Now that Ive had time to step back and adapt to this stupid economy, Ive started to get inspired again. Im inspired to make myself a new wardrobe is what Im inspired to do! I would like one of each of these dresses to wear to work and then I would like one of each in black for all those cocktail parties that I'll go to again one day.

Its a new year and it could happen. 

So today, instead of what I was supposed to be doing, I pulled all of my boxes and containers of patterns out of storage and put them up in my studio where I can  see them. I dont think they are exactly great to look at, but they are my library and where I find a lot of my inspiration.

This is maybe a third of them. I'll have to start weeding through them and maybe selling the ones that I dont like any longer.

Collecting patterns has been invaluable to me since I am not a professional pattern maker. I can take an existing pattern piece and tweak it and grade it, but to start from scratch is a nightmare for me. Whatever works, right?

Sometimes I just like the line of a design for the most part, but would make changes - like I would narrow down this sleeve a bit. Its perfect for a Steampunk overcoat!

Happy 2012!!

Just a little post to recap my feelings about the previous year: no time is ever wasted. No experiences are ever wasted if you learn and grow from it. A year is just an increment in time to mark off accomplishments and events.

That being said. 2011 kind of sucked. Yes, good things happened - great things! I learned how to make a good loaf of bread just to name a few............

but the year pretty much bit it. I saw it coming. I grew a few more grey hairs. I adapted.

And now I'm focusing more on things that really matter to me: my family, my friends, my hobbies, my sleep.

The business end of things will always be there ready to be reved up when I want it to - I'm in the middle of a big revamp (including this blog), which for me is time consuming and slow going. But will be well worth the effort in the end.

Time marches on and as my father told me once (and I hated him for it - but sometimes what else can you say...........) "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Happy 2012 everyone! The message is clear: if we are not kinder towards each other  -  If we don't raise each other up -  if we don't become a better species - there is going to be a lot of lemonade to be made.