above is a small selection of my favourite outfits for the past month, the whole year’s worth can be viewed in my Year of Handmade flickr album, here…
Wellhowyagoingyeahalrightthanksyourself??
OK, so wearing my own clothes and shoes really has become like second nature. I think I’ve reached the stage in the challenge where it almost feels over, where I’m plodding along with it, can see that light at the end of the tunnel so I’m just kinda wishing it would hurry up and get here! I’ve started ticking off the days one at a time. 90 days to go!!!!
The stages I go through with every single time-based challenge I’ve ever undertaken are always the same, so my current feelings of meh-ness shouldn’t really be a surprise. To start with there’s the honeymoon period where I’m all fired up with excitement, followed by a slightly difficult period of adjustment once the initial euphoria is over, then a stage of acceptance where I’m just ok, still enjoying the challenge and coasting happily along on an even keel, then I slowly descend into an impatient restlessness. Well, a year is a long time. I’m sure as the end gets even closer I’ll get a small mental boost of excitement at the thought of successfully completing the challenge. I hope so!
And it will be so interesting to compare how comfortable my old rtw shoes are on my feet compare to the self-made ones I’ve been wearing all year, whether they really are totally amazing or whether I just remember them with rose-tinted spectacles as being more comfortable and better than they are and I’m just hypercritical of my own self-made shoes and feel like every single fault stands out like a whopping huge glaring error that simply must be able to be seen from a mile away, just because, well you know, that’s how makers are. I have a sneaking suspicion it will be the former, but we’ll have to see.
Speaking of shoes, to be honest, they are never far from my thoughts these days! 😉 my white oxfords are proving to be my current favourites… they go with everything and I think they look quite nice and well made too, if I say so myself. They even look a bit fashionable. My new white sandals are proving very useful too. I think I can even cautiously predict that if there are no disasters I won’t need to make any more shoes. Although I probably will. *sigh* you know what they say. Makers gonna make. It’s a weird affliction, and there’s not much point in fighting it.
Your shown outfits are so cool, Carolyn! I totally can believe the stages of your feelings, but you really can be proud of your achievement, especially of making your shoes, too! They are chic like your clothes! I am curious how you will feel with your RTW shoes later on, too!
Have another lovely 90 days of handmade,
SaSa
Thank you so much SaSa! The shoes have definitely been the hard thing for me; I will keep on wearing my self-made clothes like I always have been, but am looking forward to welcoming rtw shoes back into my life 🙂
What an amazing challenge and for such a long duration of time! I don’t have enough handmade to accomplish that, but a significant portion of my closet is all made by me. It is a grand feeling for sure. I don’t know that I could ever tackle shoes. I think I would need a class to get started! I have never seen one though.
thanks Shirley! You definitely do not need a class to start making shoes; there aren’t any where I live either so I just started teaching myself! There are a few good youtube videos out there, the links are in some of my earlier shoemaking posts if you are interested in learning more 🙂
I am bowing here to your accomplishments Caroline 🙂 Really? All handmade clothes AND shoes worn for a solid year. What we all aspire you do you’ve done and so beautifully too! I always love to see what you’ve made and often can’t resist sharing your posts with others (yet uninitiated) 😉 to your greatness. You are so confident, comfortable and (seemingly?) blase about your work – yet it’s amazing truly. I still can’t get over that ridiculously stunning jacket you made out of a shower curtain 🙂
thank you so much Kathleen 🙂
Lesson here, is the next challenge should only be 9 months long! (with an option to extend). Wow, I am really impressed with what you have achieved. Perhaps your next challenge should be to buy a new pair of shoes each month and then make an outfit to match? Now that is my sort of challenge 🙂
Haha, if it were easy it wouldn’t be a challenge, would it? I know I’m going to be so pleased when I’ve finished so I have no problem sticking it out to the end. This challenge has been something I’ve wanted to do for a VERY long time now 🙂
But at least you’ve hit the last quarter, so there’s a light at the end of the tunnel! I’m rather curious as to whether you plan to continue making shoes after you get the RTW ones back? Though I wouldn’t be surprised if you do.
Absolutely Becky! and I really feel like I’m rounding up to the home stretch soon… I’m sure I will continue to make shoes for myself, though I am looking forward to welcoming some of my old rtw ones back into my life again too 🙂
I can’t believe the year is almost over! I like the outfits you picked and I hope you’ll make another pair of shoes, it is always so much fun to read about it!
Like SaSa, I’ve been curious to see how you think your shoes compare at year’s end. I’ve loved all the shoes you’ve made and how each differs from the other. And btw, still love looking at your daily outfit photos! 🙂