Oh No! A Moment of Clarity.

When did Project Minima turn Maxima???  I was just sitting on the couch last night when this thought came into my head like gang busters, totally unbidden.  "I have too many clothes."

~ painting by Jocelyn Hobbie ~

(You shouldn't have bid on that.  I didn't bid on it.  It just came in.)  

Out loud, I said "I am going to have too many clothes."  See, I changed it up a bit.  That went back and forth between my true love and I for a bit.  Being the practical person he is, I don't remember a thing he said, other than it helped clarify what I said, or the fact that I said it.  Meanwhile I was reeling with the ramifications.  I mean, this changes everything.  Everything.  First, I took a meandering trip down the river of deNile.  Followed by bursts of kick boxing with my shadow self.  Then got lost in a fog.  Oh, don't forget the naps.  You know, the usual 5 steps.  And here I am, true confessions.  WTF am I going to do now!?!

sigh.  sigh with arms folded across chest.  that's a little defensive isn't it?  hmmm.  Well, let's stop moaning and groaning and take stock.  It's a new world out there/ in here.  Ha!  It's a new year.  

It's not all bad.  I did stop going to stores (including thrift stores) and buying clothes.  I did get to the point where I now have clothes that fit me, I like them, and I feel good in them.  That's huge.  I was batting zero on all three when I started the Project.  And I've come to know, stumble across really, what I like to wear.  That was something I wanted to get to and I have.  yea.  I wear what I want, where I want, even at home.  I like that. 

Downside is, consumption has steadily crept in.  First with ebay shoes.  Then with sewing patterns, and sale fabric.  Now more fabric and some warm socks.  I don't need any of these things.  None.  I have enough of all of them.  Really, but I know in my soul I'll at the least buy some more patterns sooner or later - probably Tina Givens.

December Beauties

I made a few.  At least four.  Let's get the show on the road with my Rose Hips Wonder: 

Yeah, there's a whole lotta velvet going on.

I finally learned how to use the timer on my camera and thought the pictures would be much better.  Not so.  They still seem pretty grainy to me.  I don't think the res goes very high on the camera to begin with.  We'll see.  I'm a very slow evolver.

Moving on...

and just hanging around.

It has the swoosh factor.

Notice the stunning crew sox, always a fashion statement.

Also great for swooning

and swaying...or vice versa.

State of Project Minima: Year 4, Qtr. 2

~ painting by Viky Garden ~

Time to assess the Fall Quarter here at Project Minima, even though I'd rather...
Being accountable is a good thing.  Here we go.  Let's go to the Clothes for Fall page and see what's been happening there.

Inventory is as follows:

• 3 tops (2 were rehabs of rehabs and 1 was from a tablecloth)
• 4 pieces of lingerie (1 cami and 3 slips to go with specific dresses)
• 12 dresses!  (3 from Vogue designers Anna Sui, Lynn Mizono and Marcy Tilton; 6 loosely based on Tina Givens patterns, 3 of which came from tablecloths; and 4 flannel shirt re-creations)

Total of 19 items for Fall Quarter.  20 items from the 1st Qtr., Summer, of Year 4, for a total of 39 thus far.  12 dresses each quarter!  I love me some dresses.

Speaking of trends:

• dresses at the forefront
• tablecloths still in there
• lovin' Tina Givens designs, like t-o-t-a-l-l-y
• buying socks, warm knee socks at sockdreams.com
• big slow down on ebay shoes (although I did get a pair of red Trippens for $50 bucks!)
• AIYIYI, bought more fabric on sale than I've ever done in my life!!!!!  Velvet, flannel, fleece, heavy cotton, corduroy, jersey knit, oh my.

I'm in love with sewing, that is when I'm not frustrated by it.  But that always passes after a good nap with a kitty.

Happy holidays to you all!  And what are you wearing?

Nothing Dramatic Here

Just a little something I hadn't posted yet.  I know it seems a little tame now, comparatively speaking.  But I like it all the same.  ahhhh, so comfy. 

~ teddy bears Mom made for kids in the hospital ~

Well, these too.  I found a whole bed full of them at Mom's house when I opened the door to my old room.


But what I'm really talking about is the first of my flannel shirt rehab experiments.  Everybody ready for a look-see?  Now, it's nothing dramatic; don't go expecting too much...okay?

grey flannel with grey corduroy and some other stuff*

drenched in bright sunlight

le back

and at rest next to the cat tree

*other stuff includes:  scraps of chiffon, lace, satin ribbon, floral drapery and cotton, hand-made bias tape, flagrant blue stitching over all holes in flannel shirt, and new old buttons.

This one probably took me the longest to put together because I didn't know what I was doing or where I was going with it.  The pants are made from the same grey-ish corduroy as the top using a Marcy Tilton pattern posted somewhere on the blog along while back.  Black suede clogs messed up and then beautified with rose appliques made from Mom's old sweatshirt.  Also blogged previously.

You can view this grey flannel dress/ top on my Clothes from Fall page, up close and in detail.  Meanwhile I'm joining Patti and all the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style.  Don't miss it, I tell ya.  Maybe I can even fit in with Spy Girl's 52 Pick me up: Frozen, that is, if it's about keeping warm rather than Disney...