Equipment Love: Matilda the Dress Form

Original ad for my Acme Dress Form, circa 1959 - 1961

I admit it, I'm a vintage sewing equipment geek. Three of my four sewing machines were manufactured prior to 1965, and I just recently replaced my very warped 1930's all-wood ironing board. By now it's a choice and a habit, but in the beginning the vintage equipment was simply what I had on hand. I inherited my grandmother's 1949 Singer sewing machine, got the old family ironing board for free from my parents' garage, and from then on I was hooked: Old was affordable, old was awesome, old ran better and was easy to fix. 

In a similar vein, my late 50's / early 60's Acme Adjustable Dress Form came to me free or cheap, and she's still a sewing superstar in my studio to this day.  Originally the "plus size" dress form in a friend's alteration shop, she was sold or given to my mom when that friend moved.  From there, she was shipped to me in a large coffin-sized box and now presides over my work area like the Grand Dame that she is.  

A few years ago, I was gifted an entire stack of vintage craft magazines and this original ad for my very dress form was inside one of the issues.  I'm not sure how much truth there is in this advertisement, though.  I'm sure when this dress form was new, the adjustable sliders inside moved a bit easier.  You can still adjust her, but she's pretty squeaky and a little rusty inside.  It's not a problem; she's just about my size, and for further accuracy I've applied a duct tape duplicate of my torso over her.  She's helped me re-draft many a pattern and pin many a dress, and at this point I don't know how I would sew clothes for myself without her.  So yes, there is truth to the "see in advance how finished dress will look"claim. I only wish that the "make beautiful clothes easily in half the usual time!" were really true.  Well, you can't have everything, especially vintage and for free!

From the Messy Desk of Ms. Crafty McBusyLady

I could start this blog entry with a cascade of apologies and reasons why I haven't posted anything since last year, but I would be boring you and ignoring the array of amazing projects that are in the process of being created!

It is now March 2012, and judging from the state of my work table, preparation for Spring Quilt Market is in full swing. As some of you may know, my first cotton collection for Benartex Fabrics is overseas being printed and I'm eagerly awaiting my shipment of sample yardage. I must begin sewing up my sample projects the moment that yardage arrives, so I've been spending every weekday drafting my new sewing patterns and making up prototypes. Of all the things I do for my business, this is the most exciting! I love immersing myself in piles of fabric, stacks of patterns, and the mission to create lots of new somethings.

As usual, I can't show you photos just yet, but I can hint about what I'm working on at least. The cotton collection for Benartex will feature peacocks, borders, and feathers. The prints are geared toward multiple uses, not just quilting, so the projects will range from stuffed toys to clothes to home decor. Don't worry - I can't keep all this secret forever!  There will be many photos and details to come.

One of my favorite decorative projects I'm working on is a patchwork pillow sham for throw pillows.  Since the final patterns will be scaled for various sizes from 12" to 20" square, I have a nice fat stack of pillow forms taking up space on one of my desk chairs! These samples are a real treat to work on, as I get to use up some of my stashed conversational cottons that have been waiting for just the right project.  I can't wait to share these designs with everyone - they're going to be easy to make and enviably adorable, If I do say so myself.

In all I hope to unveil at least seven new sewing projects at Spring Quilt Market.  Given that all of this is happening at tax time and concurrent with starting art for another new collection of cotton fabrics, you might be wondering how I'm able to pack so much work into so little time. To be honest, it requires a specialized working method called "drawing in front of the TV watching Netflix a couple of times a week".

Yes, I just said watching movies is my key to success.  Sure, there are long stretches of me working away for hours at my Mac or my sewing machine. But really, the real work happens when I'm re-watching Wes Anderson films and waiting for Moonrise Kingdom to arrive at my local theater (or when I'm viewing Dune for the zillionth time, take your pick).  I guess I grew up drawing on typing paper on a clipboard in front of the TV, since it was always on back then.  It helps my analytical brain take a vacation while my hands find the right lines to use - That's really important since my analytical brain seems to work overtime these days!  Today I did more work during a repeat screening of The Royal Tenenbaums than I have in the last week.  How's that for methodology?

Well, breaktime is almost over and there are stacks of fabric on the ironing board calling my name.  Don't worry, I won't wait five months before I write another post.  This updating of my blog might even turn into a daily habit... we'll see!

Happiness is a Smaller Stash

In the last month that I've been away from writing blog posts, I have been a very busy lady.  My first collection of cotton fabric has been edited and approved and sent off to press.  My home office has moved from upstairs to downstairs.  My stash of fabric is smaller... and life is good!

As a born pack rat married to a tidy person, it has taken me years and quite a lot of effort to part with stash fabrics (yarn and paper, too).  I didn't intend to hoard things, I'm just a magpie with more creativity and enthusiasm than I had time and energy to finish things.  I have been a natural and enthusiastic collector of craft materials for most of my life.  So, as I undertook the three-week process of moving my studio to the downstairs common area of my house, I made a lot of decisions about what was really important and where I wanted to focus my creative efforts and energy.  It was time to do a purge.

Every box was gone through - Scrapbook paper that I had collected in college while I was still scrapping with a friend as a social activity got savagely cut.  Excess yarn that was never going to find its way to my needles went to triage.  Outdated software manuals went to recycle... and my Mount Everest of fabric was reduced to a manageable collection of vintage gems and useful basics, with room for projects in progress.

Since I was in junior high, I've had a huge stash of fabric - most of it never got used.  It was always about 80% stash.  This time I took the opportunity to ask myself, "What do you REALLY want?"  and I answered "I want to be the lady who decides on a dress to make, then goes out and buys the fabric and finishes it before I start another one."  So far so good.  It's my new mantra. 

I know, I can sense many of you fellow pack rats and collectors out there cringing... but understand that I didn't throw away everything.  I kept important pieces, inspiring bits, and a few indulgences.  I am, after all, a collector and curator.  The major difference now is that I have space for the things that matter and a cleaner, clearer space where I can create without so much clutter.