Completed!

After the meeting when I issued the dare, I went to my office and made up a list of things that ought to be completed.  The list was VERY long.  Very long.

When the month was over I had accomplished a surprising amount.  Not a LOT of what I had written....that list remains long and will probably always be...but a lot of productive work none the less.  Here it is in no particular order.....

This small panel of flowers was put together back when Cursed Quilt did  hexagons and by behest.  You can see that these AREN'T hexagons but go together with the same technique.  I have a little template set that I bought and used up bits of a jelly roll of solids.  As an exploration it was productive but then just sat around as it is both an odd size and an odd shape.  For Completion, I decided on borders and an eventual home: my Mother-in-Law's house as Christmas Present.  I love the way it turned out with a few exceptions I will NOT mention. ;)

Here are a few of the flower center details that I like.  All in all, a pleasing completion and one fewer thing in my multiple work boxes!

I also finished the "Presentation Cases" (which are pillowcases, really) for our Quilts of Valor which are nearly ready for sending out!  WooHoo.

I also made a variety of other pillowcases (with help from Nicole and Karen) that got sent off for donation.  31 in all not counting the QofV ones.  I hope they find good homes.

Now the last thing I have to report is that this Dare has done what nothing else has been able to do in more than a year....get me back to WORK.  Here is a pictorial (and not a good one at that) of what I accomplished in the month...a work that continues, I am pleased to report.


10 Dresses, all new draft or first check patterns (plus a skirt and top.) In the pattern pic, the top row are checks, the middle are new drafts during the month and the bottom are new drafts since the end of the month to show how the work continues. I will post the dresses on my blog someday soon so you can see the details (and prices) but since the Holidays are upon us, I think that can wait. Besides, I have a quilt to bind, a pattern to check and at least two more designs to draft! (And I have already put in one zipper for December!) k.

Liz's Introduction and Finished Projects

Liz here. So, introductions first?

My mother was a sewer. Growing up, she made most of our clothes--I remember matching strawberry-print sundresses made for me and my two sisters particularly well--and all of our Halloween costumes. I understood the principles of sewing, but never had much interest in actually sewing myself because my mom just did it better. (Being a perfectionist has it price since I never wanted to try something new if I thought I'd be bad at it.) She did force me to help her sew my pioneer skirt and matching bonnet for our Stake's pioneer-themed Youth Conference when I was 14. But it wasn't until my junior year of high school, when I was faced with an open spot for an elective class, that I decided that sewing might be fun. I took two clothing classes in which I made everything from pillows to simple pajamas pants and skirts to dresses and even a fully lined jacket. I really enjoyed my clothing classes and my mom even gave me her ancient Singer sewing machine (okay, it was really only from the 70s) which weighed approximately 50 pounds. But college derailed my sewing endeavors. I never learned how to use my mom's old machine and grew tired of lugging it from one apartment to the next so I gave it to my sister (a move I still regret, especially since my sister doesn't sew). So I didn't sew for nearly ten years. I had been thinking about buying a simple machine and picking up the hobby again right around the time that Kimberly announced the quilt group. That was all the impetus I needed (that, and Dongdaemun) to start me on my new sewing craze. I love having a creative outlet and I really enjoy making things for my family and others to enjoy.

Zara has two cousins (and 3 second cousins) who were born within a month of her. My brother and his wife welcomed their first baby--a girl--on August 24th. Zara followed a week later on August 31st and my sister had her third child--her second boy--on September 21st. (And my other sister just announced that she's expecting her second next year.) So for Christmas this year I decided to make everyone a diaper and wipes case. I used a tutorial from Make It and Love It, one of my favorite crafty sites. It's not the best tutorial, but now that I've made so many of these things, I can whip them out in under an hour. I love quick and easy projects that can be finished in a day.

These don't use a lot of fabric so they're a simple project to do with your scraps or other fun fabrics that you're not quite sure what to do with yet. I made the one on the right side for myself. I just couldn't help myself.

The insides. I actually started working on these quite some time ago (I did the one in the center during the summer) but I had just never finished them. But I was motivated after our last meeting, and so I finished them all last week and they've now been mailed off to their intended recipients.

Well, I had so much fun finishing that project (finally!) that I decided I wanted to do another quick and easy project. And since I've got this really adorable little baby now, who's suddenly very interested in grabbing and holding onto things and shoving them into her mouth, I wanted to do some simple toys she could play with.

So I turned to Make It and Love It once again and found tutorials for cloth blocks and cloth teething rings.

I made 6 inch, 5 inch, 4 inch, and 3 inch blocks using lots of fun, vibrant fabrics. The 3 and 4 inch blocks are easier for Zara to hold and play with now.

Here she is with her 3-inch block clutched tightly in her hands on its way to her mouth. Next up, the cloth baby rings. These were another pretty quick project, but I think I stuffed them with just a little too much fabric because they were kinda a pain to sew together.

Luckily, black fabric hides a multitude of sins.


And Zara certainly doesn't seem to mind my less-than-perfect sewing projects.

She's just that awesome. Also, she really will stick anything into her mouth. At least these are easy to wash.

December's Dare: Zippers!

At today's meeting we had a great time showing off the things we completed.  I am afraid I exposed myself as a "show-off" but I am so delighted to have some things finished!  (I will post my personal entry soon.) 

In our discussion last month we decided that we all need a refresher in zippers, so we did a little example and talked about what seems to go wrong (and a few ideas on how to fix them.)  What do you think of our fabric choices?

The first revelatory idea was that the edge of the zipper does not HAVE to start at the edge of the item.  (see the pic here!)  No one can get the stitching perfectly straight while working around the bulky tab.

We also talked about different pinning techniques, basting and even using a glue stick (suggestion from HERE.)  (This linked blog also includes a hilarious pep talk about how you can do it...and how the zipper foot isn't as intimidating as you might think....)

Other ideas include using 1/2 inch tape down the right side of the garment/item to give you a 1/4 stitching guide on either side of a centrally placed zipper, not waiting until the very end to put the zipper in to minimize chances for catching other parts of the item and having to pick out, etc.

There is a great list of tutorials available online HERE  Note the date, however.  This list was made years ago, so there may be a number of other great tutorials on YouTube etc at your fingertips by simply searching for "zipper sew tutorial."  :)  We actually watched THIS which does a nice job of explaining how to do (at least the first part) a "lapped" zipper (shown on the left) in contrast to a centered application.  This sample is the first time I ever tried it and the tutorial was very helpful!

So, amid all your other adventures this Holiday Season, we dare you to put a zipper in something...anything.  That is all. k.

Not Sew Daring

Here I am at last.  My mom took a lot of home ec classes in high school and still has/uses the sewing machine she got (used) as a young adult.  She didn't often have time to sew, as she worked full time, but stated she was a "pretty" sewer, meaning she sewed neatly and properly, which is true.  I had an interest in sewing as a child, and would "help" her a bit, then took my one and only home ec class in high school.  I made a few dresses that I wore, on which she would usually have to fix the tricky parts for me.  Since then I have been interested in sewing more, but only have dabbled a little in it, and made an occasional thing or two, but more often just mending or hemming as needed.  This group is great for me to get out of the funk and have motivation to actually do something.  I am still not a "pretty" sewer like my mom, but maybe with more practice... 

I'm finding that sewing with a pattern (i.e. McCalls, Butterick, etc.) is much like learning to read music to play the piano - a lot more work, time, effort and tedium (yet seems like the "proper" way to go).  Whereas, following a simple tutorial or youtube video to make something fun (or remake something) is more like sitting down at a piano and picking out a tune, or for the really gifted, truly learning to "play by ear".  It is instantly rewarding, or nearly so, without all the turmoil of cutting out a pattern and all that.  I've been learning the past couple of years that it is more rewarding to shift from the "pattern" mindset to finding something simple and fun that I want to do, and using cute fabric to do it.  This way, I am breaking the "mental block" I've had about sewing, because it seems like so much less of a chore. 

Sew, with this past month's challenge, I vowed to actually finish something.  Oh, the guilt I carry for projects unfinished, nice fabric unused, and on and on.  Three homes ago, I bought some inexpensive (from Walmart) curtain panels and hung them in our home.  They have a tapestry look about them and I really liked them.  We sold the house to a couple of young male punks and I feared that all my heart and soul that I had poured into the house would get thrown in the trash, so I took all the curtains throughout the house with me, and have lamented it ever since, wondering if I would ever have occasion to use them again.  Not really.  Every "home" (or army quarters) is different, and we've only used one panel on one window since, so I've been kicking myself that we move or store this extra weight without using it.  But alas, we bought a new mattress before coming to Korea, and so had no need for our 4" memory foam mattress topper anymore.  I drug it with us here (it is heavy) and the plan was to cut it into chunks and make big pillows out of the curtain panels to stuff it into, since we couldn't really bring our giant bean bag that hubby and the boys like to wrestle on.  I needed no pattern.  I just cut one of the panels in two, and sewed it up (leaving a hole to stuff, then hand sewed that closed).  It took many hours to cut up the foam, but the sewing really didn't take long.  One is complete, and the next just needs to be stuffed and finished by hand.  I may have enough foam to do a third pillow/bean bag.

Sage Green Vintage

I can't remember if I mentioned this, but I collect vintage clothing. Every few years I go through a phase where I do a lot of buying, whether at Thrift Stores or eBay and renew my collection with fun things to wear. This dress was purchased at the tail end of my last eBay buying spree, more than a year ago. I had it cleaned and it has been hanging since then....because, while I love vintage clothing and designs, they don't always love me!

After Pic, sorry I forgot the Before!

I thought this dress was a likely suspect right from the start: a relatively high neckline, a kimono style sleeve (more on why that is important later!) and the skirt's measurement put the length right below my knee! Sounds perfect right? Well when it came it was not at all perfect. If you look at the picture here (Sorry, I forgot to take before pics!) the Ivory silk section is new.  When I put the dress on for the first time the skirt started right where the Ivory meets the bodice!  (So of course the "just right" skirt length was way too short, even if I could bring myself to wear it so short-waisted.)

When I buy vintage clothing I usually have 2 problems.  The first is that, although I don't consider myself long-waisted, I regularly find things to be too short.   Women with my body "size" in the past were shorter in the past.  They also were inclined to wear things somewhat higher on the waist as well I think, but it feels and looks awkward to me. 

This is somewhat related to my first problem, which is my gigantic Football Player shoulders on an otherwise scrawny body.  This is why the Kimono Sleeve is key.  Many times I have purchased dresses that pull tightly across the shoulders and under the arm but fit perfectly elsewhere.  Many times.  sigh!  The reason I think this is related to the first problem is that, especially in raglan and kimono style sleeves, the dress rests very differently across MY shoulders than intended, pulling up waistlines etc.  Compounding the problem my bustline is not what was considered "ideal" in the 50s....more like in the 20s: high and flat! hehehehe

The alteration was successful, but was still fraught with trouble.  I mean, I can wear the dress as it is now, but I need to be more thorough next time!  The pattern I used to make the inset panel is from a dress I used to wear all the time....I probably used the pattern 3 or 4 times.  A good basic dress, but not as fitted as it should have been in the front.  If I had used something with front rather than bust darts I think I would have been happier.  I also really should have pulled the old metal zipper out completely and set a new one.  The vintage one reset fine with the panel, but it is really too short....by the length of the panel I inset.  This makes it especially hard for me to get the dress on and off (over the shoulders....yeah, getting stuck in a dress is NOT fun.  Especially when you are trying to be careful with vintage fabrics etc!)  It goes on and off, but the added difficulty makes it less likely that I will want to wrestle with it on Sunday Morning, know what I mean?  sigh!

I do love the way the bias band wraps across the front and the waterfall sash effect.  If I were really dedicated (which I contemplated) I should have done the whole panel in bias pleats, but I was worried I would never actually get it DONE so took the easy route.  I can't even picture what the pattern would look like to inset the pleats like that!

The last pic is a representation of the ill-fated nature of this adventure:  That is a picture of my blood.  While trying it on in one of the pinned up phases, I apparently stabbed myself without noticing and bled all over everything!  I saw this spot, gave a little "argh!" of exasperation (took the picture for a funny note in the blog) and took of the dress and washed the little spot off.  Came right out.  I was very pleased.  What I didn't notice was the 7 other places I sopped up my blood across the back of the dress as I fidgeted with the fit!  I can NOT believe that I bled that much without noticing.  ugh!  N. says I should weep a bit on it, then sweat a bit on it too for good measure. hehehe  I plan to work on the spots on the skirt this week and try to get up the energy to wear the dress to Church Sunday. 

In dim reflection of this new dare for November, the sash needs to be re-basted as it is a little crooked and I ought to finish the inside of the dress, perhaps with a lining.....but since it is unlikely to see much heavy wear, I may just be lazy. :) k.

November's Dare: Completion!

One of the themes that showed up regularly in the suggestions is this: "Easy Gift Ideas."  Now, I think I am a terrible person, but I NEVER (well almost never) make gifts.  I think this is mostly because of the deadline issues.....which I am not good at.    Of course, I wasn't sure that "Easy Gift Ideas" matched really well with the kinds of things I am trying to use for the Dare....not quite open-ended enough, and yet also a little too "specific."  Except that people wanted to do it.... 

So, the challenge for this month is two-fold.  The first required part: You must finish SOMETHING.  I don't care what it is, or how long it took you but you must have something to show for yourself by the first Monday of December.  You should also post a blog post about it.  (And I am giving you all the eye....look over at the Labels list on the side....I know you can see that ALL, well most, of the posts are tagged by me.  Will it help if I ask nicely?  Please will you post your projects?  Pretty Please? heheheh)
The second required part is that you identify, whether online or from your own brain at least one (but perhaps hundreds) project that is easily "completed."  We are looking for those projects that can help you feel accomplished on a day when nothing seems going right.  Projects that give lots of bang for your buck but that won't sit on the work table forever.

When you link to projects, please be sure to give credit to the actual designer (especially if it is YOU!) and if you try it, show us pics of yours.  You don't have to try all of the ideas you post (although ideally it should be a great item to be completed), just share some of the fun things you can find out there!

For the December meeting we will practice with zippers.  (Everyone sounded like that might be a good skill to review/learn.)  If you have zippers, bring them, if not we will try to have some available.  Also, bring pins, practice fabric and your sewing machine if you can.  And ask around to see if anyone knows some good tips and tricks for successful zippers.

Now go out there and finish something!  ANYTHING!  and then blog us about it! k.

Walla Waldo

So I took a red shirt and a white shirt and got this! I guess it is like Carolyn's shirt kinda. The hat is made from left over pieces of both. The Glasses are mine.

Free Child's Dress Pattern

So, my thoughtful mom sent me a pattern for a girl's dress that she thought looked like one I would enjoy making. The thing is, I already own the pattern and have made several dresses with it. In this photo you can see Audrey being silly in one of them. So, would anyone like the new pattern? It is Simplicity 5695 and is in size 2,3,4--which was the perfect size for both girls when they were 2 and 4 and is now too small for Audrey now that she's a tall 5. It's very simple to make and a very cute dress. Or, if you know someone who might like it, just take it from me and pass it along. I'll give it to the first person who responds to this post.

My Late Embellishment Report

And this is how we begin!  Several years ago I realized that some types of products I was making were too time-consuming to be made for a price people wanted to pay...so I sent out some fabric to have these made in one of the factories specializing in doll sized items.  Since that time, I have really done very little with them, and the company that helped me do it is now gone, but I still have this heap of tiny shirts.  There are 9 styles of shirt and I had 20 in each style made....I still have 19 or 20 of many of them.  This project has been a LONG time in coming! hehehe
For the great embellishment adventure I decided to pull out my supplies (of which there are mountains....you should see it!) and actually DO something with these.  Here is a little taste of what can/could/might/should be done with them:

The first four shown are SD sized.  (I would be happy to share measurements if you are interested....and if you don't know what SD sized means, well it probably doesn't apply to you or any resin you own. heh!)
I found it was MUCH more difficult to generate a good spiral pattern on the small sized shirts.  If you look carefully you can see it on the orangey crewneck shirt, but it is pretty subtle.  The circular yoke dyeing was clearer.  The longsleeved was done just with horizontal bands (Carolyn did that one!  Her very first!) and the fade was done with dipping rather than tie-dyeing.  Those were a little tricky because the biggest problem I have in tie-dyeing is dye-pooling while still active.

In a normal setting you put the dye on pre-wet, pre-wrapped shirts and it has to cure(?) for 4-24 hours while remaining wet.  This usually means: in a bag.  Of course if you really saturated your item (because you want strong color) you are going to end up with you shirt in a puddle at hte end of those 24 hours. (We saw this with many shirts during the family reunion tie-dye extravaganza...where we also saw MUCH better spirals.)

Since I wanted the white to STAY white I actually clipped the shirt inside its bag to a skirt hanger.  You can see that we had a little cross-over with the bight pink on the sleeves, but on the whole I think it was fairly successful.  You can see that same effect on the boatneck tops for the 16 inch-ish dolls.  For those I just dipped the wet shirts hems and sleeves and let the dye creep up the fabric while it rested in the baggies (hanging up.)  You can see how the magenta and turquoise behaved a bit differently on the purple one.  You can also see where (if you look closely) I got a small dot of yellow on it.  Argh!  It is really hard to keep track of all the dye at once!  We had a LOT of trouble with that during the extravaganza too.  This round was better because I used a wire cooling rack instead of a flat surface as my work area, but there was a stray drip of yellow I didn't wipe away before I set the shirt down while working on it.  Sigh!

You can see some bullseyes, and almost spiral and even a slightly too subtle heart in this group too.

Here is my first ever hot-fix rhinestone use! I have had this little motif forever and, since I am not much for sparkly, just never used it.  I didn't get the straps on, but here is "Independence."  I think the motif is actually supposed to be a snowflake, but I think it looks more like fireworks....besides I need to use some of this fun ribbon.  My excuse for not having the straps on?  Can't decide if I want it to be a super casual tie-neck halter, if it needs some fancy back and forth through loops or if I should just put sliders on plain straps so it will fit "everyone."  Probably the latter but who knows.  Someone actually wanting it would be enough motivation to get it done I think......hehehe

These are the other two I tried going for actual embellishment. I know that my "embellishing with color" is kind of cheating but since this group is for "motivation" I figured I had better take that motivation where I could find it! The purple ribbon tank has sliders on the straps...like you would see on a full sized tank with adjustable straps! Can you tell I am pleased with that? I also included a little sequin shaped like a flower under the beads but the pic isn't great. heheh

These last pics are of my adventures with silk screen paint. I actually used stencils (as the prospect of making screens for tiny things is still daunting me.) The first pic includes my first and last trials of the evening in question. The SD (larger) t-shirt suffered a terrible accident, in that I was not as careful with my workspace and it got dripped on, and then I over ran the edge of the stencil. There was much cursing, let me assure you! According to the information on the paint itself, until it is heat-set it should wash out. I set the spider and should wash it to see what I get. The sleeve drips are smear-y because I just rinsed it a bit to see if there was an EASY fix. We shall see I suppose.

The small tank was my first realization that you could control the density of color. The first was too thick, so this little spider was done with a very dry brush and I love the misty look it has.

The last butterfly's only excuse is that I was tired and didn't secure my stencil carefully so it shifted. Poor thing.
And THESE, which have been in the plan for almost as long as I have had the "shirts," are actually part of a greater plan. I have some great camo fabric...that is made of butterfly shapes. There is a GREAT clothing line in this fabric, and this is the beginning. Sadly, the rest of the line needs to find me some more motivation. Even the notebook I drew the sketches in is missing! Some day! hehehe

I custom mixed this color (I have all the "basics" but didn't really want it black or bright.) I mixed and mixed and then mixed some more and finally got a convincingly camouflaged color.....of course by then I had a huge bowl of paint. Using my new-found knowledge, I used paint density to get a surprisingly wide range of color for my little butterflies. I also tried to come up with some less conventional placements.

The stencils I used for all my projects are from "Dreamweaver Stencils".  They are metal and very easy to use. She has some really great designs (and I was delighted to find this tiny butterfly which is almost the exact shape of the motif in the fabric in her collection.).  In case you are wondering, I asked the designer if I could use her products in creating my work and she graciously said yes.   Crafting Ethics can get complicated sometimes, but I have found people to be gracious each time I have asked for permission, and as such, I have no trouble in saying "You should go buy stuff from this great designer!"


So there are my adventures in embellishing for September!  I have all the supplies for it, so if you want to try any of those things out, come on over! k.

I can't remember when I first learned how to use a sewing machine, but I was young. My grandma taught me on her vintage Singer - the kind with a pedal foot or treadle. I am extremely jealous of my aunt, who got that machine when my Grandma passed away;) The very first thing that she taught me to make was an apron. Here's a picture of my youngest daughter wearing it (yes, I still have it!)

I don't remember making much after that....actually, I don't remember making anything until I took a sewing class in college. This class did me NO GOOD. The apron I made as a child was far superior to anything that came out of this class. But after the class I made a stuffed rabbit, complete with dress, pinefore, and bloomers, and it was good enough that it restored my confidence. When I had my first baby I bought my first sewing machine and went crazy. Nothing I made was terribly great, but I did have fun, and I was extremely proud of the blessing dress I made for her.

I used an old brides-maid dress that I had for the material. I had a dress pattern, but I only used it as a basic idea. I added the medieval-style sleeves and ribbons, and I love it. Since then I have sewn on and off, sometimes following a pattern, sometimes making it up as I go along. The last thing I made was this jumper/dress for myself...

...which I actually wear:) I am excited about being in this group and expanding my horizens. I've been busy lately (no, really, I have), so I didn't do the embelishment challenge, but I'll try to get my stuff together to do this months challenge. Happy now, Kimberly?:)

k. embellished with color

I feel very guilty that I have not done my post....very guilty. hehehe  I had great fun this month embellishing with color.  I dyed, I used silk screen paint to print with, I even used s few sparkles.  I also just lent my camera to my Father in Law so I can't just grab it and take my final pictures to post.  I am a terrible "example" for my own brainstorm group.  Do NOT follow in my footsteps!  (Seems like we still need some introductions.....)

I promise that once I have my house back there will be pictures of tiny tie-dye, some ombre dip dyeing, tiny butterflies everywhere, and some information about water soluble stabilizer which is my dearest friend, after you of course, dear reader.  I will also tell you more about "Dreamweaver Stencils" and http://dharmatrading.com who were my suppliers for most of my adventures this month of embellishing with color. 

Also, I have a plan for my Alteration Project.  Remember to submit challenge ideas also! k.

Mine

Okay, side by side mine isn't as cute, but I still really like it. Also, please overlook the way I'm standing. I don't know how to pose for pictures. Also, I cut my head off because I'm too vain to post on the internet how I look at the end of the day.

I bought a long-sleeve t-shirt, cut off the sleeves, made long strips of ruffles from the sleeves, and sewed them onto the shirt. It's quite simple and something I've tried before. For that reason I feel like I took it too safe with this challenge. I had plans to buy some interesting and fun stuff at Dongdaemun to embellish a t-shirt with, but when I went at night it was closed. So, don't go there at night. Someone told me the hours are 9-5ish. I can't guarantee the closing time, but I was there at about 8 p.m. and it was dark and empty. I've always gone in the morning before at about 10 a.m.

I also made the shirt a little more fitted in the sleeve and sides. This shirt is 95% modal (which is "essentially a variety of rayon" according to wikipedia, and as you know wikipedia can be written by anyone so it has to be true) and 5% spandex. So it's a slick fabric, if that's the right word. When I cut the sleeves I kept getting a v shape on the top of the arm, which I tried to fix and never could. I decided I liked it and left it. I also didn't hem the sleeves because 1) I was feeling lazy 2) I like the raw edge look sometimes. I tell myself that the raw edge of the sleeve goes well with the raw edge of the ruffles.

I have more shirts that I'm going to ruffle or otherwise continue to embellish. I know we've moved on to another challenge, but I may still share with you my adventures.

October's Dare: Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare

Hahahah I got you there.  But the truth of the matter is, that IS the dare.  Here it is:

SONNET 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
   If this be error and upon me proved,
   I never writ, nor no man ever loved. 

Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds....You have a thing in your closet, you know you do.  That thing that was such a good piece, seemed like such a good idea, just needed a little....yeah, you know the one.  This month we will take something that we do not love, for whatever reason large or small, and alter it.  I hope your projects don't have to be borne out even to the edge of doom but we all know that we need some good "disaster" entries to start us off on the right foot.

Feel free to post your ideas, frustrations and miracles during your brief hours and weeks.  Be inspired, be inspirational. (And don't delay until too late like this month! hehehe)k.

Meetings and Warnings.....

So the first Monday is almost upon us.  If you are like me you have procrastinated the day of your repentance....or at least of your Embellishing until it is nearly too late.  Whether you are coming to the meeting (Monday around 9 a.m.  at my house, please email so I know who to expect) or planning on posting your adventures online, please make it happen this weekend.  The new challenge will be issued on Monday and I want us to have made a good showing for our first outing. :)

(Speaking of Outing, those of you who haven't done your introductions had better get on with it!  Put your name and "introductions" in the post label section.  You should label your discussion of your own work with "embellish" for September, and possibly the word September as well as you name and any other appropriate labels for your techniques to help others find it in future.)

If you need help getting started posting, let me know and we will see what we can do.  If you have been meaning to sign up and haven't yet, get over to "The Rules" and send me an email so I can get you on the authors list. ;)

I hope everyone has lots to report....good and less good, by way of adventure for September. k.

Inspiration

I think Etsy is a great place to find inspiration for our embellishing challenge. Below are some favorites if you're interested in embellishing a t-shirt like me. I'm actually going to have Audrey and Megan do this along with me. The photo is from a shop called I love treasures. It is so simple, but my girls would love it.

1) Lace

2) Matching appliqued t-shirt and jeans

3) Matching fabric & shirt

4) Ice cream applique (selling for $3, we can do that with leftover scraps)

5) Ruffles on a cardigan

6) Leaves

7) Matching mickey mouse applique and headband (I think of Amber when I see this)

8) A little crazy, but I like it

9) Crocheted flower

10) Rosettes

11) More flowers

12) shirt & tie (same shop as the mickey stuff above)

and here's one thrown in from the Gap. Ribbons.

"Bling Your Bra!" Contest

This was too timely to pass up. hahaha  September's "Embellish" Dare AND Breast Cancer Awareness.

Bernina Blog

If you can't come up with something different to embellish, I am going to expect to see lots o' fancy bras here come the end of the month. :)

(Also, if you do have ideas, post.  As our first exercise, I am afraid we might be a little limited in our mind's eye.  Get to work everyone!) k.

Heeeeere's ....... Joanna

I, too have grown up around sewing. My mom and my grandmother both sew. My mom would make us clothes including prom and homecoming dresses. She even made my wedding dress (and hand beaded the top) even though she only had about 2 months to do it. When I was about 12, I decided that I wanted to learn how to sew, so my mom gave me a pattern and told me to make it. Before I got married, I didn't really sew, except to mend things, or if there was some sort of activity that involved sewing. After I had kids, I decided that I wanted to make pajamas for them for Christmas since that was a tradition that my mom did for us. I have since made dresses and pajamas for them. My latest being Savannah's and Aubrey's baptism dresses. I haven't tried very many techniques (with zippers being my kryptonite), so this should be a lot of fun!

Introducing . . . Carolyn

Well, Kimberly keeps telling me to write my introduction and I do whatever she tells me to :)

I grew up with sewing all around me. My mother sewed a lot of our clothes--especially dresses, made crafts, and now has a long-arm quilting machine business. Her mother is an excellent seamstress and when I was a teenager made me the most awesome fitted skirt and jacket that I wish I still had. My other grandma was a home-economics teacher and still sews now at the age of 88. So, I learned basic sewing skills by default, but actually had no interest in it.

When I graduated from college, I thought a digital camera would be a great gift, but instead my mom and grandma bought me a sewing machine. I think I used it once in the first four years I had it. Then one day in Relief Society we were talking about how our mothers taught us modesty. I commented that my mom always sewed my prom and homecoming formal dresses so that I had something modest and beautiful to wear. Suddenly I realized, hey, I have daughters (Megan was a newborn) and I'd better improve my skills so that someday I can do the same for them. Thus my sewing adventures began.

My skills are still very basic (i.e. I still need serious help with zippers) but I have learned a lot and had a lot of fun in the last few years. I've made many dresses for my daughters, skirts for myself, curtains, bags, blankets, etc. One of the things I had a lot of fun doing while Curtis was in business school and we didn't really have any money was "refashioning." My friends and I discovered that our local thrift store had 10 cent sales on certain days, so we'd go fill our carts with "fabric" from the thrift store. I call it fabric, although it could be shirts, pants, a big mu mu . . . you get the idea. Then, I'd make it into something else. It's a really fun thing to do and brings out your creative side. I also would buy things and then try my hand at simple alterations to make them fit better. I am still not a tailor by any means, but I hemmed a pair of pants for a neighbor and felt proud that she trusted me enough to ask and then wore them afterwards.

The one thing that really made me start loving Korea was the Dongdaemun fabric market. I love to go there and just look at everything you can buy. I'm excited for the embellishing challenge because there is just so much to experiment with. I follow some sewing and fashion blogs that have given me some ideas. For example one of the sewing bloggers I like Is always showing how to copy the J. Crew and Anthropologie tops that have ruffles, etc. that are so cute these days, here is something that would be fun, and here are some inspiring tops she pointed out. I'm thinking of trying this for shirts my size as well as my kids. We'll see what happens.

Having baby #3 has made it difficult for me to find time and space to sew. My sewing room is now Claire's room, so I have to find a new space for all my stuff. Also, my sewing time was usually in the evenings after the kids go to bed, but lately I've been too tired to do much. So, I'm hoping this group will help motivate me to sew again and that I can push myself to learn new skills that I'll need to one day make those prom dresses!

September's Dare: Embellish

To start off with something easy, this month's challenge is to explore a new technique or product for embellishing.  You may apply this challenge to something ready-made or incorporate it in to another sewing project you have planned.

In case you are stuck for ideas (although I suspect that every last one of you <so far only Carolyn...hehe> already knows exactly what you have been contemplating...but not justifying...trying out!) here are a few I thought of...... (add your brainstorms by comment to this post.)

Embroidery of all kinds: silk ribbon, machine, decorative stitches on your machine, needlepunch (which I tried for the first time this summer :)

Applied decoration: beads, rhinestones, fabric applique's, jewelry findings, nailheads.  (You know, on the 5th floor of Dongdaemun.....)

The secret is to explore some new idea, try something new.  Once you have tried it out (success or not), be sure to post your adventures so we can learn together.

The physical meeting will be held October 4 at my (k.) house.  We will discuss how we will go forward from there with the "meeting part."   The October Dare will be issued on that day as well (and I promise to post it right away in case you can't make it.)

Blog posts should all be up before the meeting, but can be posted throughout the month-long dare.  You aren't restricted to only one, that is more of an "at least" guideline.  If you don't know how to post/upload pics etc, please let me know and I can talk you through it.  You should also feel free to post links to techniques/ideas that you like from other sources.  Be sure to give appropriate credit when posting the work of others (and get permission if you can.)  Be sure to include appropriate "labels" for your post: the month, the dare, your name (or initials) and pertinent keywords for what you tried.  That way, 6 months from now when you need remember how to do that beading technique, or you can't remember who has the wool-felting tools, you can look it up by keyword in the archives.

Me?  I think I may use some of the 40,000 nailheads I bought, or maybe I will do some eyelets with my new setter.  (In case you were wondering, I have the supplies for all sorts of things......go ahead, ask.  I bet I have it....oh, except for a hot fix gun for rhinestones. hehehe) k.

Introduction: k.

My name is k. and I like to make people do what I want! hehehe  This support group was imagined (very selfishly I might add) as a way to get motivated again.  I have been sewing forever, but due to some vagaries of my life (kids, location, health) I have been in a bit of a lull.  I don't like that.

For many years I pursued sewing as my private profession, sewing much of the day working on designs for collectors of fashion dolls.  It is a great job and my sewing has really grown a lot since Boxpleat Fashions began more than 10 years ago.  The trouble is that once sewing became work I quit sewing for FUN.  It all became doll sewing with no more quilting, no more clothes for me or even for my kiddos.

It wasn't all bad though, as it pushed me to build my design and pattern drafting skills.  One of my favorite things to do currently is to search out vintage patterns and fashion photos and draft it for one or more of the dolls "I work for."  Several times in the last several years I have designed things that made me say "Ahh!" with delight when they worked just the way I saw them in my minds eye.  Working in 1/4 and 1/3 scale has some surprising benefits over sewing for people.

First,  it lets me explore fabrics in much more dramatic ways.  It is MUCH easier to buy a single yard of fabulous cashmere, micro-sequins or silk matka.  Especially since the $$$ pricetag is balanced by the fact that if I make 2 or 3 suits out of that cashmere it is easy to earn it back.  It is also easier to store your fabric collection when it doesn't have to be dress lengths.  It also is much less intimidating to explore new types of fabrics because the investment is really relatively small.  It took me several years to get over being super CHEAP about my fabric selections and buy what I wanted rather than just what was on sale.  I still do that, but I can buy the good stuff too.  (And heaven help us if the good stuff is on sale....)  It is great fun to find little samples and remnants that no one else can use but me.

Second, let's be honest.  I wear jeans and a t-shirt almost every day.  I have a collection of vintage suits and things but they get worn twice a year if I am lucky and I never seem to go to formal events at all.  Much of doll collecting is about fantasy and many of my customers buy things they themselves would never (or could never) wear themselves.  There is a LOT of room to explore.

Third, and perhaps finally for now, when you don't have a ton invested in the pattern, the fabric etc, it is easier to just bail when something isn't working.  I remember once picking out a LONG seam on something I was making for myself....that simply doesn't happen in my work.  Even if I do decide to pick something out, it is often just a few inches.

I don't have any professional training but I have put in more years sewing than some people who do.  I am a believer in the right tool for the job and I probably have most of them at this point, so if you need to borrow something.  I love sewing and I want to work on things that challenge me.  I despise doing the same thing over and over again. k.

The pics are all lifted from my website and are some of the ones I have enjoyed working on for various reasons.  All are patterns of my own drafting, and all are in private collections.  The other thing you can learn from these pics is that I am NOT a photographer.  If anyone wants to give me pointers, feel free. :)

Welcome to The Group!

There is always more...new techniques, better skills, a tool we never thought we needed.  This Sewing Support Group is a chance to grow your skills.  Maybe your skills are prodigious, maybe non-existent, but everyone can improve across the spectrum.  So here is what we will do:

First, if you want to participate, email k. boxpleat@earthlink.net.  She (I, really, k. that is me!) can guide you through the steps to set you up as an "AUTHOR" for this blog.  That means you will need to actually post...

Second, please post an Introduction of Yourself.  You don't have to tell us all the gory details (we want you and your family to remain "internet safe") but tell us a bit about you, your situation and your sewing.  I will post an example for myself, which you can feel free to trump, tweak or mock as you will. heh.

Third, you will need to check in here (at the blog) each month (First Monday) to find the current "Theme."  This will be a simple word or phrase that will be the beginning of your personal challenge.   Example (for entertainment value only) "Fabric that Intimidates You!"  Perhaps, as a beginner, you are freaked out by working in silk.  Perhaps you bought a gorgeous piece of something on your first trip to China but can't bring yourself to cut in to it.  Perhaps you have never tried matching plaids.  Deep Pile Velvet, anyone?

Themes will be drawn from a...jar? vase? baggie?  Haven't decided yet.  But you should feel free to submit ideas for them either by email or comment.  Remember that it should be something that can be interpreted for any skill level.  It can be a specific technique (especially one you want to improve upon) but will more likely be a category or a dare.  It doesn't even have to be words necessarily, if you find an image that opens a world of possibilities for you.

When you read the theme, you need to think how it applies just to you, in your own head.  You are going to have to find a way to push yourself.  I remember learning, in educational theory, about the notion of "n+1" which is the idea that you take what you already know and add just that next little step.  The trouble is that only you know where your skills really are and what a "+1" is going to be for you.  The other members will be doing completely different things from what you are doing and that is as it should be.

Fourth, you need to DO IT!  A month may not be enough time to finish your Victorian Walking Ensemble, but even if you don't "finish," you still will have insight and (ideally) pictures to share.   Tell us what you were challenging yourself with, help us see the growth you hoped to make.

Fifth, You need to actually post.  You will be tempted to not post what you are up to....You will think, "No one wants to see that disaster" but the truth is, we do.  We all need to see disasters (and hear what you learned from it....even if it was "I need to become a saint before I try to sew chiffon again!") and triumphs too.  All of us will experience both if we are really trying to challenge ourselves; this is true for people sewing at every level of skill.

In your posts, try to include pictures as well as descriptions where you can.  You should also use "labels" to help the search function on the blog.  You can use ones others have set up, or establish your own.  Also, when you discover techniques that simplify or bewilder, share them by link or tutorial so all of us can enjoy (or help you figure it out.)

Lastly, this is a support group.  So in addition to working on your own thing, you should be prepared to offer your own...what? wisdom? baseless opinion?  whatever.  Be a part of our community.  Offer suggestions.  Ask for inspiration.  Laugh.

 One final note (and I wish I didn't have to say it but here goes...) This is a public community but it also needs to be a loving and respectful community.  Critique is essential for growth but needs to be offered with an eye to assisting that growth and not tearing it down.  Similarly, if your feelings are easily hurt by criticism (even when kindly meant,) you had better let us know when you post so we can avoid trouble. hehehe

And another, so I guess that last was the penultimate note... heheh...when you post pics, please be sure to give credit where credit is due.  You should try to identify (if you didn't take them) where they are from and who took them, linking to the original if you can (and protecting copyright as necessary.)

I hope this can be an adventure for you that leads down paths you have been longing to follow and perhaps some you didn't know were there.  Happy sewing. k.