Before I put this collage together (thank you Rachel, for the Mosaic Maker recommendation -- it saved me about a zillion hours!), I had it in my mind that I didn't sew much for myself last year. And compared to 2013 which clocked in at 37 garments, I definitely sewed less at 36 garments for 2014, especially since I didn't start sewing for myself until May in 2013. So overall, my sewing output has been decreasing, but 36 items of clothing is still a pretty decent number, and what was ... Read more
2014 Retrospective: K’s Outfits (Part 1)
Good morning! Before I get all misty-eyed about K's outfits from this year, I wanted to let all the folks who entered the giveaway last week that rather than selecting just 10 winners, I've decided to paint a free custom illustration to everyone that answered the question. I started to do the random number generator thing and it just didn't feel quite right for some reason. You should be receiving an email from me shortly if you haven't already! Okay, let's move on to the smaller-sized sewing ... Read more
Monday Outfit: Alpine Coat Take 2
Good morning! Part 3 of the Debt-Free Life installment is in development, but friends, I was unprepared for how much it took out of me to write part 1 and 2. So I had to take a breather with some Christmas sewing and also put final touches on a coat over the weekend. Turns out, it's far less mentally taxing to wrangle fake fur than it is to look through all of my old journals during that period in my life to form a coherent post. So Wednesday for sure. As K likes to say, I pinky ... Read more
Monday Outfit: Recital Dress
Good morning! We had such a jam-packed weekend, it's actually a relief to have the quiet of a weekday routine. What with a school ice skating event, K's first ever piano recital, a holiday cookie party (which was as drool-worthy as it sounds) and an impromptu sleepover at our house, I helter-skeltered all weekend. I also whipped up a recital dress because c'mon, how could I not? I received this velveteen fabric in a peachy-pink from my mom years ago, and until this past weekend, I wasn't ... Read more
Sewing for Me: Bronte Top
I know I'm knocking your socks off with this dark grey top. With its sleek, chic silhouette in monochrome, I dare you to tell me that you're not overcome with the desire to spend an hour (or two) making one for yourself too. What's that? You saw something strikingly similar at H & M for $5 at the Black Friday sale? Point taken. You'll see, though, that on closer inspection, this top has so much going for it that blows fast fashion out of the water. The lapped shoulders up the ... Read more