Posted by Paulette on Jan 24, 2010 in
Sewing yesterday. This was my haul…don’t even ask the number of yards, I don’t want to know!!!
I got this really cool quilting cotton (feels SO silky) at a local quilt shoppe. The fabric is called “Tribute to Vincent.” It is a panel with corresponding solids of some of Vincent Van Gogh’s famous paintings….. It is absolutely gorgeous!
I found a free download for the quilt but not sure I’ll use it…may just design my own…..we’ll see…but until then…more Hawaii clothes for me!!
Posted by Paulette on Jan 24, 2010 in
Sewing Get prepared…I’m making up for the last few days……
So….as you know, I was/am working on making the Amy Butler Cabo Halter (post here and here). Well I have had a little distraction that has interrupted the finishing of said halter top. …maybe interrupted is too strong of a word because, yes I did agree to the distraction and I completely enjoyed doing it AND the recipient was ECSTATIC with the final result!!
I went to a baby shower, um, last weekend…and one of the gifts I made was a roll up pad with built in pillow. (um, oops, didn’t post those pics earlier so here they are)
So anyway, a lovely woman was at the shower with her young daughter and new baby girl. She saw this roll up and asked if I’d make one for her….but she needed it by Friday since they were going on vacation. SURE, I said….let’s see what you want it made out of and we’ll go from there. We chatted the next day as she needed to get fabric. I had made this first one out of corduroy and put in double batting. I also used HUGE snaps to keep it all together. The pillow is flannel. It is quilted just to keep it all together. The funnest part about making this was actually putting it together in front of the recipient!! Let’s just say, she was very pleased to receive it!! So, back to the rest of the story…this roll up pad, led to the request to make one more….I said SURE on Saturday, helped determine fabric, dimensions, etc. on Sunday then picked up the fabric on Monday. Now, I tend to be busy on Monday nights so no sewing started then. I work very early on Tuesday’s (that second job comes in here) so was too tired Tuesday thus leaving me to start Wednesday night. So, the nice woman, let’s call her S, needed to leave on a red-eye flight Friday night. Thank goodness it didn’t leave earlier. I finished the rollup pad and met her AT the airport around 10:45 pm. Yes, can we say deadlines cause us to get stuff done but come on….a little too close for me!! And here are the pics…a removable strap was added for ease of carrying and all I did was stitch the ends of this fun webbing (THANKS GENE!) together and roll it all up.
Next up, we take a commercial break for my new shoes!!! I. LOVE. DANSKO. (from left to right: brown leopard patent, zebra patent, python – tiger eye)
CAN WE SAY GORGEOUS?!!!
And now back to regular programming…..I have some lovely batik swimsuit wraps that will be going to Hawaii with me….I thought I’d dress them up a bit with some embroidery…
Might be a little hard to see the details but here is a close up of the embroidery….the butterfly arc is by far my favorite…and remember kids, make sure your thread does NOT match the fabric…if you actually want to SEE the design….case in point coming up….oh, and don’t let the fabric get caught UNDER the hoop or you either need to rip out embroidery stitches OR cut a hole in the fabric. I chose to cut a hole in the fabric and patch it with a purple fleece flower – which when worn…could end up on my butt. Lovely.
So now…I am back on track for the Cabo Halter. I just need to insert a zipper, hem it, and tack the front so the girls don’t go visiting without permission…..
Think I might have to make a Jalie criss-cross top and maybe a J Sterns sleeveless T also for this trip…I’ve got time….
*I’m sorry, what…you want what made? WHEN?!*
Posted by Paulette on Jan 11, 2010 in
Sewing And yes, Dawn, it is for me. 
See, I can learn to be selfish and sew for myself!!
So…I have the “top” portion done…. In the picture you can see the green strip I pinned under the bodice – it will be like flange to break up the seaming between the bodice and the torso….and supports the fact that the silk is green, blue and white.
Babette has been extremely helpful with getting this put together. She has been very patient and never complains, even when I stick her with a pin or two.
Posted by Paulette on Jan 10, 2010 in
Sewing I’m such a fkn moron….in my previous post I stated I was going to make the Amy Butler Cabo Halter. Well, I am…and it is in progress. But…WTF possessed me to make it out of silk?!!!! Dammit…I love silk, it is SO pretty..yet SO slippery. If you look at it wrong, it moves on you…yes trust me, it does.
So, I was able to put the top halter portion together and had grandiose plans to put the zipper in the side – well said MORON, forgot to adjust for that so now the zipper is going in the back. SIGH. All this, just to have a pretty top to wear next month in Hawaii.
Tuesday night (Monday night is software class so no sewing for me) will be the cutting of the chiffon for the lower front and back pieces…that won’t be fun. I still have not decided how to finish the bottom….a rolled hem might be in order. PLUS, the finished length is 13″, I think I’ll make it 9″ so it ends at high hip for me. This is all assuming that I manage to survive this little sewing venture and not torch it with the nearest lighter.
wish me luck, please.
On a much better note - a lovely friend/coworker is coming up for the week for work and stuff and staying at my house! I can’t wait…she’s such a wonderful woman…I want to be just like her when I grow up – smart, funny, beautiful, competitive, artsy…I will just pass on the teen boys though. Love ya, Jeri!!
Posted by Paulette on Jan 8, 2010 in
Sewing I went in this morning to get all signed up for classes at the local fabric boutique (Seams Like Home)…and boy did I ever!!
Let’s see….
- Block of the Month (3rd Saturday of the month, all year)
- Embroidery Day Camp (2nd Saturday of the month, January – April)
- Just for Me (3rd Saturday of the month, February – April)
- Designer Plus V6 Embroidery Software (every Monday starting 1/11-4/19)
- A is for Apron (March 9)
- Smartie Pants & Diaper Cover (April 7 & 14) – these’ll make GREAT baby shower gifts
- BRA Making (April 22, 23, 25) – I’ll have bras that FIT!! AND don’t cost a fortune!!!
So, as you can see…I’ll be at my second home quite a bit in the next few months!! I even asked for a cot and pillow in the back room since I’ll be hanging out at Seams Like Home so often. Thank goodness they like me or pretend to.
Posted by Paulette on Jan 7, 2010 in
Sewing Amy Butler…Cabo Halter
I made this once for a friend as a gift once she finally decided on material. It turned out lovely since I lined the front with silk charmeuse…so SOFT. Anyway, I have the not so brilliant idea to make it for myself out of silk charmeuse ombre and matching silk chiffon. I know….I’m not too bright but then again, I tend to do things before really thinking about them. If I do it right, it will be pretty.
Ok, off to finish a baby snugglee so then I can start cutting silk…..
Posted by Paulette on Jan 6, 2010 in
Sewing 
Got the fabric from Textile Studios sometime in the past year+. I finally decided how to use it and then once it was made up – it was too small. There is not enough stretch in the fabric to make it work for me. I would end up just ripping seams…so, I either donate or I hang on to it and cut it up for something else.
I will say, the inspiration for this came from Dawn, and her striped shirt. I wanted to be JUST LIKE HER…except I don’t have the body….or the energy.
Anyhoo, enjoy the pics….I love my cuffs so will have to do this again sometime and just make sure it fits me!! Please ignore my funny look…
Posted by Paulette on Jan 6, 2010 in
Sewing 
I finally used up the GREEN fleece I got from Dawn. I used a RTW V neck pullover and just “copied” it. Because this has the wind barrier in it, the fabric holds shape better. I put deep hems on the sleeves and the bottom. This stuff caused FUZZ all over the place.
I also made up some more baby stuff….I doubt the parents read this blog but just in case, I won’t say anymore. See the little car fabric on the side panels of the overalls? That is Liberty of London fabric. I bought that a year ago while in England. Pricey stuff but perfect for the little boy. Working on another snugglee right now then hope to move on the the Amy Butler Cabo Halter (in silk ombre) for my trip to Hawaii next month!! Hopefully I can cut into that tomorrow….
Posted by Paulette on Jan 5, 2010 in
Sewing Back to reality…and the office after having, um, two weeks off to sew and read. I completed a few books and some really cute baby stuff!! I also took Vogue 8477, a top, and made it into a dress. I just have to finish the hem tonight and it will be on my back in the morning!!
Back to the details….I read the reviews on Pattern Review and decided to do it my way, with modifications like a few others did. I balked at the stay stitched neck band AND the set in sleeves. This is for knits! I was using a poly/lycra so did set in sleeves and just tugged a bit on the neck band as I stitched it down. I also then top stitched to keep the seam laying flat.
I also added about 10 1/2″ to the overall length to make it a dress – did I mention I’m SHORT?! The only other modification I made was to move the waist up 5/8″. Thank goodness for Babette my Uniquely You dress form…she served me well on making the changes on this. Oops, one other change was made. Since I chose to make a size 12 (no muslin first), I then needed to take in the sides where the overlaps meet the seams about an inch to pull the front tight enough so I didn’t gape open if I bent over. I had to taper in that 1″ about 6″ down but it was well worth it. No boobage on display – the dress is low enough as it is!!
So here is the envelope picture from Vogue’s site: 
I made the 3/4 length sleeve version and kept the neck band the same color as the dress…. I’m loving it…and next time I make it (this weekend?) I’ll make a size 10…. Will post pics later tonight…..
And the dress…..on me..yea…I was a bit tired….I look worn out and I hate that shiny forehead look I have going on!!
Posted by Paulette on Jan 1, 2010 in
Sewing It has already begun – went to Joann’s and stocked up on some essentials – Signature Pixelles thread – love quilting with it. Also found some 11oz black denim (99% cotton, 1% spandex) and RPL in solids that I’ll try out. Got a great deal on a back up iron – Sunbeam on clearance…less than $12!!
Headed on over to my local “hang out” Seams Like Home – great little (well, not so little) fabric boutique and picked up some of the Valori Wells fleece and flannel.
SO…let the “resource library” increase begin for 2010!!
Off to embroider a label for a baby quilt and then add some embroidery on some swimsuit wraps for that GIRLS ONLY Hawaii trip in February!! WHOO-HOO!
So, I guess my goal for 2010 is to BUY AND SEW MORE FABRIC! Love goals!! )
ETA: I also got this little cutie….how could you NOT want one of these?!
