Sewing Dresses!

When I saw this DKNY pattern in the Vogue pattern catalog I had the immediate reaction of wanting to make it. It's not something I could wear, but I have a lot of young girls in my life so I know someone will love it and wear it. I love a dress with pockets, and the pleats in this are fascinating....so I was driven to sew it!


So off I went to Jo-Ann's to get the pattern, fully intent on using fabric I had at home. But Jo-Ann's now has some really cute fabric and I couldn't resist this print. I knew the pleats would mean an interesting pattern in the way the fabric design fell. When I got to the zipper I realized I had never sewn an invisible zipper on my Bernina 1230...ever! And the plastic foot does not go on the machine. So I researched and wouldn't you know it....I had to order a bernina foot for it. I'm ok with that but wasn't happy about waiting for it to be delivered. Oh well.....I'll finish it next week.

And I have a couple other fabrics that I want to use for the same dress....charmeuse for one!...I'll just vary the sizes. All the Vogue patterns that day were $3.99.....(this one is retail $27.50...ouch)...so I got a few others too.



My tiny dress form comes in handy sometimes....the dress is a size 6!

Logan!

I'm visiting with Logan this week....what could be better?! He's 9 months old now.

This shirt was an attempt at the Zen shirt by Sewing Workshop. But as I was progressing I decided I didn't like the collar so I left it off. It has a placket covering the buttonholes (which I haven't put in yet ). It's made with my hand-dyed linen/rayon fabric.






The green jacket is also made with the same linen/rayon hand dyed fabric. It is Sewing Workshop's Onde jacket....a great pattern. I need to put the buttons on this one too.



I'm off to Florida on Tuesday for a week of playtime with my grandson...and it's 80 degrees there (about 25 here)....A bonus!

I'm Addicted to These!

The plumbers are switching my furnace (very old) from oil to gas today...so I busied myself with more handwork. I love doing all the different types of kits from Artgirlz....they are so funky, and fun! They even include the faces and hands...they have quite a fabulous business...check it out! The tiny tree is a pin. http://www.artgirlz.com/

I like the taller, regular shaped tree better...but this one made me laugh.

Nostalgia....

When I was a little girl, I loved to sew beads and sequins onto felt ornaments for the Christmas tree. I still have a few of them today and they evoke memories every year when I decorate the tree.

So when I saw the ARTGIRLZ at Houston a couple years ago, I was so excited and filled with nostalgia to see the cute kits they had for a tree, pins, felted beads, etc.



So last night I pulled out (finally!) one of the kits and made this Christmas tree. I LOVED making this, and will do more of the kits I bought. I see a bunch of tree ornaments in my future too. Such comforting handwork.

http://www.artgirlz.com/



Marcia

"Reds" Shirt/Jacket

I finally sewed some buttons (thanks Priscilla!) on this shirt/jacket I had made a couple months ago. The fabric is rayon/linen that I dyed over the rack with shades of red, amethyst, golden yellow and fuchsia.

This pattern (which I don't see anymore on the Sewing Workshop website) was a breeze to sew up...I had to add some length...I like things a bit longer.

Where did the month go?

Since my last post, tax season went into full speed....so between being back to work full time, getting ready for Christmas and finishing renovation jobs, it's no wonder I haven't posted anything. The best part of the season was having our little Logan and his Daddy and Mommy here for the holidays. We had a wonderful visit with them....Grampa Terry was TOTALLY smitten with Logan, and wanted to teach him many things from his childhood....we nipped that in the bud real fast !!! :)

The bib says it all!

The day after they left for home, Terry and I went to Texas for his sales meeting. This is a view from our room....beautiful place. The weather on arrival day was 80 degrees....next day was in the 30's and icy. Oh well...it was nice in the beautiful mall they brought us to.

The last night we went to a mini-rodeo and dance hall. We had a blast...we square-danced and two-stepped (badly)....Terry had no problem asking the dancing girls for help in getting the steps right! He even semi-mastered the electric slide....I love that he tries everything.

So....I couldn't wait to get some sewing done...this is a smaller change-purse.

You can see the size compared to the others I have done. Today I will clean my sewing room to get ready for some serious garment and bag sewing.

Cute Little Bag #2

Tonight was the three hour Survivor finale....so I went to the sewing room to watch and started a new little bag. I love the way the zipper curves over the top of the bag....but I'm sure I'd like it if it went straight across too...and it would mean even less work....maybe the next one.

Although I really do like the look of these....hmmm. The two pieces of fabric were from a wall hanging I had done but never finished. I like it better in the bags.....I have one more piece so stay tuned.

Cute Little Bag

I was so tired tonight I figured I'd be in bed by 10 pm. But when Greta Van Sustern came on I was glued to the TV with the story she was covering. So I went upstairs to watch it (I can hear the TV better up there) and picked up this little bag I had cut out. It was a pattern featured in this months Quilting Arts magazine. I had ordered some of the rhinestone zippers needed to make it...so I just started sewing.



It's a really cute little bag...and made up in about a half-hour. I see more of these in my future. I really do have sort of a bag fetish! They make great gifts so I have a good excuse :)

Vegas

I made my first trip to Las Vegas on Thanksgiving for 4 days. Some of my family members met me there and we had a blast. They are well-versed in "Vegas", so I had great tour guides. They gave me a celebration of my 60th birthday (was in Sept), because I never see them on that day. Love the glasses (HA)....thanks Teresa...I'll get you back!

This was the view from my room at the Mandalay Bay...the strip and the airport. Loved the hotel and the casino. By the time I was done I had probably seen and played a couple slots in 10-12 other casinos.

Friday night we went to "old downtown"...Fremont Street...loved the old feeling...and slots that take quarters! We rode trams and cabs and monorails, and walked ALOT....ate buffet and ESPN....and shopped great stores.

Saturday we went to Ceasar's Palace to see Bette Midler...FABULOUS!!!!...still Divine!

Thanks everyone...I had a great time!!!!!

Marcia

Logan...6 months.

I'm in Orlando for one last visit this year....Logan is now 6 months old...and what a personality!!!

They will spend Christmas in Lancaster, PA and come to Long Island the day after and stay till New Years....we can't wait.

What a wonderful 6 months it has been.

I'm getting there....

Well...My bathroom reno is done...just need the final touches of towel rack, tissue holder, mirror or medicine chest, window covering (?) and rugs. Then I need to paint the door...not a priority at this point. I just love having a bathroom that doesn't make me cringe everytime someone went to use it.

And when I got the call on Thursday that the mattresses were coming on Saturday I decided I had to paint the guest room on Friday. This is a small room, but with alot of clutter finally removed (everyone should have a dumpster for a week!) it makes a really cute guest room now. I still have to paint the mouldings...also not a priority at the moment. And I ordered a radiator cover so that area should look really nice in a few weeks.

I'm taking my time putting things on the wall.

I LOVE MY NEW WINDOWS! The old ones were so bad...and impossible to reach to clean...so the shades were always pulled at least half way. At the moment there are no shades and I find myself looking out them for minutes at a time...like seeing the beautiful scenery for a first time. I'm on a hill, so the view is unique. Port Jefferson is in sort of a "bowl" and the trees in the distance form the western edge of that bowl.

Looking in the other direction (same window) is toward the North. Just over the right edge of the roof across the street is a "tiny" peek at Port Jeff Harbor...and in the distance, Connecticut.

Today I must get the bulk of my decorations up...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Marcia

Liberty Shirt 2

I love this pattern, but I needed to make it a bit longer. So I added 2" to front and back and kept the sleeves the same. Then I decided to leave off the collar. The pattern is from Sewing Workshop...Liberty Shirt...same as the previous posting.

This is made, once again, with the linen/rayon from Dharma...hand-dyed with mx dyes.

Now the length works so much better for me....it can be shirt or jacket, since I am always warmer than everyone else...I can put a tank underneath and take off the jacket if need be. But this fabric is all natural, so I rarely get warm in it.

Liberty Shirt

I love The Sewing Workshop patterns...so when I saw this new one I had to try it. I love how these patterns go together, and the designs are just a bit different, so the finished garment can go either way. This one is great...except that I will make it an inch or two longer next time.


I used my favorite fabric...the linen/rayon (from Dharma trading)... that I had dyed over the pole last summer. It sews and washes like a dream.

I asked Terry to take my picture this morning...that's always an experience :) You can also wear this as a jacket. If you click on the picture you may be able to see the really cute buttons that I bought from Priscilla Kibbee. She sells all kinds of buttons that she collects on her travels around the world. And finding the right buttons is the hardest part of the sewing process sometimes.

This is a picture of the pattern from The Sewing Workshop....all sizes in one envelope.

Marcia

So much to do.....

I needed a break from all the renovation craziness...so last night I made this tote bag...it matches two other items I've made recently...a baby quilt and a make-up bag. The fabric was from a kit to make a large quilt, and after I pieced much of it together I decided to make smaller things...didn't need a large quilt. I have two more kits of different fabrics...one of them may make the large quilt...we'll see.



I've been filling holes in walls...today I'll sand them and start painting. This is the upstairs bedroom, which will now have a double bed and be a REAL guest room. When we had the dumpster here for the window replacements we purged alot of stuff....whew! It's such a freeing experience.

Last week I painted the newly renovated half-bath upstairs....finally the pink plastic tile is a thing of the past.

We decided on neutrals since we expect to sell in the forseeable future.

I also began to get some Christmas decorations out....it takes a while for me to get all my dec done...so I'm going for it! The weather is great right now...today I'll do lights outside...maybe. My new front storm door is coming today.

I bought one new Byers Caroler this year...the ornament seller...and look at his special ornament (click to see closer)...I actually added that :)

Marcia

Halloween Party 2008

The theme this year was the Great Pumpkin and the peanuts gang.

Here's little Logan as Woodstock...he was so good, and was very comfortable in the costume. Hmmmm! :)

Mom was Snoopy, in her handmade costume and head...it was awesome.

Raggedy Ann...aka Donna was there too.

Dad made a great Linus....hair and all!

This group was straight from the Venture Brothers...a TV cartoon.

Julie chose to be a pack of PEANUT m&m's...very creative!

Quynh tried Chinese cuisine for the night.



And from Sarasota came Jon and Dana as Anthony and Cleopatra.

And from Japan...Toyoko and Yoko, who happened to be leaving on a Disney Cruise the next morning, came to the party for a couple hours, wearing shirts designed by Keri for NYC Disney store a couple years ago.

We had a great time...the house was decorated to the hilt...and the company is always the best!

Busy...Busy....Busy...

Well....where has the time gone ? I went to Buffalo to close on our new cottage....then came home and got to work on making a costume for Logan....there wasn't a pattern available so I had to improvise....I think it's close enough :) Keri's Halloween party has a Peanuts theme....she will be Snoopy, Mike will be Linus and Logan will be Woodstock !

We also had new windows put in upstairs...FINALLY!!!! They were so bad...I am thrilled that I can actually wash them inside and out now....after 23 years in this house.

We also decided to have the upstairs 1/2 bath gutted and re-done....nothing fancy....just had to get rid of the pink plastic tiles and rusted sink and ever-broken toilet.

I'm off to Orlando tomorrow to see the kids and help prepare for the party. I'll have pics of all those crazy Disney artists and their great costumes when I get back.

Marcia

Dyed Ready-To-Wear

When Summer is over I like to look for some white linen or cotton tops that are severely reduced in price....I buy them one or two sizes larger (the process will usually shrink them a bit), and I dye them in favorite colors. Since they cost me less than $15 together I'm not afraid to take a chance on them. And they both came out great.

Well, I'm off to Buffalo tomorrow to close on our new cottage at the beach....very exciting new chapter in our lives. We're having some nasty weather on the East Coast, but I have to go....so I'm hoping for at least a decent travel day. I haven't been at the beach in late September, so it will be a new experience in that respect too.

Marcia

NYC

Nancy and I took the train in to the City on Saturday for the Atelier Show....it was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Midtown. We saw Doshi and her beautiful new collection of wearables...some new fabrics and designs.



From there we walked down past Bryant Park where they were dismantling the tents from Fashion Week (pic)...the Project Runway Show had been in there just the day before. Our next stop was M&J Trimming on 6th Ave and then Mood Fabrics on 37th. The weather was perfect and the City was crowded! We had a great time....then back on the LIRR.

This bag is from a pattern by The Sewing Workshop...it is the Daily News Bag. I used perforated ultrasuede, a commercial batik cotton lining and upholstery weight ultrasuede for the handle and binding.

Accessories

I love carrying bags like this...but the fact that they are open leaves the possibility that things can fall out easier, or someone could reach in and grab something. So I made some accessories that would address each item I would carry.

This pouch is attached to a chain that is permanently attached to the inside bottom of the bag...it will hold things like chap stick, aspirin, mints, pen, etc.

This pouch has a clip that can be removed from the bag to take separately...it will hold money, cards and license, and that sort of thing.

Then of course I need a place for a couple pairs of glasses so I attached a pocket.

This clip will hold my keys so they can't fall out, and so I can always find them quickly. The last thing I need is somewhere to clip my phone so I can get to it quickly and so it also can't fall out. I need to place it wisely so the weight of the phone doesn't distort the shape of the bag...gotta think of these things!