January & February Update ft. SO MANY FAILS

post the fails. one, revenue, two, you already did the work. remember you have soooooo many successes, and the failures, if you've tried repeatedly, isnt' on you. cest la vie you are AWERSOME. make some easy wins, and reset.

Could you use some red fabric marker to get the striped dress acceptable for pictures? I think hand-drawn larger stripes might be a nice nod to the drawing style of the pattern envelope! and it would be such a waste just to toss it and not even have a video of it for the series!

I am currently working on glindas costumes for wicked the musical!! As I am watching this video I am hand sewing beads and sequins to make a green version of the petals on her bubble dress to go on the back of a 50s style ballgown for her ball cross over.. I would love to see the 50s style ballgown videos :D The show is in July/August this year so I'm excited for your future content to get me through all this hand beading and sewing!

Ive had so many projects in the past few months go awry, which is incredibly inconvenient, since my final exams for the masters degree are comming up soon, which stresses me out so much. It is kinda nice to see that others are struggling as well though, ngl.

I like these types of videos, because sometimes you feel that when you fail in a project it is because you are not good enough to do these types of projects. But when I see that people with the quality of Angela complain about things that also happen to me, I feel identified and I feel that it is not only me that sometimes things do not turn out so perfect. In the videos everything looks so perfect, and you DO NOT see everything that had to go through to make those wonderful dresses.

Been working on making a baby blue 90s suit. Wanting more things to wear to the office

Have you thought about doing a video about your vintage-inspired shoe collection?

I'm so excited for those Disney princess projects. I actually found your channel many years ago through the cinderella dress you made! Wishing you all the best Angela <3

Ohmygosh, I’m SO EXCITED about the Disney Princess projects -what a fun idea! I also can’t wait to see how the historically accurate Rapunzel turns out (noticing a theme here? 😉). On that topic, whatever happened to historically inspired Anastasia? And the gray materials you’re thinking of for the Downton Abbey project look so lush and beautiful-looking forward to that one too! Don’t get hung up on your past “failures”, they’re an opportunity to learn and grow even if you don’t feel that way now. And they weren’t all failures! I think you’re Bridgerton gown was so gorgeous and fun! Your creativity and skill with embellishments is inspiring and beautiful.

Would love to see your clothing haul!!

I think “both burnt out and bored” is the lockdown mood,I certainly relate!

Regarding the Inauguration dress, Vogue ran two articles today on brands worn at the Inauguration, so I think you're good! That fabric looks too dreamy to leave it in a bin! I also agree with people who say to post stuff even when you're not completely satisfied with the results, because your perspective on the project might change in the future, or it might be an entertaining video, or it might actually teach a lot to people in your audience! But of course you're the judge of that. After so many years being on YouTube, I get that receiving constant feedback and working on all of this by yourself must take a toll too, so thank you for sharing all your projects! Super excited about the Pride idea and the ballet costumes. Also re: the Witcher, I actually thought that your dragonslayer or black dragon scales costume from a while back was already a Witcher reference haha!

So I struggle with some mental health stuff and often get into my head about things not turning out how I like or doing as well as I’d like. I think, if you haven’t just entirely deleted the videos, you should post some of the projects you worked on even if you weren’t the most happy with them and even if they are out of season. I think it’s important to see that too. And I think you’d be surprised at people’s responses. Also, it sounds like a lot of problem solving went into working on those projects and as a fellow sewer that kind of thing is invaluable and very interesting to watch. Also, also about the Barbie series. I am super into the Barbie series and I know a lot of people are too. However, Fancy Free definitely isn’t my favorite Barbie dress I’ve seen. Maybe instead of dropping the series it’s something you could ask us or your audience generally what Barbie dresses they’d like to see. While the Disney Princess idea sounds fun and I am a huge lover of that kind of content, there are a lot of people who have done similar things. Where the Barbie stuff is definitely a more original series imo. I’ve only ever seen one other YouTuber tackle Barbie stuff and her videos always seem to go viral. I also don’t see why you couldn’t do both. Obviously, your channel and you have to make the stuff. But I think discounting the Barbie series because one video didn’t do as well might be a bit hasty. I’ve seen some of your vintage Barbie collection and I’ve been dying to see you recreate those. I hope none of this comes across as criticism or anything. I love the content you put out but it seems like you’re being pretty hard on yourself about ideas and projects that look really good! I believe in you and truly wish nothing but the best for you. I’d also love to the see the haul. In the past I have gained and lost weight. Right now I am pregnant and at some point had to go and find patterns and clothes that fit my pregnant body. I think talking about why you did it and how it feels good to accept your new body is really important and would be a wonderful thing to see on camera. A lot of people have gained weight bc of the pandemic. I also think if you just say that you aren’t trying to flaunt wealth or something that the video won’t be poorly received in that way. Or maybe just get keep it patreon only. I think you have been making a lot of rules for yourself with what you are allowed to post and not, and that is contributing to you feeling like you aren’t doing enough and like you are failing when you aren’t. Create the content. People will come. At the very least, you always have my view.

Hi, Angela! It does sound like you are a little burned out, especially after sort-of failing. There is something to be said for showing how a garment is put together, even if it ends up not fitting or working for you. Inserted waistlines are my main foil these days, as I began lockdown working with several vintage patterns from the 40s and 50s. We post-menopausal ladies tend to thicken up at the waistline, so learning how to resize a pattern for that with a waist insert was indeed the challenge. I eventually figured it out but still don't like doing it. The grey will make a great Downtown Abbey gown, and I'm really interested in the costume from Worth and the ballet item. It is hard to stay motivated! I have begun to work with homemade paper mache, which is cheap and easy, just to do something different after almost a year of sewing, sewing, sewing! If you decided to show us your button organizing or pattern selling, I would love that too.

I have enjoyed the Barbie series, but the red and blue wasn’t my favorite. I’d like to see more of the evening gowns, but that’s just what I gravitated towards as a child. I’m equally excited to see what you would do with the Disney princess gowns, so I’m happy either way.

I’ve had a series of disappointments in my sewing room the last couple of months. As a new sewist I was beginning to wonder whether I just didn’t have the talent for this. It was reassuring to hemear that an expert like you also has bad months. You insured me to keep going. Thank you 🥰

Your hair looks always so vibrant :O I have mine in a similar color, but to keep it that vibrant I would need to dye it weekly or so. Maybe I should try another brand.

I've been thinking about what I will call "The Barbie Conundrum." I wonder if the issue with Fancy Free was that it wasn't "fancy," regardless of the fact that this look took a lot of precision and just the right raw materials to give the proper effect. I also wonder if peoples' tastes have changed in these Pandemic Times. Are they expecting more escapism which equates to more involved projects? Anyway, it's your channel, your sanity and it's important to be guided by what moves you and brings you joy.

I gotta be honest, the women's costumes for Witcher were a bit of a letdown...I think the issue was that no two characters looked like they lived in the same world at the same time, even though some of the dresses were really cool. I know what you do for that project will be awesome though. I am really looking forward to March! Also, I think the clothing haul would be really interesting. Dressing the body you have can be a real bummer when you are heavier than you want to be. But learning to love yourself and respect your body and comfort and style is super important and I think it would be a great post.

At 4 minutes in: Obviously it's your channel and your brand (tm) so please take this with as much salt as necessary, but I honestly would rather see videos from you where things don't turn out exactly perfect, than you spending weeks on making a video that never sees the light of day just because the result isn't what you'd planned. Watching you troubleshoot and problem-solve is valuable and entertaining even when the result isn't what you were hoping, and I honestly think it'd help your channel if you put that content out there. But I'm just a rando on the internet so what the heck do I know?!

Please post the clothing haul video!! I miss shopping in person so much, and I love just seeing new clothes! I think it wouldn't be in poor taste at all. <3

Your makeup looks so pretty! I’ve been struggling with my projects because between college and work, I don’t have enough time to dedicate to them and it’s disheartening. Once I put them down, it’s hard to pick them back up again, or even feel excited about starting something new because I know the old project is waiting in the wings behind me.

Just a random idea regarding your buttons. You mentioned how you planned to sew the buttons on your homemade cards. If that becomes too tedious perhaps you could use wire? Some light gauge wire and bend it into a "u" then force it through the buttonhole into the card, then twist the back to secure them. This would only work for buttons with holes rather than shanks, but it was just an idea that popped into my head. :)

I am kind of hoping you change your mind on the Vogue patterned dress. I thought it really did match the pattern and color scheme. I am off to go cross-stich, embroider and crochet. Your videos always motivate me. :-)

There are 2 Norse medieval garment books that you might like. The first one is Woven into the Earth by Else Ostergard. And the second is Medieval Garments Reconstructed Norse Clothing Patterns. I have both books the first is where they found the almost full garments well preserved and the the second, well it speaks for it's self. If you want to have a base for a fantasy medieval garment. Just a suggestion for inspiration. I will be making as many garments from the pattern book. :)

I totally understand and relate to the frustration you describe. Sometimes when I feel this way I have to cleanse my sewing palatte and spend a few days just making simple things like a skirt or vest from start to finish just to force myself to slow down and put my mind off of all the larger projects I have on my plate. The 1890s orange ensemble with the striped blouse is STUNNING. I believe you touched upon this in a previous video, but have you considered giving away abandoned or unfinished projects? I'm sure there are sewers out there that would love the opportunity to reimagine or recycle them! Perhaps it could be a series of videos with fellow Costubers where you swap UFOs and see what everyone can come up with!

That was an ace idea with the Velcro. I found your new channel. Re Barbie, I didn’t particularly like the red and blue dress but in general loved the Barbie series. Your ballgownnidea sounds great too. I’ve had my own sewing disasters react, including finding a scissor cut near the neck of a finished top. It’s pyjamas now

I designed a dog t shirt for one of our frenchies and have been sewing t shirts for him out of recycled fabrics and t shirts. He will scratch a nipple off if we let him. I have a ton of projects in mind but no access to my stash. So I feel ya. 🌈🌈🦋🦋

I can’t find your other channel and you didn’t leave a link

Had a thought while watching -- sewing all the buttons into cards seems like the last thing I'd want to do, but what about mini glue dots? I think they'd probably be safe for the buttons. Zots is the brand I've used.

I'm wrestling my sewjo back from the massive overwhelming moving burnout, but I managed to sew a haori this month that I've been wearing a lot! Hoping to finish some WIPs and maybe tackle something new in March.

I also have lost my mojo with sewing at the moment. I’ve taken it as a sign from the sewing gods that I should do all the repairs and alterations I have sitting in a bin under my desk. I’m super excited to see the ballerina inspired butterfly dress it looks so fun!