Thursday, November 10, 2011

A Day in My Life

Kitties! Peanut butter and honey sandwiches! Hanging out in your jammies all morning! Does it get any more glamorous?

I wrote a lengthy post for Tilly for her "Day in the Life Series" in which she features ladies who make their living in the sewing world. I hope you'll pop by and read it! (That's British for click here.)

Also, I have a new post up at the STC Craft blog where I talk about the new Oliver + S book. Don't you all just love their patterns? I don't really have opportunity to use them (unless I made a Sailboat outfit for Henry! Hey, that's not a bad idea . . .)



Anyway! The post is about ways we vintage-loving seamstresses can find inspiration for ourselves from the fabulous Oliver + S Little Things to Sew. 

Okay, I have to get back to my very important task of drinking coffee in my pajamas and petting Henry.

20 comments:

  1. Your life is inspiring to me. I love teaching (I am a high school Spanish teacher) and someday I would love to have a career teaching sewing to others. Congrats on all your success!

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  2. love this post!!i am a new fashion blogger from indonesia living in singapore :) i really like your blog. i will really appreciate & it will be an honor to have u as my blog member.

    and of course i will folback!:D also, u can mention me anytime on twitter @tiodang if you want me to check out your latest post & leave a comment ^^ ,please list me on twitter, so i will know u're my follower!! ;)

    i've just recommend your post to google!u can check it! that's what u got if you keep in touch with my blog too!! hope u will do the same ^^
    (u can add me on facebook and contact me at : cheeringwinda@yahoo.com)

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  3. love this post!!i am a new fashion blogger from indonesia living in singapore :) i really like your blog. i will really appreciate & it will be an honor to have u as my blog member.

    and of course i will folback!:D also, u can mention me anytime on twitter @tiodang if you want me to check out your latest post & leave a comment ^^ ,please list me on twitter, so i will know u're my follower!! ;)

    i've just recommend your post to google!u can check it! that's what u got if you keep in touch with my blog too!! hope u will do the same ^^
    (u can add me on facebook and contact me at : cheeringwinda@yahoo.com)

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  4. Oh, my, your sewing room is lovely.

    I'm a lurking non-sewing fan. I found you when looking for a skirt pattern, and was hooked. And I love the cats!

    I know how to sew but have never made clothing. I'm itching to start with your skirt how-tos.

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  5. Gertie, you know that at this point in my life, I mostly sew children's clothing. So Oliver + S patterns should be part of my sewing life, yes? Nope. Frankly, I have yet to see one that I have to have. Their designs are.. well... I can get the same basic designs from the big four for $1 each if I shop sales, so why would I shell out the $$ for theirs? They tend towards absolutely basic designs, which I can either get for a buck or two or have already in my vintage collection. I've heard that their instructions are great, but since I've never been one to follow instructions, anyway...

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  6. Gretchen I had no idea you had a cat? And a blue! They are wonderful kitties! I have 3, all domestic shorthairs. Hope the Sewing Studio is doing well!
    Tracey
    www.traceytoole.com

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  7. Bratling:

    Your opinion is interesting to me. I don't sew for children, but I like the design and style of the Oliver + S blog. [Serious question to self: Am I being too superficial?]

    Little Things to Sew is a nice-looking book -- I've leafed through it in the bookstore, not bought it -- that has some articles that I could adapt for adult wear.

    I would not be making a tulle tutu to be worn over a sheath dress, however. The backpack was more my style. I probably will buy it some day, now that it's under $20 on Amazon; the list price of almost $30 was too much, especially given my needs.

    The Lisette adult woman line looks nice, but the patterns do seem very basic and are indeed more expensive than patterns on sale from the Big Four. Still, if that's the way in to sewing for someone, who am I to complain?

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  8. just for a moment I thought my Spunky had gone on a trip. Spunky is a feral cat who has taken to house living with abandon. I now will read the Olivier post. i make clothes for GD who is in UK and it is quite a challenge. The problem with the Oliver clothes and similar detailed kids clothing is the rarely were this type of clothing more than a couple of times. and them it is given away. I have found the Tutti Fruitti seersucker from Joanne's is also favored over expensive cotton.

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  9. Note:

    I was not referring to the backpack on the cover of the Little Things book that looks like a duck. An adult woman, I have my whimsical side, but I'm not THAT whimsical. But, as noted, there were some things that an adult could use or wear.

    I like handsome sewing books and buy them regardless of their immediate utility to me. This book was very well produced and I appreciated that the child models used were multicultural, which, believe it or not, is not something one can always assume in a contemporary American sewing or craft book.

    In addition, as maybe some craft publishing types will read this:

    I do not buy or recommend contemporary books that do not reflect their probable readership or that use sexist, dated language or present sexist, dated assumptions.

    People of all colors, both genders, and various sexual orientations sew today for themselves and as well as for other people of all colors, both genders and various sexual orientations.

    If you're doing a faux-retro book, that's not an excuse to present illustration after illustration of white people. You're supposedly creative. Make it contemporary, not excluding.

    I shouldn't have to say this; it should be obvious. Unfortunately, it apparently isn't.

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  10. After reading that post on Oliver book I ant it!

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  11. One more point of clarification, because it's the web and people read too quickly or misunderstand:

    My comments about the representation of different groups were not directed at a book like Gertie's, in which I understand she will be the only model, modeling her own patterns. Or if someone writes a book and uses his or her own kids to show the clothes I have no complaint. I'm talking about books in which several adult or child models have been hired to display the patterns.

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  12. Loved your day in the life post! I tend to work in my pajamas pretty often, too :)

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  13. Hi Gertie! I just love the pic of you and Henry - he looks so much like my "Little Miss Muffet"!

    Some day soon I am going to have the pleasure of working from home, too. Right now, I am in the process of putting together a Learn to Sew video series for my website. What fun all of these sewing-related adventures are!

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  14. So... I feel like commenting after reading for a while. I got into sewing after deciding that I wanted to make something I could grasp with my own two hands that, unlike food... and BOY am I a foodie, would last. So I started quilting.

    Then I found your site and decided it was time to try sewing clothes. So I went online found a copy of the Vogue book that is your inspiration... and I'm going to do it. I'm going to try and sew all the retro goodies I drool over online.

    Thanks for the inspiration to try something new. And I love the fact that you have a home for us sewers that aren't 50 or above. It's nice to have a place to go and read when you're 35, young and love to sew.

    Thank you.

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  15. Great post. I wish I lived near you to take lessons from you. There isn't much to offer in the sewing instruction department in the area I live in. I am grateful for the internet and various blogs to get my sewing questions answered. I have found that the blogs I follow tend to be written by people who are very willing to help someone with their sewing "mishaps". I also love to wear my jammies. I am proud to have earned the nickname "Pajama Pat" in my condo complex. Your cat is beautiful. Keep up the inspiration to your fellow sewists.

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  16. I loved your post at Tilly's yesterday! It was so inspiring. I've only been sewing for four weeks, but I have fallen head over heels in love with it! I'm dreaming of doing what you do one day :)

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  17. I loved this glimpse into your life. It's always amazing how much you get done!!! I wish I was just half as productive.

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  18. Love your blog and all of your ultra-helpful tutorials! Last spring, I did a belated Lady Grey jacket sew-a-long with your older posts as my guide. Wanted to let you know that I've got a cat that looks exactly like yours. She is a sweet little girl named Belle. They loook like they were separated at birth!
    Congratulations on your successes and for carving out a living from something you love so much. Truly inspiring!

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  19. I've just read your post and I must say it is really inspiring! It helped me regain courage to pursue a successful career on sewing. Keep up the good work!

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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