This caterpillar is starting a cocoon.
Not sure if this is something to post here or on my sewing blog, since it will affect future plans that are finally, after many years of on and off ponderings, starting to bubble to the surface. Yeah, some things take awhile.
I am talking about my personal fashion statement. I used to write about it, and it has been a long while since I last posted under the topic, but the thoughts were still there, way in the back of my head, until recently when something, not sure what exactly, but something pushed things through to a more cohesive idea.
I think part of what pushed it forward was being at Costume College's display room, and seeing the beautiful Japanese influenced costumes, especially ones that are kimono based with their lovely embroidery. Sometime once I got back (possibly while I was waiting for Relle's bus), it hit me, that what sort of fashion that best reflects "me" would be an "east meets west" theme (ok, collective 'well duh!').
Usually, that would mean a person wearing some sort of loose fitting kimono style, worn over or with western clothing. Well, I've worn my Mom's kimonos when I was a kid, and have a few cheap ones I wear from time to time. They really were designed for slim oriental women, who bind themselves to reduce curves, and pad to fill in other areas (at least that is what my Mom did). And they are also created with slim widths of fabrics that barely would cover me now (I know, as I still have Mom's lovely kimonos, and nope, no fitting decently there.)
So, I could go with making larger kimono for me (which I might do sometime), or, taking the elements of Japanese styles that I've loved since my childhood, mainly the embroidery and certain woven fabric patterns - many from my childhood memories,, and put them into western fitted clothing, which really I would prefer since I am curvy, not a stick. So, I think this would be a better way for me to go.
Yesterday, I've been looking at various sashiko and Japanese silk embroidery books, to learn the techniques, and picked up one from the local library. The sashiko is a style I would also like to do by machine, to cover large areas of clothing. My preference in fabrics tend to the plain fabrics unless the damask is really appealing to me, so adding simple sashiko patterns would be a nice addition to things. The silk embroidery would also be nice to add into clothing as an accent (I'd have to be careful with washing those clothes), or onto accessories that don't need washing.
I think with this in mind, I'd like to get working on designing and eventually creating my new wardrobe. I've got other costume projects to work on first, but in a few months when those are done, I think it will be time to focus on this butterfly's new wardrobe. And I think I want a new icon when I do. At that point this will switch to my sewing blog.
I am talking about my personal fashion statement. I used to write about it, and it has been a long while since I last posted under the topic, but the thoughts were still there, way in the back of my head, until recently when something, not sure what exactly, but something pushed things through to a more cohesive idea.
I think part of what pushed it forward was being at Costume College's display room, and seeing the beautiful Japanese influenced costumes, especially ones that are kimono based with their lovely embroidery. Sometime once I got back (possibly while I was waiting for Relle's bus), it hit me, that what sort of fashion that best reflects "me" would be an "east meets west" theme (ok, collective 'well duh!').
Usually, that would mean a person wearing some sort of loose fitting kimono style, worn over or with western clothing. Well, I've worn my Mom's kimonos when I was a kid, and have a few cheap ones I wear from time to time. They really were designed for slim oriental women, who bind themselves to reduce curves, and pad to fill in other areas (at least that is what my Mom did). And they are also created with slim widths of fabrics that barely would cover me now (I know, as I still have Mom's lovely kimonos, and nope, no fitting decently there.)
So, I could go with making larger kimono for me (which I might do sometime), or, taking the elements of Japanese styles that I've loved since my childhood, mainly the embroidery and certain woven fabric patterns - many from my childhood memories,, and put them into western fitted clothing, which really I would prefer since I am curvy, not a stick. So, I think this would be a better way for me to go.
Yesterday, I've been looking at various sashiko and Japanese silk embroidery books, to learn the techniques, and picked up one from the local library. The sashiko is a style I would also like to do by machine, to cover large areas of clothing. My preference in fabrics tend to the plain fabrics unless the damask is really appealing to me, so adding simple sashiko patterns would be a nice addition to things. The silk embroidery would also be nice to add into clothing as an accent (I'd have to be careful with washing those clothes), or onto accessories that don't need washing.
I think with this in mind, I'd like to get working on designing and eventually creating my new wardrobe. I've got other costume projects to work on first, but in a few months when those are done, I think it will be time to focus on this butterfly's new wardrobe. And I think I want a new icon when I do. At that point this will switch to my sewing blog.