My New Sewing Tool

I love my iPad and yes, I consider it my new sewing tool. 

It takes better close up pictures than any other devices in the house, I can watch my Craftsy classes in the comfort of my favorite recliner, read and prepare blog posts, comment on them, prop it up near the machine for complicated tutorials, do quick research on some techniques, pullout the stuff I have bookmarked for reference, make notions shopping lists, read your mail, photograph the back of pattern envelopes for yardage, it's endless! 

Next, somebody will come up with a application to do my pattern drafting and I'll just have to press print!

This device has reduced the back and forth computer shuffle I was doing all the time to zero which may mean I'll have to exercise more, but I do love it. I feel so put together and organized!

Should I need to bring it with me somewhere like a hypothetical sewing blogger meet up in a far far away country... because it doesn't look like there is going to be a reunion of anything anytime soon around here, I made a bag for it.

Map The Sewinists

It's pretty simple construction-wise, several rectangles put together, but I did want some features that I haven't seen much in iPad carriers, mostly a little bit more space to put in a charger, a phone, fabric samples and bits and bobs because, you know I'm a girl and need the extra space. I made two, the other one is going to a Pay It Forward recipient (you know that bit right? you make a handmade gift for five random people and they in turn make a handmade gift for five random people, I set it up on my personal FB page).

I quite like it actually and have been using it as a handbag, it's a good size, roomy enough for my knick-knackery, it's practical, it matches my coat and all the materials used come from either another project, like the blue bag, or the local Salvation Army. You can't be feeling bad about that!

Though it needs refinement and fine tuning solely for aesthetic's purposes, it's a good bag. And when I'm finished with using it everyday, it'll do a fine job of carrying an electronic device. 

The next bag is coming soon anyway!

The Enablers / Les Facilitateurs

I surrounded by enablers and I'll never be thankful enough.
We had lunch with Héloise et Antoine the other day and I came home with a storing bin full of lace and buttons and thread and silk fabric and a boat load of upholstery leather they had put away for me.
I'm already planning to make another handbag.
My sewing list is so long I'll have to start sewing 24/7 or hire an assistant.

J'ai des facilitateurs autour de moi et je ne leur dirai jamais assez merci.
On a déjeuné avec Héloïse et Antoine l'autre jour et je suis rentrée à la maison avec un grand bac de rangement plein de boutons, dentelles, fil, soie et un gros tas de cuir de sellerie qu'ils avaient mis de côté pour moi.
Je travaille déjà sur mon prochain sac à main.
Ma liste de trucs à faire est tellement longue maintenant que je vais devoir coudre 24h/24 ou engager une assistante.

Deep Six

I'm pretty organized.

When I start a project, I gather all the necessary fabric, trim notions, in a ziplock and I whenever ready or in the mood, I start on the project. 

I started this three years ago and you know what? I am not going to finish it. I hate the color, I hate the fabric I chose, I hate the fit, I loath the crotch, I hate the tiny pockets, this style of pants doesn't suit me and I am never ever going to wear them even if finish them. 

So I unpicked the zipper and chucked it.

This is supposed to be liberating right? It's not. I still have so much work. Pants geometry eludes me. I have yet to make a pair that looks, feels and fit right. 

I keep delaying the toile making, but I'm running out of options my favorite jeans are about to die and I'll have to do something about this very soon.

So I bought a Japanese jeans pattern, my favorite pair is Japanese, and I have just received the pant pattern that comes with Sandra Betzina's class.

I'll eventually get to it...in a near distant future.

C'est Mort!

Je suis assez organisée.

Quand je commence un projet, je mets dans un ziploc toutes les fournitures nécessaires et dès que je suis dans le mood, je commence le projet.

J'ai commencé ce pantalon il y a 3 ans et vous savez quoi? Je ne le finirai jamais. Je hais la couleur, je hais le tissu choisi, je hais le tombé, je hais l'entrejambe, je hais les toutes petites poches, le modèle ne me va pas du tout et même si je le finissais, je ne le porterais pas.

J'ai donc décousu le zip et j'ai jeté le reste.

J'ai fait ça en pensant me sentir libérée, mais non. Faire un beau pantalon me semble insurmontable, la géométrie m'échappe. Je n'ai jamais fait de pantalon qui me sied parfaitement.

Je retarde la fabrication d'une toile mais mes options s'amenuisent, mon jean favori va bientôt me lâcher, et il faudra bien que je m'y mette très bientôt.

J'ai donc acheté un patron de jeans japonais, mon jeans favori vient du Japon, et je viens de recevoir le patron qui vient avec la classe de Sandra Betzina. 

Je vais finir par m'y coller...dans un distant futur proche.