woah, embroideries?

When I was in high school I sewed and embroidered a pencil pouch. I enjoy drawing suns so I figured I'd enjoy sewing one. Here are two I've done.

I started this one with the lines radiating out. I then moved on to the circle, at first it seemed a little wonky and I thought I may need to re-work it. I am so glad that I continued to fill it in because I love how it turned out.

I don't really want to sew them on anything yet because the backside also came out kinda pretty in its own way.

julien chore coat v1

I have had this project on my list since OCTOBER! It was so intimidating to me...collar, cuffs, and dun dun dun..... interfacing. Things I have never sewed onto a garment! In December, yes two months later, we spent a week visiting my mother-in-law, and it was the perfect time to take this project on. So I printed my pattern (first time I have tried a pdf pattern) and packed my machine. Here is my experience from my first tango with the chore coat.

Link to pattern

I had a vision for the chore coat I wanted to make. Spoiler alert, this post isn't about that jacket. I sketched a natural denim body with color block pockets in blue denim.

Remember when I told you I was intimidated by this project? I figured I would get enough fabric of the blue denim to be used on the pockets to make a test jacket before the real one I envisioned. This is the story of that jacket.

First thing I realized is that this pattern is all in metric, and I am inches girl. That's not so bad though because we have the internet which helped me convert it.

Looking at my final product I am going to do a little more top stitching on v2. On the next version I am also going to sew the collar just a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch longer. On each side there is the smallest unfinished area of fabric.

When sewing your own project you have the ability to fairly easily modify patterns, forgo aspects, and make it your own. There were a few ways this was reflected in my final outcome.

1. I forwent adding buttons. This wasn't planned, I bought adorable pearl like buttons with roses to add to the jacket. The white with the blue denim...yeah they'd look cute. I may still add them at some point, but right now it doesn't feel right on it.

2. Forwent double stitching in some parts. I sew a pretty straight line, but as they would say at work, double stitching is a "growth opportunity" for me. I also didn't feel like it took from the integrity of the project.

3. I added a hand embroidered design. This actually came a couple of days after I thought I completed the project. I liked the jacket but certainly didn't love it. On the way home from visiting our family, there is a stretch of land between Amarillo and Santa Rosa that I love! It has beautiful colors, mesa tops, and small canyons. I was inspired to sketch a design from the scenery. I don't know if the stitching translated from my original sketch as well, but I now love this jacket! The lines, colors, and movement gives this jacket what it needed.

Making this coat helped me figure out just a few small additional changes for next version. Hopefully it won't be so long before you see julien chore coat v2.

New Year

Everyone has their own feelings about a new year. Personally, I always feel excited with a fresh start to the year. I don't necessarily make resolutions but perform a personal check in and evaluate what it is I want to fill my life with during the upcoming year.

I find that I often get so bogged down in the day-to-day that time passes, and I look back at my days or weeks and notice I haven't made time for what is important to me.

I pulled out my intentions from 2019 and thought I'd share them to frame some of my intentions for 2020.

2019:

• More yoga - work towards inversions

• Deeper friendships - personally making more of an effort to reach out and invest in friendships

• Remind Jeffery that I love him

• More time for myself - personal recharge time

• Continue to journal

• Added mid year - spend less time on my phone

2020:

• Spiritual Growth - Primarily through being intentional with my time each day. Last year we started to attend Church again, and I want to open up to be willing to grow relationships and friendships within our church this year.

• More Yoga - Just continue to be more consistent during my tax busy seasons. Last year when there were gaps in my practice, it was often during and after heavy work seasons.

• More Sewing - I completed a couple of projects last year. There were a few times I felt intimidated by projects, and I would put them on hold from fear of failure. Each one came out so much better than I expected, but there is still so much room for growth. Last year, even though it wasn't an intention, I focused on being more conscientious about spending money and what I brought into my life. Sewing allows me to create specific pieces for my closet.

• Time for Creativity - Regardless of the form it takes.

2019 was a year with growing pains, but I can see in myself how there was growth from where the year started to where it ended. I look forward to sharing throughout the year how I progress through my intentions.

Above image created by me :)