how true...

i was on burda last night and i saw this, and thought... how true! go check it out... here!

sewing do's and dont's... sometimes i feel like i am rushing for no good reason, or i feel guilty for not working on my projects enough, but you know, it's for fun and for keeps, not for mean annoying time... i sew cause i wanna, and frankly, i know, quilting isn't exactly what the cool kids are doing these days... yeah, there are lots of girls in glasses making crocheted cupcakes or putting mustaches on, well, everything, but it doesn't mean that it's front line coolness.. and that's ok... i don't have to be project runway or sewing with nancy, i just have to be me. word.

it's what he said...

ok, so click the box first... it's not bad, but you should click the box first... check it out, and then come back...

that, my friend, is the theme from the ever so well known psycho, masterpiece du hitchcock... this is the dress i made from simplicity pattern 2363...

what the french could be the correlation... ah, well, you see, when i put my creation on, my man said "i have the perfect music for that..." then, he went and found mr. alfred h. thanks...

so basically i look like mrs. bates...

i don't think mrs. bates would wear a belt such as that one, but hey, i get it... it's a bit gran... but you know what, it came out just like the picture...

bottom right, yes? yes. now i don't know what to do with it, i mean, i did do a good job... my darts are pretty kean, and it falls correctly, it's just a bit, gran. (man, i said it again.) i followed their sizing too... maybe it's a bit big? according to their sheet i am a 14 (gasp!) but i could have probably done a 10 and been ok. hate that about patterns... i dunno, i guess it's a halloween costume, as they say...

or a sweet outfit to wear to a phish concert! ha!

i know, i'm terrible.

i haven't posted in, what, two weeks? bah. i know in blog time that is like, fifteen years... bummer. it's just been a bit strange lately... ok, not like eerie music strange, but like, man it's hot outside, and i turned 30 (gasp!), and i have been working on things that i cannot show yet...

i have been busy with a project for a lovely lady in need of new curtains and pillows... so fun when you know that your work is going to be part of an amazing transformation of a beautiful house! (ok, so it's not like i put in the drywall or anything, but pillows really go add an element of romance to a space, so there!)

i also am working on some super hush hush work, that i just cannot divulge at this time... you know how it is... i am back though, so help me, i'm back...

hot days and bright colors

man it's hot, like every day it's hot. hot. hot! but, eh, i'm not really complaining, i mean, it's summer, duh! you know the best part of summer? it's the bright hues that make it up, i mean, think about it, vibrant red skies at night, sailors delight, as they say... bright grass, green after a summer storm, wonderful. looking out in my mother's yard i saw pretty flowers all around, (though i think she sees failure, i think they are super cool!)

 

doesn't that say sunshine?!?

as you may know, there is nothing better than fuchsia!!!

i have really been getting into philip jacob's prints lately, particularly the flowers...

 kinda like laura ashley on acid at times, which is totally a good thing!

sunshine!

(sometimes you just have to look at the light...)

i'm back!

holy canoli! what a week! i spent a luxurious week in maine, doing nothing special... hiking, walking, biking, sitting watching hoarders with my dad... good stuff. we went and spent a week at the old kennebunkport, home of my lovely family. isn't it nice sometimes when you can go on vacation and just hang out... no itinerary, just fun. sigh...

ok back to reality, and sewing patterns!

for my birthday, this thursday, don't ya know... my mom took me to joann to get some stuff. nice! i grabbed a few new patterns this week and these are super cute. they are lisette, which i don't really know anything about, but i am v. excited to try them. i got a neato shirt dress, with matching lisette fabric. (sometimes you just gotta follow the rules...) and a cute little jacket/dress combo pack.

but what's really cool is this...

check out these two simplicity patterns, one is from today and one is from 1972. can you guess which is which? ha! of course, but just check it out, the old is new again, and man oh man i have to make myself that amazing red caftan!!! yay!!!

i bought two old patterns at the great secret shop... in arundel, maine there is an antique mall, lots of crazy stuff, and there is a wonderful little booth full of old patterns, cookbooks, and fabric. it makes me so happy, i always get something there. i would have bought tons of patterns if i wasn't on such a time constriction that day...  i had bought some cute fabric for the new simplicity dress but maybe i will use it for the old one...

the print has a cute 70's vibe, yes? well, mom thought so anyway... i also grabbed a late 70's mccall's pattern...

it says it's a one night pattern, hmmm.... we'll have to see... haven't sewn in a week, hope i'm not rusty!

weekender... you bet!

tah-dah! done! yay! weekender bag ready to travel... throw some junk in there and let's go!

what do i have to say about the amy butler weekender bag... hmmm.... well, i would say that it is not a beginner project. it's the interfacing really, peltex heavy duty can really add up as you sew. i didn't need to use 16 needles though, as were recommended, but maybe i was just lucky on that one.

i would say the hardest part for me, other than the heavy sewing of course, was matching up the main panels with the top/bottom. that got a bit stressful. (i.e. me swearing, ed saying "what's wrong?" and me swearing some more.)

also, you do have to hand stitch the lining inside the bag, and if you are not a fan of that you will be perturbed. i don't really mind it, give me an episode of 48 hours and a needle and thread and i'm your girl, but i did mess up my middle finger pretty badly from trying to ram the needle through the zipper/lining/interfacing conundrum. my weird trick: i held a thimble in my mouth, and each time i had to push the needle through i brought my middle finger up to catch the thimble, brought it down, pushed the needle through, then put it back in my mouth. eh, it worked for me.

the only thing that i didn't do was buy plastic template for the false bottom. i have interfacing, i will survive. i am sure it would be a bit more professional looking if i did, but frankly i couldn't find the size needed, so what the heck, live and let live.

i recommend the project, so much so i think i am going to make another one... after my finger heals of course. man, i guess i better go on a trip now, huh? sounds good to me!!!

stitching is a picnic!

so i made something kinda cool... but apparently not cool enough... eh, who knows, wanna see?

it's a cute picnic mat, perfect to roll up and throw over your shoulder! take it to the park, the beach, the backyard, wherevs! whatcha think...

it's 54x60, made up of bright kona solids on the front: melon, lagoon, cactus and white. i went for a kind of retro kitchen floor motif, it's made up of 6 inch squares, easy to make, super easy to love...

the back is loulouthi laminate from anna maria... i love the laminate on the back. that way if you plop down on the grass and it's a bit dewy from the night before you will stay clean and dry! yay!

the binding is art gallery in a deep purple... i think it ties everything together nicely... oh! speaking of tie... you can see that this piece loves to travel... roll it in three and tie it securely shut! plus there is enough left over to make a bow and have it hang from your shoulder. good for quick city picnics! that or throw it in your bike basket and head to the park!

maybe i will make this a tutorial, what-da-ya think? anyone? it's a simple pattern with classic results. homage to easy peasy summer!