Resolutions

Do you make New Year's Resolutions?  I don't usually because even though I have great intentions, about the second or third week of January, I break them!

I decided several years ago not to make unrealistic resolutions, but just strive to do the best I can with God's help!

But I do have some good intentions for 2013 when it comes to sewing!  I intend to do more sewing and learn some new techniques.  I've signed up for several sewing classes through Craftsy.com and have thoroughly enjoyed the ones I've actually viewed clear through!  The good news is that I can watch them whenever I want and as often as I like!

I'm still intending to finish that jacket that I started!  Life gets in the way sometimes, but I'm determined to finish it one of these days!  I have my muslin all taken apart ready to start cutting out the fashion fabric.  I may interline this jacket and maybe line it, even though it's an unlined jacket.  Several ladies on Patternreview.com suggest lining it.  I just haven't decided yet.  It might be neat to use a Hong Kong finish to the seams or I might even do what the Vogue Pattern suggests!  Hmmm.  Stay tuned.

I also have good intentions of learning more about heirloom sewing.  I agreed to being the chairperson for the open class sewing at our county fair this next year.  So maybe I will enter at least one or two heirloom projects this next summer?  Hmmm.  We'll see!  Maybe, just maybe I'll enter that jacket too?

I've been feeling so conflicted this past year or so trying to decide whether I should concentrate on heirloom or couture sewing.  Then I stumbled on the cutest book I've ever seen called Sew Cute Couture by Gail Doane.  I just have to make one of these adorable outfits someday!  Here's a picture of the book:

We'll see how many of my good intentions come to pass!  I hope you have a wonderful new year!

Thanks for reading.

Marla

Organization of Patterns

The new year will soon be upon us.  This gets me thinking I need to be more organized.  Happens every year about this time.

Does anyone else out there in sewing land ever buy duplicates of patterns?  I have a few times.  Thinking I need to inventory all my patterns. About a year or so ago (about this time of year), I started typing in information in one of those pattern inventory programs but then got distracted, by all things, sewing. I only got through one container of patterns.  I probably only have about 10-12 more containers of patterns to go through yet.

Maybe after Christmas I will think about finishing.  One can always hope anyway. ;)

If I don't post again before Christmas I wish you all a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

Marla

More Lace!

I keep acquiring lace!  My former preacher's wife had a ton of lace that she had acquired and she gave me some more.  Maybe I will find a use for some of it as I'm wanting to do some more heirloom sewing one of these days! Here's my latest stash of lace:

It's not the greatest picture, but there's white laces, ivory, mint green, pink, burgandy, brown, etc.

I need one or two of those large plastic containers to store all the lace I now have.  I think I'd like to organize more and keep according to colors too.

I'll probably never use all this lace so eventually may give some away!


I really am beginning to feel like I own a fabric store in my basement! :)

Have a great day!

Marla

New Computer Up and Running; New Craftsy Classes

We got a new computer because the old one gave up the ghost finally.  So glad my hubby knows quite a bit about computers!  It was a challenge because this computer has Windows 8 and way different than Windows XP that we had installed on our old one!

Anyway, dear hubby got it going and got my software for my embroidery installed this afternoon.  Now in my spare time (cough, cough), I need to play with the programs.  It includes a program called Corel for drawing that is completely foreign to me!

On a different note, I signed up for some more online sewing classes through Craftsy!  They are running a sale through November 26 for $19.99 for all classes.  That's a really great deal!  Craftsy has all kinds of classes for lots of different types of crafts.  You can check them out at www.craftsy.com.  I don't make anything for mentioning this.  I just absolutely love their classes!  I can watch them whenever I want and however many times I want!  A lot of the sewing classes include a pattern, too, which makes the deal even better.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Marla

Beginnings of a Jacket Made the Susan Khalje Way

A couple days ago I began the process of making a jacket for myself.  I signed up for an online sewing class called The Couture Dress by Susan Khalje, who is renowned in the world of couture sewing.  This class is offered at www.craftsy.com, if interested.  I have signed up for several sewing classes through Craftsy and am I  really enjoying them.

I've been sewing for decades, but no formal training other than my mother, wonderful Home Economics teachers in school and years of experience sewing.  I have so much at my disposal now for training with online resources as well as books.

The process of making this jacket is detailed and time consuming; but in the end I feel it will be well worth it!

I'll try to post information along the way.  I altered my pattern to hopefully fit better using the pivot and slide method.  I recommend Nancy Zieman's Pattern Fitting with Confidence if unfamiliar with this way of altering patterns.

I marked the stitching lines on the pattern pieces and then pinned and roughly cut out the pattern pieces out of muslin.  Now I am ready to begin tracing the stitching lines onto the muslin pieces.  After I do that, I will "thread trace" all the stitching lines.  I'll post more about that later.

Here's a couple pictures:

 This is the fashion fabric.  It's olive green gabardine.  I ended up getting wooden buttons.

Here's the pattern pieces roughly cut out of muslin and ready to trace the stitching lines onto the muslin.


Thanks for reading.  Hope your weekend is going well!

Marla

Lace Find

Yesterday I received a call from our former preacher that their church was having a garage sale to raise money for their food pantry.  He told me there was a box full of lace that I might be interested in purchasing. So I ran over there right away and bought this very large box of laces and also bought yards of lace fabric that could be used for curtains or perhaps a tablecloth.  I got a very good deal and also helped a local food pantry!

Here's a picture of some of the lace:

There are all sorts of colors of lace including pink, red, black, peach, and of course white!

Maybe some of this will come in handy for some heirloom dresses one day!

Thanks for reading.

Marla

Hemming Tapered Slacks

Right now I'm hemming up several slacks for my dad.  Seems like a lot of slacks are tapered.  I have come to the conclusion that the fashion industry should not make tapered slacks...at least not for shorter people.  Sometimes I have to shorten slacks by 4-5 inches for customers.  When they are tapered, it involves adjusting the side seams at the hem.  It's not hard, just another step.

Therefore, I say there should be a law that there be only straight leg slacks for short people.  Besides I think straight leg slacks are more flattering for us.  :)

On another note, I'm missing my Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 this week.  I took it in to have a cleaning and inspection.  I get a free cleaning the first year, so thought I better take advantage of it.  Thankfully, I have a back-up machine that I can use for now.  It's my cute little Janome 4030.  It does a nice job for a basic machine.

One of these days, I'm going to finish up that tiered skirt.  I just need to put in the zipper and finish the waist with some twill tape.  Then I'm going to crinkle it by wetting it, wadding it up and drying it.  I really hope it draws in the fullness.  It's a learning process sometimes for even someone like me who has sewn for years.  If I EVER make another skirt like this, I'm going to use rayon batik and I'm not going to gather the tiers up so much.

We learn along the way...

Marla

Alterations

I'm taking a break from my tiered skirt to do a few alterations for my dad and brother.  Hemming slacks and cutting off shirt sleeves to make them into short sleeved shirts.

Once I get those done, I plan to get back to work on this skirt.  This skirt is reminding me of some square dance skirts and dresses that I own.  Yes, we used to square dance!  It was fun and great exercise.

I found my square dance skirts and dresses in a closet along with some petticoats.  We even drug our kids to square dance lessons, so I have my daughter's petticoat, etc. stashed away.

This skirt is so full.  I really hope once I wet it down and crinkle it in the dryer that it will draw some of the fullness up!  Otherwise, I'm going to sell it as a square dance skirt someday!

Marla

Former Home Economics Teacher Passes Away

I'd like to dedicate this post to a dear former Home Economics teacher, Miss Pat Selsor, who passed away September 30, 2012.

Miss Selsor made a tremendous impact on all her students.  She was one of the most patient persons I have ever known.  She never raised her voice to her students.  She had a gentle, quiet spirit.  She taught her students much more than how to cook and sew.  She taught valuable life lessons on how to treat others.

I remember a specific day when I was sewing and I had to rip out a seam.  I was just having a lot of trouble ripping it out and was really getting frustrated!  Finally, I went up to Miss Selsor and asked if she could help me.  She very willingly took the stitches out for me!  It was her patience and willingness to serve others that impressed me so much.

Miss Selsor, thank you for your servant's heart.  You will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved you!

In loving memory,

Marla

Tiered Skirt

Hello,

I've been working on a tiered, gathered skirt lately.  There's a lot of gathering!  

I'm not sure I'm going to like it on me but I'm not finished yet.  I have one more tier to gather and add to the bottom.  Then put in a zipper and waistband.  I'm going to crinkle it by wetting it down, wadding it up and drying once I finish the construction.   Maybe then it won't be so full.  I hope anyway.  I've never made one of these skirts.  (It may be my last!)

I hope to make a jacket to go with it eventually.  The jacket will be an olive green like in the material for the skirt.

Do you ever start a project and then decide you may not like it?  I'm going to finish this one even if I decide I don't want to wear it!  Maybe if I don't wear it, someone else might enjoy it.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Marla

Sewing Room; Embroidery

Hello again,

My sewing room is almost finished.  My dear hubby just has to finish up the closet.  He ripped out some carpet and installed laminate in there.  But we need to trim it out yet...someday.

Once that's done I can finally get everything cleaned up and better organized.  Ok, who are we kidding here?  If it's clean and organized that means I'm not sewing!  The two just don't go together with me!

To my defense, I have had some sewing jobs, so I haven't been able to organize like I really want.  I'm doing some embroidery work for a couple people and having to once again figure out my software.  I need to embroider more often so I remember what I'm doing.

Here's some pictures of my (messy) sewing room:

This is my beloved Janome Memory Craft Horizon 12000.  I still have so much to learn about its capabilities.  I've been working at the computer so books and papers everywhere.  I didn't take time to clean up before taking this picture!

 Love having a nice bookcase for all my sewing books, etc.  Some of the containers will hopefully go in the closet to the right of the bookcase once we're done with the trim...someday!

My cutting table.  Unfortunately, at the moment a printer is sitting there and some thread.  I hope to relocate those things off this table.  I'm in a middle of some personal sewing between jobs for customers.  Again, I didn't clean up.  But now you know how it really is most of the time! ;)

Well, this area is a little tidier.  This is my little back up machine and serger.

I have another corner with a rack of threads, but this gives you an idea of my new sewing room.  Still need to organize but that's a continual thing with me!

Happy sewing,

Marla

Heirloom Dress Gets Reserve Champion

Hi,
I entered my heirloom baby dress in our county's fair in Open Class.  I was very excited to find that I got a Reserve Champion!  I was up against a former high school choir teacher who has been sewing for many years and does heirloom sewing.  She received the well deserved Champion ribbon for her beautiful little baby dress and coordinating coat!  She spent countless hours making both pieces!

I'm already thinking I may enter something in next year's fair.  The hard part is figuring out what to make!

Have a great day,

Marla

Hello everyone,
Sorry, I haven't posted anything in the longest time!  But I've been very busy sewing.  I'm learning heirloom sewing and very excited!  I just finished my first heirloom baby dress.  The pattern is by Michie Mooney.  The dress is from pattern #104 and is called a Dress Yoke-Overlay.  I'm learning to smock and also learning how to do Shadow Work Embroidery.

Below is a photo of the completed dress.  Several ladies on Martha Pullen's sewing forum encouraged me to enter this dress in my county fair in Open Class.  That will be the middle of July.  I've never entered any of my sewing creations.  I'm up against a lady who has more experience in heirloom sewing, therefore, I will be happy if I get a blue ribbon!

The first picture is a close up of the smocking and Shadow Work Embroidery before dress was complete and then the second picture is of the completed dress.

I hope you are doing well this summer.  It was 104 degrees in the Indianapolis area today!  Whew!

Thanks for reading,


Marla

Another sewing machine and cabinet

Hello,
A lot has happened since my last post.  I've been busy taking some online sewing classes through Craftsy.com.  I'm feeling conflicted on which direction to take my sewing.  I am very intrigued with learning more about heirloom sewing; but also want to learn more about couture sewing.  They both are related in some respects.  Both can involve a lot of fine hand sewing.

Also, sewing machines and sewing cabinets seem to be coming my way lately.  Sew Vac Central went out of business and I acquired an older sewing cabinet very cheap through the owner.  I gave that one to my sister.  However, a friend had an old sewing cabinet with an older Kenmore machine.  I'm keeping that one.  My husband, Scott, has been cleaning and oiling the machine.  The cabinet is in pretty good shape but think I'll lightly sand it and put a couple coats of polyurethane on it...someday...in my spare time! :)

Scott has cleaned and worked on my Rex industrial machine.  It sure is powerful with a 4.0 horsepower motor!  "Rex" is intimidating me presently.  But I will practice (carefully) and maybe eventually not be so scared to use him!  The little Kenmore is just 1.2 horsepower in comparison; but I think "Ken" will be nice for some heavy duty work for customers.  (Yes, I'm starting to name my machines!)
I also have a couple treadle sewing machines and cabinets waiting to be restored SOMEDAY...in my spare time! :)

As far as sewing projects, I've made several Bow Tucks Bags and a tote bag for my daughter between sewing jobs for others.

Below are some pictures.

Thanks for reading,
Marla

Scott working on the bobbin winder on the Kenmore machine.  This machine was manufactured in either 1968 or 1969.

 Rex, my industrial machine.  He is powerful! This model is no longer made, so hope he lasts long enough for his intended purpose to help my brother make new upholstery for the seats in his antique car someday! Scott installed a rheostat on it to slow it down a bit for me and also reworked some wiring so the light can come on separately from the motor.  This is a serious machine!

Bow Tucks Bag I made for my daughter.  The lining is same as the trim on the outside pocket.  The bottom of the bag as well as the outside pocket are quilted.

Tote bag I made for my daughter.  The lighting wasn't right for this photo.  The colors are really lighter.  It's teal and dark brown but not this dark brown. It's hard to see in this photo, but I monogrammed it.  I used my beloved Janome 12000 for this project.  :)

Remodeling Basement With Changes to Sewing Area

Hello,
It's been quite awhile since I last posted here!  It's been a busy winter!  I'm finally getting back to some sewing after a trip to Cancun, battling a nasty cold, and a couple family obligations.  I was beginning to have major withdrawal symptoms.

We are currently remodeling our basement which includes changes to my sewing area.  These changes will be good, I think!

I recently bought another little Janome as a back-up to my new Janome 12000.  It's a cute little machine yet very quiet and powerful.

Here's a picture of my new little Janome DC 4030:

Have a wonderful day,

Marla

Quilted Casserole Cover and Bow Tucks Purse

Hello,
I finally finished a quilted casserole cover that I started a few months ago!

Here are some pictures:

 This is the casserole when folded and buttoned...front side.

 This is the back side when folded.

 This is the front side opened out.

And this is the back side opened out.  It has a couple pockets that are buttoned on one corner.  Utensils may be stored in these.

Also, I made a Bow Tucks Purse.  Below are pictures of it:

 Front with a pocket.

 Side view. The sides can be loosened with the bow.

Inside has lots of pocketx.

I hope to make more of the Bow Tucks Purse with other fabrics.  There is a smaller version called Mini Bow Tucks.  I plan to make that one sometime too!

I'm really interested in heirloom sewing and hope to make a little girl's heirloom dress someday!

There's always something to make!

Have a great weekend,

Marla

Sewing Jobs

Hello followers!  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's time to get back into a routine now that the holidays are over.  I've had a couple sewing jobs and at least two more coming.

I recently purchased the Janome 12000 and so far I'm loving it!  It does a wonderful job.  I started a quilted casserole cover a few months ago now, but I'm determined to finish it between jobs!

I keep ordering patterns for babies and little girls through Martha Pullen's website.  I don't have any grandchildren but for some reason I love sewing for babies and little girls!

Next week I'm going to get back into my routine, hopefully, and get much sewing accomplished!

Perhaps you have a hobby or craft you're itching to get back to working on after the holidays too!  I feel a sense of accomplishment when I finally finish a project!  How about you?

Have a great weekend!

Marla