That is my conundrum. I REALLY want to participate in the SWAP. I have a plan, I have fabric, I have patterns and I've made my participating purchase. What I don't have is the confidence to be able to pull it off. At least not now. I started out with a plan to make post-maternity clothing that I can wear back to work while transitioning from pregnant body to post-pregnant body. The problem is that the contest started January 1st, ends the middle of April and the baby isn't due until next month. My doctor thinks I might deliver late and that will give me really only a month and a half to make and/or finish 11 garments. I was going to try and make a primarily-knit wardrobe based on my pre- and early-pregnancy measurements, but it just isn't working for me. Add on top of that the fact that my sewing room is still a storage room for everything that was in the nursery (back when the nursery was a storage room). I can't sew well when I'm disorganized and while I may be organized in the fabric, pattern, plan sense, I'm definitely not organized in the sewing location and notions sense. I find myself digging through boxes looking for notions and not being able to find what I'm looking for...it's frustrating.
I'm still going to keep my name in the hat for the time being, as I haven't really made a final decision as to whether or not I am going to participate. I have a plan B SWAP idea in place that will consist of a baby or toddler SWAP and have preliminary patterns picked out for both boys and girls so I'd be ready regardless of what we have.
So now onto the next topic...my sewing goals for 2008. I sat down today to make a list of all of the things I would like to accomplish sewing-wise in 2008. The top of my list is to reclaim and reorganize my sewing room so that I can actually begin to accomplish some of these goals. I also plan to make a bunch of stuff for the baby, but primarily I would like to complete some of the following projects (not necessarily in this order):
1. A set of fitting garments using Pattern Master Boutique. I bought the latest version of this software with my annual bonus from work and have not been able to play with it since I've been pregnant this whole time. I would really like to spend time learning how to use it and make a set of fitting garments.
2. A SWAP wardrobe - regardless of whether or not it's part of the official contest. If I don't participate in the contest, I am going to heavily modify the wardrobe to be less transitional and more cohesive of the type of wardrobe I want for myself as a professional working mother. I would ultimately like the full 3-phase and will probably include all of the following garments into the SWAP plan (except for the items I plan on making for the hubby or baby)
3. At least 2-3 shirts for hubby. Part of the reason for buying my embroidery machine was so that I could make retro/bowling shirts for my husband. My husband has lost some weight and is back to the size he was when we met, and while he was heavier he got rid of all of his smaller shirts, so this is going to be even more important when his work schedule lightens over the next several months.
4. Make hubby a wool coat. He asked me over a year ago if I would make him a wool peacoat style coat. I have the dark charcoal melton wool and Burday coat pattern that he picked out all ready to go.
5. Make at least one coat for myself. I have several coats I would like to make, but I have recently purchased a gorgeous furry wool/mohair fabric that would make a fabulous dressy coat.
6. Make a Chanel-style jacket using couture techniques. I have 4 different boucle fabrics to currently choose from, and 2 different suitable patterns.
7. Make a tailored suit. This may not be feasible in 2008, but I would at least like to have this planned on the back burner for the end of the year if possible. I don't have a dire need for suits, but I can see a benefit for just about anyone to have at least one smart tailored suit. It may include skirt or slacks or both, and I may even include a vest - I haven't really thought this one through, but since my old suit is about 4 sizes too big for me even now that I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant I think it's time to rethink a new one.
8. Make at least one designer "knock off". This is to be determined and may end up being included with one of the other projects, but I would really like to refashion a pattern, or use PMB, to knock off one or more of my favorite designer pieces.
9. Make a pair of jeans. I haven't made jeans since I was in high school and would really like to revisit the idea of this. I realized the other day, when I was mending my maternity jeans, that my trusty Viking sews through several layers of denim like butter so I'm excited!
10. Make a handbag. I haven't decided if I want to make a diaper bag, purse or tote of some sort, but I would really like to try my hand at making a bag of some sort. This is something I have never done.
11. Sew something from leather. I'm not sure if my first attempt at bag-making will also include my first attempt at sewing leather, but we have a great leather source in town and I would really like to attempt something from leather this year.
So those are my lofty sewing goals for 2008. I can accomplish most of them as part of a 3-phase SWAP. Notice how I don't call them "resolutions"? I want to challenge myself to accomplish as much of this as I can, but do not want to limit myself to just 2008. If I can have some of these accomplished and others completely planned for 2009 I will be happy. Ultimately, this is the year that I want to spend really honing in on my skills and working on mastering new techniques and trying some things that I have never ventured to try. I think the idea of becoming a mom has made me braver when it comes to my sewing and now I relish in the idea of giving myself the ultimate in sewing challenges. Then again, maybe it's just the nesting instinct kicking in and all of this momentum will go away as soon as labor starts. We'll see how well I do...
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Denver Fabrics is back up...
but is it just me or do they carry the EXACT same inventory as Fashion Fabrics Club?
See for yourself...I did a search for coating fabric at Denver Fabrics and got the exact same results as I did from the same search at Fashion Fabrics Club
Curious...
See for yourself...I did a search for coating fabric at Denver Fabrics and got the exact same results as I did from the same search at Fashion Fabrics Club
Curious...
Friday, October 19, 2007
I need to name my SWAP!
The more I look at my current SWAP plan, the happier I am with it. I am usually my own worst enemy when it comes to trying to plan out a wardrobe like this (I was going to attempt the Wardrobe Contest over at patternreview.com, but could NOT make up my mind on what I wanted to make or what I wanted the wardrobe to look like). I think it helped that I have a specific need/desire in mind. When I was attempting create a summer wardrobe I didn't really have a need, and then I got pregnant and needed a "maternity wardrobe", but the contest was practically over and I had no desire to do anything but sleep!!!
But back to the current SWAP...I may have some additional tweaking to do once I get the rest of my fabrics in, but I think it's pretty much "the plan". I'm looking at this wardrobe as a *hopefully* somewhat sophisticated transitional wardrobe that will help me not only transition from post-pregnancy weight back to pre-pregnancy weight (and then finishing the weight loss I started before I got pregnant), but also transition from a more casual work wardrobe to a more professional work wardrobe. Even though my office goes anywhere from casual to professional and everywhere in between - I want to start maintaining a more professional appearance at work to go along with the promotion I received this week.
Since my color scheme is black/gray/white/purple, I've been trying to come up with a name that fits. I was originally thinking something that had to do with a cityscape at night with the dark colors with a splash of white, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a name that suits that theme. So far, the only name I've been able to come up with is "Smoke on the Water." There are several reasons why this name fits:
1. It is the name of a song by the band "Deep Purple" - being that the only real color in my wardrobe is purple, it fits.
2. The color of smoke can be any of the three remaining colors: black, gray, white.
3. When I think of the name "smoke on the water", aside from the song, it reminds me of a picture I saw of a forest fire near a lake. The photo was taken at dusk and the sky was several shades of purple, with the blackening lake, gray smoke and the glint of white from the moon reflected off the lake.
But I am open to new ideas. I still would like to come up with a name to represent a cityscape at night before I make a final decision as to the name...anyone have any ideas??
But back to the current SWAP...I may have some additional tweaking to do once I get the rest of my fabrics in, but I think it's pretty much "the plan". I'm looking at this wardrobe as a *hopefully* somewhat sophisticated transitional wardrobe that will help me not only transition from post-pregnancy weight back to pre-pregnancy weight (and then finishing the weight loss I started before I got pregnant), but also transition from a more casual work wardrobe to a more professional work wardrobe. Even though my office goes anywhere from casual to professional and everywhere in between - I want to start maintaining a more professional appearance at work to go along with the promotion I received this week.
Since my color scheme is black/gray/white/purple, I've been trying to come up with a name that fits. I was originally thinking something that had to do with a cityscape at night with the dark colors with a splash of white, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a name that suits that theme. So far, the only name I've been able to come up with is "Smoke on the Water." There are several reasons why this name fits:
1. It is the name of a song by the band "Deep Purple" - being that the only real color in my wardrobe is purple, it fits.
2. The color of smoke can be any of the three remaining colors: black, gray, white.
3. When I think of the name "smoke on the water", aside from the song, it reminds me of a picture I saw of a forest fire near a lake. The photo was taken at dusk and the sky was several shades of purple, with the blackening lake, gray smoke and the glint of white from the moon reflected off the lake.
But I am open to new ideas. I still would like to come up with a name to represent a cityscape at night before I make a final decision as to the name...anyone have any ideas??
Saturday, October 13, 2007
SWAP plan
After careful deliberation, I am going to make every attempt to complete the Timmel Fabrics SWAP. Since I will be in dire need of some transitional clothes once the baby is born and I go back to work. I don't anticipate having a lot of baby weight to lose, but I know I'm going to want comfortable clothes and then I plan on rejoining Weight Watchers to lose the rest of the weight I had to lose before I got pregnant. All in all, I'm expecting about 20lbs total. I have a lot of casual clothes, but not a lot of dressier work clothes.
So, this brings me to SWAP. With 11 garments, plus a couple of extras, I'll have a wardrobe that will be perfect for work, business trips and special events. Even though I won't be wearing any of these items during the fall or most of the winter, I have decided on a color scheme of black, gray, white and shades of purple. There are four reasons I chose this color scheme:
1. I'm a little bummed that I can't wear most of the gorgeous fall and winter styles that are coming out this year, so I'm going to wear them a season or two late (woman's prerogative).
2. My favorite maternity clothes (one top and two dresses) are in this color scheme and I plan on altering them to be wearable post-pregnancy, so they will be added to the final wardrobe to expand the number of options.
3. Purple and gray is one of my favorite color combinations and black and white are business wardrobe staples. Even though I can wear pretty much whatever I want to work, one of my plans for next year is to make a conscious effort to dress more professionally.
4. The majority of the wardrobe pieces (especially the bottom pieces) will go with many of the mis-matched tops I made for my early pregnancy and will allow more options for the transitional wardrobe.
Without further ado, here is my plan. I currently have one additional top and bottom piece than the SWAP rules call for, but this gives me a little bit of flexibility in decision making.
My chosen wardrobe pattern is Butterick 5101:
I chose this wardrobe pattern primarily because it was a knit wardrobe and knits are better for my post-pregnancy transitional plan. The reason I chose this over the many other knit wardrobe patterns was the fact that the top and skirt together look like a wrap dress, but will give so many additional options for a SWAP wardrobe. I like the wrap dress that comes with the pattern, but I really like the handkerchief hem of the skirt - my combination will be a black version of the all brown look on the far right of the picture.
As soon as all of my fabrics arrive, I'll post some photos of more detailed plans.
So, this brings me to SWAP. With 11 garments, plus a couple of extras, I'll have a wardrobe that will be perfect for work, business trips and special events. Even though I won't be wearing any of these items during the fall or most of the winter, I have decided on a color scheme of black, gray, white and shades of purple. There are four reasons I chose this color scheme:
1. I'm a little bummed that I can't wear most of the gorgeous fall and winter styles that are coming out this year, so I'm going to wear them a season or two late (woman's prerogative).
2. My favorite maternity clothes (one top and two dresses) are in this color scheme and I plan on altering them to be wearable post-pregnancy, so they will be added to the final wardrobe to expand the number of options.
3. Purple and gray is one of my favorite color combinations and black and white are business wardrobe staples. Even though I can wear pretty much whatever I want to work, one of my plans for next year is to make a conscious effort to dress more professionally.
4. The majority of the wardrobe pieces (especially the bottom pieces) will go with many of the mis-matched tops I made for my early pregnancy and will allow more options for the transitional wardrobe.
Without further ado, here is my plan. I currently have one additional top and bottom piece than the SWAP rules call for, but this gives me a little bit of flexibility in decision making.
My chosen wardrobe pattern is Butterick 5101:
I chose this wardrobe pattern primarily because it was a knit wardrobe and knits are better for my post-pregnancy transitional plan. The reason I chose this over the many other knit wardrobe patterns was the fact that the top and skirt together look like a wrap dress, but will give so many additional options for a SWAP wardrobe. I like the wrap dress that comes with the pattern, but I really like the handkerchief hem of the skirt - my combination will be a black version of the all brown look on the far right of the picture.
As soon as all of my fabrics arrive, I'll post some photos of more detailed plans.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
ok...so i've been giving this some thought
and I need some suggestions of some good patterns that I can possibly use for a transitional wardrobe SWAP. I need items for a primarily business-casual environment (once I'm back at work) that aren't too fitted and that I can make and mostly fit in the hip/bust areas while I'm pregnant. I don't think I'll really have too much baby weight to lose, but I want things that will be more comfortable than my fitted clothes I wore prior to becoming pregnant. I'm going to try and use as much of my stash as possible so that this wardrobe will only cost me whatever patterns I may need to buy and some notions...especially since I'm sure there are some pieces that I will only be wearing for a short time.
So if anyone has any pattern ideas of what would be appropriate for the office, yet still comfortable for a new mom, please let me know!!!!! Thanks :)
So if anyone has any pattern ideas of what would be appropriate for the office, yet still comfortable for a new mom, please let me know!!!!! Thanks :)
oh my goodness!!
I can't believe it's been more than a month since my last post. Unfortunately, there is still no sewing on the horizon. The house is chugging along, although it's going a lot more slowly than I had hoped. Hubby has been gone for the last month on a job training and is finally coming home in one day!!! In the meantime, I've been fighting with the contractor who is supposed to paint and install baseboards - they don't want to talk to me because hubby is the one who they have been dealing with. Oh well, at least I have beautiful new cherry hardwood floors.
I have contemplated participating in the 2008 Timmel SWAP, but since it doesn't start until January there really isn't any point. I was going to make a maternity SWAP if it started earlier, but since I'm due in early February I don't really want to make a whole wardrobe I can wear for only a month. I have some time to plan, maybe I'll make a post-partum transitional wardrobe to wear while I lose baby weight. Ooooh, that's actually a really good idea! Ok, now the ideas are rolling...time to rethink not participating!!
Well, I guess that's about all that's going on. Pregnancy is going well, hubby is coming home, work and school are taking up most of my time right now - but everything should be back to normal very, very soon.
I have contemplated participating in the 2008 Timmel SWAP, but since it doesn't start until January there really isn't any point. I was going to make a maternity SWAP if it started earlier, but since I'm due in early February I don't really want to make a whole wardrobe I can wear for only a month. I have some time to plan, maybe I'll make a post-partum transitional wardrobe to wear while I lose baby weight. Ooooh, that's actually a really good idea! Ok, now the ideas are rolling...time to rethink not participating!!
Well, I guess that's about all that's going on. Pregnancy is going well, hubby is coming home, work and school are taking up most of my time right now - but everything should be back to normal very, very soon.
Monday, August 27, 2007
sew many things
have been going on, and sadly none of them have anything to do with sewing. Wait, I take that back...
The weekend before last, my mom, granny and I went to the Original Creative Arts Festival when it made it's way to Reno. I meant to post about this sometime last week, but the week got away from me with work and baby preparations (not to mention I am in Las Vegas this week on business). My mom and I had originally planned on taking several of the classes and seminars that were offered throughout the weekend, but that was before I found out I was pregnant. Now, I would never be able to sit through an 8-hour long class without several breaks. Instead, we decided to bring mom's mom (dear granny) to the festival with us. I don't know what I was expecting; after all, looking at the website indicates it's heavy on quilting. But after looking at the various classes offered, I thought there would be more garment-based booths then there were. Oh well - there were some absolutely GORGEOUS quilts and while I'm not a fan of wearable art items myself, there were some great items in that area as well. All in all, it was not a waste of the $7 admission fee and it was nice to spend an afternoon with my mom and granny.
Fast forward a week and I'm in Las Vegas. My house is being painted this week (hubby informed me tonight that he already finished painting the baby's room!!!) Next week, the new floors are going in the house and then hubby leaves for a month in Idaho for training for his new job. Whew, there is a lot going on - I guess you can see how I have so little time for sewing. I did, however, get some cross-stitch done. I am doing a set of Winnie the Pooh characters for the baby's room and Tigger is done. Now I'm working on Winnie. Then comes Eeyore and Piglet. When I get home I'll post a picture. That's about it for now!!
The weekend before last, my mom, granny and I went to the Original Creative Arts Festival when it made it's way to Reno. I meant to post about this sometime last week, but the week got away from me with work and baby preparations (not to mention I am in Las Vegas this week on business). My mom and I had originally planned on taking several of the classes and seminars that were offered throughout the weekend, but that was before I found out I was pregnant. Now, I would never be able to sit through an 8-hour long class without several breaks. Instead, we decided to bring mom's mom (dear granny) to the festival with us. I don't know what I was expecting; after all, looking at the website indicates it's heavy on quilting. But after looking at the various classes offered, I thought there would be more garment-based booths then there were. Oh well - there were some absolutely GORGEOUS quilts and while I'm not a fan of wearable art items myself, there were some great items in that area as well. All in all, it was not a waste of the $7 admission fee and it was nice to spend an afternoon with my mom and granny.
Fast forward a week and I'm in Las Vegas. My house is being painted this week (hubby informed me tonight that he already finished painting the baby's room!!!) Next week, the new floors are going in the house and then hubby leaves for a month in Idaho for training for his new job. Whew, there is a lot going on - I guess you can see how I have so little time for sewing. I did, however, get some cross-stitch done. I am doing a set of Winnie the Pooh characters for the baby's room and Tigger is done. Now I'm working on Winnie. Then comes Eeyore and Piglet. When I get home I'll post a picture. That's about it for now!!
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