Author: heianhaven

I’ve certainly had my fill of them with the hitoe and the project in general. Currently I’m still a bit upset with myself for managing to not publish yesterday’s post. I thought I did, but, apparently not. I didn’t publish poems either. I must have been really tired.

Mistakes are only worth it if you learn something, so I’m reaching for lessons today. Like, I have an easier time getting everything published at night if I start the post earlier in the day so it’s just editing and publishing instead of writing out the whole thing on top of that. Ooh, that sounds like breaking things down into smaller tasks, also a valuable lesson.

Silver linings are Lovely but there are still clouds Darkening the day

Hard learned lessons have the sting Of consequences in them.

I set a goal of finishing the hitoe for today (collar tuck and sleeves), but I’m finding myself drawn back to my documentation. I hope to accomplish something with both as I have learned not to turn down inspiration when it comes. And I had an idea that may clean up the flow of the documentation, so that’s what I’m chasing in my edits today.

The documentation edits were mostly technical, cleaning up footnotes and working on their formatting and rereading how to format the bibliography, how to cite a webpage, that kind of thing. The flow was pretty much already there as I had wanted it, so I did a streamlining edit. I like the way it’s shaping up.

I did manage to get the tuck put in and top stitched. It was trickier than I expected to get the folds in just the right places so that it matched up with the diagrams. I actually thread marked the tuck so I could press it in. I haven’t thread marked anything, ever. Of course I knew how to, it’s just stitching through the fabric so it’s not hard, but it made the task infinitely easier and I didn’t end up with chalk lines on the right side of the fabric. Bonus that I was able to pull the thread marking and then reuse the thread for the tuck stay stitching.

Frequently, ladies Rush the seasonal colors Ever so slightly.

Then why this disappointment That winter has hurried so?

Late this afternoon I finished that project and delivered it. The recipients were ecstatic. I promptly celebrated by cleaning. And there will be more cleaning tomorrow, but for today, everything is tidy enough.

Now back to that collar…

Time management is something I struggle with. I frequently lose. I’m feeling a lot of pressure right now, and I doubt it will let up until everything is done or the competitions are over or both.

I took on what I thought was a small, fun (paid) project. It’s eaten incredible amounts of time and I may never take on another project like it. And there’s still the chance that all the money, time and work I’ve put into it could be for naught if it fails during assembly tomorrow. Ugh. I definitely did not set the price right.

I certainly didn’t have the time to take that project on. It’s a hard lesson.

Progress update: stitching has begun on the collar.

Today has been another day of multiple poems. A pair on the same subject. I think they read better opposite the order they were written:

Emotions drawn out By an unexpected glance At an old photo

Suddenly drawn back in time Wishing you were with me now

***

Several years have passed And your picture still brings tears My quiet daughter

I miss your big soft brown eyes The sound of paws on the floor

I’ll openly admit that it took approximately two and a half years to make the two small cuts into the silk to open the garment so the collar can be attached. It felt that way at least.

I’m also having a beast of a time getting the collar pinned on. I haven’t gotten so frustrated I’ve flung it in the floor, but I’m seriously considering turning the light out in the room it’s in.

…grumble…

The poems are coming along nicely. I’ve had multiple days with multiple poems in the past week. It’s definitely becoming easier to write them. Not that they’re all gold or even close, but I’m enjoying the mental exercise.

Some days words tumble And splash across the blank page Like so much spilled ink

I stand transfixed by the speed Of my completed poems.

Ok. Half pinned in. Specifically the right side is pinned. Bending over the table is unpleasant after all the snow shoveling yesterday, so I’m having to take breaks, and the process is taking forever. Plus it’s fiddly. Super fiddly.

Left side pinned. It may not look like much but it was more than three hours work.

Tomorrow I’ll stitch it on.

Buried beneath a Blanket of deep, cold, white snow The grass is still green

What awesome wonders are found Hidden below the surface

It snowed. A lot. There has been much shoveling.

I’ve been refreshing myself on Turabian. I’d really like for my documentation to be as top notch as it can be, so I’m going with what I know and also what lets me use superscripts for footnotes because I like the tiny sized numbers. They’re cute. And unobtrusive.

And I am hardcore procrastinating on this collar. Ugh.

I was just given a wonderful gift. I was due to take care of a dear friend’s kitties while they were out of town. She just released me from the task specifically so I would take a day off. Tremendous act of love and I am very grateful. She also reminded me that sometimes procrastination happens because you need a break.

Anticipation Of the silence, the quiet The hush as it falls

This evening a gift of snow The world covered in magic

Today was supposed to be for the collar. I swear I meant to do it.

I started by reviewing the diagrams and the translated instructions. The next thing I know it’s six hours later and I’ve reworked my documentation to incorporate what I’ve learned and address more of the comments from its previous review.

I really hope this is the last major revision and that it will just be updates from now on. I even settled on footnotes as my citation style. Why footnotes? Not sure, other than I really like them. It’s like a gentle “ahem, more knowledge below” without making you flip all the way to the end (I dislike endnotes).

So tomorrow will be collar day…

Glittering sunbeam Shining through jewel toned curtains Brightening the room

Most welcome is your warm light Spilled across the hardwood floor

The sleeves are now finished and ready to be attached. Tomorrow is collar day.

I was about to start attaching the collar when I realized I had not pressed a single seam.

Oops.

I tried the Japanese technique for it, the crease is just over the stitch line so the stitch line is hidden. Yeah, I’ll need practice on that. For now I’m satisfied with pressing the seams the directions I’m supposed to based on the instructions on the Nuikata.

And I decided to not do the collar today. I’m working on the sleeves instead. So far I have it stitched at the bottom and am just passed halfway around for the roll hem on the back or body side of the sleeve.

I don’t think I’ll finish tomorrow, but the hitoe is getting very close to complete.

Some days words flow like Wine at a feast, unceasing, Intoxicating

Temperance is no virtue, Drink deep this inspiration.