Getting back to real life

Well, the mad rush is over. Now I can slowly try to get back to real life. It usually takes a week or so. Many businesses are busy over the Christmas season, but it is always slow for us then. The rush is October/November and I just cannot afford to turn away orders. So I nearly kill myself with busy and alienate all my family and friends. Not pretty, but it is my life.

I really need to clean up the sewing studio before I attempt any major project, but I really feel like doing something for me. Maybe a hat or a cardigan. Nothing that requires the entire table to cut out. I don't have the energy to clean it off yet.

I did do some wash swatches of my teal knit. I have three yards, so plenty to do the jacket, but I am afraid I will make it and not like the style. If I wash all but the ruffle I won't have enough to do both. With three yards I could get two collarless jackets out. Indecision is the reason nothing gets done around here.

Jacket thoughts

photo from Neimen Marcus

There is a discussion on Artisan's Square regarding this Armani jacket with a flounce.

Mardel shows it at great length in her flickr photos. It looks gorgeous and feminine without being too much. I am not really a ruffle person, but I like this jacket.
With the Armani jacket in mind, I recently purchased this pattern.

Erica Bunker has made (twice, I think) and loves it. I think you must to make it twice.

I have a few aspects to consider before I get to it.

I have a teal wool knit and a heavy silk charmeuse that is not too shiny and matches it perfectly so I was thinking of fulling the knit to use for the body and possibly the silk for the flounce. I had initially thought of using the knit for both, but am not sure how I would finish the edge of the flounce. I would use a single layer for it and don't mind that the reverse shows. I could then bind the edge in the silk or serge it in matchign sewing thread or work a blanket stitch on it.

Anyone have any thoughts?

The Armani example has a shawl collar under the flounce that gves it a bit of body and I like that.

In the Vogue pattern the flounce becomes a band around the back without any fullness. I like that, since I have fullness of my own there that I don't want to emphasize. If I do the flounce in silk, would I continue the silk around to the back band also, maintaining the flow of the design and crealing a horizontal band across my bum, or use the wool and possible diminish the interity of the design?

I guess I have lots to think about as I finish up my last few orders.

November 11- Lest we Forget

I can't read this without crying.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae

SWAP Fabrics

Above is a silk tweed from www.emmaonesock.com shown with a selection of neutral bottom weights and a raincoat fabric. The bottom weights are a charcoal denim with a coppery reverse, a war greay pinstripe fabric, a darkwash denim and a dark wool with a slight plaid meanswear type.
I could go bright with a silk tweed jacket, or neutral and practical with the rainwear. I am actually thinking of a raincoat with a zip out liner that would carry me from Fall through to Spring.

Busy

Gosh- I have been busy at work. I am again starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and am thinking about sewing for me again. Well, that includes the kids and extended family as well.
I have been planning Christmas presents this year. I am trying not to buy too much.

As for recent sewing for myself, I reworked the tapestry jacket below. I shortened it, removed the ribbon trim and added some darts. The fabric was really nice to work with. I didn't think it would press or take darts so well. I finished the teal trosers as well and wore them with a teal top made from leftover fabric from last year's SWAP. If I look frantic in the pictures it is because I kept shutting my eyes in previous photos. My DH was making me laugh and I was trying to keep my eyes open.

I hadn't planned to make it so long and forgot until I had it cut that I have bought extra fabric to make myself a purse from it. I am not sure if there is enough left now.