Organization = Productivity?

I've realized that if I'm going to accomplish my sewing goals, I'm going to have to be more organized in how I purchase fabric and how I work my way through that fabric. For purchasing fabric, I've been using Evernote to compile a list of patterns I'd like to make (with size and yardage) and fabrics I'd like to use. This has definitely given me a better vision of how my handmades can work together as a wardrobe.

But I have a serious distraction problem. I usually get sidetracked by something new and fun and neglect what I was working on till it gets so low in my basket that it's completely forgotten. Putting fabric for upcoming projects on an open shelf above my workspace has helped so far. The last steps of a project are the most awful and boring for me (hemming suuuuuuucks), but seeing that pretty pile of fabric keeps me going so I can move on to the next, more exciting thing.

Which would now be an Alder shirtdress (view A) made from this:

And of course I plan to wear it for Comic Con. 

Learning how to take care of myself

This year has been my first teaching in a classroom (computers and technology at a Montessori school). It's exhausting, and sometimes (like when PMS hits me like a freight train) I just don't want to do what I have planned. I feel awful and guilty when that happens. I'm the kind of person who is always busy doing something - anything but standing (or sitting) still.

Self-care often comes in the form of chocolate.

This is exactly that kind of week. Instead of mentally beating myself up, I decided to take it easy on myself by giving the kids free time on the computers. I had that planned for next week anyway, and they've been working hard for the last 3 weeks. I think we all earned some down-time.

And there it is, the importance of self-care (especially when you spend 8 hours a day giving all your mental and emotional energy to the young people around you). Some days after work, I don't do anything but heat up some food (not even real cooking!) and watch TV and read cookbooks/blogs/magazines. I feel guilty when I do this because I'm not being productive, but I also know that I need time to recuperate. I need to build myself back up before I can go back to work the next day.

The first year is the hardest: that's what everyone has told me. It's slowly getting easier. There's less guilt about not being more productive. I'm even starting to be able to get things done in the evening. For example, I'm able to break up my sewing projects into smaller tasks that I can do between dinner and the exhaustion that sets in at 10pm.

There's only one thing about this whole being a teacher and self-care thing that has me stumped: how the hell do people with their own kids do this job?

Lazy Saturday

I survived the first week of teaching. I slept 10 hours last night, and now I'm taking a day to not do anything on my to-do list. This is what a perfect Saturday looks like in my world:

That's some swatch-knitting (for a winter hat for Dave), lists of diy skin care recipes, a huge coffee cup that's about to be refilled, and a continuous stream of Doctor Who on Netflix. Season 9 starts tonight, and I've got it set on my DVR, but I'm not exactly excited. I think an Eccelston and Tennant flashback is what I need today.

I guess my idea of a lazy Saturday isn't exactly lazy. Oh well, I feel relaxed.

(Not pictured: at least 50 tabs of online shopping in my browser.)

Procrastinating

I'm supposed to be writing a blurb on myself for a meeting with my boss at work tomorrow, so of course I'm messing around on the internet. I may as well have something to show for it:

I'm working on a Moneta dress in this wild floral knit fabric from JoAnn. The plan is to finish it by Saturday for a wedding - we'll see what I actually end up wearing. 

I always trace my pattern onto newsprint. 

This is a pretty bold fabric choice for me. 

I'm making version two, with short sleeves, and I lowered the neckline about 2.5 inches. I've got a thing for a scoop-neck. 

sewing wishlist

There is no better tool for sewing project inspiration than Instagram. I follow (too many) sewing bloggers and independant pattern designers, and every time a photo of a new creation shows up, a light bulb goes off in my head. Yesterday that happened with Caroline Hulse's feed - more specifically, a pair of shorts in one of her patterned knits for Art Gallery Fabrics. 

*Bing* 

"I need shorts..." 

Now, I'm not normally a fan of shorts. But these just looked so cute, so breezy, so comfortable, that I knew I had to have something similar in my life. I arrived at The Purl Bee's "city gym shorts for all ages," which look adequately breezy:

The Purl Bee's "gym shorts for all ages"

Until yesterday, I'd never really explored Art Gallery Fabric's selection. Three hours later (clearly I have excellent time management skills), I managed to wittled down probably 25 browser tabs to these two options: 

Robert Kaufman chambray union + AGF cacti field

This combination is sleek and modern, but still cute and whimsical. I'd like to say that describes my personality, but I doubt I'm as modern as I think I am.  

Robert Kaufman chambray union + AGF whispy daybreak aura

Now this combination - THIS combination - really calls to me. It's whimsical, sweet, feminine - but at the same time, the blank space and the color palette make it feel less fussy. I'm pretty sure I would wear this combination every day if I could. I'm really not as edgy as I think I am. 

granny squares

I wonder how many of thesethings I'll need to make a blanket.