We have been in our latest lockdown for over 10 weeks now. It’s less stressful than it used to be and people have got used to wearing masks when they go shopping. We certainly have a “new normal”, but it can be terribly depressing and it’s easy to feel glum and lack motivation. So, when there is an opportunity to have a change of scenery, it needs to be grabbed with both hands. And that’s why I ended up in Aberystwyth yesterday… Mr Snail had an appointment with the optician and the sun was shining, so I had a trip out. I did do a little bit of food shopping, but we also had a walk on the prom which was quite busy. It feels like quite an adventure these days.
However, one of the best bits was that I was able to get Mr Snail to take a few photos of me in my new outfit, without the backdrop being the curtain over the front door or the contents of the limery. The Southern Pines crochet sweater you have seen before on Mimi, but here it is on me, complete with my adapted version of The Brumby Skirt by Megan Nielsen. I didn’t have quite enough fabric as specified in the pattern, but with a little jiggery-pokery I managed to cut it out at the length that I wanted. There wasn’t enough to pattern-match, but I cut the front as a single panel rather than two, so this didn’t matter and I can live with it not matching at the back. One of the best things about the design is that it has lovely big pockets. Hard as I tried I couldn’t pattern-match even the small exposed part of the scooped out section of these. They are not visible on the picture to the left, but as you can see below I managed to get them looking ok. The other thing that I changed about the pattern was the back zip. The original uses an exposed chunky metal zip as a feature, but I didn’t fancy this, so I inserted an invisible zip (not quite as invisible as intended, but that’s ok), which is much more in keeping with the cotton fabric I used… the fabric design, by the way, is called “Crop Circles” – I love it. I found a rather modern-looking vintage mother of pearl button in my button box which seemed to match the general theme. I really like the result and I will certainly be using the pattern again.
I suspect that without the excursion I probably wouldn’t have got round to photographs for a while. Now I think about it, I’m sure that a lack of inspiring photographs is one of the reasons I haven’t been blogging so much recently.
The Snail of Happiness 
SpruceKnob
/ March 3, 2021The best part of this post is the smile on your face!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 3, 2021It was really lovely to be out in the sunshine for a while… it’s grey and chilly again now, so I’m glad we managed to get out while the sun lasted.
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Nice Piece of Work
/ March 3, 2021I think both the sweater and the skirt are absolutely fabulous, and I also love your boots! Lockdown is hard in so many ways, often completely unanticipated ways, and I know you guys over in the UK are having a really hard time of it right now. I can see you were enjoying a dose of Vitamin D, and hope you all get lots more very soon. xx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 3, 2021The boots are really comfy. Not the most elegant footwear I have, but I don’t care.
I think many people here are finding it a challenge now; possibly because the promise of vaccines means we can all see a glimmer of hope that isn’t really here yet.
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Nice Piece of Work
/ March 4, 2021Who needs elegant? Certainly not me!
Ah, the “promise of vaccines”…lucky you. We continue to wait…
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 4, 2021In theory Mr Snail should hear about his sometime after the 22nd of this month and me some time after that (he’s in the group before me). The vaccine roll-out seems to be going quite well here… unlike so many other things!
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Nice Piece of Work
/ March 5, 2021Excellent news 🙂
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polesparadise
/ March 3, 2021Jumper, dress, model and weather all look lovely! XX
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 3, 2021The weather has been such a joy for the past few days… sadly it’s cloudy again now.
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Rainbow Junkie
/ March 3, 2021Fun pattern and pockets. What’s not to like. Beautifully made and it suits you.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 3, 2021Thank you… I especially like the pockets.
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tialys
/ March 3, 2021Great outfit. I think I said it when Mimi was wearing the jumper but I really love that colour. I love the pattern too but I’ve never done cable crochet before – is it challenging?
I went to Waitrose last week – couldn’t get a delivery slot – and I was like a kid in a sweet shop. I hadn’t been to a supermarket since being back in England and I was taking ages looking at everything – it was practically empty too. We have to take our pleasures where we find them these days.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 3, 2021I thought the pattern was quite straightforward. It’s worked top-down so there are no seams at the end and once you get used to the repeats it’s quite easy. In fact I liked it so much that I’ve made another one, with the shape slightly modified so it’s more of a tunic… I need another trip out for a photo op!
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katechiconi
/ March 3, 2021You look smashing, and it’s not just the outfit, it’s the lighthouse-worthy beaming smile on your face! I can almost smell the air and hear the gulls and the sound of the waves, and I can definitely feel that sun, too! Love love love the skirt fabric, it’s wonderful, and you look both stylish and comfortable. More outdoor fashion shots, please!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 3, 2021I need to be more organised with the photography, really. There are loads of nice places to be photographed locally, but we just aren’t visiting them at the moment… soon, though I hope.
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nanacathy2
/ March 3, 2021Out is unbelievably good- and you look good too. Love the outfit and in the background of your picture is my eldest son’s hall of residence when he was at uni there many many moons ago. We left him there in a building rife with teenage hormones and I wept buckets for miles, my first born leaving the nest.
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Laurie Graves
/ March 3, 2021Great pictures! Love the snappy clothes. You are a wonder, that’s what you are.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 4, 2021Thank you. I am hoping for the chance to take more interesting pictures in a few months when restrictions are eased a bit.
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DawnGillDesigns
/ March 4, 2021I had the dentists for a check up last week. God, the excitement!! Other than that it’s the Post Office on Tuesdays followed by a brisk walk round the park, punctuated with a wander up the the deli for cheeeeeese once every weeks afterwards. every weeks we also do a properly big shop. I’ve always been a home bunny, but I’m looking forward to getting to the coast for a walk along the clifftops, once we are encouraged to travel a bit for our exercise. PS – lovely to see you properly, and you look fabulous as do your creations.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 4, 2021It’s so long since I’ve been able to go to the dentist… still no check-ups here with our practice.
The world seems to have got so small, doesn’t it?
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DawnGillDesigns
/ March 4, 2021yes, but on the upside, I have made some great pals online that I probably wouldn’t have had we not had all these stay at home orders and lockdowns.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 4, 2021I has been wonderful to develop online friendships, hasn’t it? Thank goodness for technology.
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Going Batty in Wales
/ March 4, 2021You look great Mrs S! I think we all really appreciate chances to go further afield that we used to take for granted. I envy you a walk by the sea! I had my first dose of vaccine 3 weeks ago – age has some advantages! – and they seem to be making good progress so hopefully we will be allowed out a bit more soon.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 4, 2021Mr Snail may have his by the end of the month, but I’m going to gave to wait a little longer.
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Wild Daffodil
/ March 4, 2021What a joyful post! Love the outfit and your beaming smile in the sunshine. I can go and be with my local Grandchildren this weekend! Had the vaccine 3 weeks ago – so there will be hugs!!!! Skipping at the thought!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 4, 2021How lovely. I bet you can’t wait.
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