the second skirt is done, and i absolutely adore the results. a few minor glitches in the final delivery, one big set-back during the process, but all for a good cause. and, if all goes well, i may have my own sewing machine by the end of next week.
in other areas of design and creativity, i think our living room finally meets my expectations of what warmth and comfort, yet class and sophistication should be. we signed a lease for another year, so we’re here till at least the end of next may. and we figured we may as well continue our redesign quest. the color scheme is current and fitting for our tastes, we have some great art from jay ryan on our walls, and we scored a couple of awesome chairs from craigslist.
and for giggles, here’s what our living room used to look like. such a huge improvement.
30 March 2008
the downward spiral…
it started with a marathon session of project runway from seasons past one saturday afternoon. never seeing the show before, and usually one to avoid the hype surrounding shows of the reality realm, i watched with hesitation. but what can i say? seeing santino’s impression of tim gunn kinda got me hooked. that, and the clothes. and the creativity and the know-how and the time constraints behind crafting said clothes.
never having touched a sewing machine, watching PR made me want to learn to sew, in hopes that i could at least make a simple a-line skirt.
well, i done did that after the lovely cinnamon took the time to mold me, sitting patiently by as i wrestled with the seam ripper and forgetting to put the zipper foot down during its installation. all of which, i took in stride because i honestly want to become good at this.
nearing completion on my second skirt, with hopes of perhaps making trousers for myself—hell, the fabric is already purchased, may as well run with it—i started looking at more designs. seeking out designers to possibly emulate in simpler terms. looking at runway shows from all the fashion weeks that just took place. i even picked up a japanese magazine highlighting collections from SS 2008 in milan and new york.
i’m far from anything of grandeur, but it’s been a long time since i’ve been this enamoured by anything. even if my own sewing and construction doesn’t get beyond simple patterns and doesn’t evolve into the actual design process, i do think i’ll continue to at least educate myself on the trade itself. (OOA, i’m trying to make you proud. perhaps you could pass along some sites to further my edumacation? thanks, doll.)
03 March 2008
an awesome woman by the name of cinnamon gave me sewing lessons for a christmas present. and i’m not talking a sewing class at vogue fabrics. the woman herself, as busy as she is, offered to teach someone who has never touched a sewing machine in her life how to make a skirt. admittedly, i’m pretty crafty and enjoy working with my hands, but i was a bit daunted by the fabric cutting, zipper installation, and the seam ripper (which is now my best friend). regardless, i was up for the challenge. moreso, i was up for the possibility of becoming more adept at a new skill and having clothes construction be a viable platform for explanding my own wardrobe.
shortly after the holidays, cinnamon picked me up in sparky the hybrid, drove me to the south side for fabric shopping and a late lunch at manny’s.
the first fabric store was sterile, intimidating, and needless to say, we didn’t buy anything. then we headed over to vogue where ladies of all ages were lingering over different bolts of fabric, rooting through the piles, trying to find that perfect texture, perfect color. hell, that’s what we were doing.
vogue kept us occupied for nearly an hour, methinks. but having never shopped for fabric, i didn’t know what i wanted, what i needed, what would be best for a first-timer. cinnamon guided me through everything. the creative aspects, the details, the requirements. she was a trooper for dealing with my novice ass.
the process of skirt-making is pretty boring in written terms, but the actuality of it fascinates me. something about the minutiae of anything triggers a portion of my brain that should be tapped more often. the time flew by, and i could physically see a wearable object start to form.
i’m neglecting to report fully on the zipper wrangling and the ripping of said seams three times. all of which were a result of not putting the foot down on the sewing machine. tangled thread, stitches not completed—you better believe i’ll never forget that step again. nor will i sew the pattern panels together backwards. another simple oversight.
so skirt #1 is finished and ready to wear. skirt #2 has begun and it will have some other features. i’m ready to learn pocket installation and perhaps trimming. and skirt #3 is probably a ways off yet, but that one will be equally cute. because i can only get better, right?
project runway, here i come…er, not…
31 January 2008
