2024

I want to preface this by saying that I no longer set new year resolutions. To many times I’ve been the over enthusiastic ball of sunshine that proclaimed each Jan 1st that this was going to be the best year ever! It will not.. It will be the year it is meant to be- nothing more and nothing less. It will be a continuation of my story- with it’s own ups and downs. It will be a combination of both consequences and rewards from past choices.

Winter, which it is right now in my part of the world.. Is actually a horrible time to strive for change. As the seeds are in the ground patiently waiting for spring to blossom-so are we.. This is the time for rest and planning. To prepare. To imagine.

I do however like to set intentions for each year. An overall feeling or energy I’d like to embody as much as possible for the coming 12 months. This year the idea of Home keeps coming to mind. Home and Hearth. For me- home is a place you create where you belong just as you are; where you can be your best and worse self. Home is a feeling of community as well as individuality.

Just like everything worth anything in this world Home needs some care too. This year I want tend to my home- all of my homes in fact. My mind, my body, my family and friends and my physical house. What that looks like may change but as of right now it means making these things the number 1 priority of my life, allocating my energy and resources to improving home. And to do this I’m adopting the YouTuber Model.

So- the Youtuber Model is something I’ve noticed about some of my favorite Youtube Content creators. They have a schedule for when they release their videos. Weekly or bi-weekly seems to be the most common. Many have expressed that a weekly schedule is too tough and leads to burning out so they opt for bi-weekly or even monthly. At the beginning of the cycle they formulate an idea or project, spend a few days researching, a few days buying or locating materials and then they execute the idea or create the project, edit and upload a video by the deadline. Many have expressed that making “fake” deadlines helps them because since they’re working for themselves they don’t have the structure of having a boss who is giving them tasks and expecting they completed within a certain time frame. This makes a lot of sense for any person who struggles with getting things done. We don’t have anyone looking over our shoulder reminding us to make that doctor’s appointment or deep clean the baseboards. It’s so easy to push that stuff to some undetermined date in the future.

This year I want to do something similar.. I’ll start with biweekly as long as its sustainable and set one project to work on.. At the end of the 2 weeks i’ll do a check-in to see what was finished and what I still need to do. And then start a new project..

How are you going to embrace this new year? Do you make resolutions or have any plans?

I need a win

So- I went to the Ren Faire! I wore the elaborate costume I spent the better part of the last year constructing and my girlfriend and I had a blast. It was a day filled with emotions. I received may compliments on my costume but there were parts that we harder to wear and not as practical as i’d hoped.

This was the first time I wasn’t able to get a turkey leg as it was extremely crowed and they kept running out..

This was also the first time where I paid to see the fortune teller and I had a tarot/palm reading. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting or how my lady did it but she seemed to zero in on me pretty quickly.. She highlighted things I already knew about myself like that I have a history with issues with boundaries- often giving too much of myself in ways that quickly become unhealthy- I thought i’d dealt with that but apparently not quite. She also called me delusional. Stating that I was very negative and inflexible- inwardly where only those closer to me would see. At the same time she encouraged me to embrace my gifts- my creativity and writing specifically. How she knew I was a writer I’m still not sure- as that was oddly specific. She told me that there was a lot of love around me- a past lover which ended with lessons learned and was less than positive but many more loves to come as well as a mentor coming to help with financial goals.

Then she told me something else that I already knew.. That this year specifically was a great one for planting, planning, and waiting. That I shouldn’t feel impatient or concerned about my lack of progress because this year was about making the plan and the next 2 years would be when the work would begin. Then she encouraged me to take the little wins until then.

And this was the part the resonated most with me.. Little wins.. Any wins can be hugely motivational and lately I was in the biggest funk i’ve been in for awhile..

So- i’m taking the chance for a little win by pausing the shorts stays project and working on a couple smaller less fit dependent projects and getting items I need to make the actual completion of this short stays easier. I’m also putting a pause on larger home repairs in exchange for small thinks that make a big difference like switching out curtains and busting out the fall decor!

When you’ve been working hard but things don’t seem to be moving.. plan a little win for yourself and celebrate all the baby steps that will one day get you to the bigger wins 🙂

Starting the Regency Short Stays project

It has been months. I have completed a lot of projects in that time. I bought and installed french doors on my living room door way, added beautiful molding details to one wall in the living room, added sconces to that wall, repaired, painted and added grips to the back steps and bought and hauled a massive but beautiful antique desk into the attic.

Sewingwise I completed my girlfriends cape and created a new gun and sword holster for myself. So, finally it was time to start of the Regency short stays!

I had a false start last week when i realized that i’d printed the wrong size range for the pattern.. a rookie mistake- I know you should always take your measurements first.. So I printed the correct pattern and taped it together.

I decided on a few alterations: 1) I added a covered button placket to the front. This makes for a nice and easy to open and close option that still looks historical. I can also make it just a button placket if I want that look. 2) I’ve decided to add a little padding to the straps to make them more comfortable. 3) I’m adding a modest panel behind the lacing for coverage and comfort. 4) I’m adding small cups under the bust to reduce slippage and keep the bust in position.

Last night I cut the pieces for a mock-up to test the basic. I used an old cotton fitted sheet so it won’t bug me too much if it doesn’t fit at all. Since it opens in the front I’m opting to sew in a 2 in strip to mimic the lacing gap at the back. I also left the straps long to test the final necessary length. I’m hoping to finish the fitting mock up this week and start of the “spooky stays” next to be finished in time for Halloween.

The pattern has only 5 pieces but to create the nice finished garment I’ll eventually be cutting almost 20 individual pieces. I’m happy to finally be working on this project- I’ve been thinking about it for a long while.

Sewing Update: My next set of projects

I have been fairly productive this year in my sewing projects- most being related to my renfaire costume this year.. I made a split skirt, stays, 2 shirts, a fan holder and a caplet. I still have my girlfriends cape and pants to finish..

With the end in sight it was time to start to think about what comes next.. What new project will fill my creative downtime. Well I was lucky enough to discover a need – Bras.

I have 1 bra that fits well and a few that get the job done but are uncomfortable. I suffer from the same issues most bra wearers have.. The straps dig, the underwires poke, my cups spilleth over and the band sinks into my back rolls. It doesn’t look good and it certainly doesn’t feel good.

I looked to history for a solution.. Sometimes you don’t need to re-invent the wheel. Corsets and stays were wore for hundreds of years as the optimal undergarment for support. They provided a “fashionable” silhouette while supporting the bust. I have tried to wear corsets daily with mixed results. The biggest downfall being- they don’t seem to be made to sit in. Driving and sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day was pretty uncomfortable with a garment that extended to my hips.. It left me with bones poking into my thighs.

Second was the time it took to put one on.. It doesn’t take all that long, mind you, but adding the necessary extra 5 minutes was somehow more than I wanted to commit. With the busk always giving me trouble even on some of my more well worn corsets.

That’s when I started to think about the bra.. Why is it the go to garment now? Modern bras are much more lightweight. They are fairly easy to put on and take off without lacing behind your back. They tend to give a more modern shape with boobs separated into cups rather than a corsets more shelf life construction. They are often elastic, more importantly easily adjustable, with straps and bands that can shift with a changing body.

So what if I could experiment with taking the positives of both undergarments to Frankenstein a better bra?

That’s when it hit me.. There is a corset bra that already exists in history.. The Regency Short Stays. Not as popular in their time during the 1810-1840’s this options is more or less a very early predecessor to our modern bra. And there are lots of patterns online that can help with creating them taken from actual garments.

So here’s what I’m thinking: Short stays are very lightly boned.. Mostly with just a front busk (usually a flat piece of wood), boning at the side and center back. The rest of the support comes from cording, threaded cord though channels to give them shape. They seem to typically stop at about the natural waist or above- makes sense because they were worn with umpire waisted dresses where structure below the bust wasn’t really needed.. This makes them perfect for bending in comfortably.

For my mock up i’m going to make a few adjustments.. First I want it to still have lacing in the back which will make the stays more adjustable but in the front I want it to open. Closed with either a zipper, buttons or hook and eyes. I’m leaning towards small flat buttons because they would still look a little historical and they would be pretty. A bone or two on either side of the button placket should provide enough support to replace the busk.

Second, I want to make sure the “band” covers my upper torso well without extending past my natural waist bend.

Third, Stays straps could be quite thick- I’ll keep mine at around 1 inch to 1 1/4 in width. They also need to be adjustable.. I’ll cut then shorter so they you can adjust with ribbon ties.

Fourth, I want to add a small drawstring to the top so that the cups can be a bit larger and adjusted more easily.

After that I need to consider the thickness. Two layers of cotton broadcloth instead of a heavy weight coutil will make for more light weight stays- I won’t be lacing them very tightly so they don’t need the extra strength.

I plan on making 4 :

A white one with purple embroidery, white broadcloth, purple thread and binding with a pattern stitched on it . I want this one to be very elaborate so it will likely be the one I make last after i’ve tested out wearing the mock-ups and I know exactly what I’m wanting. This one will also have criss/crossed stitching on the gussets and on a portion of the side back.

A black witchy one using Blacksnail cotton fabric and black broad cloth.

A tan one from the material I bought to make a corset last year. I might even have enough left over to make another pair of renfaire stays too.

Lastly, a purple flower one using the bed linen I thrifted from Goodwill. This one might have minimal cording and some hand embroidery.

I have fabric for the tan and purple ones and I ordered fabric for the black and white ones. I’ll start with the tan one as a wearable mockup. If these work they should be supportive, adjustable, lightweight, easy to take on and off, pretty, and match my historical preference. Plus I’ll make matching bloomers for them- So cute..

I’ll be doing more research as I wait for materials and finishing my UFO’s. But I’m excited to experiment and see what works. I’ve already purchased my pattern; the Laughing Moon #115 Ladies Regency Corset and Chemise. It will provide a great starting place to draft a pattern from.

The Pantry

When I moved into this house I took honest inventory of the space.. I looked at all the light fixtures, switches, and outlets. I checked the rooms and noted what I liked and didn’t. And from the moment I stepped foot in the house I hated the kitchen.. Its an odd size.. not small but not large.. The cabinets from the 70’s and they ‘re not really very practical. None of the countertops match and there aren’t enough of them. The space for the fridge is behind the back door which isn’t convenient when someone is in the fridge and someone else needs to come in or out. There is a long wall that is the wet wall.. It has electrical and pipes running though it and covered duct so no drilling. There is a big window with a radiator right under it. Its just such an awkward and ugly set up.

When I set about decorating the house I put very little effort into the kitchen. I painted the walls white and moved in a island cart for additional storage and countertop space. I’ve decided its finally time to tackle making the kitchen better.. Somethings I can’t change.. The layout is kind of what i’m stuck with but I can make it more functional..

To start there isn’t alot of functional storage. The corner cabinet is a horrible hole where things go to be forgotten about. The lower corner is almost completely useless. It’s too long so again things get lost and it’s so low that it’s hard to see what’s in there. I have 4 phases to complete in the kitchen- A pantry shelving system, remodeling and painting the cabinets, new countertops and replacing the fridge.

I got a new fridge a few weeks ago and now i’m working toward phase two.. The Pantry.

I’m creating a unit from smaller shelves which I bought on Amazon. 2 shorter shelves and 2 tall shelves which I will stack and connect to make a tall standing shelf with plenty of storage for everything.So far I’ve assembled the top shelf which is one of the shorter shelves.. Very straight forward. The bottom shelf is the most problematic because all the pieces had to be cut down so the overall height would fit the height of the kitchen wall. The center tall shelves just need to be assembled and connected together with a longer and wider shelf to act as a countertop..

I’m nearly finished.. I just need to transfer to holes to the new shorter boards and then assemble as normal.

I looked on Amazon already for bins and baskets and jars to organize in.. This will be something I do over time.. Getting the items just right.

I love doing these projects myself. I like the creativity, the problem-solving, and the control. I can’t wait to see how this one turns out.

Sewing Update: Sorry If you don’t like sewing updates LOL

I had such a wonderful burst of sewing inspiration in the last week.. I was actually able to make some progress on the off white sheer cotton shirts.. One is complete and just needs buttons and button holes, the other, which i’ve been calling “The Pirate shirt”, is about half done still needing sleeves, cuffs, helmed and eyelet closures.

I’ve added a quick project to the list to do next or during the secret pants project.. A cape! I found this cool pattern on Etsy and the most adorable black velvet.. It will be a nice daily wear/ costume addition to my pirate/fairy capsule wardrobe. Here is the pattern if you’re interested..

I also made a mistake.. I bought a beautiful gray jacket from EBAY which when it arrived I found to be too small :(.. Luckily I think I have a fabric that matches it fairly well and I’m going to attempt an alteration.

I’m still working on the crocheted Snood.. I have nearly completed the scarf and already constructed the hood.. I don’t think it will be much longer before I finish that.

I pulled out some of my “too small” clothes from storage.. I think i’ll take a couple of sewing days and make alterations.. new waist bands for the skirts and more room added into dresses and tops..

I need to embrace my body as it is now.. I want clothes that fit me right where I am.

Sewing Update- March 2023

We’ll so far this year i’ve completed one of the off white button-ups I had on my list. it just needs buttons and button holes. and I finished both the purple petticoat from the lilac cotton broadcloth and the off white petticoat. I still would like to finish the other button-up before diving into the black palazzo pants.

I have been doing lots of planning.. I adjusted the pockets on the pants pattern to make them bigger and I figured out how to add the front fly to the pattern. I also cut the pattern for the pirate stays and found fabric for the lining and bias to go with the thrifted curtains. I will still need to order it.. I also found the perfect fabric for the lining of my girlfriend’s cape- I have a pattern/ plan and just need to outer fabric for it now.

The reason I don’t think i’ve been as productive with actually sewing is because i’ve been crocheting. I finished a hooded sweater and i’ve been working on a Snood.. I had to buy a few more skeins of yarn to make the scarf as long as I want it to be. The hood is assembled and just waiting to be attached once the scarf is completed. I’m very proud of both pieces but they were quite time consuming.

So moving forwards I still need to acquire a few more things like fabric for Bailey’s cape, fabric, ribbon and grommets for the pirate stays and skirt, a pattern for the house coat, and varies trimmings, accessories and such.

I would also like to do a bit of a closet purge and do some repairs/ alterations to existing items..

I want to switch out the waistbands on a few of my older skirts so they are more adjustable like the new ones.

I need to mend a few existing items

I’d like to dye a couple things to see if they are more wearable for me if they were black.

Overall I also want to just cultivate a wardrobe that I really love.. I haven’t quite acomplished that yet but I have a feeling that I can get there with some time and intentional work.

I take less pictures.. And I don’t regret that

There is a weird sense of responsibility that comes with modern life that I never quite signed up for, in fact I hardly noticed it at all. The need to document. With the invention of a smart device that is constantly in your pocket or more likely your hands it became easier and easier to take pictures, to leave reviews on restaurants and hotels, to pin your self at local or not so local hot spots. And with this we can fell required to share those experiences with others on social media.

“Do it for the Gram” became the motto of most people my age and it’s easy to see why.. You can share your trips with your friends instantly as they’re happening and receive likes and comments in response.

For years I was the first person to suggest taking a selfie to commemorate a moment with friends or family. I wanted nothing more than to capture everything.. Every sunset, every pretty flower or sun bathing creature. I have thousands and thousands of pictures from my adventures. But a few years ago I realized something wild.. I never really looked at them.

I don’t often go back and look though the dozens and dozens of pictures from my trips to Texas or Ocean City- In fact, I don’t believe I even really looked that closely at them when I took them. I pulled out my phone… snapped the photo… glanced at it to make sure I liked it and it wasn’t blurry and either posted it or didn’t. Tons and tons of shots that I might pull out as conversations fillers or starters during slightly uncomfortable meeting with acquaintances I don’t know that well or family members I only see occasionally. And while there isn’t technically anything wrong with that I realized I was missing the picture– while taking them.

These days I take far less pictures- maybe a selfie or two and a handful of particularly interesting or intriguing shots but I actively strive to leave the phone in my purse- To instead embrace committing the feelings, sights, sounds and smells to memory. Instead of trying to capture the moment to recall later I resolve to enjoy and immerse myself in it as much as possible while it’s actually happening. The pictures I do choose to take are now likely to get printed out and put in photo albums and frames so I can hold them in my hands. Our memories are so precious but so is our time and attention. Sometimes unplugging is the best way to plug in.

Blessed Be

Sewing Update and My Next Projects

I haven’t done any sewing updates in a bit so I figured now was a good time to do one..

The latter half of 2022 was not a great time for sewing for me.. I wasn’t able to get the time or motivation to get alot done but the projects I did complete were pretty educational..

I’ve sent the last 2 months planning and creating the butterfly skirt.. A floor length Victorian walking skirt with godets between the front and side front panels and covered with fabric butterflies. I used the left over red and black plaid cotton fabric from the Katherine Hepburn jacket I made last year. plus about 6 yards of black cotton broad cloth.

This was a pretty time consuming project.. I made the 40 butterflies by hand which took ages. Each one consisted of two or three pieces of 3X5 in squares that were stitched together- turned right sides out and origami-ed into butterflies.

I had to cut a crap ton of bias tape.. I used a 40X40 in square to create the bias and cut and ironed the strips.

The skirt consists of 7 pieces.. The front was made of up of 2 panels cut on the bias and pattern matched into a chevron. each section was flat lined with a the black cotton broad cloth. I finished all the inside seams with bias binding. And did a rolled hem at the bottom

I also developed a new way to do the waist band which makes it much more tailorable and allows me to let the waist in or out as my weight fluctuates. It’s very similar to the way the waistband is often done in nice tailored men’s pants. there are 4 individual pieces which when sewn together creates the waist and allows me to add almost 6 inches of extra fabric into the seams so it can be let out significantly. I plan to do all my future waistbands this way.

When the skirt was finally assembled I sewed each butterfly on by hand with a little metal key in the center for the body. I also created a red silk bow from the left over lining fabric from the Katherine Hepburn jacket. That was added with a safety pin to the back.

It was not a fast project and it isn’t perfect. It’s also very heavy but I absolutely love how it turned out. A little more extra than I’ve originally planned but I’m very happy with it.

I have several other projects in the works.. I used some left over off white cotton to cut 2 button up shirts and a short petticoat. I have fabric and a pattern ready for a Renfaire style Stays top with matching over skirt. I have just purchased fabric to make black wool palazzo pants- I already bought the pattern for those and I plan to make a couple minor alterations to them. I also want to pattern a stained white hoodie that I love to make another on from the left over fleece fabric I bought for the Winifred Sanderson robe. And I may also use some of that fabric to make a hood and finger-less gloves. I want to do some more stash busting by using the cotton lilac fabric that I have left to make another petticoat and some thrifted old curtains that I think would make a very nice house coat.

So that’s where we are right now.. I’m feeling most motivated to work on the new “secret” Palazzo pants project where I will be learning how to install a front fly with zipper, a new style of side seam pockets and the new style of waist band. But the fabric shouldn’t arrive for a few weeks which allows me plenty of time to hopefully finish at least the petticoats and shirts that I have already cut. They just need to be constructed. Each shirt takes about 8 hours to complete and the petticoat is actually almost done; just needs to have the side seams stitched together, add the ruffle and waistband. The other one hasn’t been started yet but it should be a relatively simple construction.. Might take a day or two.

What is the next big project!

Well, now is actually the time to start thinking of the summer. I want to create an entire renfaire costume which means I need to make: A new chemise, petticoat, kirtle or dress, pants, pirate shirt, stays top, over skirt and cape/robe or jacket. Not to mention I need to find shoes, belts, weapons, a hat and props. I’m still in the planning stages but it’s either going to be a fairy (Tolkin style) or a pirate captain.. Might do a cross between the two. This will be a capsule wardrobe with enough pieces that I can layer and use in different combinations to make several outfits that would work for cooler or warmer weather. In addition, I want to make my girlfriend the cape of her dreams. As you might have noticed several of those items are already on my current projects list so with some luck I’ll be well on my way to have everything completed by August.

I can’t wait to get sewing this year.. I still want to make practical pieces I can wear everyday but making them as cosplays is more fun and gives my “everyday” closet a lot more character and interest. Eventually, I still want a closet that is made up of a majority of items I’ve created that fit my fantasy/witch/Victorian vibe. I’ll start with the pants.

A Teacup

It’s little and cracked on the side from being dropped one to many times. Far from new, time has ravaged it’s surface with scratches and the paint is quite faded. The handle that once provided a grip distanced from the heat within- long ago broken off.. The pieces shattered. Scattered

And yet- it is still here. It still functions- holding just a cup’s worth of tea or coffee to be sipped blissfully on the sofa on a chilly winter evening. It even overflows- so full it can’t help but to spill. It hurts- it breathes.. It wants.. it loves.

The previous owners have indeed found it wanting for all it’s quirks and injuries and who could fault them for discarding it- giving it away to charity. For a time- it had no owner at all- none but it’s self. With no one to fill it and invented purpose. Perched unwanted on a high shelf awaiting someone who might see it’s value.. Despite the disrepair. Desire it -despite the necessity of accommodation.

And when they came- the little cup did not believe.. did not trust at first that this new owner was anything more than a fantastic figment of imagined perfection. Traumatized and conditioned to expect only the worse- to prepare for abandonment. When would they become bored and seek a newer, younger and more efficient vessel?

And yet, fuller than ever- happily overflowing- healed by the connection/ provided purpose it was happily more than ever- a teacup.