Ramblings, Requisitions, and Renewals

I'm feeling some renewed sewing energy - if only life, work, and the clock would just cooperate...oh the things I could accomplish!  In my own rather chaotic fashion, though, I'm trying to be just a bit more organized, and I think I'm making some headway.

My New Habit for the month is keeping my currently-in-use and planned-to-use-soon patterns organized, and to that end I've gone the simple route.  I did go shopping for some file holders, but I couldn't find anything quite right, not to mention my cheapness frugality in looking at the $20+ tags on items that were just OK.   So I came home, taped up a box, covered it with fabric on hand, and voila!   My new pattern holder:

I still plan on cutting some cardboard separators to place between the patterns.
Currently there are only 2 in there, both being worked on at the moment,
and none in the "To Be Made Soon" category

#1 pattern goes in the "Renewal" category - the Soho Raincoat I started last year, & got a bit stymied by figuring out how to sew up the seams with all those randomly placed pleats in the fabric, coupled with the fact that  we had No. Rain.   In the hopes that we WILL get some rain this year, I'm excited to get going on it again!

I'm delighted to see that my thread markings
survived all of the shifting around during the year. :)

#2  pattern I'm REALLY excited about - this goes in Requisitions - a couple of weeks ago I found the PERFECT fabric for Marcy Tilton's jacket Vogue 8795.  It's a particularly yummy double faced fabric of unknown content, from Fabrix.  Soft and fleecy on one side, soft and stripey on the other:

I'll use the hook and loop tape on this.
And please note the 3X5 card attached -
that's destined to be next month's Little Habit to add :)

One more Requisition.  Which is also a Recommendation. I needed some serger thread, so put in an order with WAWAK  (btw, I placed my order on Monday night and it was on my doorstep Wednesday morning!!!!   Now that is service!)   While browsing through my catalogue, I finally decided to bite the bullet and order something I've wanted for a long time - FINALLY no more running to JA's & their limited selection of Gutermann threads - I can order the big cones online and know exactly what color I'm getting!:

And here's a cool little feature - you can remove each column of thread so that you can place it right on top of your fabric - very nice!

Oh yes, another Requisition, except this is from the other side of the fence.  I've been meaning to make some more steampunky bustles to list on my (still a baby) Etsy store, so that I don't need to deal with specific custom orders (and all of the angst & worry that goes along with giving the darling customer exactly what they want).   But alas, I was too slow, and got another custom order.   Don't get me wrong, I'm actually grinning THIS big, not complaining!   I'm also approaching this one with a bit more conscious time-planning and record-keeping in mind, so that I can know for sure if I'm making $5 an hour, or only $2.50 an hour.  ;-D   I jest...but not by much!

It's good.   Really.  It's all good.  I'm still having fun!

On the Rambling end of the spectrum, I'm motivated to create a Design Board that is actually big enough to be of creative use.   Inspired by sham's post following her DOL adventure, I realized that this wall actually has enough space to hold a reasonably sized Design Board!

This is one of my two little (emphasis on LITTLE) attic rooms - the other one is officially my sewing room; this one is the Guest Room slash TV Room slash Ironing Center....theoretically....but the creep from the sewing room is slowly taking over every corner, so I might as well just make it official.   So.  Please envision with me a fabric covered board on that wall, bursting with creative inspiration!

One more Renewal - a renewed commitment to my goal of not buying any RTW, which I made when I re-started this whole sewing journey in January 2010...almost 3 years ago now!   I have yet to buy any RTW clothing, other than socks and shoes, and some thrifted items like my stash of silk neckties, and sweaters that I've been gathering, all destined for upcycling.   You will notice the 365 RTW badge on my sidebar - this leads to Sarah at Goodbye Valentino's blog page for those who are willing to commit to 365 days of not buying ANY RTW clothing (underwear and shoes are exempted).   So, just in case I thought I could bend my commitment, I now have a renewed reason to continue sewing my own. :)

That's all the ramblings I have for today.   I have a bustle to work on, and some more Soho pieces to cut. :)