10!

Happy birthday my sweet girl! You are brilliant, brave, kind, amazing, funny, and so creative. You are my heart, my light, my love. You are a rock star!

Sewing for Love

It starts with a little thought, or a wish, or a desire, or perhaps even a need to make a dress. It is almost always a dress. A cotton print dress. The kind of dress forms in my mind, a loose idea. Fabric selection then, holding prints up to the light, running my hands over the weft and warp, and making decisions.

Looking through patterns to find a basic bodice that is suitable for what I have in mind, followed by pattern paper and colored pencils. Deepen the armscye, alter the neckline, lengthen the bodice, add ease to the side seams. I scrap the inset cap sleeve idea and instead create a gathered shoulder three quarter length with a princess cuff, oh yes much better.

As I cut out the pieces, my girl is home sick and she watches. She gets up close next to me and asks questions. "How do you know to cut like that and not make a mistake?" "Why do you pin the pieces together here, but not there?" "Can I do the marking with the wheelie thinger?" "Is it time to sew the ribbon on yet?" I answer her questions and tell her it takes practice and patience and love. I give her some tracing paper and the 'wheelie thinger' and show her how to use it, where to make the marks.

As I sew, there is focus and intent along with assuredness; this is what I know. It is in my hands, my head, my muscle memory, my heart and soul. This is how Lola Nova was born, making nice things for my girl; this is how I grew my skills, found my passion, and it is love.

It is a little like therapy; it quiets the chaos and brings me back to myself, it restores confidence and brings joy.

And then there's this...

Thank you for all of the lovely comments and well wishes this week, I truly appreciate them. I am on the mend now and looking forward to the days ahead.

xo

The Reveal

Whist I lack a certain finesse in the haircutting department, she has refused my attempts to make it come over all even. She has also scoffed at my suggestion of calling in a professional to "do a little clean up". She claims it is perfect, that I am indeed a great hair cutter, in fact, as she looked in the mirror at her new 'Do', she turned and pointed at me me saying, "You The Mama!"
I think she was just a little light headed.

Skirting the Issue

Yesterday I wanted to sew. I had a little creative time penciled in but, my studio was a wreck. I'ts over due for it's bi-monthly damage control and frankly, I wasn't in a tidying mood. I looked around the space and spied a big chicken pinned to my board. I thought a minute and remembered some random patchwork strips in a bin close at hand. Just then it hit me, I knew what I needed...

...a little 'Pulp Sewing'!

Oh sure, there are a dozen projects that have been percolating, waiting for their day. Like the shirt I've been wanting to finally make for myself, or the dress pattern for Pony Girl I need to start drafting, and then there's that exquisite 100 year old hand woven linen and hemp cloth my mother so generously gifted to me!

However, all that would require a clean working space, an uncluttered cutting table, the gathering of tools and implements, preparation and an acutely focused vision. None of which I had to any degree.

Still, my fingers itched, my iron was steaming, my snippers snapped and lo 'Pulp Sewing'away!

I figure it's the crafty version of light reading, mindless TV, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner.

I made skirts! Skirts for the girl. Nothing quite as easy to make on the fly, requiring no pattern and little effort, good for using up bits of this and that, purely simple and lovely skirts for a little girl. Very satisfying.

And Fashionista approved!

Well, I'm off to get ready for the weekend. I have plans to cross the border and meet up face to face with a blog buddy of the utmost kind! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!