Another vote here for the Bryant and May series x

A piece of blackwork embroidery with geometric patterns within interlocking shapes. They are highlighted with blue, red and gold metallic threads.

A piece of hand embroidery and beaded floral patterns on pastel pink and cornflower blue silk. Gold trims and beading as been added between the diamonds cut panels of colour and decorated with little stars, pearls and other stones.

A piece of leather armour consisting of a skirt with hand dyed and individual scales sewn onto a belt and with overlaying tassets with brown, grey, black and white panels.

An 18th century frock coat, made with black lace and hand foiled with gold and decorated with black and gold feathers to make a more fantasy style costume.

It's my birthday 🎂
I would really appreciate a share to help find work ❤️

I'm a costume maker for film, TV and theatre- specialising in hand embroidery and leatherwork. Based in London- happy to travel!
I'd love to get back inside the workroom

📧 Elliotvenncostume@gmail.com
🔗 www.elliotvenn.co.uk

a lumpy black mass surrounded by wet brown leaf litter

Got out litter picking this morning for the first time in ages. Thought this black curly wig hiding among the leaves was some sort of fungus at first glance

that’s about twice what I’ve read! I blame podcasts. Also Bluesky

Get more from The Cosmic Shambles Network on Patreon Independent Creators of Content for the Curious

Today would be a great day to sign up to become a Cosmic Shambles Patreon. No reason… patreon.com/cosmicshambles @robinince.bsky.social

November is for reading or: a month of sheer luxurious intellectual pleasure

I am trying something in November. National novel-reading month, basically. It is the PERFECT month for reading (at least in the Western hemisphere).

naomialderman.substack.com/p/november-i...

In our house we often say “a woman?” in a Roger Moore voice, and point out a Nutty Room whenever we see one in some crime drama on TV

Thank you! 😊

Thank you! 😊

Thanks! 😊 My sewing teacher helped me with the collar. I wouldn’t have been able to work it out by myself

A dress hanging on a coat hanger against a golden brown wall. The dress is in sage green linen-look cotton, has a v-neck with a collar, and short, rolled-up sleeves.

This weekend I finally finished the Factory dress by Merchant and Mills. The collar was FIDDLY, and there’s still a couple of little tucks left under it, so don’t look too close. But it’s comfy to wear and will do nicely as a light work dress, so a success. AND IT HAS POCKETS #garmentsewing

I’m a MAJOR owl fan, but my favourite is the burrowing owl:
✔️v frowny & grumpy-they know what you did last Tuesday
✔️digs holes then peeps out of them
✔️EXPERTS at the wobbly head bendy neck owl thing
✔️long leggies
✔️does very silly running on said leggies
10/10 no owly notes HIGHLY recommended

a marrow on a background of lawn and fallen autumn leaves. Someone or something has possibly chewed the end off.

Anyone lost a marrow?

Got out early for a litter pick before the weather turns nasty. Nearly everyone I passed said good morning. Mood well and truly boosted.

ah, we did this earlier in the week. We felt ALL the emotions 😄 All the best to you and your eldest.

We finished our cultural weekend in Oxford back at North Wall Arts Centre, for Rob Newman’s new show. It was a real tonic to see him. Live comedy is essential for my mental health. He’s on tour, go see him!

A pile of books: Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers, The Teleportation Accident by Ned Beauman, Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem, I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore, Clown Town by Mick Herron, and Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

A photo of my book haul from a weekend in Oxford 📚💙

a view of the stage and the audience at an arts venue. There are empty chairs on the stage and a backdrop showing the cover of the book Clown Town by Mick Herron

Excited to catch Mick Herron talking about the new Slough House book at the North Wall Arts Centre in Oxford this evening 📚💙

#garmentsewing #sewsky

a little sleeveless top in a green floral fabric

After seeing it a couple of times on here, I was inspired to make the Gladys top by Stitch Witch. First time doing princess seams, bagging out and little thin straps. Really pleased with it, a lovely little top for my daughter to go clubbing in

Idea for a future Sewing Bee recycle challenge: take 5 flags ripped down from lampposts and turn them into an outfit for the Notting Hill Carnival 😆

hah! same! serves me right for letting all my registering and journalling pile up

The Bookcrossing site isn’t loading for me at all ☹️ Anyone else having problems?

A copy of A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. The quote from The Guardian on the cover says “A charming story of love and friendship”, which is correct.

I’m loving this series so much. It’s providing much-needed comfort and escapism 📚💙

A couple of pieces of dark red fabric sewn together along a curved seam

First attempt at princess seams. I think it’s turned out surprisingly well. Woo-hoo! New skill unlocked #garmentsewing

the aftermath of a violent altercation between a shopping trolley and an overflowing litter bin. The litter bin leans precariously, spilling dog poo bags on the ground. A woman in an advert on the side of the bus stop seems to think it’s hilarious.

Vicarage Road, Kings Heath

A shit photo taken from a moving bus of an old fridge left on the pavement in Balsall Heath. Someone has helpfully sprayed “fridge <3” on the side of it. It has been there for weeks.

fridge <3

The panel What quintessentially British images should go on the new banknotes? Our panel has some ideas

A photograph of a Manchester street strewn with revellers likened in its composition to a Renaissance masterpiece, depicts police wrestling a man in the foreground, crowds watching near a Greggs bakery in the back, and a gentleman in blue, reclining on the bitumen, reaching for a nearby beer.

A copy of Welcome to the Heady Heights by David F. Ross, a crime novel set in 1970s Glasgow

Reading now. It’s set in the summer of 1976 so has felt appropriate for the past few days 📚💙

I love the fabric 🤩