Thursday, March 27, 2008

Thinking About a Mini Wardrobe

First, thank you everyone for the birthday wishes yesterday via comments, email, and PMs on Pattern Review! I turned 46, which means I'm now downhill to 50. Of course, the alternative is much worse, right? ;-) I don't really mind the numbers at all. I just don't like the speed at which everything is flying by. I still remember when a year felt like forever. But it's been forever since it felt like that.

We were very low-key at my request. I've got way too much stuff already so I requested no real gifts. My sons made dinner (and since it was Wednesday, it was quesadillas on their menu), then they cleaned up afterward. They also started my day with a big bouquet of spring flowers and funny cards and DH brought home a sinful chocolate birthday cake, which I now have to stare at the rest of today. I wonder how long I can last. After dinner, we planted ourselves in front of the tube and watched a Bon Jovi Unplugged concert. (I wish I had JBJ's aging secret—He looks better now than he ever did!) The guys even stuck around while I watched Top Chef, which they'd only do if it was my birthday or something. ;-)

Next up on the sewing front is possibly a Mini Wardrobe inspired by the PatternReview contest starting April 1.** I'm not sure if I'll actually get it done in a month so I can enter, but I'll let it be my motivation to churn out some easy-sew, easy-care summer clothes. Today I'm working on Simplicity 4122. I've made the alterations and am about to cut a muslin.



If the muslin works, I may even sew one over the weekend which I won't enter in the contest. It's a very fast top so I can always make a second during the contest timeframe, right? The gathers over the bust are a concern and the real reason for a muslin, so I can see if I look like the Pillsbury Doughboy's older sister. I hope I do like it, though, because it looks so cool and airy and just what I'd want to wear for Florida summers.

I think I'm going to stick with the peach/coral & brown theme for a while, with some plain white thrown in as a basic, and that palette will be what I concentrate on for the Mini Wardrobe. I bought this stretch poplin to maybe be a skirt to go with the peach blouse and it arrived the other day.



In real life the coral is probably too bright for the blouse, but it will certainly work with other stash items for the Mini Wardrobe. I've got lots of fabrics and patterns swirling in my head as possibilities right now so I thought I'd just jump in with the pattern above and see where it leads, instead of succumbing to analysis paralysis.

**Well, scratch all that. I just re-read the dates over on PR and the Mini Wardrobe contest starts May 1. Oops. But I can't wait until May since our Summer will be here before then, so I'm going to do my own and not worry about a contest yet.

24 comments:

  1. Happy belated birthday. At 46 you're still a baby! (Speaking as someone who hit the big 5-O this year.)

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  2. Happy Birthday, Debbie! I still look in the mirror and see myself as 18...until I see my waistline (sigh)! I keep telling my kids they're getting older, not me! As usual, your latest fabric is great.

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  3. Oh, man, I missed your birthday, Debbie! Happy Bday! You are only barely 2 years younger than me. My mom's birthday is Friday. Another Aries. I love that fabric. If I had any money to buy some, I'd ask where you got it...lol. Must restrain myself, but I have a beautiful coral solid sitting in my stash that would look awesome with that. It's amazing to me how I like all the same colors as you do. Happy Birthday!

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  4. Now we're the same age for 4 more months in which I will become older again :( I've tried that blouse pattern and wasn't happy with my FBA. I can't wait to follow your alterations. Are you going to use PMB to make them? I hope not.

    ~Sherril~

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  5. Happy Birthday! A veritable baby kiddo! I am going to be 58 this year and that's a hard number to get around. I certainly don't feel that old.
    Love the new fabric. It is perfect to build a wardrobe around.

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  6. Happy Birthday, Debbie!!!
    I missed that on PR yesterday! Love your blog. You are an amazing woman. I have learned so much from you. Thank you!

    Carla

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  7. I've been following your blog for a few months now. You are an entertaining writer and skilled and brave seamstress. I feel like I'm checking up on a friend when I pop into your blog. I love the new coral blouse - fantastic. I also sew for my son and it's nice to find someone else sewing boys pants. The big 4 don't create much for our boys, do they! Happy Belated Birthday. Keep blogging.

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  8. Oops....sorry that I missed your birthday! Sounds like you had a great day. 46? That's still young, kiddo! I don't think I remember anything at that age 'cause it's been so dern long ago, haha.

    //Bev

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  9. I have had the gs from the next town yesterday and today as the kindergarten was out while the elementary was testing so missed that it was your birthday.He and I have been outside nonstop. I am glad you had such a nice day with your family and they remembered you so well on your day.
    Drats another pattern I will want when you are done I am sure. The cool blouses really look attractive with the hot weather just around the corner. Lots of us will be wishing we had made a cool blouse/skirt in a few weeks. You are a virtual sewing factory. I think I need to get a project started and soon. mssewcrazy

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  10. Happy Birthday! I'm hitting the big 46 in June so there are many of us out there. I'm inspired by your skills.

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  11. Well happy birthday (a bit late) to you! I am an aries too and the big 50 is looming....... WEll I am hoping the 50's are the new 30's!

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  12. I missed your birthday yesterday, too. Happy belated birthday. You know, I think I wished you a happy birthday a while back when I saw your name on the PR front page. Maybe it was another Debbie Cook (there are so many of you). Or maybe not. I can't remember anything, seeing as how I was 46 a lo-o-o-ong time ago.

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  13. Debbie, happy, happy belated birthday, and many happy returns.

    I love your stretch poplin. It's too bad that the PR contest falls too late for you. Since we only have two seasons here, Fall/Winter/Spring and August 17th, I'm designing my wardrobe with the hopes that I can wear it year 'round.

    That blouse is really cute, by the way. I'll be anxiously waiting to see how it works out for you.

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  14. "The gathers over the bust are a concern and the real reason for a muslin, so I can see if I look like the Pillsbury Doughboy's older sister."
    Hi Debbie!!
    I have several dresses with the same gathers. It makes me look bustier, perhaps. But is SUPER for my invisible shoulders. I can then go from "0" to full enough for my upper torso.
    HTH!
    Warm greetings,
    Rhonda

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  15. It's funny. Just last night we caught an episode of The Daily Show and it had some senator on pushing his book. There was a question about his age and his answer was great - something about looking at his birth certificate and being shocked when he saw the year but then he thought "hey, it happened so long ago what's the point in worrying about it."

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  16. Happy Birthday! Mine was last Friday.

    I love your peach blouse! It really turned out nice.

    Thanks for mentioning the mini wardrobe contest. I hadn't heard about it but I think I'm going to join.

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  17. Happy Birthday! That top pattern is adorable. You have great taste.

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  18. What a lovely sounding birthday! I love your fabric, so pretty, and all my favorite colors!

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  19. Happy Birthday to you!
    Happy Birthday to you!
    Happy Birthday, dear Debbie!
    Happy Birthday to you!

    And many moooooorrrrrre!

    You're about 1/2 year behind me. And you're right--the alternative to turning older is not good :->

    Enjoy a piece of cake for me. . .

    Saralyn

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  20. Don't fret! We probably have stuff in our refrigerator older than you. You're a very young 46.

    kathleen1304

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  21. Cute blouse, Debbie, I hope the muslin works for you. And Happy Birthday.

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  22. Happy Belated Birthday!! I knew it was coming up. My neighbor is turning 30 and is in a panic. I told her I wouldn't go back if you paid me, besides, I still feel 17. Granted 17 trapped in a 42 year old body. You're too awesome for words. I would consider moving to FL to have you as a sewing buddy. I love your new blouse and all the drawings

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  23. Happy belated birthday!!! Oh gosh. Don't say it's downhill to 50 ;) . That means nothing to look forward to. My doc said yesterday I might be getting a few pre-menopause symptoms and I was happy about it LOL.

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  24. Love the fabric!!! Where did you get it? Looking for good places online to get fabric at a good price. I'm just starting out with the sewing thing....so it is all a learning experience for me!!! Happened to stumble on your blog and love the stuff you have done...like magic with a sewing machine!!! Happy Birthday by the way.....

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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