So What Else Have I Been Up To?

One (of many) of the frustrating things about social media is that there are simply too many platforms and it's extremely time-consuming to participate in more than a few.

I find Instagram (where I'm @peterlappin) to be much more spontaneous (i.e, faster and easier) than a blog, which is why I'm most active there these days.

Instagram doesn't allow for the same level of discussion (although discussions do occur) and doesn't foster as much of a sense of community as this blog does, alas, but I still enjoy it.  I'm no longer active on BurdaStyle, Pattern Review, or YouTube, and Twitter is largely an afterthought.  Don't even mention Kollabora or Tumblr. 

I have begun contributing to Threads magazine though their subscription online newsletter, the Threads Insider.  I'm writing a series of how-to articles, which began this month (see top pic).  It's fun and truly a privilege to be in such great company.  Are you familiar with it?

In other news, thank you for the dozens of excellent comments regarding embroidery machines from my last post.  I have decided to hold off purchasing one for the time being, though I haven't entirely abandoned the idea.  Space in my apartment being at the premium it is, I don't know where I would put even a small-ish one.  Also, I fear it would require a good amount of time to master and there are other things I might (i.e., ought to) be doing instead.

I'm currently deeply involved in the second (of five) classes in the Haute Couture certificate program at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).  This semester we've been tackling beading, ribbon flowers, passementerie (decorative braid and the like), embroidery, and much more.  It's a lot of material and, while it's great to gain a working knowledge of what these techniques involve and how they can be applied, there isn't enough time to truly master any of them, though I've learned how to make a decent grosgrain ribbon rose.

I'm continuing my private client work, where I've been creating everything from bridal wear to faux fur coats.  It's challenging and fun, and the only downside is that I'm less motivated to sew for myself -- in fact I have, at this moment, almost no interest at all.  Of course things do go in cycles so who knows what my sewing mojo may be like tomorrow.  But there's a reason relatively easy-to-fit people buy jeans on Amazon instead of sewing their own, even people who could sew their own.  It's. Just. Easier.

In closing, I do hope you'll join me on Instagram, where today we're exploring the mystery of something advertised as "Slenderella" in women's fashion magazines of the 1950's.  Creepy!

Have a great day, everybody!