Archive | March, 2010

The Jig is Up

25 Mar

I promised myself last year after this bit of ugliness that the next time I would post about another boyfriend on my blog again it would be to announce an engagement or pregnancy.

(Mom, take a breath and calm down. I would at least be *living* with him before I got pregnant. LOL. I’m kidding Mom. I don’t even want kids! Ok. Seriously, Mom. Put down the phone and sit down. I would get married first. I’m just playing with you).

But,  The jig us up. I cannot keep anything to myself! So, how’s this…. I just won’t make him a permanent cast member of Miss Celie’s Pants? That way he can disappear quietly when we break up to be replaced by a new occassional player.

Due to his aversion to animal products, we’ll call him the Vegan.  Now, the reason I’m posting this is because between dating the Vegan and work being busy I AM NOT SEWING. And, I’m starting to get irritated by it.

I’m not sure what to do about it either.  At least three nights a week I work late until 8 or 9 at night. I ususally have to work one day on the weekend. Normally, I would sew during the in between. But, I’m either too tired, quite happily spending time with him or cleaning (Yes, I do a minimal amount of cleaning now because he comes to my house and I have pride). And considering for the first time in my adult life I’m seeing someone who actually would spend most of his free time with me, I’m at a loss.

Do, I put him on a two-day a week schedule so I can get other things stuff done? Or do I wait it out because at some point in the future, we won’t be as hot and heavy?  If only it was football season I know I could get my Sunday, Monday and Thursdays back!!

Thoughts people? Seriously? And don’t tell me that I must not really like him if I’d rather be sewing. All that will get you is the side eye. Beacuse that’s what two married friends said to me.

All Is Not Lost… Just Sidetracked

24 Mar

Last month I made a grand pronouncment that work would commence on an Anthropologie trench coat knock-off. Then, the storm happened and I had to work through it. When I wasn’t working I was shoveling. And, when I wasn’t shoveling I was resting my wrist. So, I really only got to spend a few hours on the coat before I was back to work after the storm and haven’t had a moment at my sewing machine in six weeks. But, I thought I could at least show how far I made it.

You’ll see there are no sleeves. I’m on draft number two for the sleeves. And, of course, I also managed to lose the center back bodice pattern piece :)  All is not lost! Overall, it’s not bad. I think it’s going to be big, but I also gave it huge seam allowances. I wanted to finish this mid-April and that’s not going to happen. I’m not sure if it’ll be put away for a while and picked up again in late summer or if I’ll just plug away at it this year.

But, I won’t be working on it this upcoming weekend! I’m going to visit my friend on the Eastern Shore of Maryland again. And, in May I’m on for PR Weekend in Philly. And, tonight, I’m booking my tix for PR Weekend in Montreal. I’m just a traveling woman, eh?

Another GREAT Sort-of-Blind Sewing Date!

20 Mar

One really terrific thing about the DC-Balt-NYC corridor is that I can be in NYC in three hours, Philly in 1.5 and DC in 45 minutes. So, when I read that the Selfish Seamstress was coming to DC, I invited myself and Trena to meet her for dinner.  In planning my outfit, I did have a fear that both she and I would appear in the same gray, sleeveless BWOF dress that we both made. Crisis averted!

From L to R: Vogue 8379, BWOF 10-2009-119, and Butterick 3078

I am not this freakishly tall. I am in fact 5’6. I’m really probably 5’5 but i like to say I’m 5’6. And, 135 pounds.  Actually, my license says I’m 127. And, I haven’t seen 127 since middle school.  Well, I haven’t seen 135 since high school either. But, I digress. The Slapdash Sewist and the Selfish Seamstress are just super petite and incredibly cute.  I was like Gulliver walking through the DC streets with them.

I hate to break it to you. The Selfish Seamstress is anything but. She’s charming and generous. She even came with gifts! Fabric and labels that I’ll have to photograph when I get back home tonight from Washington. I just never cease to be amazed by this internet sewing community we’re all a part of. What’s really remarkable though is meeting other professional women, in your age group, that are also desperately obsessed with sewing.

NYTimes: Feel Ragged? Renew at This Cafe

18 Mar
Apparently, I read more about sewing these days than actually sewing.
 
Feel Ragged? Renew at This Cafe
By ERIC WILSON
Published: March 17, 2010
 
SWEAT SHOP, a tiny new cafe near a trendy stretch of Paris, had barely opened its doors last week when it faced its first fashion emergency. A young woman brought in a teddy bear that had been worn to pieces.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/fashion/18ROW.html

Teaching the all-but-lost art of couture – baltimoresun.com

18 Mar

Here’s a story that ran in our local paper today that I thought you would all enjoy.

Teaching the all-but-lost art of couture – baltimoresun.com

Clothing designer helps bring the meticulous craft to Baltimore

By Jill Rosen

March 18, 2010

For most women who shop at Gap and J Crew, maybe Nordstrom or a local boutique for something fancy, couture is simply a foreign concept. They might have caught a glimpse of it during a television awards show, but not many have run their hands over true couture quality, and even fewer have been lucky enough to wear it.

But in a Timonium office building, of all places, women for have been learning for the past few months how to ply the elusive trade.

Ella Pritsker, a Russian native who immigrated to the United States in her 20s, started the Maryland Academy of Couture Arts last year. With the Towson Town Center nearby and York Road’s discount shops around the corner, she is introducing women to the world beyond ready-to-wear, where with fine fabric and meticulous attention to detail, a dress, Pritsker likes to say, “can cost as much as a house.”

With the school, Pritsker hopes to preserve what she considers to be an all-but-lost art, the high art of sewing.

continued through the link above

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What’s Up With Liberty of London?

10 Mar

So, despite more cousins than I can count in England and the fact that my mom lived in London for many years I did not know what Liberty prints were until I entered the online sewing world. I think they are cute enough. But, I wouldn’t recognize them if you didn’t tell me and I still don’t think I’ve seen any in person. So color me surprised when I saw this Target ad heralding their collaboration with Liberty of London. I do wish Target was just selling bolts of the fabric though.

I already checked the bicycle. Sadly, it’s just one gear.

And, then I read here that Liberty of London was releasing a makeup collection with MAC Cosmetics. Of course, they have a blue polish too (have I mentioned blues are my color of choice?).

So, this leads me to wonder, what’s up with Liberty of London? Have they always done licensing agreements? Did people outside the sewing world know about Liberty? Have I been living under a rock? Does this diminish their brand? Thoughts?

Fabric Fast Stumbling Block

9 Mar

And its name is Zincks Outlet…..

So, I made it out to Austintown, Ohio by way of Pittsburgh. Do you see how nutty I am? I forgot what airport I was flying into. I thought I was going through Cleveland. Doh!

Even on a mini-break, I still can find fiber! On Sunday, the BFF, three kids, her fiance and I headed out to Amish country in Berlin, OH. I wasn’t paying much attention but I remember following some signs for Akron, Ohio — I think. There, I did indulge in two pieces of fabric (not the ones pictured below). There was lots to choose from. Some good in a lot of ‘meh’. There were wools from B. Black and Son’s of Los Angeles for $3 to $5 a yard. But, also all the fleece that Joann’s can’t sell seems to have landed here. Loads of stretch laces for 50 cents a yard and plenty of non stretch denim for $3. Most of the shirtings were poly blend. But, I think the great selection were remnants of upholstery — if you’re in to bag making. They were selling four yard pieces for $1.99 a yard.

I figured I was on vacation so the 2010 fabric fast doesn’t count. My mom says a true addict makes excuses to suit the circumstances. Perhaps. But, doesn’t everyone take more than one run at rehab before it sticks?

I also bought a lot of wine from Ohio(six bottles, all rieslings), two huge blocks of cheese and inexplicably– peanut butter and chocolate whoopie pies. The wine is getting shipped to me via UPS. I find this no liquids in your carryons thing to be a serious cramp in my wine drinking.

And, I saw my first covered bridge!! I am so renting Bridges of Madison County this weekend!

Finally, the highlight was going to the circus. Tallk about something I would never do on my own. But, the BFF has a 4, 8 and 14 year old.

Great mini-break, but I’m glad to be home. I think no more trips before PR Philly :)

Anyone in Cleveland?

1 Mar

Well, Youngstown, OH to be exact. I’m visiting my middle school BFF this upcoming weekend and I’ve begged for stops at the Rock and Roll Hall or Fame and the West Side Market.  If you’re in the Youngstown area and have any suggestions for fabric shopping (not that I’m buying but I’m always curious) or other such craft endeavors in the area, please let me know!

I’ve been absentee :(   Work has been all-consuming.  I didn’t have heat in my house for over a week and slept at friends’ . The alley behind my house was too icy for the oil delivery truck and about four feet of snow and ice were covering the delivery spout. There has also been no satellite TV for the last three weeks since the ice filled gutter pulled down my power line and my satellite dish. I do have power now after calling BGE TWICE, but DirecTV can just suck it.  I have about $2,000 worth of damage to the house from the snow and ice. And, again, work is all-consuming and dicey.  Ahh, the life of a spoiled American :-) No TV! No heat! Busy at work! LOL.

Oh, one last thing. Are any of you in a community with Meijer??  Because.. *cough* they sell nail polish that I can’t find here :) I thought I would do it in Youngstown — but they don’t have one. Mission accomplished!! TY

And, I have not forgotten about the trench. It is drafted and partially muslined. But, with no heat… I couldn’t take sewing in my basement. Brrrr. I *think* it’s coming along well. It’s going to be a fit issue right now. I *think*. It’s slow sewing. But, I don’t plan on finishing it until mid April.

For Ohio or Meijer, you can e-mail me at miss celies pants at gmail dot com. THANKS!