January 2, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR YA'LL (long post)

Since I haven't posted since December 20th I have a whole lot to say, but first of all let me say "HAPPY NEW YEAR" to all my contacts in sewing land. I need to let you know that during 2008 you provided me with: sewing information, knowledge, advice, motivation, encouragement, inspiration and much entertainment! You allowed me to peek into your sewing, family and personal lives. You allowed me to travel from state to state and even abroad (Thank you Paco) while sitting here (often in my PJ's). So as I look back over the year past I owe you a great big THANK YOU!

I really have been itching to post...but I did want to have something to show when I did. Well, FINALLY I do have a show and tell; I FINALLY finished the none ending project of my animal print rain coat! I so wanted to finish it in 2008, but it just didn't happen. What with trying to finish up my math class (if you can imagine a grandmother reluctantly taking three - yes three Algebra classes in one year), the quarter ended on Dec. 17th; and my birthday which was Dec. 18th and all of the nice people who wanted to do nice things for me, I just had to put the sewing aside (DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT WAS?). I know that we need to have lives beyond sewing, it is a MUST for proper balance; but sewing or just being in the sewing room has actually helped save my sanity. It allows me to put away the stress of my hustle-bustle life, and what seems like work to others-is actually fun and calms me down.

That brings to mind the question "JUST WHAT DOES SEWING DO FOR YOU"? So can I hear from others in sewing blogdom on this????? I ask because so
often I find myself explaining WHY I do what I do - Why do I Sew - Why do I spend so much time with it; and I tetter back and forth from trying to explain it to people who don't (can't) or (just won't) understand; to becoming slightly angry because people seem to always be asking me about the time I spend with it; to wanting to avoid anyone who doesn't have a passion for the craft (now that would really limit my person to person contact and would not be practical or mentally healthy).......
This is what sewing does for me:
. As I said it relieves stress and calms me down . Allows a creative outlet since I truly believe that God made us co-creators with him so we are supposed to be creating something. I am not a happy person unless I am involved in creating something. .It is also a company keeper. It actually keeps me from concentrating on the fact that I am alone. And being as involved with people who share my craft as I am (via the internet and my sewing buddies) I am not alone any more. .It allows me to wear new and fashionable clothing that fits much better than RTW. . It gives me a chance to stretch and use my mind. . It is an never ending learning process.

I guess I needed to vent. It's too bad that the people who think that I need a rest from sewing sometimes won't actually be reading this (because they also show no interest in blogging) I still needed to get it off my chest. So you know what?, rather than just sitting on the couch eating bonbons, watching TV and getting fatter, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE SEWING TO MY HEART'S CONTENT, as long as the Good Lord affords me the use of my hands to cut, sew, and maneuver fabric and my eyes to thread a needle! So there!!!! CAN I GET AN AMEN!

Now back to the rain coat. I did some snoop shopping during the holidays and noticed that EVERY store (even WalMart and Lane Bryant) had cute 3/4 length rain coats as I call them (they're probably just what we use to call spring jackets when I lived in New York and there you really need a spring jacket every year). Every color, every style. Double breasted, single breasted, some embellished, animal prints and jeweled toned. I guess I'm really on time with mine. I've wanted one every since my friend Lisa made her's last year. Here it is as her entry at the Georgia National Fair with a first prize ribbon.
I combined parts of two patterns to come up with my rendition taking most of the style from the Butterick pattern because I thought the it looked too plain. I took the pocket flaps, sleeve tabs, and belt loops from the Simplicity pattern and I even added a belt buckle although it didn't show in the pictures.

Here are some pictures that I took during the various stages of construction. I decided to interface the entire coat to give the fabric a little more body, and I'm glad that I did.



So to all out there, wishing you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year and many GREAT sewing adventures!

33 comments:

  1. I'M GOING TO CONTINUE SEWING TO MY HEART'S CONTENT,
    Amen ;-)

    I love your coat, it looks fantastic!!

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  2. great post and great coat, too!

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  3. Amen!!!!

    And the coat looks fabulous!

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  4. I sew for the same reasons that you do.

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  5. Amen, sister!! And I love the coat!!

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  6. Keep sewing!! I absolutley love the coat.

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  7. Amen! That coat is fantastic!

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  8. Ohmygosh Faye that coat is stunning! I like how you combined the two patterns to get the exact coat you wanted!!!

    As for why I sew...many of the reasons are the same that you listed...and I loved the one about not feeling alone...you are soooo right on that one! Even though I have children, friends and others in my life...sometimes it can be lonely without a DH...so I understand that!

    But mostly I sew because it gives me joy!

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  9. Amen!

    I sew to relax, and can sit and hand sew in a lining and enjoy every minute of it.

    I sew for challenge, too, and can spend weeks altering, designing, or fiddling with something because I enjoy the challenge.

    I don't blog about everything I make, because if the blogging interferes with the sewing, I skip the blogging.

    And I read your blog because you document not just your sewing, but your "sewing life," and I bet as a sewing soul, you know just what I mean!

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  10. I love your coat. I am sure it fits you perfectly and nobody else will have the same exact coat...Be original is my #1 reason to sew.

    I sew for all the reasons you mentioned but mostly because I love clothes and fashion, and sometimes stores don't provide me with everything I need. Like today I went looking for a pair of drawstring pants and since they are not in style, I will have make a pair. Isn't it wonderful how I can have what I want when I need it?

    Also, most of my friends like reading blogs and spend a lot of time at Facebook, but they do not read my blog. They say they do, but when I ask them if they saw what I did, most of them don't know what I am talking about. It is normal for close friends not to admire "your sewing" sometimes I guess.

    Hard to beleive, but my mother is the always the first person asking me to stop sewing. She used to sew and now she is not inspired, so she wants me to buy retail, why sew when clothes are so inexpensive? That is how she thinks.

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  11. Love the coat! I have both of those patterns. Happy New Year!

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  12. Happy New Year!
    I love your coat. You did a fantastic job combining details from both patterns. It looks wonderful.

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  13. Anonymous1/02/2009

    Amen!
    There are many reasons why I sew. Relaxation, mental stimulation, the sheer joy I get when I finish a project and I'm happy with the outcome, the learning experience from wadders(!) and so many other reasons. I get downright cranky when I can't sew for any length of time and dh doesn't really "get" it but he goes out of his way so I'm able to sew.
    I could go on and on, but that's enough.
    I absolutely love your coat!

    Debkb

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  14. Wow Faye! Your coat is FABULOUS!

    As to why *I* sew: It centers me...calms, soothes, and feeds my spirit. Sewing, especially the garments I create for my nieces, makes my heart smile.

    Pam, from ~Off The Cuff Style~

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  15. I love your coat, it turned out beautiful!

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  16. Absolutely You get Amen from me too:-)
    Beautiful coat, I bet you feel proud.
    I mainly sew for DD and prolly because she likes to have things nobody else has, we get to choose the color, fabric, buttons etc and the result is one-of-a-kind, others have given lots of good reasons too and I think Alana has pretty much narrowed it down to the way I like it also.

    Happy and prosperious year 2009.
    Marita

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  17. You coat is awesome Faye!! What a great job you did on it!!

    it looks as though you got a good many Amens! I'm right there with you on it to.

    I sew because I feel the need to create. Thats the #1 reason...
    and its just fun!
    its also a skill that allows me to do something I love and make some money.

    I have no sewing buddies in Knoxville so my online sewing sisters mean alot to me. I love to see what others are making and the passion they put into it...
    sewing is a beautiful thing and anyone who loves it automaticly becomes interesting to me.

    May God continue to bless you this New Year Faye!

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  18. Faye, I love your coat. It is a real original!
    I sew for the same reasons as you do. I LOVE to sew. It permits me to express my creativity and I love fashion, even though I'm retired ,I still like to dress nicely even when others don't. It stops me from feeling blah like I do after an evening of watching TV and eating which is what I do when I get bored.Today, I'm making valances to cover the ones that come with vertical blinds so it will be a small job. Then it will be on to my Swap sewing at last. I cAN'T WAIT.
    HAPPY SEWING!!!

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  19. Anonymous1/03/2009

    Fabulous coat! And, a great way of expressing the many whys of sewing. Don't you feel a little sad for those who don't 'get' it? They are missing the joy, the peaceful zen, the fabulous wardrobes, and friendships that sewing brings...what a hole to leave unfilled by something in one's life!

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  20. Happy New Year Ms. Faye!!!!
    and you did an Awesome job on your coat... totally Looooooooove it.

    I love to craft for many of the same reasons you and other commenters. Its a beautiful thing.

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  21. Anonymous1/03/2009

    Faye
    I love you very much.

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  22. Anonymous1/03/2009

    Oh my goodness Faye...that coat is absolutely fantastic! Congratulations!! I have always wanted to make a raincoat but the weather here in Sydney doesn't really necessitate one. Maybe one day....

    I am always inspired by what you sew. Thank you for sharing & blogging. Thank you for sewing! Sew on!

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  23. Hi Faye. First off, Happy New Year. Thanks for sharing your heart with all of us. Your blog inspired me personally--being new to blogging and really new to sewing (being out of the loop for three decades).

    Sometimes, the people/loved ones that may encourage us...once we take that leap of faith (like you--I've read your bio MANY times), then what was once "encouragement" becomes DIS-couragement.

    Keep up the outstanding work. I, too, love your coat. Blessings to you and your family.

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  24. That's a fabulous rain coat, kudos!!!

    Why I sew, hmm. I can't seem to find something I like in regular stores, and above all, it's very entertaining. The time I spend in a creative endeavor is something I see as part of my self-care routine. Life can be crazy so it's nice to do things for me, and sewing fills that for me. :):):)

    Hugs,
    Lory

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  25. Your coat is awesome. It feels like you were pulling thougths from my mind. I use to sew for my daughter to save money and so that she could have the latest styles now that I can sew for myself it's the greatest. I've stopped trying to explain why I sew to people who don't because they just don't get it. I love to create and I am happiest when doing so.

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  26. Happy New Year!

    I love your new coat! Beautiful!

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  27. Happy New Year to you too Faye!!

    Thank you so much for the lovely comment you left me.

    Your coat is simply gorgeous!!!!! You did a beautiful job.

    I agree with everything you said. I knit and sew for the love of it, and it also helps me to de-stress.

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  28. AMEN!! And that coat looks fantastic!

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  29. I'm so glad that I had the chance to see this awesome coat,in person.You put a lot of work into it and it truly shows.It is beautiful!
    Sewing gives me great clothes that fit me.I don't have to worry about not finding my size.
    Like you,I love being creative,in many aspects of my life.

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  30. Your coat looks fantastic! Very fashion forward and flattering. You're going to have a lot of fun wearing that!

    I have completely lost my patience for watching television, so I have to have *something* to do, LOL. I live alone and sewing definitely keeps me company, gives me a creative outlet, and helps me express my personality in what I wear. It is a blast!

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  31. Anonymous1/05/2009

    I absolutely LOVE the coat! It looks so chic and $$$! You have me inspired!

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  32. That's a beautiful jacket Faye!

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  33. Faye .- I agree with everything you say. is always a pleasure to visit you and I hope it will happen for many years. I wish the best for the coming year, but above all health to enjoy your good company. a big hug from across the Atlantic, Paco

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