femkes_follies

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I am coming to accept the fact that a fulltime job, two small children, a long commute - and mostly, the raising of a special needs child - will prevent me from realizing a number of ambitions for the immediate future. I lack the time, energy, and ambition:

- to really bother trying to launch a new career designing fabrics or launching a pattern line

- to pursue the skill set necessary for consideration for the Order of the Laurel

- to construct all the projects running around in my head

- to even get my home into the state I'd like it

But every now and then, something DOES go my way. I went to JoAnn's today to get fabric for a corset. I looked at the cotton duck, but it seemed a little coarse and stiff. So I went wandering through the twills. I happended across a bolt of burgundy herrigbone twill of a weight and pattern very similar to corset coutil. It was labeled $6.99/yd, but rang up $2.50. I nearly went for the rest of the bolt. ;-) 100% cotton, even.

Yeah, me. Now to shop for binding, cable ties, and to draft a pattern. ;-)

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a professor once told me "you do the best you can."

Don't look at everything on your list, you will be overwhelmed,start with one thing. Let's say the house. Don't look at the whole house either, take one room. Get it the way you want it and tell your family that it's to stay this way. Every night before you go to bed, get the family to tidy their things from that room. It will become habit for them, and once you have that room tidy for a while, like 6months or so, pick another room.
I found it easy to start with my bedroom, no kids there. My first husband was a complete slob. He learned he had to contain is mess to the one spot I allowed him, his office. I could then close the door and not see it. Then I started on the rest of the house. It took a bit of work, but it worked. The last holdout is the island in the kitchen...

I think the laurel is kinda the same way, you don't look at all the projects and research as one big thing. Break it down. If need be, break it down into each individual piece/research paper. You'll get there eventually, especailly if you take the care to do each piece the correct way you know how to do right now.

It's less the mess (I've more or less come to terms with the fact that my family's destructive capabilities far outclass my ability to straighten.). It's the painting, repairs, etc. etc.... That I worry about getting done in preparation for a possibly move.

I really need to get motivated to at least chip away at the problem.

For now, I sort of need to let go of greater ambitions and just work on the little stuff. ;-)

one little thing at a time, you'll get it all done.

If you want my advice (and I won't be offended if you don't), I would prioritize this list and then break each one down into manageable subgoals. Little victories eventually add up to big ones.

I make lots of lists. Right now, the length of them causes me to need to breathe in and out of a paper sack. ;-P

what?? you didn't buy it all? Oh yeah its the place by Lansing. Sigh.

If you want the effigy pattern we can work on that eh. I have a version in the sewing machine right now. (ok sitting next to it on the table)

I still say ppphhhhhhtttttt :)

The one in Flint, actually. You ought to see if they'll send over the bolt of lilac silk. ;-)

I think I'm going to do the German corset, but alter it for tabs. And maybe make for front AND back closing for added adjustability.

ya I was looking at the lacing stays today on farthingales. Very tempting for back lacing. Only problem I ever had with a multiadjustable is well, it seemed to need a lot of adjusting.

Best idea for adjusting is to make the panels just a tish bigger, then bind each piece separately. Then sew together. One usually doesn't go up a lot from time to time requiring the blessed back to be open too. (besides, with a fitted doublet dress if you do a back and front adjustment, you may not be able to close it if it is too loose/big etc)(from personal experience)

I put tabs in mine cause it is the same pattern as mine from Pennsic that I paid way too much for. Fits nice, doesn't fit that low on the waist to really be too much of an issue.

Lilac silk...you snot. Temptation...Sigh. Gotta go to 44th st Fields for stays tomorrow, thinking of hitting the 28th st Joanns by Rogers plaza that is going out of business (prolly due to the new swanky store) and will check out the cottons and silks if they have them.

And it has been 17 years since I joined the society, nearly 10 years since my Evergreen and you are still further along in the eyes of the laurel than I am. Course 6 years ago I wondered if I really wanted it knowing all the old crabby people were in it. Now there are cool peeps and I know my research and execution of design are no where near what they are. I am resigned to look spiff and teach every darn thing I know.

Lilac silk...you snot. Temptation...Sigh. Gotta go to 44th st Fields for stays tomorrow, thinking of hitting the 28th st Joanns by Rogers plaza that is going out of business (prolly due to the new swanky store) and will check out the cottons and silks if they have them.

I'm going to try the Muskegon one tomorrow if I have time. The Holland one had nothing of interest.

And it has been 17 years since I joined the society, nearly 10 years since my Evergreen and you are still further along in the eyes of the laurel than I am. Course 6 years ago I wondered if I really wanted it knowing all the old crabby people were in it. Now there are cool peeps and I know my research and execution of design are no where near what they are. I am resigned to look spiff and teach every darn thing I know.

Hmmm, not in a position to argue the point, as I know nothing about what the Order is looking for or at. However, I have a long way to go. First off, you dress way better. I need to come a long way in my event presence. John, both girls, and I all need decent garb. Plus I need to either get used to bringing the wooden chairs or make covers for the nylon ones. Probably both, as Anneliese usually wants her own seat these days.

I also need to organize my research and get more of it on the website. It's a bit like my brain - resembles nothing so much as a stack of books stacked haphazardly on the floor and going up over 12 ft - pull one out of the bottom and the whole stack will fall on you. Which probably explains why I have so much trouble getting anything done. ;-)

K, we can work on the event presence. For that you have to give in a tish. Yes the wooden chairs are nice, but how long are you going to sit in them at an event. I am usually running around so much that a chair is a moot point for me. Except BBW and well except in camp I am not sitting either. Nylon ones are the new directors chairs in the society and approved in nearly every setting (except a period nazi camp)

And while linen is a period fabric, you have to make sure it is either not put in the dryer or ironed beforehand. Even I have issues with this and spend the night before an event checking to see if things need a general press. (yes me, now get your jaw off the floor) Mayhap it is time to rethink the linen in favor of a not so crushable cotton.

If you like the feel of the dress we made you for GS, we can fix that and cut out a few more. I think possibly it would help if we put in some different interfacing. We would need to make John something later period and Boo will need something that she can play in and get into herself. (or does that lead to streaking Boo) Rori is at the time where we can do the baby jumpers. :)

That sounds like a plan. Need to cut out stuff. If I remember John fit Pauls new doublet. That is a starting point. Shirts and jerkin first cause then I can figure out sleeves.

Bwahahahahahahahahahhaaaaaaaaaa off to bein eveeeelllllll

More, I think, that I need somewhere better to STORE garb. I'll have to noodle on that one.

I like the wooden chairs. I just need to finish the cushions for them. I just forget to drag them out of the garage a lot.

The dress from GS is not-quite-right in enough places that I think we might be better to start from scratch. Or rather, the toile I had for the same style dress with the goofy-ass back. I suspect it will work better and hang better. And I have plenty of wool, Lord knows.

I'd really like to get the bodice worked out for the Northern dress and make a few of those as they're easy. The Fries dress will need a corset to hold up the quilted petticoat. And maintain the right shape, I think.

I also need to put together a bin of SCA stuff, so I've GOT it all there. And don't have to go looking or have it go missing. Which is why I usually don't even manage to get my hair up.

Doublet etc would work for John. He also has finished chausses, just need a new cote.

Again, what we really need is a day (nice long one) at some location with LOTS of room to spread out and outlets for sewing machines and irons. Then we could crank out a bunch of stuff. Wonder if Pammy knows of anywhere.

email her at work.

possible need a covered hang up closet? working with 1 in the barn. So far...so good

didn't get to be evil, nearly forgot to put away 10# of chicken breast on sale at Meijer this week. Then went to go chase the temp on the smoker.

not as many stays as I wanted at Fields. In fact, got only 2 for the front. So did an order thru Grannd Garb just now.

possible need a covered hang up closet? working with 1 in the barn. So far...so good

Not a bad idea. But it would need to live in the garage. And therefore is on the list of "Things I will not buy until we find out whether we're moving." ;-P

Yah, 10# of chicken would have been a waste. Our Moo Cow goes in this week. So one of us will need to drive up and get it next week. We'll probably draw straws. ;-) Both of us would just as soon drive up and be able to just sit and think for a few hours.

If I get cable ties for mine, the small ones only go to 14". The 18" only come in wide "heavy duty." Thoughts?

now my longest ones are 15 inches if I do the whole length down the front. Mostly I would not get the heavy duty ones and I'll tell you why. Since I have been using the coutil and sewing down the pair of herringbone I am getting a really firm garment. In this corset I am only boning the exact back and the front panels to 4 inches only (each side) course there is the section for the wrapped washers, then starting the section, so I am looking at 16 - 18 bones. (not the usual 40+) Why not get the strong ones...really why do it. Unless you like cutting thru the heavier plastic. Really no great reason to do it. you are getting a lot of support from the garment itself.

Ah yes the list of things not to buy until moving. So in the meantime a rubbermaid tote with garb folded in it? (like period only plastic instead of wood) Would have to be folded and not chucked in or you might as well go to trigger. (see fencing bag for definition of chucking in)
We could sew in my basement, move the power tools out of the way. get some tables, that way it would be free, have someone to go get pizza, fridge for drinks and sattelite tv or XM radio to listen to.

Does the 15" include tabs?

Yeah, tried the bin thing. That tends not to work well. The hanging thing would, but I have to noodle on that. And see how John's screening goes tomorrow.

We could do your place, if Paul doesn't mind. ;-)

Paul no mind. Lemme see what is going on Sun Nov 1. :) So far nix, but will check with the honey. the 15" is down the front which is the longest run. After that 14.5 or down to 10.5 is normal. Would not go expensive/thicker just for one area that is 15.

I do have a rack you can use as another closet kinda thingy and hang stuff up. can put a sheet over to keep the cat hair off.

BTW kittie is liking one part of her baths. The warm snuggly afterwards. Currently she is in milk coma on Pauls lap. Doing well with hard food. Not so much the wet food.

We are so in the same place! Keep the faith.

Yesterday I read that thinking of oneself in the 3rd person helps with motivation/productivity. As per my last blog, motivation and scrounging time to do stuff are high on my list lately.

Cheers,

Asa/Eve

Yeah, just a little overwhelmed right at the moment. ;-) Feeling pressured from a lot of different places and can't quite figure out how to clone myself. Plus, the batteries are dead on my space-time continuum transmogrifier. o_O

So many projects swirling through my ADD little brain. And so little time!

Thanks for the pep talk. It's always nice to know you're not alone. (There, that was in the 3rd person!!)

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