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Sunday, December 30, 2007

And so it begins...

I haven't sewn in three weeks, so my cutting table was buried under fabric, patterns and miscelleanous life stuff!

And this is how it looks now....cleaned and waiting for me to get started! I have ideas...boy do I have ideas...I mean loads of ideas! *LOL* I just have to figure out which one I should start with...'cause all of them want to come out and play!


However, the items that beat their way to the forefront of my mind...generally get mentally sewn up sometime during my busy day...either on the bus ride to work or from work...while I'm in a particularly boring meeting (who knew that Executive Assts would attend so many meetings!) or sometimes even while I'm sleeping! I've learned to keep a pad by the bed so that when I wake up and realize that I have solved a problem in my sleep, I can immediately write down the solution!

I love mental sewing...when I walk through the construction process, work out fit challenges or design changes and mentally catalogue what fabric and notions I have on hand and which things need to be purchased. All of my really great ideas are mentally sewn and carefully walked through long before I touch the fabric.



And then I make a roadmap for the garment...pictured above is how I plot out a garment. This particular photo was done in my sewing notebook but I also have a sketch book that I use for this purpose. Swatches, a really poor drawing, lots of notes on construction and sometimes even a list of things to be purchased are included in the roadmap. I refer to this constantly when making the garment...that way I don't forget any of the ideas or thoughts I had when I mentally sewed the garment.

So today on the next to last day of 2007, I will begin working on my first project for 2008! Stay tuned...there is more to come!

19 comments:

  1. Your space looks like mine!!!! I'm ready to sew!

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  2. Too funny - I have the same cutting table, with a design wall behind it that I use for a bulletin board! I mentally sew, too. I read the directions well before sewing, and usually have a few days to decide how I'm going to sew it and get any research done. I can't wait to see what you're going to make next!

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  3. YAY, I can't wait to see what you sew next so get the ball rolling as soon as possible

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  4. I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one who sews in her head while at work. I got dragged to a baseball game this past summer and spent most of my time constructing a jacket that I ended up wearing to a friend's wedding. By the time I cut the fabric, I'd solved most of the problems.

    Happy sewing in 2008. I love stopping past and seeing what you're up to.

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  5. Good job!! Mine is still hiding under Christmas stuff.

    This is so exciting to think I can live through your 2008 projects as well as my own (and all the other ladies on the Internet). Fun isn't it? I'll pour the Mountain Dew, so off you go....

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  6. I'm so excited to see how your sewing develops in 2008. Thank you so much for sharing so much of your process.

    I count, among my blessings of 2007, the advent of our friendship.
    Hugs GF, and Happy New Year!

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  7. Happy New Year, Carolyn. Hope many Blessings will come your way in 2008. I enjoy reading your blog on a daily basis. I love mental sewing but usually don't write things down. Can't wait to see what is your next project.

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  8. I get so many ideas in my sleep, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one!

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  9. Carolyn, I've been looking forward to this week just to see what you produce! Have fun on your vacation, happy sewing and Happy New Year! May it be a good one!

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  10. Happy New Year, Carolyn! I enjoy reading about what you are thinking in regards to sewing and fashion. Can't wait to see your new creations come forth in the new year!

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  11. Carolyn, I'm also glad I'm not the only one that does this mental sewing :) Your work area looks great, Happy Sewing :) Ann

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  12. You inspired me, Carolyn, to clean up my cutting table! I had several post Christmas sewing projects and couldn't figure out why I wasn't motivated to start any of them. Then I read this post, realized my problem was a messy space, cleaned off my table, and dove in with enthusiasm! Thanks!
    --Gwen

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  13. Happy new year to you Carolyn.

    Great to start with an empty table! Really sets the mark for the new year.

    Thanks for your blogging and sharing your projects. It was nice to "get to know" you this year.

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  14. Carolyn, I love to see what you sew up next!

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  15. Happy New Year! Enjoy your sewing vacation. They are the best kind of vacation IMO. I can't wait to see what you post here.

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  16. A clean slate always get the mind creating. I also do mental crafting, which is so funny - when dh & I are ready to go to bed, I tell him do not turn on the TV I can't create with the TV on. He turns over and says, I thought you were going to sleep and I say I Am....lol

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  17. I wish my space looked like this - but that is beside the point. I need your help with S3631! Please take a look at my blog and offer any suggestions you have. I'm going to try to cut another muslin this evening.

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  18. OK Girl, you haven't posted in a while. I know you've got to be working on something - fess up, what is it?

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