When one writes a blog such as Fifty Dresses, it can be a dilemma deciding how many personal details to include in one’s narrative. Because this is a fashion sewing blog, I try to limit going too far afield into other subjects or areas of my life. But sometimes, it is unavoidable. Because fashion/couture sewing is so time intensive, my projects and my sewing intentions will necessarily be sidetracked when my time is taken up with other things or family needs. And then, in order to make sense of my absence or my wandering attention, I feel the need to tell you, my readers, what is going on in my day to day.
Oh, the sewing plans I had in early January! I was cranking right along with my projects, and I was so excited to think about starting my pink coat. I mentioned in an earlier post that the start on that coat was delayed because of unexpected, but fortuitous, circumstances. Well, those circumstances continue to wreak havoc with my sewing, although I can feel a shift back to normalcy somewhat close at hand.
In early March, my husband and I finally, after looking for 4 years, found and purchased a “perfect for us” vacation house in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It had been a dream for quite a while, but we had certain requirements regarding the size house we needed (not too big, not too small); the location of the house in relation to the town of Jackson, Wyoming; the property (a view of the Grand Teton mountains was a necessity); and of course, the asking price of the house and land. Because this all happened very fast and very unexpectedly, life was topsy-turvy as we booked last minute flights, negotiated, signed papers and more papers, and then took on all the preparations for establishing a new “vacation/Summer” household.
We drove 2100 miles from our home in Pennsylvania to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, our car completely filled to its top. Our two cats were our traveling companions. It was very exciting when we crossed over into Wyoming!
Oh, yes, I forgot a very important detail. The house has a sewing room. Described in the listing as a “study,” I quickly set the record straight, declaring it perfect for my sewing room away from home, and fortunately, Mr. Fifty Dresses agreed! With built-in cupboards, bright light and a knockout view of the mountains, it is a wonderful and inspiring place to sew.
This is the view out my sewing room window.
I am indebted to a former neighbor who very kindly gave me her mother’s 1951 Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine, the exact same model I use at my home in Pennsylvania. It is so wonderful to have a machine I can leave here in Wyoming.
Built-in cupboards are the perfect place to store fabrics and supplies I brought with me.
Although I have no dress form for my new sewing room, which could prove challenging, I have been gathering supplies and duplicates of many tools, to minimize the challenge of sewing “away from home.” Which brings me to CocoLand.
At my home in Pennsylvania on the East Coast of the United States, I have a very spacious and beautiful second floor sewing room. I keep an ironing board up all the time in it, as 1) it’s a necessity for sewing, and 2) being on the second floor, it is not in a highly visible part of the house (I like things to look tidy!). My new sewing room is right off of our “great room,” making it much more visible. I knew I needed an ironing surface handy, but I was not keen on having an ironing board set up all the time. Somehow, I found out about TNT Quilt Boards, and I ordered a “Studio Table.” This padded and covered table measures 32” x 21.5” and is absolutely multi-functional, providing both a pressing surface and a working surface in its compact size. It can also be folded up and stored. The icing on the cake was that I had my pick of a wide variety of covers for the board.
And here is where another bit of personal information needs to be shared…. My granddaughters call me ‘Coco,” a name chosen by my daughter, which has proven to be one of the great pleasures of my life. To hear them call me that cute name and tell others that I am their “Coco” (as if every grandchild has a grandmother named Coco!) is pure happiness to me. So, when one of the fabric choices for the Studio Table was a cat print, with the description “CoCoLand” running through it – well – of course, that was what I chose.
Two of the cat figures look like sketches of our two wonderful, silly cats….
So here I am in CocoLand. I’ll be doing quite a bit of home decorator sewing (not my favorite thing to do) for our new house, but it seems only fitting that my first sewing accomplishment since we have arrived here is – a dress for each of my granddaughters. They arrive soon and then I will share these cute confections. Until then, thank you for reading about my topsy-turvy life. I promise more fashion sewing to come – and for me it cannot come quickly enough!
fiftydresses 