Marty's Little Corner

Sewing Fall/Christmas 2011

2012-01-01T06:24:00.004-06:00

This post is about the projects that I completed in November & December ... photo heavy so please enjoy. I cannot attest to be proficient in photography & my lighting is not the best. However, enjoy these ...

Dresses for St Jude Fundraiser ... here are the drawings from designer 6yr old Lauren Lewis, a St Jude cancer patient & the completed dresses. The first dress is a drop waist out of linen top & cotton skirt in the turquoise & lemon yellow colors that the child, Lauren Lewis, chose. The second dress is a 2 pc halter dress with glitter fairy dust hot pink top & poly silk charmeuse skirt. The dresses fit the models with the halter dress being a little short as the model had grown some since her measurements were taken in the summer. The St Jude Fashion Show Fundraiser collected almost $10,000.00. The dresses were either given to the models or auctioned off (not sure what happened). I have not heard anymore about this except an email thanking me for participating.

Christmas sewing for 2011 ... gifts that I made for my family & friends ... also added the Halloween costume that I made for my daughter & a blanket that I made for a friend. For the guys in my family, I chose designs that indicate their interests & embroidered on hand towels & for the girls in my family, I chose flour sack dishtowels to embroider designs. The photo was embroidered on a flour sack dishtowel & framed in an oak expresso frame. The designs were either built into my machine or downloaded from various sites. The angel is a Martha Pullen IEC design for 2011. The shirt was a gift for a friend. I had so much fun doing these gifts for family & friends.
Happy Sewing!!!
Marty

Reflections on 2011

2012-01-01T05:33:00.002-06:00

Dear Readers, I am a terrible blogger but sometimes life just gets in the way. 2011 was a year of challenging health problems. I won't go into detail but I had 4 hospitalizations & 3 surgeries since April. My body is failing & there's not a lot that I can do about it. I just keep on sewing & helping others as I can. So let me bring you up to date with what's happened since my last post ...

I went on a sewing retreat for my birthday with 17 internet friends from around the world. It was a wonderful 5 days/4 nights get away about 30 minutes from home. I still cannot travel but I was so blessed to have these wonderful ladies come to me. It was one of the most wonderful birthdays ever.
We sewed, we laughed, we talked far into the night, & had a delightful experience as we shared our common love of sewing, prayer, & the internet which is what brought us together. Most touching was the faith service that we held for those with cancer, survivors, & those who went on to our Heavenly Father's home. I am so blessed to have these ladies as my friends.

In November, I finished the dresses for the St Jude fundraiser. I heard that they loved the dresses & I was happy to participate in this project. I was unable to attend the fundraiser but that was okay. Then I started my Christmas sewing or at least planned to. However due to 2 hospitalizations & 3 surgeries in November, I was not able to start until December after gathering my supplies. I ended up making 38 gifts for Christmas & finished all by December 23rd. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the last 2 packages mailed until after Christmas but at least they were done. I will be posting photos of these gifts in my next post as well as the dresses that I made for the fundraiser.

Christmas was quiet & wonderful with my daughter & husband. I got 3 new sewing DVDs as well as some presser feet for my Babylock serger & a new jacket plus gift cards for some of my favorite restaurants & some jewelry. I am truly blessed.

As I think back about 2011, I realize I am not invincible. There are mistakes that I made but I learned a lot more about myself too. I feel that 2012 is going to be a better year all the way around. I have developed a love of heirloom sewing & hope to incorporate more of these techniques into my wardrobe this year. I also love my Ellisimo & my Eclipse DX serger. Both make sewing such a pleasure. In spite of health challenges, I realize that I love teaching others to sew & create garments. I don't want to be paid for this as it comes naturally to me. I must do a better job on keeping track of my commitments & learn to say "No" more often. Life is fleeting & too important to get hung up on petty details & things that we thought would never change, do. In many ways, I feel that I have grown this year both in my sewing skills & in my personal life.

So treasure the moments that you have with your family as you never know when they will be taken away. This is a special gift that has been nurtured thru experience & an investment in your future. I believe that all talent comes as a gift from God so honor this, treasure your sewing skills, & honor those around you by sharing your gift with others.

Happy New Year!!!
Marty

Fall Sewing Craziness

2011-10-14T18:47:00.001-05:00

This has been a very busy summer & fall is turning out to be that way too. I finished a sweet baby blanket for a friend's daughter's first birthday. She loved it. Then I'm replacing the lining in 2 pairs of pants for someone that I know from my beauty salon, Neuvo. On top of that I've been making chair bags for our church's kindergarten class & 2 dresses for a St Jude fundraiser that's due November 1st. It seems like I'm constantly sewing & loving every minute of it. I am also still doing alterations for church members & teaching others to sew on Saturday afternoons. Last week, I got my first taste of heirloom sewing by making a puffed pillow & a linen table runner. I took a class with Mary Jane Sprague & Sharie Behrquist, licensed Martha Pullen educators. I learned how to use a wing needle, join lace to lace, lace to entredeaux plus entredeaux to fabric & pintucks. I also learned how to shape lace & bias tape in a figure eight shape without any puckers. I had a wonderful time. Now, my brain is about to explode with the possibilities of projects to make as gifts. Today, I went to lunch with some friends at The Women's Exchange & gathered even more ideas. I have even figured out how to create my own lace as well as make my own entredeaux & lace panels. Oh, I don't even want to go anywhere except to sit at my sewing machines & sew. Unfortunately, I can do that for about 2 hours at a time before I get too tired. However, I've been going to our church's softball games on Thursday nights where I have been scorekeeper this season. I love softball/baseball/basketball & football games if I can go watch the game. Don't care about watching games on television. After the game, the team gathers at Sonic for a late night snack or in some cases, dinner. I sleep in the mornings & am on the go in the afternoons/evenings. Overall, life is very good. So what are you doing this fall?

No Sewing

2011-08-27T22:26:00.001-05:00

Had great plans to sew this month but instead I did a lot of purging, cleaning, sorting, & storing some of my sewing supplies. I did cut out & embroider 18 chair bags for our church's kindergarten dayschool classroom. I had planned to get them sewed up but ended up having to put the project on hold. My hubby had surgery & was at home. I needed to spend my time helping him in & out of the bed, fixing meals, running errands, etc. All of this was very stressful which landed me in the hospital. So here I am, waiting for the doctors to determine what caused my blood pressure to crash last Tuesday, & hopefully I'll be able to go home in a few days. That's one of the challenges of heart disease is that you never know when you're going to crash. Hopefully, it won't be long before I'm able to return to my sewing machines.

A Little Girl's Dream

2011-07-13T22:56:00.000-05:00

I was contacted last week by a friend who asked me to join "The Dream Team" of Women of Style, Spirit, & Success, Inc, a non-profit corp that works with young girls. They needed seamstresses to help with a fundraiser for St Jude Children's Hospital & I was invited to participate. One of St Jude's patients is a 7yr old little girl battling neuroblastoma who dreams of having her own fashion line of clothing. So today, we met at L'Ecole Culinaire cooking school for a tea & met the little designer, her mom & sister. We were given drawings of the designs & now it is up to us to convert those drawings into garments for a fashion show fundraiser for St Jude in September. Here are the drawings that I will be converting into clothing. This will be a fun project & a challenge to my pattern drafting & sewing skills. The pink dress will be a halter dress with sparkles on the front & a full gored skirt. The turquoise & yellow dress will be a dropwaist with a collar, buttoned down the back, short sleeves & pleated skirt. I can use pattern drafting software or a commercial pattern with the details. I will get the models' measurements sometime next week.

Shopping on 4th of July at Hancock Fabrics

2011-07-04T18:58:00.001-05:00

Had a great shopping day at Hancock Fabrics. I bought the above patterns, some thread & zippers, 1-1/2 yards of a lovely purple pinwheel rayon challis for a top (Simplicity #2599,view A)& an 18mm rotary cutter. I was pleased to get my ASG discount on all items as well as an additional 15% off of the entire purchase. It was overall a very good shopping day.

Removing Clutter

2011-06-10T20:45:00.002-05:00

My family has told me that my sewing supplies, fabrics, projects in the works, etc are out of control. Mostly I ignore these comments but recently, I was reminded that there are others who do not have the financial means to purchase fabrics, supplies, patterns, etc. Grace Place Ministries works with women in prison in teaching them to sew as a creative outlet while serving their time. I have decided to go thru all of the many bins of fabric that I have accumulated as well as my patterns, notions, etc & put together some supplies for Grace Place Ministries. I know that physically that I will not be able to sew everything that I have so this is a way to share my love of sewing with others besides the classes that I teach. My question to you is "do you purge your fabrics, supplies, patterns, etc as you would your closets when they become too full?"

A New Top

2011-05-29T23:10:00.003-05:00

For our ASG program, I had to find a pattern & fabric to make a top by serger. So off to Hancock Fabrics, I go. There I found a ponteroma knit (polyester/rayon) and Kwik Sew pattern #2900. I chose view C. I made two tops which took about 2 hours on the serger including doing the coverhem. It was a nice easy project for instant gratification to demo at our ASG meeting. Here are the photos of the 2 tops that I made. I can see this becoming a favorite pattern. I didn't really read the directions but here is how I put the top together.
Tutorial:
Take front & back pieces & with right sides together, lay your stay tape on the shoulders & serge. Then take the neckband & serge the ends together. Folding in half, line it up with your center back & pin. Then pin the center front & shoulder seams. Stretching gently, serge slowly until the neckband is attached. Then serge your sleeves into the armhole opening leaving the fabric open flat. Then serge your your side seams starting at the bottom of the top & going up to the sleeve end. Next set your machine up for coverstitch, & folding the sleeve hem under securing with Wonder Tape (a double sided fusible), stitch either a 2 needle wide coverhem or a 2 needle narrow coverhem. Then do the bottom of the top using Wonder Tape to hold the hem in place. To finish your top, just use the coverhem to stitch down the neckband seam allowance. Now, you're done.
Happy Sewing!
Marty

Another Machine

2011-05-07T23:03:00.002-05:00

This week another sewing machine followed me home. It is a Singer Stylist 834 in need of some TLC. I was at church with my sewing group & when I was leaving one of the staff members told me that she brought me a machine. It was given to her by one of her friends but she didn't want it. The machine is missing a power cord & foot pedal but that can easily be replaced. I have ordered a manual for it & plan to clean it up & get it running again. I love tinkering with old machines & wish that I had more space. After all, I only have 7 machines now including one that belongs to my daughter. I've already given several sewing machines that I fixed up to the United Methodist Neighborhood Group for their Refugee Assistance program. They teach refugees to sew & provide an opportunity for them to have machines to use to make clothing for their families. I really like this little machine & may keep it unless I come across someone who really needs one. Do machines follow you home? If so, what do you do with them? Inquiring minds want to know.

We Made It ...

2011-04-22T23:23:00.002-05:00

Back in March before I became so sick, hubby & I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. I was a child bride, barely 18, and had so many dreams and plans. Most of them worked out & the ones that didn't, don't matter anymore. My hubby was a seasoned adult at the ripe old age of 28. We had only known each other about 3 months when we became engaged & married 6 months later. Most people said that it wouldn't last as we were polar opposites. However, we proved them wrong. Both of us made a commitment to one another in front of God, family & friends. We took our vows seriously & worked out our issues together. We have had our ups & downs & life has been full of challenges, joys & sorrows. However, we made it & look forward to many more years together. So as the wedding season approaches, please remember why you have chosen to marry. My hubby paid me the greatest compliment not too long ago when he said that if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing & marrying me was the best thing that he ever did in his life. I so agree with him.

A Little More Embroidery

2011-04-17T23:35:00.003-05:00

These were a set of bath towels that I received for Christmas from my younger sister. I used Sonia Showalter "Under the Sea" designs for my towels. I really like the way that they turned out.

A Little Bit of Embroidery

2011-04-17T23:33:00.001-05:00

During March, I was teaching a beginner sewing class using Simplicity #2447 until I got sick and had to go into the hospital. I spent a week in ICU-Stepdown with congestive heart failure, extreme exhaustion & severe dehydration. I was discharged a little over a week ago and really missed my sewing machines so I have spent my time embroidering towels while I'm recuperating. After all, I cannot drive right now as my blood pressure is too low. Hopefully, I'll regain my strength soon. The towels were Christmas gifts that I wanted to embroider before using them so this was a perfect opportunity. Here are the photos of what I enjoyed doing. I do love my new Ellisimo.

Winter Sewing

2011-02-11T08:39:00.003-06:00

On Tuesday evenings, I'm teaching a sewing class called "Return to Sewing". The class is designed for those who want to learn to sew & those who want to brush up on their sewing skills. I'm a firm believer that if no one tells you that you cannot do something, then you will be able to do it. That's why I chose Simplicity pattern #2447 for our project. The pattern incorporates a lot of details like set in sleeves, plackets, yokes, pleats, collar & neckband. I have about 3 students in my class & so far we've taken measurements & cut out the pattern pieces. We will cut fabric at our next session. I love to teach sewing. While I'm not perfect or an expert by any means, I share my passion for needle, thread & fabrics with others. There are no fees for my classes & I ask the students to make a donation to their favorite charity or the church if they are able. My question to you is what do you do to share your love of sewing with others?

More Christmas 2010 Sewing

2011-01-08T20:31:00.003-06:00

Here are a few more items that I sewed for Christmas 2010. I did all of Christmas sewing the week before Christmas & the week afterwards. It sure kept me busy.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-31T21:26:00.006-06:00

For the past few weeks, I have been busy embroidering gifts for my family members for Christmas. This post is photo heavy as I show y'all what I have done. Not all of the gifts are on here as some have not been sent so I will hold off on publishing them until they are received. I hope everyone has had a good Christmas & will have a Blessed & Happy New Year.

Button Bibs

2010-11-30T00:26:00.003-06:00

These are some "button bibs" which I created for my husband's friend. He had asked me to make him a set of 4 napkins with his initials & that of his wife on them. He asked that I add buttonholes to the opposite corner of the monogram. He called them "Button Bibs". They were quick & easy to make using a 3 thread flat hem on my serger to finish the edges. I used Embird software to create the monograms & a font that I had purchased some time ago called Script. They stitched out beautifully on my "Ellie". The only problems were caused by my being in too much of a hurry to get them done. I think that they turned out very nice.

My Birthday Gifts

2010-10-29T02:49:00.004-05:00

My Baby Girl gave me this book on Patternmaking & Tim Gunn's new book on Fashion plus a lap desk for my laptop for my birthday on Tuesday. She swore that she wouldn't get me anything sewing related but in the end, she knew these books would make me very happy. I've got the sweetest daughter.

Ellie's a Dream

2010-10-16T01:09:00.003-05:00

My new sewing machine "Ellie" is a dream to use. On Friday, I hemmed a top that I had made using the triple stretch stitch. It looked great. I did break a needle & got thread knotted up at the beginning as I started too close to the edge. Couldn't find the tip of the needle so I'll call the dealer later today to see if I need to bring it in. After I finished that, I wanted to try out the embroidery feature. So, I pulled out an old hand towel & selected a Nancy Zieman floral design & proceeded to embroider the towel. About halfway thru the 3rd color, the bobbin ran out of thread. Well, it was easy (so I thought) to wind a new bobbin. Got the bobbin thread all tangled on the bobbin spindle. I spent almost an hour getting that mess cleaned up. Finally got the bobbin wound & changed out & then lined up my design again. It would have been easier if I had saved the original settings but I didn't. The design may be a little off but I couldn't tell. Hubby thought it looked great. Will take photos later. I do love my new machine especially the auto threading feature which is great for my aging eyes. Even with bi-focals, I trouble seeing. Darn that old astigmatism. Hope everyone is enjoying their machines & creating some wonderful projects. Happy Sewing!

My Early Birthday Gift

2010-10-12T21:22:00.003-05:00

My birthday is in 2 weeks but yesterday my gift arrived. My sweet hubby bought me the Babylock Ellisimo sewing/embroidery machine. Sadly, I gave up my Pfaff 7570, the manuals, the attachments, embroidery cards, etc. However, this machine is awesome. If you haven't had a chance to test drive one, I urge you to do so. I was mesmerized by it & that is how my hubby knew that it was the right for me. I had told him that I wanted a new serger for classes as my Pfaff 4874 is too heavy to lift. I had looked at some of the Babylock sergers & the Janome ones. I was thinking that he would get me one from Hancock Fabrics. Well, last Saturday, my friend, Harriet, called & told me about a deal from Babylock. If one bought the Ellisimo, then one could get an Eclipse DX as part of the package. I told my hubby this & he just nodded in his usual way when he is half listening to me. Never in my wildest dreams that I would get this. Later on, we went to Cokesbury bookstore & bought a new Wesley Study Bible plus another book that we wanted. As we were leaving,hubby asked if I wanted to go to Memphis Sewing Machine (Singer/Babylock/Pfaff dealer) & of course I said yes. He asked me to show him the machines that I was interested in & the one Harriet had told me about. Well, I showed him & played with the machines. I thanked the staff & we went home. We talked about it over the rest of the weekend. On Monday, he told me to go see what type of trade-in I could get for my Pfaff. So off to the dealer I went. I called hubby after talking to the owner & he came over to the store & bought me the Ellisimo which came with the Eclipse DX serger (has auto-threading). I am so happy. The machine is just awesome & can do so very much. I am still reeling from all of this & my new "Ellie" is sitting on my sewing cabinet for all to see when they come in the front door. By the way, I sew in the living room as we have no space for sewing room. I think I have the sweetest hubby in the world & he knows how to spoil me the best. In a few days, I'll post photos of "Ellie" in action. Happy Sewing!!!

A Rush Job

2010-08-15T22:40:00.002-05:00

On last Tuesday morning, I got a phone call from Jan Hamilton of the Delta Fair & Music Festival who needed someone who could make 6 boxed tablecloths. I told her that I would do it in exchange for a donation to my church, St Luke's UMC. She brought me the fabric & measurements - 8ft x 2ft x 41 inches. I was able to start right away on the cloths & got them almost all cut out that afternoon. The next day, my friend Harriet came to help me out & I was able to get all of the end panels sewn plus the front & back panels cut out. Just have to finish sewing the panels & the tablecloths are done. It was a quick job & all sewing was done on my serger. I even had matching thread on hand. I love quick projects like this. Tomorrow, I'm cutting out a skirt & jacket using Textile Studio's Skirt Trio pattern & Loes Hinse Piazza Jacket pattern. I hope these go quickly too as most of the construction will be on the serger. I'll go thru my stash in the morning to figure out which fabric to use.
Happy Sewing!

My New Top

2010-07-31T22:11:00.002-05:00

This is my new top that I made this afternoon/evening. I had cut it out in June & had set it aside. It is kind of weird since the front is cut on the bias & the back is on the straight of grain. The front has 3 pleats on each side of the cowl neckline & gathers across the middle back. The yoke on the back is fully lined but the armhole openings, front neckline, & hem are just folded over & stitched. The pattern was rated easy but the instructions were somewhat wonky so I just made it my way. The fabric is poly/lycra jersey from Jo-Ann Fabrics. My daughter liked it but hubby thought it was too snug. Maybe it would have fit a little better if I had used a 16 from the armholes down. I made it by straight size 14. All in all, I think it will be a cute top for these hot summer days.

Step by Step Tutorial on Full Bust Adjustment

2010-07-26T20:25:00.003-05:00

My daughter has been generously blessed so any tops or dresses that I make for her must have a full bust adjustment. Over the past few years, using the book "Fit for Real People", I have developed some steps that must be done for her tops to fit. I hope that this will help someone who is struggling.

Step by Step Tutorial for Full Bust Adjustment
By Marty Cobb
1. Measure your upper bust by pulling the tape measure tight under your arms, around the back, & to the middle of your chest. This is your shoulder/upper bust measurement which is the number that you will purchase your pattern by.

2. Measure your full bust with your favorite bra on going around the middle & to the center of your bust. This will determine the amount of your full bust. The difference between the 2 numbers will be the amount of the full bust adjustment that you will need to make.

3. Measure from your shoulder bone near your neck to your bust apex (nipple). Be sure to measure each side as the measurement may vary. Mark this on your pattern piece.

4. Note where your darts are located on the pattern piece. Your darts should come to where your apex is so you will be adjusting your darts as well.

5. Add short strips of clear scotch tape along the seam line of the neck & armhole. Clip to the tape about every ½ inch so that the tissue pattern will fit like fabric.

6. Split the center of the side dart almost to the apex. Then from the apex to your waistline measurement, draw a straight line. Now open up the dart the amount needed to add to get your full bust amount. It will look like the dart is hinged. Note: you will be adding length as well as width to your pattern so that the full bust is covered.

7. Split the center of this line to the apex but not cutting thru. You will spread this open to accommodate any fullness needed below the full bust. Lengthen or shorten the pattern as needed for your body shape.

8. Add tissue paper underneath this & tape on top & your pattern will be adjusted for your full bust. Try it on to check that the dart is in the correct position pointing to but not ending at the apex. The center front should be lined up as well as the center back of your pattern piece. Make any adjustments for a broad back or sloping shoulders at this point. After a few tries, this will become easier over time.

This has been adapted from the book “Fit for Real People” by the palmer-pletsch corp & is written according to my understanding of how to make a full bust adjustment.

Clothing Repairs

2010-06-06T22:34:00.003-05:00

I promise that I did not drop off of the face of the earth. I have been busy doing clothing repairs for my church members. During the past 2 months, I shortened a dress 3-1/2 inches & hemmed it & the lining. I replaced bra straps on a bra, fixed a bra with a broken ring, & repaired holes in a sweater for a child by sewing the hole closed & adding an applique to cover it. I ended up sewing a seam in another sweater & fixing some of the holes in it plus hemmed a skirt. I then added buttons to 3 pairs of pants for a child. When those things were finished, I shortened 5 pairs of men's slacks 4-5 inches, finished the edges, & hemmed them. I also cut out a top for me & worked on another top plus a dress that I had started a long while back. Today, I got a bag full of summer clothes to mend. That will keep me busy for a while. I also have taught several classes for my ASG chapter & now have a young lady who asked me to teach her to sew. We will start her lessons on Tuesday afternoon. It's been a busy time. God has blessed me in so many ways that I want to give back to others so I do the clothing repairs in exchange for a donation to the church. It's a win-win situation. Happy Sewing everyone!

A Little Mending on the Side

2010-03-30T17:44:00.002-05:00

Sorry that it has been so long since I blogged about anything. Since November, most of my sewing has been on hold while my left hand healed. In January, I had surgery for a popped tendon in my left thumb (the one that was almost severed back in 2008). I had to wear a cast for 6 weeks & a brace since then. It kind of gets in the way my sewing especially when one's hand is immobilized. Having completed physical therapy last week,I now only have to wear the brace occasionally. Progress is good. During this time, I've done some mending projects for church members which was hemming pants (5 pair) plus lengthening bra straps. I do wish the local Hancock Fabrics & Jo-Ann Fabrics carried plush elastic as I think replacing the straps would have been easier. However, they do not. I ended buying some embroidered ribbon in a cream color (closest match) & adding 4 inches to each bra that needed to be repaired. The fix didn't take more than 10 minutes each. Deciding the best way to do it took the longest time. I've also started making new cushion covers for my DH's favorite rocking chair. The first set of muslins were scrapped because there wasn't enough fabric for the sides. Now, it's back to square one. Will get new muslins cut this weekend & hopefully the upholstery fabric. I'll post photos when done.
Happy Sewing!!!

New Challenges

2009-12-12T21:46:00.004-06:00

Boy, I didn't realize that it's been so long since I wrote a post. A lot has happened. For my birthday in October, I got 5 new to me sewing books - Butterick's Ready-Set-Sew which is a copy of the first sewing book that I ever had. I also got the Encyclopedia of Sewing Machine Techniques, Ready-Set-Serge, Shortcuts to Sewing by Edith Bryte Bishop, & The Serger Idea book. I am enjoying these new editions to my sewing library. My daughter gave me Roberta Carr's sewing DVD "Couture Techniques" & my nephew gave me tickets to my first NBA game. DH took me out to dinner at Outback Steakhouse & sent me a dozen roses. It was a great birthday.

Two weeks later I injured my left thumb while trying to make the bed. At first, my primary doctor thought it was a torn tendon but the MRI showed the tendon is stretched out of shape at the base of my left thumb & osteo-arthritis has set into the basal joint that was chipped. This is the same hand that was so badly injured in the car crash last year. It cannot be repaired so I must wear a hand brace indefinitely which is awkward sewing. Knitting is extremely painful. So for now, I'm trying to learn to sew with one hand. I've faced many challenges over the past few years & have learned to cope. I will with this one too. Earlier this week I used the serger to try to construct a top but had to stop after about 10 minutes as it was too painful. Typing with one hand takes longer too. I will figure out a way to keep sewing as it is in my blood.
Happy Sewing Everyone!

A Seam Ripper Anyone?

2009-10-24T21:57:00.003-05:00

These past few weeks has had me busy ripping seams. I have had to replace a zipper, take in 3 tops & sleeves, plus hemming more pants. Taking apart a Nike jacket to replace the zipper took me over 3 hours. I feel like I have a close relationship with my seam ripper. Rip-it, rip-it, rip-it is how it goes. I think I need to get a new seam ripper as the 4 I have all seem to be dull. All of my personal sewing is on hold at this time. I've also been busy making pillowcases, Christmas stockings & ornaments for ASG projects. Our ASG chapter is having its' annual fund raiser by having 2 craft fair booths in November. This is a busy, busy time of the year. Happy Sewing!

More Shopping

2009-09-26T19:25:00.003-05:00

Thursday night I went to another trunk show with Peggy Sagers, owner of Silhouette patterns at Hancock Fabric's. She had some new pieces this time which were geared more for the cooler weather of fall. I ended up buying the Yoga Pant pattern #115 & Alesha's blouse #875. I plan to use it as a jacket instead of a blouse so I purchased some black, brown,& dark gold short fake fur. I may line it although the pattern doesn't call for lining. I found the perfect buttons but at $8 each, it was a little pricey. I also bought some new dressmaking scissors (Mundial) for the UMNC along with bobbins & needles. However, I was pleased to find out that I got a 40% discount on all that I bought. All in all, it came to about $50 which was well within my budget. So with 2-1/2 yards of fabric, 3 WOW buttons & my new pattern, I should have a great jacket for those cool days in Memphis. Note: Peggy's measurements on her patterns are all the finished garment size with about 2 inches of ease. She has designed the patterns to be made up quickly on the serger as most people are very busy with little time to sew. I like the fact that all sizes come in each pattern & she has incorporated bust cup sizes in her patterns. I do believe that they can be used in home sewing businesses. If considering that, I would suggest that you call her 800 number to verify. One of my friends who was with me on Thursday night has already made up 3 versions of the Ralph Lauren pant pattern. LOL! She loves them. If you haven't tried Silhouette patterns, I would recommend that you try them. Peggy did say that if anyone had problems with fitting to call her 800 number & she'll tell you how to get a good fit.
Happy Sewing!
Marty

National Sewing Month

2009-09-24T16:02:00.004-05:00

My fall sewing is on hold until I get thru the ASG craft fair sewing & new alterations that came in. I'm trying to figure out a plan to be able to sew for me as well as keep up with ASG projects & my sewing ministry. The last two weeks have been stressful for me & I have not been able to have any time to sew. I need to be sewing so I can relax. Anyway, I've thought that maybe I can try sewing ASG items on Mondays & Wednesdays; items for church members on Tuesdays & Thursdays & then sew for me on Fridays & Saturdays. I'm hoping that this will work for me.

I did finish knitting a third prayer shawl while waiting in doctors' offices but forgot to take a photo of it.

This is National Sewing Month & I haven't been sewing. However, the United Methodist Neighborhood Center near where I live has a program to provide Refugee Economic Independence for refugees coming from all over the world. They offer a sewing program & was in need of supplies. Therefore, I sent an email to my sewing friends & asked for donations. Boy, did they respond. On Monday, I was able to take 2 large boxes of fabric & notions, 7 large trash bags of fabric,some sewing books & magazines plus a sewing machine. Since Monday, I have 2 more sewing machines & another couple of bags of fabric to donate plus thread, scissors & notions. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to help others to be able to sew. Tonight, I'm off to see Peggy Sagers again & shop some more. Happy Sewing!
Marty

Silhouette Patterns

2009-08-25T07:06:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to meet with Peggy Sagers when she did an event at Hancock Fabrics. Yes, Hancock Fabrics, will be carrying Silhouette patterns & Peggy is going around the country promoting her line of patterns. She is so charming & enthusiastic about sewing. Each of the 35 garments in her trunk show were made from fabrics carried by Hancock's & most were available to purchase in the store that night. She also offered a special of 9 patterns for $99.99 & her book "Dress to Kill ... Gently". There was a $14 pre-registration fee which entitled one to a Silhouette pattern. So, all in all, I bought 10 of her patterns, her DVD on "Basic Patternmaking" plus some fabric. The patterns are as follows:
#2750 Amy's Skirt #3100 Laurie's Pant
#1750 Robin's Jacket #3600 Ralph's Pant
#2850 Michelle's One Piece Skirt #175 Valerie's Top
#150 Dana's Top #115 Ann's Top
#1900 4 Button Jacket #195 Sweater Set

This will be my fall sewing. I already had her patterns for the Swing dress & the Stephanie Blouse. I like the fact that these can be sewn quickly on the serger with minimal fuss. While she doesn't use interfacing, I probably will because I like my garments to be stabilized. We will see how much I get done over the next few months since I have completed most of my alterations.
Happy Sewing!

Stimulating the Economy

2009-08-13T15:59:00.005-05:00

Since I last posted, DH & I have stimulated the economy to the tune of almost $50,000.00. Yep, that's right. In July, we bought our daughter a 2009 Toyota Matrix fully loaded for around $25,500.00 for her 21st birthday. In addition to the car, we bought her a ticket to see the Broadway Musical "Wicked" when it came to the Orpheum Theater & took her out to an elegant (ie: extremely expensive) dinner at Flemings. We also gave her spending money for 2 trips that she took even though she has a part time job. Two weeks later, my DH & I went to buy a new car for him as his 15 yr old Mercury Grand Marquis was in need of repairs that were going to be over $6,000.00. Thank you for the "Clunker" law as he qualified for the $4500.00 rebate. We bought him a 2010 Toyota Corolla "S" which has a lot of nice features including lumbar support seats. Very important as one ages. There went another $20,000.00.

Then, we took my Pfaff 7570 sewing/embroidery machine in to be serviced as it was getting sluggish. There went another $185. Then, it rained & the roofed leaked so cha-ching, we're putting another $2000.00 for home repairs. Yes, we have really stimulated the economy. Here are photos of the new cars that live at our house. Both are very pleased with their new vehicles & I'm happy that my Pfaff loves being cleaned of all of the lint that builds up in the innards of a sewing machine. It's running smoothly. Sewing wise, I've been busy mending clothes ... I shortened the sleeves on a jacket for one lady by removing each sleeve from the armhole & shortening at the top of the sleeve. Then I had to shorten the shoulder seam, sew the sleeve back in & then shorten the lining. It took about 3 weeks to do this as I'm very slow. I've also took up seams on a pair of pants to loose the clown look on the hips plus hemmed 2 dresses. I'm also making craft items for our ASG upcoming craft fair. Last week, I did manage to get a blouse cut out for me using Butterick #4659. I love wing collar & princess seams. I do hope to do some tone on tone embroidery on the princess panels before sewing it together. I think it will be very pretty when done. Hope everyone is doing well for the summer.
Happy Stitching!

Sewing for the Summer

2009-06-20T23:23:00.004-05:00

Most of my summer sewing will be community service projects for our ASG chapter. We are making pillowcases for the local Ronald McDonald House & stuffed turtle pillows for LeBonheur Children's Hospital. I do hope to get one or two items made for me. Also, our ASG chapter is sewing during the summer for our upcoming craft fair in the fall. We're making oven mitts, potholders, bookmarks, free standing lace bookmarks, Christmas ornaments & Christmas stockings. I hope we're able to raise enough funds to bring in a national educator for 2010. I did get to draft patterns for the oven mitt, the potholders, stockings & ornaments. We're using donated fabrics with the guild picking up the expenses for Insul-brite & 100% cotton batting.

Sewing ... Sewing ... Poof

2009-05-16T22:55:00.002-05:00

Guess I am a bad blogger. I have been busy working on the formal gown which is still a work in progress & have been extra busy doing mending & alterations thru my sewing ministry as well as knitting prayer shawls. I just haven't blogged about any of it. This weekend, I'm shortening sleeves about 1-1/4 inches on a jacket from Talbot's for one of my church members as well as hemming pants for my minister. I did shorten straps about 3 inches on a club dress for my daughter plus repaired 2 of her bras. I would love to sew for me but haven't got the time right now. My student is progressing on her blouse. We have the darts in, the front plackets made & the collar ready to sew to the collar band. This coming week we will put the collar on & work on the sleeve plackets. In between all of this life has been very busy with DH & DD leaving this week for 5 days in Orlando, FL. They are attending our niece's wedding & doing some sight-seeing. I've been busy making the plane & hotel reservations, lining up a rental car & scheduling visits for them with family members who live in FL. I'm looking forward to the 5 days at home alone (with my dog, Max)while they are gone.
Happy Sewing!

Sewing for Me

2009-04-05T18:53:00.004-05:00

Thank you Loretta at Fitting Tips for nominating me for the sisterhood award. I really appreciate this. I would like to nominate Sew Paula as she sews for her children of which one faces physical challenges, Sewing in the City who shares her sewing projects whether successful or not, Angie at Wendy & her Lost Boys, a mother of 6 who balances family life with being the wife of a minister far from home, & Teri at Mermaids who enjoys teaching & sewing. Each of these ladies so freely share their sewing knowledge with others & certainly deserve this award.

This week I got a chance to sew for myself. On Tuesday afternoon, I cut out viewA of Vogue 8536 in a blue matte jersey while at the church doing my sewing ministry. When I got home, I serged all of the edges & then did the construction on the sewing machine since the top had side vents & gathers in the bust area. It is really a nice top. It is very close fitting & I would have gone up a size had I known just how close. However, it fits okay & the next one I make will be the next size up. It felt good to have an opportunity to sew for myself for a change. I still have to add the neck binding & hem the T-shirt. My next project is a formal for one of my DD's college friends. Will post photos when they are done. Happy Stitching!

38 Years & Holding On ...

2009-03-24T20:00:00.003-05:00

Last Friday, DH & I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary with dinner at our favorite steakhouse. As we talked (amid the chaos), I reflected on just how special my life is. I am so blessed in many ways. Who would have thought that the skinny, scared 17 yr old, out on her own & alone for the first time in New Orleans, would grow to become a confident adult with a loving husband who has grown with her thru the years. Being married takes a lot of work, a lot of give & take, & sacrifice. Thru it all, my love & respect for my husband has grown immensely. I can honestly say that I love him more today than on our wedding day. How lucky can a gal be.

New Sewing Goodies

2009-03-18T13:33:00.002-05:00

While my eyes heal from an infection, I've been perusing the internet for sewing goodies. Some of the things I have bought recently included a cable for my Pfaff 7570 sewing/embroidery machine, "Cool Couture: Construction Secrets for Runway Style" sewing book by Kenneth King, a Fashion Design Ruler from SewTrue plus a DVD by Roberta Carr on Couture Techniques from CD Universe. I believe that all of these things will help to improve my sewing/embroidery skills. Also bought some new serger threads from Atlanta Thread Supply. DH surprised me by renewing my subscription to Threads magazine for another 3 years plus 2 years for Sew News & ordered Designs in Machine Embroidery for me as well as Creative Machine Embroidery magazines. It's been a lot of searching the internet for sewing goodies. So, what new sewing goodies have you tried?

Hemming Away ... by Hand

2009-03-11T09:28:00.004-05:00

Business for my sewing ministry has picked up. I am becoming quite the expert at hemming pants for men & women who need this done. Because items are often dropped off for me to do with no real measuring of the person, I ask them to drop off something that fits well and I go from there. Recently, I have been hemming 5 pairs of pants for one person. All of them were different lengths and brand new. He brought in a pair of pants that fit him so I measured the inseam from those pants. I did note that the nylon hem from the blind stitch machine (probably a dry cleaners or alteration person at the store) had come out on one leg. I stitched those pants also. When I tried to put in a 3-4 inch hem, the fabric puckered so out came the stitching. I cut all of the pants down and then put in 2 inch hems. I don't know what the standard is for men's dress pants but this gave a smooth finish on the outside with invisible stitching. After determining the finished length and adding for the hem, I cut the fabric and then serged the edge, marked my 2 inch hem and then hand stitched the pants. So far this method is time consuming but it looks good. My DH approves. One of these days, I hope to become more proficient in using my blind hem foot where I can whip these out but I'm not there yet. Oh, one of these days I will be.

Valentine's Weekend

2009-02-16T06:00:00.003-06:00

This weekend was wonderful. DH & I attended a new church mixer as we are helping to mentor a new young pastor as he starts a church in the Memphis area. We don't plan to leave our home church but are helping out for the time being. This weekend was the first event. I worked the registration table, hubby worked security and our daughter provided child care. It was a family event for us. We did have a candlelight luncheon that was catered by Coletta's Italian Restaurant. Hmmm...good. The highlight of my day was watching my hubby line dance for about 20 minutes with our daughter. He did pretty good for his first try since he claims to have 2 left feet. When we got home, DH gave me a small container of my favorite chocolates. Couldn't be more perfect than that. Then on Sunday, DH surprised me by renewing my Threads subscription for 3 years. I would say that was a good Valentine's day present. All in all, it was a great Valentine's Day weekend.

"The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard"

2009-02-02T22:43:00.004-06:00

Had read a bit about this book in our local newspaper and thought the title was intriguing so I ordered the book from Barnes & Noble. It is a fascinating look at the early 20th century and the development of Los Angeles along with Hollywood. Young girls flee their families and farms in search of a dream. The main character is a young girl named Nell who is unhappily married at a young age (17) with 2 infants. She has worked on her parents farm and then on her husband's family's farm in rural Kansas. It is a hard life. Her only skill is sewing in which she excels. A visiting preacher tells her about California and she dreams of a better life for herself. Sewing for the town folk, she saves enough money to buy a train ticket to Los Angeles. Then she runs away from her husband and children. The story continues for the next 20+ years as she marries again and has another child. She sews for the high society ladies of Los Angeles and ends up with a job at Universal Studios where is a costumer. Just when her future is the brightest, her 2 older daughters turn up on her doorstep and turns her world upside down. The story does not have a happy ending. In fact, it leaves you wanting more from this author. According to the excerpt, the story is based on the author's grandmother's life. The author is Erin McGraw. I loved the book and read it over a weekend. Maybe there will be a sequel. I certainly hope so.

Crooked Sewing Adventure

2009-01-23T08:30:00.007-06:00

As an active member of my ASG chapter (and president) it seems like most of my sewing is craft projects to learn new techniques or reinforce old ones. While I long to spend more time on garments, in reality, it is craft projects that actually make it to the machine. This week, I made my first quillow. When I started this, I had no clue as to what a quillow was or what one does with it. I went out and bought 3 yards of black fleece, packed my travel sewing machine & supplies and headed out to our meeting spot. Wouldn't you know it, I forgot black thread and had picked up navy blue by mistake. Duh!!!

Fortunately, one of my friends had a large spool of black quilting thread so I used that. Wound the bobbin, threaded the machine, and then read the directions over & over but they didn't compute. Must have had brain freeze or something like a senior moment or who knows what. Anyway, I just sat there trying to figure it out. Fortunately, one of my friends recognized my dilemma and offered to help me out. We folded the fleece, cut off the amount for the pillow, and started trying to even up the ends. Oh yeah, a quillow is a blanket with an attached pillow for those who do know this. We measured, lined up, and using a yard stick to guide me with a rotary cutter, I cut crooked. We tried again. Lined up, measured carefully, and then I cut crooked. For some reason, I've never mastered cutting straight lines even with yardsticks, lined mats, etc.

Grrr... Then my friend tried cutting the fleece and it was still crooked. We laughed and figured out that the fabric was off grain and would not cut straight. Oh well, since I see crooked, I cut crooked. This quillow will go to my DD and she won't really care if it is perfectly straight or not. Well, I went to the sewing machine to sew this quillow and the fleece would not feed straight which resulted in crooked seams. Took them out muttering under my breath. Tried this again and felt like it was done even if it was a little crooked. As we got ready to turn the quillow, found out that the fleece had slipped and one section of the pillow was not sewn to the blanket. I need a walking foot for my travel machine. Muttering again, I started to frogstitch the pillow. By then, the day was half over and all I wanted to do was go home. Trying a third time, I finally finished the quillow to the point that it was acceptable. Then I started stitching the edges in a red decorative stitch. Maybe I should have done that before attaching the pillow (ya think???). Got 2 edges done and called it a day.

When I got home and looked at it, I realized it looked like a first grader's project. It was not something I was proud of or would want others to know that I made. So, I put it away. Today, I'm frogstitching the decorative stitches as well as the pillow. I figure that if I sew it on my Pfaff with its IDF, maybe the fabric won't slip and my seams will be straighter. Also, I decided I want to add some embroidery to the pillow part and I'll need to frogstitch it to do that. Whether this quillow will be finished or not remains to be seen. For now, I'm going to go back and re-read some sewing books. Happy Sewing!

Farewell 2008 ... Welcome 2009

2009-01-05T23:12:00.004-06:00

Happy New Year everyone. The first week of 2009 is almost over and I keep wondering where the time went. For Christmas, I did a flurry of sewing projects - pillowcases, ornaments, baby bibs, pillows, napkins, etc not to mention some embroidery projects. DH surprised me with the Embird Software w/Iconizer so I hope in 2009 to do more projects with embroidery. Since I seldom make resolutions (as I never keep them anyway) I won't bore you with my goals for this new year. I am thankful for my health, my family and my sewing ministry.

Over Christmas, my youngest sister came for a few days with her family. We enjoyed our time together which is always way too short. We got to meet our niece's fiance and hear all about her wedding plans. While I won't be able to attend her wedding for health reasons, I am happy to share in her joy and excitement. The wedding is over Memorial Day weekend. DH & DD will go to Orlando for the big event and I'll get a DVD of the ceremony. I love that she has created a website to keep family and friends updated on her plans as they are finalized. http://www.mywedding.com offers a lot of options for building a site.

To add to our joy, my younger brother, Steve, and his lovely wife, Theresa, had a healthy baby girl named Heidi Elizabeth on December 12th. Of course, I had to come up with special gifts for this precious little one. That's 2 boxes of gifts off in the mail for them. Big sis, Savannah, is so excited over her new little sister.

All in all, the future looks bright. Happy Sewing!

Advent Project Completed

2008-11-29T20:26:00.000-06:00

The Advent project is completed and turned in to the church. It was a challenge because I scanned and copied a photo from a needlepoint book. I worked without instructions and a pattern. I'm very pleased with the finished product. I really felt honored to be asked to do this project. Here is a photo of the altar cloth taken today. Plus here is one of the three clerical stoles I made modeled by my DH. Now, I can get to my Christmas sewing. Found out also today that a devotional I wrote was published in our Advent book. I am really blessed.

Popping In

2008-11-22T18:15:00.000-06:00

Just popping in to say hello to everyone. Am busy embroidering the Advent clerical stoles. On the right side of the stole will be the Star of Bethlehem and on the left will be the Cross. These are the samples of what it will look like. Of course, the stoles will be backed with batiste. The fabric is crepe and the thread used is a light gray Madeira rayon. Think that it looks great. Will post a photo when one is completed. Have to be done with project by Monday to turn into the church on Tuesday as it will close for the remainder of the week.

Also, I've updated my profile photo. Hubby took this one of me this afternoon after I got my hair cut today. Nothing like a little pampering for the holidays.

Preparing for Advent

2008-11-16T17:59:00.000-06:00

Advent begins in 2 weeks. It is a season of joy, hope, and giving as we prepare ourselves for God's greatest gift. What does this have to do with sewing? Well, I have been asked to make 3 clerical stoles and paraments for the altar, pulpit and lectern. This is a gift of service to my church. The paraments and stoles are being made of royal blue crepe with a batiste backing. I'm embroidering a cross on the left side of the stoles and the Star of Bethlehem on the right. Blue is a symbol of hope. I feel so honored to be asked to do this project. Will post photos when finished. So what are you doing for Advent and the holiday season?

Nesting

2008-10-24T09:47:00.001-05:00

With the weather turning cooler, my nesting instincts kick in. There is something about fall that makes me want to have my home cozier. Feather my nest so to speak. So while the healing continues and my sewing is on hold, I have decided to transform the space within the parameters I have. My sewing room serves as my family's main living area. It is small with large pieces of furniture, storage bins and lots of sewing equipment plus clutter. It has an arched opening to the dining area that also stores my stacks of sewing books. There is an old-fashioned working floor furnace in the doorway. My challenge is to transform this room into an inviting place for my family and friends as well as to have a space to be creative. All of the furniture has to stay as these are family heirlooms passed thru the generations plus we want to have all of the modern conveniences. How do you balance these things so that the past can merge with the present?

Healing

2008-10-04T11:05:00.002-05:00

Life is good and I am healing. My splint was replaced with a removeable cast that I have to wear at least 4 more weeks on my left hand and I'm learning to do things without using my thumb. Haven't tried anymore one-handed sewing but will try later today to replace a button on DH's sports coat. Fortunately, I am right-handed so I think I can do this.

DH and I replaced my car with a handicap accessible 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan that only had 32,260 miles on it. With a little engine work and a thorough cleaning, it's just like a fresh off the dealer's showroom floor vehicle. We bought it thru our church that had received it when a member died several years ago. Just another blessing for which to give thanks.

As a collector of sewing books, I ordered a new book this week from Clotilde called "Serge Smart". From the description it is filled with ideas for using one's serger for garment construction and home decor items. That made me think about what I do with my serger. Is it really for finishing seams or for construction and crafts? What do you do with your serger and why?

Blessings

2008-09-23T12:23:00.000-05:00

Last week, I was in a terrible car accident. Sewing is on hold until my injuries heal as is my classes and sewing ministry. I have a broken left hand, facial cuts and abrasions plus chemical burns on my face. My car is destroyed. In spite of all of these things, I feel blessed. We are constantly reminded to count our blessings in times of adversity but do we really do it? Today, I'm counting my blessings and giving thanks to the EMT who witnessed the accident and rendered aid. To the other witness who had the presence of mind to disconnect the battery so the engine would not catch fire. For the paramedics who bound my wounds, stabilized my heart, and rushed me to the trauma unit. Thanks to the doctors, the nurses, technicians, etc whom I encountered in the hospital. Each day these people cross our paths and turn into blessings for us. Do you count your blessings? If not, please do.

National Sewing Month

2008-09-17T17:39:00.000-05:00

September is National Sewing Month so as an ASG member and officer, I try to promote sewing in the community. Our ASG chapter started off by demonstrating sewing, embroidering, and knitting at the Delta Fair & Music Festival. Members worked 4 days of the 10 day fair. Then we gave a presentation on African-American Art Quilts at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens for their exhibit on Ancestry and Innovation- African American Art from the American Folk Art Museum. We will return on Saturday, September 20th to demonstrate sewing techniques for their Family Day program. On top of these activities I have started a sewing ministry at my church one afternoon a week in which I do mending and alterations for church members. Plus, I have started teaching basic beginner sewing lessons at a community center in an impoverished neighborhood. There are no fees involved as many people in this area do not have the means to take classes that are offered at the local fabric stores or sewing machine dealerships. My classes will give them a place to gather and fellowship plus learning a skill. I love teaching others to sew and hope they will gain the same pleasure from this as I do. What are you doing for National Sewing Month?

Labor Day Shopping

2008-09-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

Yes, I went shopping today at Hancock Fabrics. I wanted some fusible quilt batting to make some more baby bibs for our upcoming ASG craft fair in November. We have a workshop scheduled this week. I found some beautiful challis tone on tone fabrics which would make great blouses but I passed on it. I try not to buy or make anything that requires dry cleaning and this fabric did. I'll think on it and maybe it will still be there in a few weeks. I can always hope. I did buy 2 Simplicity patterns #8523 and #4881 which will be the basis for some new basics. With the top, I can add embroidery or embellish. With the skirt, there is a choice of lengths plus I love skirts with drape and panels as they are very flattering. Since I need some clothes that fit in a hurry, these were my choices. I do love buying smaller patterns. Along with the patterns, I also stocked up on some notions like stay-tape, wonder-tape, and a new seam ripper, etc. All in all, it was a pleasant afternoon. I ran into several people I knew and enjoyed the outing. Oh, by the way, everything was on sale and I spent less than $20. Love Labor Day shopping!

Obstacles ... Real or Imagined

2008-08-29T09:29:00.001-05:00

Are our obstacles to sewing real or imagined? Do we have to wait until we find the perfect fabric, the perfect pattern or the perfect notions before we sew? Of course not. However, often we create barriers because we are afraid of failure. There's no point in sewing if it isn't going to fit is one comment I hear time and again. My response is "how do you know unless you try". Fitting is a lifelong journey as we gain a better understanding of our bodies and develop our own sense of style. Anything I sew (whether it is perfect or not) is much better than I can find in a shop or online. What I sewed 30 years ago when I was in my 20's are not the styles that I sew today in my 50's. My body has changed and is not as firm as it once was. Also, in my 20's I needed a career wardrobe, now my lifestyle is casual at best. A pair of slacks or a skirt, nice top, and a lightweight jacket are all I need for any social occasion that pops up. There are not any parties or formal events in my life nor likely will there be in the future. However, I still create obstacles for myself. As I ponder about this, I challenge you to think about the obstacles in your sewing and how do you get around them. What holds you back?

Yay for Baby Girl

2008-08-20T22:13:00.004-05:00

Tonight my DD called to let me know that she made the dance team at her university and will get an additional $500 scholarship. She is over the moon. It will give her an opportunity to travel plus her uniforms and shoes are furnished. Then later she called to tell me that she was offered a job on campus at the coffee shop. It's hard to realize that my Baby Girl is growing up and away from me. Just tonight I was thinking about her first time in choir at church when she was 3. Time really flies and she is gone too quickly. Treasure these moments with your children as they soon leave and go out into the world on their own. We are left with our memories and phone calls.

Called ...

2008-08-19T19:26:00.002-05:00

Yikes, what have I done... For the past year or so, I've felt restless and have been trying hard to get my health stabilized. Maybe it is empty nest syndrome or missing being employed. Whichever, I have prayed for something meaningful to do with my days. So I proposed to our church council to start a sewing ministry at our church by providing alterations thru the church and teaching others to sew at a nearby community center. I feel as if I have been called to do this. The vote was this weekend and I have been approved for this ministry. This is a giant leap of faith for me and a challenge to my sewing skills. Doing alterations is a big step as I hate to do them even for myself. However, with 4 retirement centers within 2 blocks of the church and a university within walking distance, I feel that this is a service needed in the community for financially strapped families and students. Have I totally lost my mind or what??? What do you do to share your love of sewing with others?

Knitting

2008-08-14T08:56:00.002-05:00

This week I'm knitting a prayer shawl thru a program at our church. Years and years ago, I learned the basics of knitting but have forgotten most of it. I cannot remember how to perl so I'm just using the basic knit stitch. I finished one shawl (?) which looks more like a lap robe and am working on the 2nd one which looks like a long scarf. The yarn is very soft and should provide comfort to the recipient. This is good for me as it forces me to sit and think about "life" issues while I wait in doctors' offices or for the latest test results. While knitting I pray for our congregation in general. I try to visualize which member will get the shawl and wonder if it will bring them comfort. What are some of the things that bring you comfort so that you feel loved when things are not going so well?

Quilting ???

2008-08-08T18:46:00.002-05:00

In sewing baby bibs for our upcoming ASG fundraiser, I thought they needed a little pizazz so I decided to try to quilt them. It's my first time trying to quilt. Used some fusible batting and started with some decorative stitches - a flower design with zigzag stitches in between the rows. Took 1-1/2 hours to finish one baby bib. So today, I thought that I would try a stippling stitch, after all, how hard could it be. Well ... 3 hours later I'm still trying to stipple this one bib. Of course, it doesn't help when the phone rings, people come to the door, and life gets in the way. I'm determined to finish this tonight. Hopefully, the other 7 bibs will go quicker. I feel as if I'm in school writing "I will not talk in class" 100+ times. I don't think I'm "quilter material". Do you have any projects which bog you down? If so, please tell me about them.

Mail Call

2008-08-05T19:03:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite things to do is to collect sewing books. I just placed an order Thursday night with Sew True for the book "Altering Women's Ready-to-Wear" by Mary Roehr. Today, it arrived by UPS. That's quick service that I really appreciate. If you have a chance, check out their online store at http://www.sewtrue.com/.

A Sunday Afternoon

2008-08-03T22:21:00.002-05:00

One of the nicest times of the day to go shopping is late Sunday afternoon. Most of the crowds are gone, employees are looking forward to going home so they are extra helpful, and one can still take advantage of those great sales. This afternoon I went shopping at Hancock Fabrics. I bought several Vogue patterns, some McCall patterns and a New Look pattern. Will post photos later. Took advantage of the sale on notions and stocked up on hand sewing needles, needle threaders, cones of serger thread, embroidery floss, etc. On top of these goodies, I bought 3 yards of an eggplant colored poly-gabardine-rayon and 2 yards of a turquoise matte jersey. I am very pleased with my purchases and hope to get to sewing on these items real soon. When is your favorite time to shop?

A Little Summer Reading

2008-07-31T13:14:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, my newest sewing book arrived. It is the New Complete Guide to Sewing by Reader's Digest. Step-by-Step Techniques for Making Clothes and Home Accessories. This book was on Target.com for less than $20. The MSRP is $35 which made it a good bargain. In this book, everything a beginner or more experienced seamstress needs including tailoring tips. It is over 350 pages with photos on almost every page. The tone of the book is easy to understand. I have been collecting sewing books over the past 10+ years. Each new book I buy teaches me something new about sewing. How about you, have you learned something new about sewing lately? What is your favorite sewing book and why?

Mama Mia

2008-07-27T22:45:00.002-05:00

That's what my daughter called me this weekend. She came home from the camp where she works for one night so we could go to the movies to see this movie. It was hilarious and we laughed our heads off. My hubby thought there was a wee bit of "men bashing" going on but he laughed with us. Meryl Streep did an outstanding job in this film as did Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. Cannot remember the other actresses and actors names. However, over all, it was a good movie. Since I seldom go to movies, it was a special family event. The costumes were outrageous and the scenary gorgeous. My legs ached as I watched the characters climb up all those steps on that Greek Island to the little church. I certainly could not do that and it wasn't wheelchair friendly. Just getting to the theater in my wheelchair was like going thru an obstacle course.

Before our fun family night, I spent Saturday morning at our ASG neighborhood group meeting. Our program was to cut baby bibs for the upcoming craft fair fundraiser. I got 12 bibs cut and then spent some time cutting out 2 pairs of pants for me. Hopefully, I'll get those sewn this week along with the bibs. I do need to pick up some bias tape for the bibs so will make a run to Hancock Fabrics soon. While skimming thru Target.com, I found some sewing books that just had to follow me home. I love collecting sewing books and have more than my bookcase can hold. Being the good listener that I am, I ordered 3 more books. They are the Reader's Digest's "New Complete Guide to Sewing", "Fit Patterns with Confidence" by Nancy Zieman, and "The Complete Book of Sewing Shortcuts" by Claire Schaeffer. This will give me some new reading material for those days I'm confined to bed rest. So, what do you like to read?

Shopping Day

2008-07-23T20:56:00.002-05:00

Today was a great day for shopping. My local Hancock Fabric store was not crowded and I had plenty of room to maneuver my wheelchair. I missed the pattern sales but ended up purchasing 2 Vogue patterns by Claire Schaeffer. One is a pants pattern Vogue #7881 and the other is jacket pattern #8519. Both patterns have couture techniques which I think will be fun to try. I haven't done any tailoring in years but this will be a great challenge for me. Just wish I could have gotten them for $3.99 but I missed that sale last week. At least this time, they were in my size. Didn't find any fabric which called my name but I did pick up some needed thread and note cards. I also bought the new Vogue pattern magazine. I'll have some great reading tomorrow. That's when the sales start on the Simplicity patterns but I won't have an opportunity to go there then. Oh well, a day late and a dollar short as the saying goes.

A Good Sewing Day

2008-07-21T21:38:00.002-05:00

Today was a good sewing day for me. Went to our ASG meeting this morning and we celebrated the 5th anniversary of when our chapter was chartered - July 29, 2003 is the actual date. We had a lot of business to discuss as we heard reports from the nomination committee on new officers to be elected, reports from the ASG convention, presentation of certificate to a member, and show & tell. By the time we were ready to sew, an hour had already passed. Our program was to make a Holiday Table Runner. Now, I am totally a dork when it comes to Home Decor sewing or quilting. This project involves both. I pressed my fabric, got out my scissors and 8 inch ruler to cut the pieces needed. One of our members took pity on me as she watched me struggle. So she showed me how to use a rotary cutter and mat. Fortunately, she had the proper size ruler and then quickly had all of my pieces cut out before I could finish setting up my machine. What a great friend!!! Now, all of my pieces are ready to put together. Now, I just have to finish sewing it up, add the batting, buy some welting cord for trim and put on the backing. Then voila, my first table runner. Maybe it won't become another UFO. Ya think???

Upside Down Day

2008-07-19T18:22:00.003-05:00

This morning was fun with a trip to our local sewing club for a program on cutwork embroidery. I've always thought that one had to have an embroidery machine to do these amazing designs. Not so! With a template and little tracing skill, these designs can be created with a sewing machine. That was good to know. Guess what I'll be trying out later in the fall. Just imagine how pretty a pillowcase would look with a cutwork embroidered edge or a dresser scarf or even a sweatshirt jacket. I'm always amazed at the creativity of others as I am not that imaginative.

After a yummy BBQ lunch with hubby, I started to take my nap when DD called from camp to ask me to order her college textbooks for her. She sent me an email list but wanted to walk me thru the process (as if I have no clue). While giving me instructions, she was also chattering with the other staff members at camp. I got so confused over the conversations, I ended up ordering one of her textbooks twice. Oh well, she can sell it at school or on the college swap site or amazon. Fortunately, the book was relatively inexpensive as she wanted used textbooks. I asked her how she was going to pay for this and got "awwww, Mom, Dad said that he would". Nice to know. Anyway, she's all set for school when she school starts. But knowing her, I imagine there will be some clothes shopping too with Dad picking up the tab.

Now, that is finished, hubby reminded me that we needed to go pick up my serger before the shop closed for the weekend. We race out the door because we only have 45 minutes to drive across town. The serger is ready and all it needed was the auto tensions calibrated and a cleaning. Whew! That was a relief until I saw the bill. It was almost $165 ... yikes. But, as usual hubby is prepared and writes them a check. I do have a good hubby as he never complains. My expensive machines have expensive price tags. What can I say, I love my machines. So, now I'm back home, hubby is cooking dinner. Hope you have a good weekend.

New Pants

2008-07-18T15:55:00.002-05:00

This past two weeks, I've been sewing pants. Having lost close to 90 pounds, I found myself in need of some clothing that fit my new smaller size. I chose the Palmer-Pletsch pattern McCall's #4007 which is a basic straight leg elastic waist pants. My fabric is a chocolate brown gabardine rayon from Hancock Fabrics. I read thru the directions and thought I didn't need to adjust. Come to find out, I need about 2 more inches in length as they stop at the middle of my ankle and not the top of the shoe. They will work with sandals for summer but am unsure how they will look with my loafers. I applied my usual elastic waist treatment of sewing the elastic in the round and then using a triple zig-zag stitch as I folded over the fabric to form a casing. All in all, I'm pleased with how they look and the fit is good. What is your favorite pant pattern?

Brighten Your Corner

2008-07-18T14:26:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite poems is by Helen Steiner Rice and is called "Brighten Your Corner". This blog was created to brighten your corner with postings of my musings and sewing projects with a little bit of family news. In my little corner of this world, I sew, knit, embroidery, share photos, and live the "good life". Won't you come and visit?