I'm getting ready to give a program on Wardrobing and Sewing With A Plan (SWAP) to the Omaha chapter of ASG on Thursday. I'm going to take quite a few garments as well as some wardrobe planning methods and ideas, so it should be interesting I hope. They've asked me to bring some of my covered shoes as shown in Threads as well. I'm kind of excited about it. It's always fun to talk sewing and clothes.
Wardrobing has always held a fascination for me, as I think it does for most sewers. After all, isn't it really all about the clothes? I really only have ever had myself to sew for, and I have to say it's been nice in a way. Yes, it would be fun to do things for a daughter so I could try all the cute, trendy things that I'm a little bit past, but then again, I don't have to share my sewing time across more than one wardrobe. I guess that makes me a little bit like the Selfish Seamstress, although possibly (I hope) not quite as blatant about it. I do love her haikus, though. Very funny stuff.
Speaking of SWAP, I have to give a big shout-out to my dear friend Carolyn of Diary of a Sewing Fanatic, who won the Grand Prize in the SWAP Contest at Stitcher's Guild on Artisan's Square. She definitely deserved the win, with the gorgeous work she's done, and I think she's surpassed herself. Be sure and take a look.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Okay, What Is This?
As you know, I and my siblings are clearing out my parents' home since they moved to a retirement apartment. They are still loving it, by the way. Huge success.
Anyway, we are running across various things that look like they might be either collectible, valuable, or something. However, we can't always figure out just what we have. I thought I'd just call on the expertise I know is available from all of you, and ask about some things.
You may click on this link to see Larger Scale Images of all the photos here.
First is a three-cornered ceramic container. It could be a cachepot, jardiniere, vase, pot, or ??? The mark on the bottom is Weller Pottery. It has a different flower on each side. The flaws you see in the photo are just about invisible IRL (just like on our garment photos, right?) So, if you know anything about this, even just a little bit so we could do a better online search, I hope you'll leave a comment to let me know.
Next is a creamy ceramic bowl with a lid. It has an interesting texture, but I think it must be ceramic. The pine cone design is pretty, and there are no markings on it.
This vase is a gorgeous soft gray/green which I'm not sure comes across. It is marked Wien Keramos (Vienna Ceramics), Made in Austria on the bottom.
This Little Miss toy sewing machine is one thing I'm definitely keeping. I don't remember seeing it when I was growing up, and I'm not sure if it was just tucked away or if my Mom got it somewhere later. I have a pink toy sewing machine that I received for Xmas when I was pretty small, so maybe she kept hers put away. It looks very pristine.
Anyway, we are running across various things that look like they might be either collectible, valuable, or something. However, we can't always figure out just what we have. I thought I'd just call on the expertise I know is available from all of you, and ask about some things.
You may click on this link to see Larger Scale Images of all the photos here.
First is a three-cornered ceramic container. It could be a cachepot, jardiniere, vase, pot, or ??? The mark on the bottom is Weller Pottery. It has a different flower on each side. The flaws you see in the photo are just about invisible IRL (just like on our garment photos, right?) So, if you know anything about this, even just a little bit so we could do a better online search, I hope you'll leave a comment to let me know.
Next is a creamy ceramic bowl with a lid. It has an interesting texture, but I think it must be ceramic. The pine cone design is pretty, and there are no markings on it.
This vase is a gorgeous soft gray/green which I'm not sure comes across. It is marked Wien Keramos (Vienna Ceramics), Made in Austria on the bottom.
This Little Miss toy sewing machine is one thing I'm definitely keeping. I don't remember seeing it when I was growing up, and I'm not sure if it was just tucked away or if my Mom got it somewhere later. I have a pink toy sewing machine that I received for Xmas when I was pretty small, so maybe she kept hers put away. It looks very pristine.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Olive Green Lingerie
Photo Link
I've had this bra partially done for some time now, and finally was able to find time to finish it up and make a few pairs of panties to go with it. The lace and findings are all from Fabric Depot. I used foldover elastic for the straps as well as the upper edge, and it worked very well. Since I certainly do not need stretchy straps, I inserted twill tape into the straps, and also into the upper bridge piece. It's covered with 3 small ribbon roses, but it's the same folded elastic as the straps.
I dyed the stretch lace, picot elastic, closures and powernet lining. I had enough of the stretch lace to do a waistband on one pair of panties, and I used the foldover elastic for another. The duller green pair is actually a very wide piece of lycra with knitted-on stretch lace at the top and bottom. It was billed as stretch lace, but it's not very lacy. I like it, though. I realized while sewing them that I should probably have used it for the front only and made 2 pair, instead of piecing the back with the bra fabric. It's not quite as striking a demarcation in real life as it appears in the photo.
Photo Link
The print pair is a very soft mesh knit that I made a Jalie summer top from. I'm planning a camisole from the scraps as well. I would recommend this type of fabric for anything next to the skin, including nightwear. The stretch lace band is the same pattern lace as the dyed green, but this came this color in my Fabric Depot lace bundle.
You can see a closer photo of the bra below, and
more photos here.
Photo Link
Friday, May 07, 2010
There's Always Something....
Isn't that the truth?
I traded cars on Monday. I was driving a Ford Explorer, and I don't need the 4WD feature much anymore, plus it really cuts down on the mileage you get. I now am driving a Suzuki Kizashi, and so far I really like it. I think it's a cute car, too. I can't believe the major room I now have in the garage, which used to have both the Explorer and the Lincoln TownCar in it, as well as everything else one usually finds in a garage, and then some.
The bad news is that Tuesday evening I sprained my ankle. I was carrying some things from my Mom's house downstairs here, and I missed the last step and fell onto the landing, right on my foot/ankle. I've never actually sprained anything before, and I don't think this is as bad as what I've heard described by others, so I'm hoping it will heal quickly. I've been doing the ice/rest/elevation thing, and along with an Ace bandage wrapped around it, it seems to be improving. The swelling is moving down toward my toes now a bit, and the actual ankle and above looks perfectly normal. Just when the gardening season is beginning to really heat up, here I am, hobbling around. Oh well, at least it's not permanent.
I am hosting the Mu Phi's Tuesday night (my music fraternity) but luckily I don't have to make the dessert. My brother's going to come over and get the folding chairs out of the basement for me, and I think I can do everything else, albeit slowly.
I'm doing a program for the Omaha chapter of ASG on the 20th, and I had a lot of plans that I was working on for that which may have to be slightly modified, but it should be a very nice evening anyway. They've asked me to speak about Wardrobing/Sewing with a Plan, and to show some of my covered shoes as well.
I traded cars on Monday. I was driving a Ford Explorer, and I don't need the 4WD feature much anymore, plus it really cuts down on the mileage you get. I now am driving a Suzuki Kizashi, and so far I really like it. I think it's a cute car, too. I can't believe the major room I now have in the garage, which used to have both the Explorer and the Lincoln TownCar in it, as well as everything else one usually finds in a garage, and then some.
The bad news is that Tuesday evening I sprained my ankle. I was carrying some things from my Mom's house downstairs here, and I missed the last step and fell onto the landing, right on my foot/ankle. I've never actually sprained anything before, and I don't think this is as bad as what I've heard described by others, so I'm hoping it will heal quickly. I've been doing the ice/rest/elevation thing, and along with an Ace bandage wrapped around it, it seems to be improving. The swelling is moving down toward my toes now a bit, and the actual ankle and above looks perfectly normal. Just when the gardening season is beginning to really heat up, here I am, hobbling around. Oh well, at least it's not permanent.
I am hosting the Mu Phi's Tuesday night (my music fraternity) but luckily I don't have to make the dessert. My brother's going to come over and get the folding chairs out of the basement for me, and I think I can do everything else, albeit slowly.
I'm doing a program for the Omaha chapter of ASG on the 20th, and I had a lot of plans that I was working on for that which may have to be slightly modified, but it should be a very nice evening anyway. They've asked me to speak about Wardrobing/Sewing with a Plan, and to show some of my covered shoes as well.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Clearing Out One's Parents Home
As you all know, this has been a year of huge changes for me. Apparently I am not done with change yet, because my parents threw me a loop at the end of March.
They've been talking about moving into a retirement apartment or something like it for literally years, but felt they had to go through everything in their house, throw out and sort, sell the house, etc., before they moved. And they did nothing. My Mom literally was past it, and my Dad has never done that kind of thing, and wasn't starting now. I finally told him that he might as well quit talking about moving because if they had to do all that before they went, they weren't going. I also said that was fine, and we could figure out what to do so they could just stay in their home. But, if they were really moving, they'd better take what they wanted and leave the rest for us (my sister, brother and me) to deal with.
Well....I really must have lit a fire under him, because within two days they had picked out an apartment in a very nice retirement community, and they moved 4 days later! My sister came from California as fast as she could, and she, I, and my brother spent 3 weeks working steadily to clear things out. They'd been there about 36 years, and it's a large house with LOTS of storage, and it was full. We got through most of it before Lisa had to go home, and my brother and I are finishing up slowly. They've sold the house, and so actually, everything has gone pretty well. Everyone is so glad they made the move, and they love it there. My Mom doesn't have to cook, the food is great, they get housekeeping, and lots of other nice perks. The very day they moved, we noticed that my Mom looked so relaxed, and about 10 years younger. It was amazing. I really think it's because she no longer was surrounded by things that she thought she needed to be doing something about, and feeling guilty because she wasn't. Her memory seems better, she's walking better (getting more exercise and it's helping it seems) and she just seems more alert in general. My Dad still participates in his favorite activities of duplicate bridge and pool, and they're starting to join in things in their new community. Quite the success all around.
There have been so many changes in the last year I'm not sure whether I'm coming or going, but I'm still here, so that's good. Now I just need to find the time to do some of the things I need/want to do for me.
They've been talking about moving into a retirement apartment or something like it for literally years, but felt they had to go through everything in their house, throw out and sort, sell the house, etc., before they moved. And they did nothing. My Mom literally was past it, and my Dad has never done that kind of thing, and wasn't starting now. I finally told him that he might as well quit talking about moving because if they had to do all that before they went, they weren't going. I also said that was fine, and we could figure out what to do so they could just stay in their home. But, if they were really moving, they'd better take what they wanted and leave the rest for us (my sister, brother and me) to deal with.
Well....I really must have lit a fire under him, because within two days they had picked out an apartment in a very nice retirement community, and they moved 4 days later! My sister came from California as fast as she could, and she, I, and my brother spent 3 weeks working steadily to clear things out. They'd been there about 36 years, and it's a large house with LOTS of storage, and it was full. We got through most of it before Lisa had to go home, and my brother and I are finishing up slowly. They've sold the house, and so actually, everything has gone pretty well. Everyone is so glad they made the move, and they love it there. My Mom doesn't have to cook, the food is great, they get housekeeping, and lots of other nice perks. The very day they moved, we noticed that my Mom looked so relaxed, and about 10 years younger. It was amazing. I really think it's because she no longer was surrounded by things that she thought she needed to be doing something about, and feeling guilty because she wasn't. Her memory seems better, she's walking better (getting more exercise and it's helping it seems) and she just seems more alert in general. My Dad still participates in his favorite activities of duplicate bridge and pool, and they're starting to join in things in their new community. Quite the success all around.
There have been so many changes in the last year I'm not sure whether I'm coming or going, but I'm still here, so that's good. Now I just need to find the time to do some of the things I need/want to do for me.
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