May 2nd, day 1: Dress the way you want to feel

It's been one of those very strange weeks that cause you to step back and take notice of the things that are important in your life.  Maybe worrying about the way I look is a bit silly, but after some thought and a great book club discussion a couple of weeks back you've got to act the way you want to feel to be happy somedays.  It really does work where you might force a smile or throw on your latest internet cat to get a chuckle in.  Some days though it's harder than others to act happy, so dressing happy is a must.  A big pair of earrings, a bright red blouse, your favorite $10 blue skinnies, a wild paint job on your nails.

And this is what you get.  Remember to be more awkward for the next photo mmkay?

This top was made from about a yard-ish of a super awesome cotton silk woven that's shinyish on one side and matte on the other.  I think I made it in 2010? about the time that the sorbetto pattern came out, but I used a simplicity Cynthia Rowley pattern I had laying around.  Just a few gathers to shape the neckline and self facing with the matte side showing. 

Overall this one fits alright.  The armholes are a tad tight making it a bit uncomfortable, but a few pounds here and it'll probably fit differently.  Although that does seem to be a particular problem area with my sewing.

Me-Made-May '13!

Alright folks, it's time to get serious, serious about sewing!  I follow a few, incredibly inspirational sewing blogs.  Everytime I read a post I think about hopping behind my machine and tackling those UFOs and stacks of uncut, undetermined fabric so that I can really enjoy getting dressed in the morning and toot my "I made this!" horn. 

I've got a small stack of me made, hand made (usually by my mom), and a small number of refashioned items.  Some of these items fit better than others or are worn much more often (Here's looking at you slouchy black tee!).  In this process it'd be rad to document all of my self made wardrobe so I can figure out what's me, what's working and not, and what I should focus on making in the future.  Without doing the sewn wardrobe evaluation I know there are gaps! And some amazing yardage waiting to be thrown into the mix.  

So! With all of that said...
I, Jenna of nudibranchs and toast, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '13. I endeavor to wear one sewn garment on average 5 days a week for the duration of May 2013 so I may wear each finished sewn item I have at least once. In addition I aspire to finish 3 more garments by the end of the month and work down my UFOs.

This will come as a challenge as I'm busy busy this month with many school programs in the mud or on the trails, going out of town for a week or so for work, and have not had a good track record on finishing things lately.  If it gets me back on the path to a custom fitted wardrobe I'll be a happy nudibranch :)

In addition to highlighting my sewn items why not throw some other useful crafts into the mix?  I've been knitting regularly for about two and a half years now and have a good assortment of things on Ravely.  I'm even tackling my very first sweater!  If it's cold enough I'll try to utilize as many of these things that I can.  

I also have been dabbling in making jewelry for a long, long time.  I like to focus on items with beads, glass mostly and the gems that I can afford/justify, and now am loving items with more metal in them.  My mom and I were at Ben Franklin in Eugene and got some amazing advice on a few things here and there.  I'm borrowing my mom's steel block and hammer and am ready to tackle some fun and hopefully quick projects.  Already today I completed a long sought after noodle wrap bracelet!  Happiness.