SWAP

As it turns out, my husband isn't the best photographer. He just can't see the point of trying to find a flattering pose for my huge thighs or the fact that my chin is too high.
These are the only usable ones so far. I guess I will be doing a lot of floor/dressform shots.

Blouse1 and Trousers. I didn't even notice the doll clothes on the floor until too late.

SWAP blouse 2. Like my bra?

The back of jacket. None of the front pictures turned out well.

How I felt at the end-threatening him to take better pics with my enourmous muscles.
(He read this and said he thought the camera would work better.)

SWAP

I am trying to get a jump on the SWAP write up, so thought I would start here. I am so glad I could finish it. My goal is not to win, but to get some new clothes that coordinate. One more hem and resetting one sleeve and that part is done.

Jacket- B - Brown/camel/turquoise wool/cotton tweed from Vogue Fabrics

Top 1- KS 2694-Modified-Teal nylon/lycra leaf print wrap top
Top 2-Simplicity 4095 -wrap top in teal wool jersey from Wazoodle
Top 3- Simplicty 4095-wrap top in teal Rayon jersey from Timmel
Top 4-Simplicity -4095V-neck in teal rayon jersey from Timmel
Top 5-New Look -button front shirt in cotton floral print from Fabricland
Top 6- New Look -button front shirt in ctton lycra print from Gorgeous fabrics

Trousers 1- Self drafted trouser in brown weave with teal pinstripe from EOS
Trousers 2-Simplicity 4095-trouser in brown RPL from Timmel Fabrics
Trousers 3-Simplicity 4095-trouser in Camel/brown/teal cotton from EOS
Skirt 4- Simplicity 4095-skirt in teal wool jersey fro Wazoodle

Wardrobe pattern is Simplicity 4095 . Tops 2,3 and 4, trousers 2 and 3 and skirt 4 are all from it. Fours garment pieces/styles were used to make six items.

SWAP thoughts

I have found it much different working on last year's SWAP and this year's. I started ealier this year and have found it much easier to plan. Also, I have had a year to purchase coordinating fabrics.
Last year's SWAP my my first attempt to move away from black clothing. I have found it doesn't flatter me as much as it used to (or maybe I thought it used to) but I wasn't sure what colours to choose. In the end, the SWAP was comprised of several pieces I never wear. Colour and style are the big deterrants in wearing the other pieces.
From Julie's site, http://www.timmelfabrics.com/ with my notes in italics.

Last year's SWAP was based on greens and beige, with navy and aqua accents

Jacket: Loes Hinse Kimono Jacket in green rayon/linen -Never wear- not enough shape
Tops:
Butterick 6600 in lime/white striped stretch cotton/poly blend - wear occasionally in summer
Kwik Sew 2694 scoop neck tee modified in navy knit - gave away
Kwik Sew 2694 wrap top modified in aqua wool knit from Mum's stash - I do wear this one
Vogue 8322 V-neck blouse in navy silk/cotton sateen - rarely wear
Kwik Sew 2946 tank top modified - reversible in beige matalasse to charmeuse silk -never wear:fit
Kwik Sew 2694 wrap top modified in sage rayon/poly knit -never wear because of colour
Bottoms:
Taupe trousers, drafted from RTW, in cotton/lycra blend - wear
Ankle length pant, drafted from RTW, in sage cotton/lycra - never wear:colour
Camel trouser, self-drafted, in brushed cotton/lycra - wear frequently
Purchased item, RTW pant from Talbot's in sage cotton/lycra -never wear:colour

I have learned a lot from going over this SWAP. Sage is not my colour. It is too light and not really flattering on my skin.
I tend to wear one colour or value from neckline to hem, with a colour or value contrasting piece worn undone over top. This "column" is usually medium dark to dark and is supposed to make me look taller (and therefore not as wide). The third piece worn over and undone is to further divide the width while allowing the column effect to remain. Last year's SWAP did not give me many pieces close enough in value to provide me my coloumn.

The current SWAP has two shirts which can be worn buttoned up or over a top, three wrap tops which work for layering under a light coat and one top that can be worn on its own or under a shirt.

In the Fall I decided to make some basics and a few interesting jackets to go over top. Once made I realized that jackets don't fit so well under the heavy winter coats required for this non-driver in the cold Ontario winter. Softer cardigans make more sense. Great winter coats (which can be worn open at, say, the mall) make more sense. Spring coats are perfect for this look. Coats are what I need! A multitude of coats! Did I ever mention that our lovely old house has only TWO closets? Something's gotta give and it is NOT going to be my wardrobe.

The skirt and jacket were Loes Hinse patterns. They don't have any shaping built in and just don't work for my proportions.
The pants were fine, except for the colour choices. I needed to refine this area a bit. I tried to wear turquoises and aquas last summer. Most were too light, too bright or both. RuthieK gave me some excellent colour advice on Artisan Square about keeping to a mid tone, not too light, too dark or too bright. I really liked her SWAP last year called "Woodland Walk" and took her advice. Well, not only the advice, but the colours and tones of her SWAP from last year are very similar to what I am doing this year. Thanks Ruthie!

Trying to complete SWAP

I had one pair of trousers left to cut for SWAP. One Pair! Wouldn't you know something would happen. I cut them out incorrectly and ended up 12" (30cm) short of fabric. I was determined to get them cut anyway, so I did the easiest thing and pieced the back of the trouser leg.

New Books

These came in today. I haven't had a chance to go through them yet.

New clothes

Teal wool jersey top and skirt from Simplicity 4095 and the same outfit on me in a silly pose. I was trying to make my hips look slimmer.
My husband came home while I was trying these on and ended up photographing me, then taking me out for lunch. I think I need new clothes more often!

Since the camera was out and I already had the lipstick on I made him take more pictures of me. I am usually behind the camera, so this doesn't happen very often. Here is the same outfit with a jacket I made last year and again with my ten year coat and a handbag I made.

Tops done!

I now have eight tops done for SWAP, so I can eliminate the two worst ones. I have been wearing two of them so much that one has stretched out of shape and one has pilled.
Now onto the trousers!

Easter Dress

The dress


The dress on while a two year old shouts "No light! No light!".

SWAP Garments

Darn- this won't keep the format it was made in.
Here is my SWAP. I included a purchased garment at the beginning that I hope to replace.
So far there are five tops sewn, one skirt, one pair of trousers and others started.
I might just do this!

Fabricland Boiled wool cardigan or
Textile Centre Teal Blue denim jacket

EOS Striped wool trousers- Completed
Wazoodle wool knit skirt-Simplicity 4095-Completed
Timmel Brown RPL -Simplicity 4095-Cut
EOS Soft Teal Cotton trousersS

Talbot's Teal top -Purchased
FabricMart Teal leaf print-Completed
Wazoodle Marine knit t-neck,self drafted-Completed
Fabricland Beige/teal floral cotton,NL Completed
Gorgeous Brown knit-Simplicity 4095B-Completed
Gorgeous Teal/beige Print, NL-Completed
Timmel Teal knit-Simplicity 4095A-Completed

Wazoodle Marine Wool knit top-Simplicity 4095B-cut out
Fabricland aqua/brown poly

Last One!

I am finally finishing up the last dress. I plan to take a full day to work on my SWAP after this and then do a bit each day. Not having December to work was hard for me with the SWAP. I always have a lot of free time in December.
All along I have been working on winter-able pieces/outfits and wearing them as they were completed. I have nearly worn out one pair of trousers. Now when I look at them I am tired of all of them. I want Spring to be here now. I realize that officially it is Spring on Friday, but I want the real deal with birds singing, flowers blooming and NO MORE SNOW! I guess I will have to move on to more Spring like clothes, maybe make a new jacket. This is why I never post a storyboard. Too many changes.

Worlds

I got one more dress shipped out today. Three down, two more to go.
Also, I finally managed to get the new roll of paper in the Visa machine.
Big day.

Memories

Today I was digging though a plastic bin of trims, looking for something appropriate for the dress I was working on. At the very bottom of the bin was a small sachet of soft unbleached cotton with a ribbon drawstring. I crushed it and thought I could still make out a slight scent. It was a sachet I held in my hand next to the roses of my wedding bouquet. Inside is a bit of heather from one of my father's funeral arrangements from 1984. His birthday is March 28th. He would have been 79 this year. I still miss him.

Karen's Purse

My friend Karen requested a purse. Well, she mentioned that she liked a style and I said I would make her one. Unfortunately, I couldn't really picture what she wanted and could not find a pattern of what I thought she wanted. I ended up making a pattern. Well, two actually. The first was a flop. Her description of long and narrow with buckles diagonally on the bottom did not fit the first one I tried. It just didn't end up long and narrow.
The bloody buckles took forever, so I took that one apart and started on another bag. This one might be a little too long for my taste, but my trendy babysitter OK'd it, so I proceeded with it. Karen is a very sensitive person, who wouldn't want to hurt my feelings if it wasn't what she wanted. She says she likes it though. I hope she means it.

Maisie's Birthday/Valentine's dress.

Maisie's Birthday/St. Valentines day dress. Maisie turned two on February 8. Since the date is close to Valentine's Day, I made one dress to do double duty.

I must get it back on her and get some better photos. These were from a try on over her leggings when she had just gotten home from daycare.

She didn't like the flash.

Long time

Wow, it has been a while since I have written.
I have been ill with something ever since sometime in mid November. A cold/cough became a sinus infection. Antibiotics and a Prednisone inhaler took care of that, but gave me a yeast infection around my eyes, which I still have. Nothing from the MD seemed to help, so I have been following a Naturopath's suggestions for trying to rid the Candida from my system. No starches or yeast in my diet, so no sugars, breads, pasta, rice, potato etc. Nothing fermented, so no vinegars, soya sauce, etc. Basically lots of veggies with lean meat, lemons, limes, almonds and olive oil. Sounds like a great salad. Sounds like a lot of great salads. Gets a bit old after a while, especially when my eyes water and flake and burn still.
Also taking Oregano Oil, ground flax seed and Super 8 Probiotics.
I am ready to switch to Tequila shortly. At least if it doesn't work I will be more relaxed and maybe not even care.