Blasphemy?

As I'm sure you've all heard by now in sewing blogland, Colette Patterns has just released their new line of spring/summer patterns this week. The collection is eye-catching, the samples are sewn up in lovely, colorful, luscious fabrics, there's the retro vibe we've come to expect and love from Colette pieces, and the three new patterns are all cute, practical, and casual enough for every day life, but...when I finally saw them, I was kind of just like..."oh."

WHAT!!?

Not only do I absolutely love this amazing, independent pattern company, but, as you all saw, they even had me as their Featured Seamstress (shameless plug) this week. Do I sound ungrateful? I'm not!!!! I think the new collection is absolutely adorable; it's just not quite me...or something? I don't know! I really like aspects of every single piece, but nothing was screaming "SEW ME NOW!"

What the heck is my problem?

Well, upon further inspection and introspection, I've realized that I think the necklines on the dresses were what seemed to be bugging me (they're kind of...horizontal?), and, though the shorts are super cute, I'm too scared to sew anything with a crotch just yet -- yeah, I know they're "Beginner."

However!

The more I look at the new patterns, the more I'm actually drawn to the two dresses, Hazel in particular. Check out the seams on the bodice. They look even cooler when you throw striped fabric into the mix.  I think I'm coming around, here...

Sure, maybe the neckline isn't the most exciting, fancy, super-duper thing I've ever seen, but these dresses are classics! Timeless! Wearable! Stop being ridiculous, Sue!

Ok! I'm sold.

What do you all think?
Did you instantly fall in love with the new Colette Patterns line, or did they take a little time to grow on you?
Which one's your favorite?

Ok, now that you've figured out your favorite, click on over to Ginger Makes and enter her awesome giveaway to win one of the new Colette Patterns!!!!


Also, since I'm being honest here, I might as well also confess that I've not made much progress on my green & white polka-dotted vintage Simplicity 3266 blouse. One of the main things that attracted me to it (other than it's cuteness!) was that it seemed quick and simple to make up. For some reason, I'm just dragging my feet. I'm hoping to make some serious progress this weekend...promise!

Accolades

Exciting news!!

Today I've been featured on Colette Patterns' blog as this week's Featured Seamstress. I feel so legit!

Also, I want to give a big thank you to these lovely ladies: Neeno of Sew Me Love, Marie of A Sewing Odyssey, and Leah of Struggle Sews a Straight Seam for passing the Sunshine Award on to me!

Per the requirements that go along with the award, here are a few of my favorite things:

• Favorite color: teal (can you tell from my blog??)
• Favorite animal: a tie between sloths and kitties!
• Favorite number:  18 - my birthday is the 18th
• Favorite non-alcoholic drink: iced tea -- sweet or un-sweet
• Facebook or Twitter:  facebook -- I'm not cool or exciting enough for twitter ;)
• My passion: um, sewing? ...and old things
• Favorite pattern: I don't have a favorite sewing pattern, yet. I have a favorite fabric pattern, though -- polka dots! (duh)
• Favorite day of the week: Friday -- you can stay up late (sewing!) and you know you've got the whole weekend ahead of you
• Getting or giving presents: I love giving presents. I keep a section in my little notebook that's always with me for gift ideas for my friends/family, so I can jot ideas down whenever they come to me.
• Favorite flower:  ranunculus  
• Favorite celebrity role model: I don't know if I have a role model, per se, but I have major girl crushes on Adele, Alison Brie, Katy Perry, and Zooey Deschanel.

Also, a shout out to Frau Tipmatic! She's awarded me the Versatile Blogger award. What a doll! You can check out the list of seven random facts about me here, from when it was passed on to me before.

I think I'm supposed to pass these awards on to a whole list of other bloggers (10ish for the Sunshine and 15 for the Versatile??), but, in rather un-sunshiney fashion (oops!), I'm going to ignore that and simply direct you over to my favorite blogs on the left side of the page. Please take a second to look them over and click on one or two you've not visited before! (I really do read them like it's my job)  :)

Thanks everyone!!

Wearing Your Creations: Delightful or Dreadful?

This week, I wore my Joan-inspired dress out into the real world for the first time. At work, a coworker complimented my outfit and I got to explain that I'd made it.

Once word got out (my supervisor grabbed passers by - "Um, she MADE this!!!"), my other nearby coworkers insisted I come out of my little cave cubicle, stand up, show them my dress, and turn around so they could see. I was excited to share but very, very sheepish at the same time!

Joan dress, released from captivity.

Am I the only sewer out there who acts this way?

It seems a bit odd, even to me, because I'm definitely proud of myself for making the dress (yay!), and always wish my friends were into sewing so I could gush more to them about these things. But, here, I clammed up and could barely make eye-contact with my peops when they asked me to show and tell.

Maybe it's just that I don't have much experience wearing my creations in daily life and fielding people's reactions? Also, I'm awkward! I get a bit anxious when I'm the center of attention, so that didn't help. ;-)

Part of what gets to me, though, is feeling like an exotic animal on display for people to gawk at -- "you sew??" In internet sewing land, I feel like I fit right in and I'm just like all y'all. Like, duh, I'm trying to make my clothes and am obsessed with projects, patterns, fabric, and notions and want to talk about them all the time, blah, blah, blah.

In real life, though, I feel kind of like an oddity. When my passion for sewing comes up, people seem kind of surprised and confused -- or just bored...which is fine! I'm comfortable handling that, for whatever reason. It's when people show interest or enthusiasm that I end up getting shy and freaked out.

Part of getting "freaked out," for me, includes worrying that, when explaining something sewing-related to a non-sewing friend, I'm instantly boring them to death while simultaneously not making any sense. Is that crazy?

I sort of go into what I like to call a "public-speaking blackout," which would happen whenever I gave a speech or presentation in school.
In these situations, I know I'm talking, (and most likely blushing) since I can hear the sound of my voice (which creeps me out a little bit!), I have lots of thoughts and details to share, but I end up with no idea what I've said when I'm done blabbing and usually have the distinct feeling that I've only confused everyone. I can't be sure, but it probably sounded something like, "Well, um, Mad Men... collar...ZIPPER ISSUES... um, um green fabric? Pattern."

Do any of you feel the least bit flustered or put on the spot when asked to share about your sewing to non-sewers, or am I just a big weirdo?