Plugging Away

I love to finish projects, but I equally love the excitement of starting a new project. I got a little work on McCalls 5314, aka the wrap dress with the neverending hem. I normally just serge everything up, but I thought I would take a little more time and sew it up with attention to getting the best fit, which means sewing the intended 5/8 inch seam allowances (or whatever it takes to get the proper fit). I did serge the edges to give a nice finish because nothing bugs me more than unfinished seams...one of my anal quirks. I got most of the bodice sewed up yesterday afternoon before dinner. I had to take the EMP6 to be serviced after work. It is covered by the Gold Standard package through the end of the month so I had to get it in before I have to start actually paying for it. Good thing I made the effort too...a basic service starts at $229.00...Yikes!!! I have been very diligent in taking it in often, so I truly have got my money's worth out of the extra warranty. The techs who came out to get it out of my car were two oldtimers. I thought they were going to drop it!!! The gruff one was grumbling about it being transported in my car (it has been transported in that car as long as I have had it...nobodies ever complained before!) Guess I'll have to take Tom with me to pick it up...it wasn't that difficult for us to load/unload it and I am a weiner anymore when it comes to the heavy lifting. I have arthritis in my hands and I just can't lift like I used to. My Mother in Law used to own a feed store. I would sling feed and hay like nobodies business and she would warn me "You're gonna be sorry someday". I think the day has come. Guess that is the reward for growing old. Anyway, back to the dress...I think I will be able to finish it up on Sunday. Tom has class that day and I am off since tomorrow is graduation. No sewing today or tomorrow. Hope to go visit Jason and Janis to see their new little daughter tonight and then tomorrow I have a baby shower to attend. A lot of babies being born here...you would think it was Spring or something! Except for the fact that there was snow on the ground when I got up this morning!

BWOF 7/07 Skirt 115

Let me begin with a warning Kittens...when tracing patterns, ALWAYS write down which BWOF issue the pattern comes from. If you do, you won't waste 10 minutes trying to figure out which issue it came from when you go to do the review! I'm not much of a yellow person, but turns out this is one of the colors that is good for me according to Color Me Confident I bought this stable double knit remnant from Trendy Fabrics basicly to round out my order to qualify for free shipping and it actually turned out to be a good purchase. It is a maize yellow with a faint white pinstripe running vertically. The pattern is a simple pencil skirt with no waist band. It has interesting front pockets and also a gather in the back panel down towards the hem, which I omitted. I figured I didn't need a beacon pointing out my big backside. It announces it quite well by itself! I didn't have an appropriate color invisible zip, so I did a side lap zip with what I had in the stash. I have a wide assortment of zippers at my disposal and if I can make it work with what I have, I do it!. The skirt fit very well with minimal adjustment. I think it will be a fun little skirt for Spring and Summer. So what are you sewing for the warmer weather to come?

I'd like to thank...

Sharon for nominating me for the Sisterhood award. When I first started blogging I saw all these awards on other people's blogs and kind of felt like the fat girl in Jr. High (trust me, I know what that felt like!!!) I have been blogging for over a year now and I feel like I have made some good friends who enjoy creating as much as I do. That is a wonderful thing about the net...even when you hear about internet scams and other negative things, the internet is a wealth of information at our fingertips and I would never have met such wonderful people had I not started blogging. So here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received your award.

I would like to nominate, in no particular order:

Christina I love her style and innovation...she takes a designer look and makes it her own.
Amy She is a fireman's wife too and very creative
Kat Kat is a natural teacher and shares her knowledge through her blog (and she is a snappy dresser!)
Linda Linda is elegance personified. I look forward to seeing the classy things she makes.
Sherril makes fabulous things and is very helpful with what she learns about fitting.
Sara because she is my girl and I am so proud of the woman she has become (and that she is now my partner in crime fabric shopping!)
Amy because she always gives me good feedback and I admire her.
Rachel The girl loves shoes and sewing...need I say more???
Julia because she is very nice and I appreciate her friendship.
And last, but certainly not least, Stacy because her blog was the first one I found when I started looking at sewing blogs and I always am inspired by what she is working on (and she has darling children too!)

This truly is a short list of all the blogs I enjoy. I'd love to bestow the award on all of them (even you Jeff, though technically you wouldn't be a sister, but who cares about that little detail!) I am so very grateful to you all who take the time to share your life and passions with me. Thank you.

My Obsession

It's true...I'm obsessed. I love to collect sewing machines. I found a Janome 134D Mylock on Craigslist for $75.00. I emailed on it and received word back that it was sold, so I sent back a thanks for letting me know note. Shortly after the guy emailed me back to say the lady backed out and was I interested. Well, YEAH!!! So I went and picked it up this evening. The guy told me that he had wanted to learn to sew but never could figure out how to sew with it. I am pretty good figuring out what's wrong, so it didn't take me long to figure out that it had the rolled hem needle plate on. It does a fierce rolled hem, but until I get the standard needle plate, there will be no serging. The machine came with a lot of thread, books, etc., but no needle plate or other machine accessories.I emailed the guy to se if he had any other parts or pieces, but not to worry. I've already located the proper needle plate to order and will do so tomorrow if he doesn't repond. It's a nice sturdy unit...I think it will be a great little serger for Sara once I get it all together. I did more than shop today...I completed a skirt...review to follow after I get some pictures of it.

I Survived, part deux

I made it through another double...AMEN!!! I had a sympathetic friend at work who was also working a double, so it was all good. (Hey Erin...if you have your ears on!!!) We spent all day in downtown Portland, which was my first visit to our new "Portland Center". Our new lounge is right on the max line and right across the street from a bar (I won't elaborate on what challenges that poses). I really didn't have too much to do medically, which is always a good thing, but I did busy myself with other tasks that needed to be done and running out to get things for students per their request. It was a beautiful day, so I did manage to grab a few minutes for myself to walk up to the Button Emporium (which I had never been to), but it is closed on Mondays so I didn't get to really check it out...looked interesting through the windows. That part of downtown is a little tore up with the transit mall remodel that has been ongoing for over a year now. It was an okay day, albeit a long one. It was great to come home and see my big guy (DH) and my little man (Jo). Jo normally goes to work with me, but being that I was going to be out of the office for an extended time, I didn't want him to be alone for that long or have the dorm staff have to babysit him. Besides, he had fun staying home with Papa and playing with Hayden who came for a visit while I was gone.(Damn work anyway!!! LOL) Anyway, back to my day off...I have lots of plans for today...one surprise that I can't talk about until it is complete and the concerned parties are notified. Guess I should pay bills today, but other than that, I am going to rip it up in the studio! Need to straighten up and make a clear path for the EMP to come out (I'm always afraid we're going to drop it or fall down the stairs when it goes for maintenance) I also need to call Capital One about our 1099INT (grrrrr). Not that I'm in a hurry to do taxes, but yeah...I'm in a hurry to do the damn taxes!!!! I'll be glad when this part of the year is done and I can focus more on the fun things...like the garden and PR weekend! Come On Spring!!!

What Seven Bucks Can Buy

A local estate sale advertised vintage sewing & fabrics. The sale started yesterday, but since I was otherwise engaged yesterday, I did not make it there. I hadn't checked the mail for a few days so it was easy to talk myself into running out to the estate sale. There were all kinds of cool antiques and other goodies, but my focus was clear...must find sewing stuff! There wasn't a lot left, but the good thing was that everything under $50.00 was half price. I found 8 cuts of vintage fabric...A beautiful grey wool plaid,a cheery fuschia and teal plaid, a brown polka dot knit, a muted floral knit, a couple cuts of home dec weight fabric, a Jean-a-ma-jig and the American Fashion Institute Magic Fit Mastern Pattern for Pants that has a French Styling Curve and some pattern tracing paper. Whoohoo..Loving me a bargain! When I got home their was a message from my boss asking me to pick up another day this week...hmmmm...guess it's a good idea, but sure cuts into the sewing time...better get back at it while I have time!

Survivor

I survived a 16 hour shift yesterday! I didn't have much left afterwards...really only enough to feed Kodi and the cat and schlump off to bed, but I did manage to pull some fabric for the wrap dress I plan to start today. Tom is working a double too this weekend, but a double in his profession is 48 hours, so my 16 hours seems pretty lame...except that I go back tomorrow for another 16!!! I think I will be gentle with myself and do primarily what moves me (sew) and only the necessary chores. Here's hoping for straight grains and true seams!!!