Me-Made-May ’12: Day 2!

May 2, 2012 By in Uncategorized Tags: , 25 Comments

Happy 2nd day, everybody!  Hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am!

shirt: me-made Renfrew top

jeans: Levi’s

shoes: Converse (’cause I’m so original)

location: right outside my apartment

pug: sold separately

This shirt is the me-made item that I wear the most– it’s just so comfy and easy to wear.  It’s a nice boring basic piece.  I’m not much of an accessorizer, and with this dramatic neckline, I can’t really wear a necklace, so my outfit is a little bland, but, oh well.

A few items of business:

A HUGE thank you to Maddie for passing along the Liebster award to me!  If you haven’t seen her blog yet, RUN, don’t walk, over there– it’s chock-full of jaw-dropping inspiration photos and some downright amazing tutorials!  I’ll be attempting to draft a bodice block this month using her tutorials.  Thanks, Maddie!

Next up– the Seamless Pledge.  How’s that going, guys?  I’m interested to hear your experiences.  Sadly, I had to break it last week– I had an unexpected work occasion that I needed to dress up a bit more for, so I broke down and bought a blazer and a buttondown (I’ve never owned a blazer before– silly, right?).  I’m a little bummed, but at the same time, the Seamless Pledge is (for me) about awareness and trying to make more responsible choices about buying clothes, not about being crippled when your schedule throws you a curveball.  I don’t have the chops (or the time) to tailor a jacket at this stage in my life, and thrifting options are difficult for that sort of thing, so I feel OK about buying a nice, basic blazer that will be in my wardrobe for many, many years.  Also, apparently Li’l Miss T-Shirt me Goodwilled all my plain-ish buttondowns!  Whoops.  Any thoughts or observations on your own Seamless experiences?

25 responses

  1. Man, I have to get off my butt and make a Renfrew! You look adorable as always, and that tee is just such a wearable item. And I like the way you pug-sessorize 🙂

    On April 30 I celebrated 4 months of Seamlessness! Woohoo! I do believe that is the longest I’ve ever gone in my adult life without purchasing any new clothing or shoes (especially the shoes – I’m a little embarrassed to admit I was buying a pair or two a month). It hasn’t been as hard as I’d thought it would be, but I’ve been making sure to eliminate the temptation by not opening “sale” emails and catalogs that come in the mail. I’m sure Zappos must think I died! I really wanted to do this as a help to breaking the see it – want it – buy it habit I’d gotten into. In June I plan to reevaluate and possibly pledge for another 6 months.

    I agree with you that it’s mostly about mindfulness, and I think you did the right thing by buying an item you really needed that wasn’t realistic for you to make.

    Although the Pledge is a presence in my life and comes up often in my mind, I’m finding it awkward to blog about. There’s really not much to say, because it’s about the thing I haven’t done! So thanks for bringing it up here!

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    • That guy– he kills me with his pug-ability! I never would have picked a pug if I was choosing a dog, but I’m glad he made his way into my life! I’m obsessed with him now!

      I’ve probably mentioned this before (sorry if I’m repeating myself), but I’m not a huge clothes shopper. So after I gave up buying fabric/yarn for Lent, I realized that I really haven’t been mindful about purchasing in that area. I really would just see a new, gorgeous yarn, or the perfect yardage, and buy it with abandon, regardless of whether or not I needed it, could work it into my wardrobe, or had anywhere near enough time to make it into something! So I’m trying to be more disciplined about that.

      I can’t even talk to you about Zappos– holy cow. What a service! It’s just TOO easy! I used to be the mockery of my office because of the huge Zappos boxes that would come for me! Oof!

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    • OMG we are RENFREW BUDDIES for LIFE! Too bad I wasn’t wearing my matching Toms today! Self-flagellation– nicely put! You should be a writer (have you considered pursuing a masters in dramatic writing? OH WAIT you are going to be the next great playwright!!)!

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  4. I’m so glad to hear you will be trying my block tutorials soon. If you have any troubles, please do not hesitate to email me. I will always have a helping hand to lend, even if that means I have to draft a block for you and mail it to you!
     
    I’m also glad to hear that you are enjoying my blog so much! I know I’ve been writing about my damn dress for months now but I promise that photos of it as well as my other creations will be posted very soon (think next week). I cannot wait to show you!
     
    And next time you’re in Philly lady, let me know and we can meet up!
     

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    • Thanks again for posting those tutorials– they’re amazingly comprehensive! I’m so excited to start!

      I’ll definitely let you know next time in Philly! Likewise, let me know if you make it up to NYC anytime! 🙂

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  5. Oh my goodness! I love your comments about having to break your Seamless pledge a little! I wish I had been so measured and thoughtful last month when I had to break down and buy a RTW dress, but instead I tortured myself about if for ages!

    Also, I love this version of the Renfrew! I was planning on making it up in a blue stripey jersey in the next couple of weeks, but this has spurred me on to get cracking with it!

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    • Sadly, it’s pretty atypical for me to be able to calmly and coolly step away from a challenge or self-imposed rule– there’s usually lots of guilt, crying, or some such other lunacy.

      Re: Renfrews… make one! This is BY FAR the most wearable thing I’ve ever made! I find that I often find myself sewing A-line skirts or dresses that will never, ever make it into my wardrobe rotation, and I never make the awesome, comfortable tees that I love to buy RTW! Silly. Do it! It’s way easy! And since you have a serger, it will be a breeze for you to put together! 🙂

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      • I’m definitely making a stripey renfrew this week, I even rethreaded my serger with black thread and everything! It was nowhere near as difficult as I’d thought it would be.

        (Re: your comment on my blog, I think you’re right, we’re totally samesies! Now if only they had a cure for clumsiness, and ‘tomboy’ became the new vogue!)

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  6. Ha I was going to comment yesterday to say make yourself a plain neck renfrew for under your cardigan!
    I didn’t sign up to Seamless pledge because was already doing it since making a conscious decision at the end of Self Stitched September 2010 to not buy any more clothes. I’ve gotten things that i can’t make or just don’t think its feasible to make (like sports/swimwear – wetsuit, trisuit & more recently swimming togs). At this stage some of my RTW clothes are in need of replacing & I haven’t time to sew up something new so my work wardrobe is starting to look pretty sad in my eyes… aw well, I’ll get to it at some stage 😉
    You’ve a really good take on your Seamless pledge – there are times when you’re gonna find yourself in unexpected circumstances and genuinely can’t plug the hole with something you made – it’s not as if you were walking down street & bought them on a whim…

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  8. I do love your Renfrew. I want to make the cowl view for myself 🙂 Everyone’s already said all the stuff about not beating yourself up! You are doing great 🙂

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  11. I love this Renfrew! It’s darling and fits you so well.

    Doug the Pug seriously kills me. That face is so friggin’ cute. I go back and forth on getting Binker a sibling – if I did it would be a black pug.

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  12. ah doll we all need basics. I know I’m in need of some for sure but my penchant for polka dots, lobsters and flamingoes means I have a statement wardrobe. Though I guess that’s what MMM’12 is all about – working out what needs work 🙂 By the way I love Doug’s I mean business face hehe!

    xxx

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