It hardly seems fair for me to be pining for spring; after all, we’ve barely had any winter weather! But Valentine’s day is here (we stayed in, and I made chocolate espresso waffles with raspberries for dinner… I love breakfast for dinner!) Valentine’s day is usually when I make the end of winter sewing. I had grand plans to sew this past week, but instead I took the time to build a new website for my chamber ensemble. And write a term paper.
I know – it’s bizarre. I’ve been out of school so long that I didn’t even remember what the professor was talking about when he told us to bring blue books to our midterm next week! While being in class with students 10 years my junior is a bit odd, I do find that I had forgotten how much I enjoy a good debate. I guess this isn’t shocking if you read my blog, but I got so interested in my analysis of Wilfred Owen‘s poetry that I went out to the library and got a copy of The Great War and Modern Memory by Paul Fussell. It’s highly recommended if you are interested in World War I (and in particular what we can learn about it from the literature of the time.) I don’t know about any other Americans, but I know that I never learned much about that war in my history classes (and if you are interested in learning why history in the US is taught in this haphazard way, I highly recommend Lies my teacher told me by James Loewen… it’s an eyeopener. I read it several years ago, and it completely changed the way I think about history.)
Moving along to sewing topics… I’ve been giving some thought to my spring wardrobe. I feel a bit unsettled about it – did we ever actually have winter? It doesn’t seem like it! We have yet to have any snow that lasts for more than a few hours. I think winter is a lost cause at this point. Luckily, I do prefer warm weather sewing. I’ve noticed that there have been some pattern company changes – namely that Kwik Sew is now with BMV, and Burda is now carried on Simplicity’s website. Seeing them there made me realize that there are quite a few lines that I have never made a pattern from, including several great independent designers. That changes now! I’m picking a pattern from several new-to-me lines to work on this Spring!
Over the next few days I plan to get started… first comes the semi-annual closet purge, so that I can decide what I actually need. I’m going to do some posts about it, as well as my planning process. I seem to manage maybe 60% of my ideas making it through, which isn’t bad I think, especially with my general lack of time right now!
I hope you all had a great Valentine’s day! I’m still here, and I’m going to try to get back to more regular posting.
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
Often in moment of peacein the office, I connect to your blog , I find it so nice and interesting. A breath of freshness and color that came from afar (I live in Milan). I love sewing and knitting althought not as good as you, I have 52 years (but did not appear at all) and I got married, I have a 13 year old daughter I wish you a good day. CIAO Grazia
We call breakfast for dinner, “brinner” in our house and use it as an option about once every two weeks.
Had a similar experience of going back to university at 35 (a single parent of 4 children, at the time). Listening to classmates complain about the workload seriously cutting into their partying was always a leavening moment. I not only had my homework (17 credits-the equivilant of reading a 500 page book a night) to worry about, but that of several of my children. But it is all relative, right? They simply didn’t know how relatively easy they had it and, for the most part, hadn’t yet been required by life to adapt their lives to the demands of others. Still, I enjoyed learning and it was a great experience (even if exhausting).
thank you for digressing “green apples” . though I do mostly come for ur educated and intelligent reviews and tips on all the garments you make, I am also interested in learning from u as u learn about workout and tea and music. Life for me is a journey of learning. I for one can never stay on one topic for long enough and I admire those who can . Keep learning and keep telling us and thank u for taking the time to do so
I read the book Lies My Teacher Told Me about 10 years ago, and it was very eye-opening for me, too!
I also once had a graduate seminar in the music of WWI and it was terribly interesting. It was one of the more memorable courses I had.
Once again your breadth of interests and enthusiasms has broadened my outlook. Thanks for the recommendations and it sounds like an interesting time in your life!
It really does feel like spring right now. I hope that doesn’t mean that winter will hit hard in March…
Thanks for the heads up about Kwik Sew moving to BMV, I hadn’t noticed that! On the plus side, it makes their website easier to navigate. I wonder if that means Kwik Sews will be carried by JoAnn now… and be part of their pattern sales? That’d be nice.
I’m excited to see what you’ve got in store for spring sewing – your pattern choices always inspire me!
Nice job on the website. I’m always on the hunt for new books to read, so thanks for the recommendations. Looking forward to seeing your picks for your spring wardrobe. Like I tell my kids, school takes priority. If your posts have to slow down, so be it. Rest assured, your fellow sewists understand.
If you are enjoying Wilfred Owen you should read Pat Barker’s Regeneration Triolgy, it’s about the home that treated him and several other poets for shell shock during and after the war. The poets feature in the narrative and it gives a really interesting perspective.
I wholeheartedly support this recommendation. Love Pat Barker – her writing is so good!
I feel the same way – even though I’ve barely had a winter (I live in Philly), I’m already pining for spring 🙂
I’m in the midst of Britten’s War Requiem rehearsals this week so your comments about Wilfred Owen’s poetry is timely as it is what Britten chose to set the War Requiem to! I always enjoy your posts as a musician and crafter, thanks 🙂