Presents in July!

I'm copying this directly from roadyjane.blogspot.com.

Here's how it works. The first five people to leave a comment on this post will get something from me. But in return, you have to do the same thing on your blog and make something for five other people.

The details are as follows, and if you want to play, copy the following onto your blog and leave me a post:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something strange.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you.It's easy, right? I mean, you can do just about anything.
I'm not opposed to shipping overseas.

I just LOVE presents!

Summer Reading

Just picked up the new book The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. My all time favorite book is The Shadow of the Wind by this same author. If you've never read it, you should! When I read that he has this new book out, I knew I had to get it. For once, I can't wait to sit out at baseball pratice for 2 hours so I can start reading! I'll let you know how I like it . . .

Long Time No Blog

Wow! It's been a long time since I've last blogged. I've been busy! My husband retired from the Navy and my son graduated from high school - sniffle, sniffle! I was crazy busy planning these events but I did make some cool stuff - several tops and a dress.

This is a horrible picture of me in particular so I'm leaving it small - but the dress was from BWOF and my daughter's dress was a made from an embroidered cotton - pattern # to following since I can't seem to find it now!

For the graduation I made a top from a very pretty purple colored silk twill. I loved the color and the pattern is Simplicity #0508. Hard to tell in this picture, but it's a simple pullover top.

I've also recently made a sheer tunic from a previous BWOF that l like very much too! It's a lime green print with purple acorns and white branches - picture to follow!

And the most exciting news of all is that I got an iPhone for Mother's Day! Now normally I return whatever expensive gift they give me, but not this time! Darling husband was probably hoping I would, but nope, not this time. I LOVE THIS PHONE! It's amazing. I can read all the wonderful blogs I follow and check out pattern review any time I want - even when I'm waiting in the carpool line or sitting out at a baseball practice. I instantly get my e-mails, have my shopping list, calendar, and can even search recipes all while waiting on someone to finish something. My geographical location is recognized by the phone and then it tells me what restaurants, movie theaters, and gas stations are available. It can even tell me the healthiest options at the restaurant I chose and when I'm done, it figures out the tip! It tells me how fast I take my walks, how many calories I've burned and how far I've gone. The kids and I are going geocaching all with my phone! AND, it's an iPod too! Who's the cool techno mom, um that would be ME! I can even BLOG from my PHONE! I'll try that later!

Time to figure out my next project and hopefully document it a little easier as I go. Happy sewing!

Finished purse!

I finished the purse! Here it is in various stages. I used plastic canvas to give it shape and stability and sewed a strip of the zebra print to the handle. I added purse feet so it would stand nicely and voila - the finished purse. It does have a zippered closure as well as the magnetic flap and the lining has a zippered pocket too. It went together pretty quickly and although I used the BWOF 02-2009 issue as starting point, I did not follow their directions and made additions as I saw fit - like the pocket and the zippers and the feet, and I did not make the straps as long as theirs nor did I make them adjustable. My straps measure about 24 inches, which made for a comfortable hanging height on me. I like the shape, so I may end up making more - it was easier than I thought it would be and it was fun! Next I'm working on a dress from the same BWOF issue. Tomorrow I make a duct tape double in a class. Happy sewing!

Purse project

SEW I'm starting on a purse to use up some of my stash. I had bought some zebra and giraffe print wool last September thinking I would make purses for my nieces for Christmas and that never happened (shocker I know!) so now that I'm cleaning out my sewing room I am actually using the stuff I'm finding buried under other stuff. Here's a picture so far - I'm using the Feb. 2009 BWOF purse pattern as a starting point, but adding my own ideas as I go.

I used a celery ultrasuede instead of leather and a periwinkle blue silk for the piping. I'm adding a zipper to the top because I always spill the contents of my purse when I slam on my brakes (which hardly ever happens! - but I want to be prepared just in case). I'm lining it with a celery rayon and have added purse feet (I have no idea what they are actually called) but they look like little studs sticking out of the bottom. A girl should always have studs sticking out of her purse don't you think? I am also including a tab with a magnetic closure because most of the time I won't zip it closed but would like stuff to stay in anyway. More pictures to follow!

Cinderella?

The fabric store I work in has mice! They've been there a couple of weeks now and come out every now and then to scare the living beejeezes out of me and then dart back off into the store room. It freaked me out at first, but I'm getting more used to it. I find it kind of funny that a fabric store has mice, the whole Cinderella thing comes to mind - what are they making a dress in the dark abyss of the store room? If so, just where's that damn fairy godmother when you need her?!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, happy Valentine's day one and all! Hope everyone is spending the day with the ones they love. Once again, this has nothing to do with sewing, but it is my blog so I guess anything goes! I spent most of the day in my pj's, which was truly delightful! My 17 year old son left for a weekend trip which has made it pretty quiet and lonely around here, but at least he did give me a hug and kiss and wish me a happy Valentine's day before he left. My darling husband politely suggested it to him though, so I'm feeling the blues as our oldest is quickly nearing the time when he will fly the coop. My mom always said I would never know how painful that is until it happens to me, and she was of course 100% right! I did fix a nice dinner and husband, 1o year old daughter, 9 year old son and I had a quiet candle lit dinner for four. Thought about going down to the dungeon and digging in some more on the sewing room, but energy level is low on this cold, dreary Colorado day. To make matters worse, the USA channel has shown non-stop love movies all day and I got started watching "The Breakup" with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. What a waste of 2 hours! The title sums it all up - no happy endings here. Geesh! Couldn't they have at least picked the sappy ones where everyone lives happily ever after? It's Valentine's Day for crying out loud!