My October 2025 Was Busier Than Expected

Hey friends, I’m back with an update for October… and what a month it was!

I cannot believe that we have just two months left of 2025. How is that even possible? I feel like the year so far has flown past, and I’m not sure whether it’s because I’ve been so busy or whether time just speeds up as we get older? Somehow?

Anyhow, enough waffle – let’s dive into what I got up to in October 2025, and my plans for November!

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog entry and you will not learn anything from reading this other than my thoughts and feelings, which will help you to know me better! 🙂

The Personal Update

If you’re not here for the personal stuff, please scroll down for the biz updates! We are currently working on our wedding plans, having gotten engaged in Paris in autumn 2023. The first step has been working on ‘where’ the wedding will be.

Wedding Venues

For those who are interested, wedding plans have been made. Our original venue for the wedding became ridiculously expensive, and so we went back to the drawing board, and I spent a week looking at wedding venues while in the UK in October. What an overwhelming experience that was!

We will be having a church wedding, which I am very happy about, and I am pleased to say that I found the perfect venue for the wedding breakfast and evening reception! So, we are all systems go!

I won’t share details right now, as I think information like that should be kept private until after the day, but I can say that the interior of both venues are aligned – lots of old wood! – and I am working on the art work for the invites with my future mother-in-law’s help.

Wedding Gown

The irony of making my own wedding gown is that in general I like to leave a sewing project until the moment I need it, as my body weight and shape changes so much during the day and month… yet with this ‘project’ I have been thinking a lot about it. I have two Pinterest boards of wedding gown inspiration, an instagram collection of wedding dress gowns and pages printed and dissected for construction notes.

I wrote a blog post about making my wedding dress focusing on the design inspiration and getting started, and there’s also a vlog episode on my Youtube channel too.

My next thought is to perhaps visit some bridal stores in Amsterdam and Utrecht in November, to get an idea of what dress style I like on me. My maid of honour is not based in Europe, so I will be going on my own, but I’m hopeful I can capture some photos or video snippets to send her for her thoughts… and maybe I’ll share one of the ‘no’ options in my November update for those interested!

I’ll definitely be creating a dedicated series of posts on my wedding gown progress so keep an eye out for those… you can always subscribe to get my emails with those updates as well!

Mum’s Anniversary

October 14th marked four years since my Ma left us. I was very anxious about getting home to be with my dad and brothers, as I had been ill and don’t like to travel when feeling rough. But I made it home late on the 13th and am thankful that I got to be home with them on the anniversary date.

I have really struggled with grief this year. I don’t know if it’s the ‘amount’ of time that has passed… is four years a key moment in the journey of grief? I’ve had a lot of guilt and worry as ‘companions’ throughout 2025, but since the 14th passed, I did feel more like me.

Losing A Friend

I also lost a friend at the end of the month too. Kilby was the first person I knew to pass away since my Mum, which is probably why it hit so hard. I’ve been out of sorts since.

I’m so used to chatting with her throughout the week about art – we would challenge each other and she was fearless at trying something new when I challenged her – that it feels very quiet without her in my life now, and will do for some time I’m sure.

The Art Goal

If you’ve been here before, you’ll know that I have been working on my art skills for a couple years now. It’s my ‘not-work’ hobby, and I feel like I’m at a cross roads with it.

On the one hand I’m still enjoying the monthly personal challenges I set myself, and can see improvement month after month, but I have been asking myself ‘what is the point’?

Long ago I used to love writing children’s stories, probably because I worked with small children for so long. I still feel the urge to explore that but in an illustrated story telling style.. I think. And that’s why I say ‘what’s the point’? What is my plan with it..

Anyhow, here is a drawing I particularly like of my dad! I used oil pastels which is unusual for me, but I loved the texture.

Halloween

We also made an effort again for Halloween this year. The theme was witch trials, so I went as a witch disguised as a common villager.

I’m not one for going out and buying a costume unless it is something that will get a lot of wear, so I pulled out my 1950s cape, and used that with a long drape black dress I received second hand from my future MIL this summer.

I also added a basket full of fruits, tarot cards, a spell book and dried flowers… It worked well, and with some necklace chains thrown on and some glam makeup, I felt like I didn’t let the team down.

Eve dressed up as a witch disguised as a villager

I got told that the theme next year is aliens, which means I will most definitely be making an alien costume. I’ll be sure to share that process too!

The Business Update

And now we come to the business update. Work has been tough in terms of growth. I feel like I’m doing so much to ‘try’ and grow, but yet all the hard work doesn’t seem to be paying off.

Income is stuck, product sales are stuck, the number of website visitors is stuck… Is it the time we live in now where Ai is dominant, and people no longer visit blogs? Is it the economy?

It’s worrying – but I will keep pushing through.

Video Content

The month started great with lots of video creation in the first two days for my Learn to Sew course… until I got sick… and then I went to the UK.

Another dark and rainy day prevents video work

When I got back I discovered that the builders had started work next door. Throw in the dark and rainy days and everything came to a standstill for video – and photo based – content.

I now have some ‘studio’ lights – they’re not great but they were budget friendly, so I can get back to recording the remaining video lessons for Learn to Sew, and then ramp up my YouTube videos too more so in the new year.

I did succeed in getting a video uploaded for my recent Walnut Slouch Pouch pattern, which is a video that could use a little love, if you feel like having a listen while working on a sewing project? There’s also a zippered pouch tutorial if you want to have a read through too.

The zipper pouch is slouchy and can be collapsed to take up less space

To that end, please let me know in the comments what kind of videos you’d watch.. I seem to have been pigeonholed by all platforms as a ‘pattern making content creator’, and any time I post sewing related videos, they do terribly. Knowing what people would watch would be super helpful in breaking through this invisible wall.

Blog Content

I managed to get a few posts written or updated in October – always a handy task to have on hand when travelling as it’s time that can easily be spent writing or editing photos.

These are the new and updated posts if you missed them:

Hmm… looking back at that list and it is significantly smaller than I thought it was. Argh…

Products

Finally, a look at the status of various products I’ve been working on.

Online Courses

My Learn to Sew course is halfway through, though some feedback I had was that it was overwhelming. I think I probably put ‘too much’ into it, and I guess sewing beginners don’t need to know all the things. I’ll be revisiting this in November so will touch on that below.

I’ve also outlined the much awaited and requested pattern making course. Again, more on this in my November Plans below.

Sewing Patterns

I’ve been working on sewing patterns too. This seems like an ever ongoing process (which is obvious as I am thorough with my process and development) and I’m hoping that two I’ve been working on will be ready before Christmas. Stay tuned!

In addition, I’ve been working on updating the branding across my sewing patterns. There needed to be consistency, and I felt like having made the decision to house everything that is my design IP on a shop with my own name, it made sense to have the branding slightly different to how things look here at TCC.

Eve Tokens Patterns - branding has been updated

Sewing Planners

Every year I release an updated edition of my sewing planner. It got 1 sale in 2025, so I have decided against updating it this year. There are many hours that goes into updating a product each year, to make sure it is all interlinked and a valuable resource, and I’m tired of putting in the work and seeing no returns. So, I have cut dated sewing planners from my online shop.

November Plans

And now to what will be happening in November!

Online Courses

Let’s start with the ‘big announcement’ – I have more online courses coming! Yay!

Pattern Making Course

There will be a free mini pattern making course that people can sign up for at any time, to see if they’re at ready to start drafting patterns. Then the main course will available in topical ‘chunks’.

This is because not everyone wants to learn how to draft skirt patterns. Or trouser patterns. Breaking it down also means the pricing will be more cost effective for those who are worried about costs.

Learn To Sew Course

As mentioned in the October recap, the course is too big and meaty as it stands. So I’m going to be breaking it up into standalone modules.

Those who already purchased the main course will still get access to everything, as they were my first supporters, but it will look different in their course account and hopefully less overwhelming.

For those who haven’t purchased the full course, they will be able to purchase individual modules or the course in full, but at an increased price. Which translates to ‘buy now before the price goes up‘ and I change the overview page!

A Secret Course

I also have something else up my sleeve, which you’ll hear about in later November I think.. but my lips are sealed on details!

Sewing Patterns

An early sample of my Hawthorn Hipbag sewing pattern

As mentioned above, I have quite a few sewing patterns in development, and progress is going strong. My hope is that two will be available by the end of November:

The Hawthorn Hip Bag
The Winnie Wrap

If you didn’t know, I like a little alliteration when it comes to product names! 😉

I also have three patterns close to being ready but most likely in December. More on those next month.

Sewing Planners

I have dropped sewing planners that are dated – I don’t need the extra work and stress at this point – but I will be adding an updated The Sewing Journal to my online shop before the end of the month.

I love the version I use, having tested it on my iPad for a few months, so I think it’s ready to go out into the world!

New Tutorials

And finally, there will be new tutorials on the blog in November. I have a few half complete pattern making tutorials that I want to finish up throughout the month so keep an eye on your emails as I generally send those out in my “For the Weekend” emails.

There will also be video tutorials too on the YouTube channel as well, assuming I can get faster at editing. It’s only me, and as one person, there is only so much I can get done. However if you do have requests, leave them in the comments so I can see what people are in need of!

That’s it my friends! What a month October was, and I’m sure November will be just as busy. Thanks so much for making it this far – as a real person hustling to make ends meet, your support does mean the world to me.

Big hugs,
Eve

If you love sewing and want to share your works in progress with others and build sewing friendships, come and join my free sewing community here – it’s a private community and a nice way to stay in touch away from social media!