I’ve still got the lingerie bug. Here are my latest creations. Perfect for a green and frog loving bud.
Peace,
^-^
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Well, it has been about a month since my draping class ended. What an awesome class–and a very cool skill to have. I have to laugh at my first, uninstructed attempts. If only I’d thought about setting up the grain–I might have had a bit more luck. Now, I just need to work on a custom-sized dress form and a bunch of new possibilities will come of it! My final project combined a full skirt drape, with a bustier top. I also added some cowls. If I were to do it over again–I’d edit more. Also I’d just play with the fabric instead of trying to combine so many things we did in class. I really liked my design–but it could use a bit more editing and thought. You know how crazy things are towards the end of the semester–especially the fall semester.
Also, I’d work on a better fit. In class we just draped the muslins and never translated them to a final garment. Around the strapless top/bustier a lot of fit was lost as I translated my drape into a pattern and then cut it out. Meaning the top stuck out and didn’t fit around the shape of the bust. On a person, a lot of bust would be exposed–quite possibly indecently so.
I didn’t understand what was happening until the instructor mentioned it. Then I had a “oh duh!” moment. Perhaps I will try a second attempt on my own dress form–which is quite different in shape, just to see where it goes. I loved coming up with the bustier design. The side seams are shifted back–not on the sides–I find it fun to play with things like that.
Here is the back shot. Enjoy.
Peace,
^-^
It has been raining all week here in Northern California. Amazingly, the weather has been rejuvenating for me. Normally napping is the only thing I can thing of when the skies turn grey and drip with rain. Plink, Plunk, Zzzz. Grey weather is as sleep-inducing as riding shotgun in a car. Trust me, or ask Eric–I can fall asleep on the way to the grocery store. This week, however, I’ve been quite awake, quite aware, quite content. It is absolutely lovely.
Last fall I began taking classes at the local community college. I found it was a good way to stay involved in fashion as I figure out how to move forward with it professionally. The college is fabulous, cheap, close, and has the best students and staff around. I’m probably a bit biased. Two classmates in my Advanced Pattern Drafting class and I became really close over the semester. We’ve started a little sewing group. Tonight was our second meeting. The sachet in yesterday’s post and another just like it were made for them. We share ideas, talk about things, show off our most recent sewing–like my amazing lingerie.
I can make pretty bras! Ones that fit amazingly and are girly and cute. La ti da ti de… I’m pretty sure I’ll be excited about those for a long while yet–hang in there!
I hosted and was able to show off my sewing room. I guess sometimes I forget how incredibly lucky I am to have an entire room to my sewing–well I do share with the cat box, but that is generally not a problem. I was able to share some of the garments I’ve made. I’m not gonna lie, being told that my garments are awesome–is quite a treat in itself.
We keep each other creating. Our project for next time is to pick something out of Pattern Magic or Pattern Magic 2 and create it. We’re also searching for a garments, or photo(s) of one. Our next project will be to replicate the garment based on the photo(s) or looking at it and utilizing our mad pattern making skills. Fun times indeed. And quite refreshing.
Peace,
^-^
I had a brief layover in LA. I almost wrote El Lay–note to self, I need to abstain from perezhilton.com. Yikes! So I was in LA and got to spend a few hours at the Road to California quilt show. I made one purchase. It wasn’t much. And it was at the first booth we checked out. Funny how you just know.
Usually I’m a bit more indecisive. Like with what classes I’ll take this spring–the semester has already started–but my undecided class hasn’t. Yep, I’m potentially one of those people holding a spot in a class you really want–when I can’t make up my mind if I actually want it myself. Le sigh. A friend offered the following advice for decision making.
Write down the pros and cons… throw it out and go with your heart!
I think my indecisiveness in this situation is based on my full schedule and the very vague class description. The information would be great–details on constructing pants. But how many pants am I really going to make? Really? I can think of two–one a vintage reproduction pattern I got for my birthday! And maybe making a pattern off of some of the pants that I have loved to death–or at least worn holes in–from my closet.
I have a problem with tangents too.
What I purchased was a bag of dried lavender and some colorful some fabric scraps. Add to that some rice, and a few stitches and I made a super-quick lavender sachet. I used the postcard they threw in the bag as a make-shift funnel.
I love it. Such a fun, and really great smelling trinket. I can’t wait to get one made for my own lingerie drawer, or to use a paperweight–or even a pin cushion. They are awfully pretty to just hide in a drawer.
In honor of a friend’s wedding today, I’ll make one in a brightly printed fabric and send it to a reader. To enter, just leave a comment and I’ll draw one winner on Wednesday, January 27.
Peace,
^-^
Pens are my medium of choice. My creative crack if you will. I adore doodling, list making, list checking off, journaling, drawing, sketching, letter addressing, check writing, note drafting, paper grading, grocery list making, grocery list checking off–anything written as long as I have a colorful pen to do the job.
Pens can also be my kryptonite. They have this amazing paralyzing tendency. What if what I write is crap. What if what I draw is crap. What if I can’t think of anything worth anything? Okay, so perhaps my kryptonite is more fear-based than ink-based, but isn’t it more fun to place blame?
Combine the paralyzing affect of my doubt with this amazing hand-crafted journal and you get nothing but dust. I’ve had this journal since October. Its empty.
It is gorgeous. It is fabulous. It is well-crafted and not inexpensive. Its pages are empty.
Well, for three and a half months it was empty. Turns out it pens and journals are not so scary. I drew on the first page today. It was fun. I enjoyed myself. I didn’t draw total crap. The universe didn’t stop spinning. I’m starting to realize Kryptonite is mostly an illusion. Not saying I’m going to go skydiving or anything–but heights probably aren’t that scary either.
What is your kryptonite?
Peace,
^-^
I admit, I was a bit skeptical about my ability to make a bra. They always seemed so technical and out of my league. But when I saw all of the gorgeous bras the instructor was making, I was intrigued.
I arrived at class exactly 24 hours early–what can I say, I was excited. The class was fabulous. My first bra fit great–I had a few minor adjustments to make to the upper cup of the pattern.
Here’s a close-up.
And then being super-ambitious I decided my second bra should be lacy. I cut all of the pieces out, but did the sewing on my own at home–I was feeling a wee-bit crappy that day. It was a bit intimidating, but I had no problems once I got over the fear involved. I did have to cut the underwires a bit and need to epoxy the ends so they aren’t sharp. Then I’ll finish the center front of the bra. I had to make matching panties, since there was extra lace. I am amazed at the fit–my size was pretty accurate to what I was buying in the store, but my underwire size was way too small. It jumped 3 intervals! Since you can’t pick the underwire size on store-bought bras, I think I’ll be making mine from now on. So pretty, custom fit, and really easy to do. I’m hooked.
Peace!
^_^
I am so excited about the bra-making class I am taking after Christmas. There are a few spaces left if you live in the Bay Area and would like to join us.
Peace,
^_^
While waiting for my flight to return home, I got to bond with my aunt.
Here she and Cinderella work on a knitting project. Tinkerbell wasn’t far away.
Her dogs are awfully cute.
Carol is the quilter, as you can see by her footstool and the chest full of quilts in the background. She was reminding me what the knitting stitch SSK meant, because it had been a while since I picked up my knitting. I’m about to finish–gasp–my first sock. I’ve only been working on it since last December. Hopefully sock number 2 won’t take as long.
Peace,
^_^
So self-photography is difficult. Especially when the only mirror in our house is in the bathroom. So if I want a full-body shot, I have to stand on the edge of the tub and duck under the shower curtain rod and angle my head just so. It really is a bit insane.
My latest sewing project is this fabulous skirt. I totally love it. I drafted the pattern from scratch–including making a KatyRenee-sized block. Which isn’t nearly as difficult as I would have thought. I’m totally kicking myself for not doing this earlier. What was I thinking?
Here’s the “gamble shot.” I essentially held up the camera and took quite a few betting one would work out. The skirt is a pretty pink rib with lots of pleats in the front.
So please ignore the obvious crazy bathroom ugliness. And the spots on the mirror–I swear it looked clean until I saw the photo. But the skirt is so cute I couldn’t give you a preview before I get someone to take better photos for me.
Check out those skills. There is an invisible zipper in the side seam and a curved intersection that matches up perfectly. I was quite pleased with myself. And I loved enjoying the party in my fancy new skirt with no one even guessing that I’d made it. Such fun. Thinking about stocking an Etsy store with some of my fashions. What do you think?
Peace,
^_^
Scotch has earned the nickname “Needy.” Now I have photographic proof of what I mean. I’d been drafting a pattern, cutting, serging, and stitching all day. Apparently Scotch felt a wee bit neglected. I finished a seam on my machine and was getting things pinned for the next step when Scotch did this.
Um, yeah. You think I talk about the cat a bit, but I don’t think you get it–he is in my business 24/7. Unless he is having Scotch Time–his alone time generally from the hours of 9am-10am.
He was soooo not moving either. His butt is wider than the machine and he’d stand up every minute or so to stretch and immediately settle back in. Crazy cat.
I thought his tail hanging down was a bit cute. At this point he’d been sitting on the machine for about 15 minutes. He was determined. I wanted to get back to sewing–I had a party to get to and wanted to wear my new skirt–and Scotch was looking a bit worn. That couldn’t be comfortable on his behind.
I bribed him with “his” blanket. It didn’t take much effort, just bringing the blanket it and setting it on my table and patting it a time or two. He jumped down, ran over and immediately took a nap. Clearly he is not made out for tree sewing machine sitting.
Peace,
^_^