Thursday, May 17, 2012

Life update

Well, people, it's happening -- I'm starting a new job at the end of the month!
What? You didn't know I'd been looking for one? Oh. Well...

This opportunity just kind of came out of nowhere and seemed like the kick I've needed to start pointing my career in a more creative direction. I'll be saying goodbye to the training company where I've worked as an editor/admin. on an (awesome!) curriculum development team for the past 2 and a half(ish) years. ...and saying HELLO! to something totally different. It was a tough decision to make, since I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my life, career-wise, and I've really bonded with and will miss my coworkers, but I'm excited to take this leap.

My new position is at a custom t-shirt company where I'll be working with customers via phone/email to proof and review their custom designs and help resolve any issues that may arise before their orders reach the Production Artists. I'll be learning a little bit about Adobe Illustrator, and maybe Photoshop, which is super exciting to me. Though it's not the most artistic role I can imagine, I really can't even express how thrilled I am to be joining a fun, design-oriented company.

Anyway, enough gushing...for now.

"Any other updates?" you ask.
Well, yes.
I've managed to finally switch out my spring/summer clothes from the boxes they've been hibernating in and shove everything into my closet. There was actually just enough room for them since I also weeded out all of the "useful" but un-loved office-appropriate pieces in there that were really just taking up space and detracting from my overall happiness (hah!). At my new job, I'll be able to dress very casually if I want, so I can chuck out all of the ill-fitting pencil skirts and secretly ugly tops I've collected over the years. Ahhh, what a relief.

non-ugly, vintage springy top, recently freed from storage

While doing my wardrobe rearranging, I dug out this cute little eyelet blouse I bought about a year ago (I think? ...how quickly vacations blur into the all-encompassing Past) when Tom and I visited Napa, CA. We stayed in a b&b in downtown Napa, and, between trips to nearby vineyards, we explored the town a bit and found Wildcat Vintage, a great little shop that sells both authentic and reproduction vintage clothing and accessories. I'm fairly certain I chatted the poor shop owner's ear off whilst trying on nearly everything in sight, but she was very tolerant of my feverish, crazy-person behavior, even though the store was about to close for the day.


little peter pan collar

The combination of a peter pan collar, sweet white eyelet, and the little pleated peplum-like detail at the waist, was irresistible to me. It's a top that just begs for a high-waisted skirt, or cropped pants/shorts to pair it with. I don't know its exact origin, but I'm guessing it's from the early 1960s...?


pleated peplum

Looking at this blouse for the first time in a while has really got me wanting to sew a top or something out of eyelet! (which I have yet to try) One thing I noticed construction-wise, which may seem obvious to you but wasn't to me, is that the under-collar appears to be white organza, rather than the usual fashion fabric + interfacing combination I've seen prescribed in collared blouse patterns -- I suppose most patterns aren't created specifically for sewing with eyelet or otherwise sheer fabric.


difficult to photograph, organza under-collar

I'm looking forward to wearing this with my Ginger skirt and any other high-waisted pieces I can come up with.

Hopefully, I'll have some dressmaking progress to share with y'all soon, though I do have another busy weekend coming up and haven't found time to sew much of anything lately. Blerg.


15 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your new job!

    That eyelet blouse is absolutely adorable! What a lucky find. Thanks for sharing the organza under-collar. I'll have to remember that.

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    1. Thanks, Jenn! I think I'll likely end up trying the organza under-collar soon... I'm craving some eyelet sewing and do love a collar. :)

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  2. Sue, that is so exciting! A new job is so much fun, congratulations!

    Love your eyelet blouse. That peplum is super cute. I bet it would look great with any of the bottoms you mention!

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    1. Thanks, Dee. I think the peplum really makes it a versatile piece... I think I could even wear it over a dress like a little jacket thingy.

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  3. This is such a beautiful vintage piece, right up my street!!!

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  4. Congratulations on your new job! The blouse is beautiful! How fun!

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  5. Congratulations on the new job! That is a beautiful blouse - I think it'll look lovely with the Ginger.

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  6. Congratulations on the job!! I wish you all the best!

    Thats such a pretty pretty blouse! I love the little pleated peplum. Would be cute with ANYTHING! I'd probably pair it with a bright red wiggle skirt...

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  7. Aw! Congratulations! Searching for a new job is stressful (I've been doing it for two years now) but totally worth it for the thrill of starting a new job! This new job sounds kinda awesome, and like it might encourage creativity--mega bonus!

    I ADORE eyelet! I have three meters (a little over three yards) of an white eyelet I bought in India. I haven't the foggiest what to do with it, but this is definitely motivation/inspiration!

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  8. Woo - congratulations on the new job!! Sounds like you are going to love it.

    And your vintage eyelet blouse is so so lovely. Looks like we are both loving eyelet at the moment!

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  9. That is the sweetest blouse! It reminds me of a pattern I have been wanting to sew up and you have just inspired me to nudge it closer to the front of my queue. Check out McCall's 6122 if you are looking to replicate your cute blouse. Although it is not a vintage pattern, I think the shirts could pass for close cousins :)

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    1. Glad to be of inspiration to you! I do like that McCall's 6122 - definitely seems vintage-inspired. :)

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  10. This blouse is perfection! So perfectly pretty. Very inspiring! Good luck with your new job :)

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  11. Hooray for the new job! I hope you love it! And that eyelet blouse is so, so cute!

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  12. Thanks for the congrats and kind words, everyone! :)

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