Dispatch no. 14 - Updates Podcast

HATS!!!!

Thinking about colour, I was reminded of the colour wheel Alexander Scriabin attached to musical tones. Your favourite colour, green, he associated with the key of A. He did write a few things in A, but this little Prelude of his in A-minor seems the perfect reflection of you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4q5AD9hplU

I have a Q&A question: how do you motivate yourself to start a project? This is kinda a reverse of Lacey Bertrand's question. I am the Queen of Procrastination and it takes me days to start a project. (Like now I'm on 3 week's holiday with one week already gone and I want to try to make a woollen coat for my husband who feels the cold, but all I've managed to do is tape together the pdf pattern). You know, that sort of thing. He kindly asked me if it was at all possible if he could have the coat this winter (we're about to enter the last month of Autumn here). I sure hope so. 🙃 Stay safe and look after yourself. Sending best wishes from Down Under 💚💚💚🌹🇦🇺😎

I'm also very nosy and love a good personal Q&A. Hahaha! I have a possible question for your upcoming sewing Q&A: You seem to be good about completing the sewing projects that you start. Have you ever lost interest in (or become frustrated with) a project and made the decision *not* to finish it? Do you keep these projects to revisit later on, or do you prefer to just get rid of them and move on? I've been wanting to try the Besame cake mascara for ages. Do you find that it stays put, or does it rub off during the day? I feel like mascaras come in two types - those that stay in place but make my eyes sting, and those that don't irritate my eyes but make me look like a raccoon by lunchtime. :-/

Thinking about patterns, and the challenges of drafting and grading... I don't know how you feel about non-fiction writing, but I'd line up to buy a Bianca Explains Making Your Blocks and Creating Your Own Vintage Dresses book. I know pattern drafting books exist, but I'm not sure if there are any aimed at the home dressmaker, nor focusing on vintage styles. Also I just like the way you explain things. 🙂 I have Melissa Fehr's activewear book, which is quite clever in that it only comes with four blocks and then explains how to get the twenty-odd patterns by modifying the blocks. Very efficient and with the help of good diagrams, not much more difficult than a standalone pattern.

So happy for you being able to get your first shot!! I was so excited when I got my first and second shots. No bad reactions either. CDC just announced that we can go without masks outside as long as we are socially distant from people who have not had their shots. Still, we have to wear masks when we go inside of anywhere! My husband and I go for a walk each evening after dinner and it was WONDERFUL to be able to walk without the mask! I still have not gone inside anywhere, even with a mask. I still get worried, probably overly worried about getting sick. The vaccines will make it so if we do get sick, it will be much milder than people w/o vaccines, but I just don't want the opportunity at all. My husband who, due to his work, got the vaccine immediately when it was released is much braver than I am. He does our shopping and errand running. I go for the ride! I can't wait to see my best friend again! Haven't seen her in several months. The one time I did see her it was from far away and we basically yelled our conversation for an hour! I'm sure her neighbors appreciated that! LOL...I have had the same experience with mascara as well. I have been mostly make up free since the beginning of the pandemic. I experience a burning feeling. Maybe it's to old. I will try buying a new one and see what happens. I am not familiar with the brand you use. I would like to try that and see what happens. Could you please spell it for me? Do you order it online? I don't think your eyebrows are extreme. I think they frame your face beautifully and the black suits you. I like the very black look for my eyelashes, but I use a blonde/brown color on my brows. Even at 69, my hair is still a light brown mostly with grey here and there. Anyway, I hope you really do commit to writing. It's clear that writing is a real passion for you, which is probably why you feel refreshed after doing so. Congratulations again on finishing the gown. The whole set looks great!! Take Good Care!

I know I'm not part of the cool costuming groups but I don't think of the leg of mutton sleeves as being too trendy. Definitely not Bridgerton trendy where everyone was making a dress from that show.

Hi Bianca!! I'm so glad you're going to be able to go out and about soon!! Here in Manitoba we've just been locked down again! We are not allowed to have anyone over to our houses, not even outside! AHHH no company for 4 weeks!!! That will be a tough one for a lot of people I'm sure. I'm looking forward to your catalog video as I really enjoyed your last one. Thank you for putting so much time and effort into it!! I just love those old clothes, it makes me think of simpler times. You had asked about 'haul' videos and what we thought of them. Personally I don't care for them nor do I watch them. I would watch your vintage stuff, but that's about it. I mean why would I want to see someone else's beautiful fabric that they just bought?? I would be happy for them and all but it would probably just cause me to buy more fabric that I really don't need!!! Sorry if that sounds harsh, I don't mean it to be! I'm looking forward to your up coming video's and I'm glad you're taking some time off to write. Don't feel bad about it, you deserve some 'Bianca' time!! Well I must be off as I have a lot to do today. You take care of yourself and enjoy your up coming shopping trips! I hope you find some treasures and if not, at least you can feel some long lost freedom. Enjoy!!! Take care,

I know how you feel about the 1890's bandwagon... A few years back, in my silly little self-centered mind 1890s was *MY* thing. Then gigot sleeves started popping up everywhere on youtube and the hipster in me became quite annoyed. But at the end of the day it's all about what you want to do. You still have a few months to think about it and how to give it your own unique twist. I'd love to see your take on Belle Epoque designs.

Kenny Loggins, yes, those are some good tunes! They remind me of the 1980s when I was little and my parents owned a photo finishing business in the local mall of our small, northern Ontario town. Back then, 1 hour prints were a new thing and my Mom used to touch-up prints by hand, it was such detailed work. Anyway, this kind of music played in the background, on the mall’s sound system and I can remember colouring and quietly occupying myself in the back room which was a dark room, the kind photo stores used to have. As a fellow introvert who works well independently, I know you will appreciate. Do take care of your eyes, they are striking even without makeup. Gee, the US is way ahead of Canada in the vaccine department. Here in Ontario, we are fairly burning from the 3rd wave, the hardest wave yet and so little supply of vaccines. I’ve no idea when I can get one and 2nd doses are being delayed for 4 months. It’s really bad. Thanks for giving us these little peaks into your creative process. 💛

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but there are book scanners for purchase online. They can scan books and documents it sounds like its right for your needs. They come in a wide range of prices (some as low as$80).

If you're looking at learning to draft digitally, I recommend the pattern workshop. It's an online course that includes videos on how to draft digitally, grade your patterns, and prep your patterns for sale. It's pretty comprehensive.

I'm sure I have heard you mention it before, but who do you get to read through your books? Oh i had a small moment of panic when you were talking about your eyes and makeup. I havn't worn much mascara since I moved countries, and I worry about reacting to it! A random thought i had today, and then you mentioned. Meeeep!! Enjoy your break that isnt that much of a break, just time doing other things, hehehe.