dolman and modified Forsythe trousers, Gabriela onesie, Concord tank top with Barton shorts. Second line left to right: modified Concord tshirt and Belmont leggings, Concord tank top and Forsythe trousers, Ophelia overalls with a Bronte top, modified Concord tshirt with Belmont leggings.
These looks are all for around the house, sewing, going to doctor’s appointments. All worn May 18 to 24.
Rainbow
The final set is according to the colour of the rainbow. There is one repeat here due to not having much in yellow.
Starting on the top line left to right: modified Concord tshirt and Belmont leggings, Cate’s Cousin top with Willow robe and Belmont leggings, modified Cedar dolman and Belmont leggings. Second line left to right: Upton dress with Swoon scarf neck cardigan and Belmont leggings, modified Springfield top with rtw rub-off leggings, Rivermont dress with Belmont leggings.
I paired each look with white, black or grey and for the most part went with solid colours. The Rivermont dress ended out the month with my favourite dress. I need to make more of those dresses asap.
It was such a fun month. Granted, the sketching and documenting took most of my attention. I did sew a bit this past month but overall didn’t have the energy to take pictures for blogging. That’s okay. I did tons while recovering from my surgery.
Me Made May
I loved sketching each of my outfits throughout the month. I also loved learning how to do digital sketches. I definitely need a better program for sketching, but I can see the improvement throughout the month. There weren’t very many revelations about my outfits this month. Just that I want to make more tops and overalls. I do need more bras, but that is always true. I can’t make enough of those. Also, underwear. But nothing is urgent. I have a great handmade wardrobe and really love how colourful and happy it makes me.
Health Update
I’ve sort of been skirting around (haha punny) the topic during this post, but I figure a health update is in order. I had my surgery on April 16th correcting my deviated septum and scraping out my sinuses. I got the stents (plastic bits that keep your sinsuses open) removed on April 23rd. I experienced a lot of pain with the stents so the removal was a relief, but after that the inflammation made it almost impossible to breathe through my sinuses and that is where I am at. My doctor gave me steroid nasal spray to help with that but I haven’t seen an improvement and I had a thrush reaction to the steroids. So that’s fun. I’ve also for the first time in my life been having Spring allergies. I hope it’s just an anomaly due to being sensitive after the surgery and not a permanent occurrence. I usually get allergies after the snow goes away before things start growing because of the levels of dust and mold in the air, but not with pollen. Thankfully it stopped feeling so terrible to sneeze. For about a month, it felt like I was tearing my nose off with a sneeze.
I’ve been pretty low in energy until recently (probably the past week). I’ve been really grateful for not working during this time because I definitely needed more time. Since my sinuses have been so congested, it’s been difficult to sleep. I have gotten sleep back more recently. Increasing my energy.
The other huge thing that happened is due to an appropriate amount of rest and meds plus cannabis, I actually reached zero on the pain scale a few times in the past couple of weeks making my rest more restful and restorative than it has been in a really really long time. All of this makes me realize how much working a full time job was hurting me. I was pushing far beyond my spoons and burning out fast. No wonder I had so little energy for anything else.
Of course, that makes me worried about finding a job in the future. Money will become a factor sending me back at some point but I hope I can figure out a means to work from home on my own schedule.
In other news, more hereditary factors kicked in. I was recently diagnosed with diabetes, which runs in my family, so I always knew it was a major risk factor. I have minor diet improvements to make, but overall my levels aren’t too bad. I’m just in the range so with meds and diet improvements, I could be normal within the next 6 months. Having another health thing to worry over, though, sucks a lot. My diet is already pretty restricted due to allergies and intolerances that having another factor to think about is a lot more labour.
A chronic illness is a full time job and a half. This is what I have confirmed in the past 2 and a half months of being unemployed. There is little escape or relief from it. To get to a zero on the pain scale, I really can’t do anything for the period of time my meds/cannabis are helping me there. I can only focus on recovery.
I wish people were more understanding of how much labour and time chronic illness maintenance takes.
Andie Wells Studio 
Hiya Andie
You just hit the nail on the stripy head. It is a full time job just staying in a state of reasonable health when you have a chronic condition. I thought about listing the fight on all fronts but the post would be as long as your blog entry. UK government too backward re marijuana, it’s legalised but it’s not, very complex. Yet they are happy for me to pump myself full of opiates (morphine and synthetics) that only reduce the symptoms… Another example of what a ***k up the NHS has become, won’t be one once soon the way it’s going. Anyway, enough of the ranting. I hoped to do one me make but May was lost with a screwed back. Did at least wear a me make and was complimented on it, which was good. Decided on a me make 2019 instead and I’m going to at least get one piece started by the end of the year!!! Loved your sketches, I’ve done a couple cos I’ve brought patterns then I sketch to decide if I will make as is or hack them, also good for deciding on patterns or plains. I like to have plans ready to go so when I can see I can go right ahead.
Got a little bit of sewing to do, Mr needs trousers taking up and my cleaners wee lad is off on a school trip where he is to dress as an Elizabethan so I’m making him a coin purse and a cup holder to put on a belt. Starting small lol next thing you know I might’ve gone mad and sewed up every bit of fabric in the house during a hyper!!!!
I’ll be in touch soon, got some patterns that might be of use to you so I’ll send details and give you first refusal. I don’t know if they are what you can get so give me a few days and expect a message/ email. Hope your recovery
To all the other Zebras and all those with a chronic illness/ disability/ mental health problem, sending gentle hugs and wishes for you to get as much making done as possible
T x
I really wish the UK would get with the times on cannabis. While it doesn’t work for everyone, it works for so many people. I hope you got your sewing done. Many hugs and all the best. Xoxo
I like how you broke up you Me Made May. Loving the colour you wear. The sketches you did are excellent, are you displaying them? Might be cool.
Happy that you have got some relief from the pain. Hopefully it allows you to build yourself up a bit and tackle the next wave.
Best wishes for the future.
Thanks so much! I think that I will get them framed for my sewing space!
Managing your health really is a full time job (or 10!). I really hope you find a way to work around your body’s needs so it can have as much rest and healing as it needs. xx
Thank you, Siobhan. It’s a fine balance.
Me Made May sketches are slimy amazing and how splendid you thought to do it that way. Praying for improved health and answers to income opportunities in the future.
Thank you so much!! ❤❤
Hey – interesting emerging info on a potential mechanism for managing chronic pain is, believe it or not, metformin. Apparently, there’s a theory that a certain complement of pain-havers may be suffering with it for reasons of insulin resistance. I’m actually going to see an endocrinologist to learn more about whether I’m a candidate. It’s an off script use of this medication (for pain) so a GP can’t prescribe it unless you are actually type 2 diabetic. (My blood sugar is actually low, based on my blood tests, so I will need to see a specialist to see if there’s any wiggle room / if I might be a candidate.) I’m so happy that your pain has receded given that you’re not managing the stress of work.
Oh that’s really interesting. I have noticed a boost in my energy levels but my pain seems to be about the same. Although I have only been on the metformin for a couple of weeks now.