Out With the Old or "A Ditcher's Dilemma"

Some decisions are hard to make.

The Daily Ditch Returns!

I can't explain it but for some reason I am very magnetic to stuff.

Taking the Japanese Pattern Challenge, More Ditching + My New Boots!

Let's start with the boots, shall we?

As an American, I am very vulnerable to the phrase "40% off."  And the word "Nordstroms."  Add "Free Shipping" and I am helpless.

"For the Princess in Every Man!" + Reworking an Old Shirt

Whatever happened to princess seams in menswear?

Good-bye, Blue Lady

Readers, if I'm a little emotional right now, you'll understand.

The Declutterer's Dilemma: When to Donate? When to Sell?

The more I ditch, the more I realize this is not just about a book here, an old scarf there.  I would honestly like to be rid of more than half the things I own!

Thursday Ditch and B*tch

Thursday and still ditching.  Not the most productive day of my life, but not the least either.  Plus, who says you always have to be productive?

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back or "Curbside Sewing Machine SCORE!"

Day 3 of ditching and I've experienced a setback, readers!

Out With the Old, In With the New???

Tuesday -- Day 2 -- and the ditching continues.

This oversized black hat makes me look like a guy who might sell you camera equipment at B&H Photo, let's leave it at that.  Off to the Salvation Army it goes! 

The Return of the Daily Ditch or "Get it OUT"

Friends, I know it may seem strange to follow a post about finding treasures in the trash with one about tackling my increasingly overwhelming clutter, but so be it.

Clutter, you ain't licked me yet!

The downside to being a person who finds most of his possessions in the street, the dumpster, the thrift store, or the flea market, is that when you actually have to buy something new in a store, you can experience sticker shock.

The Ditching Begins (again) + Which Sewing Machine Goes?

Greetings, born-again declutterers!

We are starting the new year right here at MPB, digging through the detritus and dumping, dumping, DUMPING.  As you know, my energy for these kinds of purges isn't always there, so when it is, the best bet is to ride if for all it's worth.

Revisiting Vinyl

Readers, you are to be forgiven if you assume that today's blog post is about my three-plus yards of faux snakeskin, which has been sitting in my fabric stash for nearly two years now.  I am still waiting for the perfect project for it and I don't think it will be Prachee's dress.

Sewing and Slowing

Readers, to everything there is a season, blah, blah, blah.

And this season is turning out to be a distracting one.  The cabaret show Michael wrote opens at the end of the month (and closes two days later, for now) and it's been a long time since I've had to learn lines.  I may need an off-stage prompter.  

Peter's Saturday "Ditch 'n B*tch"

Friends, today I'd like to take a break from sewing men's boxer shorts and return to something we all can relate to: The Daily Ditch!

Please don't think I wasn't ditching this week during the sew-along, because I was.  And would you believe there is still more ditching to come?  Decluttering my apartment is very much like digging a subway in Rome: you unearth ancient Roman ruins, only to find Etruscan ruins underneath, and then you're digging up dinosaur bones and pieces of Fred Flintstone's old car.

Self-sewn Trash

I'm on a roll, readers, oh, am I on a roll!

Yesterday I asked you about the challenge of ditching home-sewn garments, as opposed to throwing away ready-to-wear.  Well, I've discovered that it's not that hard.  There are three key questions one must ask oneself:

Time to think about underwear + A Ditch in Time...

Readers, it's nearly October, which means it's almost time for the MPB Men's Boxers Sew-Along to begin!  Our start date is this coming Monday, October 3rd.  Where did the time go? 

You don't need a lot of supplies to make boxers, just some fabric, thread, elastic, and a sewing machine.  Hopefully you already have these.  If not, there's still time to get them!

"Out with the Old, In with the New" + CONTEST!

Readers, I'm not a fan of dogmatic people, and I would hate to come across as one.  My Daily Ditch© method of personal transformation does create miracles, but it's important to allow a few things into your life, too -- otherwise, you'll have nothing left to ditch.  Think about it.

Happiness is a Clean Sewing Table

This may not look like anything to brag about to you, neat readers, but for me this is as good as it gets.  I can actually see the table under my sewing machines!

Two sewing machines GONE + Street Fair Madness!

Readers, after a solid week of Daily Ditches, yesterday I was ready to put my willpower to the ultimate test: the fantastic London Terrace Street Fair that takes place every September just down the block from my apartment.  Could I go there and come back with nothing?  The short answer is no.  But while I didn't pass the test with flying colors, I think I earned a solid B+.  First let's back up a bit.