Story of E

The Dress: 002 (aka: Why I still love Pattern Review)

2012-01-26T09:14:00.005-05:00

I've been crushing on this pattern for a looooong time:

The Vogue 2880 Bellville Sassoon misses dress. It has that Spanish-princessy thang that appeals to my undercover Rican-ness. Its sassy, yet sweet. And it looks flamin' good on that pattern envelope. I bought the pattern over a year ago and stashed it, waiting for an event that would give me enough lead-time to get it done.

Fast-forward to wedding obsession. I've been digging through the stash, trying to frankenpattern a dream dress. And there is 2880. Hmmmm. Maybe with the right fabric this could be a great wedding dress...

Enter Pattern Review. I checked out the reviews other people have posted on this dress. The word is that 2880 is tedious: a billion pattern pieces, time consuming, notions out the wazoo, tricky fabric. Ok, Ok. I can deal with all that. But it was the pictures.

Let me begin by saying this is in no way a reflection on those PR members who have clearly accomplished a great thing by creating this dress. While the dresses I saw in the review photos were beautiful and obviously well crafted, the fact is that the pattern envelope lies. The real-life dress on real-life bodies is, imho, waaaaay different than the sassy red number worn by the Angelina-esque model Vogue used on the pattern envelope. Sigh.

On the flipside, could you imagine if we didn't have PR? Thanks again, Deepika.

The Dress: 001

2012-01-14T17:35:00.007-05:00

Bias cut silk (crepe? charmeuse?) with illusion back (lace? french tulle?). Still theorizing bodice front. Butterflied sleeves.
It's reminiscent of my old ladybird design.

I knew it.

2012-01-13T12:26:00.008-05:00

I just knew I would end up making this dress. For months now I've tried to kid myself into thinking I'd found the perfect off the rack dress. A friend at work assured me that in the Ukraine it is bad luck to make your own dress. I was just waiting for it to go on sale. It would be so nice to put my energy into everything else that planning a party for 200 people would require.

But there was always that nag of doubt. I knew what I wanted, and the only way I'd get it was to go handmade. Everything else in the wedding is going to be homemade chic, so why not just make the dress I want?

The Big Picture

The inspirations for this wedding are going to lend to some pretty awesome fashion moments, and I think it will help my sanity to record all this on blog. For instance:

I ask Darling what he envisions his attire for the wedding to be. He brings me this picture:

The one to the left, he says.

I smile.

I Google.

I counter with this picture:

(btw: sorry these photos are not credited, I googled them again and couldn't find the sites)

He smiles.

Ok.

This should be fun.

The opinions on my dress? We've found a few inspirations:

celebritybrideguide.com

Offbeatbride.com

fashionology.com

I am trying to imagine what kind of frankenpattern I can come up with. Any opinions and pattern suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

The girls' dresses will be silk painted at the bottom, all in white silk, each dress different for each girl.

Let the games begin.

Yup, It's gonna be one of THOSE blogs.

2012-01-11T18:07:00.003-05:00

Elizabeth and Cornelius

September 7, 2012

Giving Thanks...

2012-01-10T21:54:00.008-05:00

...for spanx.

Introducing McCall's M6433, the 2011 Thanksgiving Dress.

It was nice to keep the tradition alive. I even got the dress done in early November, despite getting lazy with the blogging.

The sweater knit was an idea I got from the pattern cover, but it had a weird fit in the middle, kinda matronly. I remedied it with a cute little belt. The clasp was from the button section at JoAnn. I found it impossible to find a suitable belt buckle.

I got a billion compliments on the shoulder detailing.

Those little pleats really spice things up.

Nifty

2011-06-26T12:47:00.001-04:00

Has anyone else hung a retractable clothesline in their work area?

How do I love mine? Let me count the ways...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

My first commission and The Ultimate Snoop story.

2011-03-27T15:01:00.006-04:00

Story of E Couture is now official.

An artist who lives in my town (who also happens to be nationally recognized, award winning, and has great genes; art lovers check this out) has commissioned me to create two dresses for his models to wear. He sent me some inspirational photos and described the looks he wanted. The goal for me was to get the look right, but also create a garment that can fit many body types and be versatile enough to be used in future paintings.

I knew instantly that dress number one would evolve from Butterick 5224, which was in-stash.

I would lengthen the lower panels and have the front criss cross and close like a bathrobe. Unfortunately, the gathering along with the liner in the skirt created way too much bulk at the front when it overlapped. Take-two had me going conventional with a back seam. I left the back open where a zipper would have been and attached ties so the dress is adjustable. Moving the opening to the back allowed me to add a long tie at the center front which can be wrapped around a number of ways.

I wanted alot of fabric folds coming from the shoulder seam, so I added 6 inches on each bodice piece at the bustline and gathered the entire sleeve taught to the neckline. I left the bodice unlined. I personally like to see a little nipplage in my paintings. Classic.

Dress number 2 is waiting for Simplicity patterns to go on sale Thursday at JoAnn. There is a costume pattern that will be juuuuuuust right.

******************

The Ultimate Snoop

Ok, so if you know anything about mE, you know I'm a sucker for formal wear. While trying on dresses at David's Bridal for my sister's wedding, of course I was checking out the construction and detailing. I found myself wondering how they were going to do the alterations for my sister's gown (ohhh, I bet they open it at the waist!). Then I found myself looking at their alterations price list. Then I found myself wondering if they were hiring seamstresses.

Yup, that's right folks. The only two problems were 1) I have no experience, and 2) I have never even looked at an industrial machine, and anyone who's ever watched Project Runway knows how that goes... So two days before my interview I tracked down a sewing machine dealer who happened to have an industrial machine for sale and was nice enough to sit down with me for half an hour and school me in the art. And schooled I was. I went into the interview and knew the machine inside and out. Unfortunately my lack of experience made the endeavor an epic FAIL, but they offered me a job at the store anyway (just far, far away from the scissors). I wonder if they'll let me try on dresses during lunch?

B+

2011-02-18T11:16:00.007-05:00

I am still battling it out with this dress, but we're in negotiations for a treaty. Hopefully you'll have photos soon.

Do you ever feel like no matter how great the outside looks, that the inside of your garment still looks like a school project? What does it take to make a pretty wrong side?

The Puppy from heDoubleL*

2011-01-22T10:08:00.005-05:00

*Or: why this is a photoless blog.

About 6 months ago we adopted an adorable puppy. Since then, she has destroyed thousands of dollars in ipod, phone, and computer cables, not to mention clothes, shoes, fabric, woodburners, furniture and just about anything else she can get her grubby little paws on. The cable connecting my printer and my computer was one of the more recent casualties, rendering my photo memory card temporarily useless.

And if you only knew what goodies are locked on that photo card!!

After the Christmas rush, when the kiddies were tucked away nicely at school again, I kinda taught myself to drape (!). Yup, I just threw some muslin on the form and pinched away. (Imagine photos here). It started with a great article in Threads (photo) that illustrated a pretty straightforward way to pinch out a top. I'm still tweaking the bodice, which has been revised about 5 times. I decided to drape the skirt directly in my fabric. Ooops I lied, I have a stored photo of the fabric here:

Some things I've discovered in this process.

1- It's really hard to drape on a duct tape dressform (if you're like me and left your duct tape form unpadded and uncovered). You can't pin to the form itself, and the fabric is slippery against the surface of the tape and shifts crazily. I had a real problem keeping fabric edges parallel to the floor, and I'd finish pinching out darts and seams on the back just to turn it around and realize the center front line had been drinking heavily.

2- The thing I had most trouble with was the armhole, mostly because it's not clearly defined on my form. I winged it with my french curve a few times before I stopped being lazy and looked up some sleeve fitting techniques. I'm hoping this is my last revision.

3- It's a good thing sharpies come in so many colors. (photo). I used sharpies to mark my seam lines and could keep track of which line was current because I used a different color sharpie for each revised fitting.

4- At regular intervals throughout the process I really had to resist throwing in the towel (and still do). This is tedious stuff. And let's face it folks, we all know that no matter what kind of look we want, we can find a pattern to fit it- or at least come close enough that we can work with it. Why was I going through all this trouble to drape a sleeveless, ballet neckline, princess seamed bodice when I knew for a fact I could just dig into my pattern stash and find exactly what I wanted? I don't know. But now that I've invested all this time and effort and about 20 yards of muslin I'm hooked.

So hopefully my completion of this gown will coincide with a trip to Best Buy, and I'll be able to share my first draped project with you! Don't hold your breath though, because I've been in bed for three days with the flu. I'm thinking end of month, so I can get busy on something scandalous for valentine's day ;)

Somebody stop me

2010-12-13T11:12:00.003-05:00

I'm seriously considering Etsy.

'tis the season

2010-12-09T21:17:00.003-05:00

Another silk scarf.

paint love

2010-12-06T08:51:00.003-05:00

These are silk scarves from Dharma Trading (over there -->) fancied up a bit with their silk painting kit. It's the gutta resist version.

I'm loving this. It's quick - each scarf takes only a day, and 90% of that is drying time. I think they are pretty, and will make good gifts. And creating them feels good :)

These scarves are only about 10 inches accross. I plan to do this on a larger scale someday, worked into formal gowns. Ahh, someday...

Snake Charmer

2010-12-05T18:35:00.007-05:00

Once upon a time I created a great dress to wear for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm making it a tradition. Introducing New Look 6000.

The back is really not so messy looking as in this pic.

I left it unhemmed because I was pressed for time. The material is a crazy cool snakeskin I got at JoAnn back in the day. It has a high sheen layer over the pattern that adds to the reptilian feel. For the life of me I couldn't get the unpleated areas of the front to lay nice, so at times it looks like both sides are gathered. The cuffs and collar are done in a bodaciously bodied high sheen linenish blend.

The picture of the inside shows where I added darts above the bust and also the pattern's distinctive pleating on the side. I was all kool-aid-smiles when I stopped for coffee on the long ride home and the girl behind the counter said "That's a great dress!"
I was tempted to show her where I pinned my fingers together making it, but I just smiled like a fool and said "thanks".

Lemonade

2010-11-01T20:05:00.011-04:00

Butterick 4985. At the risk of sounding whiny, I will delve into the drama that is B4985. I knew I was in trouble when the pattern instructions were mysteriously missing- there were only pattern pieces in the envelope. No problem. Then I realized my pattern only went up to size 12 (I usually cut a 16 and taper.) No problem. I somehow lost inches between fitting the lower front panels and finishing them, so I had to improvise with loop buttons. I was forgiving to myself and used oval elastic as the loops. I will not even hate on the stripes not lining up. I love the Caroline Ingalls feel of it.

Then I realized the red tracing papers I used were permanent.

So it'll be cute under a vest.

How E Got Her Groove Back

2010-10-26T17:22:00.006-04:00

Undergarments are our friends.

There it is, my first dress out of the slump. Burda 7444. I still can't decide if I love it. Is it too hefty bag?

I really love the back. I omitted the center back zipper. It was completely unnecessary with this knit, a beautifully sheen jersey blend from Kashi at Metro.

This pattern was a breeze, and the end result is super-comfy. I'll be sporting this dress with combat boots and fingerless gloves all winter :)

It's good to be back.

blah blah blogging*

2009-09-22T11:14:00.002-04:00

*not sewing related.

I've been blah blahing about autism, in case you'd like to know.

spread the lovE

The Someday Sewist strikes again...

2009-09-10T15:17:00.006-04:00

I've been dipping my tootsies back in the sewing room (FINALLY!). I must be radiating that sewing kind of energy, because look at this great package that Pell sent to me:

I got some really cool vintage metal buttons in the mix and a ton of thread.

I can't wait to make something with this stuff from my grandmother. Love love love the legacy sewing.

It's good to be back. ;)

Out of the Blue

2009-05-10T14:25:00.003-04:00

... or shall we say, "blues".

It's Mother's Day, and one of my gifts to myself was a little bit of fabric :)

which made me think of all of you. I miss you guys. I hope everyone is sew happy :)

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mommas out there.

I've been away for good reasons... and I'll be back again, but not soon enough.

lovE

Move over Bacon

2009-03-10T18:34:00.025-04:00

... the kid is moving into the sewing room :)

With Special Thanks to Karen, who hooked said kid up with a machine of her own. And logic dictates that said machine will be followed by fabric stash of her own and pattern stash of her own and... well, let's just say it's time to clean house.

So this is my stash, bared for all to see. I honestly feel a little naked.

It's still in a messy state, I'll make it all neat in its new home. I had a "before" picture showing fabric oozing out of every crack and crevice in my sewing room, but then I remembered my parents occasionally read this.

It was that bad.

For now, it's just piled according to colors.

I evidently have a thing for stripes - not a polka dot in the bunch!

and no yellows. I wonder what that says about my psyche... Do you think that's a profession out there somewhere? Stash Therapist! Can you imagine the implications of the snake skin?

The scraps and recycle projects have been contained - I even got all my scraps sorted into baggies.

I also discovered I have a good variety of lining on hand.

I have an extremely rough (kindergarten art) sketch of a storage system I'd like to craft. The way I see it, there are 4 essential elements to the fabric storage *working right to left:

1. bins for scraps, 2. shelves (preferably with glass doors) for fabric that is best stored folded, 3. vertical roll storage for large yardage, and 4. horizontal bars to accommodate hanging smaller yardages of fabrics that shouldn't be stored folded. I think of the old fashioned tiered newspaper hanging bars at the library.

My muslin station is already pretty cool. That's tracing paper on top, and there are muslin scraps in the gift bag. You can just see my rulers hanging next to it. Note the glasses ;) !!!

I hear IKEA calling, so there will be more pictures as the stash storage develops.

*********

I finally came up with an idea to practice my smaller silk painting in a portable way.

I used one of the styrofoam packing inserts from a toaster oven box as a mini fabric stretching frame. It can be placed flat over the design for "tracing" and keeps the fabric raised. The silk scarf, courtesy of Dharma Trading, is stretched across and pinned, it's the perfect size.

Speaking of other nifties, during my quilt making I discovered that the plastic template sheets that JoAnn's sells for $5 are the same as the 3-pack of flexible cutting mats you can get at the dollar store. (Cidell, hope you're reading this!)

**************************

And send me all your lovin' and positive energy, because I think I may have found my dream job*. Fingers and toes crossed.

*Karen, no it's not what we talked about ;)

***************************

And speaking of daydreams- have you ever dreamed about what your Project Runway audition video would be like! Come on, I bet you even chose music!

Sew, Interrupted

2009-03-03T11:19:00.005-05:00

Captain's Log:

It's been twelve days now, stranded on this desert island- and there is no sewing in sight. The camera batteries died over a week ago. Lighting McQueen Bubble Machine and Kid #1's tv remote tried to donate, but they just weren't compatible. I fear it wouldn't matter anyway. There is nothing to photograph.

On day seven I spied a hope off the shore- it was the JoAnn's weekend sale. But alas, despite my shouting and frantic arm waving, I just couldn't flag it down. It sailed on by.

I have been scouting the island for anything that could be used in constructing the Amy Butler bags, but nothing here has a strong enough fiber content.

Kid #2's fever has finally broken after three days of madness and things too horrible to describe. I was forced to let another ship sail on by- the Jomar pleasure cruise. Through my makeshift lens I spied crazy knits, 2$/yard prices, and a deck party that included Karen and Kisha. Floating over the water came decadently bitchy laughter. I knew it from somewhere- Project Runway season one, perhaps? But the big ol' ship turned abruptly into the sun and disappeared.

I am separated from base camp, where the leather skirt is hanging, awaiting a major dart reconstruction. Even if I could cross the wasteland back into that region, I doubt I would have the strength to perform such a delicate operation in such an unpredictable environment.

I don't know how long I can hold out here. If I could just get those sleeves basted into the jacket, I'd have a chance at escaping... but everytime I make a move I am thwarted by the natives. I have yet to decipher their language- it's almost as if I am a god and a slave to them (especially that big one). I've discovered that they are distracted by high levels of ice cream and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson movies. I'm hoping that tonight, after cover of nightfall, I can make my move.

e out.

Captain's Log, supplemental:

Note of Meritorious Service, K-9 unit:

I was stranded alone with Kid #2 during the height of his sickness. After witnessing the carnage, the dog turned to me. "Get help" I said.

That dog dodged house bombs and climbed a flight of stairs, and proceeded to knock Kid #1's door open with his head. He alerted them immediately and backup arrived just in time.

see how his eyes reflected the light? I think he was rotating one eye away from the flash at the shutter moment.

***

Houston, we have a problem.

2009-02-21T19:01:00.008-05:00

In all my sewing days (all 300 or so of them), I've never had a pokey dart.

Until now.

I'm showing the rear dart, but all of them are poking at least slightly.

And the problem is that it's in suede.

and it's already been topstitched.

And frankly, I'm afraid to go in and start messing with it.

Everything seemed fine when it was flat, but as soon as I connected the seams (this skirt has one long horizontalish seam that spirals around) and pulled it on... well- let's just say I know my butt is in need of a few laps, but it's not got corners yet. And the muslin was soooooooo perfect.

So I'm stalled. I have a good idea of how to fix it, thanks to the PR boards again, but I'm not too eager. I have doubts as to my ability to pull this off :( And my machine is not happy. I tried to use the Trusty White from my mom to do the seams in the suede, but it didn't even break the surface. My Viking D1 is proving to be as tough as it is pretty, but as all tough girls know, the tough need a break.

***********************

In the eternal search for the AB bag fabric, I did come across some neat buttons that I would like to use for purse feet:

But no fabric yet. To be honest, I've read so much about the difficulties of the thick home dec fabric in the Weekender that I'm thinking I might just beef up some lightweight fabric with interfacing and go with it. I promised my machine a break after the leather, and I can't really find any home dec that I like. I'm thinking silk shantung. In chartreuse. With a baby blue liner.

or maybe I've just been looking at this dress (on PR) too long.

****************************

I'm thinking about stash organization. Have you seen this flickr site?

The best just got better!

2009-02-17T18:10:00.006-05:00

sorry there's a big ol' packing sticker in the middle, but I often favor laziness efficiency and figured I didn't need to dig the box out and turn it.

I found this cover your ears, j bigayss box o' polyfill when I was cleaning out the sewing room today. Oh yes. I could lose a small moon/space station in that room amongst the clutter. I immediately thought of The Slapdash Sewist's recent post on dressforms. This fiberfill is what I used to fill both of my forms *you can check the forms out over there on the righthand column under Things I Do*.

I had a coupon for a bigbox craft store and was grasping at straws for what to fill my form with. I grabbed this box, figuring it was about twice as big as my torso, so I could afford to mess up. It ended up being really good stuff to use, very easy to fit into cracks and crevices. Funny thing about this fiberfill is that it expands. We're talking 3rd trimester expansion. Put it this way, after I filled the first dressform, there was so much polyfill oozing out that I couldn't close the box again! I filled 2 dressforms out of this box, and could easily do 5 more - which is absolutely not going to happen. I've got scars from the last one. I'm hanging up the duct tape and getting a professional form. someday. (all suggestions on that subject are welcome :).

So what's a girl to do with a here it is again bigayss box o' polyfill? Say it together, folks!

Give it away!

I'm figuring I can just package it up somehow and ship it out to whomever might be wanting some for the cost of shipping. It weighs almost nothing, so you do the math. Just drop me an email. I'm sure somebody out there is working on a neck donut right about now!

Here is the muslin for that Burda skirt. OMG I need to start running. I had to add an inch to my usual waistband length. Hurry up, warm weather!

I'm prepping the leather for tracing as soon as I can see my cutting table again. cleaning. right. that's what I was doing.

Check this out

2009-02-17T11:13:00.000-05:00

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20090217_Penn_student_collecting_sewing_machines_for_Zimbabwe.html

Spread the love :)

I'm just not that into you

2009-02-14T19:11:00.005-05:00

This McCall's 5657 started off so well.

I was pleased with the way the bodice was going in the intial rendering, and the fact that it came together rather quickly was a plus. After I attached the 5 (!) panels of ruffled skirt... well, it kind of lost me. Maybe it's because I know spring isn't right around the corner. Or maybe I know I need to get to the gym more before I'd ever even wear it in public. At any rate, I've cast off the strappy poppy dress and moved on to bigger and better things.

Leather :)

I have juuuuuust enough of this forest green suede for the BWOF 08-12-118 skirt.

The suede has a beautiful silky softness that makes you want to rub your cheek against it. The piece measures about 50" square, and I got it for only $25 during the Philly get together last November. It's so light and drapey, I love it. I'll need to find a funky contrasting remnant for the waistband, because I definitely don't have enough for that.

Still no AB bag fabric. I got all the interfacing at the BigBox sale this weekend, and I had two rolls of clearance home dec on the table to be cut... but I chickened out. I actually stopped her just as she opened the shears. I'm just not sure what I want the bags to look like. Do I want a funky print? Do I want sophisticated black? Do I want red? (don't I always?)

Speaking of red, Happy Love Day all ;)

The Queen Mother - A sewing backstory

2009-02-12T13:03:00.011-05:00

Sometimes, almost as striking as the woman herself, can be the way others are transformed in her presence. Can you feel the goose flesh tingling in the photographer? Clearly, he reveres this woman.

That's my grandmother, Pell. Pell. Isn't that the coolest nickname? It's a blend of hers and my grandfather's names, christened WAY before the Brangelinas and Bennifers of the world spawned. I always thought it sounded so avant garde, like Wallis Simpson.

And, yes, the photographer (my grandfather) reveres her. Everyone does. She just has that royal thing about her. Feminine, yet fierce. She does only what she wants to, and those around her are only too happy to help her reality along.

Remember when Rudy checked for scuffs on her shoes because Whitley raised an eyebrow at her foot tapping? "The true mark of a lady is a clean heel". That was me with my grandmother. I watched elbows, tilted my chin up, generally tried to emulate the grace I found oozing out of this woman. In the fourth grade, my grandmother gave me handwriting lessons, and I was geeked beyond happy. And yes, it's quite lovely to this day, thank you. She taught us how to greet dinner guests properly. She also taught us the importance of being free-spirited. Only last year she burned her leg on my dad's motorcycle when she jumped on it in her golf shorts and keds. Like I said... fierce.

And like all fierce women- she sews. I've only been witness to some of her later projects, but they are exquisite. I've only recently gotten up the courage to ask her if she'd pass along any sewing stuff she may have stashed. I always love reading about other blogger's history pieces, like Karen's deep stash fabric. My grandmother made this dress for my daughter, the collar is lace from her wedding veil.

Sewing was always a strange thing to me- aside from my dad's uniform patches, I didn't see a sewing machine around my house. And sadly, it never occurred to me that sewing could be learned. I figured it was like math, you either knew it or you didn't. I'd heard the legendary stories of my grandmother's sewing. During a vacation at their house when I was about 11, I asked my grandmother if she would make me a dress. She replied that we would make the dress. I knew better than to show any sign of disappointment, but I really doubted my ability to make this a real dress. I'd seen the machine in her sewing room as I lurked from the doorway- she'd never let me touch that thing.

I remember looking for a pattern. I was all about the fabric. I just wanted to pick the prettiest fabric, and I recall my grandmother guiding me toward a little rack. Now I realize she must have been steering me away from some silky prints or some difficult chiffon I would have naturally been drawn to. I picked a pink and purple teeny floral printed quilting cotton. The dress pattern had buttons all the way up the back, with a low scoop neck, full skirt, and cap sleeves. I wish I had pictures. I can see it so vividly. I also remember grandmother's expression at seeing all those buttons. Now I have a better idea on that, too.

And not only did she let me use the machine, I pretty much remember doing the whole dress by myself. I couldn't believe she was letting me use this stuff! The serrated tracing wheel (won't it cut through?) and the seam ripper amazed me. And the dress was actually nice. But when I got home from vacation, it was back to real life, and sewing was never a part of it.

This two week period was lost in the recesses of my mind, only slightly nagging me when I went shopping looking for the perfect *fill in the blank*, and came home disappointed, wishing that I could make my own. Finally, 20 years after the dress with the buttons down the back, I remembered that I could.

Wallflower

2009-02-09T19:56:00.013-05:00

Something in my subconscious is trying to blend me in with my background.

I didn't find any home dec for the bags at Jomar, but since I'd already dished out bridge toll, I figured I'd grab a $1 remnant. In the sea of remnants, this 2 yds of knit hooked me.

I tried to coerce this floral satin into being a coordinating liner for my AB bags instead of something with a circle skirt.

The satin turned out to have a very nicely structured stretch. *sigh* The satin won. The AB fabric search continues, and the satin will become this image of girlishness:

pockets!

which also happened to have caught the eye of a certain 11 year-old.

I do have 5 yards of the poppy print...

Check this out

2009-02-07T18:59:00.000-05:00

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20090207_Karen_Heller__Boys__Bobbins_and_Beer_stitch_together.html

I had to do a "did I just read that right?" head shake.

So close, yet sew far away.

2009-02-07T17:41:00.006-05:00

That's the view from where I spend most of my time. It calls to me. *sigh*

9 years ago, I'd glance wistfully over at my toddling daughter, and she'd look up from her little toys and wave. Today, the toddling son- well, let's just say as I type this he is straddling my lap, manipulating the skin around my cheeks with his fingers, and smashing Lucky Charms into the keyboard with his toes. Add in negative nap (that's something akin to negative ease, if you get me), and that means I cross the threshold into the sewing room rarely.

I do, however, get to spend a ton of time thinking about sewing and doing kidsafe activities. Enter the crayons.

I thought the idea for the personalized croquis in Sew Stylish spring 08 was brilliant. Unfortunately the picture I copied didn't have feet. Make sure you get the feet- the whole outline is essential in establishing nice garment proportions.

I'm going to play with this for a few days, but already I'm getting an idea that I should avoid certain lines. I also like the idea of using a pattern sketch to "try on" the dress before you commit.

**************************

I loaded up the kid with waffle fries and headed into JoAnn for some snooping in the home dec fabrics to use in the Amy Butler bags. I peruse them only slightly more frequently than the quilting cottons, which is next to never, so I was a bit lost at first. I did manage to find a couple of combinations that caught my eye, but I'm not in love yet.

Oooooo I can't wait to get started on them :)

The Sewing Gods work in mysterious ways.

2009-02-06T15:58:00.009-05:00

A pipe broke in my basement last night. No water today.

Hmmm.

No dishes.

No laundry.

No cleaning the bathroom.

:) oh yeah! Sew baby!

The willy nilly quilt blocking I started has evolved into an actual design.

In between dealing with the water thing ("Is it on yet?" "No!" "How about now?" "NO!" I swear I was ready to charge him a helper's fee) I got some more blocks stitched up. I don't really know how big it will end up because I've not considered the borders yet, but the block on the paper is 36" x 36" and I think I'll piece 4 of those together. Again, all suggestions welcomed. Maybe I'll do this for a Mother's Day present...

I'm beginning to see why people get into quilting. Put on an ipod and you can really zone just zipping out those 1/4" straight lines.

******************************

And Etta James is going to have to come and open up a can of whoop-ass on me, because I belted out At Last at the top of my lungs when the mailman came by today!!

If you and I have had a face-to-face conversation in the past year, then you know I've been in agony waiting to make a Betty Shopper. I searched high and low, but time after time, shop after shop- no Betty Shopper. Sure I could have just gone online, but I really dislike internet shopping unless I absolutely know I'm getting a kickin' deal. I waited for the stars to align, and Pattern Review came through once again! I didn't even read the whole email before I clicked over and snagged these three. I could really use the Weekender and a weekend babysitter and I just adore that Sophia! I might coordinate the three and feel all princessy :) Hurry up, President's Day Sales!!!

I'm borrowing my mom's takes-a-lickin'-keeps-on-tickin' White tomorrow. I love that thing. It rolled end-over-end down a rocky cliff and landed in a knee-deep mud puddle, cracked the case and all- still works fine. I don't think the needle has ever been changed. I'm going to use it for the Amy Butler bags and this leather skirt on my UFO list.

no lingerie.

Why men shouldn't design pattern instruction sheets

2009-02-05T17:23:00.005-05:00

... so he can remember which one I am?

I was trying to get started on the camisole in this McCall's 5651, but I'm so darn distracted by Paris and Nicky smiling up at me every three steps that I need a breather.

I mean, really. Who at McCall's fell in love with these girls' faces, and why am I being subjected to their glazed adoration? That has testosterone written all over it.

oi.

By the book

2009-02-05T08:37:00.011-05:00

Quote of the day:

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me. This is what you people do!!!!!! "

That was my initial reaction upon flipping through Singer's "The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing" which I never would have purchased if I realized 1/2 of it was taken up with home dec stuff. You see folks, I am a self taught sewist. After reading this book, I don't even think I could call myself "self taught". Because I never bothered to look up any proper methods. I've never even looked at a sewing reference book aside from some Threads magazines- and I always figured their complexly intricate methods were some kind of insider couture practice. It's a good thing the big 4 now assume we are all sew dumb, because I think the pattern instructions are where I've learned most of what I know - aside from bugging Karen.

According to this book, I've not even been pinning my fabric properly! It's a wonder anything I've made is wearable! At least now I know why I keep losing the buttons on my velour jacket :) So much to know, so little brain space left...

*************************

January Review (aka: the one dress I finished)

That's right folks- one. I don't count Boopina's because she did the bulk of it herself.

Simplicity 2724

I finally posted the review, and I keep thinking of little things that I should have mentioned. Like the ruffling on my dress doesn't look quite as ruffly as the pattern pic. That might be the fabric, though, because the muslin (left) was ok.

And I wasn't crazy about the zipper placement. Maybe it was just too long. I don't think it helped the bellishness of the skirt. Then again, after reading the Singer bible, it might have just been my technique ;)

*************************

It's February, and I still owe you a sewing backstory, a jacket with $8 buttons, and some accountability.

But I'm going to go sew lingerie now.

Spread the love :)

I spy...

2009-01-31T08:54:00.009-05:00

... cool sleeve details.

Did you notice her sleeves extend into fingerless gloves? How cool is that?

.... a tote (courtesy of Vera Bradley) that I hope to copy. And I want one of those scooters in a bad way, too.

It's hard to find a tote that fits a magazine vertically just right. I couldn't find a pattern matching this bag. If anyone is wise to one, please share ;) This bag is just right, I love the big flap pocket on the front and the subtle curve of the top. I'm going to adapt a plain tote pattern and hope for the best.

.... a dress in the background.

This picture is from my grandmother's house 10 years ago. (Yes, that's a little Boopina.) It's a little teaser to that sewing backstory I still owe you.

.... a Kreativ Blogger award

Thanks to Karen, whose sewing by the seat of her pants has kept me on the edge of my seat this past year. She's like the MacGyver of sewing. Give her two bias strips, some leather scraps and an old hat, and she'll build an explosive piece of fashion!

Rules:

1. Copy the award to your site.

2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.

3. Nominate 7 other bloggers.

4. Link to those on your blog.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominate.

I'd like to nominate the following:

Vicki, the Hong Kong Shopper from Australia. Vicki, we have good information that you and Allie got lots of good fabric recently... and curious minds want to know what you are doing with it!

Elaray, at Another Creation. I always love her subtle humor and down-to-earth insight.

Mrs. Hunting Creek, whose wise presence ripples out allover sewing blogland.

The Slapdash Sewist, who had me at hello. She reminds me to be bold.

AllisonC, I totally sweat her closet. I drool every time she posts new fabric.

Cidell, the living legend.

And finally, DEEPIKA, because without her, I don't think I'd be here.

**********************

Rumor has it that I might actually get some Mommy time this weekend. Keep an eye out for that Simplicity dress, it just needs the hem now.

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

2009-01-23T22:18:00.012-05:00

I came theeees close to having both dresses done in time for the Karate awards dinner.

It only needed the zipper finishing and the bottom hem, but it just wasn't physically possible in time. I'm sensing a disturbing trend. I ended up wearing the galaxy dress instead, so all was not lost.

Boopina was super excited about her dress and was telling anyone who would listen that she made it.

Here she is in her "I don't yet know I'm Student of the Year" glow :) She's so awesome.

I finished her dress about an hour before we left. Here is an in process shot:
Notice all those little pieces? If you try this pattern, make sure you label them clearly. Trust me.
My machine suffered a mysterious, but thankfully brief, total loss of bobbin thread tension during the evening.

I tried everything. I actually took this picture to post a "help me" on the message boards, but when I tried my machine again an hour later it was fine. I am at a loss.

I'll finish up my dress and post reviews next week, sometime after I dig out of the filth that has become of my house.

**************

Because of the awards dinner dress making frenzy, I've been neglecting my quilting. I did manage to get a a real square made:

Or is that a block? I have to admit the quilting lingo escapes me. And I have no idea what kind of pattern this is - I just cut strips and pieced them in rows. I figure after I bore of this pattern I'll just mix in whatever else comes to mind. I'll have a few small quilts made before I get all the materials for the memorial quilt.

This quiltmaking thing is going to be an exercise in precision for me. Notice my uneven end strips? I'm usually a willy-nilly sewist, and this will be some much needed practice.

coming soon: a sewing backstory...

No soup for me.

2009-01-20T09:36:00.004-05:00

I kind of chuckled the other day when I read Dawn's blog that mentioned her trashy soup can weights. I use frosting.

I love using tubs of frosting for two reasons. One, something about the weight of it and the rounded plastic edging lets it glide over the fabric nicely when I need to move them. And two:

Happy sewing :)

...but not forgotten.

2009-01-19T13:55:00.009-05:00

Even though I've stopped working on the Vogue jacket because of kid-priority, it's still on my mind. I did set the challenge to finish my UFOs and I plan to return to it next week, when the Awards Dinner will be a happy memory.

I happened upon these buttons in JoAnn* the other day on a zipper run. I tempted fate by waiting to get my coupons for them- I couldn't justify $8/ea.- but there was something about them. They have so much depth in the coloring. Check out the rings in them, they are very Saturnesque.

*and what is up with old BigBox lately? They've actually impressed me the last 3 times I was there.

*********************

Boopina has been away, but her M5380 muslin is assembled and awaiting her return for a final fitting. That girl has a travel calendar that some jet setters would envy.

I was not loving all those lower bodice panels, but I think they will look cool in the finished product. I can't wait to do a summer version in cotton for myself and do something fab with all those pieces.

***********************

As many of you know, I'm taking on a quilt-making project. It kind of takes sewing to a whole new place for me.

Anyone with anything to offer in the way of quilting advice, please feel free. This is my first attempt at making blocks:

No, your eyes do not deceive you- nothing is pressed. My trusty iron began mysteriously leaking water from where the cord connects to the iron. Now, I've been known to push the bounds of usability on a product or two (duct tape anyone?), but I'm thinking I'll just wait till I get a new iron. I'll be soooooooo relieved to finally get an auto-shut off. So will my husband! :) Maybe I'll also get a Clover Mini-Iron , I've been wanting one for a while.

Hopefully I'll get 2 reviews posted this week!

Calling all Quilters

2009-01-16T08:53:00.001-05:00

Please click here.
much lovE

Reason I'm Glad I Sew #4,000,000,007

2009-01-13T22:25:00.014-05:00

The RTW disappearing trim. arg. My pet peeve is trim that doesn't continue around the back. And no, I don't buy it that they are trying to keep my hair from tangling in it. I'm keeping an eye out for matching ribbon to try to finish this one.

*********************

The muslin of my awards dinner dress S2724 is done. Here it is in living color and in super exposed flash color.

I can't tell you how helpful that little extra "how-to" paper from the Project Runway curve ruler has been with figuring out pattern changes. I think I'm going to have a bunch of changes, too. This review is going to be fun...

I'm digging into the fashion fabric tomorrow, which is pretty close in color to the muslin fabric.

Boopina's muslin (oh she's gonna love me) is underway, as well.

M5380. She's basically done everything herself. I had to take a few deep breaths as she first started using my machine. Normally, nobody touches daMomma's machine. Nobody. But she's doing great, and I really think she likes it.

No. Seriously.

Well, I know she likes the sewing part of it anyway. I think when she sees the finished product next week, she'll be hooked :)

We are both going to have the same pale turquoise crepe-backed satin. This stuff has been in my stash for over 4 years, purchased for a dress that was supposed to be worn to a tattoo convention (that's a blog for another day). I'm thinking of playing with the gloss/flat sides for the front panels of her dress and the ruffle detail and sash on mine.

***************

The jacket is just going to have to wait, because I can't wait to get my hands on some loungewear.

Quote of the Day

2009-01-10T14:01:00.002-05:00

"Dear Simplicity, your pattern sheets are too friggin' big."

Stop the Presses (or in this case, the jacket)

2009-01-08T19:07:00.009-05:00

Finally. The kid wants to make a dress.
:) gleeful mommy.

She wandered into the sewing room today and asked "What's that on Beth?"

!!! interest in sewing stuff!!!

"Just a jacket."- you've seen the jacket- totally boring to an 11-year old. She's walking away.

"But I was just thinking I'm going to make a dress for the Karate Awards Dinner". (yes, I said it in bold.)

I get an eyebrow raise.

"Check out this fabric".

I whip out a creamy crepe-backed satin in her absolute fav shade of turquoise. The eyes light up... almost got her...

I show her my dress pattern. S2724.

"Oh, nice." Uh oh. Losing her.

"Not your style?" Head shake as she's turning to go.

"Well, what kind of dress would you make if you could?"

She stops. Silence. I'm hoping at this moment all those episodes of Project Runway are rushing back to her... She turns back around...

"Well," she begins, "I'd want straps like this (she motions spaghetti straps) and the top to go across like this..." and so it goes. She described a dress, I whipped out my patterns and... Voila! We are making a dress! :)

M5380 view A

I'm hoping I'll have enough satin so we can have matching fabric!

;) I am such a dork.

A quiet time to sit and think

2009-01-07T19:14:00.008-05:00

... and ponder what is going on with this jacket.

V2956. I wanted a classy and versatile cover-up for my favorite t-shirt/jeans combo. I could never find a knit I liked enough to do any of the cute sweater patterns that were around this season, and I found this Vogue jacket/pants pattern during my Black Friday frenzy. I am a sucker for back details.

I am only in the beginning stages of construction even though I've been working on it every day for a week . The side seams are open, the inner back facing is not attached and the front folded facings are not pressed. I've been afraid to press it all in place because I have a sneaking suspicion I'm going to have to rip out something major and re-do it all. The sleeves are in 2 pieces, I'm anxious to see how they turn out. I would be soooo much further along if the pattern markings would stop disappearing!!! No matter what I use to mark, as soon as I re-focus my eyes, they are gone- blended into the fabric. I'm seriously considering the Sharpie.

I'm not feeling too good about some things...

collar

It is cut on the bias, but it's getting some weird crinklage in the back there. Perhaps I should re-cut it?

back

I'm not loving the apparent bubbling along the seam connecting the pleats to the upper back.

These are two of the button candidates.

*****************

And New Year's is great and all, but I'm looking forward to Valentine's Day :) My next project will be just the thing for it :)

Keep warm ;)

Sacrifices to the Gods

2008-12-27T08:44:00.000-05:00

The sewing gods, that is.

At one point during the Hairy Vest construction, I struggled with pinning the hood properly where it met the neck opening. Finally!!! I got it just right- and pinned my fingertip in the fur sandwich, too. And not just that fleshy outer skin, either. After a split second's contemplation, I just ripped that sucker right off - praying in the meantime that I could escape the fabric before the blood appeared. I chuckled as I blotted, remembering my side-seam scars from making Beth. I wonder what other crazy sacrifices people have made out there in the sewing gods' domain... Apparently the sewing gods are a bit bloodthirsty.

And needle-thirsty. I broke about 5 needles during the hairy vest. At one point my machine grinded to a halt and I had to use pliers to break the needle and extricate my fabric. Much praying during that episode. Things got a bit... hairy.

This is the official fur-working tool of the trade: And as is my wont, I got S I C K right before Christmas. This was on the heels of the kids being sick the week before. Loosely translated, this means 36 hours of pure unadulterated sewing time were completely lost. And that means I finished the handwork on the Hairy Vest in a side room after the Christmas feast while the others exchanged their gifts, and my sister received it with one measly snap basted on about two minutes before she left for home. It also means that The Tie (s) will now be making nice father's day presents. *note to self: Start gifts before December next year.

And Beth is splitting seams again after her nip and tuck. Time to bust out the masking tape and the running shoes. Jeez- Beth, me, Oprah... it's like an epidemic.

I hope everyone is enjoying xmas recovery as much as I am in my NEW JEEP!!!!!! woohoo :) And guess what Karen? It's got cargo space!!!- so we don't need to debate leaving a passenger at Jomar in order to fit the bags :)

Peace and Light to all :)
see you next year!

Quote of the Day

2008-12-20T19:11:00.000-05:00

"Honey! Bring me the pliers, the carpet knife, and the merlot!!"

oi. Fur.

Method to my Madness

2008-12-17T23:48:00.001-05:00

These ladies peek over at me as I sew. I wonder if I could incorporate those dress details into my coat...

**********

The first vest is complete (can you hear that Halleluiah chorus?) I didn't know what to expect with the fur, but it wasn't all that bad.

I feared pressing it, not only because the lining material morphed disturbingly under heat, but I noticed on my test fur piece that pressing took away some of that great swirl the in the nap (is that a shearling-look?). I used my grandmother's crystal ashtray as a press- you've got to lift it with 2 hands- to weigh down the darts and other protruding seams. My sewing machine looks like a lazy girl's legs in winter, but I'm waiting until the entire tribble invasion is over before I bother with too much cleanup.

The second, much hairier version is underway.

The Tie and I are still not speaking.

**********

When I was little, my favorite thing to do was to sneak out to the living room at night and put the tree lights on. I'd fall asleep on the sofa staring at the tree. I loved the stories in all the ornaments.

My daughter calls our tree "The Memory Tree". More than a few of them aren't really "ornaments", just momentos we fitted with a bit of string :)

One of my favorite ornaments is this Christmas bell ringer, engraved "Elizabeth" on the skirt and "1979" on the bell. I think her little face is precious.

A week till Christmas...

Just keep sewing :)

A blog without photos

2008-12-15T18:12:00.001-05:00

Honey, maybe you should just get me a camera for Christmas

... except for a crude sketch.

This coat (or something like it- I'm still looking for a pattern) has been on my mind since before the Say it ain't so Cloak. We're talking months.

I had a change of heart on the plaid wool I was searching so diligently to make it in (*sigh* will I ever find a color combination I love?). I found a smokin' slate blue-grey twill at Jomar (insert photo here). I think I bought what was left on the roll, which was a considerable length (2$/yd!). I originally planned it to be a coordinating professional wardrobe- fitted jacket, long skirt, pencil skirt, pants- the kind of stuff a stay-at-home mom in the 'burbs wears all the time.

When the wardrobe pieces I picked didn't fit the twill, I put it away and daydreamed about it being something else. It has a great stretch, and I had looked forward to having a very fitted sassy business jacket- something almost Edwardian. Then it struck me that I could turn it into a long coat. And line it in fur :)

The search began for a pattern, but I'm not having much luck. I found Butterick 4954 but it's not calling to me. I'd combine the jacket and the skirt and make one long coat.

The coat pattern search continues. I'm also rethinking the fur lining (maybe cashmere?)...

***************

Vest #1 is almost done, just need to attach the hood (insert photo here). Vest #2 I'm thinking might just become a 3-hour apron :)

I blew apart the tie. don't ask. I had to rip the lining completely out and replace it. oi. And in the mess of it all the fold point got a bit skewed. We are spending some time away from each other right now.

gift making continues...

They're baack

2008-12-04T23:38:00.000-05:00

Tribbles, that is.

And they've adapted. No wonder the Klingons destroyed their homeworld.

The source is this surprisingly luxurious faux fur I found at a JoAnns that was going out of business.

The end of the invasion will be this vest from Butterick 3311:

It's going well so far- but my entire sewing room will need some serious hair removal after all this.

I love those little pockets in the front dart seam.

And the tie is coming along. I've still got to work out that liner issue- it still needs some tweaking and the long stitching up the back.

Darn blogger pics. It's really not that round.

***** *****

This is a great length of silky feeling wool I picked up at Jomar with the girls not too long ago...

I'm sorry I can't be more specific than I know it's wool. I am soooooooo fabric dumb.

I'm using it for piece number one of the plan- Vogue 2956, the jacket.

but I'm trying to finish those two vests (oh yeah, there's another one) before I pick it up again. New Year's eve is suddenly looking very close...

Tie Me Up

2008-12-02T11:08:00.000-05:00

If I ever finish with this tie I might not hang myself with it.

It seemed so simple at first- just a few folds, a little liner, hand stitch the folds together down the length....

I'm stuck on the damn liner. I can't seem to get it to turn properly. It looks straightforward enough, but I'm afraid I may have to cannibalize a few more of the old Snoopy ties from way back when DH actually wore shoes to work. Or my dad might have to settle for another scarf this year :)

And how's this for a nice pair?

Butterick 4945 view B and view C/D

My brother's girlfriend bakes- she's awesome! Check out this cake she sent with him to Thanksgiving dinner:

And from the way my brother was talking about cooking reality shows, I gather he spends alot of time with her in the kitchen.

I wonder if anyone will get my husband a sewing machine for Christmas now that I've got him talking about Project Runway to anyone who will listen :)

Little extras

2008-11-29T09:56:00.000-05:00

I found this nifty tutorial sheet when I dug into my new french curve ruler:

Is this standard with all rulers? What a golden nugget of info! I feel like this is the kind of little extra that just brightens my day :) This is the Project Runway edition 4 in 1 ruler that BigBox sells- regular $19.99, black Friday price: $7.99.

And perhaps you'll recall the PR lined jacket un-contestant? I added a little extra buttonage.

(notice that little guy in the corner of the pic? He's waiting for me to turn my back so he can run to my sewing machine and play with dangerous things...)

I'm showing on Lizzie, because Beth is currently having a little extra stress on the side seams- much like her real life counterpart.

I'm going to cover the whole thing in masking tape. It doesn't give like the duct tape. She's already expanded like an inch and a half everywhere.

Speaking of PR contests, I was thinking that my wardrobe could use a little extra oompf in the coordinates department. I also notice that there is an "endless combinations" contest running right now, and there's nothing like a PR contest to get that little extra motivation.

So to do all this sewing, and get all these presents done, all I need is a little extra time :)

Black Friday at BigBox

2008-11-28T10:35:00.001-05:00

I'm almost ashamed to admit it. The bottom of the receipt actually said "You saved $171.32". Let's just say I went with a C note and came home with enough for 2 pairs of shoes (yes, new ones).
And it must be told that this was the most pleasant shopping experience I've ever had at a certain Mt. Laurel JoAnn's. Everyone was super friendly, the red tags were neat and organizedish, and they had most everything in stock. I even got brave and went in the quilting section.

Let the giftmaking commence.

Out of this world

2008-11-27T19:14:00.000-05:00

The GalaxE Dress

aka Vogue 8280. I had the fabric cut by Sunday night and wore it to Thanksgiving dinner :)

I have to say that Vogue left much to be desired with these instructions... check out number 7 here- they didn't even finish their sentence.

The lace was scalloped on both edges and had beautiful body- not stiff at all. Just a bit of stretch.

It was a Jomar $1/yard special. The underlining is a cotton linenish blend with a beautiful sheen on the finished side. It was on the "designer" table at Jomar, a 4 yard remnant for $2/yd. I'm so glad I thought to use it under something, because it wrinkles like a bee otch. I cut my own belt and recycled a used buckle I had on hand.

It's everything I dreamed it would be :)

************ ***********

Ah, family holidays... loving reminders of why we are the way we are. Take this for example :

me on my grandmother's sofa, circa 1977

That beautiful blend of bodacious prints was the calling card of my grandmother's style, and heavily influenced my sense of fashion. Oh, I know what you're thinking. You have no idea.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours :)

lovE

MYmar is Jomar

2008-11-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

This is my "get me out of these winter blues" winter wardrobe fabric. I hope I can get it all done before winter ends :) This is all from Jomar, and with the exception of the metallic, all $2/yard or less. The metallic was $4.00. I was so good.

Hidden in that fabric is the Galaxy dress, a sleeveless patrones top (Karen we need to talk), at least 2 skirts, a sassy little skirt suit (with lining!), and possibly a capelet.

I originally planned to make this sweet forest green suede into a betty shopper.

When I showed it to my husband , he said, "You gonna make a skirt? :)"

Sure sweetie.

So I'm thinking of the 117 skirt from the recent November Burda.

I need that sheer "lipstick" blouse, you know it.

Good Times

2008-11-21T22:46:00.001-05:00

And when I awoke

2008-11-10T23:43:00.000-05:00

... this is what I did:

I taught a Summer Dog some Winter tricks.

Simplicity 3750

This looks sneakily like the end result of the upside-down sweater post over at the slapdash sewist. Purely coincidence, but it's nice to know I can use this pattern to reincarnate some thrift shop finds.

I crocheted a cute hat. I am basically creating crochet patterns from scratch these days because every pattern I find lately is way off for me. WAY. And I was so hopeful after those stockings...

I finally started on the ladybird muslin :) I can't wait to silk paint the final version :) This gorgeous print was my very first fabric purchase in NYC, from my trip with Karen. I've got plans for this baby.

And let's all give a warm welcome to Beth the dominatrix dressform:

Again, purely coincidence.

Check out how awesome she looks compared to good ol' Lizzie.

As my husband said, "Oh, yeah. Beth is the hottie." I'm just hoping the girl can fit a pair of pants and a swimsuit. I'm also geeked that her boobies didn't fall :) Well worth the blood spilt during removal. That's right folks. Let's just say I have side seams now.

And last, but certainly not least:

I swear I watched all of season 1 in one sitting. I am now teaching myself how to drape. Darn netflix.

Yeah, I missed you, too :)

The "Say It Ain't So" Cloak

2008-10-16T16:16:00.000-04:00

So my fabric from PR NYC day was burning a hole in my... um... sewing room? That should have been my clue, my foreboding.

I was patient in Metro. I was on a mission for the perfect wool coating for my fabu long duster- visions of it dancing in my head like sugar plums. I searched the walls. I searched the corners. I searched the floor. I crawled behind rolls and chairs- and I think there may have even been a desk under there- but I didn't find perfect. I found close-enough. (I know, in Metro??!!- there's the first "Say it ain't so!").

So I revised the vision. I found the perfect shade of almost blue for the lining to match the close-enough wool. I waited while other fabric was sliced and diced, while Patricio fielded the shouted requests of the PRs. I asked for 4 yards of the wool. The artful reach of Mr. Kashi began its pull- one and .... that was it. Just barely 2 yards... Oh, Kashi, I just spent 2 hours revising weeks worth of planning in my head, and now? Now you tell me just barely 2 yards? (There's "say it ain't so" number 2). What about my luxuriously long duster? One look into those puppy dog eyes, beseaching me not to force that meager length back onto the roll, and I agreed to take the barely there, close-enough wool. I guessed I could make it a short coat.

But a short coat wouldn't do. I was now obsessed. What could it be? I checked my jacket patterns, and came up with Butterick 4419.
I would have to supplement some contrasting fabric for the hood, but I figured the style would play up the wool nicely. I cut the lining. I cut the hood. I pieced together 9 yards of scrap for the piping (!). I cut the... oh no. The fabric was 2 inches short. (Say it ain't so!). Not only was it 2 inches short, I had no give for matching up the plaids. (hear it again?)

But on I trudged. And when it was all done, I tried it on and went

yuck.*

This style may have been all me 15 years ago, but it's just not me now. Sigh. Say it ain't so.
*ETA: yuck for how it looked on me, but not for the cape itself- it came out awesome. I've already gifted it to a very cool lady for whom I think this is perfect.

Darn you, Butterick

2008-10-12T23:35:00.000-04:00

12. Always a 12. That was me- "Hi, I'm E, Butterick size 12." I would look at that list of numbers under that 12 and smile. Ahhhh. 12.

Maybe part of me always knew. I'd heard the stories. Big 4 runs big. Big, I thought. ha.

Of course, there were the fitting issues. Oh sure, my sleeveless dress was ok. but just ok. My jacket was tight, but hey, I'm a newbie. That was my unsteady hand, my bad cuts, my swaying seam allowances.

Then there was the Vogue bodice. I'd asked the woman next to me as we were scouring the sale bin of Vogues- she even said it, "I find that Vogue runs small." That explained that size 16 cut. I graded down the side seams anyway, it all balanced out, didn't it? Butterick size 12. Butterick size 12.

But now it all comes out. Now the tale is being told, folks, and it's being spoken in German. And the tale it's telling is BWOF size 40. That's right. All these years. All this time. I was being lied to. And I loved it.

That was from the chapter "Disillusioned Women and the Stories they Tell Themselves".

Stockings: check
Jumpsuit: check

sleep. now. :)

Gettin' kinky with the D1

2008-10-08T09:11:00.000-04:00

...now if you'll just move your foot like this, I'll pull that over your arm while I twist this, and... watch that zipper! Wait, let me try from behind...

That was me deciding to topstitch all the seams open a bit late into construction.

Notice that the Duct Tape Dressform has now officially been christened "Lizzie"? I found myself inexplicably offended the other day when my husband kept referring to it as "the dummy".

I would have a picture of stockings to show you, as well as a link to my review of them on PR, but sleep finally overtook me last night (in mid sentence, from what my husband tells me). So here are almost stockings :)
And I'm it! Or, at least, I've been tagged! :)

It was with grace and beauty that I was tagged by Glass of Fashion, whose blog I've had a crush on since she posted the review of her wedding gown.

As I understand it, these are the rules:

-Link to the person who tagged you.

-Post the rules (and prize logo) on your blog.

-Write 6 random things about yourself, 6 important values and 6 negative points you condemn.

-Tag 6-10 people at the end of your post.

-Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

-Let the tagger know your entry is up.

And as I also understand it, this is an organic thang and mutates greatly with each person it passes through. I love evolution. So rather than 6 random things, important values and negative points don't we all say we have the same values? It's how we put them into practice that mixes up the world I'm listing 7 ('cause it's a magic number) random things, 7 awesome books and 7 albums (did I just date myself? albums?).

7 Randoms of E:

- I have, throughout my life, been scared to death highly skeptical of garden gnomes. I'm convinced they house evil spirits. Imagine my discomfort at discovering Stephen King shares my intuition on this. My brother once left one in my car as a joke. It was not a pretty scene.

- I think I secretly have a desire to be a singer. There, Jas, I said it out loud. Not a performer, but a singer. a la Sound of Music. Like, sit on a park bench next to a guitarist and just sing. The problem is that any desires to showcase myself were teased into oblivion long ago, and I tend to have an aversion to that which could be construed as "showing off". I'd like to learn how to sing in front of people and still have it be for myself. (Any thoughts on this, Damo?) My husband is in a band and I've been dropping HINTS that we could do the cafe set around our town. Perhaps someday, your stop in M'town will include a set of Jne (that's J and just a little e).

- A few years back I left my comfy state job with benefits and decided to go back to school for physics and astronomy. I worked p/t at the local 55 year-old bakery. I got rid of cable, credit cards, cell phones, keeping up with joneses, the works. I created a simple life that I absolutely love. I had to put school on hold for baby and husband's epiphany ("I want to be a karate instuctor"- both he and my 11 yo daughter are now black belts), but I got my eye on a telescope the other night, and I felt something long slumbering stir within. It's about that time. Donations to the "Send E back to college fund" are now being accepted.

-I have a stupid human trick. I can make my tongue clap.

I'm not going to take it to Letterman anytime soon, but it's cool at parties.

- I started PatternTrade, a Yahoo group dedicated to free trading of sewing patterns and stuff. Spread the Love.

- An article of clothing has to be extremely special if I am to buy it brand new. Yes, undergarments are extremely special, and so are the absolute perfect pair of high-rise, booty lovin' jeans that I found on clearance and bought 2 pairs of. But 95% of my clothes are thrift shop finds. I rarely sew everyday clothes because I have so much fun at thrift shops.

- I LOVE Star Trek. Yes, all of them. Even Enterprise. If there is an odd, out of the blue comment on my blog that you don't quite get, it's probably an obscure Star Trek reference (tribbles, anyone?).

7 Reads of E:

- The Hidden Life of Dogs

- The Lord of the Rings

- Harry Potter series

- Ishmael

- Siddhartha

- If the Buddha Dated

- Contact

7 Albums of E:

- Grace, Jeff Buckley

- any Radiohead (ok I changed my mind- Radiohead has transcended mere music.)

- The Visit, Loreena McKennitt

- Happenstance, Rachel Yamagata

- O, Damien Rice

- Little Earthquakes, Tori Amos

- The Low End Theory, A Tribe Called Quest

- Till the Sun Turns Black, Ray LaMontagne

I'm tagging 3 blogs (also a magic number): Allison C, Isabelle, and my mentor and guide in this sewing fantasy, Karen.

OK, I've got to get back to the sewing or I'll be wearing my go-to RTW LBD to my cousin's wedding this weekend instead of the jumpsuit I'm slaving over. But before I leave, you'll be happy to know I've stopped trying to sew vicariously through my daughter, who has, despite my subtle hints, never shown an interest in the home arts. I have now started living vicariously through my friend's daughter (she's 8), because she wants to learn to sew. I'm showing her how to thread the machine tomorrow :) Spread the Love :)

Quote of the Day

2008-10-03T23:49:00.000-04:00

"Ooooh... so that's how a seam ripper is supposed to work..."

They say it's your Birthday

2008-10-02T08:12:00.000-04:00

It's my birthday, too! And I got a BWOF subscription :) woohoo for a man who can take a hint!

I was having fitting woes, and so I spent my morning performing surgery on the dressform:

if you look to the right in the above picture, you'll see a sneak of the brocade for the bodice on my wedding guest outfit.

I slashed out strategic areas around the midsection and cinched it to the proper measurement with a belt. I then used twine to tie tightly around and keep the shape, and covered it all with more duct tape- I couldn't find the leftover white, bummer.
And when it was all done, I put my bodice muslin on and pinched away.

I actually jumped up and down and sang "It's working! It's working!". I felt like Jodi Foster at the end of Contact: I had no idea. I was so awe-inspired by the ease of working on the form that I decided, what the heck, I'll just re-draft the back of the bodice and make it princess seams.

stockings- so close... so close...

1 cent

2008-09-27T23:06:00.000-04:00

Forgive the crude rendering, but I think I can pull this off for my cousin's wedding.
I have a lovely champagne brocade (thank you Mr. Kashi) that I plan to use for the bodice. - pictures to come- I'm thinking georgette or crepe pants.

Luckily, I already know what the bride's gown looks like, and I'll be nowhere near looking like one of those guests.

more to come. must sew.

UFO Sighting

2008-09-18T12:55:00.001-04:00

Just when I was on a roll with Milly's Muslin, I got sick. The kind of sick that makes even thinking about sewing a formal Vogue pattern into a migraine. I was never going to get the dress done in time for my cousin's wedding- if I was even well enough to attend. And then, in a strange turn of events, I discovered that the wedding was postponed until the middle of October. Cool.

Yes. Cool. As in "Autumn". I was already pushing my better fashion sense by wearing a garishly yellow and fuschia, sleeveless, obscenely low-cut, chiffon dress to a mid-September wedding. I could not bring myself to even attempt it for mid-October. So I'm in the market for something fresh for the (now) October wedding. (All suggestions welcome). That means Milly's Muslin is put off till after that, and hopefully I'll have the finished Milly's Dress (silk painted and all) by Thanksgiving. That leaves the Christmas Dress for December, and Ladybird will take me through the new year. Phew. Somewhere in all this, I still want to sew some everyday stuff for myself - I've got a BWOF pattern from Karen and some silk jersey that is whispering to me from my "to do" pile.
And of course, there is all my crochet!

This is stocking attempt number one, following the instructions exactlyish.
This is the second (and third, fourth, fifth.... I started ripping back and adjusting as I went). I reduced the even rounds on the length of the foot after the toebox to give more shaping. If you try these for yourself, I suggest trying the stocking on your foot often during crocheting. It's coming along nicely, I can't wait to have the pair done! I am more than a little bummed at the color, though.
It's way too camouflage for my taste. I wanted a nice solid fawn color, but for some strange reason yarn manufacturers think we all love variegated colors. It's nice once in a while, but I prefer solid options. It was hard to find a sock-weight yarn with elastic, which is surprising because I am surrounded by 5 different craft stores. I finally found this Paton's stretch cotton blend, and it was only offered in variegated yarn. oi. I think I need to get past my Internet shopping avoidance. I've never gotten yarn, thread, or fabric over the internet. I need to feel and see and smell something that is going to be against my skin. But the selection available in bigbox stores these days is disappointing, and I'm starting to hate running from place to place.

Did anybody do International Wear a Dress Day? I did :)

In my dreams

2008-09-11T19:04:00.001-04:00

I think Reem Acra is reading my blog...

Or maybe we have some psychic connection, because I'm LOVING every piece of this collection:

Who's In

2008-09-09T17:04:00.000-04:00

the Malissa Contest at BurdaStyle?

I seriously considered it, and then I thought to myself, "There is a reason this dress is only offered in smaller sizes." I am still playing with the idea.

And how cute is that dirndl? My mom spent part of her childhood in Austria, and she tells me I had an adorable dirndl when I was little. From all of her stories growing up, I'm a bit taken with all things Austria. Sound of Music is one of my fav movies. I watched it 8 billion times when I was a kid. I totally wanted to be Leisl, she looked so sassy in that wiesn dirndl! It is one of the most figure flattering lines I can think of in a dress, for so many reasons! I think they are just so.... strong yet feminine. Kind of like Caroline Ingalls-ish (that's right folks, Little House on the Prairie). You can pull a plow in it and still look like a hot momma. I might have to dish out the four dollars for this one...

Progress on Milly's Muslin, but alas, no pics yet :) Should be done by the weekend.

Somebody stop me

2008-09-04T23:15:00.000-04:00

How cute is this?

And this?

And the reason behind my purchase of the book Crochet Me by Kim Werker:

I adore those thigh highs. I love the trashy retro elegance of them. I love the way the sass of the mini skirt is girlied up with the tulle. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the shoes! I am going to attempt my first crocheted apparel.

What I love about crochet is that it's so mobile. It feels like the next best thing to having my sewing machine toting along with me. It's also kid friendly. I've gone so crazy for it that I've phased out buying Christmas presents for relatives over the years. ***ETA: Crochet is also very forgiving. You can pull your stocking apart 4 times and still use the same yarn.

In further insanity, I picked up Knitting for Dummies while in line at the supermarket the other day- I hear knitting uses less yarn and takes less time than crochet.

I've got 1 piece of the lining of Milly's muslin cut. woohoo.

Stovepipe steamer still in the works *ETA: and a little black skirt with tulle edge. :)

Trials and Tribbleations

2008-09-01T22:27:00.001-04:00

and a PR Lined Jacket (un)contestant.

I finished the jacket and posted my review with a whopping 20 minutes to spare (phew!). I double checked the contest gallery, already had my first comment (thanks Karen!) and collapsed into bed. I awoke to find myself in the gallery, one of the last entries :) And then, suddenly, I was gone from the contest gallery. hmm. I have no clue... but I'm so thrilled with my jacket!

I love the way it feels, but looking at it now I wonder if it's a bit small across the chest. Not bad for $12 and a month of work.

Unfortunately, the frenzy of work on the jacket left me with an invasion of tribbles.

And do you remember SATs? Try this:

Toddler with lollipop is to sewing room as _________ is to Japan.

The answer would be Godzilla, folks. That's right. While I dash like a fool trying to stash dangerous objects - to protect the kid, ha!- he wreaks havoc. Next time I'm going for the silk first.

Full speed ahead with Milly's muslin.

And I'm torn- blog about nothing, and post often? Or wait till there's something to say sewing-wise, which happens infrequently, to put it politely. I always love seeing new entries on other people's blogs, sewing-related or not. I just don't know if I you want me to be that.... chatty :) And to be honest, I'd much rather sew than blog -woohoo!

BASTE! How low can you go?

2008-08-15T14:30:00.000-04:00

When will I learn?!? BASTE! BASTE! BASTE! ...ripping out collar seam on jacket (again).

I returned from vacation to find that my velour fuzz bunnies multiply like tribbles:

And though I got zero sewing done while in the woods, I did eat, sleep, and breathe dress ideas- so I've got a preview of the next two chapters :)

Chapter Three: First Christmas

My grandmother passed away early this year, and I've found myself clinging to every hint of her, no matter how silly. For instance, I found this cotton tablecloth in amongst the tons of spare linens she'd tossed at me over the years. (I am known to be a bit of a packrat, ha). It was probably purchased in a quick dash to the supermarket, judging by its questionable quality. I've had it for some time, despite not using a dining table or having any need at all for a tablecloth. I think I liked the shades of red and green in it. It has a slight yellow stain in one corner, but I can work around it.

So I was staring at this tablecloth wondering what to do with it, thinking about Grammy, and I suddenly found myself in a secret life of a dress. (I'm a HUGE fan, btw). "She was a Kansas farm girl who ran away for the big city- the prettiest in 3 counties by most opinions, particularly her own. She kept her mouth shut, except for a Kool, a sly smile and an occasional sharp wit. And she knew how to make a tablecloth into a dress for dinner at the officer's club..."

The seed was planted to make this tablecloth into a dress, and a little voice in my head said, "What would nicegirl do?" (I'm a HUGE fan, btw). I poured over vintage patterns online and came up with Butterick 4790.

I absolutely love that this is a wrap dress- you pull it on like a poncho. I think the practicality of it is totally in the spirit of what I was looking for. I will most likely be supplementing it with cotton solids when the time comes, but I like the thought of using the border decorations for the over skirt.:

Chapter Four: Ladybird

My name is E and I have a tattoo. It's kinda big. I never really remember it's there, because I never see it. Never really, that is, until I have to dress up. Then it's kind of a pain. I either go with a back exposure that looks like chickens with their heads cut off, or cover up completely- which is boring after the billionth time. I think the pursuit of the perfect ladybird dress is secretly what got me back to sewing, and may be the root of this formalwear obsession I'm enjoying.

I envisioned a dress that wouldn't obscure the tattoo, but wouldn't showcase it garishly. Luckily, my cousin is habitually tardy and I had the opportunity to rummage around the bridal shop in which I was waiting for her. I spotted this lovely. (sorry for the scan, David's website won't let me get the pic). I liked the beading on the back. Further perusing of their site turned up some other goodies, so I nabbed a catalog.

I like the idea of beading over a sheer layer to hint at the tattoo's design, rather than just have it skin. I already have Vogue 7267 in my stash, as well as a yummy silk charmeuse that I got on my trip to Metro.

I'm going to combine the views and use black silk paints to do the branching design on the fabric. The back lacing will be replaced by a smoky gray sheer stretch material, which will be beaded with black seed beads along the bird design. *ETA: (photo) The red folding screen is going to be the basis for the design on the back of the skirt- my sketch is incomplete, it needs more blooms.

And last but not least, I've finished the fabric stretching frame that I need for painting the yardage of silk. I used 1"x5' pvc sections and didn't glue the joints so it can be dissassembled. The one end slides and the long sides unscrew in the middle to lessen the frame size.

That's all for now folks, tune in next time for some PR jacket news, a stovepipe steamer and *fingers crossed* some lovely painted silk scarves.

Molasses

2008-08-07T12:47:00.001-04:00

As in, "slow as".

I altered the pattern pieces for Milly's muslin and decided to put them aside to focus on the PR jacket. The wedding I'll be attending isn't until September 13, and considering it's taken me 6 full days to get through the cutting phase of the jacket fabric and lining, I think this a smart move. I'm leaving for vacation on Saturday, so I'll have precious little time when I get back to finish the jacket before the contest ends. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I rarely have to do much more than tweak a few seams on Butterick sz 12 anyway, so hopefully the process will go smoothly. Of course, not only is this my first lined jacket, but it is my first jacket!

I finally got the silk paints in the mail, along with all the silk scarves I ordered to practice on :) I am making design progress with my watercolors and chinese brush painting set. I've found the chinese brush painting more closely mimics the effect of the paint on the silk. I think it will translate well to the dress. I'm giddy with anticipation of finally getting to the dress, but I fear it won't be until the end of September at this rate.

And who knew sewing would have me in home improvement stores so often? Aside from the rolls upon rolls of duct tape we've consumed, I've now got a stovepipe steamer in the works, as well as a fabric stretching frame. The frame is going to consist of 4 lengths of pvc joined with one end that will slide to accommodate different sizes of fabric. With all this stuff I'm accumulating (did I mention almost 100 yards of fabric?), I have now officially taken over the dining room, much to the dog's disappointment- his bed got relocated to my daughter's room, and he hates being downgraded in status like that. I was geeked to find the extension leaf to my dining table, so my cutting mat has ample room. The room is almost completely converted to my mad sewing lab now (buildup of evil laughter here).

And since I don't have any pretty pictures this time, I'll leave you with a riddle:
I'm right-side-up even when I'm upside-down. What am I?

A Tale of Two Dresses

2008-07-31T19:14:00.000-04:00

I finally had a flash about Milly's Cup today. The problem had been slim pickins as far as fabric selection - I needed 12 yards total !! I wanted a nice muslin - why bother sewing it if not to wear it? But, do the math and you'll understand why I was looking for a super red tag. In a sudden grasp of the obvious I realized I could get away with doing the dress tea length for the muslin, thus eliminating about 5 yards of fabric. Another "oh!" when I realized I could also wear this muslin to my cousin's wedding, which a little birdie tells me is right around the corner (HLF you'd better call me!).

I packed up the little man and headed back to BigName, and... (imagine Handel's Halleluiah Chorus in background here) not only were they friendly today, but I found some fabric! It's not quite what I intend to use on the final version (silk chiffon and double georgette) but it's kind of exotic in a sherberty way. The print is poly chiffon and the lining poly habutai. Funny thing is that the lining is the exact color of edupraz's version of this dress! I didn't realize it until I came home and looked up the review :) weird- this dress wants to be a Buddhist. It also evidently wants to be tea length. So here's the start of Milly's Muslin:

And here's the dressform- I've still to work up a base...

I have discussed it with my sweetie-pie-husband-who-will-be-doing-all-the-work, and we are going to make another dressform. This one ended up being too big in the proportions around the waist, and the bust fell on it. I'll keep this one around because it will get use, but I'm going to try the next duct tape form with the wiring inside and see if it keeps f0rm better. As it is, this one is actually hanging from the ceiling overhead and just steadied on a disassembled music stand with pvc.

With all the duct tape, the people at Home Depot are going to start to wonder about me and my husband :)

Don't look down.

2008-07-28T18:36:00.000-04:00

Especially at Metro Textiles. On a recent trip with Karen and Carolyn to see the endearing Mr. Kashi, I was overwhelmed by the wall-to-ceiling rolls of fabulous fabric. I already had a significant pile accumulated and I was trying to avoid another find by looking down at my feet. Well don't you know in Metro Textiles, all the goodies are on the floor! The 2.5 yard remnants that in the mad rush of squeezing bodies through Kashi's store fall helplessly around his cutting area. Half of what I left his shop with was a floor find. Like this beautiful pumpkin silk shirting with fine striping throughout-

It's the beautiful hint-of-blood orange that looks great next to berries, and it's my color of choice recently. It's also so buttery soft... I'm going to use it as the lining for my entry in the PR jacket contest- Butterick 5145. I plan to do view A, the short jacket, with the collar of view E (is that mandarin?). The fantanstic metal buttons are a find from Pacific Trims, another of our NYC stops. The jacket fabric is an IKEA cotton velour(?) drape that I rescued from Village Thrift. It laundered beautifully :) No muslin fabric for Milly's dress yet, but the dressform is coming along...

My First Burda

2008-07-27T22:38:00.000-04:00

Quote of the day:
"Hey honey, I think Karen left a road map or something in this Burda magazine she lent me. Oh no... wait a minute..."

The Quest for the Cup Begins

2008-07-26T22:47:00.000-04:00

I set out with a list of things to do today, and I'm pleasantly surprised by my sort-of progress :) I checked the local BigName for redtag fabrics to use on my 1030 muslin. I managed to find some poly chiffon and 1 (!) bolt of poly georgette- no double georgette. Of course, I have no idea what that means, so I'm off to find a fabric book tomorrow. I left empty handed. I'm thinking I might want to substitute the georgette lining for something more substantial.

And my absolutely wonderful incredibly awesome breathtakingly handsome manly intelligent husband helped me finally get started on my dressform tonight!!!! I wore the black turtleneck and nylon/lycra skirt from the plastermold fiasco- both fit snug to the body, and then he wrapped away for two hours with a white duct tape I found at Home Depot- it's near the paints in case you too find yourself wandering around for 30 minutes marvelling at how many different aisle categories duct tape could fit under, and yet still remain elusive. I read somewhere on Threads site that you should use 3 layers of tape. I think we have at least 30. Needless to say, we cut it off, hung it up and then went - "oh, I guess I need other stuff for it too." So tomorrow I'm back to Home Depot to get some hardware to mount the form, which I fear is bigger in places than I was prepared for.

I stocked up on watercolor paper and am eager to get outside and find more inspiration.

Chapter Two: Milly's Cup

2008-07-25T18:28:00.000-04:00

What do you get when you cross this:

with this:

???

Eventually we will know, but for now I hope it looks a little like this:

I was visited by my angelically beautiful cousin, Milly, last week and found inspiration inside my local coffee shop. I had been drooling over my unopened Vogue 1030 for over a month now, stalking my street like Mr. Burns devising sinister plots to takeover the world- just trying to come up with something tasty for it. Milly was taken in by a chocolate-banana drink and I, being faithful to my tea at home, browsed around. And then this mug just jumped off the shelf and started banging itself on my head... The blue lining on the inside, the airy eggshell chiffon caressing it, its lengths on fire with watery color- I swear I stood in the middle of the coffee shop frozen with my eyes like saucers as I thought of this pattern, people thought there was a medical emergency.

I ran home and did the best sketch I could with my kid's watercolors and paper and then researched silk painting in earnest. I'm now in the works with ordering silk painting beginner kits to brush up on techniques and looking to get the cheapest/nicest/cheapest muslin fabric I can get.

And my darling son (22 mos.) will be starting daycare 3 mornings a week so I will have 11.5 hours every week of beautiful, glorious, fantabulously uninterrupted sewing time. I should have titled this "sleeping beauty" because I know I must be dreaming! You guys might actually get a blog to read!

Chapter One: The Frog Princess

2008-07-25T15:23:00.000-04:00

McCall's 5583 for the Pattern Review Advanced Beginner Contest. And so it begins...

I have no idea what I'm doing...

2008-07-24T20:26:00.000-04:00

I think I just created a sewing blog...