Stash conversion: Vogue 8593 & Vogue 8597

I’ve made some progress on converting stash fabrics to wearable garments. The “knits” fabric storage cube is down by almost half!

Last weekend I finally made Vogue 8593 out of some purple ponte knit. I’ve admired this pattern for quite some time and wanted to make it. I figured this would be a very nice dress to wear for the holidays. It is a very simple pattern with a great neck-line detail.

 

 

It sewed together very quickly and easily, including the invisible zipper installation. The neck pleats are a little fiddly but not difficult. They do require a good bit of trimming in the seam allowance and under-stitching to get the facing to lay nice and flat. The only fitting adjustment I had to do was add some width through the waist and hips, “just in case.” I’m not sure I needed as much as I added but I can now wear it without fearing the bulge.

I wore it to work on Black Friday and felt comfortable and polished all day long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This top is a revisit to Vogue 8597. I’ve made it twice before and it is one of my favorite tops. Whenever the green wool jersey version is clean and hanging in my closet, it is my first choice to wear on a cold day. I had this blue wool jersey just waiting to become another “go-to” top for this winter.

I decided to try something a little different with this iteration by adding some machine embroidery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not sure how I feel about embroidered clothing. Maybe because I grew up in a household where “Hee Haw” was a weekly Must-See-TV and thus I am all too familiar with the sartorial styles of Porter Wagoner, Conway Twitty and other icons of the golden age of Country Music. Often the idea of embroidered clothing brings to mind those good old days of the Grand Ol’ Opry and I get a weird flashback and an urge to tease my hair REAL high and wear cut-offs.

Once I started working at the Bernina dealership I started trying to wear at least one article of clothing that I had made every time I work. Now that I have a machine that makes embroidery fun and easy, I’m going to try to add touches of embroidery to items I’m making to personalize them even more.

When I bought my Bernina 180 back in 2000 I opted to not get the embroidery unit because of my above mentioned fears and for financial reasons. The 180 was more machine than I had ever dreamed of owning and just at the upper reaches of our budget even without the embroidery unit. In my mind all it would be good for anyway was putting cute little kitties and bears on T-shirts for the girls and my girls weren’t really kitty and bear kind of kids, at least not $1000 embroidery unit kitties and bears kind of kids. I did buy the unit on ebay a while back and did enjoy practicing some of the embroidery skills I learned at work at home and made some simple gifts with it. The stitch out is beautiful but the interface is a pain.

Now I have my new machine and it is a dream to use to embroider. Yesterday I was using it to make some free-standing lace snowflake ornaments (I’ll post them later) and while it was running I cut out the blue top and started serging it together. That’s when I decided to try adding some machine embroidered embellishments.

I added this little “corsage” on the shoulder. Fortunately I did a test run on a piece of scrap fabric and discovered that my stabilizer of choice wasn’t going to work. I ended up using two layers of Polymesh Cut-Away stabilizer and used some basting spray to hold all the layers together. You have to be careful when stitching designs with a lot of sating stitches on to a knit fabric because it will stretch and pull out of shape unless it is well stabilized.

I chose to do this entire design with a thread that matched my fabric for a tone-on-tone look. I like the subtle texture this gives.

 

 

I then took a bigger design from the same collection and put that on the back of the shirt. I’m not sure about this one but what’s done is done. I think it is pretty and it stitched out very nicely. But because I had to use Cut-Away stabilizer it is a little stiff.

If I get off the computer and go put the hems in the sleeves and the bottom, I can wear this to work tomorrow and find out how annoying that stiffness really is going to be.

In closing, what is your opinion on machine embroidered clothing? Tacky or tasteful? I’m thinking it is one of those things that just depends on the application. All things in moderation.

A Tale of Two Husbands

Let me introduce you to two men who live half way across the country from one another and couldn’t be both more different and more the same than any two men you can find anywhere.

They’ve only met once in real life (when this photo was taken). But have so much in common and their relationship should be a model that the rest of the country can take a lesson from in my opinion.

On the right of the photo is my husband Steve (aka Alex P. Keaton, young Republican) and on the left, my friend Nicole’s husband, Paul (aka Wavy Gravy, THE HIPPIE).

Nic and I have been friends for almost a decade (I suck at math and remembering important dates). We met through an online forum for scrapbookers. She is smart, talented, snarky and funny so of course I fell in love almost immediately. She always shared funny stories (and photos!) of stuff she and Paul would do together and I always knew they had a great relationship and admired them for it.

Steve and Paul met in person in 2010 when we were in San Diego for a family vacation. We only met for lunch and drinks outside the San Diego Wild Animal Park because of our schedules didn’t allow for more. But Paul’s outgoing personality made a lasting impression. Steve, Paul and Nic became Facebook official. Paul isn’t shy about sharing his (political) opinions online and often they differ from Steve’s but it was all good.

The key here is that they both hold strong to their opinions but maintain a respect for the other side and will listen and acknowledge the other side’s right to have that opinion even if they disagree. It helps that Steve isn’t a blind, bigoted, tea-bagging right winger, he just believes in the true, original, core values of the Republican party and is holding on to the dream that someday they will get back to that again. He believes in personal responsibility and fiscal conservatism but he also believes in gay rights, women’s rights, environmental responsibility, among other “liberal” issues. Paul also doesn’t fit all of the stereotypes that the right-wing media likes to paint of the other side either. One way to look at it is, Paul is a “responsible liberal” and Steve is a “conservative with a heart of gold”. Either way, they prove that one can not paint any group with a broad brush and make any assumptions.

The point here isn’t to focus on their differences but on how they are alike. If I say so myself, above all else, they love their wives and families. Both have put up with their wife’s crazy notions and went along and enjoyed (?) the ride. They’ve accepted our friends and welcomed them into their lives and recognized how important these friendships are for us. They’ve been there when its all fallen apart and held our hands and our hearts and nurtured us through heartbreak and pain. They’ve laughed with us (and at us!) and helped us find the funny in situations that maybe weren’t so much at the time. 

Just recently they both joined us on the wild and crazy adventure that was GISHWHES 2012 and agreed to be dressed up in silly costumes and make public fools of themselves all in the name of being random and kind. I like to believe that America and the rest of the world can eventually get to the point Steve & Paul are at, very divergent opinions and viewpoints but still friends. Above all else, kindness and respect, and most importantly, love.

Project Organization: Progress Report

 

 

 

I’ve made some progress in cleaning and organizing my sewing room. It still has a way to go but it’s getting there. What really needs to happen now is cleaning out a couple big closets and making room in them for some of the less used items that are still taking up space out here.

Can you spot the “something new” in the above photo? It is under cover and I’ve been asked to keep its arrival somewhat quiet. The reason is that we have customers who have also ordered them and the delivery has been delayed. So to avoid any hard feelings we employees have been asked to keep the delivery of ours on the somewhat “down-low.” As soon as customer orders start coming in and I’ve been given the okay, I will write up a full review and show off all the bells and whistles. Until then, just know that I am in love and have no feelings of buyer’s remorse. The 4 month wait was well worth it.

You may also notice that my big cutting island is no longer mobile. I made the mistake of trying to move it a few inches by myself last week and broke two casters off. I knew from the beginning that screwing them into hollow particle board wasn’t going to work long term but I was lazy and impatient so I went ahead with it anyway. Live and learn. A friend left me a message that she may have a solution for me, I just need to get back to her and find out what it is.

This photo may give a better idea of the progress made today. Steve helped me move the long folding table up to hold my serger, computer and embroidery unit. It is placed as an “L” with the desk that I have my machine sitting on. This has freed up room right inside the door for my dress form and to put the ironing board when needed. I now even have a bit of clear wall to hang my full-length mirror next to the dress form.

This wall behind the cutting table is still a mess and needs more attention. I’ve gotten the old pine shelves almost cleared off with the exception of misc. stuff I stuck there to get it off the island. I also need to find a home for the big embroidery floss cabinet. I just don’t know what to do with it. There is more floss there than I will ever use in a lifetime even if I cross-stitched and made friendship bracelets everyday for the rest of my life. Any suggestions?

I am almost to the point where I can start decorating and making it cozy and inviting. If I could get Steve to move his desk and accompanying piles of “stuff” out of the corner by the window, I’d put in a reading corner there with a comfy chair. But if I had a place to snuggle and read my family may never see me again!

See where I began: Where I Sew: Hoarders Edition

Operation Organization Continues

Cubby Island How-to

Inspiration & Confirmation

Life is doing a weird thing again!

You might call it synchronicity. Some call it serendipity. I call it my “Wow. That’s weird” moments.

Numerous times recently I’ve made a personal “discovery” only to have it confirmed by an outside source right after.

Take this morning as an example. I’ve been away from my yoga mat for a few days and this morning was cold and windy outside so it was a perfect day to stay inside and do my practice. I didn’t have time before taking Emma to school to do a full practice and I was feeling a bit uninspired and lacked motivation so while I was waiting for her to get ready I opened my Kindle to the Amazon store and decided to subscribe to the e-reader version of Yoga Journal. I only had time for the first issue to download before she was ready to leave.

When I got home I rolled out my mat, put on my iPod yoga playlist, which I had added some new songs to last week but never got a chance to use them in my practice yet. I just set it for shuffle, I like to be surprised and “go with the flow” of the music sometimes instead of doing a pre-planned set of asanas.

Midway through my practice, All Is Love from the motion picture soundtrack for Where the Wild Things Are came on right as I was going to begin doing some standing balance poses. I can’t help but smile and bounce a little when I hear this song. So I stood there in Tree Pose with a big goofy grin on my face. Then I just started laughing. I had an “a-ha” moment of realization that when you smile, you feel happy. I pondered that notion while I was lying in Corpse Pose.

After rolling up my mat I made my bagel and pot of tea and sat down to enjoy them while reading the recently downloaded Yoga Journal. What do I find? This article, 7 Ways to Find Calm. What is number 2 on the list but “Crack a Smile!” There is more magic afoot for sure. In reading the rest of the article I get even more confirmation that what I’ve been doing and discovering for myself is real and true and working. It’s not all in my imagination or just wishful thinking. 

Namaste!

GISHWHES 2012: The week that changed my life

Last week I participated in G.I.S.H.W.H.E.S (the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen). What is GISHWHES? Well that is a hard question to answer. The long answer can be found here: GISHWHES Super-Wiki It describes lasts year’s hunt more than this years but you get the idea.

Basically it is an internet based scavenger hunt started by actor Misha Collins. (If you are keeping score at home I am a big Supernatural fan and he plays the part of Castiel, the fallen angel that eventually becomes God and is currently “missing” somewhere in purgatory and whom I named my dog after. Bonus points awarded for knowing my dog’s registered name is, “Webfoot’s Heaven’s Missing an Angel” and his doggy grandfather was named Misha and I didn’t know that until after I named Castiel.) In 2011 participants in the hunt were awarded a Guinness World Record for getting the most pledges to do a Random Act of Kindness. This year our goal was to get 100,000 pledges to break last year’s record.

The Scavenger Hunt consisted of over 150 items that our team of 15 had to make, do, photograph, or video in 5 days: Item List Our team consisted of Steve and I and 8 other people I knew or were known by another member of our team (Team Ottawa!!!) Six of us are a part of a group of long-time online friends that we call Zen & Chocolate, then we added 2 husbands and 2 friends and had a team of 10. That left 5 open spots when registration ended. We were combined with 5 young ladies from across the country. We had pretty good luck with the make up of our team with the exception of one person who was enthusiastic at the beginning and volunteered to do some big items and then unfortunately kind of disappeared by the end of the game. But it was all good because it was more than made up for with the enthusiasm of the rest of the team.

Team Ottawa totally blew me away with their talent and bravery. Just to illustrate what I’m talking about take into consideration just a few of their contributions:

Maxisaurus! Item #65 Create a 2 foot-high dinosaur out of sanitary napkins. 50 points

Three of you dress up like frogs and play "leapfrog" in your local Starbucks or chain coffee shop. We must see patrons and must hear "Ribbit!" each time you leap. 31 points

A stop-motion film depicting the two by two loading of Noah's arc and the ensuing flood.

Team California Dreaming (Nic, Paul & Carina) came up with some awesome stuff too:

Recite these lines from Edna St. Vincent Milay's poem, "First Fig": "my candle burns at both ends---It will not last the night;---But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends----It gives a lovely light," with a candle burning at both ends in front of your face. No other sources of light may be visible. In the background, we must hear the droning howl of Hurricane Sandy. 19 points

Make a children's doll from items found in your refrigerator or pantry. Go ahead and really creep us out with this one.
24 points

Calendar item: A photo of a scantily clad fireman (or firemen) whose skimpy attire is made entirely from kale. Model must be posing in front of a fire truck. Bonus points if, behind him, water is shooting up into the air from a hose or hydrant.
71 points

Knit a scarf that is at least 12 feet long and is being worn by 3 people at one time.
32 points

Not to be outdone Sarah in Minnesota went balls to wall (as she is known to do!) and gave us these:

We've all heard of a "flea circus". What do "flea strip clubs" look like?
28 points

Calendar item: Wear cheese and wear it well. You cannot be wearing anything but cheese. You may use any type of cheese you wish. Supermodel it posed next to or on a classic car (a classic car is any car that predates 1980.)
98 points

Steve and I had so much fun together coming up with and executing our contributions. I only made him join the hunt so if by some crazy chance we won he could go on the grand prize trip to Scotland with me. But he took it and ran with it and continually surprised me with his enthusiasm. My teammates that know him as my mild-mannered conservative husband were extremely impressed.

You and a friend must take at least 50 of your stuffed animals/dolls on a field trip to a grocery store. All of the stuffed animals/dolls must EITHER be attached to your clothing or in a grocery cart or both.
63 points

A person in a business suit with a leather briefcase jumping into leaf pile.
18 points

A dog taking a human for a walk. Human must be on all fours and have a collar around their neck and the dog must have the leash in his mouth. (From Michelle Rogatski)
34 points

Kilt made entirely of sliced cucumbers. Must be worn by a man. (From Xiomara Dilrosun)
104 points

The "Lydia Easter": Recreate a scene from your favorite movie. Hold on, not so fast! You must film this scene in the EXACT SAME LOCATION that it was filmed in the movie (same bus stop, restaurant, park, castle, shark's belly, etc.) The actors must be dressed the same, same props, etc. The more identical the scene the more points you will receive. Extra points for depicting a scene from one of Lydia's favorite movies: "Mao's Last Dancer" or any of the "Harry Potter" movies. (2 minutes) 100 points

We volunteered to do the movie scene because the Chicago area had been the scene for many great movies; Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Blues Brothers, Groundhog Day (Woodstock,IL) and Road to Perdition (Geneva, IL) But we had trouble rounding up extras and actors along with finding the time to go to those locations and work out a convincingly accurate scene. We were about to give up but in the last hours, literally, we decided to go downtown St. Charles and down Munger Rd. in Wayne/Bartlett and get some footage to edit together for our 2 minute version of Munger Rd. We had finally watched this local wonder over Halloween (I don’t think I made it all the way through) and figured between what we remembered and what was in the online trailer we could do okay. Plus we were pretty sure we’d be the only team that lived in St. Charles and would do this movie.

The time and fun I spent doing these things with Steve was the best part for me. I’m not even sure I can put it into words. We communicated, we worked together, we laughed (until I cried when trying to get cucumbers to hold together and cover his junk on the patio) and we did something new and a little risky together. After 23 years it is hard to find the new in a relationship sometimes. To all the men out there, do you want your woman to think you are sexy and awesome? The key is to surprise her, make her laugh and be willing to be vulnerable and daring with her. Other people telling me that my man is fabulous really helps too.

Overall this has been a great experience and I’d do it again. Members of our team are already planning how to do better next year and there is talk about putting together a group blog where we can continue the fun all year long. We are talking about taking the lists from 2011 & 2012 and completing more items and redoing some of them.

The one thing all of us know for sure we will be doing more and more of over the year are more Random Acts of Kindness. Little things like holding the door for someone and letting someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery or post office during the busy holiday season to bigger things like sponsoring a family in need for their Thanksgiving meal or their holiday gifts. I used to donate blood every 6-8 weeks until I had some health issues that made me ineligible and unable to donate. I’m feeling better and haven’t gotten a tattoo in over a year so I’m going to have a big steak and spinach meal and try again very soon.  Once you start looking for ways to be kind you see them everywhere and it starts to become a natural state of being.

Our RAK video. Team Ottawa bought coffee for patrons at their local Tim Horton’s. The last man is a war vet and thanked them.

I will leave you with the piece of advice our team wants to share with the world: