Archive | November, 2009

I Hope You’ll Forgive Me…

20 Nov

First,  I hope you’ll forgive me for not having more photos of pants and Marji’s visit.  Marji and I made three muslins and I have to sew up the fourth one still. It was an amazing few days with her and she’s really encapsulated my thoughts on the internet and sewing on her blog. My hair is straight over there. I got a haircut while Marji was here and the stylist gave me a blow out and used a hot comb. It lasted a day with the fog. It just grew and grew and grew. By midafternoon I was wearing a hat.  It’s now back to normal ;) Second, I hope you’ll forgive me because I’m a little hard headed at times. I’m usually a good advice taker, but I really got it stuck in my head to make the ginger cookies (ducks). Are we still cool? I am overwhelmed by the suggestions for different baked goods and deeply appreciative.  But, I just got an idea in my head and couldn’t let it go.My camera is MIA, so a camera phone shot it as. 

Anna, my co-worker has never baked a cookie in her life. We started at 8:30 p.m. and wrapped up aroune 1:00 a.m.   These suckers sold like hotcakes. I don’t know that they were *jealous*, but squeals of joy were heard.  And, I won’t lie to you. The first couple of batches did *not* look like this. You were NOT kidding. This ish is HARD.

I hope you guys have a great weekend planned. Tonight, I’m seeing Precious with my roommate. We wanted to see Twilight, but all the 15 year olds bought the tickets already ;) Tomorrow some ballet and on Sunday, if you can believe it, I’m going to the gun range with a friend. I always said I’d shoot a gun when they came in pink. He found one.

She’s Here! She’s Here!

16 Nov

Yesterday, I picked up my express package from St. Louis, one Marji of Fiber Arts Afloat! When I pulled up the BWI Airport, I honestly exclaimed, “You’re so pretty and tall!” Truthfully, I’m 5 ft 5.5 inches. My hair gives me an extra 2. She’s staying with me until heading to NYC on Wednesday.

This is tonight after dinner. I’m totally fascinated that we have about the same figure. Which means she has most of my fit issues figured out (evil grin). What’s funny, is Marji and I became friends through blogging and the internet two years ago. I honestly didn’t know that we would ever meet IRL (In Real Life).

While I had to go to work half the day, Marji spent her time in my sewing studio (*after* organizing it. I’m not kidding. I walked down there and stared for a minute trying to figure out why I could see the basement floor. ) we still managed to take measurements to work on my pants sloper.  After I got home this evening, I took her to A Fabric Place, also home to Michael’s Fabrics.

I’m going to sew up the pant muslin tomorrow and draft my Bunka bodice sloper. It’s impossible to have a Marji and *not* get help with fitting. Seriously, can you imagine? I’m going to have to make something delicious for dinner to say thanks!

So, when you next hear from me, some detailed steps and photos of the pant fitting process! It was like a full class! You can read Marji’s post here.

What does a grown woman wear to ballet class?

14 Nov

Thank you for all the suggestions for my office bake sale!  My co-worker and I are still going through the recipes to figure out what we can make — and make well for Friday. I will definitely keep you posted! But, pretty celophane, ribbon and tags have all been ordered.

Are you ready to be a part of my online therapy session? LOL.  Growing up, I very begrudgingly took 12 years of piano lessons when all I really wanted to do was dance, sew, take pictures and do theater. I can now play Sweet Hour of Prayer from memory. And if VERY hard pressed can play for song service at church if there aren’t more than two flats or sharps. That’s about it. I showed little-to-no promise in that arena and my parents finally let me quit my freshman year of high school.

 

But, I’ve always wanted to dance. I’ll devour every bad movie about dance. It started with Dirty Dancing as a kid and continued with Centerstage, Step it Up (1 and 2), The Way She Move– you tell me there’s dancing and I’ll see it. I almost put my back out last year showing off  the Single Ladies dance.

So, last Saturday I started an adult ballet class. Partly because I stopped working out this year and it shows. But, mostly because I wanna DANCE (insert jazz hands)!  It’s my second week and I lurv it! I feel like I’m finally doing something I’ve always wanted to do for myself.

My  biggest dilema going in was what in the world was I going to wear? The London Ballet-trained instructor insisted on a leotard and strongly suggested pink tights. After consulting with Leslie (she of the amazing ballet legs), she reminded me that nothing shows cellulite more than pink tights and I promptly bought the black ones! I also had to cover my rear end which cannot be constrained by a leotard. I didn’t have time to whip up a skirt. But, H&M’s tiered tutu to the rescue. And so to answer the question of what does a 30 something wear to ballet class… Voila:

Yes. I’m clearly rocking the drunkface. But, I was on the phone when my friend snapped it for me. Then, the room filled with lithe 15-year-olds and I wasn’t going to take my photo again in front of them and their gazelle-like legs and skinny thighs.

When I signed up for the class, the instructor asked me what my goals were. Others in the class said ‘to go on point’ or ‘to perform in a recital’. I told her blunty, ‘I want dancer’s legs.’ He reply, ‘That’s going to be up to you’. So, I’m registered through December with the next session starting in January.  I’ve now got the Jalie pattern for leotard and skirt in my cart on PatternReveiw.com. I’ll probably do one with sleeves next time as I feel a little swimsuity in this. But, trust. There’s always going to be a fun tutu on the bottom. I swear half the fun of this class is coming up with the outfits!

Ahhh, and I haven’t been keeping up with my nail polish photos. The weather’s crappy and I like to take pictures outside. But, I’ll throw this one out. It’s China Glaze Cords with China Glaze Techno layered on top. Both can be found at Head2ToeBeauty.com:

And so you understand the glittery goodness, here it is blurred:

Ok. Toodles for now. I’m meeting a friend for drinks this afternoon and need to clean, clean clean because Marji from Fiber Arts Afloat flies in tomorrow! Tres cool, right?  She’s visiting for a few days. The list of things I have for us her to work on is boundless. Sloper, pants fit, new measurement, SWAP. The mind truly reels.

I want to make them jealous

12 Nov

Alright kids. Next Friday we’re having a bake sale at work. I got no less than three emails about it. There’s this prevailing theory at the office that I’m some kind of Martha Stewart because I make my own clothes and understand this crazy website called Etsy. But, the truth is, I am not much of a baker. And, based on what I’ve read online, neither is Martha. But, quite frankly, I will continue to front this image as long as I can.

So, I need your help. I want to bake something that will will visually leave them in awe. Please, point me to something that will be so pretty, and so cute that people will talk about me from now until Christmas.

Yes, it’s petty and shallow — but I don’t care.

I was thinking this:

Gingerbread Snowflakes -- Martha Stewart.

Yes. I succomed and bought the 7 inch cookie cutter before it sold out in 2005. It has since been a paper weight, a Christmas ornament and lost and then found. This has a lot of visual appeal, but, will it make them jealous?

My other thought was some kind of incredible cupcake. People love cupcakes right?

Hi Top Cupcake from Martha Stewart

 

I don’t even like chocholate and I want to make this.

But, that’s the extent of my ideas. If you’ve got a sure-bet, super cute, make their jaws drop and their wallets open up baked good recipe, please, let me know.

** All images from MarthaStewart.com

Bunka Garment Design Textbooks Are Amazing.

5 Nov e946d68e

You may have gathered from this blog that I have a love of all things international. Through much hard work and calculation, I have struck up a unique relationship with my counterpart in Japan. So unique, that when Trena went to Tokyo, my counterpart actually took her shopping — and we’ve never met!

At anyrate, when this week’s delegation came to Baltimore for three days, with them came four of the five English language Bunka Fashion College textbooks. Ginevra first tipped me off that they were coming and Christina let me know they were out. Oh, BTW, Bunka is pronounce Boon-ka. These look small in the photo, but they are 8×11 size (really A4, but whatev).

I am going to do my best not to gush too hard here. But, I am BEYOND excited about these books. Mostly, because they only cost me $100 for the four. They are selling in the states for $44 each. These are definitely text books. But, what I like about them as textbooks is that they, wait for it, ACTUALLY TEACH SEWING. See that below? Those are directions on how to sew a skirt, where to add lining, how to sew lining, how to cut it out, ways to pretreat, suggested fabrics for garments, places for interfacing, etc.

Yes, home sewers have sewing books that teach you this, but I can tell you that my garment design textbook (which cost $100) DOES NOT tell you *how* to sew.

There is a GREAT deal of information on fit and drafting. Ways to alter your sloper (including for bust)  and EXTENSIVE instructions on drafting one. There is a four page glossary on the little symbols and markings that are used on the Mrs. Stylebook / Japanese drafting patterns

I’m also enjoying reading about the history of garments

And this is all just in ONE BOOK.

Of course, there are things I don’t like. First, according to their charts I’m like the LARGEST size possible. After spending four days with six Japanese women, I would agree. I am huge.

But, what’s interesting about their sizing charts, is they take AGE into consideration. Now, call me crazy, but I suspect I won’t age like a Japanese woman. But, I do like to know that they take that into consideration in their drafts.

The other thing I don’t like, so many new products for me to track down! Mostly a few rulers like the D-curve (which looks like my #6), the reduction ruler, thier sleeve pressing ham (I like that it’s shaped more like an arm than my sleeve roll), and pressing horse.

I am resisting their pressing ham, pressing board, handy mat, crossarm and Yukiwari — our tailoring board. Hmm, but I cannot resist the needle board. It might be good I can’t find it on their website. Or this bobbin holder.

Someone I know is going back to Japan in March. My plan is to save up, do a huge order and pay the $50 extra luggaage fee on Al Nippon Air!

So, to sum up, if you can find at least the first book, Fundamentals of Garment Design, I think it it well worth the money if you are interested in fit and working with the Japanese patterns. If you are interested in drafting on your own, then I would get the remainder. The last, Coats and Capes, comes out in December. And, if you are thinking of ordering from Amazon.com Japan and saving some money. shipping is almost $50 for the four.