More purses.....

I have made a few more purses for the craft bazaar.... I think I need something new to work on! I have some washed and dried stretch denim in this medium color blue that is just dieing to become a copy of my RTW Gap jeans..... But first.... here are my latest purses...
A pleated purse I designed.... used a left over border print from my highwaisted pencil skirt...

A large tote I also designed, made of the left over denim from my last RTW copy jeans. I just love the inside, all quilted and with actual jean pockets that I ended up not using on my jeans!



A large Market bag, made of left over fabric from a Lula Louise reversable bag I had made my DD last year.


And a couple more zippered bags. I just love these bags, great way to organize your purse!

Adult Prom?

I had never heard of an Adult Prom. Fun for grown ups. Who knew? My DD's invited me, but my husband is working this weekend, which means I have a non stop date with my SM.

My girls searched for Vintage dresses to wear. They stopped by to let me get pics of their prom dresses.. Aren't they just adorable? DDB is a fitted black corset with an exploding skirt of tule, white with black polka dots. Has one (sleeve?) strap?, a big poof of the tule. DDA is a flapper. She is wearing a black satin flappers dress with a headband that she made of peacock feathers and a jewel. Their shoes? High top converse and ballet flat tennis shoes.

Happy Memorial Day!

It is overcast and threatening to rain here, but still a beautiful day. Going to MIL for a BBQ this afternoon, and she always has enough food to feed an army. I decided I needed to make something appropriate for a day of eating. (-:

This is Mcall's 5050. A pullover tunic with short or long sleeves. I made view A. The girl on the pattern envelope looks young, fresh, breezy and slim in her cute little tunic. Something got lost in the making. (-: This tunic on me raises the silent question..... is that a maternity top? But no, GOD NO, it is merely a loose tunic perfect for BBQ over eating! I think this would also make a great bathing suit cover up or cute summer dress if made a little longer. As for the question it raises, let them wonder. ((-:


Rock On!

Knit tops.... got to love them

I love the ease and instant gratification from knit tops.

I had traced out Butterick 5283 awhile back but did not know what fabric I wanted to use. I found a the perfect knit hiding in my stash. It was a Georgeous Fabrics find a few months back. This close fitting pullover top is another take on the twist front. I made view B with 3/4 length sleeves. The upper portion is self faced, so a bulky knit might not work as well. I think this would be most flattering on a larger chest, but I am still very happy with it.

This was just one of 3 knits tops I made so far this weekend. If I can get pics, I will post the other two.

Rock On!

Edited to add the Vogue 8451 tops I also created this weekend...

Black and white top is V8451 View A with sleeves from B5283 and my own ruffles.

Black and multi flowered top is also V8451 view A.

Rock On!

Influence

Kids can be such a good influence. Ok, so maybe my 'kids' are (gulp) grown ups, but they are still kids to me. My DD has a goal to run a full marathon before she is 25. So she has set as a goal the full PF Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon in January. So I (gulp) decided to do it with her. We have found a 19 week mileage buildup training schedule which we are on week 2 of. After completing the 19 week mileage buildup, the 18 week Marathon training schedule begins. Whew... I am tired already. This is definitely one way to meet my running resolution for 800 miles this year!

Rock On!

Jalie 2908 Round 2

Ok, so I have finished my second pair of Jalie 2908 stretch jeans and I LOVE them! This time I used a heavier denim from JoAnn's. I was prepared for the slim fit through the thigh this time and added an extra 1/4" in on inner and outer during cutout from the bottom of the hip through the knee. I then still only sewed a 1/4" seam allowance in this area. These pictures are after wearing them all day, so they are a bit looser. My only dislike (too strong of a word actually) is the slight bagginess on either side of my front crotch.... I think I took too small of a seam allowance from the zipper bottom to the inner thigh.... either that or my front inner crotch shrank. (-:

Rock On!

Taking a break from purse making....

Sneak peak at my next Jalie 2908 stretch jeans, much heavier stretch denim this time, still only 1/4 seams from bottom of hips to knees, but I am thinking these will be great! Still have lots of top stitching to do, belt loops and the back pockets......

Rock On!

Purses, purses, get your purses here!

I think I am ready to hawk at next month's craft fair. My fingers hurt.

I have made potholders.....

and cupcakes!

Little purses....

and big purses!

And that is just a few..... You can see the rest in 'my creations'

Just a few more to go....

118.5 miles down

681.5 to go!

Rock On!

Absent but not idle.....

I have not been blogging but I have been busy! I am making my first foray into selling items I have sewn..... There is a local craft bazaar next month. I had make a few purses in the past for myself and received comments about where I had gotten them and if I sold them.... So I decided to give it a whirl! So far I have made a dozen purses of various patterns, 10 zippered pouches, 3 sets of pot holders and half a dozen cupcakes (pincushions). Sewing to sell (or try to sell) is defintely different that sewing for fun. I miss sewing for fun! Every once in a while the thought creeps into my head.... What if I sell nothing??? I have decided to look at it this way, if I sell nothing, then I already have Christmas gifts for this year! The hardest part for me so far, is deciding how to price things. I am such a slow sewer that charging for my time, makes everything so expensive! Does anybody else have a calculation or tip on how to price things for sale?

111.5 miles down
688.5 to go!
Rock On!

You were Right!!!

Ok, true confessions. After multiple washings and wearings, I do love these 2908 jeans! Yes, they are still a bit snug just above my knees, but that is just inspiration to make this pattern again.

I just wanted to say 'Thank You' for all your support and wisdom! Why do we get so frustrated with things we sew that it skews our perspective? Patience won out in the end.

Happy Easter!!!

I ran across this Fabric Basket tutorial from Pink Penguin this morning. Once I saw it, I knew I had to make one for Easter!!!

http://ayumills.blogspot.com/2008/05/tutorial-fabric-basket.html

I know, I know, a little LAST minute! But all of my little ones are grown up and won't be over until later for dinner. (Except for my DDB who is her now, whipping herself up a new purse)

DDB's new purse!

DDB is making Whiskey BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw and sweet potato fries for our Easter Dinner!! For dessert will be.... More Strawberry shortcake! This time with blackberries and blueberries as well. (and I wonder why my jeans are snug?)

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Edited to add the highlight of Easter.... Kids showed up. DDB behind purse, DDA laughing, DSM's foot.

I wish you all a blessed Easter!

100.8 miles down

699.2 miles to go!

Rock On!

Jeans Sew Along.....came and gone....

Well I have completed my Jalie 2908 stretch denim jeans.

Sounds so anticlimatic. Where are the fireworks and confetti?

The celebration has been postponed. I am not sure how I feel about these jeans. I feel like a jilted sewer.

First off, I just don't have a Jalie body type (at least on my lower half). I went by my hip measurement which ended up being a size W, and traced that out. The legs looked way too slim. So I compared them to a pair of jeans that I wear and the legs WERE way to slim from the hip down to the knee. So I added to both inner and outer leg in this area. And still, I had to sew the pants with barely an 1/4" seam in this area and the legs are snug. I think I just have large quads. Could be from running, could be from cookies, brownies, cheetos, strawberry shortcake, etc.

While they are snug fitting all over, I think that the material is the real issue. It is a stretch denim from JoAnns, and I think it is too light weight. Snug jeans in a light weight denim make me feel like I am wearing a sausage casing. Lumpy and bumpy.

Snug jeans in a heavy denim are just more flattering, they have a much more smoothing effect..

My DH disagrees, thinks they look great. I am hoping they will grow on me. I have not hemmed them yet, want to wash and dry a few more times before hemming.

One thing I am pleased with is my back pockets! I love how they turned out. The closeup of the back pocket is the only picture that shows the actual color of my jeans. The rest I had to enhance to brighten them, and well...it made them appear blue!

For my back belt loop, I went with the crossover loop that cindyintampa shared in the Jeans Sew Along message board. I love it.

I also tried rivets this time. That was an adventure! RocketBoy suggested rivets from http://www.grommetmart.com/. I ordered them on Monday and they arrived on Thursday. Unfortunately, they did not come with a handyman to install them. I practiced with many on varying layers of denim out on the cold garage floor with my trusty hammer and vice grips. Almost everytime, the nail came through the front on the rivet. I finally ended up using nails from JoAnns rivets and Grommetmart's front part of the rivets. I used a snipper to snip the nails shorter and then pliers to reshape the now flattened nail head and then tried not exerting superhuman strength when compressing, and the nail head still came through, but I thought I could live with it. Then I tried the pants on.. and boing... there went two rivets across the room. So much for being hard to remove!!!

So this time, I snipped the nail heads even shorter and tried again. So far, so good. (-: We will see if they are still there after I wash and dry.

So now that I am done whining about these jeans, I feel better. Maybe I even like them a little bit more. (-: I guess, if all else fails, I can do it again, in a better quality denim and insert a little more strawberry shortcake room in the thigh area. Because for me, the making is more than half of the fun.

100.8 miles down

699.2 to go!

Rock On!

On my way!

I finished tracing the Jalie 2908 stretch denim jeans pattern. Took about 2 hours! I used Kwik Sew Pattern Tracing Cloth for the first time. I did not really care for it. I think it was a combo of the dot grids on the cloth, the multiple lines for sizing on the pattern and the square grids of my cutting table, but by the time I was done... I was dizzy and had a headache! It was also hard to mark on. I usually use Easy Pattern tracing paper that I buy at JoAnns, I think I will stick with it.
Despite my nausea, I did get it completely traced, pinned and cut out. Yippee!

I just realized that I don't have a jeans zipper..... used it on the pair I made while waiting for this pattern! So tomorrow at lunch I will pick up a jeans zipper and then hopefully tomorrow night I can get the zipper installed and maybe the front pockets done. (-:

96.8 down
703.2 to go!
Rock On!

Uncontained

My Pattern Came Today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A tracing I will go, a tracing I will go, High Ho the Dairy - O, a tracing I will go!

And..... My rivets mailed today as well! Should be here Thursday!

Impatience

There is a Jeans Sew Along happening on PR. Cabinbaby started it when the new Jalie jeans pattern came out(2908) I joined the Sew Along, I ordered the pattern, I bought the some beautiful black stretch denim from JoAnns.... I washed and dryed the material, I waited. I washed and dryed the material again... I waited..... I read all of the progress others were making on the Sew Along... I waited... I bought more material, a stretch metro Indigo from Fabric.com.... I washed and dryed the material.....I waited. Still no Jalie Pattern! I got so impatient, I decided what I needed was to keep busy while waiting.


I have (had) a pair of 1969 jeans from the GAP. They were so.... well fitting, that I ripped out the rear and one knee. (-: I took them apart yesterday and decided they would make the perfect stretch jeans pattern, while I patiently await my Jalie pattern.
((-:

You can see the lovely patch job I attempted on the rear. I loved these jeans. So, I cut one side apart and used it as a pattern on my lovely metro indigo from Fabric.com


I think they turned out quite nice. I love working with stretch denim! It is just what my body needs!

I had to install this zipper THREE times. Completely, I am talking top stitching, bar tacking, fly extension inside.. the works.

1st time.... made fly way to loonnng. Extended down into my crotch! Not a good look.
2nd time... did a beautiful job! except the damn zipper was inserted backwards! Had to stick my hand in my pants to zip and unzip. (-: That won't do.
3rd time... was the charm. Good thing, I think if I had to pick out that topstitching anymore, I would have worn a hole in the fabric!



I think the pockets turned out nice as well, I think I am getting the hang of topstitching with heavy thread. Now I just need to work on placement.... I unfortunately went against my better judgement and added the back pockets prior to construction.... and now they are a tad off. But oh well, I can live with it!


For the inside, I used a vintage pillow ticking that I picked up at St Vincent De Paul. I just love it!



So now that I have that out of my system, I think I will be able to patiently await my new Jalie stretch denim jeans pattern, so that I can participate in the Jeans Sew Along!

96.8 down!
703.2 to go!
Rock On!

Cure for a headache

I woke up with a headache today and it was still aching when I got off work today. I decide to take a run instead of tylenol. (-: Runs usually cure my headaches. The weather cooperates today, still in the low 50's when I got home. Slight breeze. I started out running through the surrounding neighborhoods and then down an urban trail that runs through the woods and along a canyon. There are ducks swimming on the small pond above the dam. A little girl, balancing carefully on one foot, is intently studying them from the wooden bridge. She smiles at me and then at the ducks. I run past her brother, with a small rock in his hand, also watching the ducks intently. He drops the rock and smiles. Another 1/4 mile through the woods and then back out along the road and into neighborhoods again. Just over 3 miles and ...smile.. my headache is gone.

88.4 miles down
711.6 to go!
Rock On!

Weekends

My husband works a rotating night shift, so it ends up that every other weekend he is working nights, sleeping days. I call these my Sew til you Drop weekends. (-: I am working on squeezing some 'home chores' in when I come up for air from my machines.... Not working out very well though.

Up first on the menu for this weekend was another M5590 high waisted pencil skirt. This time View A, out of a chocolate twill, with belt loops and side pockets. I wish it were about 1 1/2" longer, but oh well. I did not have a cute little belt, so this is just a piece of a jelly roll I had.




For my second course, I felt compelled to make a shirt to pair up with my first M5590. My DD2 suggested something with ruffles. I found Simplicity 2697 and thought it would be perfect! I made view F for the ruffles, and added view B's puffed sleeve with sleeve band.

Aren't the ruffles and puffed sleeve so ... feminine? I do not usually do puffed sleeves, but I think that this turned out very well. My only complaint is that the shoulders slip a bit and then the dreaded bra strap flash happens. Here is a better shot of the sleeves, and the ruffles that are just attached to the front of the shirt!



And then..... here it is with this my second M5590..........

So now.... it is only Sunday morning..... Awaiting in the side lines are.... grocery shopping, laundry, living room 'uncluttering', a short run .... and yet, all I can think about is this plum linen that I bought and Simplicity 2651.........

77.3 down

722.7 miles to go!

Rock On!