Liebster award

I was given the nomination of the Liebster award by Meg over at Made by Meg (I was so pleasantly surprised, thank you!) which is an award given to lesser-known (usually people with fewer than 200 followers) bloggers to show them off and spread them round (:
I haven’t discovered any underground blogs that are not well known already but as soon as I come across some inspiring blog I’ll make sure you get a piece of it.
Meanwhile check out this great blog “I give 2 hoots” that collects sewers as those who are making a positive impact on the fashion industry. What a

And now my answers to Meg’s questions:

A bit about you - where are you from and do you have a favorite local sewing store? Can I come visit? (Ok, you don't have to answer that last part.)
I’m from Estonia. We have some fabric stores and the variety of fabrics has developed but surely the assortment is better where You are (:

How do you choose your fabrics? Do you go with what catches your eye? Have something in mind when you go? Or shop for certain fabric weights or colors?
Of course I go for the fabrics that catch my eye and feel nice against the skin.. you can’t wear something that itches or makes you feel uncomfortable. Then I think through what can I make of it (but sometimes the print is just so exciting that I take enough to make a maxi dress, then I have the freedom to choose what to make afterwards). Sometimes, when I want to make something in black or white, I have the design ready before I go to the store because I can be sure I can find something that suits the design.

Are you a cautious, measure-twice-cut-once type of sewist or are you the throw-it-up-on-the-dress-form, make-it-up-as-you-go type of girl?
Every time I start a new project I’m the measure-twice-cut-once type of sewist but as the project develops I tend to become more of a throw-it-up-on-the-dress-form, make-it-up-as-you-go type of girl.

What is your favorite thing you've ever made (show me!).
I’d like to believe that my favorite thing is yet to come.. (: Otherwise I could pack my bags.

What was the most DISASTROUS thing you've ever made and why? (You don't have to, but of course we'd all like to see that as well!)
I think my first projects were all disastrous because I couldn’t sew very well and it took me so long that the excitement of the project wore off.

Do you primarily sew special garments for your wardrobe (dresses, jackets...) or do you try to make everything yourself (underwear, t-shirts...)? How's that going?
Lately I have tried to make everything myself (that I can), when I’m in stores and like a garment I always think if I can make it myself, if I can, I won't buy it. So far I’ve made coats, jackets, dresses, trousers, skirts, t-shirts and lingerie.

Would you say you've found your personal style? Or do your tastes constantly evolve so that what you made last year doesn't work for you any more? Any tips on that front?
I think I have found a way for myself but it changes slightly from time to time.. It changes more with the seasons, in winter I like darker and sparklier thing, spring is more for flowers and cute blouses, in summer I tend to like lighter colors and flowy things and autumn is for deeper colours like mustard yellows, deep reds and blues.

What decade other than now most closely inspires your (current) personal style?
I take inspiration where I can get it, so I can’t say that there is a specific decade that I like.

Have you ever sewn for others? Did they appreciate it? Did it fit?
We had school projects where we had to sew for others, so I made a jacket and a skirt for my mother and a coat, vest and trousers for my boyfriend. They had to fit well because we were under constant supervision.. I have also made dresses for others but I mostly sew for myself.

What is your day job/day-to-day life like? Are you an all-around creative or is this your artistic outlet?
Currently I’m still a student and I pass my days writing and making my thesis work.
A little sneak preview of what I'm concentrating on right now:

I know all your friends are telling you to get into the sewing business. Do you ever have aspirations to start your own handmade-related venture?
Well.. It would only be possible if you had a strong and big clientele and making collections two or more times a year isn’t that appealing to me. Lets see what the future has in store for me..

Roosajad

Näib, et olen jõudnud tagasi väikese tüdruku ikka. Enese lapsepõlvest ei mäleta küll erilist roosa-armastust ehkki unistasin salamisi ikka ühest sädelevast baleriini-seelikust. Nüüd, vanemas eas, pole see roosa, mis meeltmööda, enam nii erk ja sädelev, pigem ikka selline tuhmim ja kulunud. Just sellised roosad on kuhjas mu niigi lookas kangariiulil, et neist saaks pluuse, seelikuid ja muid ilusaid õmmelda, mõned plaanid mul juba on..

Feels like I’m a little girl again. I don’t remember loving pink much from my childhood but I used to dream about a sparkling pink tulle skirt. The pink I’m into now is not that intense and a bit old-looking. These are the pink fabrics that are taking space on my stuffed fabric-shelf. One day I will make something beautiful out of them, I already have some plans..

from http://facehunter.blogspot.co.uk

Juukselips

Lipsu kangas on sama, mis sellel voltidega pluusil, mille tõmbab kokku must sametpael. Mõned lipsud peavad olema lihtsalt igaksjuhuks võtta. Peab mõne väiksema ka tegema..

Every now and then a girl just needs a bow. This bow is made out of the same fabric as this pleated blouse and pulled together with a velvet ribbon. I guess I have to make some smaller ones too..

Lipsu all on samuti sametist pael.

The clip is also covered with a velvet ribbon.

Tükike sügistaevast talve lõppu

Kuna viibin oma kodust ning õmblusmasinast eemal mõneks ajaks, ei jõua ma nendel vähestel kodus oldud hetkedel küll midagi valmis õmmelda, kuigi väga tahaks. Aga seeeest jõuan teha väikeseid muudatusi ja kaevata üles vanu tegusid.
Ostsin selle sügistaevakarva meriinovillase kampsuni 1 euroga, lisasin talle mõned kuldsed täpid ja näebki veidi uhkem välja. Ja issand kui soe!

As I have to be away from home and my sewing machine for a month, I won't be able to sew for a while. But I have time to do some remakes and dig up little things I have done earlier.
I bought this jumper made from merino wool for 1 €, added a bunch of golden spots and suddenly it felt a bit more expensive. And warm as hell!

Volditud/Pleated

Päris täpselt ei mäletagi, kuidas need voldid mul pähe tekkisid, kuid lahti neist ma enam ei saanud ning mul ei jäänud muud üle, kui hakata konstrueerima ja õmblema. Oi, kuidas ma end kõige selle käigus siunasin, sest kangas oli rohkem kui lihtsalt isepäine. Mis sirgena sai lõigatud, need sirgeks ei jäänud. Aga valmis ta sai ja oli see vast õnn.

I can’t remember where did the idea of a pleated shirt come from, but somehow it stuck in my head and got me constructing and sewing. The fabric had a mind of its own and oh, how I secretly damned myself during all this process. When I finally finished it, I was more than pleased.

Lingerie

Kui pesuprojekti käigus selgus, et teha tuleb ka toode, millel on modelleeritud rinnaosa, sattusin kergelt paanikasse – olin astunud täiesti tundmatusse. Lõige oli juba õnneks varem valmis tehtud ja poes sattus juhuse läbi ka sobilike korvide otsa, niiet terve rinnahoidja tegu osutus oodatust ääretult palju lihtsamaks. Ilmselt kõige raskemaks oligi kõikide vajalike detailide ettenägemine, sest mul ei jaguks ilmselt sõrmi üleslugemaks mitu korda olin sunnitud uuesti poode külastama, sest mingi detail jäi ostmata. Edaspidi olen targem.
Aluspüksid valmisid viimasel hetkel ja etteplaneerimata. Kui mõelda vaid, milliseid ilusaid pitse poeriiulitel leidub, siis ei jää muud üle kui edaspidi jätkata endale ise pesu õmblemist, nii imelihtne on see. Ja nagu paljud meist avastasid, said aluspükstest suurepärased isetehtud jõulukingid!

When I was told during the lingerie project that we had to make a real bra, I got a bit anxious – this was a foreign land for me. Luckily I had made a pattern earlier and found some nice cups from a fabric store.
Panties were done at the last minute. I was amazed how much beautiful laces we have in our shops. I think I’ll be sewing my own underwear from now on as it was so unbelievably easy. And as many of us discovered - perfect self-made Christmas presents!

Black playsuit

Ammune väike idee leidis lõpuks pesuprojekti raames teostuse. Ülejäänud maailmas 70ndatel populaarsust kogunud ja 2006 taasleitud. Kuigi see jumpsuit’i väike sõber loetakse pigem pesu sekka, ei ole mina veel otsusele jõudnud, kas veedand temaga suvel ka tänavatel aega või võtan hoopis voodisse kaasa. Eks elu näitab.
See konkreetne isend koosneb ülipehmest puuvillast ja natukene läbipaistvamast kunstsiidist, kinnituseks uhke kuldne iludus.

This is an idea from long ago that I managed to make real during a project. For the rest of the world known for being popular in the 1970s and since 2006 has had a resurgence in mainstream fashion. Although it’s a little friend of jumpsuits it’s usually thought as an item of lingerie. I’m not sure yet if I will be walking on the streets with it during summer or taking it to bed instead..
This playsuit is made of unnaturally soft cotton and see-through rayon with a golden button to keep it on.