Buh-bye.

Oh no no no, not to this blog!  But to my sewing room - my studio - it's been wonderful, but now it's time to dismantle and temporarily say goodbye to the big table and the big setup.

Operative word in that sentence:  TEMPORARILY. 

We are moving, but we don't know where.  In the interim, my youngest daughter and I will be in a much smaller house.  It's slightly bigger than the one we owned when my husband and I married (that one was 900 square feet!).  But I have always managed to have some sort of a sewing room, and I will continue to do so.

The small house has a spare bedroom, so I'll just set up my machine in there.  It's amazing how much you can accomplish in a small space.  So many folks have just a machine and a kitchen table, and everything has to be put away when you're done.   You have to be really determined to do projects in a setup like that, and I have the utmost respect for those that can do it.  It's really difficult to stop and start and have to reconstruct your workspace as well as your project.  Those of you who work that way are committed!  You deserve medals to pin on your beautiful projects!

I'm going to continue to work on projects until the absolute last minute.  School is starting, kids are leaving, and I'm in my last semester of an associate degree in Interior Design.  It will be busy. 

Yeah, like it's ever not busy.

And yet amid all that, I am quite sure someone will need a new dress, or top, or at the very least will need something hemmed or repaired.  And I will be right there with my machine, at the ready. 

So on to new projects!  Right now I'm working on a slouchy t-shirt dress, similar to this one:

How cute is that?  I've done a couple of muslins now, and can't seem to get the sleeves right.  I'm about ready to resort to a pattern.  Old habits die hard!  Any suggestions - please let me know.  They are solicited and appreciated!

I will keep you posted - this is such an adorable dress that I will probably make one for Emma as well (who has been LOUDLY requesting one).  They're perfect for a college girl who wants to look a little more "done" than just jeans, or even pajama pants!

(I do not EVEN want to know if my kid wears pajama pants to school.  I would die of embarrassment.  And especially if they happened to mention that their mom could sew. . . ai yi yi. . . )

I'm also TRYING -- gah this is so hard it is akin to impossible! -- to edit a video tutorial on how to make an apron.  My iMovie stops and starts, I'm a perfectionist, yada yada yada.  I WILL get it done.  If people can sew without an entire studio, surely I can accomplish this! 

More to come soon!

xoxoxox

p.s.  Project Runway - seriously, Fallene went home?  What the heck!  I thought she deserved much more of a second chance than that other guy.  Can't even remember his name, that's how much he impressed me!

Sewing Room, I've Missed You!

I've been sewing again. Since my classes are all online (except one, which is about FABRIC!!! Woo-hoo!), I have time!

Right now I've finished a handbag, dolled up one t-shirt, finished dolling up another one, and tried to do a third but I think it's a colossal fail (as my kids would say). I'm getting better about giving up and just throwing it away.

I also worked the other night on draping a prom dress for Barbie. She's found one she likes, but it seems to accomplish the impossible. And I need to copy it. I know it's cut on the bias, but it grabs curves and drapes with absolutely zero seam lines down the front or back. It must be made of some kind of lycra blended satin. It seems they blend lyra into everything these days. I think the answer to this one is just going to have to be to find it in a shop and have her try it on. It is beautiful --

And by all means, if any of you has some idea as to how they did this with no princess or center front seaming, please let me know. Gorgeous? Definitely. Able to be copied? Not at this point!

I've also begun a couple of other projects, including a video. I'll keep you posted on those. Till then --

Happy sewing!

xoxoxox

Embellishments

Since I'm working on a t-shirt reconstruction at present:

before after



I thought I'd share with you this wonderful video I found! Apparently there are several videos done by Hot Patterns, and I'm anxious to check out more. This one is great. I can't wait to try this technique:



Enjoy!

The Big Summer Challenge

Since having gone through the girls' clothing, weeding out what they don't wear -- I've accumulated a box of t-shirts.

At first I thought I'd cut them all up and crochet a rug.

Or not.


New idea. Try and turn this:




into some of these:

I think it will involve a lot of mistakes and possibly some Rit dye.

I'll keep you posted.

xox