I’ve been thinking about things for the year ahead. Apart from continuing to make all my own clothes, I mean… that’s a given 😉
It’s fun to set little goals to think about and complete. I like list-making and box-ticking, if that explains anything.
So, this year I am going to wear only my own self-made clothes, and sketch the outfit I am wearing each day in my Fashionary. I’ve written before how much I enjoyed and was thoroughly inspired by Natalie Purschwitz’s journey, and this is kind of a homage to her Makeshift project. Although Natalie made her own shoes as well as her clothes; which blows my tiny mind!! So needless to say, making my own shoes is way beyond me. Actually it’s probably impossible in Perth.
However I can do the clothes! and document them.
I’m calling this the paper-doll project.
The hairstyle on each paper-doll is the hairstyle I had for that day too. Since I basically rotate between three hairstyles; ponytail, “out” and messy bun (day 8) then this shouldn’t be too challenging to draw 🙂
The other reason I am doing this: well, apart from fun, and does there need to be any other reason, really?? of course no. But I started out using my Fashionary as a brain-storming and planning tool for my future creations. But it didn’t take long for me to notice something of a downer; only about half the things I’d drawn as a firm “yes” for a future project, actually end up looking like I initially planned. I’ve found that by the time I finally get the fabric and the patterns out and get going I’ve often mentally moved on and incorporate a whole host of little changes!! There is no point in showing examples here, suffice to say they are many!
(I didn’t put in any links to the construction posts with photos, but I can do that if it is useful to anyone 🙂 )
Just when I think I am completely amazed by you, something else comes up. Bras? Apparently no problem. Drawing what you wear every day? I am impressed, truly.
I have to ask… how on earth do you know the pattern company and its number for all those outfits?? Do you look them up in this blog? I am honestly curious about this, as I can barely remember the pattern number of an outfit while I'm making, much less at any point later in time. Maybe you gave this secret somewhere else in your blog that I haven't found yet, but I am so curious. Perhaps you have a photographic memory – which I most certainly do not have! LOL!!!
Seeing your daily outfits is an inspiration. You seem to always look effortlessly well-dressed!
Thank you Angela! Hehe, I guess I'm a bit of a nerd about my patterns, and each piece of my clothing is like my baby whose name I don't forget! If a number has slipped my mind I just go and check my pattern stash 🙂
Wow. What a great idea. I am going to enjoy following this journey!
I hope you keep us updated with the records. I love seeing what clothes you wear.
I LOVE this… it would such an awesome little book at the end of the year showing each days outfit… cute family heirloom perhaps? 🙂
Looking at your wonderful drawings made me glad I chose Fashionary as a give away on my blog. They are lovely – I look forward to seeing what you come up with in the year ahead.
Cool idea! I love these sketches. It's interesting that it became a downer to see unfulfilled things. I love the process of an imagination taking walks and later discovering new stones, not to replace the old, but sometimes closer to the heart. And you have a marvelous imagination, so rich.
I LOVE this! I have a Fashionary sketch book too but haven't even drawn in it, it is so pristine, but I should take pen and pencil to it. I'll appreciate it it more filled with my scribbles, and this is great inspiration. I'm going to dig it out of my bookcase and keep it handy! I love good old colour pencils, scissors and sticky tape too 😉
Wow! What a wonderful idea, and lovely drawings. I love the idea of drawing what you wear every day. I would love to give it a go myself, if I can find the time (and a suitable notebook of course). What a great excuse to go shopping for a lovely sketchbook!
What a great idea! It will be a lot of fun to look back through it later.
Neato! I'm with you on the paper doll thing, I never had enough as a child. And as an adult I used to buy Mary Englebreit's mag just to get the paper doll at the end of each issue. Love your approach. Have fun!
So inspirational!! I love your idea Carolyn.
When I was a child, I used to play with paper dolls like you 😉 I loooove them, more than conventional dolls.
A couple of months ago, I thought about the possibility to visualize the garment before sewing…it can be one of my goals for the new year.
Your sketches are nicely drawed!!!
a fantastic plan for the year Carolyn, both the wearing and the drawing, i love it 🙂
the MakeShift project was uber-inspiring, I sometimes think of her and wonder where she's at with it now, I've kept the subscription in my reader incase she pops back in with an update!
Inspiring idea, go girl… So much fun to be part and see what you make x
Cool project! I loved following Natalie's progress too.
Oh, I do love your fashion sketches. This is something Mom used to do with me when I was little. She was great at drawing and could have been a fashion illustrator, I'm certain. We used to 'design clothes together'. I've been reading Makeshift in awe. Mind, her style of clothes is not like mine at all and I would hate wearing her home made shoes, but I'm still well impressed. I made shoes once, did I ever tell you? It is hard on the finger tips, handling those tiny nails. Making shoes that stay together in the rain, are pretty, fit properly, all that is no doubt very hard (from reading her interviews with two Cordwainer-trained designers). Mine haven't been exposed to rain, though I would trust them. However, they are not comfortable, and I don't wear shoes that hurt, ever. Still, it was a fascinating experience. I see they do courses in San Francisco and Melbourne…
http://shelleyshouse.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/shoes-by-shelley.html
Oh wow, is there anything you can't do? (besides making shoes… 😉
I love the idea of your project, and your garment and figure sketching already looks quite accomplished to me. Makes me remember my own sketchbook, too… 🙂
Aaaaah, I've got to get my fashionary out and use it more. So inspiring.
Well that is such a good idea. I draw things in my book but then seem to forget about them entirely. It would make it easier to see the gaps in ones wardrobe that way. Brilliant, and such lovely sketches too. You are so clever.
What an absolutely fabulous idea! I love your sketches and it's a great way to document the things you've made and wear.
Inspired Carolyn. Simply inspired. Thanks for sharing, Sam xox
You just keep amazing me 🙂
Nice idea! It will be very interesting to look through sketchbook in the end of the year.
I try now to draw all my clothes just to see what I have%)
These are gorgeous! You really are very talented and in so many ways too! For me, these sketches look on a par with professional illustrations.
Ooh, sketches! They really do look on par with the fashion sketches that I see on Project Runway and such, and what a fun way to document your wardrobe!
Also, if you ever do figure out how to make your own shoes and care to share, please do. My extra-wide, hard to shop for feet will thank you. 🙂
What a neat idea, Carolyn! All that practice will improve your drawing in no time.
these sketches are great! lovely work, and you say you're not good at drawing?
How fun! What a great idea! You will be awesome at fashion drawing by the end of the year!
I got a fashionary for Christmas!! So far, I've used mine to sketch out ideas from the last clothes shopping trip. Those little croquis outlines make drawing a lot easier!!
I think you underestimate your drawing talents they are really good. I would love to have a go a drawing up a wardrobe plan.
What a fun and inspirational project! And you do NOT suck at drawing!
BTW, I loved paper dolls as a kid too – way more than dolls. I really should get myself a Fashionary…..
The first thing I thought of is how this will be a family heirloom one day. Your grandchildren and great grandchildren will definitely have evidence that their creativity came from their grandmother. This is a brilliant and ambitious project and I am looking forward to following along with you.
PS-I'm with JillyBe, you most definitely do not suck at drawing!
Hi Carolyn !
Thanks for sharing another brilliant idea.
I'd like to know if you still have RTW clothes in your closets, and if it's the case, do you think you'll wear them again some day ?
Thank you Karine! I still have some RTW camisoles and a dressing gown, for winter warmth; and a few Tshirts that I'm phasing out. I've also kept some really nice pieces, as well as a few sentimental pieces. It's hard to say whether I will wear them again; nowadays I do only wear my own things, but then I can't make myself get rid of some of my good quality, older things. It's a tough call…
Your sketching skills are par with your sewing skills! I´m tempted to "borrow" one of my girl´s presents from Santa…guess what?! Fashion sketches. For girls, boys. Even for dogs! Maybe I´ll do that only when I find a winner. You know the kind of look you attain by pure chance and then forget the next week and start wondering how was it?
fun …. you draw just fine methinks. If I could draw even a little I would enjoy it too! How I loved paper dolls.
Everyone: thank you! but please don't think I actually drew those silhouettes off the bat… the fashionary has very pale, dot-to-dot figures there for you already, a "naked" figure that you only have to draw the clothes on the top…. It makes fashion sketching very easy for a non-drawer like me! 😀
Keep it coming Caroline! Can't wait to see more, I hardly am able to manage time to do serious sewing and envy you for that. May be when my daughter grows up, I will have more time on hand. Btw I am planning to buy Brother innovis 950 and brother 3034 serger, any suggestions, can I go ahead and buy them. Thanks
Sorry about the spelling, Carolyn,I know it is bad to misspell names, sorry!
I once took a week long shoe making class (Geelong Textile Forum in the mid 2000s) – I designed and made a pair of 'mules' and they are pretty groovy. It was an interesting process and totally doable in a home workshop – I can see the benefits if you have difficulty finding shoes that fit.
I'm pretty sure I'll never make another pair though because I have a standard foot size (so it's easy to buy shoes that fit and flatter) and the glues and 'leather dust' of shoe making weren't very nice to deal with … give me fabric, fibres and yarn any day 😀
I love your idea. Not only is sketching your daily outfits a great journal of your fashion life, I find that fashion sketching is so relaxing, too. Some days I just enjoy getting out my notebook and drawing outfits on my little line figures of me! I so enjoy seeing what you are up to in your part of the world!
I loved Paper Dolls too when I was a kid and just love Fashionary, a great way to document your makes. I started last year drawing up ideas placing fabric swatches in too, so much fun.
I just spent sometime over on Natalie's blog, Wow! now that's a challenge, how inspiring.
Right! I love the fashionary, and have duly ordered mine 🙂
Oh, so very, very inspirational!! I just bought my own Fashionary – cannot wait to get started!