I'm back after some serious post-holiday hibernation! I haven't been doing as much garment-making, but I have been altering past creations into more wearable pieces. I've also been working really hard on my illustration work (morganelle.com)

I also resurrected my elephant pattern to use up some fabric scraps. I spent 2 painstaking hours cutting up pieces of fabric too small for any other purpose to use as stuffing. I felt very virtuous. And look at this adorable creature! He was a long-promised sister trade for my sister, who has since named him Umberto.

ALSO! I've decided to participate in my first-ever sewing challenge, Me-Made-May. It's run by the fabulous Zoe, and you can visit her blog for more information. Here is my pledge!

I, Morgan from darumasan.posterous.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-March '11. I endeavour to wear one handmade/re-fashioned piece of clothing each day for the duration of March 2011.

Wow. Am I ready for this? Definitely not yet, but I think I'm in a good position to prepare what with twenty patterns and a whole bunch of lovely fabric stuffed in the what I call the sewing closet and Nathan calls the game closet. I'm going to inventory what's in my closet, then make a strategic sewing plan. Doesn't that sound militant yet non-threatening at the same time? Wish me luck!

I sewed this cardigan over a couple of days and it's one of my favorite projects!  Super wearable and comfy while still being flattering. I used an organic cotton knit purchased on Amazon.

Photos by Erica!

The pattern, Butterick 5398, was sort of a mini-wardrobe package. None of the other projects were in the least bit enticing, unfortunately.

The most important thing I did was notice how much ease was in the cardigan pattern (a first for me). There was 12" of ease in the hips and 11" in the bust (!!!) in my normal size. I went down a size, but still needed to remove 1/2" - 1" from the armpits, which were unflatteringly loose. Luckily, it was easy to fix, and I'd happily make another one of these, probably in a neutral color. I find myself reaching for it often!

On to the work in progress! I'm also working on a plaid shirt for Nathan. I found the material - a 100% cotton flannel - at the Goodwill in duvet form. Got home, laundered it ASAP, and it was good to go! I'm using McCall's 6044, and I'd tested out a short sleeve version on him before that fit nearly perfectly.

The main challenge, predictably, has been matching plaids. Oy. Probably the fabric's past life as a duvet warped it just a bit, so it slants a bit. Based on what I've heard and read, I need a walking foot!

The next steps are: add the left facing, add the collar, hem the bottom, then buttonholes and buttons! Possibly pockets. More soon.

I managed to finish this dress in the last remaining hours before Christmas Eve. It took me a long time to finish, and honestly, I was surprised it was wearable. (To be fair, it was a muslin/experiment. I used red ponte doubleknit from Amazon instead of cutting into my lightweight black wool knit from Gorgeous Fabrics! Very thankful for my foresight.)

I used Vogue 1150, which I loved for the sleeves, fitted shape and exposed zipper (I'm in an exposed zipper phase!) I also liked the topstitching, which isn't easy to spot in the photos but goes down the front and around the sleeves. I figured the topstitching would be easy, but I was wrong! Every single flaw shows. This is one of two reasons I left the pockets off; I felt I couldn't get a clean enough stitch around the pocket.

Another reason I left the pockets off was the fit of the garment. I'm not sure why a pattern that specifically says "close-fitting" was so sacklike, but I ended up having to alter this dress four sizes to get it to fit closely (leaving insufficient room for the pockets). In the end, I think it's a little TOO close-fitted, so when I make it again, I'll drop three sizes.

My last self-imposed trial with this dress was that I used a zipper that was 2" too long out of haste and excitement. I like how it looks, but it can tend to create bunching in the back.

That said, the dress made a great impression at three Christmas gatherings, and I'm excited to take my learnings to make another one out of the black wool. Note: I did NOT wear it with my Courtney Love fishnets, just for the photo session with my sister!

Behold, the black version of Simplicity 2451! I made this in November along with it's blue cousin, but hadn't scheduled some time with my sister to photograph it.

I also used a tutorail from My Little Nook on how to do an exposed zipper after seeing this project on burdastyle. It's about as complicated as sewing a normal zipper but creates a nice little bit of interest for an otherwise basic skirt!

Erica captured me and my skirt on the run in enormously festive and well-appointed apartment. Just look at her lovely tree! She always inspires me to invest more effort into my home.

Speaking of Erica, photo credit also goes to her!  Check out her fantastic website and portfolio here.

January in Vietnam

 Hoi An, Vietnam. Photo by Eriola

 Tu Duc's tomb, Hue, Vietnam. Photo by Eriola

 Looking down the Mekong River, Hue, Vietnam. Photo by me

 

February in Cambodia and Laos

At a mosque during our Mekong crossing from Vietnam to Cambodia.

 Photo opportunity for hire, Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Photo by me.

Me and E escaping the spring break atmosphere of Vang Vieng, Lao, at a swimming hole.

 

March in Seattle

Band photoshoot with Casey. Photo by Erica.

 

April, the temptestuous month of my birth

Birthday cake for you-know-who. Photo by Joseph.

 

May in CA (and Ballard)

 Suite 322 reunites at Scripps.

In SF with the incomparably lovely Nkechi. Photo by moi.

Industrial Ballard. Photo by me.

 

June, with love and marriage in the air

 

Wedding #1, our beloved Ray and Jen! First photo by Erica.

Snoqualmie Falls. Photo by me.

Nathan, five minutes after he asked me to marry him(!). Photo by me.

Wedding #2 (Jesse's), with Mar and sis. Edited by Erica.

... and the parking lot after-party.

 

July, relaxing or walking and not much in between

On Orcas Island's sacred ground with KT.

Day 1 of The Long Walk. Photo by Nathan.

 

Day 2 of The Long Walk. Ray makes it look easy. Photo by me.

 

August, in town

A trip to the Locks with Gwen.

Mom and Dad, on Mom's birthday.

 

Fever Break performance, with Josh, Casey and Tonjia. Photo by Erica.

 

September in the dumps

Katherine's scavenger hunt b-day. Photo by Katherine.

 

October: two trips, two Halloweens, and a chili cookoff

I wonder why Nick looks so hesitant. Photo by Nathan.

Nathan on the bridge in Plain, WA. Photo by me.

The coolest costume, created by Kristin. Photo by me.

Death greets Kurt again. Photo by me.

My homage to Courtney. Photo by Nathan.

Chilli victors Ray and Archer, awarded by Adam. Photo by me.

 

November was the perfect time to nest

Nathan working at home. Photo by me.

Beautiful snow day. Photo by me.

 

December, a most festive month

A stern look from Mr. Fowler over his new spectacles! Photo by me.

Adam AKA Santa, KT and Dudley in the Christmas party's new industrial home. Photo by me.

I... have found a fantastic skirt pattern! At this point, I've made two muslins out of the space invader fabric (one I can wear and one for my sis) and three final skirts. I love all the skirts, and the pattern is so basic and the fabrics are so different that I think they will all three be in heavy rotation year round.

Here's the awesome bright blue denim version! Yes, it's as bright as it looks.

A word about the fabric. I try to stick to thrifted fabric as much as possible, but I was lured  in by a 50% off already reasonably-priced denim at Joann's. I was debating between this gorgeous color and sensible/useful black. Casey was with me and tried to convince me that black would be the way to go. Since I was deaf to logic and in love with the blue, he then suggested that both fabrics in a basic pattern such as my skirt really wouldn't be that extravagant. So I went for it. The only hitch was when I pre-washed the fabric. The black was fine, but the blue looked like it had been acid washed from selvage to selvage where it had been wrapped around the bolt. I was able to cut around the mess with enough fabric to make the skirt but WTF, Joann's? I'm not sure if there's a moral to this story, just that sometimes you get what you pay for and don't expect too much from Joann's.

Stay tuned to see the cotton twill print and the black denim exposed zipper versions!

I've continued the tradition of all my apartment-dwelling relatives. I went to my folks' house last night to help them decorate their tree and ended up with some boughs with which to make my own!

When I dragged in the fronds last night, Nathan looked (and sounded) quite skeptical. He might have even rolled his eyes when I said "let's trim the tree!" after I'd arranged the branches. That's ok - I think waking up to the smell of pine around this time of year is worth a little mockery.

It feels like it's the darkest day of the year so far. I'm brightening my day by wearing a pair of earrings that my sister made. I think I made some ludicrous trade that only one can only make with sisters, something like "you can have this scarf and I'll make you a stuffed elephant if I can have these earrings, a necklace and that piece of cheese you're eating."

Fortuitously, Erica also had me model the earrings awhile back so you can see a professional picture of me in them!

Tried out another wedding dress that I was excited about, but I think it's not the one. So much so that I already showed the following pics to Nathan. (I have decided to hold fast to one tradition, that the first time N sees me in the dress will be on the day - unless I make it myself.) I just didn't feel like I wanted to feel. Still, it's a gorgeous dress (for someone) and sister got some great pics of me in it. She is a miracle worker and I'm pumped to have her take our engagement photos. Besides, I wasn't about to just waste the dress and not have fancy photos taken of myself in it!

The back is the best part of the dress:

The front is pretty but I'm not as into the hourglass shape thing it's trying to do. The bunchiness at the stomach makes for an awkward profile, too.

Although kind of cute here! I love this photo.

All in all, I think I'll bring it back to Nordstrom. Thurs, the sis and I are going to Blue Sky bridal, where people can sell their wedding gowns and eco-conscious and cheap folk like myself can buy them. Fingers crossed that I'll find something wonderful! 100% silk (well, except for maybe the lace), streamlined, interesting are my requests.

I'm writing this post over a breakfast of French onion soup. I never thought I'd develop a taste for salt that would conquer my childhood love for sugar (we're talking extra sugar on frosting kind of love). Yet here I am!

On to the real post. Nathan and I took a trip to Whidbey Island to check out another venue, Jenne Farm. It feels like we've been on the hunt for awhile, but in reality, this was only the fourth we've looked at.

We took a brief ferry ride to get there - 20 minutes, maybe? Enough time for some photographic absurdity.

We looked at the farmhouse first - built in 1908 and restored by the current owners. It truly felt old, but in a clean, good way; I didn't feel any of the stagnant energy that some old houses can get.

Next, we looked at the milk storage shed, where previous weddings have had the bartender set up. Isn't that sweet? Imagine the window open and people strolling up for a beverage.

We looked at the grainery, which usually holds dancing and music. I kept on calling it the barn, and our host gently corrected me - the barn is actually a working barn that houses cows, pigs and goats.

GOATS!! Speaking of goats, we had a small herd of them escort us to the hill where most people get married. (Do you see that black and white goat? He gave my hand a side headbutt; our host told me he is oddly aggressive towards women.) I enjoyed the 5-ish minute walk immensely and think it might be really special to have a big group walk back down to the farm after the wedding.

The view from up top!

It was so cold that we didn't stick around for too long after we saw all of the various buildings and locations. But we both loved the feel and look of Jenne Farm, so I think we're going to go for it! Here we are, pretending to talk it over on the ferry ride home.