There are many that wonder how do I do custom clothing and design. Well… there is a process. Below I will give you one example step by step on a denim skirt I created.
Step 1: Measurements of client (in this case it was me)
Step 2: Design — what does the client want you to make? (I wanted a long denim skirt)
Design Sketch for Denim Skirt.
Step 3: Make a rough template of the basic skirt pattern (this will be used for the skirt sloper after measurements are accurate)
Rough for Sloper and Pattern
Step 4: Make a muslin to fit the client (from the rough sloper)— to be sure all measurements are accurate before moving on to the actual pattern development. (On mine, I fitted myself — I ended up being off about a half inch on each side seam)
Step 5: Go back and edit the rough pattern with the new measurements — in my case removing ½ inch from each side seam (which is a total inch on each side)
Step 6: Pattern Development for final product
Step 7: Create the garment
Step 8: Fit the garment to the client (I stood on a chair while Andy fitted it — remember above where we needed to bring it in an inch on each side, and we had to shorten it by almost 5 inches) — Lesson learned — when you are making your own clothes — have someone fit you before you put the final stitching in the garment.
Step 9: Make any necessary changes/corrections
Step 10: Create a sloper from the basic skirt draft above, that has also been corrected from the fit on the final product. This sloper then will be used as a template to create any other type of skirt for the client in the future.
Step 11: Give garment to client or if yours, Wear it proud!
Oh my goodness there seems to be a never ending bombardment of try this app/program and try this app/program for all your time and project management needs. To be honest in the digital world I have yet to find one that can handle my life and all its pieces. As I type this blog, I am using Agenda. This is a pretty good App, but it is only for Apple products. My computer is a MacBook Pro and my phone is an LG (Android OS) — do we see the problem? And if I wanted them to sync between the two (if it were possible) I would have to pay a monthly or yearly fee.
So lets break it down first into analog. Oh, I forgot not everyone that reads this (it is in digital format) knows what analog means. Analog is the way we did it for hundreds of years and it seemed to work out marvelous until someone invented computers and programs on those computers. So, analog is paper/book/writing it down instead of typing it on a screen and seeing it there or printing it out.
Digital is just that — digital. A computer operating system that is running a program or app. The list of them is tremendous just for to do’s, calendars, mail, etc…
To be honest, I have my calendar in digital and I use an analog planner.Why? Because I cannot write quick notes exactly where I want them in my digital calendar (or most programs), and because during a meeting (if I am bored) I can sketch a quick thought. I have tried a whole handful of task management, calendar/planner, notebook type programs and not a single one is really all that favorable. I write out a “battle plan” on paper for every day during the work week with check boxes. This helps me accurately (most of the time) budget my time accordingly. Some days, instead of checking the box I am putting an arrow and moving it to the next day or even two days later — in which case I either make a note right there to move to the next day or write on the day I plan to work on something again.
I can assure you that I am on Twitter and Facebook — however, I am not on their every day anymore. I have more interesting things to do with my life than post what I had for dinner or that my clothes are hanging on the line, or that the grass grew and it had to be mowed. I choose to be the change I want to see in the world.
I challenge each and everyone of you to power your electronic down on Sundays and see how much more your family is together. You will start to see a change on non-electronic Sundays! Heck, I have even left my phone at the house when I have left!
I am including this article I ran across in one of my emails. I have put it in quotes as I have taken it directly from the author — take a minute and read it! It is astounding what has become of us (humans) and how we got to where we are today.
“There is a growing epidemic that is killing us as leaders, and it’s completely curable. Our culture is filled with more anxiety and stress than ever. None of us were built to handle what we are all dealing with on a daily basis. The average knowledge worker today is interrupted every 11 minutes by some form of communication. Many of us wake in the morning and immediately reach for our phones which we strategically placed on our bedside table the night before so that it will be the first thing we see each day. The people in our lives expect an answer to their messages in seconds, and they think we are ignoring them if we take even a few minutes more than that.
The result of all of this is chaos and chaos creates stress. Stress is a killer. It effects our health, causes confusion, and steals our joy. If it goes on long enough it might steal our time here on this planet and that would be even more tragic.”
Wow, hard to believe it is May already. It seems like I was just writing about my Nature Study goals for 2019. Well, I have completed a number of written entries in a number of locations (including my notebook on the kitchen counter, my actual nature journal, and even in my sketchbook), what looks like 17 or 18 sketches/drawings and taken a large number of photos, some with film and some with digital. (More images coming in a future post)…
I have only finished the one book, see post Keeping a Nature Journal. However, I am reading 3 different books at once and I have changed 2 of my books for the year. I am removing Richard Louv — The Nature Principle and Botany in a Day. Instead I am adding
A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There by Aldo Leopold
John Muir : Nature Writings: The Story of My Boyhood and Youth; My First Summer in the Sierra; The Mountains of California; Stickeen; Essays
I have not had a chance to get out and go on any hikes yet. But alas, the weather has just now finally broke enough that we can go outside and not be cold. In fact it has been in the upper 60’s and 70’s around here the last few days. If only it would dry up enough to get into the garden.
Leave me a comment and let me know how you are coming along with your Nature Goals for the Year so far.
I am slightly saddened by the lack of interest or even free thinking people out there. Anyway, it is the day after Christmas 2018. I have, however, regained my faith in humanity. Even with the over-commercialization of the holiday, I saw many a person doing good for others and expecting not a thing in return.
In my house, the only one to receive a gift was, you guessed it, the dog.
I may not have had “gifts” in the form that I could open, under my tree, but I received them all through the holiday season. We went and spent Saturday with my grandmother and that side of my family. Grandma (turned 86 this past 18th) insists on cooking to make everyone happy and then some, would not sit down for more than 2 minutes, even when she handed out the gifts to the great-grands. But we spent time with her, my brother (he is awesome and knows me so well), my dad and the cousins that were there.
Then we stopped over to see a friend who didn’t even expect us to stop. (We were just 10 minutes down the road). Instead of gifts, I put a basked together (I should have taken a photo – darn) with homemade cookies, fudge, jam, banana bread, and zucchini bread, and delivered. I played throw the ball (forever down the hall) with his parents dog (they are in a nursing home now) Zoey, she is a doll.
But my holiday gifts do not end there…..
Christmas Eve, although it started with a visit to my Dr. (yes she was in the office) was pretty rocking awesome for this small town country girl. After the Dr., we went and spent a few hours at my mom and step dads. And I got to play with their dog, Daisy May. Wow, is she a handful, but she will tell you she loves you, so cute. (The photo here is her looking to see if anyone is looking before she jumps on the chair to steal the homemade treats (cookies) I brought for her. )
I did receive the most beautiful jewelry box that has a music box in it from my mom. It brought tears to my eyes (even now as I write this). Once again, we put a goody basket together for them also (but they has homemade applesauce in theirs). It was nice to sit and visit without any expectations or the chaos that usually ensues on Christmas Day.
Ah yes, the best part of the holiday, the best gift of all, came at Andy’s Parents. His son and wife brought the grand-baby over. It is amazing how happy a person can be just to get to observe from the outside the love that is there for the grand-children. He is the cutest thing. (Yes, cuter then the dogs I got to enjoy and visit with). I would put a picture of him up, but…. I have not asked permission. But the visit with everyone there was nice. It was another calm and quiet (as it can be with a 1 year old crawling all over) restful visit.
Christmas Day, we sat and watched TV pretty much all day long after I made french toast and scrambled eggs.
Whew…. so as you can see, gifts do not have to come in shiny paper with sparkles and bows. They come in the tiny things, the small details.
Hope your holidays were blessed,
Jennifer
Original Post:
Dear Readers and followers,
Today, I am reaching out to each and every one of you. Help me understand the meaning of Christmas or the Holiday Season. Today is Winter Solstice, some consider it a Pagan Holiday. I see the holiday season more as an over commercialization most days. The days of yore, times past, are long gone. The times of huge family and friend gatherings are over as people spend more money and spend time only with those that can do something for them (i.e. the biggest gift, the most expensive gift, etc.).
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing your replies and restoring my faith in humanity. I will follow up with this post next week. Keep an eye out.
In the meantime, Merry Christmas to you and yours.
~Jennifer A Adams
Nana under the Christmas Tree being “innocent”
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Here is a photo essay I completed in 2006. The images were all taken with film (a 35mm Canon Rebel 2000 camera) and scanned into whatever multi function printer I had at the time (the reason they are a little blurry).
The essay came to me as I was driving home from somewhere in NE Ohio and an Ozzy song was playing (yes I listen to Ozzy)… The Road to Nowhere….. But the song evoked such a response that the road led to somewhere that I was thoroughly inspired to begin a journey of photos that lasted almost a year. Once I felt I had enough, I printed them out, small size, and taped them onto my sketchbook and it all began to fall into place.
For the first time ever for the world to see…. The Road To…. A Photographic Essay by Jennifer A Adams.
A day in the life.... 