One thing is for certain. Life is never dull…and it’s expensive. I’m contemplating going back to work to help out with all the expenses, but of course I have to consider the cost of childcare and updating my wardrobe. At one time, I had little to no casual clothing. Then, I quit my job and my wardrobe gradually changed from office-y wools and silks to home-y cottons and denims.

I may have found temporary employment starting about a week from now, which means I either have to go shopping (ick) or sew like a mad woman (preferable). The ironic thing is I had decided not to join Self-Stitched September, because I didn’t want to feel pressured with my sewing. I wanted to take things slower and work on special details and more complicated patterns. Now, I’m trying to figure out how I can crank out office-appropriate wear in a short time frame.

Here’s my current plan:

1. Simple dress using Simplicity 2703.

Simplicity 2703

I have some nice polyester (that’s not an oxymoron in this case) shantung, which might work nicely for this.

polyester shantung

2. Next up would be a pair of black gabardine pants using Vogue 1051.

Vogue 1051

3. I’d also like to make a classic wrap dress using some Anne Klein knit fabric I picked up yesterday.

Simplicity 4074

Anne Klein knit fabric

I seriously doubt I’ll make ALL of this before I start, but perhaps I could alter the patterns and have them cut out so I can work on them during the weekends or days off.

I’ve been silent because it’s been hot and sunny here (yay!) and I’ve been sitting out on the back patio reading and relaxing. I’m going to enjoy every minute of this gorgeous weather while it lasts!

In addition to trashy adventure novels, I’ve been devouring books on fashion. Tim Gunn is my new hero. Not only does he have an impeccable personal style, he knows how to behave decently to his fellow human beings–and he’s articulate on on that subject. I particularly liked reading Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons in Making it Work.

His narrative style is chatty but refined at the same time. He obviously draws from a broad and deep education–both the academic sort and the school of hard knocks sort. I agree with so much he has to say about etiquette and like the glimpses he provides into a world I’ll never be part of. I only wish there were some NICE way to gift this to the few people in my life who need a little schooling in manners.

I’ve also read Nina Garcia’s The Little Black Book of Style, which is interesting, particularly the introduction where she discusses how her parents influenced her. I personally would rather hear a lot more about that than what follows in the rest of the book: good, but basic fashion advice, which could be found on any number of websites or in magazines. She seems like a fascinating person–and, as she says, “beauty is not all that interesting [...] but when a confident woman walks into a room, it is entrancing.” I am “entranced” by the author, but not so much by the book.

Finally, I’ve been skimming through an e-version of Christian Sirriano’s book, Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self, on my blackberry. It’s definitely not the best way to enjoy this book. I’m having trouble seeing the pictures, since they break up between one screen in the next. However, his lively voice comes through. What a FIERCE personality and brilliant designer! I love his enthusiasm for fashion and his encouragement to revel in what makes you special–a similar message to Nina Garcia’s but delivered in his unique colloquial style. Sirriano is far more taken with designer labels than I will be or ever could afford to be–just like he does, I admire the fabulous styles and high quality materials and craftsmanship, but unless I win the lottery, they’ll never be part of my life.

I haven’t been doing all that much sewing, with the exception of working a bit on a denim jacket. I’m making slow progress due to the heat, but also because I have some misgivings about how it will turn out. For starters, the bust darts are giving me fits. Ideally, I should have divided them into two sets of darts, horizontal and vertical, since that would distribute the fabric more evenly, but didn’t want to change the look of the jacket too much by adding extra darts. That was probably a mistake. So, now there area under the front appliques are puffier than I’d like.

The other thing that’s making me worried is the fabric. It’s really stretchy…almost like a rubber band. I don’t know what possessed me to buy it in the first place, but I’m trying to “Make it work.” Wish me luck!

Again, this is Burda 02-2009-118. I love how it turned out. The only thing I’d want to improve if I were to make it again would be to try to reduce the under-arm wrinkling. That seems to be a continual fitting challenge for me. I’ll make sorting that out one of my goals for 2011.