Mantles 2010

It's the reverse this year...black on white instead of white on black. But they look cool anyway, doncha think? Many thanks to my friend the Embroidery Queen for donating the embroidery!

I meant to get a photo of the kids wearing them, but, well, I forgot my camera... :rolleyes:

But I checked and found that I *did* put that fabric in the stash when I originally purchased it, so that means I get to count it as 'Fabric Out'. :-)

Choir Sundays 2010 #18

May Choir Colors: Turquoise, white and/or black w/blue jeans

The Jeans are from Coldwater Creek; I've got on a turquoise silk/lycra charmeuse shell top modified from Loes' Hinse's City Dress, and a white poly/cotton twill Vogue 8045 jacket.

I finished the HMC mantles yesterday and turned them over to the staff last night; if you're curious, you can see the whole grad service online tonight, starting at 6 PM Central, at therockfamily.tv. The Artist will be participating as an alumni tonight...the young man who was going to play Jesus had a bad sprain/fractured ankle and is walking in a boot so he's playing the part of the understudy.

I think I'll be much relieved to see him playing Jesus instead of the enemy... ;)

Being a "Little Bitter'...

As in, resigning myself to the notion that the only way anything is going to get done in my house is to do it a little bit at at time. Gone are the days when I send the family off to work and school and have the entire day to work on a project...whether it be as sewing project or a home project.

I'm really just now beginning to get my head around that...and it's been over a year since I went back to work.

But, having said that, I am working bit by bit on some things.

-The HMC mantles are done to the handsewing. Obviously, that has priority for today, since the graduation service is tomorrow night.

- I marked my striped 'Gorgeous Fabrics project' Jalie pants as finished and hung them in the closet, but, when I put them on earlier in the week to wear them, I realized that there really is too much gappage going on at the back waist. So I put them back in the sewing room; gonna do an adjustment on that as soon as the mantles are done.

- I bought bodacious amounts of interfacing from the online sales last week, so now I'm well stocked and should be able to start working on some much-needed jackets.

But...

- I need to Cease All Sewing for a time to get my sewing nook cleaned out. It really has gotten to the stage that I can barely move in there. But doing it a Little Bit At A Time...yeesh.

- We recently had some work done on the house that involved the attic; unfortunately it involved the portion of the attic in which my Stash was neatly organized. Things got pulled out, shifted around, and put back willy-nilly; now I know where NOTHING is. Any available time this weekend will likely be spent In The Attic....since that needs to be in order before I can relocate the stacks of fabric clogging up my sewing nook to their appointed place in the attic.

Did I mention we've got out of town company in two weeks? Maybe I'd better work on the 'I've been sorely neglecting housework' situation a bit, too.

I'll blog when I can. ;-)

Choir Sundays 2010 #17

Wow...it's been a long day. This evening was our annual girl's ministry's Father Daughter banquet; choir was eons ago!But, anyway...

May's colors are turquoise, black and white w/blue jeasn.
I wore the Lee bootcuts again, with a New Look 6407 shirt, made from turquoise cotton/lycra broadcloth from Hancock's. The scarf is a really pretty printed silk oblong from Talbot's and, while it doesn't match the shirt absolutely perfectly, does a good enough job of camouflaging the alterations boo-boo I made that rendered the neckline too low.

Whew. Y'all, ah'm tahrd! G'night!

I think I just passed myself...

Y'all, it has been wild. Haven't had time to change the thread on the machines, let alone sit down and sew something, much less write about it.

But I just had to share...the Flute Player auditioned for the drama magnet today, doing a monologue from Anne of Green Gables, and she did well enough that she has been provisionally accepted, providing her end-of-term grades are good enough.

That's kind of a big 'if'; she dropped the ball badly in math class early in the term. While she's pulled it together lately, that was a deep hole and there aren't many graded papers available to help pull it out. We'll see...

However, despite the fact that she'll be joining The Actor, I'll keep referring to her as The Flute Player. I expect she'll keep playing around with it... ;)

Choir Sundays 2010 # 16

Wow, has this been a long day...

My apologies for the poor photo, we were rather rushed today.

May's choir colors: turquoise/black/white w/blue jeans



The Lee bootcuts, with my black rayon/lycra jersey Jalie 965 tank top playing the role of a cami, under the Burda May 2009 #103A top, in black/white/grey/turquoise poly lycra jersey.

And, just for the record, all the mantle pieces are with my embroidery queen friend Miss A getting lettered. So hopefully I'll get my stripey trousers finished before the mantles come back...

Another Mom Job

The Flute Player has been in the junior high drama class this year, and I've been rather fortunate in that their costumes were all mostly scrounged and borrowed. But now they're working on a puppetry unit and, well, someone had to do a little sewing.

It was funny the way she didn't ask me outright to help, just brought the stuff home.

But there was not much time, we had after school activities going on (i.e., the Last Band Concert), and I could do it tons faster than she could.

So, instead of working on the last remaining Gorgeous Fabrics garments, or even working on the HMC mantles, my sewing this week (what little I actually had) was...felt puppets.


The rather bedraggled red one was the prototype. It is from her Valentine's party from either preschool or kindergarten...can't remember which... I made those little red puppets for at least 3 of my kid's preschool Valentine's parties but, wouldn't you know, we couldn't find the pattern I used. So she pulled out her old puppet...I guess there are some benefits to being a packrat.

So I had her trace the puppet onto paper, and we had a new pattern. She wanted some good shears to cut them out, but I couldn't stand to see her take an hour or more to do something I could do in an instant w/the rotary cutter. So instead of giving her scissors, I took her to the cutting table and whacked them out two sets at a time. In about 10 minutes.

She was impressed.

Wednesday night after church she still had homework to do, so I went out to the sewing machine and had them all zig zagged in about 15 minutes.

I don't know what they're going to do for faces, but I know she has some colored felt that they are going to cut into paper-doll type clothes and apply with a dot of sticky velcro.

I think they're supposed to perform it for their class sometime in the next few days; I'm hoping it all holds up!

Oh, well, I had to change the thread in the machine to do the next step on the mantles anyway.

Choir Sundays 2010 #15

May choir colors: Turquoise, white and/or black w/blue jeans.

I finally pulled out my spring/summer jackets; this is the jacket from Vogue 8045 in a white poly/cotton twill from Hancock's, worn over the scoopneck Simplicity 4076 in a poly/cotton? jersey from the Vogue Fabrics booth at the Atlanta Expo(...two? Three? years ago...) worn over my test version of the Jalie 965 Tank top, from a poly/rayon?/lycra jersey from the cheap table at Wal-Mart.

The jeans are my Regular Lee Bootcuts, which means they're really about 3" too long and I should wear high heels. I wore the lowest shoes I could get away with...not ready to subject the low back to standing through worship (twice...) in heels.
The shorter jeans have disappeared into the black hole of the laundry; I'm beginning to think they got put into someone else's basket...I'll have to make inquiries amongst the children to see if someone has my jeans in his/her closet....

Happy Mother's Day to everyone who's raised kids, mentored kids, taught kids, rocked kids, loved kids or prayed for kids! Great is your reward in heaven... ;)

It also happens to be The Actor's 17th birthday; he was born on Mother's Day, 1993. Time flies... (and yes, he chose a cherry cheesecake instead of a baked cake for his birthday. We tried candles last year...they won't stand up on cherry pie filling!!!)

You Don't Know Anyone Who Sews...

(Picture Obi-wan waving his hand and quoting the title...)

Carolyn's post made me chuckle today...and remember a conversation from last week.

My cell phone rang while I was checking out at Publix. I dug around in my purse, pulled it out, and had the following conversation with a friend, P.

P. Hi, Lisa, say, do you know (lady)?

Me. No, I haven't met her yet.

P. Her and her husband are the ones who have that (such-and-such a product).

Me. Nope. Don't know them.

P. Well, she wanted to know if I knew anyone who sews...

Me. P, you don't!!! You don't know anyone!!!

P. You were the only one I could think of...she needs someone to make a wedding dress.

Me. (trying to pay the grocery tab while stifling hysterical laughter) Absolutely you do not know anyone!!! I don't do that!

P. Well, Ok, I just thought I'd ask...


A wedding dress. I suppose I should be flattered, but...sigh.

I *might* make wedding dresses for my daughters. But unless I go into business doing it, that'd be IT.

On another note, my 12 weeks were up; Ann has already posted on Facebook about being Officially Done with chemo (Yay for Ann!!!). So, she got done w/chemo before I finished my 12 garments. I hit turbulence with the striped pants; the waistband is pinned on at the moment, so they are close to done. The 12th garment has been in the queue since the Great Stash-Busting Chop of 2007...the fuschia jersey Donna Karan Vogue wrap top.

But it's heading into graduation season, and I need to take a break from garment sewing to work on the mantles for the Masters' Commission students who will be graduating at the end of the month. They have to be cut out, interfaced, and partially sewn so I can hand them over to my embroidery queen friend, Miss A, to letter, and she needs them this weekend so she'll have time to get them embroidered and back to me to finish before the grad.

So, I got 10 garments made in 12 weeks...not too shabby...and I'll finish the others up in pretty short order.

When I'm done, I'll post a photo collage of the lot of them. ;)

Choir Sundays 2010 #14

May Choir Colors: Black,white and turquoise.
Today happened to be our 11th anniversary, so instead of blue jeans we're just a tad dressier w/black pants.

I've got on Loes Hinse's Bistro jacket, made in a black poly herringbone weave suiting; my favorite black wool gab Loes Hinse Oxford Pants and a silk/lycra charmeuse shell made from the bodice of Loes Hinse's City Dress

I'll post a 12 weeks update tomorrow; I didn't quite make 12 garments in 12 weeks...

Distractions!

So, how am I supposed to do the million things I need to do today? Sure wish I could squeeze about 6 more hours in the day...

A Mediocre Picture of Mediocre Pants

The Flute Player played photographer for me this afternoon and this is the best photo of what she took (i.e., *all* of the pants are actually in the picture). Because of the stripes, you can see the ripples at the hip where the pattern (Jalie's 2909 'Classic Trousers') curves higher than I do.

There are some other issues with this pair that I won't go to the trouble of pointing out. I tucked in my top so the problems would be visible specifically for the sewing blog; I won't EVER wear these pants with a tucked-in top.

But they're wearable, and, with a layered black-on-red-on-black look, it worked.

I'll review them when I get the next iteration sewn up. ;)

Slipped again

Once upon a time, I decided I would declare one week out of every three months to be my 'home focus week' -- I'd stay off the internet, not schedule any appointments or volunteer activities and work on some project that needed attention at home.

Then I got a part-time job, and, while I still manage to stay off the internet, the 'stay home and accomplish things' part of the plan sort of went away.

And I did a BUNCH of running around town last week...I put about 110 miles on the car on Thursday and never left town.

And I didn't get much sewing done, either.

I've been working on a test garment of Jalie 2909 (the 'Classic Trousers') from a poly-lycra blend suiting I nabbed off the cheap table at Wal-mart. I got them to the point that all they needed was a trouser hook and the legs hemmed and determined that I needed to:

1) move the hip curve down about 2". The sideseam ripples a bit above the fullest part of my hips.

2) Add a pinch of ease to the whole garment. To my mind, in woven 'classic' pants, stretch in the fabric should be for ease of movement, not for fitting. These are pretty snug.

3) scoop the back crotch a bit

4) angle the back seam of the waistband in a bit and, after a bit of deliberation

5) put the center front seam on grain.

I'd also drafted pockets for the pants, but they were too deep and the opening was too long.

I pulled the pattern out and worked it over to accomplish those five things, plus I overhauled my pocket draft. Then I pulled out some black-and-white stripe printed cotton/lycra I got from Ann...last spring?...and cut out another pair (I still need pocket linings and interfacing).

Then I finished up the first pair. I'd give the fit about a C+ on that pair, given the items mentioned above. I like the color combo on the fabric, though, so I think I'll just make sure I pair 'em up with a top that's long enough to cover the too-high-hip-curve ripples and wear 'em for a while. With a longer top on, they really don't look *too* bad.

I'll do a full review w/photos when I get the second pair made.

So, while I didn't *finish* a Gorgeous Things garment, I made some progress on one.

Oh, and I decided I'd use the rest of the black and white stripe to make another McCall's 5191 jacket.

But I won't wear the pants and the jacket together. Just so you know. ;)

Choir Sundays 2010 # 13

Choir Colors for March: Black, gray and yellow w/blue jeans

I've got on those same ol' bootcut Lees, with a modified version of Textile Studio's Monaco Shell, in a gray poly/rayon knit that I *think* I found at Wal-Mart, and the Vogue 8305 cardi-wrap, fabricated in a black rayon/lycra jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics.

Plus the yellow plastic jewelry.

April's colors will be turquoise, black and white with jeans. 'Cept for next week, which is our anniversary weekend, so we'll be dressing up just a bit and wearing black on the bottom instead of jeans.

I'm so ready to be done w/yellow... ;)

'12 Weeks' update tomorrow...

Caught Up

12 Weeks of Gorgeous Fabrics - garment #10

Squeezed a Jalie 965 top for The Flute Player out of the remnants...literally! I pieced the neckband and somehow the back is off grain...didn't notice that until I was matching the stripes on the side seams. I don't think I could've fit it on at all if I had actually folded it square (I thought I did...dunno what I goofed on) it JUST BARELY fit; I had to trim the back armholes out a bit to get past the notched place on one side. But, as the only place the offgrain is really noticeable is at the back hem, and this is intended to be a knock-around-the-house summer top, it'll be ok.

For that reason I'm not going to take the white armhole band off and flip it, either...didn't notice *that* until I looked at the photo. I meant to put the orange side out on both bands....:rolleyes:...

And I just looked at the calendar and realized that this is the 3rd week of April, which is *supposed* to be my quarterly Internet break. So I'll be off the rest of the week...hopefully I'll have Garment 11 done by Sunday... ;)

Choir Sundays 2010 #12

(A pretty day...breezy...but pretty!)
March colors: Black/grey/yellow w/blue jeans.

This is the Jalie 965 tank top and Jalie 2566 Cardigan, both from the charcoal gray yummy 'designer rayon knit' that came from Gorgeous Fabrics, with the Lee bootcuts and the plastic yellow jewelry again.

Also, got the official word today: we are adding another service in June, on Saturday nights. There's talk of a rotation w/the choir, so that everyone will not be singing all 4 services, but splitting into teams and rotating through somehow. Not sure yet how that will affect Choir Sundays...we'll see...

Gorgeous Fabrics Week 10

Since the Flute Player has outgrown a number of tops this this spring, I figured I'd better get a few things made for her if I could. I pulled out the last of several orange-based pieces of fabric that I ordered from Ann about a year ago specifically for her, as orange is her favorite color, and looked for a pattern to use.

I decided to try something a little different, and traced off the boat-neck version of Jalie 2005, in a size S this time (I think the last tracing I had for her was a 'P'...she's really shot up in the past year), and I used the cap sleeve from Jalie 965.

I had to take a sharpie and write 'BACK' on the turned under portion of the back neckline...*I* had trouble telling the front from the back, and I knew which way I'd flipped the shoulder seams!

She's happy.

I had a fair sized chunk of fabric left...I'd only gotten a yard of this, but it was 70" wide. So I scraped and pieced a Jalie 965 tank top for her out of it; that may be my 'catch up' garment early next week! ;)

From Pillar to Post

As in, running from one to the other.

My Sweet Baboo is out of town this week; the annual SDM conference has taken him to Orlando this year. I count the days he's gone in terms of mornings that I have to make sure the two still-in-school kids meet their morning timelines...ordinarily, MSB takes The Actor to his bus stop on his way to work; it throws a bit of a glitch in my morning when I've got to get him off and then come back and get The Flute Player out the door.

Hopefully, next year they will be at the same school, and life will be much easier.

But, aside from that, it's been a busy week. The only evening I *didn't* have to be somewhere else I spent running errands. So...no sewing so far this week, although I'm very close to having the-next-size-up Jalie 2005 traced off for the Flute Player so I can crank out a couple of tops for her soon. Seems like I just get one traced and then it's too small...love those multi-sized Jalies!!

Anyway, in the evening phone conversations with My Sweet Baboo, I inquired as to where the SDM conference will be in the next few years. He told me it will be in Denver next year, Honolulu the year after, and in Boston in 2013.

I want to go to Boston with him.

There are *lots* of sewing blogger/sewing board buddies in the area; there's great fabric stores in the area and it's a day trip to the NY Garment district...right?

I could have such fun while he's sitting in stodgy conference sessions!

Better start saving my pennies now ;)

Choir Sundays 2010 #11

This was another one of those marathon days at church...and the photo was taken afterward. So, yeah, I look pretty tired. And my *usual* fashion photographer wasn't available, so The Flute Player filled in. I definitely need to give her some pointers about taking pictures. But, well, it is what it is. I had to wait until the computer was available to post the photo (homework takes precedence!), and I'm waaaayyyyy sleepy (as in my ears are ringing)...you wouldn't believe the typos I've made just this far. I hope I catch 'em all before I hit 'post'...

March colors are black, charcoal gray and yellow, with blue jeans. In addition to the dark wash boot cut Lees, I'm wearing a black silk/lycra charmeuse modified Loes Hinse City Dress shell, my gray wool/lycra Loes Hinse Bolero Jacket, and a $5 crinkled scarf from Wally World.

The rest of the month will probably be some variation on what I've worn already. I suppose I ought to just break down and make myself a yellow tank top so I can layer it under black, since it really looks like yellow is going to show up in the rotation at least once a year.

I'll think about that tomorrow. ;)

Gorgeous Fabrics Week...9...

Yeah, I missed week 8, so I'm a garment behind.
But, since the spring play has completely fallen through, I may be able to catch up next week. We'll see. ;)





Anyway, this pitiful hanger shot is Burda 05-2009-108, from black cotton/lycra sateen. The vest really looks a lot more polished in real life; the only real problem is that it is a lint magnet!!! Must keep lint roller handy...

I don't know when I'll manage to get a photo of it actually on me; I don't have any tops to wear with it for choir this month, although it'll probably get worn quite a bit in future months. Maybe I'll wear it to work this week and get a photo then.