Keeping me on my toes

Interwebz, I have a problem.

I have over 100 crafty/fashion/sewing/costume blogs in my rss feed. A year and a half ago, it hadn't really occurred to me to seek out or read crafty blogs, but now I just can't stop. There are only a handful of them that I will actually stop and read every post, usually I just skim down until I see a picture that catches my eye, and maybe, just maybe I'll read some of the associated text. And I wonder why I can't focus on anything. Blame the blogs.

Design Sponge is one of the ones I usually skim past, to be perfectly honest. Don't get me wrong, it's a finely crafted blog. But it's updated about one million times per day which makes for a lot of posts to get through in the old reader. It's also one of those blogs that makes me feel inadequate for not living in an ultra-hip apartment made fabulous through my own handiness and eclectic design genius. My apartment looks nothing like anything on Design Sponge, believe you me.

But every now and then I see a post that is actually something I would actually do in my real life, not my fantasy fabu-life. So I thought I'd share a couple.

Homemade ginger-ale!

Mine looks much less romantic, and I skipped the strawberry consommé (this time).

(brb - just going to fill up another glass.)

Aaaaaahhhhhhhh. This is so amazingly simple and rewarding. It's basically grated ginger, sugar, water, lemon juice and yeast, mixed with two days of patience and a little ice. Sipping on this soda pop that I MADE makes me think of how great it would be to be sipping on actually alcoholic ginger beer that I MADE. There is research to be done. For now, the virgin version is fine by me.

Pouf!

I've had a similar version of one of these for a long time that I stuffed with newspaper as emergency seating when I have too many guests in my tiny, and not fabu-furnished apartment. I also have bags AND boxes of scraps in my closet to deal with, so more floor cushions are on the horizon. I plan to use the larger scraps for the cover and the smaller scraps for the stuffing. I also plan to add a zipper on the side to jam more scraps in there as time goes on and the stuffing compresses.

So, reader(s), wanna feed my addiction and let me know about your favourite blogs?
Or projects you've recently bookmarked? Those of the scrap-bustin' variety are most welcome.

On A Go Forward Basis

How do these bloggers do it? I mean, I have a had enough time actually getting around to doing stuff, and then to write about it? I have developed such immense respect for people out there like Gertie, Peter, and The Selfish Seamstress, who not only embark on amazing and inspiring sewing adventures every day, but find the time to write about it in a wholly entertaining and engaging way. Just had to send out some props to those guys (and the hundred or so other blogs that keep me on the computer and away from the sewing machine!).

I'm into the second week of my internship with a production of The Jazz Singer (in Yiddish no less) and it's been so refreshing being back in a theatre environment after a while away. I've worked on a couple of little projects since I started sewing school, but it's great being in the costume shop all day working with fantastic people. So far I've drafted and sewn a couple of camiknicker sets (I don't know if that's a real word) and cut out 9 identical sequined chorus girl dresses.

Now, I can't claim the ones I made are quite as glamourous as this, but they're pretty sweet if I do say so myself. I'll try and get some photos of the costumes we're working on at some point.

In other news, I'm making myself a jean-ish jacket, sort of based on this one but not quite:

I have never in my life found a jean jacket that looks good on my big busted, narrow back-ed, short waisted physique, and am not crazy about the double-denim look (and do wear jeans at all times). So it's a jean-ish jacket. Found some white stretch cotton twill that I've had in my stash for, oh, 10 years now (actually recalling the age of items in my stash sort of makes me queasy). Got the jacket mostly made up except for collars, cuffs, facing and zip, but then the old machine called it quits. So I moved on to dyeing while waiting for my aggravation level to subside. Was hoping for a purplish grey colour, but ended up with a very much purple. We'll see if I overdye it or leave it be.

That's it for now, dear reader(s).

Spring has sprung!

Well, interwebz, it's been awhile.

I'm almost finished my diploma program (which I initially started this blog to document - oops), and will soon be looking for work as a certified seamstress. I sometimes feel like a bit of a crazy person trying to make a career out of something so chronically low-paid and under-appreciated. But one of these days I'll be in business for myself, and that's definitely something to look forward to. For the next year or so I'm stoked about sewing in theatrical costume shops around town and learning all kinds of amazing things - and getting paid! Student living begone! I really am getting too old for that kind of thing. The plus side is that after a year of living on student loans, even minimum wage will make me feel rich!

Yesterday I cleaned out my sewing space (also known as the kitchen). Everything is organized into cute little (labeled) drawers, and I have a cabinet for my machine now so I don't have to heave it up onto the kitchen table every time I want to sew. I think this will help me get around to my home projects. I haven't been bringing much home since I started sewing school; six hours of sewing a day is usually enough for me. But if I just have to flip open the cabinet, and reach into one of my ergonomically placed drawers for scissors, pins and needles, I suspect I'll get a lot more done.

There she is, before and after. Kind of makes me want to sit down and do some sewing right now. But, I'm afraid there's still the matter of the closet....

*Sigh*

It must be done. I finish school this week, and have to make room for all of my notes and projects I'll be bringing home over the next few days. It's my intention to have a skim through them and do a few posts on the most interesting things I've learned over the past year in sewing school.  And this time I mean it! 

I've always thought spring resolutions were much better than New Year's resolutions. After all, spring is the real new year, January 1st is just a hangover. So here are my spring sewing resolutions:

1. Finish clearing up the sewing area, and making it a nice and easy place to work.

2. GET RID OF STUFF. See how full that closet is? NO NEED.

3. Make myself a wardrobe. With inspiration from The Uniform Project, I'd like to make myself a series of tunic style dresses that can be worn with tights or pants, with a cardigan type thing over top. 

4. Make me some underpants and bras. If anyone has a line on an underwear pattern that doesn't ride up, you know, where the sun don't shine, please share! 

5. Get back into fabric manipulation, felting, dyeing, embroidery, etc. I did a diploma in textile studies, goodness, almost 10 years ago, and would love to put into practice all of the amazing things I learned there. Have been very curious about compost dyeing, anyone out there ever tried it?

6. And of course, blog more! I must admit, with so many great crafty blogs out there, it's easy to get swept away reading, and never get around to contributing. And so I resolve to stop being such a little lurker, and step up!

And what about you, dear reader(s)? Has the coming of spring renewed your inspiration?