My main goal for 2018 was to Draw More. It wasn’t until mid-May and after re-reading Austin Kleon‘s book, Steal Like An Artist, that I was able to figure out how to make it an almost daily thing. I’m so glad I started this practice. I’m so humbled by the challenge of keeping it up, especially when traveling.
These pages include our trip to Belgium and France:
I didn’t bust out my Shinola Sketchbook as much as I thought I would. BUT I did draw a few things and that’s a win.
I had a huge boost in sewing productivity this summer break. Once I’d cranked out a few pieces, the idea to create an entire summer travel capsule for our honeymoon overwhelmed my time off.
Day 1 | Thursday/Friday | SFO to Paris to Brussels
Modified Shirt No. 1 with sash and Making Backpack.
Day 2 | Saturday | Brussels
Maya Top with cuffs, self-drafted linen culottes, and Making Backpack.
Day 3 | Sunday | Brussels
Peppermint Magazine Drawstring Shorts and Set Sail Hat.
Day 4 | Monday | Bruges
Modified Shirt No. 1 dress and Making Backpack.
Day 5 | Tuesday | Brussels to Paris
Shirt No. 1, self-drafted linen culottes, and Making Backpack.
Day 6 | Wednesday | Paris
Maya Top with cuffs over Willow Tank hack dress.
Day 7 | Thursday | Paris
Morning: Cropped Willow Tank, Peppermint Magazine Drawstring Shorts, and Making Backpack.
Day 7 | Thursday | Paris
Evening: Willow Hack Dress.
Day 8 | Friday | Paris to SFO
Modified Shirt No. 1 dress and Making Backpack.
The neutral color palette allowed for a decent amount of mixing and matching. Four tops, two dresses, culottes, shorts, two scarves, one sun hat, and three pairs of footwear worked out perfectly for eight days. I also brought a RTW jean jacket for cool mornings and evenings.
I even made my husband a Fairfield Button-up for the trip! We had two fancier events (dinner on the Seine and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Sainte Chapelle) which required more put-together looks. Otherwise I wouldn’t have needed the third pair of shoes. His shirt still needs buttonholes/buttons on the cuffs, but he wears the sleeves rolled up most of the time so it wasn’t a huge deal I couldn’t get them in before the trip.
Spent a lovely week in three cities. So much art. So many pan au chocolat.
There will be another post about my logbook and another about my handmade travel capsule soon!
The minute I laid eyes on the Making Backpack way back in March, I was sold. I promptly ordered a subscription to Making and started sketching plans.
I went through a lot of different plans before choosing an overall neutral look of waxed canvas, natural cotton, leather, and brass (sources linked below).
Anna’s excellent instructions and clear illustrations make you feel like a seasoned bag maker. If I didn’t need to wait for brass rivets (a totally optional feature), this could have easily come together in a day.
Although it’s a small backpack, it can hold my 13″ laptop in its Quilted Computer Sleeve. I just love how waxed canvas wrinkles.
The front pocket is perfect for a paperback book, or small sketchbook.
I’m excited about the double handles because museums always pitch a fit about my tiny backpacks. Now I’ll have another carrying option besides wearing it in the front like a nerd.
I attempted to come up with a leather/snap feature that would hold the front handle and back hang loop together. I couldn’t figure out anything that was slim enough and would slide out of the way, so I gave up. I wanted to to finish it!
This ended up being 3/8″ slimmer than the pattern. Either my sewing was off, or the zipper tape was a little narrow. I do like how closely it hugs my back. The only thing I’d change is adding a triangle to the bottom part of the straps so that the webbing doesn’t bunch up on the rectangle rings.
I’m oddly proud of that little leather zipper loop I added. My Bernina 530 handled the project like a champ and I’m trying not to think about all that wax residue…
Sources:
Olive Waxed Cotton Canvas: Stonemountain & Daughter
Speckled Linen Lining Fabric: purchased from Fancy Tiger Crafts in early 2017, can’t find on website.
Hardware & Webbing Kit: Noodlehead Shop, rivets and zipper leather loop not included.
WOOT! I made TWO garments in one day! Definitely a new personal record for me. Ah, I do love time off.
We leave for our honeymoon/anniversary in less than a week so naturally I think I can sew up an entire travel capsule. It’s going to be warm in Paris and Brussels requiring nothing but relaxed silhouettes in linen and silk. Everything also needs to mix and match.
I batch cut out four projects the other night and this cropped Willow Tank and self-drafted culottes were in the stack. As I was cutting them out I thought there was no chance I could finish them in time, BUT I DID. With ample time to spare! The other two projects are a button up shirt for my husband and a Maya top.
I followed Grainline’s tutorial to crop the tank and used leftover silk noil from my wedding separates. I thought it appropriate to wear a little bit from our wedding while on our honeymoon.
The culottes are from my first final skirt project in my pattern drafting class. The pockets are a little too snug over the hips but I’m impatient and didn’t feel like making that adjustment.
Both fabrics are from Stonemountain & Daughter in Berkeley, CA. They don’t currently have this linen in stock but I have it on good authority that they’re looking into it. Isn’t it just the yummiest color?!
Hoping to finish the Maya top, Fairfield Button Up, and Making Backpack before the trip!
Big hair and a big head (23.5″) has made finding good sun protection challenging. One of the cool things about sewing is that when you can’t purchase something that fits in the stores, you can make it yourself.
I block printed khaki canvas from Joann Fabrics and used this free pattern. My hat is a size large with a 4″ brim. It was a super fast and easy make!
