I've moved.... :)

I am now on WordPress....please click on the header to get to the new location.

This is partly why I haven't posted in forever....I wanted to convert the blog then start putting up new stuff. Well, I have converted finally and will begin posting again. You will see changes to the layout since I need to figure out what I am doing. Please bear with me....my apologies!

And thank you!!

I know...shame on me!!

I HAVE been sewing...just not posting...as has been evident on my blog.  So I quickly post a picture of me, YES, me actually working on my Claire Shaeffer jacket!  And here is a link to  the pictures I took from the Claire Shaeffer weekend!!  She is such a SWEET lady!!  Loved meeting her!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/kittycollector/ClaireShaefferEvent?authkey=Gv1sRgCOyd27Sx5sCSFQ#

Back to V8333 (Claire Shaeffer jacket)

*warning: picture heavy post* (I hope it comes out ok....)

So, I have not stopped working on V8333, the Claire Shaeffer jacket...I just haven't been posting progress, etc. Well, I am at the stage where the muslin "fits" and it was time to thread trace the pattern pieces on the fashion fabric then cut (GASP!). So this is where I freaked out a bit...cutting into fashion fabric that I bought in Europe that cannot be found locally IF I make an error and/or need more. Lovely, huh? Well, this week..I cut. I have provided pictures to show you my progress and difficulty in seeing the yellow, yes, yellow marks on the fabric because I had to be oh so brilliant and choose PLAID! What the hell is wrong with me?! Couture sewing AND plaid? Of course the off white cotton basting thread our instructor gave us to use does not show up well enough so I am using Aurofil in Dayglo Orange. Yes, limited fabric (from England), plaid, can't see yellow marks, and can't use basting thread. Nice job, P, nice job.

Baby Snugglee and work in progress....

I've made a few things....I made another baby snugglee out of the Timeless Treasures "Pavillion" fabric (I believe that's the name...) I gave it to baby and Mom today and Mom LOVES it. She kept examining it, etc. I think it is her favorite...if you remember, I made a purple one too.

I am also working on a t-shirt quilt for a friend of mine. I think on the label it will say something like, "I told you to stop leaving your clothes at my house!" He'll get a kick out of it. I am using some of his old jeans for the sashing so it makes it even that more amusing! Also, if you'll notice on both projects...Misty has approved.

Block of the Month....

I also made my two blocks for this month's Block of the Month...it was all about pinwheels. I need to get all my blocks together and take a pic so you can see the progression....

So I got new color....

I got my hair done today...and went back to some PINK! It's not as much as I normally have but I have been missing it so my hairdresser (the best ever!) added it.

J Sterns - The Top - IT'S DONE!!!

Remember this post? Well, I am DONE!! I wore this today and got lots of compliments...I was so pleased with myself!! I made the smallest size and had to take it in a bit because the smallest is a 6 which should fit a 36 bust and a 32 waist. I am just a tad smaller...not much...but a tad. :) I will do a full downgrade on size for the next one just to get it to fit better.

I LUV the sleeves and the collar!!

I will do a full review on Pattern Review as I know Dawn will be shocked! (It will be my first ever review.)

Next up...the chocolate brown with turquoise circles version....I might do a full button front but keep to the short sleeves....but I guess you'll see when it's done! :)

Attitude of Gratitude - The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award

1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate a few blogger's that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award.
6. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

Thank you Ann for the attitude of gratitude award....

Here are some wonderful f0lks I nominate:
Dawn - she is quite the sewing powerhouse & I got her to take a class with me
Enjoli - she puts up with me ALL the time
Melissa - she is never far away from her sewing machine, wish we could have caught up in London

Ann - she is always willing to get what you want in her shop

Kerry - she's so tiny and can whip out a vintage pattern in a heartbeat
Isabelle - talented, beautiful, AND is owned by a lovely cat
Cidell - way talented and very sharing with her knowledge of sewing
Trena - she always has something new to show off and it always looks great
Jennifer - she gets me every time with her shirt patterns
Maret - she may not have a blog BUT she owns my home away from home and is a wonderful woman

PHEW!! Long list and it could be longer...I'd have to say that every crafty person out there deserves the award!!

Anyway....I have an attitude of gratitude because:

• I have a great significant other who puts up with and supports my sewing hobby!
• I have great friends who appreciate me for who I am and am not.
• I can financially help my mother.
• I am able to give a good life to a few pound kitties.
• I continue to learn every day.
  

Marseilles Dress SHABBY APPLE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Marseilles Dress SHABBY APPLE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

This is a beautiful dress....I think everyone would agree...

Look what just arrived......

Um...this must be a record or something with the postal service...didn't I just order this pattern yesterday?! I am SO excited...and I love that Jennifer puts a personal note in her orders too.

I'm so thrilled about this pattern that I already have the fabrics chosen and in the wash!! My goal is to make two tops, both with the mandarin collar and short sleeves. One will be the brown and turquoise circles and the other will be the oriental floral print with the smaller floral print for the facings, piping, and maybe sleeves if I run short of main fabric. (*oh, note to self, get/make turquoise piping)












AND now I know the secret to the back dart....awesome huh?

Update on V1420 (Byron Lars)

Here is the shirt in progress on the dress form, pinned in the front, awaiting sleeve and side seam basting. Oh yea...still have to put together the french cuffs. I started fiddling with the back darts yesterday so will hopefully get those marked and basted today.

The main fabric is a shirting fabric I bought in London at Joel & Son's (AWESOME place) and the taupe-y accent fabric is a silk/cotton blend I picked up locally at my FAVE shop, Seams Like Home; my second home! :)

I got "creative" with this blouse...I used silk organza for the interfacing as I wanted to keep it real soft and the envelope pics appear to use a very heavy interfacing to keep the collar shape. I don't think that's my look so went with the organza.

I have to also confess on why I am using more than one fabric on this shirt - I only had 1 meter of the shirting fabric and had to shorten my sleeves in order to make it all work!! I know, it is amusing how we can create wonderful garments when we have limited fabric. Well, off to make some progress....

Look what I ordered.....

Jennifer Stern got me again! This is her new shirt pattern!! Check out the line drawings...love the mandarin collar with keyhole AND the back dart. I can't wait to get the pattern!! Jennifer, did you mail it yet??????? :)

I even went through my stash today looking for the right piece of fabric to use....and funny thing, I found some!! You'll have to wait and see as I need to decide once I get the pattern and lay it out.

I'm so excited to make this top!!!

I made something over the weekend....

It was J's birthday last week and if you follow the house blog, you'll see he got a wine club membership. Well, to make up for buying fabric all the time, I told him I'd make him a shirt. Just a simple t-shirt.
*I was using this as a ploy to buy more fabric because I just didn't have a plain knit in my stash...really I didn't!!

Well drats! He saw this yardage from Textile Studios (unfortunately, not selling fabric any more) and said, this will be fine; color and all. Well, darn, there goes my future "something comfy" made out of this!

This fabric is a thin cotton heather jersey that has a sweater look to the weave. It is soft but got softer after washing. I downloaded the Men's T-shirt pattern from BurdaStyle and sewed up a 54-56. It is a bit big across the chest but it was hard for me to tell because the pattern is designed to have a center back seam. I eliminated that but did not remove the seam allowance. So here are all the changes I made:

• used 1/4" seam allowances - not 5/8"
• folded over 3/8" on the neckline (did not have instructions so not sure if there was another way this pattern was to be done)
• hemmed the sleeves 1"
• hemmed the bottom 1"
• shortened the bottom by about 2" (there was a run in the fabric so in having to work around it, I lost some length BUT it worked out perfectly)
• made back piece on the fold (thus forgetting to remove the 5/8" seam allowance x2
• no coverstitch machine so used the trusty twin needle again and two colors of thread

I liked how it turned out so asked J to wear it Sunday to show off at my sewing class...he obliged...and all the women liked it. I kept petting his chest because the fabric is so soft. He told me I can't steal his new shirt. Ok, I'm happy. :)

Torpedo Boobs!!!

The new and "improved" ME!! I got a Uniquely You dress form. J loved it also but for different reasons:

1. look at those boobs!!
2. she doesn't talk back
3. she doesn't spend any money!!!!
   

I stopped talking to him after that....she and I are getting along great...although I was amazed at her boobage - how in the hell was I going to stuff those into the cover and look like mine? Apparently they are really smooshy and fit just fine. I had a friend help with the fitting and while doing that, we marked all the important parts on the cover such as the neckline, hollow of my throat, waist, hip (high and low). This will make fitting so efficient - I won't say easy but efficient!! Plus now I can set her up in the window to freak out the neighbors. :)

I currently have my Claire Schaeffer muslin on her so I can remember what I still need to do before next class on Sunday.



I'm so happy....but I still need to name her....hmm.....

Jalie 2787

Ok, I have done two Jalie tops....both are poly knit from Gorgeous Fabrics (I believe...I mean, I'm sure they are!) The short sleeve version was straight out of the plastic wrap and is a size S.


The sleeveless version had some mods....

• shortened length by 3"
• combined a front piece with the bodice piece to make front just 2 pieces rather than 3

I did use a twin needle on both tops to finish all edges and constructed it with my serger. These went together WAY fast!! One thing I did learn, well two things, how to thread my machine PROPERLY for a twin needle AND how to use strips of OESD Badgemaster as my stabilizer under the twin needle stitching. Worked like a dream then went down the drain. My stitches were skipping or I was getting thread nests so I ended up calling my friend who has done anything and everything with a sewing machine. His advice, "try badgemaster." Well ok...I had some....especially since it is perfect for making thread lace and well, I embroider too.

Badgemaster Embroidery Stabilizer
Badge Master is a very heavyweight water soluble stabilizer. It can be used as a stand alone stabilizer or for backing in situations where the backing needs to disappear completely.

it's not pretty but here is the suit...on me.

Don't scream!! (I know, I know..I am so WHITE!! AND well padded!! LOL!) That's what living in Alaska is all about...white skin - so hopefully no skin cancer!!

Swimsuit performance

So yea...I did make a swimsuit for vacation...and you'll never believe it...it stayed on in the pool!! (I know you are saying, well of course, that is what it is supposed to do...well, I had minimal faith in my first swimsuit and am now pleasantly surprised!)

Vacation fabric shopping....

Ok, not as lucrative as the Europe stash but I did find some stuff....

Here are the places I visited:
Calico Cat and Bernina Too - Auburn, WA (quilt store)
Nancy's Sewing Basket - Queen Anne, WA (fashion fabrics, even designer with prices to match!)
QuiltWorks Northwest - Bellevue, WA (quilt and bead store)
Fabrications - Healdsburg, CA (quilt store)
Material Girl - Santa Rosa, CA (quilt store)

All in all...I did pretty good...no pics as I put everything away as soon as I got home but you'll see stuff made soon, I'm sure....

In process.....

A couple things going on....working on a t-shirt quilt for a friend. The cat is assisting....
The silk chiffon is still not done. I am trying to make the Kwik Sew 3505 pattern with it. Yea...so this doesn't do well for being serged so will need to just do a small zig zag stitch to put it together. Good lesson in playing with silk and patience!
Got a couple others I am working on. V1420 (red/white striped version) is coming along. Just need to add cuffs, collar, and buttonholes/buttons, oh yea, and hem it.

Vogue 1420
Copyright 1994

Vogue Attitudes pattern rated average. Misses shirts: very loose-fitting shirt has collar variations, extended shoulders, front bands, yoke with forward shoulder seams, back tucks, stitched hem facings and long sleeves with pleats, placket and button cuffs. A: fitted through waist, contrast collar, collar band and cuffs, side front seams and shaped hemline. B: collar band. C: contrast collar and cuffs. B,C: wrap, front pleats and tie ends.

A shirt pattern designed by Byron Lars.





Couple changes I had to make:

1. used size 8 rather than the size for my bust as this is VERY loose-fitting
2. added 1" to center back on the yoke to put shoulders in the right place
3. did 2 small pleats on back piece to fit to yoke
4. make french cuffs
5. omitted the hem facing

I thought for sure, based on the picture that I'd have to raise the collar because it seems to fall so low BUT with making a size 8, it is perfect!!! Can't wait to see the finished product!!

I am also working on the Claire Scheaffer jacket from my last post. I, again, am in a situation where I did not have the pattern size to fit my bust measurement. I got the pattern (V8333) at the last Joann's sale ($3.99 each plus 10% discount for being an American Sewing Guild member). I picked it up on my last day of work before getting on a plane for vacation so could only go to the Joann's by my house. Well, they only had the 6-8-10 size pattern; I needed the 12-14-16 pattern. Based on the envelope, I should be making a size 12. Well...I gambled and decided to get the 6-8-10 and just grade up. How hard can it be?! Besides, I was hours away from vacation!

Somebody must be looking out for me. A size 10 finished bust is 35" and I measured a 34" bust plus I am petite - a nicer way of saying, I'm short - all over.....thanks mom.

So I did the tissue fit...and Dawn says to me as I am walking away with Linda (the instructor), "oh now we get to see what kind of freak you are." Well, here is what kind of freak I am:

• size 10 looks great
• waist is in the right place
• bust point is in the right place
• shoulders fit right
• length is great
• add 1" from stitching line on the side front, side, and side back pieces

That's it!! (I am sure Dawn hates me now..I not only knowingly bought the wrong size pattern but I seem to have a theme here - buy Vogue too small and it will fit.)

So during all this other stuff I am doing, I am DYING to cut out and make Jalie 2787 in the sleeveless version. So, I think I'll be sewing the entire weekend...maybe even cutting out a bit early tomorrow!! (I. LOVE. WORKING. FROM. HOME.)

Class Sale Weekend....

So, this weekend is Class Sale weekend at Seams Like Home. I went in as close to opening today and got my name on the list for the Couture Jacket Workshop!! It is all about picking a Claire Schaeffer jacket pattern and making it for the Claire event in July!!
Linda Homan is a wonderful (and PATIENT) instructor so I am very much looking forward to it!! AND AND...I get to take class with DAWN!!! I am going to be looking over her shoulder so I can steal tips or get some of her talent by osmosis or something!! *wish me luck on THAT one!*

I have decided I'll use this pattern - it is typical of the style I commonly wear PLUS I'll be able to break into my wool stash I got in Europe!! WHOO-HOO!!










This other pattern wouldn't be too bad but the gold buttons are a turn off...and the pink...well, I do like pink but that's just too much pink.














So...all in all...I am totally looking forward to working on this jacket - I know I'll learn a ton!!

Store Sample

So I made this for a store sample....just wanted to advertise the Jennifer Sterns "The Tee" pattern since the owner of Seams Like Home was so kind to order some in. I hope they sell well because I LIKE them!! Unfortunately, they look better on the dress form than on me....must be my cushy belly.... ;)

VOGUE: I want these!!!

Love these from the new Spring Collection...might have to purchase...I think I might actually have fabric in my stash!!

I'm so sorry....but I have pictures!

I feel like a kid in trouble... I haven't posted since 3/9 when I got my package from Jenean at Posh Patterns. And it's not like I haven't been doing stuff! I have NO excuse but to post pics of my creations as my punishment....yea, that's it....it's punishment!! :)

So, let's start with my swimsuit. I decided to tackle actually making my own from KWIK SEW 3239. I had to shorten the tank by 2-3 inches and also removed at least an inch from the bottoms (View F) but then also took an inch out of center back tapering to the hip. I have to say I learned a lot from this and also learned to go down a full size from the actual measurements. So, say you are a Medium, you would make a Small. And here is the final picture - yea, not ON me...I'm not as brave as Dawn!! Nor do I look nearly as good!!!

Next we have some burp cloths that I "decorated" with ribbons and embroidery. These are just cloth diapers that get used a lot so why not make them look PRETTY! I gave them to Mom and Baby this morning with a yummy iced mocha especially for Mom (she returns to work next week, her 3 months off are up...). New baby is Isabela. And of course she is adorable and stuff and I am going to teach her all about shoes and jewelry and clothes and, and, and.....


And last but not least I made Baby Isabela a Snugglee that was even Misty approved!! I hope she likes purple...her mom did!!














If Misty weren't so damn adorable, I'd be mad at her for getting hair on this BUT since there is a dog in the new baby's house, all is well. Plus, she's so cute rolling around on it. That look says, "it's product testing, Mom."

Oh yea, if you are interested in making one, I used the pattern "Snuggle Up" from Black Cat Creations. Once you've made one or two, they are pretty simple and the pattern/instructions aren't that necessary. The Mom's I have given these to, absolutely LOVE them. The first time I gave one to a friend, her first words were, "well now you need to make me another one for when this is being washed!!" Yea, I made her another one! She said they last about a year before the kids are too big for them.....but then at that point, they can just become a blanket - for the kid or the cat!

Package in the mail....

I got home today and look what was in the mail!!!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Jenean at Posh Patterns!! Enter the site and check out her blog AND her fabric designs...I LOVE THEM!!! My cat, Misty loved the package too...

I got an award....I got an award.....

Thank you SEW DUCKY for the award!!!
I appreciate everyone's blogs and just love to read them every day!! I nominate everyone for this award!!