reclusive period

hi ya'll. i'm in hiding. you've seen this before, and it's really only going to last about 24 hours, but i have let down at least 3 dear friends during that time and so the time isn't really the issue.

my belly hurts
i'm overwhelmed with chores
my parents are in town and while that's fun it's also draiiiinnning
mama needs some private time!

those all sound fine, right? but i Made Plans! this is where the therapy comes in. i'm going to spend most of this "me time" (that I bought by flaking out) by beating myself up about flaking out.

in algebra that looks like

(amount of free time available)- (time spent with friends) = me time

(amount of free time available)- (time spent with feeling terrible about blowing off friends) = 0 time for fun of any sort!

so really it's a waste of my friends' good nature if i don't hop on it and make something of this time. AND if i just got off my couch and go and play with them, it's likely i would be happier and more effective.

blerg.

the math makes it clear that the cause is not worth the effect. but while we're here, let's at least examine the factors

arthritis makes me tired
working and parenting makes me tired
i am seriously still carrying flu bits in my throat and belly

so don't beat yourself up, lady! but also don't make so many plans. flaking feels like ass.

love
bex

HOT crafts

i made this for my bff so she doesn't burn her hands. or so i don't burn my hands when i'm cookin at her house. i'm also working on a coffee snuggie. maybe this is the labor of love that will make the man and I RICH. still in development, like our relationship.

The potholder contains
repurposed:
1) flannel bits from my auntie's "you're pregnant here are some giant pants" xmas gift (from 2008)
2) my office mate's hand me down cowgirl shirt that i really like but was just too short
3) tie silks from EBay Center for Creative Reuse (which is stocked with zippers for $.25!)
and new:
1) bias tape
2) Insul-Brite or whatever that insulation stuff is

(oh- props: i used Martha's recipe!) 

whoa dude, that's a bunch of layers! Hence the lovely wabi-sabi wonkiness of some of my seams.

stay cool, hand-os.
xo bex

inspiration: grannies

My Grannies were sew-ers. Would they be called sewists today? Probably. Then, they were just "women."

Cleo is the fashionable one, who was from Nebraska but never passed a sale without scoring something glamorous. Ms Cleopatra, as a single lady:

Aww. I want to copy this collar. but scoopier, of course, for the modern era. 

Here she is in the way back (are you a fashion historian? What is this, 20s?), showing off her unders and glamming on the porch. Fabulousss. I love how frumpy and froofy her dress is (that's her on the right), and that it still hugs her waist so nicely and is completely see through. This isn't a "flash effect" like you see on the red carpet today, there was no flash photography. She's just out, flashing in the sunshine.

Now- the wedding shot. By this point, she had hopped a boat to Central America, started lying about her age, and bagged an up-and-coming young pilot for her Man. How lovely is her super understated dress? And what? fingerless, opera length gloves? Yups. 

And finally, here she is with my pretty mom and (paternal) great grandmother. In Hawaii in the 60s. I am genetically blessed, right? Pardon the grave note, but this is what Grandma looked like while she was dying of cancer.  

 Not a ton of style to steal directly (like in the form of dress patterns), but I'll keep looking. And no matter what, I get some sweet white hair when it's time. None of that screwing about with grey. Woop!

Can I borrow your grannies' outfits? xo bex

well, that was easy. and a comment on office fashion

 

 That didn't take long. the inside isn't awesome, but it is going to send me to the store for pinking shears. So that's a plus--at least for the local economy and my sewing station.

In other news, JEGGINGS. This trend needs to die. I have seen them worn well, but it was a Sunday evening at that person's own house. There are TWO people wearing jeggings at the office today, and it is just not ok. 

1) they are ferociously ugly and 2) i do not want to see every curve of your lower body, please. please. please. 

from tight jeans - but never jeggings - land, 

xo bex

psst

i can't wait to put this one together. don't tell anyone you saw this fabric though - it's for a special surprise!

SILKS - what to do???

i friend gave me 4 square yards of Thai silk last year. They. are. gorgeous.

but each one is a square. a yard, in a square, of these luscious colors. they would be good for some fancy person's throw pillows, but i am not that person.

here's what i'm thinking:

1) bloomers- one color front, a slightly different color for the back. will that look like i peed myself?
1a) then i could use another square or 2 for a cinnamon cami (ps there's a local shop that carries Colette! wooo. next to the cafe with the donuts...)...but will that become the silk merchant hillbilly look? the colors are nice together, but this is getting a little coat of many colors for a boudoir set, ya know.
2) uhhhhh

 isn't that color nahhce with my nails and pallor?

how do you know when it's time to cut something you've been holding for so long? I want to wear this gorgeous fabric. but maybe i should wait until my chops are up to it? but the shape is so weird, they'd just become a patchwork lining or something...or..help?

here's a favorite washing instruction:

I would like to know who is enforcing this fabric care regulation ;)

ok people - what should i do with this stuff? I'm headed to the fabric store this afternoon, so notions and additionals are all possible....holler! xo R

i finished! a week ago?

Hi! i finished the coat! it's exactly the color scheme I wanted, and the styling is good, but it's way too big.

see? some of the seams are straight! stitching in the ditch (burgundy thread) is not a strong suit.

I'll make a muslin for a complicated project like this next time. I'm really tempted to tear the whole thing apart and take it in, i'm also tempted to just start fresh with another fabric (like wool!). but mostly, i'm excited about a spring wardrobe (even though it's been freezing and I've had the stupid FLU), so i'm looking for dresses and tops patterns for now.

Here is the jacket! I think I'm violating some rule of the sewing bloggers with bathroom mirror pictures, but i'm a n00b, so sue me.

I love the fabric. swish swish swish is it olive or brown? i couldn't tell so i used a contrasting thread & zipper. All told the fabric and MESH lining (so sporty) cost maybe 45 bucks, and i used a zipper that i think came from my mom! total for the jacket is about $60, which went to 1) independent designer and 2) local fabric shop. woo! And it's an excellent price for a good looking rain jacket with a hood...but oh lord it took at least 40 solid hours of work, partially because i had trouble understanding the directions and partially because it had been so long since I sewed something so involved and actually stuck to the pattern...

i'd definitely make it again! with these changes
1)  in a size 6, with the famed FBA. i wayyy overcompensated for the big hips small bust shape of the jacket by making it 8 on bottom and 10 (!) on top. yes, this is why muslins are popular.
2) definitely include pockets. i think on seam (thanks, Amy) is the best option. what with the welt and patch pocket options that popped up in the sewalong, i skipped them out of indecision. But  now that the thing is on my bod, I keep reaching for the nonexistent pockets. (poches!)
3) get the proper zipper length for the hood pocket...heh . you can't tell me what to do!
4) line the hood and collar with fleece / fur / flannel -- something cozy.

5) mesh is easy to work with! way easier than i thought-- but it does reveal the elastic. so know that!
6) get ball point needles. CHECK. I had no idea these existed.

This process also prompted me to get a dressform - here she is! her name is ladyfriend.

i'm been sewing furiously as I avoid my problems (do you recognize that atrocity of a t shirt? its pattern is very hot right now and boy did i blow it!). more photos to come!