So once more I have LOVED taking part in me-made May again this year! I participated in the Flickr group every day but decided to just write one summary post here on my blog about my experience; which is this one!
So what to say, what to say…
My pledge…. I went 100% me-made, including all underwear, hosiery, sock and knitwear, all of my clothes. The only exceptions were, as usual, my shoes.
Did I enjoy it…? YES! always 🙂 I love looking at everyone’s outfits and feeling like part of a community. I think that for those of us who sew our own clothes, this is the best way for us to have our own annual, if virtual, seamsters’ convention.
Did I learn anything…? well that I have plenty of clothes (blush) with no gaps that need filling really, and nearly all my current wardrobe is made by me, which is a pretty excellent stat, if I say so myself. I kinda half-tried, not-very-strictly to go without repeating an item during May, which seems a very silly and shallow goal but a goal that has the well-intentioned side effect of forcing me to rootle out things in the wardrobe that I am not wearing very much and attempt to integrate them more fully amongst the very well-worn items. I think it’s good for me to force this every now and again, because let’s face it; I sew a lot, because it’s my hobby and I love it. But actually wearing everything that I sew doesn’t always happen fairly and equitably. I do wear my own creations all the time, but like everyone I have favourites. Me-made May is always a good opportunity to play at styling more of my own closet.
And did I repeat any items…? my two pairs of black tights, my navy and paprika tights, my burnt orange Nettie bodysuit and my ivory Pattern Magic twist top each got worn twice. Everything else got worn just once, and I managed to really mix it up with some new outfits that I really enjoyed. It was fun playing about and trying to make the most of my wardrobe.
Favourite outfit…? can’t decide, I like lots of ’em
Least favourite….? well yes, there were a few less than stellar days and I have singled out some items that should and most likely will, exit gracefully from my wardrobe. Some things that I have acknowledged are undeniably shabby. Photos do not lie. A few things have been moved to the “potentially for the Salvoes” bag, and I am going to try very very hard to actually deposit them in the bin sometime. It’s going to be tough but I think I can manage to do it.
How did taking the photos go….? well this time I found it to be pretty easy and no biggie actually! I’ve traditionally complained about taking photos of myself during me-made May, but that is probably because I’ve traditionally set a certain standard for myself and burned myself out. This year, I had more of a no frills approach and set myself a time limit of ONE minute, and NO MORE in which to take my photo. And that was that. Also, I am already taking a quick photo every day for my daily outfit photo blog too so it has become just “a thing” that I do once a day anyway, a part of my daily routine. Occasionally while on holidays I get Craig to take my picture; and he has a pretty low tolerance for this activity so the process is still quite speedy with minimal fussing allowed!
So that is that for another year.
The entire Flickr group’s photos are here, and all of my May outfits can be viewed separately in my own MMM14 Flickr album here.
And also; today marks the last day of Yoshimi’s and my joint photo blog; the year-long photo maisonette experiment. I’ve really looked forward to and enjoyed looking at Yoshimi’s photos every day. It’s been a fun, enjoyable and very interesting exercise for me; and Yoshimi, thank you so much for saying you would join in taking part with me. I know you are very busy with your work and family so I am so appreciative that you agreed to make the commitment.
Also I hope that everyone who did view the blog enjoyed the differing, and sometimes very similar views of our daily lives in Japan and Australia respectively. Thank you to all those who did stop by! Your kind words were always very much appreciated 🙂
I'd love to browse through your closet. Your wardrobe is pretty spectacular! 🙂
I am seriously impressed. I am new to your blog, and recently returned to garment sewing. What really strikes me about your wardrobe is that it doesn't look home made. It looks individual, quirky and stylish. I shall be following your blog from now on.
So great, I dream to make the same !!!! Bravo. You have a great wardrobe !
Wow what an acheivement to be able to say EVERYTHING you wore was me-made! All beautiful.
I'm also very impressed by the fact that everything you wore was self made. You are such an inspiration! Your wardrobe is so lovely.
Oh Carolyn, I have seeing your outfits for MMM again this year! You inspire me to keep trying to make all my own clothes. Also, I have enjoyed your blog with Yoshimi every single day. It was so interesting, to get an insight into two such different (and as you say, occasionally similar) cultures. Many of the photos were stunning, too.
I didn't see all of your daily posts, so it was great to scroll through your MMM album. So many unique garments and very stylish outfits! Your clothing always inspires me.
I'm sad to see the end of your photo project, I enjoyed regularly popping in to look. As usual your MMM wardrobe highlights your amazing skill and your unique style. I'm sorry that I dropped off the radar a bit with MMM this year but because it is fun.
So many different Carolyn's there – great summary. Yes, the time limit for photos is a good idea – and they still look pretty good. The lesson I take from this is to keep sewing so that one day a great me made wardrobe will emerge to do justice to a me made event.
Carolyn, your handmade wardrobe is so impressive because it doesn't look "home made" at all. You have your own unique style and all your garments look like they belong together. The fact that you make your own underwear and knitwear as well, is testament to your fantastic creative talent. Thanks for sharing your wardrobe and inspiring us all.
Lovely as always. I think I'll take your approach next year and just go with flickr – my daily work outfits are just too dull and practical to make scintillating blog fodder! It was so enjoyable to browse it each day though!
Well done. I think I had better start planning for next year!
You have some an awesome wardrobe. I am so inspired at the moment.
Love your summary Carolyn.
The first time you get to the Salvos with your me-made will be the hardest. After that, it becomes a pleasure to let go and pass on your treasured pieces to someone else.
velosewer: I have to disagree with you there, it has definitely got harder. I have deeply regretted throwing away many things from my earlier years.
I can't tell you how impressed I am that your time limit for photos is one minute. So I guess not everyone has to take fifty photos to get one good one, gulp! But on a more serious note, your positive comments over this month have been a real booster—thanks for the encouragement you have given me, and other newer sewing bloggers.
Thank you so much Patricia! and hehe, now I have to confess that I definitely take more than one minute when I'm photographing a garment for the first time, my blog "documentation" post if you like! I like to go to more of an effort in thinking of a good location and considering the all important light conditions etc for those posts 🙂 But I was pretty strict about that 1 minute time limit during me-made May this time. It felt quite freeing, to be honest.
I am so impressed with all your garments, Carolyn! You are a perfect inspirations 🙂
So impressive – the vastness of your me-made wardrobe! and your amazing dedication to me-made May! I re-joined Blogland mid way through May, too late to join this year;I so hope it's on again next year so I can join in 🙂
Well done Carolyn. Another great me-made month. I really enjoy looking at your daily outfits – you inspire me so much. I didn't join in this year as I didn't feel I had anything new to add, but hope to again next year as I'm feeling my sewing mojo has returned so hopefully I should have lots of new things to wear soon 🙂
Your wardrobe is amazing and inspiring! And all your own underthings too – that's something I plan to get into myself next year (this year was about becoming a knitter). I hadn't considered making my own tights, but now I will. Or at least leggings to use as tights during winter. Since I appear to have pretty well left off wearing pants (it's been over a year!) warm leg coverings are a must during Canadian winters. It's a goal of mine as well for my wardrobe to be as close to 100% me-made as possible, so you are a wonderful inspiration for me! Thanks so much for getting me thinking of making my own tights! :o)
I really enjoyed seeing all your outfit combinations! I am far, far away from making all my own clothes, but I hope by next May to have enough to participate myself in MMM:)
Hi Carolyn, first of all, thank you so much for having me in the photo project. "photo maisonette" has been such a great experience for me. I loved seeing your photos so much too! I already started to miss the duty, taking daily photographs for the blog, and I guess you may feel the same. I find myself looking for something to shoot all the time and feeling a bit sentimental a moment after. Sometimes it seemed harder for me to keep it going, as you mentioned, but it was always exciting to take part of it. It was a great idea to have the space, Carolyn. Thank you, again, for having me in. As for your Me-Made-May'14, it is so very impressive to look at your entire outfits of the challenge. Your handmade garments are always impeccable. I agree with you that May is the time to have an annual and virtual seamsters' convention and also the time to try to make the most of our handmade wardrobe. Great writing!
I really enjoy taking part in the annual virtual seamsters' convention, it is so wonderful to see all the amazing garments and outfits and your own creations are gorgeous and you always looks so amazing in them. I also know most days my photos were a lot less time consuming than previous years and hopefully that wasn't too obvious.
I am crying that the photoblog is done. 🙁
aww, thanks lorwill I am glad you enjoyed it! Maybe we will take it up again sometime 🙂
What a great collection of outfits. I enjoy seeing your Tumbler posts each day too. I'll certainly miss the Photo Maisonette. I've looked forward to those photos each day and almost with amazement on the days when you had very similar photos without planning. Great minds certainly think alike and you and Yoshimi both have great minds. Enjoy your holiday!
I love it all. I'm wondering about the dressiness of the 18th. Also did you have a favorite day?
I love your chic style and you looked great everyday! My fav would have to be your full floral skirt! No surprise… 🙂
What a lovely colourful montage!
Your sewn wardrobe is amazing but what I'm totally impressed by (as I wasn't expecting these) is the number of really lovely jumpers that you have knit for yourself too. I particularly love your last day one but all the cardis too. I have wool, needles and patterns ready….. I really must cast on again now the weather has got cooler.
You have always been such a source of inspiration to me as I've admired your creative abilities for a while now. Thank you so much for being so kind and supportive to my humble garments during mmm14.
Now that I am settled in my new home, I can catch up with you and your blog. How nice to see ALL your May outfits together. You continue to amaze and inspire me.
Wow that's an impressive wardrobe! An inspiration.
LOOK AT ALL YOUR AMAZING CLOTHES!!!!! I'm sure I've said this a million times but you are SUCH an inspiration. ALL me-made? My goodness. Please go on a shoe making course!!!! Your no-frills photo approach as you call it has produced really lovely and clear images of your outfits, perfect for MMMay. I am pleased to hear that you did gain some new outfit combos and donated some less satisfactory garments. Shows that no matter how many me-mades we all accrue, you can still learn some lessons. Thanks again Carolyn for taking part xxx