Wow, I cannot believe I took so long to post another blog here. But life has been crazy to say the least! So sorry I haven't written in an embarrassing amount of time!
I truly have been "sew" busy, though! I have taken two online licensing courses through Martha Pullen! One course is called Children's Garment Construction and the other I just completed is Beginning Sewing: A Teacher's Licensing Course. All the projects in these courses are absolutely wonderful! If you would like to see the sewing projects I have completed, you can hop over to my Facebook page called the same as this blog: Sew Are the Days with Marla.
I took the plunge to start a website. The first step was figuring out a domain name. So hard! But I finally decided to call my future website Sew Timeless Creations. I hope I can learn and build my future site in the next year.
Also, I want to take one more licensing course through Martha Pullen. This course is called Heirloom Sewing: Creating Priceless Treasures. The projects are adorable and as they say priceless treasures!
Thanks for reading.
Always learning,
Marla
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Thursday, March 9, 2017
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Some Projects Done and Adaptive Clothing
Hello again, sewing friends. I'm finally beginning to feel settled in our new home after a little over a year. So much has happened and as they say life gets in the way of sewing at times. I have managed to get a few quick projects done this year but I'm so ready to get my lovely Janome 15000 humming!
Here are a couple quick projects I did recently:
In addition to the above projects, I also started a wool pea coat using Vogue 1467. I had to set it aside for now but hope to get it finished before next winter. I love the style. Here's a front and back view from the pattern:
Besides settling into our new home I've also been busy with my parents. We recently moved them into an assisted living facility. It is hard for my mother to dress or even have someone help her dress. There are no actual clothing stores in the vicinity that carry adaptive clothing. For that matter, there just isn't really anything suitable for my elderly mom and her medical condition. So I recently ordered some adaptive clothing for my mother through an online site. Sadly, I was disappointed in the quality of the construction. Being the sewist that I am, I decided I just needed to make some adaptive clothing for her myself! But finding a pattern has not been successful. After studying the clothing I had ordered, I decided to make a pattern of a back wrap sweater with snaps at the shoulders using the "rub off" method. I need to tweak the pattern for the sleeve but the bodice back and front are done. I plan to make a muslin and perfect the pattern more then find some lovely fabric that is soft and durable. Then next I hope to actually try my hand at drafting a pattern for a dress. Since I've never drafted a complete pattern I will rely on some great Craftsy classes and some books in my sewing library. I look forward to the challenge!
Until next time, happy sewing!
Marla
Here are a couple quick projects I did recently:
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| Retro blouse using Butterick 6217 |
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| Tee shirt using Vogue Today's Fit 8151 |
Besides settling into our new home I've also been busy with my parents. We recently moved them into an assisted living facility. It is hard for my mother to dress or even have someone help her dress. There are no actual clothing stores in the vicinity that carry adaptive clothing. For that matter, there just isn't really anything suitable for my elderly mom and her medical condition. So I recently ordered some adaptive clothing for my mother through an online site. Sadly, I was disappointed in the quality of the construction. Being the sewist that I am, I decided I just needed to make some adaptive clothing for her myself! But finding a pattern has not been successful. After studying the clothing I had ordered, I decided to make a pattern of a back wrap sweater with snaps at the shoulders using the "rub off" method. I need to tweak the pattern for the sleeve but the bodice back and front are done. I plan to make a muslin and perfect the pattern more then find some lovely fabric that is soft and durable. Then next I hope to actually try my hand at drafting a pattern for a dress. Since I've never drafted a complete pattern I will rely on some great Craftsy classes and some books in my sewing library. I look forward to the challenge!
Until next time, happy sewing!
Marla
Monday, July 13, 2015
The Big Move
Hello dear sewing friends,
I can't believe how much time has passed since I last wrote here on this blog. So much has happened the last several months! Because of everything that has taken place my sewing came to a halt. I try to keep this blog mostly about my sewing. However, I do just have to explain one huge thing that occurred.
The biggest change that took place is we moved! It has been a whirlwind. It happened so very quickly. We actually had pretty much given up on moving anytime soon after looking for six years. We didn't move that far really but any move can be an adjustment. We still live in the same county but instead of the far west side we live on the far east side! A whole thirty minutes away. But it's a big change for me after living in the same area for about forty years!
Two months ago we moved to our new home. I have yet to sew as we are doing some changes to our home including new flooring in two rooms. One is my sewing room! It is pretty much done now except for making some curtains and decorating.
I'm not going to post any pictures of my sewing room yet because it is still very disorganized and actually has boxes of laminate flooring sitting around. We still have another room to paint and put down flooring. All the furniture (and boxes yet unpacked) will need to be moved out of that room. Something tells me my sewing room will be full again while we work on that room.
Last week I stumbled upon the cutest little desk at our local Goodwill. I'm thinking about decorating my sewing room with a French couture look. This little desk was perfect. I paid a whopping $29 for it. Quite a bargain, I'd say, considering it is very well made and in very good condition. It is a Dixie Cabaret desk. I discovered Dixie furniture was made in the 1970's.
Here's my adorable little antiqued yellow and white desk with my serger sitting on it:
My original plans were to use mostly pink because I painted the walls gray. I found fabric that I may use for something in my sewing room:
I haven't decided if I will use this fabric to make a valance for the window or for a wall decor or to make a seat cushion. But certainly it has that French look. :)
Eventually I will have my little sewing room all prettied up and hopefully I will get down to some serious sewing!
Until next time...hopefully sooner than last!
Happy Sewing,
Marla
I can't believe how much time has passed since I last wrote here on this blog. So much has happened the last several months! Because of everything that has taken place my sewing came to a halt. I try to keep this blog mostly about my sewing. However, I do just have to explain one huge thing that occurred.
The biggest change that took place is we moved! It has been a whirlwind. It happened so very quickly. We actually had pretty much given up on moving anytime soon after looking for six years. We didn't move that far really but any move can be an adjustment. We still live in the same county but instead of the far west side we live on the far east side! A whole thirty minutes away. But it's a big change for me after living in the same area for about forty years!
Two months ago we moved to our new home. I have yet to sew as we are doing some changes to our home including new flooring in two rooms. One is my sewing room! It is pretty much done now except for making some curtains and decorating.
I'm not going to post any pictures of my sewing room yet because it is still very disorganized and actually has boxes of laminate flooring sitting around. We still have another room to paint and put down flooring. All the furniture (and boxes yet unpacked) will need to be moved out of that room. Something tells me my sewing room will be full again while we work on that room.
Last week I stumbled upon the cutest little desk at our local Goodwill. I'm thinking about decorating my sewing room with a French couture look. This little desk was perfect. I paid a whopping $29 for it. Quite a bargain, I'd say, considering it is very well made and in very good condition. It is a Dixie Cabaret desk. I discovered Dixie furniture was made in the 1970's.
Here's my adorable little antiqued yellow and white desk with my serger sitting on it:
My original plans were to use mostly pink because I painted the walls gray. I found fabric that I may use for something in my sewing room:
I haven't decided if I will use this fabric to make a valance for the window or for a wall decor or to make a seat cushion. But certainly it has that French look. :)
Eventually I will have my little sewing room all prettied up and hopefully I will get down to some serious sewing!
Until next time...hopefully sooner than last!
Happy Sewing,
Marla
Friday, January 16, 2015
My New Year Sewing Goals
It's been quite a long while since I last wrote anything here. I have not been able to do a lot of major sewing since my second pair of designer jeans because of some other obligations. But I did make several Christmas gifts this past year. I decided one of my New Year's resolutions is to try to make more gifts this year.
I have been reading on some other sewing blogs about ladies vowing to fast from buying ready to wear clothing. That is something I think I would like to do as well, but I'm not ready to fully commit that I will not buy any (outer) clothing. But this is something I would like to strive towards this year.
Some blogs talk about minimalist wardrobes. I like that idea to a certain extent anyway. I have been pinning several things on a Pinterest board about wardrobe building. I am weeding out some of my clothes from my closet and assessing what styles, colors and fabrics I like. I'm also taking a look at my patterns and hope to get a notebook to take notes of my likes and dislikes.
After I do all that I plan to begin sewing some basic pieces that will mix and match.
My goals are to not only sew more for myself this year and build a basic wardrobe but also continue to learn new sewing techniques. I have been sewing for decades now but there is always something new to learn.
I mentioned charity sewing in my last blog and I still intend to do that as well.
It's good to have sewing goals! :)
Happy Sewing,
Marla
I have been reading on some other sewing blogs about ladies vowing to fast from buying ready to wear clothing. That is something I think I would like to do as well, but I'm not ready to fully commit that I will not buy any (outer) clothing. But this is something I would like to strive towards this year.
Some blogs talk about minimalist wardrobes. I like that idea to a certain extent anyway. I have been pinning several things on a Pinterest board about wardrobe building. I am weeding out some of my clothes from my closet and assessing what styles, colors and fabrics I like. I'm also taking a look at my patterns and hope to get a notebook to take notes of my likes and dislikes.
After I do all that I plan to begin sewing some basic pieces that will mix and match.
My goals are to not only sew more for myself this year and build a basic wardrobe but also continue to learn new sewing techniques. I have been sewing for decades now but there is always something new to learn.
I mentioned charity sewing in my last blog and I still intend to do that as well.
It's good to have sewing goals! :)
Happy Sewing,
Marla
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Sewing as a Mission
I finally finished my first pair of designer jeans a few weeks ago. I plan to make another pair but I'm going to tweak the fit a bit by making a couple adjustments to my pattern. My next pair will be aqua stretch denim. I think I will use some cream colored jeans topstitching thread.
A lot has happened since I last wrote! I got my dream Janome 15000 and am looking forward to learning all that it is capable of doing!
I plan to give some basic sewing lessons in the near future as part of a mentoring program at the church I attend. We need to round up a few sewing machines and other needed supplies. I put together seven lessons which could stretch out to another one or two depending on how students progress. Then after those lessons are complete we will see which direction students want to go with their sewing.
I decided for now to mainly concentrate on sewing as a mission and continue my sewing education online and sew for myself, family and friends.
The other day a long time friend who is married to our former preacher called and asked me to make a sample up of a kindergarten graduation robe. She and her husband go to Honduras on a mission trip every year and are very involved with the mission school there. My friend and others make uniforms for the girls and boys. I was blessed to be able to help make some cute plaid jumpers a few years ago for the mission.
This week I plan to make the graduation robe. The collar for the robe will be the same plaid fabric as the jumper uniforms for the girls.
Maybe I can post some pictures in my next post!
Thanks for reading,
Marla
A lot has happened since I last wrote! I got my dream Janome 15000 and am looking forward to learning all that it is capable of doing!
I plan to give some basic sewing lessons in the near future as part of a mentoring program at the church I attend. We need to round up a few sewing machines and other needed supplies. I put together seven lessons which could stretch out to another one or two depending on how students progress. Then after those lessons are complete we will see which direction students want to go with their sewing.
I decided for now to mainly concentrate on sewing as a mission and continue my sewing education online and sew for myself, family and friends.
The other day a long time friend who is married to our former preacher called and asked me to make a sample up of a kindergarten graduation robe. She and her husband go to Honduras on a mission trip every year and are very involved with the mission school there. My friend and others make uniforms for the girls and boys. I was blessed to be able to help make some cute plaid jumpers a few years ago for the mission.
This week I plan to make the graduation robe. The collar for the robe will be the same plaid fabric as the jumper uniforms for the girls.
Maybe I can post some pictures in my next post!
Thanks for reading,
Marla
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Designer Jeans
I spent most of the afternoon today working on my "designer jeans". I'm following along with Angela Wolf's Craftsy class, Sewing Designer Jeans. I'm using her pattern, but modified it quite a bit. The rise was lower than I wanted so I made adjustments there. Then I had to majorly shorten the jeans and I straightened the legs a bit.
I spent quite a bit of time prior to cutting out the denim fitting a muslin. I adjusted and adjusted and sent pictures to Angela Wolf who gave me a couple tips; but said I did a great job and was very close on the fit! That made me feel good! Anyway, so I made some more adjustments and finally cut out my fashion fabric of denim with 2% lycra.
It's pretty time consuming with all the top stitching but I'm taking my time because if this turns out nice, I may enter it in our county fair.
Here is the back of my jeans. I haven't attached the buttons yet:
Thanks for reading,
Marla
I spent quite a bit of time prior to cutting out the denim fitting a muslin. I adjusted and adjusted and sent pictures to Angela Wolf who gave me a couple tips; but said I did a great job and was very close on the fit! That made me feel good! Anyway, so I made some more adjustments and finally cut out my fashion fabric of denim with 2% lycra.
It's pretty time consuming with all the top stitching but I'm taking my time because if this turns out nice, I may enter it in our county fair.
Here is the back of my jeans. I haven't attached the buttons yet:
Thanks for reading,
Marla
Monday, February 17, 2014
Blog Name Change
I decided to change the name of my blog because I am going to end my little sewing business for financial reasons. It's just not worth it financially to sew as a business at this point. I am going to concentrate more on charity type sewing and continue my learning of more advanced sewing techniques.
Because of my decision, I have changed my blog name to "Sew Are the Days with Marla". Ok, so maybe that sounds dorky. Maybe I will change it again, but going with that for now.
I wanted to test my blog and see if all my posts under Cooprider Sewing remained here. It appears they did. So thankful for that!
Anyway, I hope you continue to read my posts. Maybe I will post more often.
I'm finally starting on my jeans. I'm working on the pockets right now! I will try to post some pictures soon.
Thanks for reading and I hope the name change on this blog doesn't confuse you!
Marla
Because of my decision, I have changed my blog name to "Sew Are the Days with Marla". Ok, so maybe that sounds dorky. Maybe I will change it again, but going with that for now.
I wanted to test my blog and see if all my posts under Cooprider Sewing remained here. It appears they did. So thankful for that!
Anyway, I hope you continue to read my posts. Maybe I will post more often.
I'm finally starting on my jeans. I'm working on the pockets right now! I will try to post some pictures soon.
Thanks for reading and I hope the name change on this blog doesn't confuse you!
Marla
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