Archive | July, 2010

Baby La Mia Boutique Winner

31 Jul

Is….

Virginia! I’ve emailed you to send me your mailing address. Don’t forget, it can take me months to get to the post office….

And, yes. I do think that little girl look absolutely sour in the editorial photos.

Back in the Saddle

30 Jul

This week, I sent off my visa application for China. I was peeved it cost $130 for Americans until I saw that the US charges about the same. 

 Anywho, it was going to cost me over $300 because for two solid days I couldn’t find my US passport. That $300 figure was between the rush, renewal and company charges. I was so relieved when I found my passport, I figured I was *saving* money. Therefor, I could use the money I *saved* and buy a new camera (which I was going to get before I left for China).   

 

Optio I-10

  At first, I wanted the Pentax Optio. Why? Because it looked like an old school camera. That’s it. But, the reviews for it were weak.So, I decided to spend a little extra and upgrade to a DSLR.  After Kathi’s recommendation (because it came in colors!!) I went with the Pentax K-X. It was highly ranked by a consumer magazine and I saw excellent reviews on line. It comes in a GAMILLION colors (well, eight in the US and a gamillion in Japan).    

 

  Not that I think SLRs take inherently better photos. I once had a friend comment that a mutual friend takes gorgeous pictures, “Because with a camera like that how can she not.” Which is like saying just because someone has a high-end sewing machine they are going to make beautiful clothes.  But, I think for photographing indoors and brown skin, they provide me a wider range of settings. Plus, I got a remote control too so it’ll be much faster to take photos of my in garments. 

 

I’ve had a film SLR for years. I really only stopped using it last year when film became so much more expensive to process. So, I’m thrilled and hopefully can get back to posting for reals.    

Uncle

25 Jul

Bias is a surly beyotch.

When I first made this Patrones 252-30 skirt two years ago, It was too big and too long. When I made it this time, I sliced at the hip, and took out four inches of length (which brought a lot of the bias fullness up to my hips). I did not take two inches out of the waist thinking that would make up for any weight gain and give me room to wiggle since the first skirt still fits. But, and this is a BIG but, I stabilised the waistline with twill tape this time. I did not the first time. So, the bias waist (the first time) grew — making it too big. This time, it did not grow,  making it the original size which is apparently too small by about four inches. Which means that in order for the skirt to fit this time, the waist line sat just under my breasts.

SOB!!

Call Carolyn on the way to see Inception (Great movie. Didn’t understand half of it.) and she suggested cutting down the waistband by no more than one inch. Brilliant. I do it.

The FREAKING skirt was now at last eight inches too big!!! Stupid beyotch bias.

I take in and take in — six inches give or take. Finally, it fits!  But, it’s so stinking full now at the hips. Like all the width of the skirt is now at my waist / hip. And, the bias was hanging funky because of all the alterations. I put the zipper in twice because of a rookie mistake.  One side seam is longer than the other. Whatever. I’m almost done. I put on the skirt. It fits! I can breathe! Then, the zipperhead pops off. SOB!

Uncle. I give up. I’m not going to re-insert a zipper for the third time in a yellow marked, wonky drape,  skirt that makes m look like a wedding cake topper.

I love this pattern, but I’m done. It’s time for  glass of wine and to pick another project.

Someday I’ll Learn….

24 Jul

I’m still working on my China capsule. This, is Patrones’ #30 skirt from issue #252 (January 2007). Projects like these remind me that I hate hemming. Nevermind hemming a circle skirt that is also cut on the bias. With insets. Insets that have pleats.

And, someday I’ll learn to stop marking fabric with colors that will likely not wash out (yellow on khaki). Doh. My working theory is that no one is going to be looking at my knees.

This Patrones skirt I’ve made before. And, hopefully I’ll suck it up and hem it over the weekend. But, for now, I’m off to see ‘Inception’.

Kid’s Clothes

23 Jul

I realized some time ago that the odds of my making kids clothes anytime soon are small. I always think I’m going to make something for a friend’s child. But, just end up at Target instead. Not that I don’t like kids clothes. They also seem like they would take far less time to sew. But, I have limited sewing time and I choose to focus on, well, me. Besides, my children having friends are in two camps. The first that bug the bejeezus out of me to make them something. And, the other camp who can’t understand why I don’t just go shopping. I would only make something for a kid who’s mom sews. And, she’s not old enough yet to wear these clothes.

I started this three or six month subscription to the Russian language amalgamation of La Mia Boutique earlier this year. So far, meh. Last month I was so underwhelmed I don’t even know where I put the magazine. And this month? Toddlers. Or…. hmmm. What do you call them between three and 12? Youth?


I’m not even going to pretend. I’m giving this one away. The one caveat here, is that it can take me up to two months to go to the post office. I am horrible about it. And, it’s a five minute walk from my office.

For this giveaway, leave a comment if you’d like it. I’ll announce a winner next Friday.

Tonight, I’m going to the O’s game! So fun. Well, not really. But, it’s really fun from the suite / box level. And, it’s about the only sport I can actually easily follow (i.e. understand the rules).

Why Shopping Frustrates Me, Reason #134

22 Jul

Because I have been looking for a pale pink filing/ dairy crate for a month and have turned up bupkiss. Have been to Joanns, Stables, Wal Mart, Target, Container Store and PB Kids. Grrr.

I rode my bike to work today. It’s taken me well over a month to work my nerve up.  It was a harrowing 3.5 miles on Baltimore city streets but rewarding. Oh, and I was totally winded and plan to take the bus home because getting to work is downhill and I know my limitations. But, the entire time, the aesthetic was thrown off by this lime green milk crate.

Pale pink. I saw them EVERYWHERE last year. This year, according to the Wal Mart manager, all the new stuff is in brights. Bright lime, hot pink and orange. I couldn’t even find black or white when I went to my three different Wal Marts.

Sigh. See how difficult my life is? LOL. Seriously though, this is why I like to sew. I can make exactly what I want when I want it.

Pattern Review: Bias Skirt, BWOF 4-2002-127

13 Jul 10fcb124[1]

I’m borrowing a camera. I don’t want to harp, but I’m sorry about the low quality of the photos. I’ve taken to photographing facing my screen door for sunlight. But, it’s pretty overcast. We have 98 percent humidity and thunderstorms. Blech. I thought between humidity and the low 90s it was a good day to test out part of my China capsule (I bet you’re thinking September can’t come soon enough so I can stop talking about China, lol). At any rate, I’m thinking of raiding the coverstitch fund for a used Nikon D40 — a DSLR camera I’ve wanted for the last three years.

There is so very little to say about this bias skirt. It’s a very basic design with just one pattern piece. **Will have to update this. I’m showing the wrong pattern line drawing.** I think bias skirts can be a neat first project. There’s minimal fitting and the bias lends itself to design interest. I like this tangerine linen. It washed up incredibly soft and falls beautifully. Plus, it adds a great punch of color. I’ve really liked orange lately, but don’t like it close to my face because it sometimes, er, well — matches my hair color, LOL.

For skirts like this, I prefer the speed and ease of a narrow waistand. I use Dritzs’ Perfect Waist Maker. I bought about 10 yards of it in Portland last summer. I should have bought all of it. It’s a fusible interfacing with perforations at the fold line. I could have done a very slight swayback adjustment. But, I didn’t bother.

 

I let the dress hang for a few days so the bias portions would grow. There was easily almost a two inch difference in some part of the hem length. I shortened the pattern by three inches. at the hip.  I made a narrow hem on my machine.
 

I can’t think of anything else to say about this skirt. Except, the first time I made a bias skirt, I had to have a friend hem it for me. I just couldn’t handle it five years ago.

The top is my BWOF 1-2008-122 poet blouse

There’s Something to These Packing Cubes!

11 Jul

After several of you commented that I should try packing cubes (or referred me to sites where they are revered), I tossed a set in with my eBags order.

Holy cow. I love them.

I am a slob. Period. Let’s not mince words. I am clean. But, I am not neat. A housekeeper will be written into my pre-nup.  These, keep my bag and packing so organized!

Thanks for the tip!

Two Exhibits, One Thought

10 Jul

Today, Leslie, my former intern Jess (who has far surpassed me by becoming a fancy publicist in NYC) and I took in two costume exhibits. First , we went to the Met for an exhibit showcasing fashion eras of the American Woman. After, we went to the Brooklyn Museum for a sampling of their collection.

If you can, see both. If you can only see one, go to the Brooklyn Museum. We all agreed hands down Brooklyn was awesome and the better of the two. It’s so amazing and inspiring. I want to go back in time, major in art history and become a costume curator at the Brooklyn Museum — or anyplace that will have me.

Sigh. These mobile phone pictures are terrible. I did pick up the catalog, which is totally available on line for free :D

On our rushed way back to Manhattan to catch my bus home, we stopped at Mood. I, meant to just get some cotton batiste. But, two yards of this silk / cotton blend came home with me too.

Mondrian Spools

9 Jul

Fashion 26 hotel had this nifty art in the lobby. I love New York (my hometown I might add).  (cell phone photo above)

Photo below courtesy of Loohoo. Because, *choke*.  My camera died. Bad timing, eh? It’s going to put a serious cramp in my blogging for a minute. I need to get my visa for China and that’s as much a new camera. Oh, well.

And now, to bed! tomorrow, the Met exhibit on American Women’s Fashion.

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