Next Week

Nothing frustrates me more than when I can't do the thing I want to do because of a physical limitation like I'm not strong enough or - in the case of painting yesterday - not tall enough. The ground is uneven. There was no way I was standing on the top of a tippy ladder while reaching upward so I painted everything that I could reach and left the rest for someone taller - like my husband.




I am SO GLAD that I decided to do this painting before the slab is poured. I made a mess. We much prefer to use latex paint however, since I didn't know what type of paint the previous owner had used and because of exposed wood, I had to use an oil primer. The consistency is much thinner. It flipped around like crazy and went everywhere. I need more practice.

While painting, I thought about how overwhelmed I'm feeling with the TO DO list. Because I am not working and because my husband is working long hours, six days a week, I think I've subconsciously taken on all the work I see both inside and outside of the house. It isn't possible. There's just too much. I need to pace myself and realize that all I can do is all I can do AND - since I'm a huge fan of celebration - I'm taking next week off. It will be the week of me. Other than what absolutely has to be done, whatever else can wait.

Next Thursday (June 3rd) is my 48th birthday and the Sunday following (June 6th) is our 29th wedding anniversary. Typically on my birthday, I do something just for me. In the past, that has meant taking a workshop, going on a shopping trip, or sewing an accessory like a purse - something that was completely different from the textile art I was working on at that time. This year, there isn't a workshop I want to take, I don't need to do more shopping, and I've been sewing fashions for the past nine months. SO... I've decided to sew something out of the ordinary - a frivolous dress - something wearable but a step up from every day. Not that a dress is ordinary for me. I don't have a dress. I had one that I sewed a few months back except that the neckline bothered me and I didn't wear it so it's now in the refashion pile ready to be chopped into a skirt.

The criteria is that I must use a pattern and fabric that I already have in stash. I thought I'd get your help choosing the top three patterns first and from there we can look at fabric and I'll read the reviews and "we'll" make a decision. I hope you'll help. Here are the choices.




McCall's 9537 is out of print. This is one of the oldest patterns in my stash. I'm drawn to the yellow version top left with the buttons down the back. What's been holding me back from sewing this dress is the halter top. I'm uncomfortable with too much of my shoulders exposed, I prefer to wear a bra, and I don't want to buy a special one just for this outfit. Otherwise, I love how it flows through the waist and skirt. If I made this pattern, I would alter the shoulder line to accommodate bra straps.




I think the skirt of Vogue 7824 is incredibly graceful with the godets in another fabric. The princess seams are wonderful for fitting my triangle figure. I'm not that keen on the neckline and narrow shoulder straps. If I made this pattern, I would combine the skirt with...




... the upper garment from New Look 6670. If you look at the back view for this pattern, you'll see that it's a deep V. The combo could be quite flattering or I could just sew it as is. The first time I saw this pattern on a blog, it had been used for a wedding dress and looked gorgeous.




Vogue 8630 above (view A on the right) and Butterick 5277 below (view C at bottom right) have similarities. I want something a bit edgy rather than prissy. The fabric would make the difference. The Vogue pattern has a waist seam which would be great for fitting but might require a belt. I'm not sure about wearing a belt. They tend to make me feel sliced and fat.

Butterick 5314 below requires a stretch fabric. That's not a problem, I have lots. Using a knit would make for a comfortable, moves with me, dress. Although this one isn't too outrageous, it would be quite wearable through the summer. I saw a really pretty version of this dress on someone's blog - I think it was Amanda's - only I can't find the link. It was so pretty I bought the pattern.



Simplicity 2648 is along the same lines. The princess seams might make it easier to fit, the V neck would be flattering, and the partial self belt - or whatever you call it - would hide the abbreviated waist seam. It comes in different cup sizes which would make fitting easy.





Butterick 6582 is a retro pattern from the 60's that I bought a few weeks ago. Since I was born in '62, it seems appropriate. I'd make one of the sheath versions on the right. What do you think of the bows?




So... which pattern do you think I should sew? What alterations would you suggest? What type of fabric are you imagining? I want to pick the pattern by Thursday night, submit some fabric choices on Friday, get your feedback, make a decision over the weekend, start sewing on Monday, and hopefully wear this on our anniversary. What fun that would be. Meanwhile...

... since this is the year of the yard and that means I'm busy painting and gardening, I've decided to sew t-shirts this week. I'm done with muslins. Now, I want to try various necklines and sleeve lengths on a basic garment so that at some time in the future, I can work my T & T pattern in all sorts of new directions. I'll start tonight. This morning, I'm driving to my friend's about 45 minutes away. She'll cut my hair and then we'll knit and chat for the afternoon. While Kyle has his music lesson this afternoon, I'm meeting another friend for coffee, and then I'll visit and sew with Wendy tonight. Apparently most of my socializing is on one day this week. What fun.

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - that I have patterns and fabric to chose from and the option of spending a week celebrating my birthday.

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Personal Growth - The story of the talents in the bible refers to a rich land owner who gave three of his servants some money to care for while he was away. One buried it in the ground to keep it safe. One invested it meagerly and made a meager return. The other invested it fully and made a substantial return. The talents symbolize the resources that God has given us.

I believe two things. The first is that it's important to be grateful for what God has given us no matter how little or how much that is and the second is to take care of, invest, and use wisely and substantially what we have been given. If we are not grateful, and if we do not care for the little, God will not bless us with more and if we do not use fully what we have been given, we're denying the gift.

My skills and abilities, my home, and all that I have are talents that God has given me. While I'd rather not be doing all this physical work and am feeling overwhelmed by the to-do list, I recognize that the work needs to be done. In many cases, it should have been done a long time ago and I've made more work for myself by putting it off. It is my responsibility to care for what God has given me either by doing the work myself or by hiring someone to do it. While on one level I'm whining and complaining on another I'm extremely thankful to do this work because I am grateful to have been blessed with so much. As a bonus, I can dream dreams of fashions while working. I'll be back in the studio sometime soon.