Dress Of The Day with Angela

 I bought a pair of pink shorts only because they matched my pink hooded jacket. Before buying the shorts, I had dithered. I suspected I was never going to wear shorts with my favourite hooded jacket. I looked at the shorts and thought - I really need a skirt. If only I had a skirt. I wish I could convert the shorts. The price was only one pound in St Lukes. So I bought it. Why not turn the shorts into a skirt?  I cut the shorts up the A shape seam between the legs. That left a notch at the front and back. I found an old bra with lace and cut it up to fit. The colour was not quite right. Later I saw some baby clothes in St Luke's.  Perfect pink. Perfect match. Three for a pound. One was from Marks & Spencer. Two had patterns. One was plain. I cut the plain baby outfit in half and used safety pins to cover both gaps, lining up the hems. I sewed the triangular patches using matching pink cotton.  I was very pleased with the results. I had converted shorts into a sk...

 I went to Wapping in East London near Tower Bridge on one of the hottest days of the year, and one of the hottest years for that day, June 30th. It was the second day of the two day spirits and bar and beverages show, BCB (initials of Bar Convent Berlin). The big annual show in Berlin, Germany, attracting sellers from all over Europe, had come to England for the first time, at London in 2025. Next year's show, in 2026 June is already booked.  It was a trade only show. As it was such a hot day I travelled wearing a baseball cap, in pink, from New Zealand. Pink New Zealand Cap I wasn't sure whether I looked smart enough. Caps are casual. Sporty. However, the weather warm. People were wesring shorts because of the heatwave and caps with visors to keep the summer sun out of their eyes The first of two hats I was given was a red baseball cap with the words Rooster Rojo (rojo meaning red Red Rooster Rojo Cap Red is my colour. Perfect for me Then I was given another cap. This time b...

  After my initial picture on the day I bought the Bravissimo dress I did not wear it again. Why? Because the sleeves felt wrong. Too short. Lopsided. I kept the dress beside my desk waiting for inspiration.  Finally I took it out. I tried it on  I still didn't like it. I took it off. Something had to be changed, something had to be sewn. Or cut. Altering Sleeves The sleeves.  They were sewn up too tightly. I could not release the sewn part with normal size scissors. The answer was a seam ripper device. But I did not have one to hand. I fetched nail scissors. Curvy scissors with a sharp point. But in poor light I could not see the black thread. Wait until morning? I moved a table lamp next to my sewing on the desk. I slit the first thread. But the line of stitching did not unravel. To avoid cutting the fabric, I had to pull the two sides apart and cut just one thread at a time. It worked! The tab was hanging obtrusively. So I buttoned it up again. No second button is...

  Peeling sandals surface. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.  Cushion Walk Collapse The surface started peeling off my sandals. Like paint peeling off woodwork. Horror. Disappointment. I can't wear that. It looks shabby. It annoys me. I am worried that the rest of the shoe will disintegrate. My husband is likely to grab them and throw them in the bin. But they are cofortable. Handy for travelling. What should I do ? Throw them away - no. How could I rescue them? I held them in my hands, wondering whether I  could separate the sole. As I held them, more 'paint' peeled off.  I scratched off some more. The white surface underneath was intact, not disintegrating,  nor scratched nor stained.  I continued. I didn't want to damage my fingernails. I tried rubbing with my finger tips. New Colour of Rescued Shoes Eventually I had a new colour of sandals. The sandals were originally dark pink and grey. (American spelling gray.)    Photo by Angela Lan...

 Marks & Spencer Reminder The name Marks & Spencer consists of the surnames of the two founders. The company was founded way back in 1884 in Leeds in the North of England. Where exactly? In Leeds. Is that the Midlands or the north. It's the north. Leeds is one of ten cities called the Northern Powerhouse.  Michael Marks The co-founders were Jewish Michael Marks and Christian Thomas Spencer. Wikipedia states that Michael was a Jewish Polish imigrant.  Michael Marks. Photo from Wikipedia. Thomas Spencer Wikipedia doesn't say that Thomas was Christian but that' is obvius from the cross on his gravestone and the fact that his widow was active in the local church. The St Michael brand name was founded by Michael's son Simon, about twenty years after Michael's death, a name Simon chose in honour of his father. That early co-operation and close contact between Christians and Jews explains two things which had always puzzled me, why Jewish Marks had used the word sa...

 Tesco Top Details Size UK 12. The label says that the label itself (not the hat) is made from recycled bottles! Marks Hat Details Marks & Spencer. Autograph.  Made in China. The label warns, don't hand wash, don't dry clean, don't tumble dry and don't iron.  The technical term for a hat like this, ifyou want to ask for one in a shop or search online, is a fasinator. It consits of a headband with elaborate decoration on top. It does not hide the hair, but adds height to the wearer, and completes a co-ordinated look if in a colour which matches or co-ordinates with clothes. I remember thiking it cost a lot of money compared with a full size hat, more money for less fabric.  However, it is well made, does nto fall apart. And it adds interest to an outfit. I have worn it many times. Useful Websites Marks & Spencer Tesco