This month I discovered American lexicographer Erin McKean via an entertaining presentation that she did for TED. You can see in the video that she's wearing a fantastic frock, and it so turns out that she's also a dressmaker and the author of A Dress a Day.
The upshot? I've been motivated to buy a dress pattern: this one (it's called a "duro"). Haven't made anything for years, but why not start with something simply gorgeous? Think I'll make it my project for late March/April.