I am plodding along this KCW. Some days sewing is simply a pleasure, but this week it seems more like a chore. Creative energy is an odd thing: it comes and goes, it can perk you up like coffee, or destroy you when it’s not there. I’m happy to say, I am putting in my hour every day. Even though I’m a little grumpy when I do it.

So what have I done? So far made some piles and traced a bunch of fabric. Then yesterday I cut out all my fabric. There was a bit of upcycling happening–old man pants => little man pants. And today I did some pre-sewing. I’m not sure that’s actually a thing, but let’s make it one. Pre-sewing: all the little sewing you need to do before you get to the big sewing. My pre-sewing today was pockets and piping, hoods and darts,  an elbow pad or two thrown in there somewhere. You get the picture.

How is your creative energy these days? Running on high? Non-existent? Hiding?

I completely missed day two of KCW. I was laid up in bed, sick. The awful bug that had been making all my children barf at 2 in the morning finally caught up to me. Ugh. Today I rallied, if only for a bit.

Enough to trace some patterns and even draft one of my own. Pattern drafting with two kitties on the prowl is difficult to say the least. If I hadn’t told you already: we got two kitties! They are adorable, but they are a lot more interested in what I’m doing (read: in the way) than our dog ever was.

Still a few patterns were traced and even some fabric was cut. I’m moving slow this KCW, but as long as I’m getting my hour in every day I’m doing okay.  Have you been checking in on the KCW blog? There have been some lovely garments featured for day one, two, and three. Go see!

It is day one of Kid’s Clothes Week! Because I was at Alt Design Summit for most of last week, I am going in cold. Very cold. Today I spent my hour staring at fabric. I used to think standing there staring at fabric was a waste of time, but I’ve discovered it’s an important part of the process. If I skip this step I’m never quite satisfied with the end product.

If I let myself stare and don’t stop myself, wonderful things happen.  A lot of the times I  get my own way and screw things up either because of self doubt or comparing myself to others. Today I trusted my judgement and chose whatever fabric jumped out at me. And look what jumped: Pink!? I’ve never been a pink girl, but my daughter has been choosing it more often these days. Looking at this pile, a salmon-y pink paired with orange is actually kind of awesome. Throw in some gold polka dots and it’s time to get this KCW party started.

Now that Kid’s Clothes Week has a new home (and new blog) I don’t talk about it as much on elsie marley, but I should. You might not know that we have 4 challenges a year now. Every season you can dare yourself to sew 1 hour a day, each day, for 1 week (I double dog dare you).

This season’s KCW is coming up quick: January 27- February 2. You have just the right amount of time to pick a pattern or two, stare at fabric for a while, and then jump feet first into KCW.

But before all the sewing begins, each day this week on the KCW blog we have ways for you to win new patterns and fabric. You have a full week to enter each giveaway, so there is still plenty of time to put your name in the hat for a new Figgy’s pattern (Monday’s giveaway). Today’s giveaway is for some amazing knit fabric from Girl Charlee. There are many more awesome prizes in store, so check in on the KCW blog every day this week!

This week is exciting for another reason: I am going to Alt. The alt design summit is a conference for bloggers in the creative field. It is three days of classes, lectures, round table discussions, and fantastically silly theme parties. I am both super excited and completely terrified. To prepare for this conference, I have done things I haven’t done since high school, like plan my outfits and paint my nails…

…and done things I’ve never done before, like design my business cards. Obviously, I went the goofy route. They are a little memorable, right? At the very least they serve a purpose–you don’t know how many emails I get that start, “Dear Elsie”.

This week is a busy one! You will be entering fantastic giveaways at KCW and I will be trying desperately to crawl out of my introverted shell and (god help me) network. Let’s wish each other luck.

I really thought I could pull off kcw outfit #3 for today, but I almost had  a nervous breakdown because of some welt pockets. I thought it best to step away from the machine.

So instead I have some semi-homemade Halloween costumes to show you. I’m not Halloween’s biggest fan. There’s the costume decision and then the costume decision flip-flopping. Then the staying up late on a school night and bingeing on barf inducing candy. Not to mention the sugar hangover the next day and the fights about said candy the weeks that follow.

Yeah, not my jam. But this year, my kids actually let me off easy: they nailed down their costume decisions early and there wasn’t an enormous amount bizarro sewing to be done. For each costume I had to sew a few little bits and we either had or bought the rest at the thrift store.

I might even say I had fun sewing Halloween costumes this year. I’ve become more finicky the more I sew. I used to be able to slap stuff together on a whim, but now I prefer to measure and pin and iron until everything is just right (well, pretty much right).  So going down in my studio and totally winging it was freeing.

In the space of about an hour (probably even less) I made Abe Lincoln’s beard and bow tie; Perry the Platypus’ feet, beak, and quilted tail; and a ninja balaclava that ties in the back.

We fashioned some cardboard into a top hat and a ninja thing. Really I’m not sure what those things are but they look cool and ninja-y, right?

We are all set to binge on barf inducing candy and go to school the next day with headaches! Happy Halloween!