Why I've been MIA, and where this blog might go from here:

So, I ended up taking a significant break from blogging. Not just from this blog, but even from my family/friends blog. It just sort-of happened.

In truth, I only took a break from blog-writing, not from blog-commenting, because it's really easy to read and comment on blogs from my iphone on the bus to/from work. But I have been trying VERY hard to cut back on the blog-commenting, and on the number of blogs I frequent... because this blog-reading thing can seriously take over your life, dudes. Struggler and Sallymandy have already expostulated brilliantly on any points I would like to make on the subject, so that's all I'm going to say about that.

I had this huge post prepared in my mind, in which I was going to explain all the events and circumstances leading up to my blogging hiatus, the things that I did during my blogging hiatus, and the stuff I needed to accomplish before I could get back to blogging, but blah, blah, blah... boring. The reasons were numerous (mostly having to do with excessive amounts of work), but no one reason was dramatic enough to be worth delving into. Dang, I hate it when I end a sentence with a preposition, don't you?

The biggest realization to came out of this hiatus is that I didn't really miss posting to Circle of Clothes. I missed posting to my family/friends blog, Tequilatrek (which totally sounds like it's geared toward family and friends, right?), but didn't miss posting to this one. I'm think that's a sure sign that it's time for a change.

So, here are some resolutions/conclusions/reminders that I got out of this realization:

• Circle of Clothes is not, nor has it ever really been, a "daily outfit" blog. Ladies such as these (each word links to a different blog... yeah, totally lame, I know) already do that, and much better than I ever could. I adore and am devoted to their blogs, but I don't want to post my outfits every day. I'd much rather watch them do it.
• But I still want to share outfits that make me feel fabulous, or outfits that achieve new levels of creativity and/or nuttiness.
• I'm no longer going to bother listing where each article in a posted outfit comes from. I started doing that because it seems to be de rigeur for fashion/clothing blogs. But whatever, I don't usually care where stuff comes from, and it's a timesuck. So if you want to know where something I'm wearing came from, just ask.
• I find joy in making clothing and other textile-based articles for myself and others, as well as refashioning old clothing into items new-to-me. I possess mad sewing/patternmaking/designing skills, not just because of what I do for a living, but mainly because, for as long as I can remember, bringing forth new creations with my hands and mind has been a part of who I am. I enjoyed showcasing such projects during my four months as a member of Wardrobe Refashion. Since I chose not to renew my Wardrobe Refashion membership for now, I'm instead going to share posts of that nature here.
• I LOVE fashion/clothing blog challenges, so I'll still be using this space to participate in those. I'd also like to dream up a challenge of my own. That's something I've been thinking about for months now.
• I named this blog "Circle of Clothes" because I love being part of a global community (mostly women) united by a common interest in the art of daily dress. I'd like to find a way to return to that theme. Suggestions are welcome.
• As I originally intended when I started this blog, and as stated in the blurb at the top of this page, I'm going to "share whatever else I feel like sharing." Neener-neener.

So tomorrow, I'll share what I wore this past week for Jane's Capsule Wardrobe Challenge. She graciously extended the deadline for posting, which is great, because it allowed me to put this lengthy self-indulgent message up first. Nothing I came up with for the challenge was even remotely groundbreaking, but it feels like the perfect way to resume my participation in this creative and supportive online community. Plus, I'll get to share a bit of refashioning I did for it.

But for now, I'll leave you with some not-even-remotely-fashionable photo highlights of some happier moments from the past few months.

Sorry about the crotch shot.

You can still see us, right?

Dork-tastic! Sporting my signature superhero pose, I'm wearing the beer-cooling contraption I made for this contest.

That's me in the leopard-print with the American flag, participating in this awesome awareness-raising event.

Hey, there's the other half of that leopard-print. Hours before our departure from Jamaica, you can see how un-tanned we managed to get. No skin cancer here, folks! Maybe my husband's blue hair helped to keep it at bay...