INSPIRATION
I have always loved Audrey Hepburn's style and having watched The Kennedys recently, it really reawakened my love of the effortless elegance of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Both ladies wore clothing that flattered their figures, worked with their lifestyles, and was timeless in style.
Jean Seberg is a new find for me - I stumbled across her on Pinterest - and I was immediately smitten with her gamine look. Jean's sense of style is much along the lines of Audrey and Jackie, but she adds a a lovely Beatnik twist, which I love.
All three of these ladies are very inspiring me and encompass the vintage look I have been striving for over the past year. I plan on sewing many Audrey-Jackie-Jean items this year, including cigarette pants, sheath dresses, and bateau-neck tunics.
I am also taking a leaf from Solvi's book and plan on indulging in the fun sides of sewing and knitting by making some completely fun and frivolous items.
PROJECTS
Sewing
One of my biggest projects this year is to sew all the patterns from the Colette Sewing Handbook. I so enjoyed the opportunity to review this book and I knew within minutes of reading it that I wanted to make everything! The Meringue skirt is January's project.
Mama Friday gave me Famous Frocks for Christmas and it is fabulous!! It has so many lovely dress patterns from a large range of eras that I'm sure there's something that will inspire everyone. I plan on making Jackie's sheath dress, Farrah's wrap dress, and Twiggy's A-line shift.
Some of my smaller sewing projects this year include making some of Tilly's bow belts (I love these!) and a pink and black plaid Macaron inspired by this version.
Knitting
I am so happy I picked up my knitting needles and decided to give it a try. It has become one of my favourite hobbies and I look forward to the quiet evenings where I can knit on my latest project. Having successfully finished my Blush Vest, I have been inspired to knit the St. James sweater. I love the vintage style and the hot pink bamboo yarn I've chosen.
My next big knitting project for this year is the Sirdar cardigan. I already have all the yarn I need for it and I plan on starting it in the spring. Smaller knitting projects include socks, Kristen's Smock Top, and a vest for Miss Friday.
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I am delighted to have been chosen as one of the contributors to The Sew Weekly for this year! I like the challenge of a week to create an item and I like how Mena has structured it with flexible participation this year. Goodness knows I can't commit to 52 weeks of sewing a garment a week!
I also want to share more of my WIPs, even though I am shy about showing something unless it's finished and absolutely perfect. I find WIP posts helpful on others' blogs and thought it would do me good to take the plunge. *eep!*
Home & Garden
I fell in love with Maureen Cracknell's fox applique pillow as soon as I saw it! I plan on recreating my own version for my living room. Cute, right?
With Square Foot Gardening in my hand I am going to plant a small vegetable garden this year. I have a long-term goal of becoming much more self-sufficient by growing as much of our own food as possible (given time and space) and then preserving it. I love this idea for a small garden:
Source: twomenandalittlefarm.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest
Planting clematis and morning glory is also in the garden plans. I have a lovely back garden with a wonderful vintage wooden ladder perfect for climbing plants. Since Mr. Friday built such a lovely fence, now is the time to dress it up for spring and summer.
What are your creative plans for 2012? I'd love to know!
11 sparkles:
Wow, you're going to be busy! I shall be avidly following on (all but particularly) your progress on your Audrey-Jackie-Jean garments as their style is a fave of mine too. Good luck with it all, I hope you have a fantastic year!
So happy you're doing Square Foot! You'll love it, promise. And congrats on the Sew Weekly gig!
I don't knit, but I am fascinated with the image of that cardigan. It is styled in quite a traditional Bolivian way, but it's not costumey. Look forward to seeing it made!
I am SUPER excited to see your version of the Macaron - it's going to be fabulous!
Lovely plans, those ladies look like great inspiration and I love your gardening plans! Congratulations on taking a more active part in the Sew Weekly! I enjoyed reading your introductory post!
Have fun being part of the Sew Weekly! I agree that I'd totally burn out on a one-project-a-week schedule, but I'm curious to see how she's going to set it up for this year.
Your plan sounds fabulous. And while I know some people only want to see FOs, I find it helpful for myself to sometimes post things in progress, and interesting to see the construction and inner workings of garments that others make. So I'll be quite happy to read those from you!
@Tors - I am! *eep!*
@Heather Lou - Me, too! I'm going to start planning what to plant in the spring.
@SewingScientist - I loved that cardigan the first minute I saw it. :)
@Meg - Thank you, doll! As soon as I saw that plaid Macaron, I knew I had to make my own.
@Alessa - Thank you!!
@Becky - My goal is to complete one Sew Weekly challenge per month. I find WIPs helpful, too, so I thought I'd brave it and post my own. Yikes!
love your colette book goal!
Ambitious, and I like it! Love all your plans and ideas, and am looking forward to seeing both the progress and the finished garments! :-)
YAY! Hurrah for Smock-top! You know where to go for any questions ;)
@Oonaballoona - Me, too! Stay tuned for something exciting to do with the Colette Book :)
@Solvi - Thank you!
@kristenmakes - I sure do, doll!
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