above are just a small selection of some of my favourite outfits for this month, the entire collection for the year in total can be viewed in my Year of Handmade flickr album, here
It’s over! I’ve worn ONLY my own handmade shoes and clothing for an entire year, and not allowed a single, ready-to-wear item to adorn my body in that whole time. If that sounds a bit melodramatic, well to be honest it feels pretty darn dramatic to me right now! Whoooooo! Chucking a party in my head, right about now!!!! This challenge has been HUGE to me. I think it’s been the biggest wardrobe-ing challenge I have ever set for myself. And, I almost can’t believe it, but I managed to do it. A long term life-goal; achieved. #tick
I’m SOOO pleased, and SOOO very relieved, although, at the same time I feel a bit anti-climactically exhausted too. I can’t even imagine what shoes I am going to wear tomorrow!!
SO. I’ve already discussed the difficulties I encountered along the way previously here on my blog, but just to recap…
Basically all my challenges involved my self-made SHOES!! My clothing? well, I’ve been wearing exclusively self-made clothing for years already so that was pretty easy.
Specifically, shoes to wear in heavy rain and for “dirty” activities like bushwalking were by far the most challenging hurdles to overcome in my year, and the kind of footwear I missed the most. I made shoes for these scenarios and got through it fine; but I always felt quite nervous and insecure about them, like my efforts were a bit precious and not 100% up to the really heavy-duty stuff. Though, maybe I was the one being a bit precious, since most of them did.
I also really missed being able to wear “glamorous” shoes like stiletto heels and dainty little high-heeled sandals for formal events. Again, the shoes I had were actually fine… but you know; a girl likes to feel shiny and glamorous every now and again! and I dunno, there’s something about clickety-clacking along in ridiculously impractical shoes that fills that need PERFECTLY. I never did crack the the glamour glass-ceiling in my shoe-making…. I still think I could do it, but it would be a new shoe-making challenge, for sure.
How has this challenge changed me: well, you know they say if you do something for a year, you will have successfully adopted a new lifestyle. I think that’s true, although I am looking forward to embracing the above mentioned kinds of shoes back into my life again…. Hiking boots!! Exquisite little heels!! Time will tell if I truly revert to rtw shoes… I will continue to make shoes for myself, simply because I have so many plans still!! Also, I’ve really really enjoyed wearing my own shoes so much! I can’t even begin to describe how utterly rewarding and satisfying it is to sashay out feeling nicely put together, and to KNOW that you made every, single component of your outfit. Like, it’s ALL YOURS. Nothing can take the euphoria of that feeling away. However, I’m not going to paint a false picture that making shoes is easy; some types of shoes are but most are not, and it takes time and maybe even a few failures to come to grips, get your shoe-making groove on.
I’ll definitely keep up with the clothing side of things; I’ve been making my own clothes for many many years now and have always found it to be both easy and fun. Now after a year in my own shoes, I do feel like that mental block has been cracked too… however, I will from now on ALLOW myself to wear ready-to-wear shoes, if I want to. As an example: we have a heavy-duty camping/hiking holiday coming up later this year, and I will be taking my big tough ol’ RTW hiking boots with me. Common sense prevails? *shocked gasp*
Likewise, if I want to don a pair of silly vertiginous heels to go out to dinner or parties, I will do so. And will thoroughly enjoy it too… 😉
Just for funsies; here is a collage of my whole year of outfits in two pictures because they wouldn’t fit in one! To better see my outfits properly, they are all in my Year of Handmade Flickr album… along with the links to every component of my outfits for each day. Phew! This feels like a bit of a magnum opus!!
Congratulations! What an amazing achievement! It has been an interesting and inspiring journey to read along with your posts. “Pop” (sound of champagne bottle being opened)! You are awesome!
thank you so much, Pencil Girl! 🙂
Absolutely fantastic!!!
thanks Chloe! 🙂
I am curious as to the count. How many sewn items did you make and how many pairs of shoes? I can see that your production is enormous, but am curious as to the numbers.
I don’t think I could possibly count all my sewn items Julie; I’ve been making my own clothes for many many years and wear them constantly! Yes, I do have a lot. As for shoes; I made and wore 25 pairs of shoes 🙂
Unbelievable… You are amazing. I’m in total awe of you. Congratulations!!!
Heather Angel
thank you so much Heather! 🙂
Congratulations on making it through the year! That is such an amazing accomplishment.
thank you very much Olivia! 🙂
Huge congratulations!! I’ve loved sneaking a peek at your Flickr account and seeing all those wonderful outfits this year. Long live your me made shoes.
thanks so much Nicki! xx 🙂
What an amazing achievement. You should be so proud of this work. Congratulations.
thank you Heather 🙂
Congratulations Carolyn. What an achievement. When I get past being in awe and I look at the photos of the year… I see a lot if bare legs & blue skies!
thank you very much, Anna xx 🙂
Kudos to you for doing this. Impressive and totally awesome. And fun! Not sure how I would’ve done with the shoemaking. Sadly flip- flops have a rather short season in Norway. But, in days past people wore clogs all year, so I guess I could’ve managed. This is, however, a challenge I’ve loved to follw from afar.
thank you very much Berte! I personally am in love with clogs now and think I could wear them all year round as well 🙂
Wow, it certainly is a huge achievement, and so great the many techniques you have tried and found out!
Enjoy your new/old bits of freedom for now 🙂
thank you MultiVroon! 🙂
Congratulations. You are amazing.
thank you Kay! 🙂
Bravo Carolyn, it is truly a spectacular accomplishment!!! I admire your ingenuity and perseverance. I’ve been following your blog on and off for a few years now but this is the first time I’ve commented – this milestone needs to be noted!!
thank you so much for your kind comment Ewa! 🙂
Wow!! Big congratulations. I have absolutely LOVED following along your year-long journey. It is something quite amazing and definitely to be proud of! Well done!
thank you very much Rebecca! 🙂
That’s amazing staying power. Good for you. I’m sure that kind of stickability has served you well in many areas of you life and it is an essential ingredient in the pursuit of excellence. It must be very satisfying.
I think it has; thank you for those kind words, Mary Anna 🙂
You did it! Congratulations! It has been very interesting following your journey.
thank you so much, Irene 🙂
Very impressive. I am particularly in awe of your winter-suitable shoes, that must have been such a learning curve!
thanks Kbenco! Yes, making my winter shoes was easily the steepest of the steep learning curves! 🙂
Amazing achievement to document an outfit for 365 days. Stamina! I also adored your knitted dress, that’s going to be well worn on cold winter days I suspect. Look forward to your next escapade.
thanks so much Sarah Liz! I have no idea what I could do next, maybe nothing 😉 I don’t think I could take on something more challenging than this was 🙂
High five!!! Wow. You did it.
If I were on a desert island with a big fabric stash and a sewing machine, I can only say I wish you’d be there with me. Hahaha. Oh the return to clackety heels. But I know you could master those too if you chose. So the big question – what’s next. I suppose you deserve a little time just to relax for a while!! Again, stellar accomplishment.
thanks so much Melanie!
It has been absolutely fabulous you see you efforts and style while dressing homemade. I’m in awe of your talents and skills!
thank you very much Cathy, that so kind of you to say 🙂
Congratulations Carolyn! You’re a huge inspiration, making-wise and style-wise as well! You’re one of the best dressed ladies I’ve seen on the internet, handmade or not.
thank you very much Uta! 🙂
You should be throwing a party for yourself. This is such a huge achievement and you are right to be proud of yourself. Who knows where this will take you. The sky really is the limit! Congratulations.
thank you so much! 🙂
Congratulations! 🙂 I’m a little sad that this is over now, but also I totally understand your need to wear hiking boots. Stilettos not so much 😀 It was a lot of fun following you along and you inspired me a lot 🙂
Congratulations! I imagine taking an outfit photo every single day was a challenge in itself – so cool to see them all together now. If you felt like doing it, I for one would be fascinated to see your handmade wardrobe catalogued by individual items, rather than outfits – all the skirts, then all the dresses, etc. From the number of outfits you’ve put together it looks like you must have made a LOT of clothing, but it’s hard to tell exactly. Congrats again!
Congratulations! And thanks for sharing this awesome year with us!
The quality and variety of your pieces is extraordinary. We can only aspire.
Thank you also for another glimpse at your marvelous furry gal. So good to have these great photos to bring back smiles.
thank you so very much Sankati! xx 🙂
Congratulations and, as it probably can’t be said enough, thank you for sharing yet another year of your genius with us!
thank you Sixer 🙂
Having found your blog a few months ago, I have been reading all of your posts from the very beginning till now. You are amazing! Your talent and skill are immense and I hope you continue to share via blogging. Congrats on the completed Year of Handmade!
aw, thank you so much CB; that’s so kind of you to say that 🙂
An awesome and inspiring accomplishment. Huge congratulations to you!
thank you very much! 🙂
Huzzah for finishing the challenge, and I am full of admiration for your ability to photograph your outfit every single day. This was my new year’s resolution and I lasted two days!
thank you Sue! and hehe, taking daily pictures was the easy bit, trust me!!
I must say, it’s been an epic year for us to watch your progress! What inspiration!! From your gorgeous dresses and underpinnings to your adventures in footwear! You’ve encouraged me to push the boundaries of my sewing and I love it. Your epic year of handmade is over and now I’m looking forward to what you will be up to next.
All the best!
thank you so much for that lovely comment Deborah! 🙂
Congratulations, Carolyn! This is such an achievement! I admire you for all the efforts you’ve put into the challenge. Honestly, I would not be able to do anything like this, for the exact reason you outlined in your post: shoes! Again, congratulation on such a huge thing! Now, it’s time to have a glass of bubbly 🙂
thank you so much Inna… cheers! *chinks glasses*
Woo hoo! Well done!! Now off you go to find those really really cute shoes.
thank you so much Vicki! I AM looking forward to getting back to cute shoes again… so much! 🙂
Congratulations? You’re a pretty rad and clever lady!
Sorry there should be no question mark after the congratulations! It is congratulations without doubt! 😉
thanks so much, Lovely lady! 🙂
Congratulations! Those collage pictures should be a gallery somewhere, they are so evocative of what making things for oneself can be in one eye punching image. You may not realise it because it is what you do, but others would find that a thrilling and fascinating thing to look at. Jo xxx
thank you so much for that lovely comment Jo! I’m just very happy others have enjoyed it too 🙂
Hmmm, I see two wall posters that need to be printed out for your sewing room! Congratulations!
thanks Isaspacey!
Incredible. What an accomplishment. You’re inspiring.
thank you very much Tammy 🙂
Congratulations on a massive achievement, you look fabulous in all of them and should be very proud of your achievement.
thank you very much for your always lovely comments, Sharon 🙂
This was an amazing challenge that you just nailed! It will be interesting watching your journey going forward.
thank you so very much, Carolyn! 🙂 xx
Congratulations! Wow! An epic year that has been such fun to be a small part in watching your journey. Agree with a previous commenter those two collages NEED to be in your sewing room!! Can’t wait to see what you will do next!