I Swear I Only Went in For Buttons...

Ever do this?  Walk into your local fabric shop for one or two things, usually buttons or a zipper?  And some how end up with a pile of beautiful fabrics in front of you at the checkout.  Usually without the thing you went in there for in the first place?

Ummm...yeah.  It is a rather vague but familiar experience for me.  And, it happened tonight. I only needed buttons...basic, black buttons for my daughter's cardigan (she had somehow lost two).  University student that she is, she's become all frugal on me and asked me to fix it.  I'll have her sewing soon, I promise.  But in the meantime, I come home, hiding bags of fabric, okay, really it was only one large bag of fabric, in the trunk of my car.  But, when you see what I got, you'll be wishing you could have some too.  Guess what?  All clearance, and all bolt ends.  Which means I got fabric for a pair of wool trousers, a jacket, a skirt, a dress, a shirt, a sweater coat and a sweater for...wait for it...$60.  Yup, SIXTY BUCKS.  For seven items.  That's less than 10 bucks an item.  Can you see why I'm excited here??

Here's what I got:

Black and white wool herringbone suiting for the aforementioned trousers, jacket, skirt and dress (as I mentioned to the clerk who was drooling over my find - not to be worn all at once)

Red sweater knit - so soft and squooshy.  And nary the word Acrylic on the label (big smiles here!)

White stretch shirting with an embroidered black stripe (hmm...this photo is giving me fits...the stripes actually run the other way, but the photo keeps rotating when I insert it...just imagine it with the stripes running up and down.  Or tilt your head.  Technology LOL)

and last but not least - black and white tweed knit

And the buttons?  Got them too.

What to do when you throw your back out??

This weekend was much quieter than I had originally planned and anticipated.  I hurt my back last weekend, by energetically carrying five (yes 5) 45 lb bags of water softener salt down from my front step to the basement.  Hmmm.  I *used* to be able to do this. It doesn't seem that I am able to any longer.  (Side note:  I turned 40 just over a month ago.  Is this what happens after 40??  I refuse to have it happen again if possible, so when I am well, a new and structured exercise program will be put into place!)

So, instead of racing in the Dragon Boat Festival this weekend, I sat quietly on the sidelines for part of the day before retreating home when I could no longer stand comfortably.  I rested for the remainder of the day (knitting - V Junkie in Knit Picks Stroll Multi Tuscany colourway - loving these!!), and on Sunday, I learned that my sewing area chair is indeed comfortable, and sewing was one activity I could do without causing much more pain.  I embraced it enthusiastically.

I finished this:

McCalls 6124 in white cotton eyelet purchased eons ago from Fabricland, our local chain store.  It's a cute summer shirt, with princess seams (though they're barely visible in this photograph).  I also really like the shirt tail hem line.  There are slits in the seams at the lower edge. The sleeves are two part sleeves (love this!), and the sleeve vent at the cuff is just a folded back and finished seam allowance.

I also finished a pair of these:

Photo Credit:  www.voguepatterns.com

Slim jeans from Vogue 8774 in a heavy weight white denim.  Sorry no photo yet - it's hard to get decent photos of your pants when you've only got your own cell phone and no extra photographer!  (Ask me how I know...I tried and the results weren't pretty!!)  I added 3" to the length but think I will add another inch to the next ones I make.  I will also attempt the fish eye dart alteration under the butt to get rid of some fabric that seems to be pooling there.

In progress:  a black embroidered gauze shirt from Butterick 5678 (yay separate cup sizes, no FBA necessary!)

Photo Credit:  www.butterick.mccall.com

Yes.  I am sewing all summer clothing.  Funny how that seems to always happen!  If I can continue with this kind of mojo though, you'll be seeing my sexy retro classics for fall soon!

Holy Hannah...Where did the Summer go?

My blog has become a litany of apologies to what are now probably my non-existent blog readers.  So...no apology in this post.  No excuses either. This summer absolutely flew by.  While I am not saying the summer is officially over, I certainly can see the beginnings of fall creeping ever so slightly into the late summer days.  There are a few trees turning colour already, the days are getting much shorter (my front house light timer has finally gotten back into sync with when it is actually dark outside), the nights are much cooler, and the sunlight has changed to that late summer light.  The colours blooming right now are deep purples, and mustard yellows.  My thoughts are turning from eyelet and linen to corduroy and tweed.    From open-toed sandals to riding boots.  From sundresses, tank tops and shorts to jackets, chunky-knit sweaters and trousers.

I have been busy.  Busy driving, busy doing, busy being, busy taking care of others.  But unfortunately for the most part, not busy sewing.  This summer has wrung me up and spat me out, and boy, am I tired. I am trying to balance my life a little more.  It has become so very tilted into one or two directions, and I fear that I almost lost myself along the way.

Depression and exhaustion do funny things to people.  And I don't mean funny - ha ha.  I mean funny in weird and strange ways.  Including not doing the very things that used to make them feel good.  Sewing is one of those things for me.  It feeds my creativity, and I feel so very good about myself when I'm wearing the things I've made.  No, not just made, but rather designed and created.  The compliments and comments people give me when they find out I'm wearing  things I've designed just boosts my ego, even that tiny bit.  My life got so skewed, that I did not find the time I used to to sew.  I was in danger of loosing my creativity.

I've started journalling.  Writing is good for the creativity.  It clears my mind of the noise, and gets my complaints and negativity out of the way so I can focus on other better things.  During my morning entry this morning, something changed.  I write a closing line every day.  Usually it is "Breathe."  Today, it changed from "Breathe" to "Smile."  I take this as a good sign.  A very good sign.  It means I'm breathing without thinking about it again.  And, yes, the smile is starting to creep back onto my face.  My goal is to do what I can to indulge the smile.

And the best part?!!! I GOT MY MOJO BACK!!  I am either sewing, or daydreaming about sewing.  Sitting in my sewing space with the machines buzzing away is making me very happy!  I planned a late summer SWAP ("Sewing With A Plan" plan), I've been scouring the local fabric shops for particular pieces with the end designs in my mind, I've been rifling through my large and disarrayed fabric storage area with a frenzied pace.  I've made a large (!!) purchase from Vogue Patterns (fortunately there is the rather good sale  going on right now).

So...rather than bore you all with plans that never seem to come into fruition, I am going to show you what I'm working on, piece by piece.  I am determined to be disciplined in this, my fall SWAP, as I will be travelling a few distant places again this fall, and that always sneaks up on me.  My wardrobe is in desperate need of updating, and I'm just chock full of design ideas.

A few hints though, because I'm excited.  VERY EXCITED.  I'm dreaming of this:  black and white tweed wide legged trousers & fitted jacket.  Crisp black cotton shirt with french cuffs.  Red corduroy skinny jeans.  Chunky knit black cardigan.  Black, white & red Windsor-esque plaid RPL sexy retro pencil skirt.  And a bit of black pleather thrown in the mix, just for fun.  Classics with a very sexy edge.  Whether all my pieces will come to be, who knows?  But the best part is, I'm starting.

Can't wait to share my progress with you.

Hello...hello...hello...Can you hear me now???

Hello!  Yes, it's me.  Returning from my hiatus.  To be completely honest with you, outside of my travels and a few things that slip in, I try to shy away from sharing anything too personal on this blog.  I've had bad experiences in the past with putting myself out into the public domain, and I care not to repeat them.  That being said, the sewing and knitting online communities offer so much support and wisdom, that I'm throwing this out there.

I have been positively over-committed, with work, personal life and anything else that I can take on.  If there's a knitting KAL that I can do, I've joined.  If there's a sew-along, I'm doing that too.  Learn to spin?  Why not?  Team sport, I'm in.  Why don't I take a course for work?  Sure!  Drive the girls somewhere?  Heck ya!

I took time off from the blog unintentionally.  I have not made a conscious decision to do anything in the past few months.   I have absolutely no idea where the past three months have gone.  It's all been a blur.  I am feeling tired, right down to the bones.  Life is not enjoyable and I'm rushing from one thing to the next.  My house is not clean (at least to the way I like it) and full of clutter.  

It is time for this to stop.  I have worked myself into a frenzy, and want to regroup and revise.  I am not going to give or give in.  Life is about the journey, right?

I am not giving up the blog, I am not giving up the sewing, the knitting, the spinning or the team sports.  I'm not giving up the work course or the spending time with my girls (!).  What I am going to do is make a list, prioritize and make a conscious effort to be fully in the moment of whatever I'm doing.

What I am going to give up is the deadline things.  I'm involved with Camp Loopy right now, but I'm going to release myself from the pressure.  I didn't pay attention to the details for my first project, and realized halfway through that I didn't have enough yardage to meet the specs of the first project.  So, I happily ordered more yarn (with some extra for consolation) and expected myself to finish two projects in one month (this is completely unheard of for me, and with everything else going on...Oivey.  What was I thinking??!!). I finished the first shawl while waiting for the new yarn.  Pretty, pretty...soft and squooshy.

First Shawl - Transverse Shawlette by Wendy Johnston, unblocked, MadTosh Pashmina in Terra

I'm now halfway through the second first project, which I am thoroughly enjoying, but I'm finding my knitting time at 11:30 at night (and I get up at 5:30 for work!)  I cannot continue to do this, or I will get sick.  So...Self...I give you permission to NOT finish this on time if that's the way it works out.  I'll still have a gorgeous shawl at the end of it (actually two, but whose counting?!).  I've ordered yarn for the second project, but if I don't get that done...no biggie.

Second Shawl - Renita by Corrina Ferguson, PicnicKnits, out of JulieSpins Silky 435 in Nectarine

I also need some new summer clothes.  As a result of eating out all the time when I've been travelling (and that's been a lot for work), I have gained...ahem...a few pounds (let's be realistic.  It's more like 15).  So, I don't fit into my summer clothes anymore, except my knit dresses.  I'd really like to lose the weight, but that's taking longer than I had hoped, and in the meantime I have not a whole lot to wear.  Shorts are a priority.  I like McCalls 5391, and have that pulled out along with some black cotton twill for a muslin pair.


No pressure though.

I'm at a course all weekend (the subject matter is a secret until I'm successful at it...which I will be!!)  I'll tell you more about that on Monday.

Whew!  Long post.  Lots going on, and there's more, but I'll save that until the next post.

Thanks for hanging in there!

I'm Still Alive!

Hello All...I'm still alive and kicking.  My life turned into an autopilot of work, sleep, ski for a while, followed by a bout of burnout.   So much for my dreams of the sew-alongs.  I just didn't have the time.  I hate to admit this, because I HATE being a quitter, but I think I'm going to give up on the SALs for the time being.  If I try to continue, it won't be fun, and I'll feel too much pressure to try to get things done when I simply don't have the time right now.  I will try to get back to my sewing, and probably continue the SAL projects at some point in the (hopefully relatively soon) future.

My creative juices are starting to flow again, quite possibly the result of the gorgeous unseasonably warm weather we had a few weeks ago (28 degrees C in March?  Unheard of!).  I noticed that my spring and summer wardrobe is positively LACKING, so I desperately need to get moving on my summer dreams of the gorgeous linens.  I have chores to do today, but tonight I'll search through the boxes to find the one containing the linens and I'll be CUTTING AND SEWING tomorrow!!!  (sorry for shouting, but I'm terribly excited!)

Despite the lack of sewing, I have actually been knitting.  Portable projects that can be done in hotel rooms or while my mind is totally occupied with other things.  I've finished these:

Close up of Wendy Knits' Mock Cabletini Socks 

Mock Cabletini Socks, Knit Picks brown Stroll Tweed

Trekking Plain Vanilla Socks

I'm also working on the Fisherman's Pullover sweater for my nephew out of the 60 Quick Baby Knits by Cascade, which is coming along nicely (it goes SO fast when they're little!).  No pictures yet, but here's the Rav Link

AND...I've purchased a spinning wheel - an Ashford Kiwi.  YAY!! I'm in love with it.  I'm terrible at it still (despite the total of 2 hours I've been able to spin so far - What's wrong with me for not being perfect already LOL), but it is such a relaxing activity that I'm drawn to it over and over again.  I spin a few minutes each night before climbing into bed.  So far, I've created some very wonderful art yarn.  LOL.  I have absolutely no idea what to do with my handspun but maybe I'll just cake it up and put it into a lovely display somewhere in my house so I can look at it.

Well, I'd better get to it.  Chores are a callin'.  (Also just made plans with friends to go see The Hunger Games tonight!)
  

Am I Mad?

While catching up on the Wardrobe Basics sewalong (despite my recent and hopefully shortlived non-participation Oh how I'm craving some time at the sewing machine!!) on Lori's Website, I stumbled across Julia Bobbin and her Mad Men Dress sewalong.  Oh LOVE!    I need a LBD for my Wardrobe Basics sewalong, and I LOVE the clothing on Mad Men, so it's a perfect fit for me.  I have a lot of patterns already, and could really use one I already have, but I also enjoy supporting our economy and will probably purchase a new one.  LOL



I'd have to say in this photo, Betty Draper's brocade dress is my favourite.



Overall though, I have to say my favourite clothes are worn by the character Joan Holloway.  Va-va-va-voom!  I particularly like the blue dress she is wearing in the photo above.

Here are a few possibilities I'm mulling over:

Vintage Vogue 8687 - love the seaming and neckline detail on the dress



Vintage Vogue 2787 - While I haven't seen a photograph or an episode with a character wearing something like this dress, I absolutely love it.



New Look 6968 - a classic, and one I could use as a starting point for many of Joan's dresses.



McCalls 6394 - I love the seaming on this one

McCalls 2401 - lots of options with this one, necklines, sleeves...

McCalls 5927 - I like the pocket and pleat detail on this one



Butterick 5602 - I love the contrasting colour detail


Butterick 5277 - particularly the view with the fantastic collar!



Some more inspiration - Michael Kors, Fall 2008 (I heart Michael's designs!)

Off to watch an episode while folding laundry!

Jinx!!

I think I jinxed myself with my last post.  Planning...yes, while I love to plan, life just simply isn't letting me go the route I had planned to go.  Last week was a right off for me, both in my personal life and work life.  And take this week as another example.  Instead of being on vacation, enjoying the outdoors and skiing with my girls, I am playing nursemaid to my youngest daughter who is home for reading week.  After a dentist appointment on Tuesday (my first day with her), she was scheduled for emergency surgery to remove her wisdom teeth on Wednesday.  Kinda puts a kibosh on the skiing and everything else we had planned to do!  Le sigh.  Well, I guess it is better that she was home for this episode instead of being half a continent away.

I haven't done much in the way of sewing lately.  When I get home, I'm simply exhausted.  That and I skied ALL last weekend (Friday night, Saturday and Sunday).   Thankfully I've been on holidays this week.  I have done some knitting though (mostly waiting for appointments and surgery), but alas, no pictures.  I finished the Franken Circle Socks, now known as Plain Vanilla version X.0 (I have no idea how many vanilla socks I've made at this point!), and I've started Wendy Johnson's Mock Cable Socks for a friend.  I'm using Knit Picks Stroll Tweed in Timber Tweed.  Rav'elled Here  I'm really enjoying these as a diversion, and I've taught myself how to cable without a cable needle (a little stressful at times, but once you get the hang of it, it works really well!).

Today, instead of skiing, I'll be shopping and hopefully making some jewelry when we get home!  I'm also hoping to catch up with the Wardrobe SAL, as I've been sadly neglecting the progress of my sewing friends too!