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I’ve added some fresh new fabrics to the stash, with hopes of new ideas and projects. It’s been one of those weeks….the kind of week where you just want to rewind and start over. I want the last three days of my life back dammit.
I took solace here on Monday night and had a fresh delivery today that will brighten the rest of my week with thoughts of new clothes….little clothes. Maybe even big clothes? This one is going to be a harness for Lottie, but don’t tell her about because it will just upset her.
Of course this means I’ve made ZERO progress on the sundress pattern…..but I will. I’m wrestling my life back.
Edit: The black and white fabric is from a new line by Timeless Treasures called “taxi”. I found a whole lot more than what Reprodepot offers….more to come!
The new bag is done. I think I like it, but I’m so used to my other bag that this one feel a bit too big for me. I keep reaching for items as I’m walking along based on muscle memory and stuff is just not where it’s supposed to be.
I still have all the interior pockets for organization, but I’m having a particularly hard time finding my keys in this new design. Some type of clip modification may be in order. I’m also not sold on the zipper, but it’s a nice change from a single magnetic snap. I need to devise some type of pull for zipper, so we’ll see where that search takes me.
I was going for more of a casual, hobo bag. But when it hangs on my shoulder, loaded with only a few things, it literally folds in half and looks like a fortune cookie. This appeals to me greatly, because who doesn’t love cookies?
Friday slipped by me. It’s just been one of those weeks…..I am certain I was not getting a good return on my time, a perpetual sense of 1 minute for every two I spent. Skipped lunches, home late from work most nights.
To relax this weekend, I will be cleaning and crafting and listening to music. And these are the Top10 albums that I can listen to over, and over and over until MP demands that I change the CD. Something about the composition of the album, the order of the songs (which is STILL important to me in this age of downloads) and the story that unfolds never gets old to me, much to MP’s chagrin. The key rule for this list is there is not one song on any of these albums that I would fast forward or skip and I would not tire of repeated listenings.
10. Say It With Fire, The Caulfield Sisters One of the greatest albums from a band you may or may not know.
9. Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy Immortal and untouchable.
8. Document, REM There’s good REM and bad REM…this is good REM.
7. Mermaid Avenue, Billy Bragg & Wilco I think Woody Guthrie was one of the greatest song writers of all time.
6. Lost In Space, Aimee Mann One of my favorite song writers, voices and talents of all time.
5. Hound of Love, Kate Bush A great story teller.
4. Good News for People Who Love Bad News, Modest Mouse Just love ‘em.
3. Skylarking, XTC amazing musicians and lyrics. This album is particularly sentimental because my father and I listened to this album in the car when we went looking at colleges for me, a lot of father-daughter memories.
2. The Garden, Zero7 a British band that has a very California-happy sound.
1. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, Neko Case I like to blare this one in the car and sing my heart out. MP knows this album backwards and forwards. *evil laugh*
I found more olive green duck cloth. Hurray for small successes! Now I can get back to my bag. I think I will pair it will this IKEA canvas that I’ve had in my stash. I like it because the pattern is big and bold and when it is cut up and pieced to the pattern, it will have a nice abstraction.
I want to thank everyone that commented on my last post. I’m so torn on this subject, mostly because the idea of compensation for the patterns is not my own, but one that is regularly suggested to me. Something about it rubs me the wrong way, I suppose it’s because that was never my intention and I’m not very business minded. My form of relaxation usually involves making things. Often times, those things are destined for my sister and/or her children. With the kimono pattern, and the soon-to-be sundress pattern, I made it with my sister in mind. Specifically, I tried to lay out the pattern as if I was talking to her…..walking her through how to make one on her own since we live so far apart. In that sense, it was a personal project. But I know there are many people who would also love to make these little treasures, so I passed it on. And so this idea unfolds.
The thing that surprised me is the kimono pattern had a tremendous amount of downloads and that made me realize not only the amount of people a little ol’ blog can reach, but the number of people looking for cute, simple, helpful sewing patterns.
The tough part is the technology….I’m chatting with Paypal right now, trying to understand how to integrate a button and more importantly, whether wordpress even allows such things. And to be truly honest, if the technology is confounding – well – you will get the patterns for free because I am too lazy, and too uninterested in computer technology to let that hang me up. Summer is almost over and there’s sundresses to be made, damnit!
Most of the people I know have kids and/or have very little time on their hands. The idea of designing and developing patterns for sewing simple, fun, sophisticated items for kids that can be made quickly appeals to me. I think everyone has creativity inside of them, but they don’t always know where to begin or how to find the time to complete a project. Judging from the number of kimono wrap downloads, there seems to be a need for simple, quick patterns that could produce a garment in one evening (for pros) or one weekend (for beginners).
What do you think? Is this something you would purchase for a modest, tiny fee? Or is part of the appeal the fact that it’s a free tutorial? (It’s okay to be honest here….) The kimono pattern took a great deal of time to work out, and it was fairly simple. Expanding the sizes took even longer. But, I think it’s important that the patterns be full of photos and directions, so you don’t feel lost or overwhelmed once you start the process. I also think it’s good for patterns to have an implicit flexibility in the design so that making modifications is not daunting, but empowering.
Among my reasons for starting this blog was the need to communicate more clearly, share the things I make and get back to the process of creating. Making the kimono pattern was a diligent little endeavor, and I could just be on a high from that, so bear with me it this rambling is futile.
We are back and I could’ve stayed much, much longer. No phone, no computer, barely running water and electricity – this is a rustic little cabin. I spent our brief getaway up early, down on the dock watching the loons and reading.
I managed to read this month’s National Geographic cover to cover before breakfast *bliss*. And then I moved on to my new book, but I only managed a few chapters because I kept falling asleep in the sun. When the afternoon thunderstorms rolled in, I moved my little party from the dock to the couch, to extend my nap.
I will miss being lulled to sleep with the waves and loon calls…..but it’s also good to be home.
Where did this week go? Seriously, it was a blur. We are off for a long weekend in Maine….so, I thought that a Top10 Friday highlighting my favorite things about living in Boston might be order. Without further adieu:
10. The politics. Any town where I’m considered a moderate is just my speed. I’d rather life swung far to the left than far to the right. I also enjoy the perception of this state by others, as it saves us from all those insipid campaign ads during election season.
9. Nerds. Any town where I’m on the “hip” side of the spectrum, well – that’s also my kind of town. The nerd factor here is off the charts people, and I love it. Maybe it’s due to the proximity of MIT, or that massive amount of tech industries located here. I’m not sure. What I do know is they come here from all over the world, and it takes a lot of pressure off of me since being ‘cool’ is not usually within my grasp.
8. Smarty pants. There’s a big difference between nerds and smart people. But lets not split hairs, either way we have them in spades. One thing I notice about living here is the conversations overheard in local cafes….and the people you bump into (kind of like bumping into celebrities in L.A.). This town seems to attract smart people from all over the world, working on formulas and theories and saving us from ourselves. It’s fascinating and yet all of it flies well under the radar.
7. Ye Olde. If you like history, this is the region for you. Walking around, everything has a plaque or a memorial to some battle or building that was significant. Sure, it doesn’t go as far back as European history, but it’s pretty Ye Olde just the same. On top of colonial history, Native American history is integrated and emphasized which is a refreshing change.
6. The Accent. Ooooh, the accent. To be honest this item would also be on my list of Top10 worst things about Boston. It’s both fascinating and horrifying. Why do some have it and some don’t? Why does it have very specific regional sub-accents?
5. Sea Air. I do love flying into Logan and smelling the sea air. It’s come to mean “home” for me. But, I have a love/hate relationship with the ocean. I love water, particularly large bodies of water. I like to look at the ocean, and ride ON the ocean, but I will not go IN the ocean. Beyond rolling up my cuffs and letting the waves lap at my heels, you will never – ever – find me intentionally swimming around in the ocean. I like the creatures that live there, and am fascinated by what washes up on the beach. However, I am also aware of my place on the food chain, thank you.
4. Sea Food. Oh how I love seafood…..I don’t get it very often because MP hates seafood, but I take what I can get because it’s so fresh.
3. No Car Required. This city is small and very walkable. What isn’t walkable is ridable, and what isn’t ridable, you can take the T or a Zipcar. We do own a car, but barely drive it.
2. Small States. With the exception of Maine, these states are miniature. Teeny, tiny. You can drive the long way across Massachusetts in 3 hours. Coming from the land of Big States, this phenomenon never gets old. Want to drive to Maine and pick a fresh lobster? 1 hour. Want to go to a spa in the Berkshires? Hour and a half. What about a long weekend in Newport, looking at the Gilded Age mansions? Hour and twenty minutes, tops. NYC for the weekend? 3 and a half hours if you time the traffic just right. That’s a far cry from the 8 hours I used to drive to my parents house on a Friday night.
1. Maine. Everything about Maine is wonderful. The salty old Yankees, the fisherman, the rocky coast, the flora, the fauna, Portland…….
Edit: There was an error on the math of the expanded sizes….so, the pattern has been updated again as of 16 July, 2008. Sorry for the confusion!
The Simple Kimono Wrap (version 2) is officially updated.
The pattern now includes:
- Expanded sizing up to a Youth 8.
- Measurements in cm as well as inches.
- Added photos & notes of various kimonos, emphasizing the neck area.
- An entire page devoted to the binding.
I hope this makes it easier for everyone. As always, let me know if you have any difficulty with the pattern. Please add your photos to the Simple Kimono Wrap Flickr group.
