Two women...Two blogs...One goal

Last week I wrote about meeting the FabricLady and our new adventure into the art of sewing fashion garments. (See My Exciting New "Gig")The FabricLady is Suzan Steinberg, the "daughter" of of Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley. Suzan's new adventure includes a new healthy eating lifestyle and an updated wardrobe. My new adventure is making her new wardrobe using the awesome fabrics from her store. And both of us plan to share the whole experience on each of our blogs.

I used to live near Lake Merritt in Oakland in the late 60's and worked in Berkeley at Cutter Laboratories down on 4th and Parker.  During the week, I did some nasty things to rats, mice and rabbits (which still haunts me) but in the evenings and weekends I sewed hippie dresses and wedding gowns. Despite my middle-America suburban/retirement lifestyle these days, I still feel a warm kinship with the whole Berkeley vibe and love the drive to Stone Mountain. I heard that Chez Panisse just re-opened so me and a couple of foodie friends will be traveling down for lunch after a fitting with Suzan.

Guess who else is happy about my new adventure? Yep, Colette. One of the benefits of sewing for Suzan is that I also pick out gorgeous new fabrics for me (and Colette!). My new fabric of choice for the summer is Linen. Several weeks ago, I picked up a beautiful linen/flax fabric ("Nevada") to make a pair of crop pants. I made the pattern off of pair of Tommy Bahama linen pants that I paid way too much money for.  Colette loves it when I save money by sewing for myself.

This week, I made the same crop pants out of a handkerchief linen with an elastic waist.  Our mothers hated linen because it wrinkled, but we love it for the very same reason! It's cool, breathable and easy to sew - I swear, it took me less than an hour to whip these crop pants up!  I even had Suzan try my "crops" on yesterday, and even though they were too big (Colette and I are a little heftier than Suz) she picked out some linen for a pair for herself.

Please join Suzan and I as we work together to get women sewing again. I've already had several friends drag out their machines, dust them off and start sewing.  And since everyone loves a road trip, the list of  friends that want to go with me "the next time you're going to Stone Mountain" just keeps growing!

Laurel. Colette thinks I should try Suzan's diet:(

Inside Out...

You're making your way through a rack of clothes and you come upon a jacket labeled "Reversible".  Even though it's semi-ugly, the word triggers an automatic response - you can't resist taking it off the rack just to check out the inside. More than likely, if it's tacky on the outside, it's a given that the inside won't be much prettier. Perhaps it's the thriftiness in me, or the creativeness, I'm not sure, but I will always look at the inside, even though I have no intention of buying it. To me, "Reversible" usually means "bulky", "unattractive", or "I would NOT wear THAT on the outside!"

Some things are okay with their insides showing.  I spotted a knitted cowl in a yarn shop that I thought was kind of cute.

"It's reversible", the sales person said, like that fact alone was going to make me want to make it. I took a peak at the inside, and sure enough, the inside actually looked the same as the outside. Bonus! So I immediately purchased a nice soft turquoise wool and sure enough, it's going to be lovely...and reversible!

Some things are meant to be reversible...like a quilt.  When experts judge a quilt, they look at the back of it, just to see and judge the quality of the stitches. When you make a quilt for a bed, the back needs to be just as pretty as the front. I've only made one real bed quilt. I loved designing and sewing the quilt top, but hand quilting turned out to be not so much fun.  My Mom finished it for me. 

The back of an art quilt, on the other hand, doesn't usually show. It just hangs on the wall.  However, the art quilt aficionados will ALWAYS try to lift the quilt to see the back.  The intricacies of the quilted stitches and thread painting are what make art quilts "works of art".  I'm presently working on my second art quilt, inspired by the colors of New Mexico. I am using a multi colored thread in the bobbin, so the back of the quilt is quite interesting on it's own.  I have a long way to go!

Some things are not meant to show their insides...like drawers.

Certain things are sometimes prettier on the inside...like people.  Unfortunately - or maybe not - we often hide our "inside" self to the world, only trotting it out for special people. We are basically vulnerable people, exposing our underbelly to those whom we trust, those whom we love.  We live on the outside, editing our words and curbing our actions to fit in, to be liked, to be okay.

Often, who we are "on the inside" has far more value than we ourselves believe.  In truth, we are complex and messy creatures...a wonderful mish-mash of beauty and ugliness, intelligence and stupidity, grace and clumsiness, generosity and selfishness, creativity and indifference, calm and angst, confidence and insecurity. Inside and out, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made".

Praise the Lord...we are reversible!

Laurel.  Inside Out.

Sharing today with Best Posts of the Week

 

 

A Dress for every little girl...

Young volunteer modeling a recent "creation"!

I love how God subtly leads you someplace unexpected, even on the "evil" Internet. While perusing a local church site, I stumbled upon a ministry opportunity that caught my eye: "Dress a Girl Around the World". The opportunity was to gather with other women who like to sew and make dresses for young girls in impoverished countries.  The idea behind the ministry is that every little girl should own at least one dress. Now there's something I can get behind!

This awesome ministry is a division of Hope 4 Women International, a non-profit organization whose goal is to bring dignity to women around the world, and for every girl to know she is loved and respected from childhood. Volunteers around the country get together on a regular basis and create dresses made from something a ubiquitous as a pillowcase.  Using a little elastic, some double fold bias tape, perhaps some lace and embellishments, you can make the cutest little dresses.  It's quick, it's creative, and it's very rewarding, not to mention having fun and fellowship with other volunteers... Imagine a Saturday morning in a big room filled with laughter and chatting, the hum of sewing machines, the laughter of teens at the assembling and ironing stations -  it was almost like being at an old fashion quilting bee. 

The donated materials for each dress are put into zip lock bags.  Volunteers cut the pillow cases, fabrics, elastic and bias tapes. You add the embellishments if you feel extra creative...

The bias tape is sewn around the armholes and form a little strap

that ties the dress at the shoulders with little bows.

I loved this fabric!

Pockets are added to each dress, not only because they are cute,

but because a new pair of panties are slipped into each pocket. How cool is that!

Hard for me to pass up making a "pink" dress!

The dress hems and casings for the elastic are already folded in the kits,

so all you have to do it sew the hem...I used a decorative stitch on my machine for this hem.



How cute is this???

Or this???!!!

one of the many volunteers showing off her creation!

It was fun to see other people's creativity...

The "Sew Fest" lasted for four hours and I was able to finish two dresses. 

 I started a third, but I had to bring it home to finish. 

I grabbed a couple of kits to work on at home until the next month's Sew fest.

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the children of Africa.  I see the pictures of the little girls and I weep. This ministry is a way for me to actually DO something, rather than just watch their plight on the television. And God knew it was right up my alley!

Check out the Dress a Girl around the World website, and if you're in the Sacramento area, why not join me and the dozens of other women (men are welcome too!!) who want to sew to make a difference in a little girl's life. 

 

The next "sew Fest is scheduled for

Saturday , December 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
(THANKS SUE FOR THE CORRECTION!!)

Bayside Church

Room 418

 

or contact Susan Bushnell

Area Coordinator

at sueb@redshift.com

 



or Sharon Miranda,

Northern California Representative

at mmiranda627@gmail.com

 

 

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Colette and the art quilt

My mini-me Colette has been languishing in the craft room waiting for some attention. I had picked up some nice fabrics in Dallas and Santa Fe to make her some nice frocks, but they remain in a pile in the guest room. Last night, Project Runway Season 10 started and after watching the designer contestants roll out some pretty bizarre pieces, I heard an audible sigh from Colette.

She has good cause to be frustrated. My brain and fingers have been centered on my sewing machine, but alas not for outfits for her.The lure of the new art quilt relegated her to second fiddle again this week, as I worked to finish the applique portion. Despite her quiet glare behind me, I trudged onward. I am pleased that it is completed.

Even today I've made some minor changes since these photos were taken. I will be starting on the "sandwich stage" next, probably using a light cotton batting and a solid backing...then listen for my little Viking purring long into the night doing the machine quilting portion!

So back to Colette...because I felt so bad for her today, being naked and all, I made a little knit top this afternoon out of one of my Dallas fabrics.  This silk knit is feather light and was a little difficult to manage, but the result was good.

love the color...looks so great with turquoise... 

Smile Colette, you're a STAR!!! And because Mommie started walking this week, she may end up ratcheting your boobs down a notch or two in a few months!

Laurel. At least you can actually wear my stuff, Project Runway!

One thing leads to another: Art Quilt #2

It's funny how one trip to New Mexico and Arizona can inspire my artistic leanings. I absolutely loved all that Terracotta colored scenery against the blue skies.  We visited a Native American Pueblo in Taos, as I was on a mission to do an Ancil Adams photography shoot of my own.

After seeing all those adobe buildings, I decided that I would paint our fireplace when we got home.  Our house is Spanish style and I thought the colors of the Sedona landscape would perk up our den.

I love how it turned out, but as I glanced around the room, I found that the large framed print on the wall to the left of the fireplace was old and I was tired of looking at it...

Which led to..."hey, I think I'll do another art quilt".  Since this room is more "Dave's Man-Cave", I consulted with my "client" and he agreed on a Southwest Pueblo theme. So here we go...

First things first...the design on muslin.  Then shopping for specific fabrics to round out my color palette.  I work top down, so I'm starting with the sky...a storm is brewing over the Pueblo.  Not sure it's right yet, so I'll keep messing with it.

I'll keep you posted....

Meanwhile, poor Collette is staring at the art quilt scraps with jealousy...awaiting her turn to wear all the yummy fabrics I bought in Dallas and Santa Fe.

Laurel.  Being Creative means never having to say you're sorry.

Joyous week

I think I'm busier in retirement then I ever was crunching numbers, forming subsidiaries, teaching investing and running health plans. In those days I never seemed to have enough time to do anything creative and I was stressed out all the time.

It's been over four years since I said adios to the corporate world, and though there is a never ending list of things to accomplish, the list of stuff is fun and gratifying.

And I had an awesome week!!! For my bank account, not so much...

Monday:

I went to a CAbi party.  If you don't know CAbi, it a line of clothes by Carol Anderson that she markets at showings in homes.  Carol got her start designing dresses for Nordstrom, and everyone I knew had a Carol Anderson dress.  Anyway, her clothes are very trendy these days, and I am a sucker for them at her twice yearly showings.  The best part about a CAbi party is that you can try everything on before you buy, with your friends standing by with their critiques!

See Cabi stuff at http://www.cabionline.com/collection/clothes/

Tuesday:

I knitted with my group.  We meet at a coffee shop and sit in a giant circle and sip and knit...and of course, talk, share, show and tell, teach, laugh, etc.  I love these gals!  I'm working on a top for our road trip...do you think it will go with those CAbi pants I bought? The yarn is made from sugar cane.

Wednesday:

I had an appointment with Brenda Azevedo at Just B Cosmetics to have some custom makeup made just for me! It was amazing watching her make my foundation and lipstick.  And I really appreciated her makeup hints and application techniques. These fabulous foundations, pencils, lipsticks, eye shadows, etc. are more economical than the Lancome and Chanel products in the department stores and they don't have a lot of "extra" ingredients...just stuff that's good for your skin! If you live in the Sacramento region, make an appointment!

 

Thursday:

I took a class from Laura at my favorite vintage shop, The Vintage Bricoleur, on making flowers.  I had seen these adorable vintage rose pins at the shop, and Terry, the owner, let me know that there was a class if I wanted to sign up.  Bottom line, the flowers were easy to make and I had a wonderful time sitting around the table, talking and laughing. Are they not just the sweetest things?

And Friday?

I FINALLY BOUGHT A DRESS FORM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have been wanting a professional dress form for years, but the really nice ones are a little pricey.  I did a lot of research into various models on the Internet (I even blogged about a hilarious customer review about a particular brand of dress form).  I considered the cheaper ones that they offer in the local fabric stores. But being hooked on Project Runway, I wanted the "real" dress form that the designers use. So yesterday, I broke the bank and went for it!

What a great week! Can't you just see me now...all made up, flowers in my hair, fabulous lemony jeans with my hand knit sweater on, huddled over my sewing machine making a fabulous new outfit that I designed on my new "doll", as the hubby calls it.  Guess I'll have to name her.

I'm accepting suggestions...let's do a contest.  You pick the perfect name for my dress form and I'll send you a flower!!!  LOL!

Laurel. Life is good!

Kate Spade? I'd rather make one...

I can give you two reasons why I hate buying purses: 1) They really nice ones are very expensive and 2) you can never find one that is just the right size with just the right "pockets", for just the right amount of money. Several years ago a friend gave me a little cloth handbag that she had custom ordered on the Internet (I would give credit if I knew who designed it - maybe my friend  could add a comment to tell you where she got it??).  I love the bag's simplicity of design and have used it on and off through many seasons. I love that I can sling it over my shoulders, and that it is soft, light-weight, not too big and zipper-free. And, I threw it in the washer and dryer!

Being the seamstress that I am, I decided that I could easily make a pattern for myself.  So far, I have experimented with the size and used different materials and fabrics.  It's very easy to construct, so I thought I would share the steps with you and you can make your own.

Here is the latest one I finished this week, just so you can see how cute thay can be by adding your own personal flair:

Got the directions for this flower off You Tube:)

I used a coordinating fabric for the lining

You can make one of these in a few hours. My directions below are for this black synthetic snakeskin bag I made last week.  It's a little bigger than the polka-dot bag above, but the idea is the same. Note of caution for this "quasi-tutorial": the directions below are not as detailed as a beginning seamstress would need, but if you've sewn a lot, you can probably figure out how to make this "box" shaped bag anyway, without any help from me.

You need an outer fabric and a lining fabric. Cut 2 rectangles approximately 16" X 32", one with the outer bag fabric, and one for the coordinating lining.  You can vary the size , depending on how big you want your handbag to be.  You will also need 2 strips 4" X 24" of your outer fabric to make the straps. Again you can vary the length depending on how you like to carry your purse - over the shoulder, dangling on your arm or hanging at your sides.

Sew the lining "box" first: Begin by making the "pockets" to attach to the inside of the lining.  These pockets are for your important, "got to have it now"stuff and can be any size and depth.  My finished pocket strip is about 7" X 14" and is attached to the lining fabric about 3" below the top of the purse.  I divided the strip into three individual poskets, for my cell phone, pens, etc.  Once your pocket is attached, fold the lining in half, right sides together and sew up the side seams, leaving the top open.

Form the bottom of the "box" purse by forming a 90 degree triangle with the bottom folded edge at the tip.  I wanted the bottom of my purse to be about 4" across. Sew across the triangle and then trim the triangle off.

The Lining of the purse looks like this.  I did attach some stiff interfacing to the lining before I sewed the side seams and bottom.  You can add fusable interfacing or batting to either the lining or the actual outer fabric to give your purse a little more body - just depends on the fabrics you use and how stiff you want the shape to be.

The purse lining "box" shape

Construct the outer purse fabric "box" in the same way as the lining.

Make the straps:  After sewing and turning my straps right side out, I did finish them with a couple of rows of stitching on the edges. Attach each strap to the right side of the fabric at the top opening, in the front and back of the outer purse fabric, adjusting the length as desired.

Cut another strip of lining or other coordinating fabric to create a "facing" for the top edge of the purse. My facing was about 4" X 32ish", folded in half, and I interfaced it to give the top opening a little more stability.

Attach the selvage edges of the facing strip to the top edge of the purse, right sides together and stitch it down. Turn facing to the inside of the purse opening and stitch down. Insert the lining "box" inside the purse "box" and tuck the top edge of the lining underneath the facing and whip stitch the facing down to the lining.

Complete! Lot's of room, easy to get to everything!  Love it!

Finished purse - I made the little flower using the right and wrong sides of the fabric

Laurel.  Happy "Bagging":)