An Exciting Announcement for 2014

Happy New Year! Raise your hand if you thought this post was my big announcement telling you about Susan's upcoming brother or sister? I bet it was a least half of you, maybe more.

No, no guys.  That is not the big news for 2014.  Susan's future bro or sis will not be arriving in 2014 unless something very unplanned happens.

The big news?  I know you must be on pins and needles at this point so I will tell you.  Remember when I posted that I had learned to sew?  Well, I recently started following a blog called Goodbye Valentino.  In 2011, this lady decided she would make her own clothes for a year.  And she did it! 

So on December 1, 2013, she issued an invitation - the Ready-to-Wear Fast 2014.  This means everyone who signs up must commit to no store-bought clothes for a year and will agree to make all their own clothes.

Guess who one of the 200 participants is?  ME!  I am so excited.  A lot of the participants have discussed being nervous but I'm not.  Do you know how many clothes I bought for myself in 2013 prior to signing up for the Fast?  None.  Zip.  Zero.  So, I figure everything that I make in 2014 will be exciting, new and a bonus to my wardrobe.  Now, I did go shopping on December 27.  I bought a few new tops and shirts, including a few things for spring.  So maybe I am a little nervous. 

I am really excited about the challenge.  I can't wait to see how my sewing skills improve over the next year.  There is no garment amount requirement, which I like, because then there is no pressure.  I am not very fast yet, so if there was a requirement to make a certain amount of clothes by the end of next year, I am not sure I could do it.  My goal is to make two new garments a month.  Which is actually a lot when you consider the labor that goes into it.  Plus, I am planning to sew a few things for Susan, so some months I may not make as much for me as I would like.

So I hope you will all encourage me as I do this.  I am not really afraid of dresses, skirts or blouses.  But I am currently very afraid of pants and anything that involves buttons.  So I resolve to make a few garments that include those things by the end of the year.