The sun has been out for days and I find myself giddy. Over the top happy. Sure, it’s bitterly cold out there, but not like the rest of the country. I’m still wearing ballet flats with no socks and complaining about being cold. I’m pretty sure my tongue wouldn’t freeze to any metal surfaces if I were inclined to lick one.
But it’s not just the sun. Do you have those moments where it’s all perfectly ok? Even though there are problems in your world and the world at large, somewhere in your soul you sense this deep core of contentment. Perhaps not abiding, but certainly not fleeting?
It doesn’t take much to make me happy when the sun is out. Golden orb bright in the sky, I get how ancients once worshiped you! This orchid colored blouse is making me happy today. I’m actually wearing it at the moment! It’s a little piece of weekend redemption, made from fabric I purchased Sunday afternoon. It makes me giddy for reasons you might not expect.
To begin, I used a pattern. Oh yeah, I did! Those of you who sew will recognize the silhouette immediately, as I think most of you have probably already made one or two or three of these. I’m always last to the party. But, I have my issues with patterns. This is a Built by You from Simplicity pattern—which is part of Built By Wendy. I’ve been wanting to make something off these patterns for ages, but the Built By Wendy patterns all run smaller than I am. Smaller than I will ever be, most likely! (who are these nymphs sewing??) Fortunately, and just barely!, the Built By You patterns are larger. A little fact I did not know until two days ago!
I was raised by a seamstress. My mother is a master. This is not familial pride, but the truth. I could sit for hours listening to her machine, chug chug chug away into the night. I was a chatterbox (really!) and I don’t know how she pieced together anything with my constant talking. She could sew and handle all my “but mom” questions without ever missing a stitch. Somehow, she managed to concentrate in the middle of madness, turning out amazing work with such ease it looked like magic.
However, for all her skills, I was not a model student. Which, in retrospect, is appalling, how unteachable I was! That I have the poor skills that I do are no reflection of her–but I can imagine how frustrating it must have been to have me as a student. We are very different people and while she could read a pattern and make sense of it, it looked like advanced math to me. If there had been a “Math is hard!” Barbie when I was a kid, I would have had one. I was used to being stumped by numbers. Words were a different matter altogether. I liked words! Being stumped by them was a bitter blow to my pride! Patterns became my mortal enemies. And my sewing career ended as quickly as it began.
The one lesson my mother made patently clear and that has stayed with me forever is this: if you’re going to sew for yourself, sew with the best fabric you can afford. There is little point to making garments for yourself out of cheap cloth.
Forgive me mom, but this shirt was made out of $2 a yard bargain barn fabric.
Did I mention I also have a few issues with cutting fabric? My mom used to cut out my patterns just to get me started. I’m intimidated by cutting on expensive fabric. Not that anything in JoAnn’s could be classified as good fabric, (I’m sorry, I’m also a fabric snob by nature, I’m blaming my mom for this too!) but I couldn’t bring myself to buy $10 a yard fabric for a pattern I wasn’t even sure would fit me. So, I consider this a mock-up. Which I hear is good sewing, right?
Cheap fabric in hand, pattern read over a dozen or so times, pieces pressed and trimmed, I cut. I cut and I sewed and I even listened to another chatty 11 year old over the chug, chug, chug of my machine. Boy Wonder kept me company, perched on a daybed in my craft room, full of his own “but moms”. Some days we come full circle.
But I love it. I love the line and the ease. I love the fact that it fits, barely, but it fits. I love the fact that I’m already planning a half dozen of these in better fabric. Jeans and a smock, my new uniform. I only need a few vintage old man sweaters to keep me warm. I’m loving that this simple blouse has built just enough confidence that I’m actually considering making the dress version of the pattern that includes a zipper. Of course, it could just be the sun talking. She’s gabby like that.
This is where I find myself today. And it makes me giddy, sitting here writing to all of you dear readers. Sipping on a found stash of a favorite tea, listening to Serj Tankian on KROQ streaming from my computer—happy to be where I am, even if my heart belongs to a different latitude. I’m loving that somehow, I made friends with an enemy. Somehow, I created in the middle of the madness, made sense of words that usually defeat me. And you know what? It feels a little like magic.
I hope your day is full of sunlight. What feels like magic to you?
It looks like magic to me! Of course, finding that bit of tea was indeed magic as well! (I swear I heard a little “poof” just before that tea materialized in your hands.) I also have to admit I shouldn’t have bought a life-time supply of that Green Tea (what was I thinking?) Oh well.
I think magic is best found when projects started begin to take shape and become a reality. It is an exciting kind of magic, isn’t it?
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Seriously, I was overjoyed to find that tea. It should hold me over while I wait for my Harney and Son’s stash to come in. And yes, I’m so excited to finish a real project. 😀 ~W
You are on a roll with your projects, aren’t you?? That’s awesome, and everything looks wonderful (the clothes and the model… you are too pretty :)) It is so fun reading about you gaining confidence in your art 🙂
Right now, getting organized feels like magic… it is amazing to me how much a little organization can have such a huge effect on your day.
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Thank you! And yes, organization is its own kind of magic. Very much so! ~W
Last year I had to “help” assemble costumes for a daughter’s dance festival. Oh, I was no help AT ALL! Someone put scissors in my hand and told me to cut some fabric, and I tell you, I thought I was going to positively vomit. I’m only a *teensy* bit less afraid of my sewing machine now. I hope to conquer that some day!!
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That is the exact feeling I get when I start to cut on fabric. I feel like I’m going to hurl. Heh. I’m finding ways around my phobia and working on it, bit by bit. ~W
That blouse makes me feel like magic–I love the color and the pebbly fabric! (and the joy you felt in making it) Other than that, I’m loving the blue sky, in spite of the frigid weather. I’m rejoicing in the fact that Alison has “awakened “to life and to her family. I’m hoping it’s not just temporary. But you already know all this!
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Oh, thank you! 😀 I’m so glad that Alison has awakened as well. . . I doubt it’s fleeting. In fact, I have feeling that this is only the beginning. Get ready! 😀 ~W
I am so happy to read that you are giddy! Yeah Mr. Sun. I’ve been frustrated with a little back pain the last few days and not as productive as I would like to be. Sigh . . . I’ve managed to hang a few shelves, sew a few wheelchair totes to donate and organize my kitchen in spite of it.
Good day Sunshine!
~Kim C.
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Oh, back pain. This is not good. Take care of you, OK?? Because, seriously that’s a lot to get done with back pain! ~W
It’s lovely and you look happy. Yay! I am a reluctant and cautious sewer as well. I can do it. I have done it. But not for a long while. I think I’ll stick with crochet for awhile. 🙂
We haven’t got your sunny but cold days. We have stormy days with not enough cold to snow. Garumph!
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Your crochet looks lovely. I’m digging your alpaca… and for obvious reasons, adore your color choice. And I fear that we are also headed for that wet cold, almost snow, but not quite in the next few days. Sadly, that will mean Ice. . . and this is a very hilly town. Yikes. Be safe. 😀 ~W
I am the anti-seamstress. I shudder at the very thought of sewing. But you! You are clever indeed and I applaud your efforts. Very pretty. Also, you look so much exactly like BW in that picture that it makes me smile.
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I hadn’t noticed it, but now I can see exactly what photo would make you say that. It’s frightening to see the resemblance grow stronger every year. When he was born I have a friend quip, “Well, we know he’s not the milk man’s” because he looked so much like IZ!
Oh, I hear you on the sun… amen and amen. It really does make all the difference in this house.
And the blouse- Wende. It’s SOOO great! So. Great. I love it. I’ve wanted to try that pattern as well but am also pattern challenged (and also the daughter of a master seamstress… perhaps there’s a support group for us and our mothers.) You are making me think this is possible for me to try… hmmmmmmm.
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It really is cute. I had a few issues with the neckline—as I found ironing/sewing a casing that size on a curve really difficult to keep even. I’m going to do some hunting to see if someone has a trick to doing this…I’ll keep you posted. Because, really, other than that, it was a breeze. Especially in the reading of the pattern part. I’d say, GO FOR IT! ~W
I love this! I want one! When are you going to sell these on Etsy? It’s so pretty.
I just found your blog and it’s great!
Take care,
Julie (aka puffluna)
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Oh, thanks Julie. As you well know, I’m a HUGE fan of your work!! 😀 ~W
That looks like a little bit of heaven for sure. That shirt is so cute. I need to find a vintage tunic… I am trying to stick to my own list of previous obsessions.. but these cute new styles make it tricky!
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Ooh, a vintage tunic. That would be fun. 😀 I’ll keep my eyes open on my thrift runs and report back if I find anything. ~W
That blouse turned out so cute! And it looks very cute on you! 🙂 It’s a little colder here than out there….6 right now. But the sun is trying to peek out from behind the clouds and it will soon thaw the ice on my sliding door to the backyard. Then I can throw out some birdseed. My 17 yr old wore flip-flops the other day. I think she’s crazy, and she confirmed that she IS! 🙂 I hope you stay warm and happy. 🙂
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Oh, geeze, 6 degrees. BRRRRRRRRR. ~W
i still can’t cut fabric to save my life. i got a new sewing machine last christmas, and in the spring i got all excited about making a cute skirt from a pattern online. a pattern which, was either hopelessly flawed, or i hopelessly flawed, one of the two (i’m leaning towards the latter). but, i love what you did.
and i hope it’s this lovely outside on saturday, because, oh my, it’s gorgeous today but a bit chilly/windy, and i’d love to force myself outside on saturday morning. an early summer in the midst of a late january.
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Oh, it may have been more of the pattern than you think! There are some very flawed patterns—and I tend to avoid patterns at all costs. But this one is really worth checking into. Straight forward and fast! I like fast. ~W
Very Sweet. I have that pattern too and have been meaning to try it. I’m afraid it won’t look good on me though, especially a cotton so I might try it with a knit. Magic to me are those intense moments after my sugary strong coffee has kicked in. My burdens fade and I feel unconquerable.
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I can’t imagine it looking badly on you! Or anything, for that matter… but I get you! The whole time I was sewing it, I had the notion of making the next one in knit. I’m all about the jersey these days. 😀 ~W
Oh, I love KROQ!! I also love the blouse…you did a great job, and the fabric is wonderful to boot! You’re right about JoAnn’s fabric, and it’s the only shop we really have in town…it’s a darned shame…I can’t wait to see more of this year’s uniform!!
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We were obviously separated at birth, Sadira. 😀 And I’m feeling you about the lack of fabric choices. Not that I’m ready to invest in Liberty prints online. I weep, I tell you, I weep at the idea of lovely fabric. What’s sad, is that at JoAnn’s you can still spend money on fabric that just isn’t worth it! I refuse. I do. If I’m going to invest, I want something amazing. ~W
It’s adorable! YOU are adorable. And like Miz_S, I am also the anti-seamstress. I do not have the patience for the patterns, the selection of the fabric, the measuring, the cutting, the fitting, the blahdy blahdy blah. I just can’t do it!
But I am so grateful to see all of you out there who are still willing and able to make so much by hand. HURRAY!
And thank goodness for the days of the sun. We had one here today and I am so very grateful. I guess today is a day filled with gratitude. 😀
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Today was the last of our sun. . . the boy and I decided we needed to get out in it! Cold but lovely, a wonderful afternoon–so, yes, lots of gratitude. And thank you!! 😀 ~W
So pretty! I love the color and it looks FAB on you.
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Thank you! I’ve perfected the MYSPACE self portrait I’m afraid. 😀 ~W
Cheap fabric or not, that is one ADORABLE shirt. I’m impressed with your recent clothing craftiness.
And the light here recently has made me giddy, too. I’ll take the freezing cold as long as the sky stays clear and the sun continues to shine. It’s just what I needed.
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I know, I’m trying not to complain about the cold—because at least the sun is out there in all its glory!! And thank you, I’m wanting to make more, more, more soon. 😀 ~W