Sew Eco, Sew nearly

Book photos, which I am busily editing and checking.

I love this one.


Some of my collection of old thimbles. Well, two-thirds of my collection actually.

I rather like this pattern photo too. See, useful old stuff.

I spent a happy couple of hours researching suppliers today. I've re-found some great stuff I'd got stashed away in bookmarks and not looked at in ages. My list is pretty long, but if you know of anywhere special for organic, recycled, vintage, natural, sustainable or UK-made fabrics which hit all the eco buttons please let me know! UK and Europe only please. You can leave a comment or email me: info@ruthsinger.com
Thanks!

In Defence of Stuff

Having lots of stuff is green. Useful, hoarded, old stuff rather than new, resource-intensive stuff. Oh yes.

The work Vs work challenge

It seems that if I don't write about work then this blog becomes a barren wilderness. Or at best, an occasional rather than a regular blog. Fitting in creative, textile-based work around the day job is proving a challenge. The practicalities are part of the challenge. My office is at home (not good for relaxation) while my studio is a mile or so down the road. Having spent a lot of last year at the studio, for the first part of this year I barely saw it and the sewing machine gathered dust while I went to meetings and tapped away on the computer.

I've been lucky the last few weeks to have had a student (thanks Kelly!) working with me in the studio a day or two a week. For a while the day job turned into an evening job and happy hours were spent in my wonderful haven of fabric. It's been so quiet since Origin, back in October, I haven't had any major new work to start. I'm not exhibiting at any major shows this year (for the first time in 3 years!) so there is no pressing need for more new work and so the inspiration has been a bit lacking. But slowly, slowly I have been working things out. Start small. A batch of new brooches has been born and will be online shortly (the first are here). Other plans are brewing and I'm coming out of hibernation ready for the spring and summer. 

Soon, very soon,  Sew Eco will be out of my hands and with the publisher and I should have a whole lot more creative time to spend at the studio. More book ideas keep filtering through my brain, but for a while I'm going to let them wait and just enjoy some non-deadline stitching work. And some non-work thoughts getting onto metaphorical paper on this here blog.

More Etsy!

Pebble cushion kit in Etsy Storque!

Grandad's shed

I love visiting my Grandad. Not just because he is wonderfully entertaining, jolly and bright as a button at 93, but also because he has the most amazing home. He finds it highly amusing that I love going in the sheds - they are just sheds after all, full of old junk. To me they are full of delightful vignettes. Pockets of daily life just resting, perhaps for 20 years or more. Maybe it's because of my artist's eye for detail and my love of vintage and handmade and simple stuff. Plus sheds are ingrained into my very soul, part of my DNA.

These photos were taken in the old laundry - a large garage-like building that his wife's parents ran as a commercial laundry for decades. I would have taken more photos if my camera battery hadn't died after 5 minutes. I must go back and do more. One day I'll have a really fine shed too.

This one is in the house.

and finally the doormat.

It's all so good.

A few days ago I booked a train to London and have started filling up my time with more things than I can possibly fit into a 48-hour trip. The main reason (excuse) for the trip is to go to the Fashioning Diasporas conference, which is kind of for work and kind of for me. Looking forward to that a lot. But I'm also going to cram in at least these two exhibitions, Baroque and Hats - the latter has had some rave reviews so I'm looking forward to that.


The conference is in the new Sackler Centre at the V&A. I'm intrigued to visit as I worked on the building project about 4 years ago, interviewed the architects and helped develop a lot of the initial plans for the space. All the building work took place after I had stopped working there, and although I've visited once and had a brief look around, I've not spent much time there. I'm intrigued to see what its like for a punter. I hope I made a positive impact on that building, in a small way at least!

And I must get to Collect as well. No doubt I'll try and squeeze in a meeting and hopefully plenty of catching up with friends and of course window shopping.

Deja ecrit

This time last year I was writing about finishing writing. That was Sew It Up, which has now been out for 7 months. When I wrote about finishing the last of the text it seemed like it was nearly over, although the checking, revising, proofing and fiddling about process lasted for another three months!



So I know now that simply finishing the first draft of most of Sew Eco isn't really anything like being actually finished at all and there is a long way to go. But the hardest part is over. I have a few more photos to do, the suppliers and resources list to complete, the glossary to write and the introduction and conclusions to review and probably rewrite. But really that lot doesn't seem too bad. As long as my test-readers don't find too many flaws!

Thank you to all my pattern testers - thank you gifts will wend their way to you once the beast is complete and in the hands of the publisher and I have some time to think about something else. And some time to do some more sewing!

oh dear.

Just when I thought it was safe to look at the Clothkits website. More temptation.

Now spring is almost here, its time for this skirt to come out of hibernation again!

Catching up on the missing hour

Almost a year ago I stocked up on some dressmaking patterns and prophetically titled my blog Wishful Thinking. I wasn't wrong. I started making the Threads jacket in September last year. Not in the red I originally planned (that became this dress), but in pink wool and handwoven silk (which, looking back at Flickr, I decided upon in July...). I've not got much further with the rest, though I have pieces cut out for the lime green dress pattern.







I had my friend Gina (button-maker to the stars) make some STUNNING handmade buttons for it. Choosing the buttons dragged it out a bit.





And then I stalled for various reasons, which I have entirely forgotten now. I eventually gave up on having it at home, where I really haven't the light or space for sewing, and moved it back to the studio. Where it sat for months and months. I had an hour or so spare in February and made some progress. And since then its sat.

I went out this evening planning to go to my dance class, only to find the hall empty and dark. Hmm. Must have forgotten Easter break.

On the other side of town for no reason.

Suddenly an evening unplanned.

What to do?

Back home to work?

Turn up unannounced at a friend's?

Supermarket?

AHA!

the studio.

I had an hour before lock up time and whizzed over there and finally had another stab at it - getting the sleeves in and making a start on the (terrifying) bound button holes.

I've spent so little time in the studio this year - a few hours a week - and this was a wonderful treat. I was so excited! The jacket remains incomplete but I am much happier and have resolved to spend an evening a week at the studio just sewing for fun. Not work, not a book project, just for me. And, I hope, with friends for company.

So I got home earlier than usual and had time for a pleasant G&T (with this Gin and this tonic), a cuddle with the cat and a perusal of The Kitchen Diaries. And time spare to blog before bedtime. Perfect!

Etsy Treasury

I had a piece listed on an Etsy Treasury page today (one of the book kits - this one the Falling Blossom decoration). Its always lovely to be featured in one of these and this one is in particularly good company. I LOVE the Anenome blouse. Luckily its teeny weeny and wont fit me, so I am not too tempted.

It has inspired me to get sewing some more clothes though, if only I can find enough hours in the day. There's just too much else, sigh...