crazed sewer

The Menswear Coat Continues

2012-01-17T16:18:00.000-05:00

Well of course it does, one doesn't make a coat in a couple of hours. Especially me, I'm slow and deliberate and I analyze everything way too much. Here's the stack of books I'm using to help me on my way.

Already, I've done some things (or not done some things) wrong. I'm glad I have all the books and each time I go through the different ones, I find cool things to do, like this pocket.

My one word of advice is to staystitch your pieces immediately. I didn't and I have stretching. It's minimal and I can mitigate it but it's an extra step in a long process that didn't need any extra steps.

I'm also taking a handbag class online here. I've actually been watching all the videos and I think I could skip to intermediate but because there are some core concepts that I don't have a good handle on, the beginner class is my best bet. I got some home dec fabric to make a cute tote, hopefully to bring with me to the PR weekend this spring. I know I'll need a bag to tote all of my junk that I'm going to need back to the apartment. I also have some great leather pieces that I want to use with the fabric. I'll have to start working on my design.

Speaking of design, has anyone used sketchup for that kind of thing? I started playing with it yesterday, that's a good way to design a bag, I think. I'll know more once I get better at it. Louie told me about it and we were messing with it over the holidays. He's doing the specs for Hamish's dog house. Poor dog hates coming in but can't stay out all winter long, like now, it's raining pretty significantly and all he wants to do is go outside and sit in it.

Being that it is raining and I don't have to take dogs on any treks this afternoon, I can hopefully get a lot done on the coat. I expect to at least have it all interfaced and taped. I'm not sure about all the hand stitching, this coat doesn't have a lapel so I needn't worry about all that padstitching. I'm waiting on the lining fabric until I have it basically assembled and can see how much the whole thing weighs, if it feels oppressively heavy, I won't use Kasha lining but he did say he wanted it to be warm and warm is what he'll get. Wish me luck, I want to make this coat and get on to sewing my SWAP.

Rag Dolls and Menswear

2012-01-08T13:33:00.000-05:00

Well, I still haven't gotten my twin made. We were all ready to do it over Christmas but we couldn't find the DVD and no one wanted to commit to the project without the DVD (me=scared, mick=freaked out). I ordered a new one and we'll be watching it soon and the wrapping begins.

I completed the muslin that I was to give to Mick for Christmas. He tried it on, it was too small so we know to go up a size. Louie tried it and it was pretty darn close. After thinking about it, he needs a new coat and I wanted something to sew. I just cut the fashion fabric out yesterday. He wants it super warm so I'll underline with flannel or maybe thinsulate (???). I love working with wool, it's so malleable. I'm very pleased, at least I'm actually involved in a good project.

Nope I really haven't been sewing. I've been working on FashFab and doing this Primal Blueprint thing. When I wasn't doing that, I was fixing my broken house. Sadly, the only thing I can say I've actually made was a pair of pajama pants for Mick and three rag dolls. Of course, I've made rag doll clothes (just a Christmas outfit, I mean if you're gonna go there, you might as well make the whole trip!). I'm normally not a doll making person, in fact, I used to deride doll makers but no longer. Not because I've fallen in love with dolls or doll making though. It is actually a fun process which is why they ended up with Christmas outfits. See, I have a little neighbor who is 8 and likes to hang out with me. I'm teaching her how to sew. Julie came over one day to show me her latest medium (she's an amazing artist) and it was those little tiny, tiny Edith Flack Ackley dolls. Pippa (my little neighbor) saw the dolls and Julie encouraged her to draw on it and try to make one herself. As a person who wants nothing more than to see every household in America take their sewing machines out of the closet and stitch up some clothes, I was thrilled. Of course I would help, trouble was, I didn't know how to make one so she and I worked through it together. It was super fun. Pippa loves using my Featherweight, it's the perfect machine for a little kid, I wish I'd had one of those when I was her age, she's really good at using it too. She made a little doll that looks like her and I made a big doll that looked like me. She named her doll Mrs. (latest celebrity boy crush) so I named mine Mrs. (latest non-celebrity husband crush) Mick. Well, of course it just spiraled out of control from there. If there were a Mrs. Mick doll shouldn't there be a Mr. Mick? I was working on them on vacation with Louie so we thought it would be fun to include the "Louie" in the mix. It was so ridiculous! Here we are three middle aged people playing with rag dolls at the beach house. But if you hung out with us, you know that we are goofy to our core. I have a Star Trek phone cover & I love the BeeGees/Peter Frampton travesty called "Sgt. Pepper's LonelyHearts Club Band". (dammit, that should have been our christmas movie!)

Anyway, Louie kept calling his doll the serial killer. Because the hair wasn't right at all, it didn't have a face or clothes yet and yeah, it's creepy--especially when we've attached an identity to it. I wanted to surprise Louie at Christmas with his doll all dressed up like a Christmas elf. Then I thought "well, if he's gonna be a Christmas elf, then Mr. Mick should be Santa and Mrs. Mick, the Holiday fashion girl". I really hadn't planned to go that far but by the time I was hand stitching a teeny tiny set-in sleeve, I knew all hope was lost and I might as well surrender fully. I finished on Christmas Eve night and here they are.

Mrs. Mick, Mr. Mick, Mr. Louie

Libby looks a lot like the grinch, no?

Ingredients Have Arrived

2011-12-13T13:47:00.002-05:00

Well, it looks like I'm all set with everything I need to complete my dress form. The foam arrived the other day in 4(!?) containers. I'll first need to get Mick to wrap me in plaster bandages, then cut me out of said bandages and then, I suppose, pour the foam. I would be doing it right now except Mick is on the roof attempting to finish fixing the leak that we thought he'd already fixed. My guest room looks like this:

and I'll have out of town visitors in about 10 days. Yup, I'll be doing the drywall repair and the room repainting, Mick's too busy for that. I have a feeling that dressform won't be realized until after Christmas.

Mick's decided that he would like a car coat for this season so I'll be creating a muslin version of Burda 7780. He said he wanted to make it himself so, I'll wrap the muslin

for under the tree. He and I will have some time together while I teach him how to sew, get annoyed with him, give up and ultimately do it myself.

Yesterday I made beef jerky for us and I tested a batch of Jelly Shots (Cosmopolitans) for a party this weekend. Good thing I tested. I can't get them out of the molds. Now, what to do with all these jelly shots that didn't come out right?????

Also there's the SWAP at Stitcher's Guild which kicks off on December 26th. I'm actually really quite excited about that. I haven't done a swap since the one that inspired this blog years ago. I have no idea what I'm going to make but I think I have enough patterns and fabric to come up with something ;~D

No! I AM Going To Sew!

2011-12-01T15:03:00.001-05:00

God, I get on my own nerves. I really, really need some new clothes. All I ever wear in the fall/winter is stretch pants and fleece hoodies. That is sooooo not fashionable. I've decided that, while I am comfy, I should really try a little harder. I mean, there's only so much one can do to brighten up a fleece hoodie stretch pants combo. I've been super reluctant to sew because I have such a hard time fitting myself and I don't want to end up with a nice collection of wadders that I will give away. Two years ago or so (I can't even remember) Mick bought me a MyTwin dressform for Christmas. I was hesitant to order the foam because I figured that I was going to lose weight and I would need a smaller dress form, but now I realize just how riddy that is. I need clothes to fit this body that I've had for at least two years. I just now ordered the foam. It will be here in a week which means that I might actually have something fabulous to wear this Christmas. Wish me luck. Oh, and I plan to document the process of making the form. I'm kind of excited. Maybe this is the kick in the butt that I needed.

Gathering

2011-11-15T19:53:00.001-05:00

I have a cold. I'm really pretty miserable and I haven't been sewing my muslin, I've taken 3 days off. I think I'll be back in the sewing room tomorrow. I read and re-read the instructions. I've picked the fabrics (see, I've already decided to make a second one if the first one comes out well). I've done all I can without actually sitting in front of the machine. One of the techniques used in the making of this dress is gathering and wouldn't you know the featured video on the threads site is one for gathering. Check it out:

Teach Yourself to Sew 2: Three Ways to Gather - Threads

Pattern Company Love

2011-11-12T13:15:00.001-05:00

So yesterday after I was bad mouthing the new Butterick patterns (which I mostly hate), I found the post on Peter's blog about his visit and tour of the McCall Pattern Company. JEALOUS! As much as I bitch and moan about them, I don't know what I'd do without the Big One. I literally would go to Minnesota Fabrics with my mom every Friday after school, she'd get whatever thing she needed and I'd sit down and get lost in the pattern books, pretending to have the wardrobe in the books. It was my own process of determining where I was in the world. A couple of days ago, my little neighbor and his sister were over to visit while their mom went to the doctor. He was explaining to me that he was six years old and that when he turned ten, he'd be a teenager. I understand the logic, I get it. I think I thought the same thing when I was his age until I got to the fabric store. I told my mom that I needed clothing that was appropriate to teenagers and she would kindly point out that as a 10 year old, I only fit into the actual kid clothes patterns. It was a brilliant strategy on her part because she kept me dressing like a kid and when I finally did fit into the adult sized patterns or teen patterns, she had to acknowledge, as much as she might not have wanted to, that I was growing up. It was our own rite of passage and I cherished it. I think people still use their pattern collection as markers of their lives. I still have some of those first patterns from the land of "adulthood". One of which is an Issey Miyake design for separates.

My mom hated it and kept calling it "It's a Mistake" but I thought it was so edgy and cool. I never made it because I couldn't sew that well and she refused but I still have the pattern and see it as a victory of sorts. After that, my style was set. I was into that whole "french schoolgirl" look in the eighties with the dropped waists and fussy details. My mom made a dress that I loved so much, it was one of those Vogue Paris Designer patterns and I wore and got compliments on it even after my dog chewed a hole in the back yoke (it was a print, I did a patch job and wore sweaters). I wish I still had that pattern, I could see wearing that right now. Which brings us to today. I was talking to my pal Julie and she thought this

Simplicity 1939 Cynthia Rowley Collection

dress would look good on me. I've always thought Julie should have been a fashion stylist because that girl has got an eye for style (I wish she'd get on Polyvore,but I digress). Anyway, I wasn't convinced, but she told me someone had reviewed it on PatternReview and on her blog. I thought I'd check. The dress looked great on prttynpnk, much better than the model, plus once she said that her fashion influences were Cheryl Tiegs and Mrs. Slaghoople (Wilma Flintstones MIL) I was hooked. Julie was going to give me her pattern but I picked up two the very next day. One for me and (maybe) one for my fabulous niece. I realized I like the dress so much because it reminds me of my old "french schoolgirl" dress with a different kind of dropped waist and equally fussy details. It makes me wonder if Cynthia Rowley's mom made her that dress back in the day too.

In the meantime, I'm off to muslin. Wish me luck!

Fashion Forward Patterns? Hmm...

2011-11-11T15:36:00.001-05:00

I've recently gotten in a bunch of new fabrics at the store, and as a consequence I have the luxury of contemplating which one to sew next. I started looking at different garment shapes this season and I see some things I like and for which I have the perfect fabric. One thing I have been noticing is the lack of really high fashion patterns available. Is that why everyone is buying and sewing retro and vintage? I spent a long time looking through the new Vogue patterns and I only found a couple which I liked and those aren't really all that interesting. Everything seems a bit dull. Even the designer cocktail dresses seemed a bit MOB

Add to that, some of the more casual wear is just so billowy and not in a good way. Then today, the new Butterick patterns were released. How to say this delicately--they were "dowdy". What the hell?

No offense to McCall Pattern Co., I understand that choosing designer fashions is a business decision, they must appeal to as many customers as possible and by doing that, they really are forced to narrow it's focus to which products tend to sell the most. It's unfortunate but understandable. I really do like several of the looks from the previous release. Really fashion is mostly simple shapes anyway, it's what you do with that shape that makes it interesting. I've been much happier with BurdaStyle magazines offerings lately. It feels like they're paying more attention to fashion. Or maybe the McCall Company needs a photo stylist.

I worry about the home sewing industry and it's future. I want to see more teens sewing. I always felt that having this ability was incredible. It's kept my hands and mind busy, and when I was up to no good, at least I was dressed fabulously. I know fashion is still as big an influence on society as ever and with that, you'd think people would want to perfectly craft their look. I watch Project Runway and I know a bunch of other people do as well and if fashion is so important, why aren't more people wanting to make it their own?? I mean, I window shop online as much as the next guy and I can't imagine having to buy 9 or 10 garments at $200-$300 a pop every season or every year for that matter. I've saved so much money because I sew my own outfits and have my own style. I think it's important to feel like you deserve the best. Even if you can't afford the $450 Adam dress,

adam net-a-porter

it doesn't mean that you can't be just as fashion forward as anybody else.. You know it fits and you know it looks like it was made for you, because it was. And best of all, it costs so much less than even what you could get for poor quality. I have Neiman Marcus taste and there's nothing wrong with that especially when it's on a Target budget.

Spider Mums Silk From Fashionista Fabrics

Rebecca Taylor for Vogue Patterns v1251

That equals out to be about $60. I can't imagine being able to find anything near that price or quality in a store. I'm sorry but Target is just not going to have anything that fabulous for $60. Seriously, how is this not more popular?

Anyway, I say all that to say that I really love sewing and fashion and I hope more people will also love sewing and fashion. I'd like to keep up the conversation about these things that I love, so expect to see more blogging and more sewing.

Rebecca Taylor dress

2011-10-13T18:32:00.001-04:00

Rebecca Taylor dress (see more strapless floral dresses)

Sonia by Sonia Rykiel dress

2011-10-13T18:31:00.001-04:00

Sonia by Sonia Rykiel dress (see more multi color dresses)

Matthew Williamson gown

2011-10-13T18:30:00.001-04:00

Matthew Williamson gown (see more evening gown dresses)

Dress

2011-10-13T18:22:00.001-04:00

Dress (clipped to polyvore.com)

Dress like Harlequin for a Jazzy Outlook on Life

2011-10-13T18:05:00.001-04:00

Dress like Harlequin for a Jazzy Outlook on Life (clipped to polyvore.com)

Sewing Break, Meaning Not Sewing

2011-06-19T19:56:00.004-04:00

Oh woe is me, I didn't finish my dress in time for the deadline over at the Summer Dress Sew-a-long. I had planned to make like 3 or 4 dresses in that space of time and I couldn't even finish one. Well partly that's because I had a million things going on that needed and still need tending to and partly because I thought I'd spend all day Friday sewing but I ended up in the hospital for most of Friday. I'm okay now and from what the nurse told us, everyone who has any kind of respiratory issue was in the hospital this last week. Too much of something in the air I suppose. I was home by Saturday but I was too tired to sew and lucky me, a few friends stopped by to check on me. I love my girls ♥!

But anyway in the meantime, I still have my plans for world dress domination. I mean really, I have to, I've been on a shoe spree so I need something to go with all those shoes. Here's the look that I want to rock this summer The shoes match the purse handle really nicely.

So when I finally finish the world's most fabulous shirtdress to wear with my really cool other new shoes, I will make one more DKNY dress to kick around in all summer.
So cute, right? I absolutely love it, it's simple and classic. And, yes, I already have the shoes to go with it perfectly.

Just so you know, I actually have done some sewing. I made Vogue 1250

Truth be told, I think I have some fit issues that need to be dealt with. Am I going to deal with them? No. I'll just pretend like everything is fine and rock the shoes, regardless. Besides the dress only took like 2 hours to make. I used Londa's technique for the back neck and I hemmed it by hand. I, of course, made Jen try it on and it fit her so much better in the top. I don't know what my deal is, I can make clothes that fit Jen but for some reason, they don't always work on me.

Oh yeah, and as a member of the vast sewing conspiracy, I sent Dos home with one of my spare machines, bobbins, needles and thread and I made Jen promise to get together with me so that she can make her own version of Vogue 1250. YAY!

Wait, You're The What?!?

2011-06-14T21:44:00.002-04:00

So there's a thread over on PR regarding the Facebook pages of the McVoguerick Co. and how the photos of the customer completed garments were acquired. A whole bunch of people, including me, were shocked and voiced our opinion. In fact, I posted three times on the subject. Anyway, I'd been following the thread pretty closely and I thought that maybe the McVoguerick higher-ups had no idea that this was being done or that people were too polite to tell them how they really felt. I called the company headquarters today, the woman I spoke with was helpful and didn't blow me off which I appreciated. She knew she couldn't help me so she sent me to someone who could. When I was transferred I told this woman about the flap over the Facebook pages. She said she'd have the guy who is in charge of that call me when he got back in the office in a couple of hours and she gave me his name. I figured that would be the end of the whole thing and that I'd never get a call back. Color me shocked and surprised when I received a phone call back a couple of hours later not from the guy who supervises the web staff but from the president of the company!! I actually couldn't believe that a CEO of a large company would actually return my call. He was a lovely man and seemed genuinely concerned. He was proactive and ready to try and rectify the situation. We even talked pattern trends for a bit. I was so pleased and amazed, that went a long way for me to know that they actually do listen to and value their customers. Good Job McCall pattern company.

On The Table: V1220

2011-05-18T13:14:00.003-04:00

I started adjusting v1220 last night. It will be really cool made up (I hope). Fashionista Fabrics has the same fabric as in the pattern photo. I'm not sure if I should use that or the pale khaki color sateen. Knowing how messy I am, I should probably follow my better instincts and go with the darker color. Because this is such an interesting shaped pattern, I'm planning on making a muslin. I'm not quite sure if I'm putting the adjustments in the right places and that's pretty important. I'll post pictures of the adjustments later today.

What's Your Sewing Past?

2011-05-16T17:17:00.005-04:00

I was going through some old photos the other day and I happened upon this picture of me taken when I was about 21. I remember we were going to a family reunion dinner and I worked on this dress forever. This was the first designer Vogue pattern I ever sewed by myself. I remember getting the front pieces confused and having to cut them out twice. I used some crappy poly charmeuse from JoAnn and I had re-buy it because I made so many mistakes (I didn't make muslins back then). I don't know why I didn't get my mom to help me, maybe I didn't live at home anymore, who remembers those things. I remember asking my boss (I worked at a shop making dance and skate costumes) and I got the best advice I've ever received as far as sewing is concerned. She said, "just try to make it look like the picture on the cover", BRILLIANT!!!! I was so proud of this dress when I finished it. I recently also found the pattern that I used.

Now that I'm a much more experienced sewer, I see so many things wrong with that dress. The shoulders are droopy, the fabric is fug and what's up with that bulge around my midsection? I still love that I felt like a million bucks in it and I loved wearing it. I don't think I wore it too often since I didn't have many places to wear it but still, LOVED IT! After this, I started making most of my clothes and I had a pretty cute wardrobe back in the day. Suffice it to say, I went clubbing a lot and I always had something fabulous to wear and enough money to buy my own drinks, thank you very much!

So my question to you is this: What's the first thing you made for and/or by yourself of which you were really, really proud? What is the item in your sewing past that burned into your soul and gave you that incredible feeling of empowerment?

I Sewed Something: Vogue 1224

2011-05-08T16:37:00.009-04:00

It's the Tracy Reese dress everyone's been making for spring. The side by side makes me look like a balloon and the model looks deflated, LOL! I wouldn't even try to wear heels with this unless I were wearing leggings. I'm wearing my Isabel Toledo mesh flats here. Cute, huh?

My girl Michelle just made one too from a border print no less, I swear she and I are so similar it's weird. She made hers right when I was making mine and we didn't even talk to each other about it. Seriously, we have planned to make the same dress, but this isn't the one. LOL!

I made mine from a FashFab rayon jersey. I starched it before I started and I only had the smallest piece, I worked the mess outta that piece of fabric! I used a knit lining from spandex house. I wondered whether this really needed the lining and I don't think it does, you really just need the casing. I like the lining though, it adds weight which is nice especially in something this short! I like short skirts but dang!

It was super easy to sew and would be a great beginner project. Because I starched before I cut out, I think my pieces are cut more precisely and my creases are super sharp and defined. I'm a HUGE proponent of pre-starching. I used fusible bias interfacing strips on the hem and on the sleeve hems. It makes a nice sturdy hem.

I think it's kind of cute and funky. I sewed this completely on the sewing machine and not the serger. My serger and I are quarreling. This takes hardly any time to make. That said, it took me about three weeks, but that's because I'm a slow sewer, HA! And after seeing it on, I realize that I should have lowered the waist seam about 2 inches. I added 2" but that was not enough. In order to widen it to fit my measurements, I placed the pattern on the fold and added on the side seams only, I didn't want to make the neckline any wider. It worked out pretty alright.

I like this dress fine but for me, I'm gonna probably wear it mostly as a tunic. Mine is soooo short. Mostly because I was so crazy frugal with the fabric, I barely made it. In fact, the hem has fusible bias interfacing on it, not only because my girl Stephanie told me about it and there was no looking back, but also because, I didn't have enough room for the skirt without nipping into it when I cut it out.

I'm much more comfortable with leggings and my Earth Hype boots.

Here's a shot of the back, mine could have more drape. I would have had to add more width to the back piece, I thought I added enough but if I make this again, I'll probably add a skosh more width for drape.

Next I'm going to make the DKNY dress that everyone's making. from some FASHFAB ponte di roma to wear with my Isabelle Toledo chunky heel sandals.

Challenges

2011-04-12T21:30:00.003-04:00

Anthem anyone?

Love her!

Teach Yourself to Sew: How to Sew a Skirt

2011-02-27T17:46:00.000-05:00

This is one of a series on YouTube put together by Threads Magazine. There are more videos that detail each of the techniques used in constructing this skirt. Now, you can fear not when sewing a skirt.

Catching Up

2011-02-08T15:52:00.005-05:00

OMG! Time flies by lately. I'm taking a bunch of classes at the local community college so I can brush up on some things. No art or sewing classes this time, it's all about the language of numbers. Sadly, a language in which I'm not so well versed.

In the meantime, I sewed up the Jalie Sweetheart top and I gotta say, as much as I love it on other people; it is not cute on me, No! I'll take a picture and do a proper review when I get time this week. It could be that I did it wrong but the 'how' isn't the problem. You'll see when you see the photo.

I was so happy buying all those Vogue patterns and then the new Burda Plus for spring came out. I really love that issue, there are a whole bunch of things in there that I'd like to make.

I traced this out the other day and almost got it cut out of muslin the other night, but I ran out of time. I'm planning on making it out of the berry tweed fabric at FFab. I've been wanting to make a Chanel style jacket out of that fabric for the longest time and I really would like to have some cute clothes to wear to Chicago for the PR weekend.

As it turns out, I only have one pair of pants!?! How did this happen? I made those jeans which I wasn't entirely sure that I liked and now I wear them all the time, mostly because I have nothing else to wear. How did this happen? I swear, I must go through my fall clothes all summer and toss stuff out in a fit of organization and then by the time February rolls around, I realize that I've been wearing one or two pair of pants every day. Wow. So I realize now, that I really must schedule sewing time, or I don't do it. And considering that I make 98% of my wardrobe, I really have to sew. I'm not that good at sticking to a schedule so it's kind of unusual and uncomfortable, but I seem to be getting more done.

Aside from the Vogue looks I want to sew this season, here are the Burda Plus ones I'm diggin'

I especially love this top/dress. I remember having seen it on Pattern Review and on the Miss Celie's Pants blog, it's so casual cute. I like that boat neckline too, sort of a refined peasant blouse. It may make me look like a sack of potatoes, but I have decent shoulders. I'll definitely make this one out of a linen or one of the new cottons.

This shirt is kinda fierce. I like the shirring down the middle. Again, kinda risky but it could be super cute, right?

Of course I love summer dresses. I can see using these all summer.

I like both tunics, it will come down to which design lines are the most flattering, I suppose. And I've been wanting to see something made up from a few cotton prints. I'm trying to decide between this sherbert one or this lively print. What do you think?

I totally love this skirt. It makes me really hope for a good wholesaler for hemp fabric. But I really like the idea of the grey wool gauze that's all airy, it could be cool.

Now the only challenge will be sticking to the sewing schedule...and the exercise schedule and the healthy diet, it's totally doable.

My Winter Uniform

2011-01-19T18:34:00.001-05:00

My Winter Uniform by emelle eau d'why featuring flat heel boots

Oooooooh, New Vogue Patterns!!!

2011-01-14T11:40:00.002-05:00

New Vogue Patterns by emelle eau d'why on Polyvore.com

V1232 | Misses' Dress, Flower and Belt | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue...
voguepatterns.mccall.com

V1221 | Misses' Dress | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue Patterns
voguepatterns.mccall.com

V1233 | Misses' Dress and Belt | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue Patterns
voguepatterns.mccall.com

V1219 | Misses' Dress | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue Patterns
voguepatterns.mccall.com

V8712 | Misses' Pants | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue Patterns
voguepatterns.mccall.com

V1220 | Misses' Dress and Belt | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue Patterns
voguepatterns.mccall.com

V1224 | Misses' Dress | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue Patterns
voguepatterns.mccall.com

V1225 | Misses' Dress | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue Patterns
voguepatterns.mccall.com

V8711 | Misses' Skirt | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue Patterns
voguepatterns.mccall.com

V1223 | Misses' Dress | New Sewing Patterns | Vogue Patterns
voguepatterns.mccall.com

These aren't all of them, but these are my personal favorites. I'm hoping to make up some of these this spring. But my eyes are bigger than my sewing table, we'll see. What do you think, are any of your favorites here? Did I leave something out really cool?

YEAH! I Actually Finished Something!!

2011-01-12T17:30:00.009-05:00

My New Jeans!!!
Jalie 2908 or as they are affectionately known "Rippy Bits" (an homage to Spongebob Squarepants)

So far, so good. I started the idea of these months ago with a jeans making class over at PatternRevew.com. I have to say that even though the class was more for non stretch woven jeans of a different pattern, it was very helpful in making this pair.

I've been wanting to try making jeans for the longest time. Fashionista Fabrics carries the button tack that I used and I got the rivets online but I can't remember from whom. I'll edit when I get the information. I had a ton of jeans stitch thread from YLI purchased from Sandy's Make It Sew and I got a regular brass trouser jeans zipper from Joann's

Making jeans isn't at all hard, but that is not to say that they aren't challenging. It's all about the fit with jeans and while I think these are too big in places and too long in other places, they're a pretty good first attempt. Of course, I made tons of muslins, 4 to be precise, the last of which was finished some months ago. I think my body has changed slighty over that time and, then there's the issue of simply not remembering what I had intended to do when I last made a muslin. Regardless, my body shape is that of the inverted triangle so the changes I have to make are counter to how most trousers are shaped. I start with a smallish hip measurement and the I add on width going upwards (somewhat like the aforementioned Mr. Squarepants). I learned in these that I need to remove some length from the back leg above the crotch curve, probably about 1/2", I also need to then remove a little less length from the back leg above the knee (maybe 1/4"). I need to take some length out of the front above the crotch as well and I need to make the waist and waistband about 3/4" smaller.

But the pattern itself is a dream. I thought it was drafted well, I tapered in the leg so that it was straight instead of boot cut by drawing straight lines from the knee to the hem. My friend Elnora did the embroidery for me from a design I got at Urban Threads. I really enjoyed making these. Jalie does a really good job of going step-by-step. It was super easy to use. There was one section of the instructions which flummoxed me, it was the fly section but I caution you to do it just like how it looks in the illustration and not how you interpret the directions. I ripped these out and put these back together soooooo many times. First I sewed them together to test the fit, then ripped to adjust, then I sewed the topstitched which entailed much ripping and zen thought, then I serged the insides. I would say that at each step, I sewed once for practice, ripped, once for real, once for serger, and once for topstitching. I used 4 sewing machines to put these together, not that it was necessary but I just love, love, love how my new old Singer 401 took on the job of topstitching. It just wasn't even fazed by denim seam intersections, I seriously want to make more just for the topstitching. I used my Janome for the buttonhole because it was easy and I used my old Singer 201 for the seaming and of course the Elna serger, with which I'm still a little disappointed.

These are stretch denim which I got from Fields Fabrics last year and pre-washed the fabric 4 times in hot water. I don't think they'll shrink at all now. I did cut the waistband on the bias before I really thought about it and that it would be too much stretch. Luckily, I sew with some very fabulous women who suggested that if one were to do something like that it could be countered with some interfacing, so as soon as I got home I interfaced that bad boy.

It was really fun sewing these, you don't get very many opportunities in sewing to use an anvil, a 2x4, or a mallet but I got to use all of these and I think they came out pretty OK. (for a first pair). I know these are going to grow as I wear them, but it's a good excuse to buy a nice belt and to make a 2nd pair.

Inching To The Finish Line

2011-01-11T10:59:00.002-05:00

Or the laundry pile. I don't consider myself done with any sewing project until it's ready to be washed. Once it's laundry, it's officially done, at least in my world. I was so close to having finished my jeans yesterday. I just need to hem them and they're ready to go but yesterday ended up being one of those comedy of error days.

My very dear friend called and was going to come over and pay me a visit, I thought "oh how perfect, he can help me move the heavy stuff in the sewing room and help me clean off the table", so in the meantime, instead of going to hem the jeans, I decided to check out that "Angry Birds" game that everybody loves so much. I just sat around goofing off for a couple of minutes then my friend called to tell me that his car had broken down on the way to my house and he was pretty close by. Of course, I jumped into my (none too reliable) car to go wait with him for the tow truck, since it was like 10 degrees last night. Now here's where it gets interesting. I drove about 7 miles to where I thought he was, I saw no car and no store that he was calling from, so I called him. Turns out he was about 8 miles in the other direction, duh, I wasn't paying attention when he told me where he was and I ended up going on an extended tour of the neighborhood for no good reason. I eventually found him and we sat in the car for a really long time, luckily he's really interesting and quite chatty. Finally the police came and moved his car to a safer area but the tow truck was nowhere to be found. In fact, we watched three tow trucks drive by us before his finally showed up an hour and a half later. Then we had to drive to where the tow truck would drop off the car, then I had to switch cars so that I could take him back home as I didn't trust my own 21 year old car to make the trip to the other side of town, so I stopped off at Mick's work and we briefly got to see him and I met two of his students. We ended up having a lovely visit and a quite fun time despite of it all being in the car (since my car is so big and old, it's kinda like a big moving sofa). I finally arrived home three hours later around eleven at night. By this time, I was no longer interested in hemming or anything. Sometimes life gets in the way, but I was happy to have helped my friend and spent some time with him in the process, we laughed so much. I have higher hopes for sewing today. Wish me luck!

Pattern Organization

2011-01-04T10:51:00.002-05:00

So, yesterday, I spent several hours organizing patterns. Yikes! It's pretty funny, I hadn't realized that I have every pattern I may have ever wanted. The sad part is, I haven't used a whole lot of them. Most of them are still unused. I fully intend to change that, I want to sew up every single thing. I'm still organizing the space, but with every step, I get closer to what I want, sewing. I'm hoping that by Saturday, I'll be wearing my new jeans to sew with my gal pals and I'll have already started on my cute new coat (yup, I need a coat, the zipper broke on my stupid fleece jacket that I rely on) I'm inspired by the coat sew along that happened last year and the winter wear contest on Pattern Review. So many great coats and I already bought a hat based on a prospective coat. It seems like what I need to do. I'm going to use Simplicity 2508.

What do you think?? Should I go for it?

Twenty Eleven Swap Dress Candidates

2011-01-03T10:42:00.001-05:00

Twenty Eleven Swap Dress Candidates by emelle eau d'why on Polyvore.com

Although one is a separate, these are the candidates for dresses that I might like to make for this year.

Prospective Tops

2011-01-02T12:42:00.000-05:00

Twenty Eleven Part A Tops by emelle eau d'why on Polyvore.com

V8627 | Misses' Jacket
Rebecca Taylor Top
Alice + Olivia Top
V7903 | Misses'/Misses' Petite Shirt
V2850 Anna Sui Top
V8032 | Misses'/Misses' Petite Top
V8635 Misses' Top
V2954 Donna Karan Top
b5495 Misses' Top

2011 Sewing Goals

2011-01-02T10:28:00.003-05:00

I've been a bad, bad, horrible blogger but I resolve to make a better effort to chronicle my sewing projects in general. I've also been a bad, slacker sewer and I resolve to sew an entirely new spring, summer, fall and winter wardrobe regardless of my size. If it changes then the newer stuff will fit better than the older stuff, is all.

I was talking to Lynn a few weeks ago about the 2011 SWAP (or Sewing With A Plan) on Stitcher's Guild and I've done it before, in fact, that's the whole reason I started this blog like, I dunno, forever ago. Anyway, she was all excited about it and it made me wonder what had happened to my own enthusiasm. Sadly, it has waned, mostly because I've been having body acceptance issues. That's not worked out entirely, but I can't walk around naked. I need clothes. I was rather dismayed over the holiday when I went to find something attractive to wear and there were so few choices (in my closet, I don't buy clothes really). I mean really, I have one and a half closets and I only wear stuff from half of a closet. Really in truth, I wear the same dang thing or some slight variation every day. I really need some clothes and I ordered one tee-shirt from Anthropologie this year but they sold out so I didn't even get that. I've begun to seriously plan out the wardrobe. I think I'm going to put the ideas on Polyvore and hone it down to the first batch for the SWAP. I've already started on a jeans muslin, and that's working out pretty well. I plan on finishing it this week (it's a wearable muslin with pocket detail, topstitching and the whole works) and it will hopefully add significantly to my sadly sparse wardrobe. By that point hopefully, I'll have the idea for my SWAP fleshed out. I'll post all of my progress here, in fact here's a photo of my jeans muslin before I took it apart to re-sew and correct the fit issues.

I know there are several things wrong with these and that's the beauty of sewing with friends, they can photograph your butt and point out all those weird wrinkles (thank you Lynn!) The pockets are my favorite. My friend Elnora stitched them out for me using a design purchased from Urban Threads. I have no jeans so these are sorely needed. I plan on working on them today, if I can get the sewing room heated to a degree that I don't need to wear 27 layers just to be in there. But considering that I haven't had breakfast yet; I'll probably be sitting here posting SWAP ideas on Polyvore for a little while longer. Happy New Year!!!!

Lots of Sewing Machines Later...

2010-07-22T13:57:00.003-04:00

I hadn't realized I'd not posted in so long. It's those darned sewing machines! One turns into two turns into twelve, thirteen? I lost count. I am really enjoying them and I've been using them all. I have 4 set up and a serger, it seems weird but it's actually pretty fun. I've gotten two dresses done finally. I started on v1160 for Chris a long, long time ago. I am super slow as I have oft remarked on this blog. I had quite a time with this dress but not due to the pattern. I started with poly georgette and I didn't do anything to control the shifty nature of any kind of crepe texture fabric, it just wants to creep. It was a disaster. Thankfully, I'd only cut one sleeve piece and tried to mark it before I realized it wouldn't work. I decided to make a strong solution of liquid laundry starch and water, which I applied liberally over the entire piece of fabric. I actually did the whole thing outside so it would dry quicker. Once it dried it was sooooo crazy easy to work with. Perfect folds, perfect markings, perfect cuts, an absolute dream. I want to make everything out of georgette now.

Here's Chris in the dress

I think she looks fabulous. And the dress worked out fine, I had to take in the final version a bit but it was smooth sailing. The zipper is in the side seam and I love the way the invisible zipper looked on it, Invisible! I love me some invisible zippers, I didn't have one in the right shade of blue but I had grey and blue nail polish, the only thing you can see is the zipper pull which looks great with just a coat of nail polish. I feel this dress was a valuable learning experience about how my sewing has progressed. I was pleased with the result and Chris was pleased but I think I can do better and I think what may help me the most is to have more patience. It takes me forever anyway, so there's no sense in rushing through anything. Back to the sewing machines!

How I Make Apricot Jam

2010-06-09T17:44:00.003-04:00

Amy asked how I make my apricot jam and you know it's funny, I thought I'd forgotten but it's kinda like riding a bike and it gets made to seem much more complicated than it is. I learned how to make jam about 12 years ago because I was at the farmers market at the end of the day and I bought a box of peaches for 3 bucks. It's really fun and kind of addictive, you get spoiled and don't want to use store bought jam anymore (much like what happens when you sew your own clothes, oh you know what I mean). Unfortunately, I can't eat it anymore but Mick and his brother really like it so I do it for them on occasion and I give it to folks I know. Here's how I do it:

I start out with two big (one ginormous) pots (not aluminum) and several 8 oz. jars. I use them over and over and over and I just buy the two-piece tops at the grocery store. I have a ladle, a pot lifter (or good sturdy tongs, whichever I can find :P) a kitchen towel, a few paper towels and a big funnel. I wash everything in a big bowl of hot, hot soapy water and I let it sit until I'm ready to use them, at which point I rinse them off and dunk them in the big pot of boiling water. And of course, the biggest pot should have enough boiling water in it to cover the tops of the jars by one inch.

I tend to make it less sugary, I hate it when things are cloyingly sweet. I cut the apricots into halves, I never know how many I have, I wouldn't even hazard a guess. The ratio I use is about half as much sugar as apricots and the juice of a half a lemon and a tiny bit of water to start it out. I let it boil while stirring so that it doesn't stick and burn and then I turn it down to a medium simmer and let it cook for about 20 minutes, but I keep stirring. Then when it's nice and thick I ladle it into hot jars up to 1/4" away from the rim and dip a clean paper towel into the boiling water and wipe off the rim then I dip my two-piece lids into the boiling water and swish them around for a few seconds and immediately place them on the jars and screw them down. Once all of the jars are closed, I stick them in the huge pot of boiling water and let them boil for ten minutes. Then I lift them out onto the kitchen towel and wait to hear the "pop" sound the jar tops make. Once they pop, I leave them to cool on the counter and then away they go. I haven't tried the last batch I made but Mick was super excited and was going to buy special bread for morning toast. I think it's so much better than store-bought and I can control the amount of sugar.

Today, I picked up some peaches to make some peach melba jam and Mickey told me that I should wait, I had to explain to him that this is a seasonal thing and he didn't have to eat it right now, he's so funny.

Playing With Fabric Combos

2010-06-09T11:42:00.006-04:00

I've been spending a lot of time in the sewing room lately. Yesterday I was playing with fabric combos to see what I liked and what went well together. I came up with a few good combos. I wanted to do more, but I do have a tendency to overwhelm myslef and then I freeze up and can't do anything. I think three cute combos are a good place to start thinking of things.

This one is cotton jersey, metallic linen in pewter, and Cotton toile print

I think this Cynthia Rowley combo would be a good showcase for these fabrics either all three of them or two of the three. I so want to make that outfit but I'm losing weight and I think it may be in my best interest to wait a while.

I love this bright combo, it's just fun. When Lynn and I were snoop shopping we came across a muse dress that was a pink cotton pique, I think it would look better in this Coral cotton pique and the stretch cotton woven is just too fun.

Of course, the navy linen and the navy cotton dots are perfect together. One could put together a sweet summer outfit with this and a simple knit top made from this white cotton jersey.

Oh how I love sewing for summer!!!!!

New Old Swag

2010-06-08T16:48:00.005-04:00

Mick and I had our 10th anniversary recently and he gave me a Singer Featherweight. He's been wanting to give me one of these for a long time and he found one for me without letting on to me what the deal was. I may have talked him out of it (as I am a practical gal and have talked him out of it previously preferring to purchase tires for the car or some such thing).

Once I got it, I fell madly in love. See I have a Singer 201-2 Anniversary edition that I never use or even look at. I'd been treating it as if it were a museum piece instead of the sturdy workhorse of a machine and the featherweight cured me of my fear of using the 201-2 (even though I haven't used it yet).

Regardless, I wanted one more piece of the puzzle, I really wanted the Singer 301A, otherwise known as the big sister to the featherweight. I looked on ebay every single day, I looked on Craigslist every single day in every city in Michigan. Everything was either too expensive or not the one I wanted (I wanted the classic black one). Anyway I looked on CL the other day and I had missed a posting, there was one but it was posted the day before, the day that I was sewing at the library with my girls and didn't check CL. My heart sinking I called the number expecting it to be gone. Not only was it not gone, it was really close and only $25 so Mick picked it up for me on his way home from work!

I think it's absolutely beautiful and the perfect addition to my Vintage Singer SM collection. I can't believe how lucky I am, I got the 201-2 at a garage sale near my house some years ago for $50 and I thought that was extravagant. I only bought it because it was pristine and it was my birthday, and now these two lovely girls to complete the family. Now, in my fervor, I may have turned Mick into a sewing machine nut, he's really digging the Rocketeer. If we ever come across one of those, I think it may be coming home with us.

Now at this point I've sewn on the 221 Featherweight and it sews like a dream, I tell you an absolute dream. It just hums along making the perfect stitch. I take it with me to sew with the gal pals and it's just perfect. I've sewn on the 301A to test it out by making a jeans muslin and it sews perfectly, though I know I'm going to have to give it a little tune up. Now I have to sew on the 201-2. From what I hear it's like a little mini tank and sews through anything. I'm definitely going to sew my jeans on the the 201-2, if all goes well with the test.

Here are the three beauties.

See, any husband who puts up with this kind of craziness deserves some handmade jam every once in a while.

Last Minute Apricot Jam

2010-06-07T20:37:00.003-04:00

Mick has been so sweet to me that I wanted to do something nice for him. He really loves apricot jam and we generally don't buy it because it's not that good at the store. I was at the fruit and vegetable market the other day and just as I was standng in line I saw they had apricots. The lady ahead of me held my place and I picked out a bunch. Well then I got busy but I knew I was going to need to do that. Last night the apricots were at the point where if I'd waited any longer they wouldn't be good for jam. They'd still be good but not for jam. So at 10 o'clock at night I got out my supplies and I made Mickey his much deserved apricot jam. This is the first time I'd ever made it without tasting it (I have changed my diet and no longer let sugar pass my lips) and I worried a bit that it wouldn't turn out good. I mean I haven't done it in a while, but if I may toot my own horn, I did win a prize in the State Fair once for my apricot jam. TOOT!! Lol!

Anyway here's what I came up with, I think it's so pretty. I love those little short fat jars, I need to find more of them.

Mick had some this morning with toast and butter and he was soooo happy! I'm glad I could do that for him since he's been hookin' me up left and right.

Will I Ever Catch Up???

2010-06-01T12:36:00.004-04:00

Joann's had a sale this weekend and Simplicity patterns were $1 each. Once again, I went pattern crazy.

This on top of the Butterick and Vogue patterns I bought at the last sale:

I'm still working on the dress for Chris, as I put it aside to work on the jeans muslin for the class on PR and now I've got 9 new patterns on top of all that. I think that in the best interest of everything; I need to exile myself to the sewing room only to come out for food and sleep. It's quite enjoyable once I do get working, it's just that so many other things have to be taken care of before I can get to sewing. I know many of you can relate. I am pretty motivated though so let's see what I can do this week, shall we??

Friday Night Sewing

2010-05-29T10:14:00.001-04:00

So I've been sewing like a little worker bee lately. What have I accomplished? Sadly, not much. I spent last evening working on my muslin for the jeans class I'm taking on PatternReview. I had a blast in the chat room and I've been having fun working out the detail of the jeans pattern. Suffice it to say, I didn't pay attention to the lessons and I totally screwed up the muslin, but it's a muslin and an easy fix, so I'm onto the next one.

I'm also making this dress

with this fabric

for a client and I had a bit of trouble with the crepe factor of the georgette. However, I solved it by spray starching the heck out of the fabric and then cutting and marking. I should be done with this one by Monday if I'm lucky.

I actually finished my HotPatterns Weekender Sunshine top a few weeks ago. I cut it out like a year ago and put it away, I kept meaning to go back to it and I finally did. Here's the result:

Ignore the fold at the bust, the fabric was stuck to my bra! This is my second attempt at this top, the first one I made years ago and didn't do the FBA, it didn't look right on my and I ended up giving it to Jennifer, she loves it. This one I actually did the FBA and I'm pleased with the results.

I also started a new little skirt which I should have finished that afternoon but I got all flumoxed by the fly (you know I know how to do that) and I had to stop. I was having one of those "my brain is chewing on itself" moments and I couldn't think. I put it away to work on the dress and the jeans but maybe I'll finish it on Tuesday (that is, if I get the dress done this weekend).

Oh and Mick and I had our 10th anniversary this month and he is so sweet, he gave me a Singer Featherweight. I think he's wanted to get this for me for quite some time. I love it, it sews like a dream, I'll post a picture later. I'll post a photo of all of my vintage machines (yup, I have a couple)

Check This Out

2010-05-22T15:05:00.003-04:00

Loti just posted this on PatternReview and I had to post a link to this. Yeah, I know, the image is all wacky. I don't know what I'm doing. Here's a link that might work.

Scissor Hands 1991

Oh,That's Just This Season's Schtick

2010-04-11T16:02:00.007-04:00

So I had to go to Firstview to check out the Jil Sander collection and guess what, that whole not finished thing; that's the Jil Sander schtick for spring. In context, it's pretty cool but the real world isn't in that context. How many of us can pull this look off???

Wouldn't people make fun of you for not having finished sewing your dress. Or people would think you're in such bad shape that your dress is made of rags. It's not to say that I don't like it, I just don't know if it "trickles down" to regular folk. I don't know, what do you all think?

Photographs from Firstview.com

Wait, What?

2010-04-11T11:56:00.010-04:00

So this morning, I'm recuperating from a kidney infection and I've just been wandering around the internet. I ended up on Net-A-Porter. I went to the "What's New" section to play my favorite game of "what would I get if I could A) afford it B) fit into it. So many things I love, like these. Even in my fantasy wardrobe I had to talk myself out of the sequin pants, yup.

Then I came upon these really nice Jil Sander Pants

It's a nice white linen pant that you can convert into shorts by rolling them up (there has to be some kind of fastener there to make them different from say, um, any other pair of pants, but I digress). I thought "oooh, those are cute" but when I clicked onto the close up picture, the waistband is intentionally unfinished! And when I say unfinished, I mean, you know the pocket bag pokes out of the top, the stitching that holds the pleats down in front is exposed, you can actually see the pocket bag poking out on this little photo but I urge you to go see for yourself and click on the magnify feature. It's things like this that make me wonder if I've, in fact, completely lost touch with reality. I mean really, this is reality a $900 pair of pants that aren't even finished?Whose reality is this? And I ask this as a legitimate question. Please, if this is your reality contact me here at the blog, I have some ufo's, er, um, pieces you might be interested in.

I appreciate deconstruction as much as the next guy but I just don't live in that world, maybe I wish I did but, oh well. Of course this does give me hope that those pants I thought were still works in progress are, at this very moment, 'hanger ready'.

Photographs from Net-A-Porter

I Dig These Shoes

2010-04-09T00:08:00.002-04:00

http://www.6pm.com/calvin-klein-stasia-black-kidskin-mesh

http://www.zappos.com/steve-madden-neptunes-natural

Final Freakin' Lee

2010-04-04T12:33:00.006-04:00

Well, I finally did it, I finished Mickey's laptop bag. It started out as Louie's laptop bag but he no longer needed it as he gave said laptop to Mickey. So I started this last year. I am not joking when I say I'm the world's slowest sewer. I cut it out back around January of '09. There are a million pieces to this thing but I gotta say, this was really easy to make. I have become a fan of Nicole Mallalieu patterns. They are very well written and there are photos which are really good for those of us who are visual thinkers. I didn't make the interior flap pocket because I just didn't feel like stretching this project for another month!

I used cotton duck for the body of the bag, an Alexander Henry cotton print "Pure Muscle" (because we're Detroit kids and love some Detroit muscle) for the flap. I cut out some shapes from reflective tape and placed them on the headlights and some of the windows. I then used iron-on vinyl to cover the flap and the front pocket. Mickey was over the moon, he loves cars, in fact, he's on the phone right now reading a car magazine to Louie!?! Now on the vinyl laminate, I'm not sure I would use that again on my laptop bag because the bag has to be manipulated so much before you finish that it crinkles up the finish and conceivably could tear the laminate. I've been thinking about using this cool Amy Butler home dec print for mine and using the original oilcloth techniques to waterproof the flap (although, I'm worried about the fire hazard issues). The strap instructions were awesome and I'm excited to make one for myself (much more girly, I think). Fashionista Fabrics carries the hardware for this one

and hopefully will soon carry the patterns. Her patterns are awesome.

Mondays, What's Not To Like?

2010-02-22T22:50:00.004-05:00

We got a blizzard, snowstorm, snowpocalypse, snowmageddon thingy last night. It was really beautiful, Mick took Hamish for a walk right when it first started. Lucy wanted nothing to do with it. She stayed curled up with me. When we woke up this morning, it was as if the world was a big giant meringue. Sooooo pretty! I just love the snow covered Michigan spring.
Mick shoveled all the snow and even though I tried to help he wouldn't allow it, but he did mention that it was good packing snow, then he lamented that he probably shouldn't have said that. I hit him, he hit me then it turned into the Epic Snowball Fight. He got me good, even my hair, he kept shouting "Machine Gun!" and just clobbering me. I got some really good surprise moves in and did a good bit of deflecting. Hey who says you can't have a snowball fight when you're in your not teens, twenties or thirties. I had so much fun that I was almost late for my very first singing lesson. Yup, singing lesson. I was so afraid but I had a great time. I'm working on some unexpected songs. One of which is "Midnight Rider" by the Allman Brothers. My god I love that band. They are so incredibly interesting. I was cleaning my sewing room and it was a big job boy, I needed something to listen to so I put on "Stand Back: The Anthology". It's got like 35 songs on it so I figured I'd just zone and clean, but I got hooked. They were very jazz influenced, it's a cool jazzy, country, rock sound.

I was able to get some quality sewing done and I'll post my finished project in a couple of days, I'm actually really excited by it. I have a bit of a cold or something which is making my head a bit foggy; while I was working I somehow really screwed up my email. I'll hopefully get that straightened out soon. I have no email, it's crazy and a little scary. I also made something really funny and ridiculous, a bonnet, but I don't know if that'll ever see the light of day. It's really silly but it was something fun Julie and I decided to do one day when we were goofing off in the sewing room. Sometimes a sewing machine is a dangerous thing!

I have to say that here in Detroit, we have our pick of some of the best Middle Eastern food on the planet and one of the best of the bests is in my 'hood. The Beirut Bakery is amazing. They're known for their Zataar bread among other things. I've been going there forever but if anybody is around the area, they are the truth. The other awesome Middle Eastern restaurant I've recently tried and was super pleased with was called Sheesh, they just opened and oooh, dang that food was kick-ass. I don't know where they're located exactly but they are in Ann Arbor, check it out if you're in the area, the garlic dip was killer.

Soaping and Sewing

2010-01-13T19:00:00.014-05:00

Lately, I've missed having handmade soap so I decided to get the kettle out and make up a batch. I kept going until I ran out of olive and coconut oils. I stopped over at The Sage and bought some avocado oil, avocado butter and some new scents Champagne Sugar, Cotton and Fresh Air. Yum, I love their fragrance oils. I bought a couple of coconuts too, just because. I drained the coconut water from the coconut into a glass to use later
then I grind the meat with several cups of hot water. Apparently that's coconut milk, just like making any nut milk, I let the cream rise to the top and separated that out. The first batch I used the coconut water, olive oil, macadamia oil, walnut oil, coconut oil and sunflower oil. I scented it with Green Tea cucumber fragrance and tossed in some green tea at trace. I couldn't find the right size box so I used a plastic lined cake pan. I cut it apart today and it looks pretty ok. I have to let it mellow a while before I can use them, I think they'll be ready to go in about a week. They smell sooo good! The next batch is made with the coconut milk, coconut cream, olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil and Champagne Sugar fragrance with some coconut cream added at trace. Dos really likes a carrot oatmeal batch that I make and since she's moved back I can actually hand it to her.
Here are the oils in the pot, everything has been weighed and melted together, now it just has to sit and come down to temperature.

This is the lye that has already been weighed out. I used The Sages's Lye Calculator to determine how much I need. I went with 5% reserved fat. I then mixed the coconut water and some coconut milk to come up with the needed amount of liquid.

Here's my secret ingredient!! SNOW! I don't put it in the batch, I use it to set the pan of lye and liquid in so that it will cool quicker, that way the lye doesn't scorch the coconut milk. Luckily, all I have to do is step outside and scoop up a big bowl of it.

I always keep vinegar around and wear safety goggles and gloves for anything with lye. At this point it's just about stirring and stirring and stirring. Eventually when they are both the same temperature (I use 100*F) I mix them together with my soap dedicated stick blender that I got at the salvation army thrift store. If I were stirring it together by hand, it would take forever and anybody who knows me, knows I don't have that kind of patience. Once it gets to "trace"

I stir in the fragrance oil and some extra coconut cream for superfatting. It's ready to go into the mold and sit for 24 or 48 hours and then I cut it into bars and let it "cure". Here's what I came up with:

I can never wait long enough before trying it and I've already used the green tea one, it's quite nice and it smells divine (green tea and cucumber fragrance). There's my soap frenzy for January!

As far as sewing is concerned, I've been teaching a wonderful young woman how to sew, she's making a coat, but I think she can handle it. I'll post pictures as we go along. It's looking good so far, we've gotten to the first muslin now we have to make all the adjustments and recut. She's getting a little freaked out I think, but I keep reassuring her that I won't let her go off the rails.

Bogue Patterns

2010-01-05T12:27:00.005-05:00

New Simplicity and McCalls were just posted today. I like a bunch of the dress that McCall's has issued, cause you know, I'm a dress girl. Not so much for me on the Simplicity side. I really like Simplicity 2444 but it isn't suitable for me because it's a very "wasp waist" and I have more of a "bubble waist". Eh, what are you gonna do? (aside from diet and exercise). But I did find two particularly unattractive offerings from McCall's that I really want to talk about.

First up: McCall's 6039

Look at that line drawing, it's just the cutest thing. I absolutely love this jacket while not suitable for my figure, it is (I think) fashion forward with the seaming and the nipped in waist. I can see it done up in this metallic linen, this turquoise linen or or this tweed. But the actual garment that is on the envelope, Gawd! I hate it. I can barely look at without the risk of weeping tears of blood (well, not that bad) ugh, ugh! I remember when I used to go to the sewing Expo with Sheryl and she'd always mock the women in sweatshirt jackets (too loudly too) I was shushing her but silently agreeing. This is right up there with the sweatshirt jacket. And to any of you who make and wear sweatshirt jackets, you're probably lovely people, but that has got to stop, seriously. Anyway, back to this jacket, maybe McCall's was trying to go for the Anthropologie vibe with this but I think they missed the mark and went skidding into heinous territory.

Next up: McCall's 6043

I think this is just way too eighties in a bad way. It's not referential but literal and some of those eighties looks were plain unflattering (I know, I wore them). In fact, I probably wore a jacket like this and those of you who have seen the Cosby show remember the giant boyfriend jacket. I think to make this look work, you gotta do some major merchandising. You've got to style it up with so many accessories and other things, is it really worth all the trouble?? Really, what this look needs is some serious shaping. That boxy look doesn't really suit anyone well unless their doing the Stranger Than Paradise look (and that film is not known for it's fashion, at least not in a good way).

But if I have to mock the bad, I also have to praise the good, at least the unexpectedly good. I was looking at this really beautiful top at Anthropologie (one of my snoop shopping faves, obviously) and this ethereal grey gauze and I think that a great version could be made by modifying this pattern:
.

Bye, Bye Naughts!

2009-12-31T21:19:00.003-05:00

Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful and prosperous new year!

Wishing you
Peace, Love and Fabric

Melody

I've Been Sewing

2009-12-17T10:01:00.002-05:00

Just stuff that I make all the time or stuff that is no big deal. Once I got to thinking about it I thought I should maybe make a list of what I've made since it doesn't seem to me like I've made anything.

2 Kwik Sew hoodies (it got cold in Michigan)

1 pair of Kwik Sew pants

32 cloth napkins with mitered corners

1 dog sweater

1 Simplicity cardi-wrap

1 Butterick vest

1 maxi dress (which I don't like at all)

1 burda top

Here are the things I've started but haven't yet finished

1 Butterick t-shirt

1 Nicole Mallieu Messenger bag

several pairs of boxer shorts

teaching a young woman how to sew (first project: a coat)

1 men's kwik sew shirt

These are the things I'd planned to make for Christmas (but I doubt it now)

1 pair of men's track pants

1 men's Kwik Sew Jacket

1 men's t-shirt

Here are some items I thought I'd squeeze in and make quick like a bunny

a new swimsuit

2 or 3 pair of pants

an Anna Sui top

a brown wool coat

Now, in reality what I may finish before Christmas is this:

1 pair of hotpatterns pants
1 men's kwik sew jacket

My mom had a saying when I would ask for too much food on my plate "Your eyes are bigger than your stomach", of course as a child I thought she was crazy because clearly my eyes were smaller. I got it later on and now I would have to say that my eyes are bigger than my sewing basket.

Anybody else got "coulda woulda shoulda" style list??

My New Top

2009-12-16T22:41:00.007-05:00

I was invited to brunch this past weekend and I thought, what a perfect opportunity to make something cute and new. Stephanie, Elnora and I went pattern shopping together and Stef and I loved Burda 7625.

She and I are similarly busty and we thought it would be a cute festive top. Well guess what, we were right!

My version is a lot less gathered but that's because I have to fill those gathers out and I didn't need an expanse of fabric sitting on top of all of that. I used a Fashionista Fabrics Boho Jersey so I maneuvered the pattern pieces to what I thought was a good effect. I really like the action at the bottom because that's where I want to focus more attention, less attention at the top. The fabric has two borders so the back of the top has a little bit of that going on, I thought it worked out pretty good. I've already worn it twice and I even spilled some sauce on it (bound to happen sooner or later).

And yes, those odd white lines in the photo, snow is falling on me as I brave the cold to take the photo. Well, snow and some dog hair.

OMG! The Muppets Do Queen

2009-11-24T18:55:00.002-05:00

I don't know if this is because it's the eighteenth anniversary of the death of Freddie Mercury, but it's good. It's as good as that time long ago when someone decided to combine chocolate with sugar. Oh it's bound to be a classic.

For Lynn, here's the original

Yes, I love Queen, I love Freddie (I have an action figure) and I love the muppets.

In Spite of My Flu-ishness

2009-11-23T12:34:00.003-05:00

I've been pretty quiet because aside from my computer crapping out, Mick got sick in September and spent the whole of October with either a cold or the flu. Poor thing, I tried to stay away but there's only so much you can do, and I don't think I caught his cold. I was at my swim class and the very next day I started feeling poorly. I had to miss two weeks of swim class and one week of ceramics. I also missed the end of my tailoring class but that was no great shakes. Now, I'm sick again with the stomach flu. I think I'll miss swim class again tonight and luckily there's no ceramics class this week. I can't believe I've been sick for most of October and now November. Oh well. I have still gotten some things done. I finished one (1!) garment for the swap contest on PR and it's really not even finished until I get my buttons from the ceramics class. I obviously have made a million ceramics things. Some good, some not so much, you're welcomed to view the photos on my flickr album. I love the covered vessel.

I also started teaching one of our young library friends how to sew, she is an absolute doll and it's fun working with her. It's amazing the things we take for granted as far as our knowledge is concerned. I've cut out the muslin for the pants that I want to make and I'm confident that will be done by the end of this week, I'm hoping to squeeze in a woven shirt as well.

Ooh, I also took a class on how to do right angle bead weaving and I've made a couple of pieces combining the beadwork with the ceramic pendants that I've made. I absolutely love doing it. I love the bead store (Pam's Bead Garden in Plymouth) and I adore Pam, she's a great teacher. Here's how it's coming along. I made a serious mistake in that Pam and I think the thread on the pendant is going to break but I cross that bridge when I come to it. In the meantime, I still have to weave in all those thread tails and attach closures.

The pendant is one I made in the Pewabic Jewelry class that I took with Lynnelle. This is the only piece that came out remotely like how I'd hoped and actually, because I didn't know what I was doing, I got a cool unexpected effect. The symbol on it means success and I need to be wearing that sucker every day what with the bank on my ass. But that's a whole 'nother story.

Computer Glitches

2009-10-14T12:15:00.003-04:00

I am so ready to write a long post about my trip to NYC and about hanging out with Peter but my computer is acting really funky and I can't get it fixed for two weeks (apple care agreement issues). So because of that I will only post this:

"Valentino, The Last Emperor" rocks!!! So far I've seen it twice and I will probably buy the DVD at some point

My favorite is the bitchy head seamstress, Antonia, Gawd! she's so funny! I love watching the workroom scenes. So please do see this, it is a revelation.

In the meantime, while I wait for my computer to be fixed, I'll be sewing. In fact I'm wearing the much maligned maxi dress right now. It is ill fitting and poorly constructed but at least I finished.

The Simplicity Movie

2009-10-02T11:58:00.002-04:00

This movie from the 1950's is pretty darn cool. Julie sent it to me. I feel as strongly about sewing as the narrator. I love it and these techniques are what you need for good sewing. Anyway, until I can find my camera cord, I can't post any expo pictures. I'll look for it, but if you have 18 minutes, check out the movie.

Wow, Just Wow

2009-09-29T09:22:00.004-04:00

The American Sewing Expo was this weekend and I have to say, it was the most fun I've had at the Expo ever. I've been going to the expo for a really long time, maybe 10 years. It has changed a lot over the years, for one thing, the poor economy seems to have really changed the landscape of it. I used to arrive and not be able to see anything because of the massive crowds, you couldn't even move and you completely understand the rule about no wheeled carts, people would get injured in that kind of crowd. This time the expo was more sparse. There seemed to be less crafty vendors and more sewing vendors (which is good). I didn't have a booth at the expo. I have yet to have a booth at the expo, I'm thinking we'll have one next year, we'll see.

Anyway, PatternReview.com had a booth this year which was super good. Deepika came and a bunch of folks from the area and from other areas met up not only at the PR booth but at the PR meetup which was Friday night. Lynn and Therisa came up with the idea that we should all make something from the same fabric and we all used the Shine On Jersey from my store to make our tops. Lynn and I made the cardi-wrap that is much like the DKNY cozy, Stephanie made Simplicity 4095, Therisa made her own version of a La Mia boutique top and Nicole made a modified version of a Simplicity top, the number of which I can't remember. It was very cool, we tried on each others stuff (except Nicoles' maternity top). Most of the group that I sew with was there and I got to meet a bunch of cool new people, Diane, Nancy, Alice, Heather, Patty, Brian, Peter and more (I'm sure I've left out people, if you're reading this and I left you out, call me, we'll hang out and sew together, yes?). I had a great time, Deepika is just a sweetheart and really fun. I hope we do this every year. Deepika, you have to make the Expo a permanent part of your yearly schedule.

I'll get the photos uploaded for the next post but right now, I have to go sew.

Oh My, It Has Been Awhile!

2009-09-15T21:47:00.007-04:00

I feel bad I haven't updated in so long. I just looked at the date of the last post and you'd have thought I'd fallen off the earth. I haven't, I do seem to be having a hard time finding time to blahG. But nonetheless, I'm back ready to go on about more sewing and adventures.

I loved that ceramics class Lynn and I took; so much so that I'm taking another ceramics class. I'll get a photo of some of the things I completed. The new class is longer and includes all the basic techniques. I'm enjoying making some really, um, interesting looking stuff. I swear, I can't wait to see the finished projects, maybe I'll find some use for these things that really aren't what they're supposed to be.

I finally, finally finished the maxi dress, but I'm not at all happy with it and I (mostly) finished the weird Butterick dress, and again, not happy with that either. I have decided to move on to some garments with which I think I'll have moderate success. I just decided to really look at what I like wearing and just try to make myself happy. Lynn and Elnora are doing the wardrobe contest over on PR. That seems like just what I need right now, an occasion to sew what I'd like to be wearing this fall. I asked Mick to help with the color selection. I feel that's one of his strong areas, he's amazing with color (at least I think he is but I could be a little biased); I made a story board

and I started the muslin on the first piece today. I think I'll try and get all of the muslins out of the way first (someone brought up the topic of strategy on PR, so now I'm thinking that way). By the time I get done, I should have a really good handle on fitting.

I'm taking a tailoring class at the local cc. So far so good, we're starting with a vest. I'm using B5052

I think the second item on the cutting table is going to be this cool Hot Patterns Wong-Sing-Jones Marrakesh Drawstring Pant.

I've chosen a coral gabardine for them, I can't wait.

Mick and Lou and I went hiking this summer. We had a fun but hard four days hiking North Manitou Island (I love this dude's photo's of the place, I think he captures the essence of NMI)

Oooh, maybe I'll call the wardrobe Manitou Island Indian Summer!

Start Somewhere

2009-07-30T17:09:00.003-04:00

I am a big fan of encouraging folks to learn to sew. Wouldn't you know I'd find some video instructions online. To those of you who don't sew, give it a try (you know someone you know has a machine in the closet sitting unused). You will amaze yourself and your friends. Besides what's the worst that could happen??

This vid may help.

Lynnelle and I are taking a jewelry making class at Detroit's iconic and historic Pewabic Pottery. We made a bunch of stuff last night Lynn made buttons and I made pendants. I'm hoping they turn out well. I'll post more later. In the meantime, I went to New York last week and got a slew of new knits. I'm getting them photographed now and they should be up on the store site by Monday.

The Review Vogue 8379

2009-06-28T19:42:00.007-04:00

Pattern:
Vogue 8379

Pattern Description:
This has been reviewed so many times, I'm sure you get the drift, wrap dress, soft pleats, ties yada yada

Pattern Sizing:
The range is from 8-22, I made the 22

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, except less willowy

Were the instructions easy to follow?
The instructions were very easy to follow.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
The only, only thing I don't like is the front facing of the skirt. It folds over and that's that. However, because it's such a deep overlap of the skirt, you never really worry about that.

Fabric Used:
A last seasons poly jersey from Fashionista Fabrics.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
Well, I always have to make accommodations for my full bust so I did an FBA and I also added an inch onto the bottom of the front and back bodice length. The thing that makes or breaks this for the plus size chicky is the length of the ties. I added about 6" because they have to go from the front to the back and back around to the front side and still have enough length to make the bow. The first version I made was my wearable muslin which was good thing. I needed to know that tie length thing. On the first version, I can wear the ties in the front but it looks like it's a struggle, so I wear the ties in the back and it's all good. I also added the collar to the second version but it's kind of hard to see in the photo because of the busy print. I interfaced both the hem and the sleeve hems with small strips of fusible interfacing for knits (I think I used fusi-knit) and that helped greatly with the hems. I used the coverstitch on the first version and just a regular straight stitch on the second version

My mother had the original DVF pattern in the 70's and it was very, very much like this dress. I don't remember the specifics of it but from what I can remember, this looked pretty similar. I also remember that my mother, who was similarly large busted looked awesome in her dress and wore it all the time. It was her "go to" for a chic urban sophistication boost.

I wasn't going to make this dress at all, somehow it slipped under my radar. Lynnelle suggested that I make it with her and I wasn't too committed to it at the beginning but once I saw her muslin, I went full steam ahead and I'm glad I did. Thanks Lynn.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Are you kidding?? I love this pattern. It isn't a great pattern of 2007 and 2008 for no reason. I'm already planning on making a third long sleeved version for the fall.

Conclusion:
If you don't already have this pattern, go buy it, sit down and sew it up, right now!

Oh, BTW, this is my wearable muslin

And the reason I look like I'm about to crack up laughing is because my friend Tina is eight and a half months pregnant and holding Rochelle's piece of black fabric up behind me. We figured the dress would blend in with the wall, so they all came up with a great solution, leave it to a room full of chicks. Anyway, she's cracking up laughing because she has no center of gravity and is yelling for Lynn to take the picture. If you look closely, you can see her arms stretched out behind my head.

Thanks for the pics ladies, Good Girls!!!!

I Can't Decide, I Need Input!!!

2009-06-26T22:40:00.008-04:00

O.k. so I'm done with my latest wrap dress and I like it, I think it is a successful garment. I fully intend to post a review both here and on Pattern Review. But now that I've finished that, I can't decide what the next garment should be. I've got a few things floating around in my head and I've a couple of different patterns in mind. I have narrowed down my fabric choices pretty much but still. Listen, enough chatter, here are the pictures.

I was thinking of using Vogue 1027, DKNY knit wrap dress for this knit print. I've thought about making this for a while from this fabric but I just came off of a knit dress and I need other types of things to wear. But on the positive side, I know that wrap dresses tend to work well on me.

I would love to make another version of the V8379 wrap dress from this really fun funky print. I just love it, but again, do I really need a third version of the same dress in rapid succession???

I have thiscrazy dress in mind for this navy linen. I like this dress but some of my friends don't care for it, I mean, I might not either but it could be comfy and fashionable, I don't know. But then I also thought that I'd like to make some linen pants in navy and I did just get those cute new navy platform sandals, but I could also wear them with some other choices.

I love, love, love this fabric and I'm inspired by the Ralph Lauren suits so I thought I might make a nice jacket like this. Or should I go in a different direction and make a classic jean jacket?

For this fabric, I know what I want to make, a peasant blouse. I think this is the perfect fabric for it and it's getting to be unbearably hot so now may be the perfect time. But I still want to make a maxi dress, even though I may only have a few chances to wear it. I've been seriously thinking about using

Actually there are a few different fabrics that I can envision making the maxi dress from. I even thought about the white embroidered cotton but I thought that may be too bridal in all white, maybe Mick and I can get married again! But seriously, I can't even narrow down the maxi dress pattern much less the fabric. I wanted to join the sew along on Pattern Review but those never work for me anyway, I get too "in my head" about the garment and all work stops.

Anyway tell me what you think, you my virtual sewing buds. I'll certainly be asking the RL sewing buds tomorrow.

Oh, btw, these are the shoes.

Michael Jackson Died

2009-06-25T19:26:00.004-04:00

I'm am soooo bummed. I feel like I grew up with Michael Jackson. It's so weird, the last couple of weeks I'd been watching the Jackson 5 on YouTube. I loved him when I was a little girl, I wanted to marry him. It's weird that he's dead. I feel so crazy sorry for him. Tracy and I were talking about the Jackson 5 just the other day. She said her sister always made her sing the Jermaine parts and she saved the Michael parts for herself. Poor Michael. The quintessential child star superstar tragedy trainwreck. I find myself really mad at his father for all the abuse. Just sad, sad, sad. I found these pictures on TMZ.com

Sewing But Not Really Sewing

2009-05-12T18:08:00.003-04:00

It's slow around here so I finally have time to do a little blogging.

I've been having the best time. I went to NY to get new fabrics a couple of weeks ago and now they're all up on the site. It was great because my dear friend Fork house sat while we were gone. It's so nice not to have to worry about the pets when we're away. The bonus was that when we came back, I got to hang out with Fork and her daughter. She's just about the most amazing little three year old. I can't imagine keeping up with her on a daily basis, she's just a ball of energy.

We've been exploring Detroit together. While I live here, I don't much go anywhere. We're a one car family in a three car town. Most of my wanderings are in a seven mile radius (ups, the post office, costco, meijers, joann's) But this last week we went to the Riverwalk and Eastern Market, Angelina's (restaurant) and Belle Isle, it was super cool. I did have one scary moment but that's because I assume that everyone is a rational human being who is willing to have a discussion (I should not assume that), I almost got beaten up by a nasty ex-con but Thank God, his mother showed up (yeah, I know!).

One day when we were here at my house, we decided to cook some dandelion greens because Fork was feeling poorly and our neighbor was worried about them in her lawn and was going to lay down poisons to kill them. We tried to talk her out of it by showing her how valuable they are, so we set about picking them. We cooked them up but they are quite a bitter green, I knew she would hate them. Undaunted, I set to work looking on the interwebs for recipes and I found one; Dandelion Fritters. OH MY GOD!! Who knew?!? These things are delicious. I could see that having a whole yard of dandelions wouldn't be enough for these tasty treats. Anyone who is an adventurous eater simply must give these a try. I found the recipe here I used water instead of milk because I don't use milk and boy were they delicious. My only problem is that I ran out of dandelions and now the neighbors are all poisoned. I guess it's just as well, I ate so many I got a little indigestion.

On the sewing front; Lynnelle and I are making Vogue 8379 and I can't for the life of me seem to get moving on this. It might have something to do with all the failures I've been having sewing-wise lately. I just made a little toddler jumper for Fork's daughter and I was worried that it wouldn't be perfect and I kept pausing. It was taking me forever. In reality I know this little girl couldn't care less about threads and seams and hems but I was really stalling myself. Lynn, I and Elnora worked on the Mccalls Blouse pattern and Elnora and Lynn both got their fit issues nicely worked out (in my opinion). But each of us is fretting about this top. There is even a topic dedicated to it on Pattern Review (One Pattern, Many Fits) and I don't think any of us has gotten any further than the muslin. On the bright side we're meeting up this weekend and it'll be fun like always and hopefully we'll get some garments done. I've been wearing the same thing for a week and I'm over it.

blogoversary

2009-05-02T23:18:00.001-04:00

Again, I missed my Blogoversary. It's been 4 years, can you believe it... I can't. Well it's been great so far. We shall see.

Vogue Summer 2009 And Sisterhood

2009-04-02T11:25:00.006-04:00

I love the new Vogue Patterns. I ordered these yesterday, I got a killer sale price from using a 75% off coupon and my Club BMV membership. I know I don't need more patterns and I was really trying to stop but then this whole new batch came out and I am very pleased. I was reading the thread on PR regarding this new crop and most people don't like them. I say to them, "Are ya nuts?? These are great!" No seriously, I think these are perfectly on trend and I, for one, LIKE Hammer pants. I wore them the first time around and they're totally cool (literally and figuratively). I might hate them on since I have a much different body from the first time, but I'm game and the pattern was only like $2.71. Besides, I saw some really cool ones at Neiman Marcus made from hammered silk and they were really quite beautiful.

At the moment I'm working on a new woven blouse, a knit dress and quilting a piece that I started like 9-10 years ago. The blouse is the most challenging since I am loathe to make a woven blouse because of all the fit issues and because the pattern doesn't come in my size. If you're interested, here's the topic discussion. We've been having a really great time working on it, since we're all working on either the same thing or similar things with similar and completely different issues. The best part is that we're working on these together. Which brings me to the Sisterhood section of this post. Get ready for some mushy.

Both Pam Erny and MaryBeth bestowed upon me the Sisterhood Award. I can attest to just how wonderful having sewing friends is. For the longest time, it was just me in my little sewing room, my mom and I would talk about it but we rarely sewed together. When I walked away from my career in 2000, I had no idea what to expect, I was dreading the loneliness and isolation. I was used to being around 200 really interesting, cool people (and 100 a**holes) and I knew I would be home alone with only three cats to keep me company. Slowly, I started hanging around on the internet, searching the word "sewing". Luckily I happened upon "Sewing World" and there I met a bunch of really wonderful people who were doing the same thing as me. I am happy to say that those days on the internet changed my life in a really positive way. Because of it I became much more involved in the thing that I love, sewing. And then last year, after reading "The Secret" I decided that I wanted some real life sewing friends and the next thing you know, because of the internet, there they were. A bunch of super cool women who aren't just my sewing buddies but who are my friends. I'm so incredibly happy and fortunate to have a sewing sisterhood, people who I get to see on a regular basis, people who I've only seen in person once or twice but whom I consider real friends, and people whom I know through their blogs and comments and reviews. So the Sisterhood award is a great thing and I pass it on to all my sewing sisters and there are too many to name. You have no idea how much you mean to me and how important you are in my life. All I can say is thank you so very much for all that you share and give. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Love to All

Eleven Bulldogs, All Named Steve

2009-02-23T21:49:00.006-05:00

The T-mobile commercial just cheeses me off. How on earth could you possibly have 11 bulldogs all named Steve in 38 years. I did the math, it's either not possible or extraordinarily cruel. Ugh, TV, That's just what I get.

O.K. I've been a bad friend and a bad blogger. I've been incommunicado for quite some time. I have all kinds of excuses, I've been on ritalin, my blood sugar is highish, I've been sleeping a bunch and eating really weirdly. That said, I hate excuses. I'm off Ritalin and feeling normal again and ready to blather on about whatever I find.

MaryBeth of The Stitchery made a whole bunch of cool pants just recently, you really should see her work, she's one talented lady, and she's a super awesome person to boot. Anyway, she not only made all these cool things but she nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. She's so sweet to do such a a thing. I don't know if I deserve it but I'll try to live up to it. Once it's out, you've got to live up to it, right??? Right!! Love to you MaryBeth, MWAH!

On the sewing front, I've made myself a fabu little dress from this great fabric. The funny thing is, I made all these pattern alterations based on what I thought I needed to do and of course, I made horrible alterations and the dress was way, way too big. I wore it out to dinner already and of course, I spilled food on it. I decided to take it apart and re-engineer the whole thing. It's still a little too big and I don't really like the neckline (it's too wide) but I used fold over elastic. OMG!!!! I love FOE, it's the best thing ever (that and hyperbole)!!!!

I think the first version looks a little too matronly, and it's tied so tight due to the fact that it was much too big. On the second version I shortened the waist so that it is much higher as it is supposed to be. I cut off at what I wanted to be the finished length because I'm still too punk rock to hem. I like the dress it's a Butterick pattern, I do not like the neckline on this pattern which is why I lowered it a bit but it was also too wide and I didn't realize that when cutting out. I think I'm going to make this same style again but I intend to use this Vogue pattern, I'll be raising the neckline on that but I think that style may work well, or not, whatever. Currently, I am working on this dress right now from the Lost City of Atantis jersey and I think it's pretty good, I'm going to have to get extra creative with the neckline because if I show that much cleaveage, I'll get arrested. So far, I think it's really pretty. I hoping to finish it to wear to dinner with my girls Friday night. Wish me luck!

On the store front, I got in a whole bunch of new knits. They've been up for a while and we're in the middle of a sale. I want to go back fairly soon and get more knits and cottons. I'm going to have to make nicey with Louie so he'll let me stay with him and of course I'm waiting for the snow to melt. The worst is slogging around Manhattan in a snowstorm.

Anyway, that's what's up with me, what's up with you?

An Amazing Day

2009-01-19T11:24:00.003-05:00

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Happy Inauguration Eve!

Mick and I were driving along yesterday and the conversation turned to Rosa Parks and how we wished she were still here to witness the events of this week.

You can tell from my profile that I live in Michigan and for a good long time I lived in Detroit proper. Back in the early 90's when Mick and I were just starting our relationship, I lived in the Cass Corridor. It was supposedly crime ridden and dangerous but I loved my neighborhood and I had a bunch of good friends who lived nearby. I worked at the Fox Theatre as the Security Reception chickie and I didn't have a car so I had to shop at the nearest store within walking distance. There was this awesome health food store that I used all the time, The Cass Corridor Food Co-op. It was just as all food co-ops are I suspect in Boho neighborhoods, near college campuses. But because this was in Detroit, it was much more black (lots of black staff and patrons), my friend Fork even worked there for a while cause she's uber fab. This was the tiniest grocery store you could imagine but they had everything you could possibly need for a healthy existence. One day, I was doing my weekly shopping and trying to maneuver my cart through the small and short aisles when I was met by an opposing cart wheeled by a small, elderly woman with her hair in a neat bun, as I backed up and tried to think where I knew her from, it hit me that this little, tiny, unimposing woman was Rosa Parks, The Rosa Parks! I was stunned and speechless. I'm certain that my mouth was actually agape. She thanked me for moving my cart out of her way and I, in that instant, tried to convey to her how much she meant to me and to my actual life. It was because of her first step, her going to jail that I could enjoy the life that I had at the time. I had gotten a college education, I worked for a major corporation, I could go where I wanted, I could do what I wanted, and my new boyfriend was not black and I wasn't in trouble because of it. It was because of her and so many others that I could walk down the street with my too many bags of groceries and not get forced off the sidewalk because of the color of my skin, I could go vote, I could do so many things. All of this was swimming in my head while I was backing my cart up. I told her thank you, but then I felt stupid, like it wasn't enough and it kind of lamely fell out of my mouth instead of being the grand proclamation I'd intended. I walked home with my too many bags of groceries to my spartan studio apartment and cried a little. I couldn't believe I'd met this amazing woman and I couldn't even tell her what she meant to my life.

Later, one day while sitting at my desk after hours at the Fox Theatre, I got a radio call that a VIP would be coming through my area and to unlock the appropriate doors, I did and waited. A short while later, a bunch of people and Mrs. Parks came through my lobby! I was intent that this time I would tell her and let her know what a huge deal it was. Of course, I went up to one of her people and asked if I could thank her, they said yes. I put out my hand and offered her a hearty thanks for her act that changed my life and eveyone elses and I began to tell her what a huge deal it was and how she was so great and amazing and courageous. She just shook my hand and accepted my thanks and offered a "you're welcome". It was so no big deal to her, it was just as she was at the grocery store. Once again I was amazed with her in that she seemed to perceive her act as just something one does when needed, much like moving a cart at the grocery store to let someone else by.

I am so lucky to have met her not once, not twice but many times, I'd see her at the grocery store until she became unable to do her shopping by herself. Each time, she impressed me with her dignity, grace and humble manner, she inspired us more than we even knew. I wish she could see America today.

New Vogue Patterns and Resolutions

2009-01-14T00:03:00.004-05:00

These are my favorites from the new Vogue collection. I was so waiting for these. I even called Vogue to ask when the new patterns were going to be on the website (I know, but please remember what this blog is called). I'm very quite pleased by this offering, I think they're getting better, more interesting.

Now onto resolutions. I love resolutions, I don't necessarily keep them all 100% but I figure whatever progress I've made is better than no progress at all.

With that said, I've decided that I'm going to concentrate on my insides and my outsides. I want to continue with the gym, I did really well last year but then missed the last three months which was just dumb. I want to do some serious detox and more vegetable juices (which is perfectly fine, I happen to like brussels sprouts juice). I totally want to get off all meds if possible. And of course I'd like to lose weight. As far as my other insides are concerned, it's always my goal to be nicer, but not foolish. As I looked back at the previous year, it's been interesting. I've made some new friends, and some old friendships are no more, and because of this I guess I've learned to fear change less. It's not that I don't fear change, I still do but it's not a big scary thing, it's a little annoyance. I also have learned to trust myself more, and that is something that I still need to work on.

The other thing is, I'm sick of looking like a schlub. I am committed to dressing better, doing my hair in cuter styles and wearing makeup (I buy it, but I never wear it, duh!). But I was heartened the other day (and disheartened at the same time) when I was in JoAnn's lamenting my lack of a cute outfit when lo, a woman walked by in her PAJAMAS, no, not some outfit that may have been misconstrued as pajamas but her actual pajamas topped by a down jacket and fuzzy pink crocs. I was too through! I was aware that while I didn't look that bad, I was on a slippery slope off of which I must climb . While crocs and PJ's are not my thing, I must make more fashionable and wearable clothes that are lifestyle appropriate. I may want to make only size 10 cocktail dresses but I need something entirely different and I am fully committing myself to that for this year. You'll know I've progressed if there are actual pictures of me on this blog (I mostly crop myself out).

Now, let's see how this thing plays out.

Whew!

2009-01-05T17:50:00.003-05:00

Well, the holidays have ended and I've done inventory and the sale has ended. I'm kinda out of it but I want to post some fun pictures from that last week of December

This is not retouched at all, Libby is crazy looking. People will no longer wonder why I've written a song called "Libby, the Space Alien Cat"

This is one of my favorite images of the Christmas tree. I was opposed to putting one up, and no one felt like going to the tree yard to buy one. Luckily, I got this cool one from Ebay last January.

Christmas day. My dear friend Lynn and my wonderful BIL Lou. I wish I had taken more pictures, Rico was there too and we had a really fun time. We watched Pee Wee's Christmas Special, and Brand Upon the Brain and played a rousing game of Cranium but only after eating too, too much food. I think I'd been cooking for a solid week at that point.

Louie and his amazing and delicious Linzer Torte. H-- I know right!?! He thinks it was no big deal, in fact, he called it a "fluke". Crazy Boy!

Mick and Lou making cookies, I wish my clutter cabinet weren't so well illustrated in this shot but, whaddya gonna do? They were having so, so much fun together. It was fun just to watch them.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T14:21:00.003-05:00

Well, we're all caught up in baking, Lou is making a Linzer torte and some of the cookies have been delivered to our neighbors, the tree is finally decorated and all is right with the world. We are having a fun, fun time and I hope you all are too.

XOXO

HA HA Mick And Lou Are Making Cookies

2008-12-20T20:51:00.004-05:00

Louie, my very fabulous brother in law has arrived. The thing he wanted most was dinner and chocolate chip cookies. Mick and he agreed to make them. Thank goodness, I totally don't feel well and I've spent the entire day power cleaning. It's time for me to lay back with some Nyquil. Wait, I just heard Mick say, " you have to mix the wet ingredients separately from the dry ingredients", I swooned a little. He's so cute. I hope they come out good. I love those two.

They didn't come out good, Lou used a cup of sugar instead of the required 1/2 cup of sugar, not cute.

Christmas Rhinovirus

2008-12-18T12:48:00.002-05:00

My wonderful and fabulous husband has succeeded in giving me an early Christmas present, and it's the same thing he gave me last year; his cold. Last year we had guests but we both stayed in our pajamas and got my brother-in-law to cook (with supervision from me, of course). We were soooo sick. This year hopefully we've caught it early enough so that it'll be over and done with on Christmas. As far as sewing is concerned, I'm not going to stress about it, if I get gifts done, great, if I don't, oh well. I'll see what I can accomplish today although I'm really concerned more with making myself some comfort food (pinto beans, greens, cornbread) than anything else.

The Hamish Bowler

2008-12-12T18:15:00.006-05:00

Some of you who know me know that I have a fondness for giving pets ridiculous names like Portia the dog, Calpurnia the cat, that tradition continues with our newest found dog, Hamish. Once I looked at him and realized he didn't have a tag and I didn't know what to call him, I thought "he's a proper little gentleman" and of course when I think of "proper gentlemen, I guess, I immediately think of Vogue and it's style editor, Hamish Bowles, although it would have worked as well with the name Andre Leon Talley. Hamish is what our dog is now named and as I come to know him better, he's really much more of a goofball than anything, He has trouble negotiating the kitchen floor, so much so, he routinely falls over when coming in or going out, I think he's just too excited. It's funny but also a little sad, I mean I feel bad for the guy.

When I set out to make this odyssey of a purse (this is only the half way point), I was going for a specific look. This is not it. I love this little bag but it isn't what I intended (much like the dog). This is the wearable muslin before I cut into the leather and lace. I needed to have an insurance policy, some definite parameters. I used Vogue 9255 (oop) as a jumping off point and I made some changes. Not all of those were the best idea. Like say, I didn't like the extra panel sewn onto the bottom and quickly nixed it but then the bottom had no definition so I made tiny seams on each side of the bottom. It looked great up until I sewed the whole thing together and realized the top is much bigger than the bottom. So even with purse feet, it falls over much like my dog, Hamish, it's namesake. I do think it's cute and goofy, again, like the dog. And, of course, it's a bowling style bag. I like the ruffle and the round shape but I am going for the literal copy of the Prada bag. I'm on my way to Office Max to get some poster board (for a newer, better pattern) and then I'll spend the evening drafting. I'll get sewing on it tomorrow while I'm waiting for the tie interfacing from Peggy Sagers.

So whadya think? The dog--the bag, any resemblance.

Purse Progress

2008-12-10T22:03:00.007-05:00

It's coming along nicely. All I need to do now is finesse the sewing (you wouldn't want to see the inside) add a lining and handles which are all in the works. Next stop, Lace.

More Prada Lace

2008-12-10T16:50:00.002-05:00

Oh My God, What is Prada trying to do to me??? I just found this Prada shoulder bag. I'm sewing as fast as I can!!!!

The Purse And Other Pursuits

2008-12-10T13:57:00.009-05:00

I've been working on a wearable muslin for the purse. It's coming out quite nicely.

The whole think has a layer of fusible Peltex on it and all the edges are serged to keep down ravelling. It's looking pretty good. I'm almost ready to make it in this:

Right after I saw the purse, I ran out to the nearest Tandy Leather and found a soft piece of garment leather. The Vogue pattern is, I think, the perfect size for this bag. It's kind of evening bag size. I made some adjustments and it's looking pretty good. I have the needed hardware already, now it's just a matter of getting some heavy duty paper clips and sewing this sucker together. I think the Prada bag is a little bigger.

Cidell's posts on tie making inspired me to make ties for Mick and Lou. Fashionista Fabrics has a wonderful black silk herringbone that would be perfect for a tie and I already have a pattern for a tie

(an old McCall's pattern)
and I've got a call in to Silhouette Patterns for tie interfacing. I also purchased the tie making handbook from David Page Coffin referenced on Cidell's blog. I made Mick a silk scarf for his name day and now for Xmas, he's going to get a really nice tie.

If I have any leather left over I'm going to attempt these gloves.

And to top it all off, I'm in a really bad mood. Which is so stupid because if I were sewing, it would probably do loads to switch my mood around but I'm waiting for UPS and I don't want them leaving stuff on the porch so I stay within earshot of the bell and hope they arrive soon.

Oh yeah, Lynn, I called about the silk cotton satin. I've ordered it in black, grey, ivory and peach. And yes, it is fabulous and I just found out why, it's from Badgley Mischka, that's why we like it so much.

A Revealing Meme

2008-12-06T20:51:00.003-05:00

I saw this meme going around the blogosphere and I thought it was pretty interesting and self revelatory. I think I've got a pretty interesting life, but there is still so much more out there for me. The prospects are pretty darned exciting.

Things I’ve Done (In Bold)

Things I Want to Do (In Italics)

1. Started my own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band kinda, I was the backup dancer.

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than I can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world (in FL and CA)

8. Climbed a mountain, I can't say a mountain per se but I have climbed/hiked to high peaks.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sung a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched lightning at sea

14. Taught myself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning (ugh!!!!)

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown my own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitchhiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice well, I rode a gondola at the Venetian in Las Vegas

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught myself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had my portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar (yummo!)

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job
a waitress job, my boss heard I was going to quit so he preemptively fired me, I had no intention of quitting.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone (broke my ankle dancing in 4" heels)

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had my picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Rode an elephant

And there's so much more, but I've forgotten most of it.

Zapped By A Prada Bag

2008-12-04T20:48:00.003-05:00

I've started working on these scarves, but I think I'm going to do some design changes. It's a good jumping off point nonetheless. Just this morning I was checking my email and Neiman Marcus sent one with the headline "PRADA GIFTS + Free gift wrap + Free online shipping at any price and in the accompanying photo is this super cute Prada bag. Now I know I can't afford it (I mean come on, I don't even have a car) but I clicked on it anyway and it takes you to the Prada section of the store where lo and behold they're showcasing this Bowling-style bag. I actually gasped. I love it. Prada has brought back lace in a serious way and I've been enjoying all of the wonderful lace creations I've seen like MaryBeth's beautiful dress, Liana's faboo skirt and E's gorgeous galaxy dress. Now I'm nowhere near as talented as these women but I have confidence in my abilities to start a project and possibly finish it. I'd like to make this bag. I have a piece of lace,

It's a small piece, only 3 yards and only about 21 inches wide but it is sumptuous. The wonderful heavily embroidered guipure variety. I bought it the last time I was in NY and I've been thinking about carrying lace of this sort. What do you think, would you buy it, it's like $20 a yard, I am reluctant to carry it, anyway that's a whole different conversation. This piece is perfect for the purse. It's stunningly gorgeous and it's, I think, just big enough to be overlay on a little leather bag. How perfect. I'm so excited because I've seen some really cute versions of the bowler bag on PR and Hot Patterns has a bowling bag pattern and I think I may already have it. I'll have to check. I don't know if I can get this done before any Christmas occasions that I may need to go to but I'll have it for future events. Black lace and leather, it never goes out of style.

Handsewn Presents

2008-11-23T20:15:00.004-05:00

It's that gift giving time of year again. I personally love it. I love making things for my friends and family. I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do but I have some pretty good ideas and some things I've done in the past which worked out well. My neighbor down the street is pretty easy I think, he just stopped by this afternoon to tell me how much he loved the pie I made, so you know, there you go. The girlfriends are a different story. Who knows. One year I made them all Madeline Vionnet style Mobius scarves very much like the ones at The Fashion Incubator, I got the pattern from issue #91 of Threads magazine from November of 2000. I remember the calculations were wrong and I ended up doing all kinds of math to get the right size. It worked out, my girlfriends loved them and eventually Threads corrected the error. I think scarves are still a good idea and there's a whole bunch of different fabrics here which work well for the Mobius scarf and a variety of other different scarves. They're so simple, just cut a square or a rectangle and roll the hem, you're done, present dilemma over.

I also noticed a bunch of people making the Amy Butlers Weekender Travel Bag and Sophia Bag as a really lovely set. I thought it would be cool made up from this fancy looking tweed. I also think this cool robe would make someone happy in a silk charmeuse, crepe or crepe de chine.

Any of these hot handbags would make a great gift for a fashionable chickie, as would a a cute Anthropologie style top or a cute jersey top, using any good knit top pattern like say this really easy Butterick pattern. Plus, Butterick patterns are .99 this weekend at Joann's.

Again you could use the fancy fabric to make a nice boucle hat and scarf, I think that would work for anyone on the list, it's gender neutral. And so are these pinnacle of luxury silk pajamas, for the special person on the gift list.

Custom address labels and matching stationary are something you can make at home on your own computer with some effort and any decent arty type software program.

Mick still needs a new jacket and he likes the looks of this really expensive Zegna jacket, so of course I'll be trying my hand at this.

With all that said, I have a ton of work to do.

Puppy Cam

2008-11-17T18:19:00.002-05:00

My friend Barbi turned me on to this and now I'm completely addicted. So is Mick, so is the cat.

Streaming Video by Ustream.TV

Girly Aesthetic

2008-11-10T10:58:00.002-05:00

So Mick and I were sitting around this morning and he's telling me about how cold it was this morning when he was cleaning the backyard. I asked him what he wore to do it, he said his Carhartt coat. That coat is 8 years old and ripped to shreds, I'm thinking I need to make him a new coat. I said "wow, you do need a new little jacket". He laughed, "what's funny?'' "you said 'little jacket', that makes me think it's going to be 'cute' and I'm scared"

Amazement

2008-11-05T00:01:00.003-05:00

I am without words

Election Day!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-04T18:51:00.003-05:00

O.k. well, see I am a very political person. I take this whole democracy thing very seriously, I haven't missed an opportunity to vote since I reached voting age (I almost went to law school and studied a tiny bit of Constitutional Law). Now I voted last week as I am out of town today (schlepping the garment district) and I tell you what this is so amazingly exciting. Now it's always great being in NYC because everyone is so bare, so connected, whether you want to be or not. You can only get to where you want to go by being in the same space with other people. In Michigan, we're pretty insular and solitary. You know each person has a car to his or herself and you don't really have the same human connection. That said today is human connection at it's best. Some mock New Yorkers as rude uncaring people, but that is simply not the case. Mickey sneezed getting off the Subway and some stranger said god bless you. That was really sweet.

Starbucks is giving away free coffee today if you vote and so of course, we went to get our free coffee and we were chatting with people in line, everyone is in a good mood, everyone is excited. Then we walked by Ben and Jerry's who are giving away free ice cream if you voted and there was a huge line out front and eveyone was happy and chatting. It helps that the weather is wonderful. But I tell you what, this is one of my absolute favorite trips to NY. Here's some pictures from Rockefeller Center. It looks like Uncle Sam threw up red, white and blue. It's incredible. There were already tons of people there and it was only six o'clock. What's it gonna be like at 10 pm, Damn!

I Actually Sewed Something

2008-10-27T19:17:00.003-04:00

What! Why that's crazy! No, I've been either crazy busy or sick so I haven't had much time to sew. Wait, no, I take that back. I have been sewing, just nothing I'm particularly enamored of. Well except for the quilt I finally finished for Fork's baby, I started it before she was born and she's 2 1/2 now. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of it. It is super cool, it has pieces of some of my favorite garments and some of my mom's garments and it's quilted with little gold triangles and around the border has gold metallic meandering quilting for an extra dose of fabulousness (perfect for this most fabulous of little girls, she's a true diva). Then I lost my mojo for a long while because I just wasn't digging the fit on some things, but I think it's back. I'm sure it's only temporary. I told Mick that I probably should get a dress form because I'm shaped so uniquely, it's kinda difficult to work it out flat pattern method, at least not on top, bottoms, I can pretty much handle. Mostly cause I have a flat arse and straight hips, so it translates well to flat patterns. You know flat=flat.

Anyway, I made these really, really cool pants.

I'm going to get Mick to take a better picture because they really are cute, much cuter than this photo would have you believe and they feel like you can't believe. I remember when my mom used to make me wool pants when I was a kid, I hated them, they were always the last thing I'd pull out of the closet to wear to school because they were so itchy, it had to be a really cold day when I didn't mind wearing tights and spraying myself down with anti-static spray. I was going to line these until I tried them on and OH MY, they felt sooooo good, not at all scratchy. I love sewing with wool anyway, it's so forgiving and so organic, its like it wants to be what you want it to be. I love cutting it, sewing it, pressing it, hand sewing it, just everything about it is so easy, it turns my sewing experience into a zen sewing experience and that's exactly what I've needed of late.

I thought the pattern was going to be a little too small for me so I added all this width to the front of the pants but when I tried them on they were huge. I had to take everything out that I'd added in plus more in the back so the darts are awfully close to the zipper but I'd already put the zipper in and it looked pretty darn good, I just couldn't take the zipper and the darts out and redo the entire back so I figure, you know, whatever. Anyway, nobody should be looking that closely at my butt anyway, right?

Because I'd made all those adjustments and then had to take them out anyway, I knew the pattern facing pieces wouldn't work so I created my own by laying the fabric over the pants and tracing out the proper facing. I used this really nice pink silk cotton so that it would be even more lux against my waist. Oh, it's lux alright.

I do really like these pants. My only complaint is one that I have with my own workmanship. I can see the line of demarcation from the handsewing of the hem. I can't stand it. I may just take the hem out and redo it so that it's hidden under the cuff which will make the cuff bigger and the pants longer but that's not a bad thing and it'll keep me from feeling like something just isn't right. Oh and can you believe it, this pattern is out of print. It seems like I just bought it but I realized that was two years ago. Man am I behind!

Political Party

2008-10-16T11:53:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, it was my plan to watch the debate with a couple of my friends. I've turned into a political junkie the last few weeks. I called Lynn and Rico and made a gazillion vegetable spring rolls (yes dear, from scratch {I don't mess around}). Tracy was supposed to come too but it turns out she had a parent teacher conference. What is wrong with those teachers, didn't they know it was debate night!!!!! Anyway, we had a blast. Which is odd considering we were watching a political debate on TV but three bottles of wine, several spring rolls and Rachel Maddow makes for a very, very fun evening with friends.

40% Off Sale

2008-10-11T11:27:00.001-04:00

Fashionista Fabrics is having a big sale 40% off all fabrics. See the thing is, I can't pass up a good piece of fabric, so needless to say, we're completely running out of room. Hence, the sale.

A Lovely Award

2008-10-10T11:19:00.003-04:00

Wowie, wow wow! I have been awarded Premio al esfuerzo personal blog award and the Brilliant Weblog Premio Award 2008 by Amy of Shirts and Skirts Galore, and a Whole Lot More. She's totally right, I have trouble finding time to sew (I am almost finished with my new pants)

As with any award, there are rules and these are as follows:

1. Select 6 bloggers to whom you would like to give this award- prize
2. Put the award - prize on your blog and indicate who gave it to you by identifying her/his blog;
3. Paste these rules on your blog;
4. Write 6 of your most important values and 6 negative points you condemn,
5. Inform the 6 recipients by leaving a comment on their blog.

The six bloggers to whom I would like to give this award are:

Stef at Distracted Muse
She's a master weaver and has just recently begun experimenting with beadmaking. She's always so informative and plus, she's brilliant.

Julia of Julia's Sewing Blog. She makes great garments and her posts are so informative.

Cidell of Miss Celie's Pants. She always makes the coolest garments. I am amazed by her ability to get stuff done.

Michelle of Happily Caffeinated. This woman has only been sewing for like a year and a half and I tell you what, she's absolutely prolific, she and I are similarly shaped and I tend to make the same things she makes and vice versa. Oh, and she made her own bra, How cool is that?

Cindy-Lou of No More Than Two. She just makes cool stuff and she's terribly funny.

Allison C of AllisonC Sewing Gallery. Lots of sewing going on there, she makes beautiful garments as well.

All of these women inspire and inform me. I appreciate the work that they put into not only their creations but also into the act of sharing with the world. Thank you all.

Now for my 6 important values

1. Personal responsibility

2. Integrity

3. Charity

4. Justice

5. An open mind

6. Creativity

Six things that I condemn

1. Narcissism

2. Greed or Covetousness

3. Disrespect

4. Self Pity

5. Lack of self awareness

6. An unwillingness to learn

There, now you know me a bit better.

Neiman Marcus Taste, Newport News Budget

2008-09-19T12:16:00.008-04:00

So, generally what I end up doing a lot is looking at Anthropologie, Bluefly, Neiman Marcus and Style.com for inspiration and the new collections. I love what I find and I think about (only because I haven't actually been sewing clothes right now) what I'd like to copy. Well, I've been receiving Newport News catalogs up the wazoo because I've purchased shoes from them and wouldn't you know, they have this whole SWAP thing as part of their marketing campaign. Look see:

They have five more of these wardrobe editorials. It helps to see them all planned out like this. These, coupled with the amazing work that I just witnessed on the PatternReview site, has got me seriously wanting to sew clothing again (I've been working on quilts and boxer shorts). The thing that has kept me from doing it is fit (of course). I think I need to get a really good pinnable dressform. I'm seriously looking into the MyTwin Dressform, no I take that back-- I'm going to buy the MyTwin Dressform just as soon as is possible. I really miss sewing clothing and I worry that I'm going to forget what I know by the time I get back to it. Plus looking at all the Newport news stuff versus the Neiman Marcus stuff; I know that what I make will be closer in quality to NM than to NN and I have a great stash of fabrics to work from, so I'm hoping to in these next few months get into serious sewing mode. I'm pretty excited already and I'm not even close to having a plan. Besides, I need something to go with the great shoes from Newport News.

This is my favorite collection as I'm all about the color, the houndstooth and the pencil skirt. I'm going to start planning this one out for myself right now. In fact, I joined the PatternReview Pattern Stash Contest and the pencil skirt is the first thing on my agenda, not the first contest item cause I cut it out like about half a year ago but the subsequent stuff to go with, certainly.

Congratulations Are In Order

2008-09-17T17:57:00.002-04:00

The winners of the Pattern Review Mini Wardrobe Contest have been announced. If you haven't already seen it, you should seriously go check out the work. All of the entries were wonderful but three stood out. Specifically, Adrienne who won first prize and HLT and Celeste, who tied for second. Great job ladies, get ready to sew more fabulous stuff with that fabric you won!!!!

Completely Normal, Almost

2008-08-28T09:21:00.002-04:00

Whew! What a ride it's been. I found a dog who seemingly has no people, I lost my computer due to a KISS malfunction and I ended up in the nicest hospital while on my long awaited vacation.

First the dog. I put him on craigslist and michigan pet finder and I put up picture flyers around the neighborhood and called all the neighboring municipalities animal control departments and no takers. Obviously during this time we've all kinda bonded and we like each other (all except for our cat who smacked him on the head a couple of times) so our final step was to see if in fact he might have had a chip and of course he didn't. Mick loves him cause he's a boy dog and he's big and burly, plus Mick is a complete pet sucker. So we've decided to keep him, our vet says he's only about 3 and he's really quite sweet and already fixed. I named him Hamish (after the Vogue style editor, but I didn't know that at the time) because he's such a proper gentleman and our pack is now a little bigger.

Vacation started out great. I knew I was a little sick (kidney infection) before we left and my doctor called in a prescription for me and I was well on my way to recovery. We got there (Saugatuck) and it was so great, the weather was perfect, the drive out was perfect, my BIL showed up, everything was gravy. We had tons of fun playing board games, going into town shopping, admiring all the boats and just hanging out at the park or downtown. The Persied meteor shower was on the Monday night that we were there and how perfect was that? No clouds, no city lights just a big black sky and craploads of shooting stars. It was absolutely fabulous. Then the next day, I didn't feel so well so I stayed behind while Mick and Lou took Lucy swimming and hiking. I thought I'd feel better the next day but I felt worse and I started developing a fever. Mick freaked right out and got all "nurse maid" on me. Because the fever kept going up and I didn't seem to be getting better he suggested that I go to the hospital in the neighboring town of Holland so I did. They were super nice and took me in right away and I got some IV antibiotics and some pain meds and then they sent me on my way with a new prescription. Well that new prescription was not the right thing. I got sicker and sicker until the fever went to 104.4 and I was puking more than talking. I ended up back at the hospital and then transfered down to my local hopsital which is where I spent the last weekend of my vacation. I missed my friends wedding and I didn't get to go hiking or kayaking or shopping (much) and worst of all I had no computer the entire time. The house didn't have WIFI and I couldn't leave to go anywhere that did have it. By the time I got home and well I was jonesing for some good ole internet, cut to...

The computer tragedy. I had tons of work to do before I left but I just couldn't get it all finished so I figured I'd start fresh when I got back. It took a couple of days after my brief hopsital stay to feel better but I did soon enough and I started dancing around the house with my ipod. Well, don't you know I decided that "I need some new songs on this thing, maybe some 70's rock..." So I pull out all these cd's that I haven't listened to in a while and I begin plugging them into Itunes, everything was going alright till I got to Elton John, it didn't seem to be working well, going slow and whatnot so I stopped it and moved on. The next few cd's went on fine until I got to KISS (KISS Alive II, specifically) all the songs went on until the last song and then this horrible noise SCREERWCHH and nothing. I tried to eject the disc and couldn't, I turned off the computer turned it back on and couldn't. Mick finally was able to get it to eject but then it wouldn't turn on, just a sad little grey apple on a blank screen so we packed it up and took it to the mac store where the mac "genius" told me that I needed a new hard drive. Wait, what???? Isn't that like the equivalent of getting a new engine? So after much hand wringing, I called MacMall and ordered my new baby. I'm very pleased with it, I'm going to take it and the old one to the Mac 'geniuses' to see if they can get the data off the old one and onto the new one. That'll teach me not to back up stuff!

Anyway, everything's great now and last night my dear friend Rico and I went to the Michigan State Fair and saw Alice
Cooper. What a great show, it was the whole full on madness with a gallows and dancers and everything. It was such fun, now I just have to go back to the fair in the daytime so I can see all the quilts and jam and cakes. Not to mention the animals, last time I was there I got to milk a cow and see a circus. I love the State Fair.

Broken Apple

2008-08-20T13:19:00.002-04:00

I'm at the Mac store waiting for a "genius"! My computer won't even turn on. I'll be back, hopefully, sooner than later. Lots of news to report. When it rains it pours.

I Give Up (for today at least)

2008-08-04T21:20:00.002-04:00

No hits on the dog. I'm beginning to think he was dumped and he's just so sweet. Lucy likes him and so do we, Libby, well that's another matter. I'm still feeling sickly. This morning I'd planned to get up early and re-photograph the fabric because all the photos came out blueish last time. Ah, those good intentions. The dog stayed in the backyard yesterday, he's really quite dirty, but he was o.k. with it. I think it was a little too exciting for Lucy because in the middle of the night, while we were all sleeping she had a small seizure which caused her to lose bladder control. She was perfectly fine a couple of minutes later but we had to take her outside just in case she to go again and then Mick washed her and I washed and changed the bedding. Everything was fine due to the moisture barrier mattress cover, but you know that was at four a.m. Then when I did wake up, I felt like crap so I scheduled a same day appointment with my doctor and since Mick had a hair appointment, I took my mom's old car and he took the Honda. Well the doctor refilled my prescriptions and then sent me for blood work but nothing else. So as I was leaving, I pulled out onto the service drive and just as I was straightening out the car from the two lanes I was diagonally across, it died. I tried and tried but I couldn't start it, so here's me in my cute gold sandals trying to steer and push my car to the side of the road. Luckily a really nice man and woman came and pushed me out of the way. Then I just sat there, I have no cell phone and I didn't know where the hazard switch was for the car when the lady who helped pushed comes walking up and let me use her cell phone to call the auto club, plus she knew how to turn on the hazards. While we were standing there, the police showed up and lit some flares behind me and then the tow truck was there in no time at all. He drove me and my car home. It was my intention to put the truck in the driveway and move the car to the front of the house but when I got in the truck, it too was dead. Nothing, not even a clicking sound. So I decided it was time to go in and have some breakfast (yes, all of this happened before breakfast). I came back out to check the car again and on a lark I tried to start it, it started right up, like nothing had ever happened. On top of it all, I'm still sickly, with no solutions from the doctor. I thought, I know, I'll go sew. I started and I was so tired that I couldn't do too much. So, in spite of all the drama and all the good fortune (I'm so lucky that everything unfolded the way it did, imagine if those nice people hadn't been there!) I have decided to just give up and go to bed. Maybe I'll feel better tomorrow!!!

We Found Another Dog!

2008-08-03T21:28:00.004-04:00

This always happens to us. I think we're the dog godparents of our neighborhood. I wasn't feeling well, (Lynn, I think you and I are on the same vibe) so Mick suggested we go sit outside for a bit and lo a fabu black chow dog came bopping by with no collar and no owner. Well Mick quickly got a leash and some treats and lured him away from the main highway and into our yard. Here he is:

I've called the local pd and posted on craigslist and michiganpets.net. I hope we find the owner; more often than not we do find the owner. I hope this is no exception.

And here's Lucy since she's gotten all of her hair cut off for summer. She was visited this morning by the neighbor boy dog, Milo and I managed to get some good shots of the two of them. Milo is the one in mid leap. It captures his energy level perfectly.

Back From NYC

2008-07-17T11:40:00.003-04:00

O.K. Here's the thing, I just got back from fabric shopping in NYC for Fashionista Fabrics. I totally didn't feel like going. Every time I go, the night before I leave I have this crazy nightmare about not being able to find any good fabric. This time was no exception. I dreamt that no one would help me and there was absolutely no fabric to be found. When I awakened I realized it was my standard anxiety dream and I looked at the pile of laundry that needed doing and the sink full of dirty dishes and decided, I might as well go. This time, I was sitting next to two women on the plane and we were complaining about how bad the airline sucks and I noticed the one lady's top. I thought, "ooh, that's just the thing I'm looking for". We got to talking and next thing you know, we were landing. It was just a wonderful flight, no turbulence, no issues, no drama, just girl talk. You can't beat that on an airplane. Anyway, I went to some new vendors and saw some cool stuff (some of which will be up at FF pretty soon). I went to the bookstore across the street from FIT again, I really like that bookstore, I like it better than the FIT bookstore. I got a couple of hip curve rulers for a couple of my sewing buds. Ladies, you gotta know I love you if I'm willing to schlep two 24" metal rulers around the city and on an airplane! It turned out to be a fruitful trip. I finished early enough that I had time to go check out some of the fancy retail fabric stores. I'd never been to Parons or Parons Annex before. They had some wonderful things (some of which I have at FF) and likewise at Rosen and Chadick, I'd been there before but you could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw they had this

We sold out of it pretty quickly and I understand why, they were asking almost double of what we were asking. Ah, the cache of the garment district. I'm not mad at 'em though, they gotta make that paper too.

I went to New York Elegant Fabrics. I got the business card and I wrote on the back "WOW! OMG! Fabric Really $$$". It's a huge, huge store filled with really beautiful and not cheap fabrics, I could have spent a couple of weeks in there.

I came away really inspired and I got some really nice fabrics for the fall and the end of summer. I can't wait till they all arrive. Oh yeah, and the woman on the plane who had on the cute top, I found the fabric and it'll be up at FF very soon.

So Far, Not Bad, Not Bad At All!

2008-06-26T14:12:00.002-04:00

Well, the Obama dress bodice muslin is coming along nicely. I need Mick to pin the back closed so I can check the final fit. I'm still waiting for my new bras to come in the mail which will either confirm or deny the bodice fit but at the moment, it looks surprisingly good. I'll post some pictures later once Mick does the pinning. In the meantime, I'm planting flowers and avoiding the neighborhood children, who for some reason are drawn to me. Everyday, there's a tiny knock at the door and then a gaggle of kids swarm my house to play with my dog, eat from my herb garden and ask a bunch of bizarre kid style questions. I'm finally the most popular kid on the block and I'm 42 years old. Oh, it's too much.

Lisa tagged me so here's a bunch of info about me:

1. What were you doing ten years ago?

I was the assistant director of security for the Detroit Institute of Arts. I was probably getting ready to go to the Rainbow Gathering and I was hanging out with my boyfriend (now husband).

2. What five things are on my "to do" list for today?

1.Work on the bodice

2. Do the laundry

3. Plant up the lobelia and portulaca

4. Make soymilk from scratch

5. Clean off my desk (it's a constant and never gets done)

3. Snacks I enjoy

Cape Cod Dark Russet Potato chips

Plums

Sesame seed tortilla chips

Smoked oysters

Spirulina and flax seed oil covered popcorn

4. What I would do if I became a billionaire

*Donate the maximum amount of money allowable to Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

*Buy this cute little building in Manhattan and hire my BIL to turn it into the most fabulous little building.

*Buy Art.

*Send my brother to a good mental health and rehab facility and buy him a house and hire a personal assistant for him.

*Buy Mickey a nine foot Steinway concert grand piano.

*Donate tons money to a variety of different causes.

5. Places I have lived

Detroit, Michigan

Redford, Michigan

6. What type of work I've done:

Fitness Instructor

Waitress

Salesperson

Health Club Manager

Baker

Model

Cake Decorator

Receptionist

Secretary

Typist

Bartender

Security Guard

Security Manager

Fabric Cutter

Sewing Instructor

7. Five people I'd like to know more about:

Stef at Distracted Muse

Lynn at Sewl II Sewl

Trena at The Slapdash Sewist

Tearsa at That's Sew Live

Debbie at Stitches and Seams

And a shout out to Duffy, Hey girl! Where you at?

Mojo's Back!

2008-06-22T11:09:00.003-04:00

What brought it back you ask??? Michelle Obama and her flashy ways (I just love her). I loved her dress on The View and she looked so, so fabulous. I thought, "oooh, I need that dress" and since I haven't been up on cinder blocks but working on a bodice sloper slavishly, it is a wonderful opportunity to do some drafting. It's a simple dress and Paula of Sew Confused did an awesome job on the contrast bands on her DGD's dress and that in itself is inspiring. I happen to have some black and white poplin with a bit of spandex on hand at Fashionista Fabrics. Lynn and I have playing with the idea of drafting our own pattern based on our bodice slopers, it seems like the universe is pointing me in the direction of that dress and who am I to argue with the universe. Besides, I have one cute cotton summer dress and it's old and falling apart, I need something new.

Vogue Patterns On Sale

2008-05-25T21:14:00.003-04:00

Hey, just a heads up. I went to Joann's today because Lynnelle called and asked if I wanted to go and lucky I did. They had Vogue patterns on sale for $3.99 plus 10% (with a coupon, but none needed for the patterns) off your total purchase. It was not advertised and the sale is on tomorrow as well. Consider yourselves enabled. Happy Shopping!

That Mojo Is A Slippery Creature

2008-05-23T17:17:00.004-04:00

You know why I say that...I've lost mine, AGAIN! I think it happened in New York. While I love going and looking at and purchasing fabrics for the store (which are all posted on Fashionista Fabrics now), I just didn't enjoy what I was wearing. I know it's all about me and my ongoing struggles with my weight but I just couldn't stand how I looked the whole time. Part of this is due to the differences in mirrors. Now here's a bit of history. I grew up in a house full of mirrors, as my mother was not only a model but a really awesome sewer. She needed mirrors to check fit, check the back, check the make-up, check the shoes. I, being the rebellious child that I am, decided to eschew mirrors in favor of a more crunchy, hippie kind of vibe. I moved in with a man who had 2 mirrors, one over the bathroom sink and one on the bathroom door. Well that's always been just fine for me because those two mirrors seem to have magical capabilities. They totally make me look taller and slimmer than I actually am. As I gained weight, it didn't really matter because my mirrors told me I looked good. Well, cut to New York and Lou's apartment. Lou, my dear sweet brother-in-law who lets me stay with him, has exactly two mirrors as well but for some odd reason, his mirrors make me look shorter and fatter than I actually am (or maybe not, I can't tell now) so as a consequence, I looked TERRIBLE in absolutely everything I put on except the Simplicity 3887 top. Of course, it didn't help that I went to Macy's and I tried on some things that actually looked good on me (I ended up buying a trenchcoat in bright yellow and I almost bought more clothes, thank goodness they're ridiculously expensive for something I could make in not too long a time. Anyway, when I got home, I got so busy with the store and whatnot, that I didn't have the energy to sew. It's been a godsend to have people to sew with because at least I haven't completely given up.

As we've been working together, Lynn is working on her mini swap and Therisa is working on lingerie and Elnora is working on a million different things. I can't seem to decide and I'm sick to death of having failures, things that are just a little off. Therisa is the bra making champ of the group and after much discussion, we don't think my bra is correct and because of that I'm reluctant to start something until I can get a good bra. I ordered some from Bare Necessities and I'm hoping they'll be here soon. I ordered three different sizes in the hopes that I'll find one that fits and looks good under clothes. Plus too, I want to make a bunch of different things and it's hard to decide on one thing to start. Here's what I'd like to make soon as well as the Simplicity jacket:
This is of course, all because of Carolyn. I never even thought about this dress until she put it on her blog, now I think it's the most perfect beautiful dress EVER!

On the more proactive tip, Mick and I started doing the Body For Life Challenge together and so far so good. We haven't missed one weight lifting day but aerobic days can only get better. I feel very positive about that, I feel that my body has already changed a bit and I'm for sure feeling stronger. And hey, at the very least, I need to make some new gym clothes.

Inspiration, But Not From Me

2008-05-17T10:00:00.004-04:00

So yesterday, just as I finished writing the last post Mick came home and the first thing out of his mouth was that he knew what I should make. Apparently he's been thinking about this as much as I have. He said I should use the Turkish Delight fabric to make this jacket.

I looked and looked and I couldn't find the pattern, well long story short, I looked where it was supposed to be and to my delight it was there. I'm taking that with me and a couple of other things. I want to do something quick and dirty but with all the pattern alterations I have to make, I have a feeling there's no such thing. I'm taking a couple more things with me and the girls can help me decide.

I'm very lucky to have such a wonderful group of friends to sew with. You know it's funny, I asked the universe for sewing friends and lo here they are. I am a big fan of "ask, believe, receive". Next up, I'm winning the lotto!!!!

Pattern Sale, But I'm Not Biting

2008-05-16T18:23:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, today and tomorrow, JoAnn's has Mccall's and Butterick patterns on sale for 1.99 and I won't be stopping by. Mick's probably going to check to see if I have a fever or something, but I'm perfectly fine. I simply don't like the new patterns enough to rush out and buy them when I have new patterns at home that I haven't yet had the chance to sew. Tomorrow, we're having another sewing get together and I don't have anything planned. I'm going to go look through those million patterns that I already own and find something to make. I've still not made the cosmopolitan dress, there are so many possibilities really. Regardless, because of the whole sewing day scheduled, I know I will come up with something. I don't want to squander the time sewing with buds. It's really quite nice having a group to sew with because I'm not allowed to flounder and my mojo doesn't get that far from me. I know I need summer clothes and this is the perfect opportunity to get them going (that and the fact that I donated a bunch of last years clothes). Well, I guess we'll all see what I come up with, huh? Maybe I should go "snoop shopping" to kinda help myself out.

Back From NYC

2008-05-13T18:32:00.002-04:00

Well, Mick and I went to NYC to buy fabric and to have our anniversary dinner. We arrived and hit the garment district first thing and I loaded up on cute summer fabrics. They all just arrived today and the UPS guy just left them outside, I'm so mad. I had to schlepp them all inside by myself, well not quite, my friend helped me with the last package but dang those were heavy, like 70 or 80 pounds a piece. Anyway, we had a very productive trip; two days scouring the district for fabulous fabrics and of course I had to stop at the bead store, and I'm sharing some of my loot with my cousin Sharon, who makes beautiful jewelry in her spare time. I'm excited about the fabric and I can't wait to get it photographed and up. I happened upon a lovely piece of silk charmeuse that Mood bought most of (but not all) so that was a bit of a coup and I got a cotton faille and a printed voile and some pastel cotton lawns with stretch (that's a new thing I think) and some really cool jerseys. I would photograph them right now but I needed to take a little sit down from schlepping them inside. I'll probably get the lions share of it photographed and up this evening with a little help from my reluctant business partner. WOOHOO!!!!!

Blogoversary?? New Butterick

2008-05-02T20:48:00.004-04:00

I think it's my blogoversary! WOOHOO! Anyway, new Butterick patterns were just recently posted and surprisingly enough, I have a few favorites.

Here they are:

I really like this dress, it's a very simple classic shape but with some interesting details. The sleeves are pleated and the band is a good opportunity for contrasting or complementary fabrics. I can see wearing this for more than one season.

I like this dress, not because I think its going to be something that will be enduring (I mean I have a picture of myself in a 70's house dress that looks suspiciously like this dress) but because it is a very current look and shape in dresses lately. I can see this in a lovely pique or linen, I don't know that I would do contrasting bands with this one as for me, it brings back the house dress vibe. I do love those little buttons at the shoulder. Very cute.

The pants are cute enough, I don't know, I probably already have something like this so I won't purchase this one but I can see wearing these this summer. It's like 1978 all over again.

I've been resisting this style of jacket since the SewStylish version came out last summer. I thought it might not be the best shape for my shape. This one has that nice back interest on view C. I can see wearing that jacket with the pants in the previous photo with a cute tee and wedgie sandals, I'll be good to go.

At the moment, I've put the coat muslin away, it's too hot and that means summer will be here in 15 minutes and I won't have anything to wear. I've cut out two Jalie 2005 tee's and I'm going to cut out Simplicity 3887 (see review on sidebar) with added length and a nice lining for my anniversary dinner dress, I'm hoping for the best, I'm using this really gorgeous fabric. I'm hoping to have it completed over the weekend.

Flashback And Seven Random Things

2008-04-30T12:23:00.003-04:00

This is me and my brother and my dear friend Tracy and her late sister. Her sister is holding her face and of course, my brother is holding me. We're sitting on our front porch at the house in Detroit that I grew up in. I was telling my brother in law that my hair still looks like that. At least I wear more clothing these days. I just had to post this, I found it and I couldn't help getting that wonderful nostalgic feeling one gets when reminded of simpler, sunny days.

Now to the seven random things for which Michelle tagged me.

The rules:

* Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
* Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
* Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
* Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I am a feminist.

2. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a broadway star.

3. I sing all the time.

4. I Love, Love, Love Barbara Stanwyck, she's so tough.

5. I will put up with nonsense for much, much longer than I should.

6. I am overly cautious.

7. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, but not so much that I have a really clean house, just really clean hands ;~)

Now I know I'm supposed to tag seven people but I think everybody's already been tagged. If anyone wants to reveal seven random things, please do. I'd love to know more about you.

Love and kisses!

McCalls, Um Nope

2008-04-18T11:35:00.002-04:00

Well the new Mccall patterns for summer came out the other day and I am happy to report that I won't hardly be adding a thing to my stash. You notice I said "hardly". While I thought most of the patterns lacked style and were too youthful for anyone but my 14 year old neighbor, I did like a couple. No, no I take that back, if they weren't too youthful, they were frumpy and dowdy. Yeah, sorry nope, not buying it, not making it, not wearing it. In fact if someone made up some of these aforementioned frumpy garments precisely to fit my body in my colors, I still wouldn't have it. Sorry McCall's this was a big fat miss as far as I'm concerned. I know there are others who may feel differently about this line but its just not hitting it for me.

I do, however, really like these two patterns.
I would make view B of the dress (were I to have an occasion) and I would do some fancy beadwork on the neckband. It's just asking, no begging for embellishment.

Now this top is just a great all purpose tee. I thought of making this with a lovely silk charmeuse. I really love this one, it's a classic.

Thanks McCalls for not adding to my stash (that much).

More Than A Notion

2008-04-17T23:05:00.002-04:00

I tell you what, altering that coat pattern is proving to be quite the lesson in patience. It's taking a really long time because I really want to do it right. It's like a house of cards, you change one thing, then you've got a million other changes to make because of it. But I am tenacious and I fully intend to get this done (relatively) soon. That thing I said before about michigan spring only lasting two weeks, I was right, today it was 76 and sunny, I think two weeks ago it was snowing, ah well that just means fall will come early and I'll be ready with my new coat!

In the meantime, I think I'm going to pull out Jalie 2005, for a quick couple of tees to tide me over until I can find and evaluate my summer wardrobe. Wish me luck!

An Amazing Week

2008-04-13T11:47:00.003-04:00

So I listen to "The Secret" on CD on a regular basis. I try to stay positive and ask the universe for what I want and know that it's coming to me. As you well know, I'd been feeling lonely and wanted sewing friends so I asked the universe for sewing friends and it's as if the heavens parted and rained down wonderful people. The week started with the sewing day with Lynnelle and ES and it just kept getting good. I had a busy week at the store which was awesome, because I got to clean up the area really well and organize. I talked to people on the phone and via email. Then I heard from the very fabulous MaryBeth of The Stitchery. She was going to be in town this week. As fortune would have it, she was going to end up having to drive right by my house. I told her she had to stop by and lo, on Friday Mick and I got to spend the afternoon with MaryBeth and her HusPartner. What a great time we had. It was so wonderful meeting them and spending time with them. The day was full of laughter and hugs, even our dogs got along. You can't ask for more than that. But of course, that wasn't all. MaryBeth had a gift for me, a lovely tea set that I swear, if I had been shopping with her I can't imagine anything catching my eye more than that. I just can't say enough good things about them. I can't wait to see them again.

Saturday, Lynnelle came over and we spent the afternoon sewing on our muslins (hers wearable, mine not so much) and even though we didn't get very far we made tons of progress. At least we got to the point where we could see where the problems were plus we had tons of fun and it's really great having not only someone to talk to that you have sewing in common, but so many other things. Then later I posted photos of my quandry on PR and all these fabulous people posted solutions and I even got a very detailed email (thanks again Els) showing me how to solve it. Jeez, I just love you guys!!! MWAH!