2012 is almost over

Sorry I’ve not been posting very much. I’ll admit, I’ve been feeling very out of it and haven’t had much to post about. I’m also feeling slightly lazy with updating the blog.

Since my work space is taken over by holiday decorations, I’ve realized I’m just not going to get much sewing done until they’re put away. Instead, I’m focusing on organizing and planning next year’s sewing and events. I’m hoping the break helps, and so far it seems to be working by making me excited about some of those projects.

I’ve been seeing costumers posting about what they made the past year. I must admit, seeing these amazing garments and long lists made me feel like I didn’t do anything in 2012. I feel behind on so many things and have a lot of in-progress projects gathering dust. I almost didn’t bother to make a list, because I thought it would not only make me feel sad, but also make me nervous about next year’s to do list.

I decided to give it a try anyway, and discovered I was pleasantly surprised. (although I will admit, my blogging laziness has made me not so keen on posting links or photos of every project, so please forgive me for not doing that to help illustrate the list.)

You see, ever since I started having trouble and discovered I had fibromyalgia, I can no longer work for long hours a day on sewing. Funny enough, I miss staying up until 2 in the morning sewing and trying to finish up a project, deadline or not. My slow progress then was mainly centered around tight budgets and trying to figure out what I was doing by testing on scraps and repinning things over and over to make sure I understood what I was doing. Now, I’ve added pain and fatigue to the list. So despite the fact I felt I had been sewing a lot, I didn’t remember finishing very much.

While I do agree, looking at my list, that I didn’t finish many *completed* outfits, I finished more articles than I originally remembered! I may have even missed a few small things, but these are what I could find from 2012:

• My yellow rose jacket, to go with the green petticoat over pockethoops.
• A muff form, and a cover that matches my burgundy bustle gown.
• A gray bodice, with a matching gray bustle skirt, and a plaid bustle skirt that can be worn with it.
• Narrow-sleeved shift.
• A false rump.
• Two petticoats to be worn over a false rump.
• The big project for the year, the chemise a la reine, and the hat with three plumes.
• Three reticules/work bags, one plaid, one black, and one white stiff-bottomed bag that I ended up re-doing.
• A gray waistcoat for my husband, new cravat and ruffle for his shirt, and a bagwig bourse for his hair.
• I also started on his breeches, and got a little over halfway done before stopping.

That’s really not so bad, all things considered. Sure, a lot of things were little accessories, but it’s nice to have accessories and they were fun to make.

I also attended fun events. A tea party where we all wore hats. I rode a train in costume. I attended my first stay-at-a-hotel costume retreat. We had our annual Georgian picnic. I’m sure I may have forgotten a few things. It was just nice to hang out with friends and make some fun memories while wearing things we worked hard to make.

So I guess making these lists really does help. At least, I’m just glad it did turn out I had finished enough things to make me feel like I really was sewing! I might really have been annoyed with myself if that list had been a lot shorter! 😉

I’m looking forward to what 2013 will bring, and what new things I’ll make and see.

Happy New Year, and Best Wishes!