Tuesday, January 17, 2023

2022 costuming/crafting in review

This is kinda why I wanted to start back up a blog again. I post in a lot of places on social media when I'm done with a project, but I struggle when it's time to think about what I did all year. Because I haven't been to any events since 2019, it feels like I'm not really  accomplishing anything (and to be honest, there's been a lot of started projects that never get finished).

So let's review!

January

Starting off the year with UFO of the Ghirlandaio dress. Had the fabric since last summer (or was it summer of 2020?) but I had put it down when the bodice wasn't cooperating despite 3 mock-ups. First time I've ever put a train on a dress (usually because the fabric is too expensive to buy more than shoulder to hem lengths). It's just a little sweep, but I'm excited to have it. Used the ugly "dirt" dupioni from Silkbaron to line the train hem (so decadent lining in silk).




February

Used my Bootstrap Fashion pattern for my body double and my a mini 1/2 size model. Plan was to make small mock up versions (or maybe just costume that instead since I never seem to finish any of my costumes).


March

No crafting, all the focus was on school or the school play. 15th anniversary trip to Monterrey. My gift to Jon was renting a '69 Cougar convertible for him to drive me around the peninsula in. It was honestly really cool and nice to do an excursion. Jon came down with Covid right after that. Luckily no one else in the family got it.

April

While March was pretty much devoid of crafting me-time, in April I completed my first major digitizing project with the embroidery machine. I digitized the blackwork for sleeves and neckline of this English smock. I am especially proud of how exact I got my neckline bands to line up. 





I also got the set finished for the performances of the first school play since BC (before Covid). Kids had been rehearsing since early February. We did 4 performances (3 evening and 1 matinee) of a melodrama (The Pony Expresso - or The Villain Comes to a Grinding Halt). They were really terrific and I have a couple who have loads of talent.



May

I finally succumbed to Covid. 2 weeks before the school year ended. At least no one else got it in the family.

June

School's out so I can get some long haul sewing time in (or play on my phone all day I guess). Finally worked up the courage to cut my silk and to embroider the oak leaves. The gironea is a peachy and gold silk brocade from a dealer in India and now for the life of me I can't remember who which is a shame because their prices were great. The leaves were embroidered on "muse" silk taffeta from Silkbaron.


 

Just before heading to San Diego for a conference, I got a wild bug up my but to do another Italian camicia. Chose to do insertion stitch seams.


Part 2 coming soon.

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

What have I to say that's important enough?

It's been a forever since I posted anything. Honestly, I feared this blog might have been taken over by Russian bots of something by this point. I vaguely remembered I even had it.

I wanted to start up again mostly to just track some of my sewing/crafting; a year in review maybe.

Also I wanted a gratitude journal (since I'm more likely to post something if I can do it from a mobile app on the fly while I'm thinking about it. The last time I logged in here, blogger didn't even have a mobile app.

But when faced with a blank page and the opportunity to post something...I froze. What do I have to say that's important enough?