So, I haven’t been taking a lot of pictures lately. This past winter, I have been reading and writing rather than making. I didn’t feel I had the energy to just stay up all night sewing most of the time. And I also did not feel like tackling huge projects. I went months without taking a single nice picture, without even noticing it.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing too many things. Or rather attempting to … and not really getting anywhere with anything as a result of that. But even if my priorities currently are somewhere entirely different, the sewing machine still comes out regularly. And so do my pencils and paint and brushes. Being creative and making things, actually using my hands, is something I need. I just haven’t figured out what all of this means with my life having changed so much in these past 3 years.

But who knows, right? I might wake up tomorrow and start to sew daily again. Or not. probably not, we’ll see.

I’m still not in the mood to take pictures, but I have a new project. I learned how to tie proper bow ties recently, so I set out to sew a bunch of them. Or rather: A friend taught me how to tie those things, and then we made some together. Crafting (or sewing, or painting, or …) with friends are always a wonderful way to spend a day. Or a night. Or, you know, a good excuse to chat and cook and stay up way past everyone’s bedtime. And bow ties have been on my “to sew” list for years, so yay for that.

No pictures of actual bow ties. Because nobody took a singe presentable picture so far. But this is the pattern I came up with.

My method is not perfect yet – I think I will have to just get out of my comfort zone and try sew-in interfacing. While iron on works like a charm, I think it doesn’t make for the most durable end product. But I have a working pattern now. And some prototypes which range from wearable to really great, so I’m considering it a success.

And all bow ties were sewn on Eleonore. She makes the most beautiful tiny little stitches. My new Singer’s stitch pattern doesn’t even come close, so I guess that’s another success. I’ve always dreaded sewing sliders onto 700 layers of tiny slippery strap bits, but the heft of Eleonore’s full metal body made it a joy to assemble the ties.

And you know what? I just remembered that I did in fact sew a spontaneous winter coat in December. That first coat I have been afraid of sewing for so many years because I was so sure I would mess it up (I didn’t). And that I didn’t even end up take pictures of … Oh well. Maybe that’s another post for another day.