High style

A few weeks ago, Judy tagged me with a Thinking Blogger Award.  Considering that my mind has felt like a bowl of quivering Jello lately, I really appreciated the kind nod.  In turn, I'll nominate my favorite new-to-me blog, Bitter Betty Blogs.  Betty's blog mostly features her sewing adventures using vintage clothing patterns and she's got me thinking (hence, the award) about why I ever gave up sewing clothes.  I'm always complaining that I can never find what I like or get a good fit...and I used to be quite the seamstress back in the day. 

Circa 1966.  My mother convinced me that a robe would be the perfect choice for a first project so if glaring mistakes were made, it would still be wearable.  So practical.  It took all the pressure off until I won first prize in our Girl Scout competition and they put this photo on the front page of the local paper. (Ha, can you imagine?  In junior high?)  I loved the cotton print, hot pink with olive green hearts, and made a matching duster hat to complete the ensemble, which I wore with my rose-tinted granny glasses in the competition fashion show.  I think the coordinating knitted slippers, olive with hot pink ponpoms, clinched the top prize for me.  But I digress.  Go visit Bitter Betty.  She's a lot of fun and maybe she'll get you thinking, too!  (I particularly love this dress of hers.)

You can tell it's been a while since the last post when you have to pause briefly to remember your Typepad log-in info.  Our impending move has knocked me for a loop and though I feel that I've written more than enough about it here already, I do want to acknowledge all the help so many of you Chicagoans (current and former) have offered.  Unlike our past moves (Fun! A breeze!), this one seems is much more involved because our choices aren't just about neighborhoods but possible new lifestyles.  And the housing market here is dead as a doornail, so we're trying to perfect our house before listing it, probably in the next couple of weeks.  All while M's mostly up there and I'm mostly here.  That is, when we're not both there, driving around with maps in our laps. 

Anyhow, tempting fate, I clicked on my stats this week to see how many of you have wandered away and I was shocked, but heartened, to see my numbers are up.  (Maybe that means I should continue to post less frequently?)  Aww, thanks everyone for hanging in here with me.  Honestly, I have missed all of the back-and-forth with you recently and yesterday made a conscious decision to reclaim some normalcy around here.  Because a constant state of *freakout moving stress* is extremely wearing.  It always works out in the end, right?  And I'd much rather be talking to you than to myself, which I have found myself doing lately!!  Sheesh. 

Comments

[Chris]

LOL - your ensemble sounds utterly fabulous - too bad there's not a color picture!

[Kathie]

Sweet mother of pearl--I am SO GLAD no one was there with a camera to capture my first sewing project (made in a Singer Learn-to-Sew summer class): it involved lots of lavender denim, darts, and kick pleats. It's scary just remembering it!

But you win the prize for ingenuity--it never would have occured to me to make matching shoes!!

[Carole]

My first sewing project was a nightgown. I figured that way, if it came out like crap, it would only be me that would see it. Your mother and I are very smart. ;-)

[geri Barr]

I feel for you Jan, I really do! Moving is very stressful, even though it may have an element of excitement. You need one thing which you can lose yourself in over this time, knitting (portable) quilting (not so portable). It will end . . . doesn't feel like it will, I miss your posts but know you are doing big things. Yours in piece (ing)!

[schnoobie]

Smashing ensemble darling!!! I too wish we could have seen a color shot. So glad to see you back!! Hang in there with the move.....we're all here for you!!!

[Ruth]

I can all too well imagine the mortification ... not only because I was once a junior high kid myself, but imagining my 7th grader in a similar predicament! He'd be proud and wanting the earth to swallow him whole, all at the same time.

I hope the Chicago move is coming together. Have you settled on a town yet?

[mathea]

Glad you're back! I've been checking in frequently to keep your stats up ;-)Don't wear yourself out with redecorating and moving, now - take time to smell the flowers!
I'll be doing a spot of redecorating myself soon - I have just finished a new quilt and it doesn't go with the colour of my living room ;-)

[Molly!]

I love that picture! Maybe I should make a robe now with my new sewing machine. Keep on blogging and stop talking to yourself!

[Patti]

What is it with some of us lately? I used to talk to myself in my head at times - like when I was going over the grocery list as I walked down the supermarket aisles. Now I find myself not only talking to myself out loud but also answering myself then chastizing myself out loud for talking out loud! Seems like this only happens when I'm driving to and from work - maybe its an old-age stress reaction to commuter traffic?

I loved to sew those old clothes for myself. Oh, if only my body was still shaped for outfits like that!

[lori]

i hope that robe and duster cap are not getting put into a goodwill bag during all your cleaning out!

[Cindra]

Is there something wrong with talking with oneself?

[kathy]

What a fabulous early sewing memory! OK, and I really didn't need to find another fun blog like Betty's. You're always on the tip Jan.

[tracey]

oh my goodness! look at YOU!!! you were a fashion diva from the get-go! i applaud you (and others) that found joy in sewing clothing. my first experience was very much less than fun...a nasty old vest that look like it came from some hippy's closet in the 70's. definitely not a pleasing sight to a 13 y.o in the 80's. it was just old (not 'vintage') and nasty looking. bleck.

[Darlene]

Nice to "see"you! I remember my first project(s) in 7th grade Home Ec. I simply do not miss garment sewing - never really enjoyed it.

I see on your reading list "Rightsizing Your Life". Interesting! My buzz words in 2005 were simplify and downsize as we moved from a very large two story home to a smaller home in a retirement community. Getting rid of the "stuff" was the best decision we ever made.

[Scribbles & Bits]

I like the looks of that Bitter Betty blog! Thanks for the rec.! And don't worry, I talk to myself pretty regularly these days. Sure, I try to play it off like I'm talking to the dog or cat, but I know the truth.

[susan]

I like Bitter Betty too! good choice. Moving is stressful. I wish you the smoothest of moves!