You can fool the fans - but not the players.... John Cage

Overcoming blogaphobia

Jeez - what happened? I used to be a blogging fool but then, suddenly, everything changed. And I'm not happy about it. Social media is fine, great for quick updates & sharing things on the run, but for the real, gritty stuff? Nothin' like a blog post. So I'm back. And I've probably lost what readership I had so this can return to what it started out as.... an online journal of sorts.

I haven't really changed much since I last blogged - still making jewelry, sewing up Alabama Chanin projects, riding my horses. But yet, things have changed. I started practicing yoga every morning (almost) thanks to MyYogaOnline, the best thing I've found online in a long time. It has been wonderful for my back and every morning I look forward to rolling out the mat. I've come a long way with Rhea and so excited for an upcoming clinic. JC had not one but two knee replacements this winter. We got a puppy. It barely snowed, so we're looking at another challenging water year. I started two new websites, Ride & Shine (for jewelry blogging and eventually selling) and Mountain View (for our new business venture).

Certain things keep me grounded and give me great satisfaction, though, like sewing. Most recently, sewing up a Vogue DKNY pattern using Alabama Chanin hand-sewing techniques AND the organic cotton I bought from AC a year or so ago. (This is all part of the use it up them of this winter, too, where I've concentrated on unfinished projects and my fabric/yarn stash).

The pattern and the fabric:

 

I was a little shocked when I went into JoAnn's to buy the pattern. When did they get so bloody expensive? If I don't use this pattern again, this will be a fairly spendy dress. Hopefully it will fit like a dream and I'll want to make several renditions.

There is a fair amount of messing around with the pattern to make it work with the hand sewing and AC's smaller seam allowances and I have to admit I did some winging of it. I measured myself and chose what I thought was the appropriate size, then figured that I'd cut it out without trimming down the seam allowances just in case. I have nightmares of sewing as a teenager and being so excited about making something, then having it not fit AT ALL and tossing it after all that work.

Another goal was getting as much as I could out of this gorgeous fabric I bought from AC. I ended up with enough for a poncho and a fairly decent sized piece I could make into large napkins or some other smallish project. For the lining I used a cotton knit sheet in a sage green. I've found that buying the jersey knit sheet sets at Target work great for some of these projects, at least the 100% cotton ones. There are some cute stripes and other patterns but they are not all cotton so I haven't gone there. (note: you do have to be careful to find the grain on the sheets - they don't always run straight with the cut of the sheets).

My favorite way to sew these projects is to put on a good chick flick or settle in on a Wednesday night to watch Modern Family and Nashville. I get get quite a ways in just one evening although sometimes my back will bark at me the next morning (that's where the yoga comes in).

I sewed up the front and the back, then pinned the sides to check for size.

And yes, some adjusting was in order. My advice, moving forward? Save yourself some time and re-sewing of seams and trim down the pattern. I'll be doing that before the next one.

I took in the sides quite a bit, and then tried it on again. Then I took in the front side and back side seams (the curvy ones) to make it fit even better. Now I'm in the process of flat felling all the seams and the final thing to do will be to bind off the neckline and the armholes. I think I'm going to love this dress.

Before I make another one, though, I'm going to finish a tunic top I cut out and stenciled oh-so-long-ago, and decide what to do with a funny little scarf/wrap that I did the same... but I still have quite a bit of fabric in my stash so I'm sure I won't have to even buy anything to make the next one of whatever I decide to make.

Hey.... it's GOOD to be back!

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Making a house a home

This winter has been a little unusual and delightful since for the first time in years I haven't worked an outside job. I mean, I still teach, but only one class a semester for the past year or so, and that class is entirely online. And as any woman who doesn't work outside the home knows, there is plenty to do in and around a home each day. Add building another business (Ride and Shine), a puppy, and my husband's two knee replacements to the mix and this was a perfect winter for staying close to home. It has also been a treat to settle into a home and work on improving our surroundings. We rent, so there is nothing we can do structurally, but we like this house and it has been easy to work with what we have here.

After two years with our belongings in storage while we lived at the resort in the summers and in a sweet little cabin in the woods for a winter I was ready to have all my stuff around me again. I think JC could have stayed in that cabin again, but I like having my own things and the storage units depressed me. I never could find what I wanted and it was such an ordeal to go in and try to sort, find, retrieve, discard. I was so happy to find this house in an area we really like and was more than happy to hire the guys who helped me get everything from storage to here in one weekend. One day, really.

We discarded much of our old furniture when we left our old home, knowing we were ready for a change and knowing that there wasn't much point in storing furniture we were ready to offload. Therefore one of the first tasks was to find some new used living room furniture. I'd kept a leather loveseat I'd found in a thrift store and I knew I wanted leather since we have dogs and a cat and our style is a little bit western. Craig's List yielded a big sofa, chair and ottoman in a style we liked, and the quality we wanted, but in a slightly weird color due to some extreme fading at its previous home. I thought it was worth the risk and we've oiled it, which improved the color vastly, and are working on a color scheme that ties everything together with the wood walls in this house and the sage green carpet.

An upholsterer is on tap to restuff the chair cushion and create a new backing cushion for the chair, and restuff the ottoman with firm foam so that we can use it as a coffee table. Can't wait until that's all finished. New lampshades are on order and the living room is just about complete - next summer I'll look for rugs for the dining room and living room, and a sofa table for behind the loveseat, but aside from that I'm really pleased with our living space for the first time EVER! We are still making do, but the making do has definitely taken a step up.

Our family, all of us, love our living room.

Another fabulous find was this armoire for JC's clothing. We'd off-loaded an enormous dresser in the big purge and JC was left with no place for his t-shirts. This piece fit beautifully in the big room we chose for our bedroom in this house and I like the dark wood against the white walls.

Yet another pressing issue was that we'd let our guest bed go (again, the whole storage issue) and we tossed around a lot of ideas, went looking for a new bed for ourselves (drawn especially to platform beds with big storage drawers), and then stumbled on another second-hand find in our local paper. The ad was deceptively low-key, and the bed itself was buried in the list of other things for sale. But the words "spindle bed" caught my eye and we went to look at it. What we got was a gorgeous piece of furniture with a barely touched Sterns & Foster mattress and box springs. Score! That went into our room and completed it.

The nice spin-off from our getting a new bed for ourselves was that we were able to recycle our bed (still in great condition) up to the guest room, again completing that. It was all falling into place. And somehow I feel like it is because I am more present in this house, more invested in making this a home, more appreciative of being settled in a place that I like.

It feels good to cook here, it feels good to run the vacuum around, and it feels good to get things organized! Like the tiny, tiny pantry we've got. You work with what you have, right? In my mind, its a blessing in some ways as it limits the amount of hoarding we can do and it is always right there in our faces. Things don't get lost in this pantry.

I've had to part with many of my collections - happily not the mixers (although I'm not collecting any more), and it is still a little crowded in the kitchen. I'll never be one that has bare counters unless we move into some house with amazing storage again. We need a pot rack to get our pots and pans out of the valuable kitchen cabinet real estate but I'm pretty particular about what I want (Enclume, thank you very much) and can't really afford what I want right now. I'm watching ebay and waiting. The kitchen gets cluttered, but because I'm here it also gets cleaned often.

Its good, its great to be invested in making our home comfortable, warm, and inviting. I love being home. Love haing my micro-studio downstairs, love having the office with room for yoga, and can't wait for spring to be able to spread out in the backyard. If anything, its hard to pry me out of here. I have strong hermit tendencies and feel like most everything I need is here. The horses get me out more than anything else. I shudder to think of what might happen if they were here too.

c

The fabulous website called Apartment Therapy hosted a January Cure which I mostly participated in and I learned a lot. I started bringing flowers into the house again and they have brightened up the winter days. The house feels good. The house is home.

 

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Working out the kinks.

Over the years I've realized that I'm not a production person. This has not served me well as a business model, but I've come to accept it and therefore I've not tried to earn my living as an artist. I really really REALLY like making things, and I like selling things to people who like what I make, but I suppose ultimately I am making things to make and not to sell. So, what does that mean?

First of all, it means that I have to like everything I make. And it usually means that I would wear it or use it or have it around. Second, it means that it is going to mutate and evolve as I entertain ways to tweak it or make it into something I like better. And third, it means that there aren't that many of them around - whatever it is. I move on, make new things,and rarely return to the original (although there are a few things on the list that I'd like to return to).

In the past few years I've made a number of pairs of fingerless gloves using a pattern from Alabama Chanin - making them with t-shirts that I loved but never wore anymore, making them from felted cashmere sweaters to give away at Christmas, and then it occured to me that I could make them with fringe - to cowgirl them up a little.

The first pair was quickly laid out, cut, pinned and sewn by hand during several feverish sessions of making. And I loved them (I still do love them - they are lightweight yet warm, comfortable and flexible, and they leave my fingers free for using my phone, feeling the reins, tying my shoes). So I thought, naturally, of putting them into the etsy shop.

Next the thought occurred to use two layers of fabric and stencil a western design on the outside, stitch around that and cut out the inside so there would be a beautiful, contrasting embellishment to go along with the fringe. This is my test pair, and you can see on the lower right that I started out not stitching around the design with enough room to cut out the fabric (the stencil I used is rather fine) and I learned as I went along. I also learned that with four layers of fabric and the fringe things get a little bulky for hand sewing. Still some bugs to work out here, but the overall look is just what I wanted. I'll keep and wear these for sure.

The plain pair got put to the test last weekend when I went riding with friends and they passed with flying colors. A little bit of western flair, a nice bit of coverage from the sun and the chill of winter riding and, well, the possibilities seem endless. I will list some basic colors (black and brown) right away, and then a pair or two of the reverse applique gloves with the option of custom colors. I can see someone wearing a white on cream pair for a western wedding, or using custom colors for shows. I'm pretty thrilled about these.

Check 'em out soon in the Ride and Shine etsy shop!

 

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Making time for making things

Sometimes I just get so excited about an idea I can't wait to see it to fruition and that is when I wish the "real" world could just be put on hold for 48 or 72 hours so that I could work uninterrupted. Dogs would not need to be fed or walked, meals would magically appear and then disappear, and the house would just stay clean.

Don't ask me why I am so excited about these gloves - I just am. Fingerless gloves are so fun and easy to wear anyway and adding fringe - well, it's just so western! I see these being worn on a horse, off a horse, in town and out on a date. They are like owning a fringed leather jacket. You put it on and whatever you are wearing is transformed into cowgirl.

The first ones were straightforward brown cotton knit with fringe. Then I had the idea of adding another layer of fabric and doing a reverse applique with a western-type design. Off to the thrift store I went for a couple of large t-shirts in the right colors.

I scrounged through my stencils and assortments of Sharpies, fabric paint, and miscellaneous pens, looking for something on hand that would work on this color.

This first pair may end up being mine - just because I see some mistakes. The stencil is quite fine and it's hard to get much of anything cut out from the center of the stitches so the contrasting fabric underneath really isn't showing off the way I imagined. I'm going to soldier on with these, though, in hopes that I can work out whatever other design issues come up - I can see that four layers of fabric PLUS the fringe may prove to be a challenge for hand stitching... I may need to invest in a thimble to save my fingers.

That's why I need the time. Could the world just stop, please? Alas, it does not. My photoshop class begins tomorrow, JC is packing to go over to the resort for a bit, we're dog-sitting for our neighbors, I've got horses to ride.... life to live. Having JC gone will allow me the freedom to work my schedule out the way I want so I can squeeze out as much stitching time as humanly possible while not ignoring my life obligations and I know that every creative person experiences this very same thing. The juggle. We have to learn to work with it. Pupzilla is going with JC and the two older dogs are relatively easy - food, a walk and they are good for hours. I'm learning to organize and focus my class time to be as efficient as possible while still being attentive to my students. The house is coming together and will be easier to keep clean with half of us gone. I should be able to whip these out over the timespan of a movie or two.

I'll post when I complete these and I just can't wait to figure it out and get a few into the etsy shop to see if they are as well-liked by others as they are by me.

 

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Sunburnt legs - spring must be here

When it changes here, it changes fast. And it can change again in another flash. This is one of the things that most attracted me when I first came to the eastern Sierra for a summer job, way back in 1980. I had spent the previous decade in southern California, the land of balmy sea air and perfect day after perfect day. I was longing for seasons that change and when my feet hit the ground in Mono County I soon learned that change could come at any season, any day. Snow in July? Not a problem. Sunny day in January warm enough to sunbathe? Not a problem. And everything in between.

But. I digress.

 

We are in full-blown spring right now. The famed eastside winds have been blowing daily, creating beautiful skies, a dusty valley, and making it impossible to maintain any sort of hairdo. Ponytails, braids and hats are de-rigueur. The wind gets old but unless you want to hide away indoors you just pull on a hat and go.

The dogs and I (and sometimes JC) have been walking a lot lately. For me it is part of the plan to get some winter flab off, and as for the dogs it makes it a whole lot easier to get work done once they've had a chance to burn off some energy. This is great walking country and we have a couple of nice routes that we use, each taking us in a different direction. I have a couple of favorites up near Mammoth too, that we use whenever I have errands to run in that part of the county. The valley is warming up quickly, and the ticks and snakes are coming out so we move up higher this time of year.

We were here at home for Easter and all we got to see of our granddaughter was a quick picture - and now that is probably the hardest thing about living so far away from our families. So many significant 'firsts' and we'll only be there for a few of them. Thank goodness for cell phone cameras, Skype, and Face Time, though... its easier to feel connected despite the distance.

We can see the changes in Hannah with each picture. Her features are maturing and she's awake and cooing and gurgling more now. I can't tell you how much enjoyment this brings to someone who never raised children of her own - it is magical!

This isn't turning into a blog about being a grandmother, but I think "being a grandmother" is about to get its own category!

Craft projects have been a a lull (if not a standstill) for so long now. My mom has come to my rescue with projects of her own, including an ambitious chalk paint project. We had a good time taking half a day to visit the Cedros Design District on the pretense of purchasing chalk paint (well, we really DID purchase the paint but we also had lunch at the Belly Up and did a little shopping too).

I only particpated in a little of the actual painting and from my understanding there is still some work to be done, but I'm looking forward to seeing the completed dining room set on my next visit. She chose bright cheerful colors that will really pop in the dining room. It is so fun to paint and redecorate.

Painting campers is still on my bucket list - at least one of my own to use as a studio someday. This one was shared on Facebook and was painted with chalk paint - isn't it darling?

To the best of my knowledge, this was painted by Angela Boone Leachman who lives in Louisiana. My plan is to find a sweet little trailer, gut it of everything but sink, counterspace and storage, and use it as a stand-alone art studio someday. No need to tow it around unless we move and if we do... well, then I don't have to box up the art supplies. Just pull it in, plug it in and get back to work!

On today's list, after I get off the computer, is to work on the seahorse pillow and to stencil the Alabama Chanin tunic I cut out earlier this year. It is a light colored tunic that will be great for spring as soon as I can get it stitched and sewn. Always the impatience to get another piece completed.

April is flying by and soon my hubby will be locked in at the resort, I'll be doing trans-Sierra visits, and summer will be rapidly approaching. Yikes, thinking ahead too far just makes my head spin!

News flash! Blog post!

You'd think I'd forgotten how to journal with the length of silence on this blog. And the gaps in writing in an actual journal. For me, the queen of writing it all down, this has been a long dry spell. I look around for something to blame it on, but it all boils down to self-imposed "busy-ness". Trying to start not one but two new businesses (well, really just mulling over the 2nd to try and decide if it is something I want to dive into at this point in my life - but recognizing the niche is open and that I could probably take advantage of it), juggle home, being a new grandmother, working numerous little jobs to patch together some sort of income... instead of working smart I've been working like a hamster!

I read this, The 'Busy' Trap, recently and it hit home all too hard. Life is passing me by as I run on the wheel, chase the wind, try to grab the ring. I rarely see my friends - we are almost ALL too busy - and my time at home with JC is often spent with each of us glued to our laptops. So what to do? Stop it, of course. And here I am, writing a blog post.

We became grandparents last month - a life-changing event.

She is about 400 miles south, and already we've made two trips down to be with her and other treasured family, and it seems that it is what we will be doing for a long time to come. Watching her grow, anticipating her brother or sister in a couple of years, and figuring out how to make more time for her and then them. I missed out on parenting, but I don't plan to miss out on grandparenting! Our family has grown with the marriage of JC's daughter and long-lost family members have emerged to join the ever-widening circle. It is a beautiful, complex thing, this family; and not to be missed because I'm too 'busy'.

We've had a great winter in our little cabin. I got to have the snow I've been missing over the last few years (although admittedly, not much of it this winter), and we both felt a sense of relief that we're not drowning in our "stuff" right now. Moving out of a largish house was carthartic - we've been steadily discarding and I don't think we'll turn back from this. It really is refreshing to have less to take care of, tend to, fret over, move around, and tidy up.

We've enjoyed our beach time during our trips to southern California - taking the dogs to Del Mar's dog beach and San Onofre. JC has acquired three (yes, 3!) pairs of shorts that he regularly dons now. We found a dog-friendly hotel near the beach and we've found that the time spent near the ocean is very well spent indeed - it helps us feel like we've truly had a break from routine and are really on vacation.

I've gotten some eye-candy time in between visits, dog walks, and work. Anthropologie continues to delight me even though it seems that the displays have diminished in quantity in the past few years. It might be the individual stores - since I haven't been able to visit the bigger ones in Vegas and Los Angeles - but there's always something worth taking note of and the designers continue to re-use materials in novel, creative, and inspiring ways.

A new favorite haunt is Cedros Design District in Solana Beach. It is one street just blocks from the beach lined with galleries, garden shops, retail, architects, design firms, and seasonally, a farmer's market. One day I'm going to buy a pair of handmade Cydwog sandals from Cedros Soles, and this past trip I discovered Vintage Soul, with a plethora of repurposed goods from baby toys to iPad covers to jewelry.

Many fab items can be found at Solo, and I'm entertaining a love-hate relationship with a shop called Ta-Da. I'm working in retail now so I know that a lot of lovely vintage-looking stuff is coming out of factories in China instead of someone's backyard studio, so I'm more suspicious these days.

Driving as much as we do, I'm learning to push the edges of my discomfort in a car... I can't just SIT there! We've been downloading audio books from Audible.com and I've found that I can do a limited amount of knitting and/or sewing in the passenger seat. As long as the road isn't too winding or hilly. This pleases me as there are a stack of things waiting to be made!

An Alabama Chanin skirt is just about finished:

And a seahorse pillow has been started for the littlest pony's room. Photos to come as it becomes reality.

As spring progresses, I vow to walk the dogs more often, ride my horses more often,

visit with friends more often, and yes - blog more often!

Easy-peasy sofa slipcover

We're living in a rented, furnished cabin this winter and the sofas, while comfortable and large, are vintage. They came with vintage sheets covering them, and then we tried this hodgepodge of throws over them - which had to be straightened and tucked and fussed over every morning.

One day I hit upon the idea of trying dropcloths. I know I've seen it somewhere before - Country Living or Pinterest - and we use a drop cloth in our truck to protect the back seat from the dogs. My very next trip to the big city I stopped in at our local hardward store and bought two of these:

I bought two since they are only 4 feet wide, thinking that I'd sew them together. I threw them in the wash and the next morning decided to see what I could do with them without sewing.

 

Voila! I put one drop cloth on the seat to the floor, tucking and pullling it all snug, then the other one draped over the back and also tucked and pulled snug. The entire sofa is  now covered with a neutral, durable, washable cover for about $34.

LOVE it. So much that I'm high-tailing it back to the hardware store for two more for the other sofa.

Don't you just love easy solutions?

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Thoughts on being a maker of things.

For as long as I can remember I have been inclined to make things. I'm not alone in this inclination, but not everyone has this "urge". It can be a challenge at times to try and explain this need (yes, need!) to make to someone who doesn't share the drive, but it is such a joy to connect with someone who does. And over the last few years there has been such an explosion and validation of makers that has made it easier to understand and appreciate whatever genetic component determines us.

How can we encourage a culture of making at the same time we are becoming so digitalized? For myself it is the perfect complement to work that is based on the computer and tablet. I love stepping away from the screen and back to the project at hand, whether it be fabric and thread, or metal and heat, or paper and glue.

I wish that I sketched and painted more these days and I always think that I will, but something's going to have to force me there. I need a class, an instructor with assignments and deadlines, something more than just my unfocused desire.

Thanks to my husband I now have a work table downstairs in a newly insulated laundry / closet / storeroom that I can use as a studio space for soldering and other work that I just haven't had a space for. It's just that it has been so dang cold that unless the dryer is running I can't be down there for long. I have to time the laundry with my making time in order to render the studio useful. That will change - it'll begin to warm up with the changing of the seasons - and I'm happy to know that the space is there.

This winter has been all about fabric and thread. This project, part of my vow to wear less, wear American, and wear what I make, has been quite the investment of time. I started this way back at the VVR - cutting out the pattern on the restaurant tables we had pushed together for the closing staff.

I stenciled the fabric on the dining room table of our winter cabin. The stencils have been a challenge for me - I first tried making my own stencils by cutting the pattern out of plastic with an xacto knife, but that was difficult. I couldn't seem to get the shapes cut out smoothly. Our local Ben Franklin store carries a few stencils and I've found a couple that I like - this is one of them. Another thrift store score was a couple of Ralph Lauren wall stencils. And finally I ordered (but haven't used yet) an Alabama Chanin stencil.

It took an entire sharpie to stencil both sides of this smock! And then the sewing began. Hours and hours of movies and favorite TV shows, spools of button and craft thread, and the steady movement of needle and thread through fabric.

My husband is a little disappointed that I've left him with only one fingerless glove this winter... I knitted one up while on the road in October, then started this project and the knitting has been left unfinished. There are only so many hours of "making" available in a day, though.... work, and housekeeping, and dogs, and horses, and the great out of doors are all competing for time.

And before this project is even completed the next one is begun.

Because a maker doesn't like to have gaps between projects.

I'm glad to be part of a community of makers - call us craftspeople, artists, whatever. I love seeing what other people dream up and enjoy that the same thing can be created a million different ways. I miss my "Art and Soul" retreats with my sister, an incredibly talented maker.

My husband is getting it - this isn't a hobby or a dabbling. The need (yes, need!) to make things is part of what defines and validates me. There's no question that I'll have a project of some sort going all the time. Traveling? No problem. Take along a small project. Finding time will happen. I've always been good at making time for myself (call me selfish) but I believe it makes for a happier person and a happier person has the capacity to help others be happy.

The internet and the explosion of visual sharing has been inspiring. I'm no longer limited to retreats and the people around me in our small community (although there is plenty of artistic inspiration around these parts). Pinterest, Facebook, and the RSS feeds of the blogs I follow provide daily creative candy.

Before I can even complete one project there's another one begging to be started. Like books, which I always used to worry about (that I'd read all the good ones and there would be nothing left), there seems to be a limitless amount of creative energy, ideas, and inspiration out there. My challenge will be to not pile up so much fabric that I can never use it all, to not stockpile stencils that will molder in storage. To not fear the space between projects.

Are you a maker? Do you keep a blog or a Pinterest account? If so, let me know.

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Winter + snow = increased sewing productivity

The long nights of winter and the cold temperatures make staying in, finding a good movie to watch and sewing away on projects so enjoyable. Oh, sure, I still get out for some exercise, to work and see friends, and to ride my ponies whenever possible. But with it dark at 5 pm, and cold even earlier, I find myself picking up my sewing project whenever possible.

As a result, what seemed like an impossible amount of hand sewing is quickly turning into a recognizable garment. I'm following an Alabama Chanin method of reverse applique, where I stitch the design into two layers of fabric and then the outside of the designs get cut away, leaving the stitching, the outline of the stencil, and a little fabric one the edge of each element.

 

I have one side completely stitched and cut out, and I like to hold it up to imagine the finished smock. Which I sometimes worry will look too homespun. Especially now that I am working part-time in an upscale boutique. I'll put those worries aside, though, and wear it where I feel it is appropriate. And enjoy all the time I put into each stitch.

Since I'm approaching the end of this project I used my time off today (and the frigid temperatures outside) to lay out and cut out two new tops. Then I rediscovered an unfinished poncho/wrap from last winter that I can work on and complete.

It's time to move on to phase 2 of Project 333 as well - figuring out what clothing I'll be wearing Jan - March. I have a start on it as I have purchased two pairs of jeans (made in L.A.), and a little grey jacket. There are plenty of pieces from the first phase that will make it into the cut for the next three months but a few things are just too lightweight for this time of year, and I find myself hankering for some new colors.

The blog has been quiet but I haven't - I just have to find the time to get it all down here. Plus, I managed to misplace my camera cable and haven't been able to download any photos since Thanksgiving. I searched everywhere and finally gave in and ordered a replacement. By the time it arrives I'll have months of photos to sort through and blog with.

It's so easy to post Instagram photos to Facebook and Twitter, but I don't want to lose the blog. The blog gives me a chance to really explore topics and it requires some time - time to edit the photos, time to think about what to say, and time to sit down in one place doing one thing. Slowing down... isn't that a good thing?

30 day reflections - Project 333

I've been dreading sitting down to write this - not because of Project 333, the reduction of my wardrobe to a limit of 33 items for 3 months, but because of the 2nd part of this 3-part challenge of mine. The part that involves buying more that is made in the USA. Why is this not easy? Shouldn't it be easy? Well, it ISN'T! And I don't like not being able to succeed at what I attempt.

First, the failures. Might as well get it right out into the open. By far, the purchases I made in the last 30 days were supporting trade with China. What did I buy?

Handbag - good quality, but disappointingly, made in China.
(Similar to this, but alas, not a Coach bag. Which might have been made in America).

Merino-blend long underwear for both JC and myself - significantly less expensive than the brands I like; SmartWool, Ibex, and IceBreaker. Made in China. Small gifts while on vacation - cute and I could have made them myself but here's the key: I didn't plan ahead. Hiking shoes - inventory liquidation of a shoe store in Sandpoint. Amazing price on Merrills. China.

Boots - I researched boots made in USA since I knew that I wanted a pair for this fall. Frye boots are still made in the USA (mostly) but I was looking at $350 or so for a pair. I'm sure they are worth it. But then, Sierra Trading Post had a cute pair of Teva boots for $60. Budget won. Made in China.

Mountain Hardware skirt - one of the things I've learned about Project 333 is that each item in that wordrobe has to work with just about everything else AND it has to fit and look good. I picked a thrift store Banana Republic skort as one of my items and I found, the first time I wore it, that it did not fit well, did not look good, and was not going to be one of the items that I enjoyed wearing. It went into the thrift store pile immediately and I went searching for a versatile skirt. Mountain Hardware had one. Made in China.

Carhartt vest - again, Sierra Trading Post. Great vest, good for riding, casual wear, just about anything outside 3 seasons out of the year. China.

SmartWool tights - I thought SmartWool was all made in America but I was wrong. China.

One bright star - I found an American made line of women's shirts that really work for me. ModBod. I stumbled on a road show at our local Costco, bought a two-pack of white / black 3/4 sleeve t-shirts and love 'em. Happened to find a small shop in Coupeville, WA that carried ModBod (and a LOT of other clothing made in the USA) and bought a gray one.

Lessons learned:

1. Buying USA-made requires that I think ahead. Yes, there are great companies making jeans, boots, handbags, iPhone covers.... you name it. But are you (or am I) going to be able to walk into a mall, superstore, or local shop and find their products? Not often. And they are expensive. So.

2) Buying American requires planning, investment, AND a divorce from on-a-whim fashion urges. Oh, you mean classics? That I take care of and keep for years? That I rock like I'm a French woman? I think I can do it, really I do. Already I find myself passing up Target and Kohls cause, really, what is the point? Everything in there is made in China. I might as well not walk in the door unless I'm going after cleaning supplies.

3) Buying USA-made products may conflict with shopping local. I think the key here is to communicate to local shop owners that you are (I am) invested in buying American-made. The store I visited in Coupeville even rewarded its customers for buying American-made.

4) This might take some time. I am communicating with companies and letting them know that I am interested in purchasing American-made products over those made elsewhere. I emailed MadeWell after getting promotional correspondence and found that you can search within the MadeWell site for products made in the USA. Yay! I answered a survey by Sierra Trading Post and commented that I'd like to see more USA-made products. If enough us pester these companies maybe things will start to change. Limiting my wardrobe has not been particularly difficult and I think that it is because I really didn't wear much more than 33 items before I started this - I just had a lot more than that hanging in my closet "just in case" or "when I lose that 10 pounds". Now, I have what fits, what goes together, and what I like wearing. And I get to look forward to choosing the next 3 month's wardrobe out of my favorites and the new things I'm making.

Which leads us to part 3 of my personal challenge: the making 25% of my wardrobe. Not there yet. But excited about several projects for the winter -

the reverse appliqued smock,

the Guy LaRoche / Alabama-Chanin-interpretation dress, and additional t-shirts, ponchos, and perhaps even a skirt. Knitting hats and fingerless gloves. Cotton knit scarves. Repurposed cashmere, felted.

Even though I have not been entirely successful this first 30 days I'm not discouraged. My next pair of jeans will be made in the USA - I've already been checking out all the companies that make their jeans here and I'll set aside the money. I have a shirt company I like. I know who makes boots in America. And I'll find companies that still make socks, undies, bras, gloves, etc. here. Then I'll start looking beyond clothing. Next year I want the VVR t-shirts to be made in the USA so I'll be talking to our printer about that. We found china coffee mugs at Blue Star Roasting in Twisp, CA that are Homer Laughlin, an American company. Our mugs will be Homer Laughlin. Stay tuned.

And if you are attempting any or all of these three challenges - please let me know. I could use the support! Project 333 - Choose 33 items to wear for the next 3 months (not counting workout wear, sleepwear, underwear, lounge wear). Made in the USA - Actively work to purchase more made-in-America goods. Communicate your desire to companies and shop owners. Walk your talk or 'fess up. The Selvedge Project - make 25% of your wardrobe.

Geez I'm glad this post is written - and I hope that the next one is full of successes and the boastful beating of my chest.