Where have I been?
I’ve been missing from my blog for many reasons, but mostly, I’ve been busy. I’ve dropped the ‘ball’ on time management and have been racing to meet deadlines – even us ‘volunteers’ have deadlines. So here is a list of waht I have been doing since I last posted:
- Gave a presentation to the local Home Ec Club – the history of women’s underwear.
- Been to Fillmore a.k.a. Heritage Valley for the day – making arrangements for my father’s 76th birthday bash.
- Made a skirt for my niece – a hot, rad mini skirt (her words – not mine).
- Modeled my creation and my niece modeled, too, in the Cypress College Adult Ed Fashion Show – I actually don’t like to do this, but the instructor is fantastic and I have learned so much from her.
- Finished my report for the ASG Creativity Contest – of course, the outfit still needs the lining and I really am not pleased with how it turned out – more on that later.
- Spent two days at a John Deer Adorable Ideas Seminar on digizing software – fascinating seminar, too. I’m so glad I went. It was worth every penny although the sewing machine dealer gave me the HARD sell to buy yet another machine! I haven’t paid off the last embroidery machine I bought.
- Been to an Angel game – I know NOTHING about baseball but love to people watch and, of course, eat kettle corn.
- Filed my taxes – this year I goofed these up too.
- Saw the new Star Trek movie at the IMAX – Wow! It was great!
So that is where I have been and what I have been doing. Tires me out just thinking about it.
My favorite sewing book? Well at least a good one.
Okay. I just finished the first of several drafts of the ASG newsletter that I write and I included this book in the book review section:
This is the ’sewing’ book about fit I turn to again and again. It has lots of photos showing different fit problems and how to fix them on the paper pattern and a great discussion on ‘how to read the wrinkles’. From some reviews I’ve read I guess this book was originally issued under another title and was reissued in the 1980s. Yeah, the clothes in the book my not be to your liking (yes they are dated), but the technique of fitting are great. I would recomend this book to anyone who wants to refine their fitting.
So, its late and I’m tired. Tired. Tired. Tired.
Cat Attack!
I wasn’t going to post ANYTHING about my cats, but I kept getting asked about them so here they are:
This is Darby II. No matter what I lay out on my cutting table the cats like to roll all over it. There are many flat comfortable surfaces through out the house, but my cutting table is the cat magnet!
This is my other cat, Fitzwilliam. I was tracing off a Marfy pattern and he, of course, needed to help, too.
Fitzwilliam is the older of the two and is a certifiable lap cat. He loves to curl up and sit in your lap and take a snooze. Darby, on the other hand, doesn’t mind being petted, but would rather chase a mouse, look for spiders or leap from one piece of furniture to the other. They were indoor/outdoor cats until a pack of coyotes made their home in our backyard – so now they are indoor cats. It was a little adjustment for them to stay indoors (more for me then them) but we are all living harmously now – except when they walk across my computer keyboard. And finally, after all is said and done. The cats take a nap.
Whittier City Banner Project
Well, here it is. For all of those who were waiting- Okay, maybe no one was, but it is done and turned in to the city. Let me give you a little background. The city sponsors a banner project where those who are chosen get a banner and the opportunity to paint their design. Not being an artist. Not being a designer. Not being a painter – I thought, why don’t I apply! So I did and I was picked! Looking forward to seeing it hanging along Mar Vista Street! On the 24th is the banner reception at the city and I am looking forward to seeing everybody elses banner, too.
Back up and Running!
My computer went down on Saturday (03/7th) and is just now, finally fixed. I was attacked by a VIRUS and, of course, had no idea how to remedy the situation, so I turned to my one and only DH for help. He got the computer back up and running and now I have re-entered the 21st Century! I’m thrilled. Truly, I am! But, back to sewing and life . . .
Exhausted! But successful!
I hate the feeling of having too many things to do and not enough time to do them. I try to schedule my time so that I get ample rest, eat well and have the on-going opportunity to be creative – sewing! However, this past month – February – has been a blur of requirments to get STUFF done; however, I did take a to day sewing workshop, which was a two hour drive (round trip from my house) on two of the rainest days of the year! The class was a pressure cooker. What was the workshop, you may ask? It was learning to make bras!
The class was sponsored by the ASG-Los Angeles Chapter and the instructors were Ann and Deb from Needlenook Fabrics of Kansas. I was a dismal failure at this whole endeavor: Ann had to sew the last few steps of my bra since I did it wrong. Believe me- my frustration level was HIGH!
But, I came home and cut and sewed another bra. The second one took me probably a week to finish, but I got it done and most importantly: It fits! This is the most comfortable bra to wear. After putting my sewn bra on I hadn’t realized how uncomfortable store bought bras truly are. I am eager to sew some more and if you ever have the opportunity to take this workshop- do it! I had never sewn with these stretchy fabrics before nor used these techniques, so I learned a lot. Yes, the workshop was expensive $200 for ASG members, but for that price you get the pattern -customed fitted to you and enough material for three bras- is worth it. Ann and Deb, of Needlenook Fabrics, won’t let you leave the workshop until one bra is done – so yes, I was the LAST person there. But I wore my newly sewn bra home and have shown it to many fellow sewers encouraging them to step out of the box and try something new. Ultimately, it was a great workshop. Look to the ASGLA website (ASGLA.org) for next year’s dates for the Bra Workshop.
My next project is a street banner for the city- I applied for the program and was accepted! Although, at the time I applied I hadn’t realized how large the banners are! I have some serious painting to do. And, then once my banner is done – due to the city on March 13th - I will be on to my project for the ASG Creative Contest for the ASG Convention in July.
Another finished project!
I did it. I finished another ‘unfinished project’. Of course, I used the worst fabric – quite possibly the worse fabric choice available. Well, maybe not that bad, but- The problem is the fabric is ‘flocked’. Who knew they made flocked fabric – I thought only Christmas trees got flocked. I purchased this fabric at JoAnns – where sometimes you can get some great fabrics and sometimes you don’t! Anyway, the jacket can’t be dry cleaned and I can’t wash it since I, of course, over tailored it. But – I DID FINISH IT! Here’s another look at the lining, too. I purchase this at Michael Levine’s and I love animal prints. The buttons are from my stash. I know there has been some blog-chatter about using ’stuff’ from you stash just because its from your stash, but I love it when someone makes a garment and they use unique and interesting buttons/closures/trim or whatever that they bought years ago. There’s a story there and as a sewer I want to hear the story. 
Another project completed!
I just finished yet another of my unfinished coats. I finished it several days ago and I am just now posting it here.
- Vogue 8123
Its Vogue8123, considered an ‘easy’ pattern, which doesn’t necessarly mean that I get them done faster. I purchased the button at Michael Levine’s (downtown), but I broke the back of it, so I just sewed it on flat, so the button won’t go through the buttonhole. Oh well!
Remington Steele
Remington Steele, courtesy of Wikapedia
The TV show that launched Pierce Bronson to American audiences is now available for purchase on DVD; however, it has recently been showing on American Life TV. Watching the show again, I am struck with how really naive we all must have been in the 1980’s, but I am truly intriqued with the clothing. Remington Steele (Pierce Bronson) wears some striking suits – Were they off the rack or custom made? Because his suits look like they were ’bespoke’. But, what I like best is Laura Holt’s (Stephanie Zimbalist) wardrobe. Yes, they have the trademark ‘linebacker’ shoulder pads. Her wardrobe is truly amazing. She doesn’t wear the ‘power suit’ per se (for those of us that hit the career path in the ’80’s you know the ‘power suit’) but her wardrobe is smart, elegant at times, and classic style. There are a few missteps regarding some clothing; however, over all I have really enjoyed getting reacquainted with this show if just for the wardrobe alone. On top of this, this show was filmed almost entirely in the LA area: lots of LA landmarks. If you like vintage clothes, then watch this show. I hate to admit that what we wore, or at least what I wore, in the ’80’s is now considered vintage. But I love it!
My Coat of 100 Mistakes
It is done! I just picked my coat up from the dry cleaners and I can’t wait to wear it. I have christen it, ‘My Coat of 100 Mistakes’. It has taken me about seven months to finish this coat and there are SO many mistakes in it – maybe 100 is a conservative guess. I doubt Iwill be making another coat any time soon. How many coats does one need in sunny Southern California? So, what did I learn by making this coat -a few highlights:
- Underlining. Yes, I should have underlined this fabric, which unraveled just by looking at it.
- Extra wide seam allowances. Okay, I made it with 5/8 ” as per the instructions, but with this fabric I should have used at least 1 ” since the fabric unraveled so well.
- Bound Buttonholes. I should have had professional buttonholes made rather than the bound buttonholes- why? Once again the fabric was difficult to work with and the bound buttonholes were tricky and not as nice as I would like or should be.
The fabric I purchased at Fabric Land (in Orange, CA). The pattern is Simplicity 3966. I think this pattern is out of print. Not sure, you would have to check on it.
Of course, what would a coat be without some ‘fabo’ lining. I normally use (in my blazers) silk charmeuse in some crazy pattern. I know, all you professional tailors and my fellow tailoring students are now cringing – traditional tailoring requires a sedate color lining, but I love silk and fortunately for me, Michael Levines’ (downtown) has a ‘fabo’ selection of silk charmeuse. But having said all that, I ended up using a polyester fabric for lining! Why? Well, I saw this at Journal Fabrics and just fell in love with it.
I used the not-so-right-side for the right side of the lining. To bad I didn’t buy more and I could of made a dress, too. Oh well, maybe next coat (in about ten years)!
So there it is. I have finished one of my many projects!
Next week I will be going downtown and will be buying lining fabric (no doubt – silk charmeuse) for my three completed blazers that just need lining and buttons. So stay tuned for me finishing some more projects and now, I’m going out. To where? Who knows- but I’m going to wear My Coat of 100 Mistakes!
