Liebster Award

I recently got the Liebster Award from Meg who blogs over at Made By Meg. I've been following her for a long time now, I love her style and the projects she takes on. She recently ventured into bra-making, and I was very envious of the awesome wax coats she made both her boyfriend and herself! Thanks so much for this award Meg!

The Liebster Award is given by peers to bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. It's a great way to introduce some incredible but lesser-known blogs: I've picked up a few from Meg's list just now. It's been going around for about a year now, and even though it seems everyone has had it once, it's still very nice to get. And new blogs keep popping into existence so in that sense there will always be new people to award. When you get the award, you're supposed to chose 11 of your favorite bloggers and ask them 11 questions. I know I didn't follow the rules last time, so I thought it's be nice if I at least tried this time :)

So let's start with answering Meg's questions:

1. 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.)
Well I'm from Groningen, the Netherlands. I was born two hours south from here but moved North to study philosophy, 10 years ago. We have one fabric store that is not my favourite :) And yes you should, we'll go grab a beer (or two :)!
2. 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?
I used to buy whatever caught my eye, but that left me with lonely pieces that did not go with anything else. Nowadays I try to plan my wardrobe and search for fabrics that go with other I already have, usually with a pattern already in mind.
3. 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?
I used to be very much the latter, but I'm turning a bit more in the former. A bit, not entirely :) Ofcourse if you want to make a good pattern for others to use, you have to be meticulous!
4. What is your favorite thing you've ever made (show me!).
It tends to be the last thing I made. I'm wearing the 90's sweater right now! But my favourite older piece is still the perfect blouse.
5. 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!)
Well just look at my first blogposts, hehe. I had no idea what I was doing. I'm glad that didn't keep me from going on! The most recent disaster was a maxi skirt I made last year.
6. 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?
I haven't made underwear yet, but I do like to make basic stuff too. I haven't made much dresses because I don't wear that many. I don't have a lot of time for projects of my own so I'd rather sew something visible rather than underwear.
7. 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?
My style has only started evolving when I started sewing. Before that I just wore jeans and T-shirts. I feel like my style is settling now. I hope it does because it would be much better for the durability of the things I sew.
8. What decade other than now most closely inspires your (current) personal style?
Can't lie: I like the 80's and 90's. But also the great detailing and innovative design features of 20's and 30's dresses. Although I would never wear an actual dress like that.
9. Have you ever sewn for others? Did they appreciate it? Did it fit?
Yes I have, my boyfriend and he loves the stuff I sew for him. But I made sure I was confident enough that I could sew up to his standards. I waited for a year before I was ready.
10. What is your day job/day-to-day life like? Are you an all-around creative or is this your artistic outlet?
This is my outlet. For four days a week I am a project manager at an algaefarm. Yes, I grow that slimey stinky green stuff. I am self-employed, and I love the freedom it gives me. I'd still rather devote all my time to sewing and pattern making though! As you might have read I'm busy finishing my first pattern. I have to work with the algae until mid September, and after that I'll be a full time pattern designer! We'll also start our big journey with the firetruck in October, so I'm very much looking forard to being a traveling designer!
11. 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, people do say that a lot indeed. It wasn't until I realized I could do that by other means than sewing for others that I started thinking about designing patterns.

OK so I am going to break the rules a bit. I have only six people to nominate because I don't follow that many bloggers. I nominate them ofcourse because I like their style, but a big part is also their personality. I love it when a bloggers personality is expressed through their blog and you just get the feeling that you could be friends.

Ingemaakt & Love Teach Sew - two fellow Dutch speakers. We should organise ourselves a meetup, ladies!

Annette Tirette & Me.Anna Two neighbours but from different countries. Anneke lives in Brussels and uses fabrics with bold prints, something I don't do but she rocks them. Like her recent Nani Iro Cambie dress. Me. Anna blogs about all kinds of craft projects, and also gives you a weekly sneakpeek of her life through her 7 sachen series.

A view into my world Louise sews and knits things I want to wear. This lady sits just outside the box and that's what I like.

Masustak Eguzkitan & Sky Turtle - Both ladies from the very south of Europe. I probably should not pile them together because Maider is from Basque (her language baffles me!) and Ina lives in Barcelona. Maider just turned an ugly Burda pattern into a very cool cape! I love Ina's thoughtful blogposts about planning her wardrobe and philosophizing, about the definition of personal style for instance.

Ladies I'll keep this casual: if you want feel free to answers the questions above, if not just know that your blogs inspire me! I hereby welcome you to the Liebster club :)