tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78026486640516492612024-02-06T21:51:59.885-05:00Sewing Keeps Me Sanealong with a little wine and travelMarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-7540996518012564502016-04-03T13:10:00.000-04:002016-05-09T20:07:44.411-04:00Taming the Fabric StashWhen I first started sewing as a teenager, I never had a stash. If I needed to sew something, I just headed to the fabric store and picked up whatever filled the need at that time. All my supplies fit in a shoebox and patterns in a paper bag. Life was simpler then, no one collected fabric--at least they did not admit it.<br />
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When I hit 30, I had about six pieces in my stash and each piece had a definite purpose to be sewn within a few month. By the time I was 40, the stash started to grow. I had a couple dozen pieces and they all fit in a banker's box in my closet. Then that began to grow and there were two banker's boxes. I decided that I needed a little more control over the fabric, measured the length & width of each piece and pinned a piece of paper with the measurements to each fabric. I also started clipping a small swatch from each piece and attached them all together with a large safety pin to bring with me when I went fabric shopping--just in case I found something that might coordinate with something from the stash. Coordinating became an obsession and the stash grew larger. Fabric spoke to me and I listened. <br />
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Then I started going to sewing expos and traveled and collected more fabric. The stash was now in a large chest on the third floor of my house. Fabric began overflowing from the chest and new banker's boxes began to show up to hold the ever-growing stash. That's when I decided just attaching the measurements of the fabric and my portable safety pin stash was not enough. Stash control was now a topic on the sewing boards and people were giving suggestions as to how to organize fabric. This was around the year 2000 and I found a template on the internet which was just what I needed. I personalized it, changed a few things, and I continue to use this template today. <br />
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My template is a Word document stating the fabric, source where I bought it, yardage, width, fiber content, notes about the fabric and a spot to attach a swatch. I place these sheets in plastic sleeves in a 3 ring-binder and have a template for both left and right with the fabrics in the middle when the pages are opened. In the binder I have divided the categories alphabetically by cotton, knits, linen, miscellaneous, rayon, silk, synthetics & wool. The binder has pockets in the cover where I keep blank templates to which I attach swatches and info whenever I can't resist buying more fabric. These days, I update my binder a couple times a year since I just don't buy as much as I did in the past. I just look at my binder and stash and am quite happy with what I have.<br />
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I would love to attach the template, by Blogger won't let me attach a
Word document. I do type in the info and save it in a folder on my
computer, but anyone could create a template and just fill in the info
by hand and it would still serve the same purpose. It's just that I
have always been an administrator and typing is what I do, how I
communicate.<br />
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As for storing the fabrics, I would keep them in my now familiar banker's boxes sorting them by color, white, cream, blue/green, red/coral/orange, grey, black, black prints, black knits. I would write on the side front and side back of each box the color so that whenever I took one out and put it back, I could see what the box held. I had around 20 boxes at the height of the stash collection.<br />
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When I first started organizing my fabrics, my sewing room was located in the basement of our house. I was there for 20 years. My sewing stuff was located on three different floors. I had outgrown my corner of the basement and wanted everything in one area. Then both our sons grew-up, became Marines, and off to college. I asked them if ever planned to move back, and both told me they did not see any reason to move back--although we do see them all the time. I took over Jeff's room as my new sewing room. Jeff had a small walk-in closet which I took out the rods and replaced them with wire shelving which I found at Home Depot for $50. I was ecstatic because I always wanted to have my fabric on shelving in a closet and now I would! I folded my fabrics to fit the shelving and placed them mostly by fiber content--wools on the bottom, silks of different weights next, cottons and linens, rayons, dark knits & light knits, and outerwear on the top shelf. In order to keep my folding uniform, I used two different sized pieces stiff cardboard as templates to wrap my fabrics around.<br />
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The closet has been working out so well for me. I still have my swatches on a safety pin, but there are a few more of them, not just one these days. On the very bottom of the closet, under the shelving are four cardboard boxes with my quilting fabrics. These are for specific projects. I do like quilting, but only make one or two a year. The quilting fabrics are under control and I don't catalog or swatch them. <br />
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I also tape an additional swatch of each fabric in the stash to a piece of foamcore board so I have a quick look at what I have and can move the swatches around and not disturb the closet until I have decided which fabrics I will be using on my next project.<br />
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So in a nutshell, when I add new fabric, I measure it, cut 3 swatches (one for the binder, one for the safety pin and one for the board), then fill in the binder template with the appropriate info and fold the fabric placing it on the appropriate shelf in the closet.<br />
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I needed to get this all in writing since I am discussing this at our next ASG neighborhood meeting and thought a web connection would be an additional resource for our group. I have been researching this on the internet and most fabric stash organization deals with quilting fabrics, not garment fabrics. There are a few resources, but none of them really cover the entire subject, just parts. I hope to make a video since this is not covered very well on youtube. There are mostly quilting fabric stash videos on youtube and I found only one decent video dealing with clothing fabrics.<br />
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Anyway, here is a fabric stash video which is really entertaining.<br />
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<br />MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-39417536378686870892014-08-25T11:43:00.000-04:002014-08-25T12:11:15.554-04:00Transformation<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrOt-YiicjPROO_6o8ZgIZ9qVn4Y9aTzvVmTdVx9L8gVevGXyTY-2mJ61ws1zJEcSIVrXgaf9QslJH9UdNQ5dc6ZavmekMONMJOysVN0_OYj6BKYGdMZYT9v591Le1JOKQe-wOxX_odZE/s1600/photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrOt-YiicjPROO_6o8ZgIZ9qVn4Y9aTzvVmTdVx9L8gVevGXyTY-2mJ61ws1zJEcSIVrXgaf9QslJH9UdNQ5dc6ZavmekMONMJOysVN0_OYj6BKYGdMZYT9v591Le1JOKQe-wOxX_odZE/s1600/photo+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I'm not sure how long this chest of drawers has been in my family, but at least as early as when my parents married in 1948. I remember it being a nightstand in their bedroom when I was a little girl. Then they bought a new bedroom set when I was 11 and I got it as a nightstand. At that time, my mother used it to store her sewing notions in it. When we broke up my parents house, I took this chest, put it in my sewing area and also used it to store notions. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81kU-m1deryjbLWWP_oFrxrSI4w1X_WryqaMSbX1y6KVuuorBwxG8TB6awX8EXdZDNObpsMMslfPxt2oJfR-90fgOqdjyeGexQ074NwsXytswnS39oBpis89yoDhVv9OMBD6duHH68g_r/s1600/photo-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81kU-m1deryjbLWWP_oFrxrSI4w1X_WryqaMSbX1y6KVuuorBwxG8TB6awX8EXdZDNObpsMMslfPxt2oJfR-90fgOqdjyeGexQ074NwsXytswnS39oBpis89yoDhVv9OMBD6duHH68g_r/s1600/photo-1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I have probably had it for the last ten years with grand plans to paint it. Well, I finally got around to doing just that. Three years ago I found button knobs and thought they would be perfect for the chest. Last week I painted it and put on the new knobs. Voila! New life for an old chest of drawers. It's now back in my Lady Cave proudly holding notions again. I'm sure Mom would approve.</div>
<span id="goog_2131499193"></span><span id="goog_2131499194"></span><br />MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-22170827029934994612014-06-11T16:32:00.000-04:002014-08-25T11:43:56.975-04:00Lady CaveIt's been a while since I posted, but I did complete my sewing room. Actually, I finished it last March, but was too involved with everything else to post pictures. I have the time now, so let's take a tour.<br />
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This is the majority of the space. I did purchase the Ikea items that I mentioned in my previous post. I am so happy that I did. My friend Ann wants to get the desk for herself. My husband was all for me moving from the basement to the attic, mostly because he wanted my old space for himself and his hobby. Anyway, I could never have put everything together without him. The two bookcases and the desk went together in an afternoon. The hardest part was getting the boxes up two flights of stairs.<br />
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I am posting pictures starting with the bookcase on the left above and following around the room. I have never added this much to a post, so I'm sure there is a more efficient way to do this, but this is the best way I know for now.<br />
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The green bins hold quilting projects. Sewing magazines (Burda, Threads, Patrones) are stored in the white cases. I store my buttons in plastic embroidery floss bins from JoAnns. My grandmother's sewing baskets are on the left middle shelf. The black boxes contain quilting fabrics and supplies. The books are old sewing books, drafting books and quilting books. <br />
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My trusty Bernina which is 25 years old.<br />
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Another view. My Baby Lock serger is under the green polka dot cover. That's 24 years old. I also have a Singer Featherweight which I store in the closet when I'm not using it. <br />
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Top green bins contain projects which I have started, but need to complete. Something else became more important at the time, but hopefully with this new room, they will get finished this year. The binders hold online classes and sewing newsletters. Sewing and fitting books and supplies & notions in the black boxes.<br />
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Thread storage. The small chest of drawers was used by my mother for her notions. I plan to refinish it and have new knobs waiting to be added. I bought the picture of the girl at the National Gallery of Art when I was 18. It went to college with me and has always been in some important room.<br />
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Pressing area. I have a Naomoto gravity iron. Because of the sloped ceilings, I need to move the board when I am using it to accommodate the water tank. I also move the board when using my press for fusing interfacing. The press if behind the board. In the green bin are my hams, seam rolls and press cloths. This area needs more light, so I'll be searching for a lamp at Ikea. The lamp in the picture was at my mother's sewing machine when I was a teenager. My older son's old boombox is at the right on top of a case my other son made in woodworking shop. I store my sewing dvds there.<br />
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Cutting area with a stool for company (or me). I store my patterns in the plastic bins by category. The dress form is 40 years old. I'm not the same shape as back then, but I have remolded it to me several times. I really need a new one. <br />
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Bookshelf and closet where my stash is stored. Muslin for a shirt project is hanging.<br />
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This bookshelf came from my in-laws' house. In it are fashion history books, designer bios, style & wardrobe books. The black boxes contain notions.<br />
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The stash. I previously had my fabrics in bankers boxes stored by color and have a book of inventory by fabric content. My husband removed all the old closet rods and we put in a metal wire shelf unit. This is my dream storage space. It's hard to see, but I have a 2-step stool so that I can reach the top shelves.<br />
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Besides my grandmother's sewing baskets, my mother's notions chest and the picture of the girl in the yellow dress, I have added other personal items to the room.<br />
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I've had Ringo for 50 years. Yes, I am old enough to own him. I saw the Beatles in concert in 1966. The cedar box is from Lane. When I was in high school, every senior girl could get one of these free from any furniture store which sold Lane hope chests.<br />
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I bought this picture at an antique store 15 years ago. I finally have a place for it. I think it was taken from an old fashion magazine.<br />
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I found this antique button card at a Paris flea market in 2012 and had it framed.<br />
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This picture is my grandfather who was a tailor and you know who is the other guy. Next to him are sheep bells (that's another story).<br />
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I am so happy with my new sewing space. I was in the cellar of the house for 24 years. When that was first done over for me by my husband, I was so happy. I loved that space for many years, but I outgrew it and my stuff was all over the house. The machines were in the basement along with some books, the fabrics were in my closet, then as they expanded, in the attic. Five years ago, I bought a table for cutting and drafting so that also when up in the attic. Before that, I cut out on the dining room table (like most people). I now have a place for everything and could not be happier.<br />
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<br />MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-25863919013480173992014-01-17T07:59:00.002-05:002014-08-25T11:44:35.610-04:00Allons-y! The whole family is off to Phoenix today. Our son, Jeff, is running in the P F Chang Rock & Roll Marathon on Sunday. The race starts at 7:50 a.m, a little early for a marathon back here in the east. If he finishes in three hours, he will qualify for the 2015 Boston Marathon which is his goal. Yes, he has done it before. Jeff has been training for the past several months and is ready.<br />
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Our son Kenny and his girlfriend, Patty, will be joining us and we all will be staying in Ken's sister, Nadine's, condo in Tempe. It will be a little tight, but at least there are 2 bathrooms and three courtyards to take in the weather. Nadine is putting Kenny & Patty on an air mattress in the garage with a space heater, good luck to them! I can hear Kenny complaining already. Temperatures are in the 70's during the day, just perfect, and down to 45 at night. <br />
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The sewing room organization is coming along. This week I have been going through patterns, weeding, asking myself will I ever sew it, what made me buy it and discovering duplicates (which means I will definitely keep one since I liked it enough to buy it again). I have been planning the layout of the room and checking out IKEA to see what would work. Last Saturday, I visited IKEA for a couple hours to check out the furniture I was interested in. I found out that the store will deliver (for a fee) the same day you purchase it, so the Saturday after our return from Phoenix, I'm off to IKEA in the morning. I plan to pick up two Billy bookcases and the Malm desk which seems pretty sturdy and has a moveable return which will be great for my serger.<br />
<img alt="BILLY Bookcase IKEA There is plenty of storage space for large books or other objects on the deep shelf." border="0" class="zoomMousePointer" src="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/billy-bookcase__0131429_PE286135_S4.JPG" height="320" id="productImg" title="BILLY Bookcase - white - IKEA" width="320" /><img alt="MALM Desk with pull-out panel IKEA The pull-out panel gives you an extra work surface." border="0" class="zoomMousePointer" src="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/malm-desk-with-pull-out-panel__0148191_PE306482_S4.JPG" height="320" id="productImg" title="MALM Desk with pull-out panel - white - IKEA" width="320" /> I already have a smaller bookcase in the room and will add a couple other small storage pieces which I have, but want to paint first. Lastly, I want to add a file cabinet for my patterns. They have been in banker's boxes for the past ten years and it's time to upgrade. The end result of my weeding patterns will help me determine the size of the cabinet. Staples delivers for free and within a day of ordering! I should also check out Craig's list just in case.<br />
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So no clothes shopping while in Phoenix, but I think there will be some wine tasting somewhere in the agenda. There are some really fabulous wineries out there believe it or not.<br />
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Go Pats!MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-27195382094094676032014-01-06T23:23:00.002-05:002014-01-07T16:56:06.065-05:002014 RTW Fast<div style="text-align: center;">
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I've revived my blog (after much trouble figuring how to get back into it) and plan to post all my sewing in 2014. Since both of my sons have moved out of the house, I am in the process of cleaning out one of my son's room and turning it into <b><u><i>my</i></u><i><u> sewing room</u></i></b>. So I'm moving out of the basement into the attic. I have gone through all 700 yards in the stash, eliminated what I know I will never sew, stripped the closet and inserted a wired shelf rack. All fabrics have been refolded and stored by fabric content and color. I'll post a picture soon. I truly love these fabrics and am not afraid to cut into them, I just need to get back into sewing all the time. The room has more work to be done, but my goal is to finish by the end of January and start sewing again.<br />
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Anyway, while surfing sewing blogs, I came across the 2014 RTW Fast on http://goodbyevalentino.com/2014-rtw-fasters/ . I was always running to the mall for pants. I live in pants, rarely wear a dress these days. What I should have been doing is concentrating on fitting a good sloper for pants instead. I look at my stash and am so inspired--I just need to start using it again. By not letting myself purchase clothes, I will be forcing myself to start sewing these lovely fabrics. <br />
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My local ASG group is also concentrating on sewing blouses/shirts this year. I love to sew blouses, and will be running a couple meetings on pintucks and flyfronts for blouses. <br />
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So into this RTW Fast I dive, first to finish the jacket I cut out last year, then a shirt to go with it. After that, I will concentrate on pants. No more short cuts/cop-outs buying clothes. I have the skills and fabric to make the clothes I really want to wear happen.<br />
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My best wishes and happy sewing to all of you who are part of this lovely group.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-38850207551847236282011-12-12T21:26:00.003-05:002014-01-07T16:55:23.536-05:00Ah Wilderness RevisitedThis past weekend we went back to fix the ceiling and get everything back to normal. We arrived late Friday night and while getting ready for bed, I discovered that neither of us had used the main bathroom. When I turned on the light, I found a new surprise. A dead mouse in the toilet! I wanted to flush him, but Ken decided to scoop him out and dispose of him outside. Evidently, D-Con makes mice thirsty. They are supposed to leave the house looking for water outside, but this guy decided to take a fatal shortcut. We now have mousetraps set up in the house and will return next week to check them. Say a prayer that the traps are empty and we are finished with little visitors.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-64720522725762225362011-11-29T07:18:00.001-05:002011-11-29T10:44:29.564-05:00Ah, Wilderness!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three years ago, Ken & I bought a little second home in the North Conway, NH area. We just love our petite maison. We stay there at least one weekend a month, often more. Yes, it looks small, but it has five rooms, 2 bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths. All creature comforts are covered and it is located close to everything.<br />
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Thanksgiving day we went to my sisters for dinner and afterward we drove up to our little house for the rest of the weekend. When we entered the house we were greeted with a strong stench! We had rented the house two weekends earlier, and at first, we thought someone didn't take out the garbage when they left, but the can in the kitchen was empty. We also found the smell very strong in the second bedroom directly under the kitchen. This led us to the conclusion that some creature got into the house and died between the two floors. Yuck! I thought it must be a chipmunk since they are always running around outside the house, Ken thought it might be a mouse. We were both hoping it was nothing larger than either of those. The smell was pretty much contained in the kitchen and one bedroom, so we closed the door to that bedroom and went to bed. In the morning, Ken decided to rip out part of the bedroom ceiling to take a look since we could find no evidence of anything in the kitchen. Well the smell was even stronger once the ceiling was removed. He couldn't find the critter, but did find a lot of mouse droppings. I got up on the ladder with a flashlight and found the varment. I saw two little mouse ears peaking out from under an electrical wire. The little guy had got himself stuck under the wire and couldn't get out. He had not been there long enough to get messy, thank goodness, just stiff and flat. Once we removed him, removed all the insulation around the area and sprayed a gallon of Lysol, the smell improved. By the end of the day, there was no smell in the kitchen and the bedroom had a faint smell. We decided to leave the ceiling open for now to air it out and will repair it on our next visit. I guess we are lucky all we had was a mouse. We do have electronic critter repelents in the house, but this guy somehow got through. <br />
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As for sewing, I am working on a fancy evening jacket to wear with black crepe pants to a couple Christmas parties coming up in December. I cut out the jacket and fused interfacing the weekend before Thanksgiving, sewed Sunday and Monday night and it is half finished. I had sewn this jacket before, so the fitting issue was not something to slow down the process. The jacket is <a href="http://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6042-products-10740.php?page_id=111">McCalls 6042</a> I'll post a picture when I'm finished which hopefully is next weekend since I need to wear it on December 12.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-19728312453072360662011-11-20T17:49:00.001-05:002011-11-20T18:17:26.366-05:00PatternReview.com 10th AnniversaryYesterday I attended the PR Boston Anniversary Party. About 30 women and a few husband were there enjoying each others company while treating themselves to munchies, mocktails and cake at the PR headquarters. There were 18 other such celebrations around the world yesterday. PR has grown so much in the past 10 years. <br />
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I first knew of Deepika back on Sewing World around 2001. She was always asking questions, seeking information. I do remember her asking if anyone knew of a site where sewing patterns were reviewed. Although there were a few sites that posted reviews, they were limited in their scope. Deepika decided that she would set up a site. I thought to myself "Who is this girl? She thinks she can set up a site for pattern reviews? Good luck to her!" A few days later, she pops back on Sewing World announcing her site along with a link to it. Hey, not bad for something off the top of her head! Little did we know at that time that she was a professional web designer. At that time it was just reviews of patterns, but people started adding more and more reviews, then it began to expand to other areas of review, then on-line classes, message boards, get-togethers, etc. Who knew it would become such a force in the sewing world. Certainly not Deepika. <br />
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I feel a major reason PR has grown so large is because Deepika is an open-minded, curious, friendly, risk-taking, always positive individual who has a strong love of sewing. I have been lucky enough to personally know Deepika over the past 10 years and have met many other members at various events including 3 trips to New York, seminars, and a few celebrations at her house (at one we celebrated PR reaching 25,000 members!). <br />
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Anyway, we had a lovely time last night along with a fashion show of stunning cocktail dresses, gifts, a slideshow which will most likely make its way onto the website, and great conversation. Afterwards, we went to dinner together (and had real cocktails). I did take pictures, but my camera is not cooperating by letting me download them all. But this picture did make it through.<br />
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<br />MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-80859436087771763012011-11-19T07:15:00.001-05:002011-11-20T17:08:27.359-05:00ResurrectionAfter a nearly three year break, I want to start this blog up again. A lot has happened to my family and me during this time, most of it is positive, thankfully. Both my sons are now out of the Marines and going to college full time--and both have moved out of the house. I love when they are here, but an empty nest is also a good thing.<br />
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My husband, Ken, has retired, but is working part-time for two engineering firms. He really is enjoying himself. <br />
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Three years ago, I started a business with two other gentlemen. It is viable and for the past six months we have been paid salaries.<br />
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We have taken two trips to France and have been taking French lessons for the past three years. We are not great at French, but can communicate. Also we took a major wine tasting tour last April in France for five days in the Rhone area. It was heavenly. <br />
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I have been sewing, though not quite as much as I want. I have also taken up quilting which I had been avoiding for fear of a new addiction. I was right, the quilting stash has 5 quilts waiting to be made. I love planning quilts, picking out the fabrics, patterns, figuring out sizes, cutting, sewing--just everything about it. I have only completed one so far, but another one is about a third sewn. I'll post my progress. <br />
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My life is good, and sewing is still a major part of it.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-91350315509218625842009-02-07T12:46:00.006-05:002009-02-07T13:31:58.516-05:00Thoughts on Wardrobe BasicsI love reading about how to develop a wardrobe and there are so many schools of thought on this subject. SWAPs follow right along with this thinking and I feel SWAPS are more detailed than a lot of other routes. I recently fell upon <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/16/most-generous-corporations-corprespons08-lead-cx_mk_1016charity.html">this online article</a> from Forbes which I wanted to share. It is about a basic as it gets, yet I agree with almost everything in this article except for the Hermes Kelly bag. In forty years I have gone through five Coach bags which the total cost still doesn't add up to one Kelly. To sum up the article, go for great basics, think it through, buy quality, skip the trends, don't be matchy-matchy and just be your well-dressed self. Well, in this corner, we'll sew quality and snoop shop instead.<br /><br />What intrigued me most about this was the link to <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/22/fashion-designer-french-flew-cx_lb_0122style_slide_2.html?thisspeed=20000">Eight Essential Items For a Perfect Wardrobe</a>.<br /><br />Black Pant Suit<br />Black Pumps<br />Trench Coat<br />LBD<br />White Blouse<br />Cashmere Sweater<br />Pencil Skirt<br />Ballet Flats<br /><br />The only thing I feel that was omitted was a pair of great fitting jeans. With these essentials, just add a little color with another jacket, sweater and blouse, a couple scarves and a string of pearls then world is at your feet. Hey, you can pick up a cashmere sweater on sale right now! These eight items are pretty much in line with <a href="http://womensfashion.suite101.com/article.cfm/tim_gunns_10_essential_elements">Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Elements</a> with just a change here and there and Tim has no color restrictions. I guess why I'm drawn to the Forbes article is because I feel black & white basics are just a great starting point for most of us.<br /><br />Since this article was in Forbes, it is aimed at business women, but the basics really apply to everyone when they are out in public. Do you ever notice the well dressed women in the grocery store look so much more sure of themselves than the ladies in baggy Patriot shirts and worn sneakers?MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-53156286821388167402009-01-23T22:29:00.011-05:002009-01-24T07:36:31.057-05:00PR Friendship Quilt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7o5KBGkfYAR5mFd53Q77vRdAKrZOzdT3EcwQCHFZJUqJuhSvLI_fb1knPdji9uOlI-xt1ZZDPapzSr8-fswZxHAmX0skNSOM7zfq3a20Jc_8DeVQG1ov8qA_nNNLWONdXOnLiVFyazqAO/s1600-h/3215449899_60f1bf74bd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7o5KBGkfYAR5mFd53Q77vRdAKrZOzdT3EcwQCHFZJUqJuhSvLI_fb1knPdji9uOlI-xt1ZZDPapzSr8-fswZxHAmX0skNSOM7zfq3a20Jc_8DeVQG1ov8qA_nNNLWONdXOnLiVFyazqAO/s200/3215449899_60f1bf74bd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294836622607278546" border="0" /></a><br />PatternReview.com is once again trying to put a Friendship Quilt together. This time it certainly looks like it will happen. I had planned to make this square, and in fact even started it, last October. But, since the deadline was changed to January, I put my time into other areas. So, of course, I hurried to finish this quilt square and mailed it the day it was due to be postmarked. Procrastination at its finest. Luckily, it found its way to Deepika's mailbox in time.<br /><br />My inspiration for this square is that it contains the colors of the majority of my wardrobe and stash. Boring, neutrals, but the wardrobe works well and I always have something to wear.<br /><br />There are 36 1" squares that are surrounded by a black boarder. The original finished square without the boarder was a little small and less than the required 6.5" square, so I needed to add the boarders to qualify for the quilt. The square was a bit of a challenge for someone who does not do a lot of quilting. I should have planned it a little better, but I am still happy with it.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-56178133418258601092009-01-19T13:54:00.011-05:002009-01-24T23:24:01.293-05:00My Sewing BackstoryThis topic has been circulating on the sewing blogs thanks to <a href="http://www.lindsaytsews.com/2009/01/whats-your-sewing-back-story.html">LindsayT</a>. I'm a little late, but here's my story which has been brewing in my head since I started this blog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCz9Bvdkmw063kyWHMd2zpSrQZ3sDmkRNZdpW2_rCdxsqX0tySDOr-wmeW7PNyKlnGQ87w6Vr_KNSCDMfh_fBDtbw7yKhec4sUKfEbUScKQEX9X6sDSN_9kSxjc88EvnbqK8Xr5RrN4qP/s1600-h/Malo_pic003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCz9Bvdkmw063kyWHMd2zpSrQZ3sDmkRNZdpW2_rCdxsqX0tySDOr-wmeW7PNyKlnGQ87w6Vr_KNSCDMfh_fBDtbw7yKhec4sUKfEbUScKQEX9X6sDSN_9kSxjc88EvnbqK8Xr5RrN4qP/s320/Malo_pic003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293197321012037122" border="0" /></a><br />Sewing is in my ancestry. My grandfather was a tailor, who married a dressmaker. He also had a sister who was a milliner. I never knew my grandfather since he died three weeks before my parents were to marry, but my mother and aunt kept his memory alive with many stories about him. He started his own business in Somersworth, NH around 1900. He became quite successful. He also had a brother who was a photographer, so there are lots of pictures like the one above. In the picture below, he is the one on the right with a big smile. My grandmother immigrated from Canada and ended up being employed by him. I don't know how long she worked for him before they married in 1910. Around 1920 he moved his business over to the next town in Dover and added dry cleaning as a service. During the Depression, his business did very well since it was cheaper to repair and clean clothing instead of buying new clothes. He ended up being known more as a dry cleaner, rather than a tailor as his business grew. I have his pounding block and needle board which I treasure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq2bjPZM6R5AsJDkVYSBZRxkttrbKjoUCubtFVK2rLEe9-1tivvzHH4rV8rl2oEi_62ajGYnTXMJn4kj05JCqFO17YJ6mKmEYAST9Yk74CNRKFOK6SsuxZfGS4SEIbCiAkCLQ1mKW3cqV/s1600-h/Malo_pic002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq2bjPZM6R5AsJDkVYSBZRxkttrbKjoUCubtFVK2rLEe9-1tivvzHH4rV8rl2oEi_62ajGYnTXMJn4kj05JCqFO17YJ6mKmEYAST9Yk74CNRKFOK6SsuxZfGS4SEIbCiAkCLQ1mKW3cqV/s320/Malo_pic002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293232841088670178" border="0" /></a><br />Growing up, most of my dresses were made by either my mother or grandmother. Grandmaman sewed wonderful clothes and knitted lovely, perfect sweaters. As she got older, she did much more knitting than sewing, but while I was young, she made my clothes like the ones below when I was three. I was the best dressed tricycle rider in the neighborhood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5w8rBJxYCKdHTKeADPu0WX4OBqnX6Msm07KHuYh3ysq4ws8oxBOFjf4VUkoxIILBWSZ-QBsekCnCgkiMRAUcTnquAq-PmeBJvmkAernbjUFuTqDtHVeMq1-TYhpJ6hYh8KXqhWg0XTkw/s1600-h/Marilyn_pic031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5w8rBJxYCKdHTKeADPu0WX4OBqnX6Msm07KHuYh3ysq4ws8oxBOFjf4VUkoxIILBWSZ-QBsekCnCgkiMRAUcTnquAq-PmeBJvmkAernbjUFuTqDtHVeMq1-TYhpJ6hYh8KXqhWg0XTkw/s320/Marilyn_pic031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293234694929432706" border="0" /></a><br />I remember the dresses my grandmother had made for me when I was around 6. At that time I was her only granddaughter, so she helped my mother out by sewing school clothes for me back when everyone wore dresses. Since both my mother and grandmother sewed, I could not understand why my little girl friends would get excited about store bought dresses when the hand sewn ones were at least as nice and usually better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr4jtuwKSFcgm6YMKQHLuh_W9MQBqUc5be4tuW_NN3rDeDAzPYZR_vWik42tASi7zVEZ1edxKMJCxhI24ctJEI4oYjuPxNRwFrLrHoqvGqwHEvvCVtZPGLW7alJ1Vzubi6l26dLKoJPMO/s1600-h/Marilyn_pic033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitr4jtuwKSFcgm6YMKQHLuh_W9MQBqUc5be4tuW_NN3rDeDAzPYZR_vWik42tASi7zVEZ1edxKMJCxhI24ctJEI4oYjuPxNRwFrLrHoqvGqwHEvvCVtZPGLW7alJ1Vzubi6l26dLKoJPMO/s320/Marilyn_pic033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293235952197676338" border="0" /></a>Since I was always exposed to sewing, I was allowed to hand sew with needle and thread when I was around five. I was doing hems and buttons by the time I was eight. Around that time, I really wanted to use my mother's Singer, but was not allowed to. One day when she was out and we had a babysitter watching us kids, I tried to use the machine when no one was looking. I managed to run the needle through my finger! Ouch! This kept me away from the Singer for several years. In the meantime I would hand sew clothes for my dolls. Once Barbie became popular, I had a ball making clothes for her. The pattern companies were on top of this, and that was how I learned to read a pattern, cut & layout fabric and construct clothes for Barbie. This translated very well once I was old enough to actually use the sewing machine.<br /><br />When I was 15 my mother signed me up for lesson at the local Singer dealer. Two other girlfriends were signed up with me and we had a blast. I made a wool plaid skirt and a wool doubleknit top for my first project. I look back now and realize I was quite ambitious. The skirt was a simple a-line with a zipper and waistband, matching the plaids was the challenge. The top had a zipper down the back and a short zipper at the wrist of each sleeve. When I first started the lessons, I did not realize that the projects would be entered into a local competition. competition. Needless to say, I did not win the contest, but gained so much confidence in my abilities. From then on, I made most of my clothes. I would tackle anything without fear, and did not know what a wadder was--I wore everything I made. Back then I was straight as a board, so fitting was not an issue. Of course, I made my prom dress! This was the first time I made a muslin which my mother insisted upon and I'm glad she did. She also taught me to perfect my darts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB0fEhWG0Ur9xEkHn4cu0wbDSC6fibBi6_nk7AChMMNso9yTz2i2iIkIza7_cLF0ReLCuC5Yau8gEDRMV1utnauG8DdPwrU7CzmQt07GjGhHR8KG4N3j3V2wpkxa5m360OZp-uwF1vMqb/s1600-h/Marilyn_pic035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB0fEhWG0Ur9xEkHn4cu0wbDSC6fibBi6_nk7AChMMNso9yTz2i2iIkIza7_cLF0ReLCuC5Yau8gEDRMV1utnauG8DdPwrU7CzmQt07GjGhHR8KG4N3j3V2wpkxa5m360OZp-uwF1vMqb/s320/Marilyn_pic035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293235966030451682" border="0" /></a><br />During my teens, I was fearless. One special item I remember was a flowered cotton suit that I wore to see the Beatles! That was my first attempt at a suit, I had no idea what I was doing, but I loved wearing it. I made a couple coats for Easter, back when women wore lightweight Spring coats, and many, many dresses including my high school graduation dress made from white pique with a square yoke insert and worn with white gloves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y0_eRBVZ1339gOkwFwXou9eBxRD3jlSynxtZhb3dYy8Ejm965YFg3x1fr_EH33lcJonG0EGDWEVkUJTi5ZH19Gl18VK48uBJaeFdd-RluYrFgOrYV-wqEEecWeinl5SMa49zmIY77x5S/s1600-h/Marilyn_pic032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y0_eRBVZ1339gOkwFwXou9eBxRD3jlSynxtZhb3dYy8Ejm965YFg3x1fr_EH33lcJonG0EGDWEVkUJTi5ZH19Gl18VK48uBJaeFdd-RluYrFgOrYV-wqEEecWeinl5SMa49zmIY77x5S/s320/Marilyn_pic032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293235139459006818" border="0" /></a><br />Once in college, I sewed on my vacations and occasionally at school. I mostly made lined skirts for days and dresses for semi-formal events. I went to college at Plymouth State in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and studied business. The only place there that sold fabric was J J Newbury's. The selection was limited, but there were some decent choices among the cheap stuff (that smelled!). One dress that I remember was a green brocade empire waist mini dress that I underlined. I wore this to a Christmas party and later to a pledge dance, then lent it out to other friends who asked to borrow it. It was a popular dress.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprqOEE6L7GQfHw9iend0RydeyC4aYC6vBT6hwuW6HgndzUZsscSCem5lR6H5-lLYoD-L0sFY-imvQiUQ1kL7xzgkxy5cPnIRlWvMdYeks4ZEvW9tBY2MU03o1F0UdPaPUSl-OZGUBaWvV/s1600-h/Marilyn_pic034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprqOEE6L7GQfHw9iend0RydeyC4aYC6vBT6hwuW6HgndzUZsscSCem5lR6H5-lLYoD-L0sFY-imvQiUQ1kL7xzgkxy5cPnIRlWvMdYeks4ZEvW9tBY2MU03o1F0UdPaPUSl-OZGUBaWvV/s320/Marilyn_pic034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293235957347606242" border="0" /></a><br />After graduation, I sewed work clothes, mostly dresses which were more popular than suits in the early 1970's. I had moved to Boston where there were more job opportunities and adventures. For graduation from college, my parents gave me a top-of-the-line Sears Kenmore sewing machine. I was in heaven. I still have this machine and use it mostly to insert invisible zippers since it has a great foot for that. This machine did so much more than Mom's old Singer. It actually did a zigzag stitch and made great buttonholes! Now it would be easy to finish off my seams which I did and went through more thread because of this.<br /><br />The winter after graduation, I took my first sewing course since the Singer lessons. I signed up for tailoring so that I could learn how to make suit jackets and chose a Vogue Anne Klein pattern. I learned so much from the woman who taught this class. She sparked my curiosity to learn more about tailoring and dressmaking. I continued to take sewing and tailoring lessons for a couple years, then signed up for pattern drafting at The School of Fashion Design in Boston. My classes were with the night school and I attended for two years taking drafting, tailoring, dressmaking, fashion drawing, and draping twice a week. I learned so much, but my second year drafting instructor was so inferior, I did not bother to return for a third year since he would also be teaching drafting to our class. I should have complained to the management, but they must of known about this guy, since most of the students in my class complained to each other about him.<br /><br />Over the years I continued to take classes and attend lectures at the Fabric Place whenever the sewing gurus came to town. I was making all my work clothes, mostly suits, and became a Vogue pattern snob for several years, usually spending my lunch hour at the pattern counter of the downtown fabric stores dreaming up new wardrobes.<br /><br />After my second son was born, I became a SAHM for the next eight years, did alterations and started teaching sewing at the local Joanns evenings. I learned from the alterations since I had a few high end clients with beautiful designer clothes. It was great to be able to get inside these to see how they were constructed. I really did enjoy teaching, but Joann's kept changing the rules, and it became more and more difficult for me to teach (and get paid), so I broke ties with them. I gave private lessons whenever possible and held Saturday morning classes for the neighborhood 10 yr old girls for a couple of years until they all started middle school and I couldn't stand them any longer. I haven't taught for about 10 years now, but when I retire, I'm interested in returning to teaching.<br /><br />I had dreams of becoming a fashion designer, but it was hard to stop my day job (when I was working) since it paid so well and I did not want to give up my lifestyle. I realize now that I am a dressmaker/tailor, not a fashion designer, and that is the field I could have pursued. I need to work on my fitting skills, so this is the area where I need to grow and improve. I also realized that I preferred sewing just for myself and my family.<br /><br />I have been reading, sewing, and dreaming about sewing forever. It will always be a part of me.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-24684352970379578962009-01-01T22:32:00.009-05:002009-01-01T23:21:20.619-05:00A New Year -- Still Trying to Fulfill Last Year's GoalsLast year I vowed to limit my fabric purchases and sew more from my stash. The first half of the year was not that successful, especially with a trip to France and a couple sewing seminars offering fabric. I ended up sewing a little more than I purchased which is much better than other years, so I guess it was a semi-success. However, over the past six months I have not purchased more than 10 yards, so the fabric addiction is definitely under control now. As far as I am concerned, linings and interfacing still don't count towards to the stash. Recently the last remaining Fabric Place store closed this November. This is sad, but since I only use Joann's for thread, notions and patterns, it will be easier to keep the fabric purchases under control.<br /><br />For 2009 I truly do want to sew from the stash. There is no excuse since I have enough fabric to make at least a couple dozen SWAPs plus more. I get inspired when I go through my fabrics, the problem is just getting beyond the inspiration point and actually matching fabric to pattern, then fitting, cutting, fusing & sewing. I find the sewing part easy, it's getting past the fitting stage.<br /><br />I still haven't started the black suit jacket mentioned in my November 1 post, but hope to get going this month. My old black suit has seen better days since it's six years old. I need a new black suit. In fact, I really need a lot of new suits. The black one is a starting point and I want to plan from there.<br /><br />As for the Great Coat Sew-along, I finished my vintage jacket, but the tweed coat is still a UFO. I actually cut out the coat & lining, and fused all the underlining and interfacing last September. It had been sitting ignored in my sewing area until last Tuesday when I actually started working on it again. My old winter coat is still serviceable, but I would truly like to finish this new coat. My plan is to spend the next two days working on it. We'll see how far I get. It will get finished eventually, since I don't like have UFOs hanging around.<br /><br />In 2008, Pattern Review had a thread on the message board to set a goal of one garment a month. I managed to average sewing two a month plus a few home dec projects and Christmas gifts. If I can at least do that again this year, I will be happy. If I exceed that, I will be ecstatic.<br /><br />So my goals for this year are:<br /><br />1. Sew from the stash.<br />2. Sew two garments a month.<br />3. Post on this blog more often.<br /><br />Also, my husband and I are planning to go to France again this April. Last year's clothes will work again since we plan to be there the exact same time as last year. But it would be nice to have a few new pieces. Now I need to go check out the stash to see what will work in April.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-64947420248219815252008-12-23T09:57:00.007-05:002008-12-23T11:23:35.169-05:00Visions of Sugar PlumsSince I have two sons, I need a "little girl fix" every so often and Christmas sewing for little girls is just the answer for me. I have so much fun planning and sewing for them.<br /><br />I have three nieces to fill my needs. They are all cousins and not sisters so they are special to each family. The first one is 15 and totally into fashion, so I shop for her these days. (Are you reading this, Mollie?) In the past I have made doll clothes, dresses for her and when she was eleven I made her a purple quilt. These days I feel safer buying clothes for her along with a gift receipt, just in case. I will say that she dresses quite appropriately, but very chic for her age.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtXqtxx5_QH14RPcfaUGST5FJT-xkJqwmh4FaSZsiTphyphenhyphenJaK0uxQ2dcVAhBrhql-AMg8RLmv_TCHHjN2xEp-76mUQ4dJDDcx7TWISwQseQomYBN7fRgxDLIXDesBnVpQoaXL_EAOvJ8iv/s1600-h/DSCN2197.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtXqtxx5_QH14RPcfaUGST5FJT-xkJqwmh4FaSZsiTphyphenhyphenJaK0uxQ2dcVAhBrhql-AMg8RLmv_TCHHjN2xEp-76mUQ4dJDDcx7TWISwQseQomYBN7fRgxDLIXDesBnVpQoaXL_EAOvJ8iv/s320/DSCN2197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283000591050048898" border="0" /></a>The next one is my great niece who is also totally into fashion. Sydni just turned 5. This young lady was picking out her clothes at one years old. It's just in her. Her mother is lovely, dresses very nicely, but is not a shopaholic or fashionista so we don't know where her daughter got this need for fashion. Miss Syd prefers dresses to pants, and knows how to coordinate her clothes. She loves to tell you what she is wearing and why she picked out that day's clothes. She also enjoys dressing her dolls and is quite the young mother to them all. For Christmas I bought Miss Syd a hot pink Ralph Lauren dress, a Fancy Nancy book and made a pink & white apron from Simplicity 3949. This pattern comes with adult and children sizes, so I think I will make one for myself, too. She loves making cookies with her Grammie Steph, so now she will be able to protect her dresses while she cooks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAxbJpLAFkCVq28wrkWcm8w6RmzjbzHIlJcw_EF4GgPm-OsDLeVok7zbjVWNft1MNmWtsYGd84MDGyE1lWY0Eto3258y5c_H3vHSkfa11WdNhfdUTNBKjfTtrmArz11rXOAwmFd4IgMd6/s1600-h/DSCN2205.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAxbJpLAFkCVq28wrkWcm8w6RmzjbzHIlJcw_EF4GgPm-OsDLeVok7zbjVWNft1MNmWtsYGd84MDGyE1lWY0Eto3258y5c_H3vHSkfa11WdNhfdUTNBKjfTtrmArz11rXOAwmFd4IgMd6/s320/DSCN2205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283000419953069586" border="0" /></a>Then there is the youngest great niece, Maggie, who is 2. Her Grammie Carole gave her a Bitty Baby for Christmas, so this gave me the opportunity to sew a wardrobe for this doll. Three years ago I sewed the same patterns for Miss Syd and she still dresses her Bitty Baby in them (I wish I had pictures to show). I sewed a purple dressy-dress, two sundress/jumpers, a pantie to wear under the three dresses and a pair of overalls with a knit top which can be worn with the jumpers. These were made from McCalls 4338. The bodice on the dress is lined and the jumpers and overalls have substantial facings. I used batiste for the lining and facings since it did the job without creating bulk in the tiny seams. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKyZAsXP6CPtk1Xl2UkKX2rtHaxcABX4hMkMHkW2uPfjxyo_xKmCvQbll7KnqdIr_OEOOG78okx3BwFh9x33IiZuxyS3DsvPELPyckg9NWHYIdsNJiswGmx3RQHdS2lWi9rorAngyEZSk/s1600-h/DSCN2200.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKyZAsXP6CPtk1Xl2UkKX2rtHaxcABX4hMkMHkW2uPfjxyo_xKmCvQbll7KnqdIr_OEOOG78okx3BwFh9x33IiZuxyS3DsvPELPyckg9NWHYIdsNJiswGmx3RQHdS2lWi9rorAngyEZSk/s320/DSCN2200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283000416841859586" border="0" /></a>All clothes have velcro closures in the back, so no little loose buttons will create any problems. These dresses and overalls take about two hours each to make, so this is not a quick gift, but is fun to sew.<br /><br />I also sewed a polar fleece bunting so that Bitty Baby can go outside in the winter. The bunting was made from the same pattern as the diaper bag I created.<br /><br />And I just love this bag! I used Amy Butler fabric for the outside and polka dot flannel for the lining. This pattern is a discontinued Simplicity Sewing for Dummies pattern. The instructions <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pRdOAzC9gehInK5eU7DwoQOHm_yDNqcNF9bUzWokK40wwpCKrt-ML3xbSrKXujXTG5mXzIlBdsG8-KwWDck7G_6g1jpzyDABCjxPjf2jYhiU83jWcmDrK7Q6Z_CQ9v9dVT-ECTqrZB3d/s1600-h/DSCN2199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pRdOAzC9gehInK5eU7DwoQOHm_yDNqcNF9bUzWokK40wwpCKrt-ML3xbSrKXujXTG5mXzIlBdsG8-KwWDck7G_6g1jpzyDABCjxPjf2jYhiU83jWcmDrK7Q6Z_CQ9v9dVT-ECTqrZB3d/s320/DSCN2199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283000410411602802" border="0" /></a>could have been better, but the pattern is so cute. The outside has two large pockets on one side and the other side has a fold out changing pad. With the left over flannel fabric I made a pillow and blanket for naps. The clothes, bunting, blanket and pillow store very nicely in the bag so it will be easy to keep everything together.<br /><br />I purchased all my fabrics from E-quilter. The service was extraordinary. I placed my order on Cyber Monday, December 1, and had them by December 5. The really great feature of the site is that after you place items in the shopping basket, you can go to the design board to see how they coordinate. If you don't like any of the choices together, just remove them from the basket and add more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEzSfUpqsFPcwu_e99v84fEFL78mK1Bd3PRBDq0LO5c4ikUjlYnvrDkbZAcaY7hrSIopELjlcnoB08pqCdXekzSc-OzjfQUY_UC4tpFws3QUWjpujC-ScrIGvUrip6SUPbX_SzrbcXSOh/s1600-h/DSCN2207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEzSfUpqsFPcwu_e99v84fEFL78mK1Bd3PRBDq0LO5c4ikUjlYnvrDkbZAcaY7hrSIopELjlcnoB08pqCdXekzSc-OzjfQUY_UC4tpFws3QUWjpujC-ScrIGvUrip6SUPbX_SzrbcXSOh/s320/DSCN2207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283000601264312210" border="0" /></a>One of my nephews, Scott, is engaged and his fiance is now part of the family. We draw names for the adults in the family, so each of us is responsible for a gift to one other adult. My husband drew Ashely, Scott's fiance. She loves to cook, so I made her an apron which I drafted myself. I like these fabrics very much and they look quite contemporary to me. We will also include in her gift <span style="font-style: italic;">The Splendid Table's How To Eat Supper</span> which I just love and want a copy for myself, along with a silicone spatula. I just hope she likes everything since I am still trying to figure out her style.<br /><br />After I finished the doll clothes and Miss Syd's apron, my serger broke. Great timing! This forced me to make Ashley's apron with all enclosed seams, so the finishing on this apron is really thought out. I brought my serger in for repairs, but it appears that the motor may need to be replaced. The cost for fixing would be around $400, so I brought it home and my husband will take a look at it when he gets a chance. Looks like I may be in the market for a new one instead. This happened just a little too late for a Christmas present, darn!<br /><br />I also hope to make pincushions today for my two sister-in-laws and my sister. Now I am off to make my Christmas cookies.<br /><br />To everyone, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and may your New Year be filled with nothing but joy!MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-70654596732682862252008-11-01T10:41:00.027-04:002008-11-01T12:57:46.949-04:00Phew!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6pT9PRVG7d4bmXzuI379QZA_AvOxStWUBSD8lHRLeeqP_2oRPxWyNIKmqknrHBHpcgqfbPKfwJ5UfT912c2evft_Oo5wddw-KA9kvZhevCa1H0vLYwSfm6k6I4YK4AZwUF-O-w9hyphenhyphengsB/s1600-h/DSCN2055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6pT9PRVG7d4bmXzuI379QZA_AvOxStWUBSD8lHRLeeqP_2oRPxWyNIKmqknrHBHpcgqfbPKfwJ5UfT912c2evft_Oo5wddw-KA9kvZhevCa1H0vLYwSfm6k6I4YK4AZwUF-O-w9hyphenhyphengsB/s320/DSCN2055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263701108930747538" border="0" /></a><br />Just because I have been lax in posting lately doesn't mean that I haven't been sewing. In fact, I have sewn a lot since mid July, and much more than usual. I just hope I can keep up the pace which will help reduce the stash and increase the wardrobe which desperately needs updating. With one exception, all fabrics came directly from my stash and have been residing there for at least a year and some are four years old. Here's a quick rundown.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGTHwdtQ7HAZjRtjSTl6q-mvlHNG8VXlHkdRWkqcpVZBkWHdCjEFrtGKewHT53xqS3_SKCeElK9AjAtha3toLOeGubaXIG9Fj5hMnV7oFiekCuNqonQ5GTDfsB7VuoErL3DIwD-8PP9aB/s1600-h/DSCN2082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGTHwdtQ7HAZjRtjSTl6q-mvlHNG8VXlHkdRWkqcpVZBkWHdCjEFrtGKewHT53xqS3_SKCeElK9AjAtha3toLOeGubaXIG9Fj5hMnV7oFiekCuNqonQ5GTDfsB7VuoErL3DIwD-8PP9aB/s320/DSCN2082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263702760952589362" border="0" /></a>In July I made a couple short-sleeved shirts from Cecelia Podolak's The Classics Fearless Shirt #106 making one from cotton and another from a silk print using the convertible collar view for both. I was pleased with the results of these two shirts and made a couple more during October using the two-piece band collar and the long sleeves with cuffs. I realize that the two long-sleeve shirts appear to have different length sleeves, but both were cut from the same sleeve pattern on the same day no less. The white is a very drapey rayon and the light sage is a pima oxford cotton. Different fabrics just react differently which I will keep in mind the next time I sew up this shirt. I also cut down the size of the oxford cloth shirt cuff by an inch and will do this to all other versions of this pattern.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnBA35LQ1Q2k65tnWusxZp-qCtnyHnikRkr6TM44wWNuC3ZNEAILEN3xJjV_7Ca2-Sqeuu7QrIzWKVdxFIC4xShQa-at5WEWvYt-5bhyphenhyphen4aOmWmfvnN5fMCPGM0ZpTUtT5fEbQT4x7p5cv/s1600-h/DSCN2086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnBA35LQ1Q2k65tnWusxZp-qCtnyHnikRkr6TM44wWNuC3ZNEAILEN3xJjV_7Ca2-Sqeuu7QrIzWKVdxFIC4xShQa-at5WEWvYt-5bhyphenhyphen4aOmWmfvnN5fMCPGM0ZpTUtT5fEbQT4x7p5cv/s320/DSCN2086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263705432005173762" border="0" /></a>Next up the Loes Hinse Sweater Set. I have sewn the cardigan at least five times before. This is a quick pattern. I added vintage metal buttons which came from my aunt's button stash and may also have even belonged to my grandmother. These buttons could be anywhere from 50 to 100 years old. This set goes well with the La Fred Iris skirt below and the shell looks nice under the La Fred Maia Jacket. The fabric is a rayon speckled knit that was easy to sew.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzhq6E8sYbXi9jh6W6AWiAFS2GXShZ5F-rcb9rCET8CHs4hz-h-0sWQafItOT2tNTOEqoAX6QEb9vfuMLR3Iu376K8EQZ72MY_s_jbw1eyboGR5skgOGxdQLX82zvi3RMXSSnW46lhD4F/s1600-h/DSCN2088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzhq6E8sYbXi9jh6W6AWiAFS2GXShZ5F-rcb9rCET8CHs4hz-h-0sWQafItOT2tNTOEqoAX6QEb9vfuMLR3Iu376K8EQZ72MY_s_jbw1eyboGR5skgOGxdQLX82zvi3RMXSSnW46lhD4F/s320/DSCN2088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263706128820751826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In August, Pattern Review had a Lined Jacket contest. I had made the La Fred Maia Jacket three years ago, but mistakenly over fitted it. It looked great on me as long a I did not move. Also, the fusible interfacing bubbled and did not look right. I so wanted to wear that jacket since I loved <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YZRfZ6REz2h0c9lC2uSRZGMqqc_c1PRv_OiBiqgPxGvstp2S4CMkiULbypW3MjZE-4D551uoq_XDNnOxeWUZMJcmE-tgh6Lvu8CIdJXqmUkt8B0n7LZ_ifjood7kYnTV1x-NReeiO30b/s1600-h/DSCN2077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YZRfZ6REz2h0c9lC2uSRZGMqqc_c1PRv_OiBiqgPxGvstp2S4CMkiULbypW3MjZE-4D551uoq_XDNnOxeWUZMJcmE-tgh6Lvu8CIdJXqmUkt8B0n7LZ_ifjood7kYnTV1x-NReeiO30b/s320/DSCN2077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263708039807750962" border="0" /></a>the style. Well, by entering the contest, I got the motivation to plug away at this jacket again, made a new muslin to refit it, made several fitting changes, including lowering the bust which evidently had fallen in the last couple years. But I am so pleased with the end result and then went on to make a matching skirt from the La Fred Iris Skirt pattern in the a-line view. This skirt was so easy to fit. The suit is made in a herringbone weave linen. I used fusible interfacing in the jacket and underlined the skirt with silk organza. I spent August on these two items and other than cutting out other projects, sewed nothing else.<br /><br />Since I had such success with the suit, in September I decided to make another one, but in wool.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup7bqiMiH-2qVX_2GevPBkOsouS0kgJAFX-5z9Lt_V300RCpLTN5iZV92dkn9ii7UICgEo3NVf6V9aPwVbUJMnPwtc9oPaBjmn40MpFAudxkMvt2n2h6zYMqzARubt3wMc__F_H94LHIB/s1600-h/DSCN2078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup7bqiMiH-2qVX_2GevPBkOsouS0kgJAFX-5z9Lt_V300RCpLTN5iZV92dkn9ii7UICgEo3NVf6V9aPwVbUJMnPwtc9oPaBjmn40MpFAudxkMvt2n2h6zYMqzARubt3wMc__F_H94LHIB/s320/DSCN2078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263710923764870066" border="0" /></a> I had bought this wool a couple years ago from Michael's, however, this suit was not what I had originally intended to make with it. But I am so pleased with it and have worn it as a suit or just the jacket with a pair of dark grey pants several times already. Again, I underlined the jacket with fusible weft and the skirt with silk organza. This time I made the pencil skirt version of the Iris Skirt. When I went to the PR event at Sawyer Brook, I picked up Bemberg lining and buttons to go with this suit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRvadvvNY8lRoll9dyMQLsup5OBrExTP36F1LMd_OvWozr1V3koHQehowqu_Xlm5a8DIjpsjBWNjYiiEkHY4XZweWM27vWuqJ3PT6EBaY0hgW41Odon9ilV1Fxhv7AxKOt09JElsmdj2Y/s1600-h/DSCN2089.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRvadvvNY8lRoll9dyMQLsup5OBrExTP36F1LMd_OvWozr1V3koHQehowqu_Xlm5a8DIjpsjBWNjYiiEkHY4XZweWM27vWuqJ3PT6EBaY0hgW41Odon9ilV1Fxhv7AxKOt09JElsmdj2Y/s320/DSCN2089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263712442286848642" border="0" /></a>Next up, a couple of Loes Hinse Bianca Sweater tops. I had originally made one from another fabric for my trip to Paris last spring. I really liked the way this top looked on me and it is so comfortable. So I made one top from a speckled dark brown knit from my stash (which is not showing up as dark in the picture) and the other from a lovely black rayon knit I purchase at the PR/Sawyer Brook event. Both tops have seen a lot a wearing in the past month. I wore the speckled one to Sawyer Brook and the black top looks great under the grey suit.<br /><br />Then on to two more blouses. I had originally made the Loes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybyimirAIv1b3MfRxgYCyI1ptz4_rHch_q_tUnHAR4ydxh3fjYzagwMe4HMxI6wGeyoP89MqszwplwYG_DmEFWjc8b12CoZLpPZIwOsUtD9yCm0OlrwyYLYSi5fn6VOzUjYzxtQmLWKOT/s1600-h/DSCN2091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybyimirAIv1b3MfRxgYCyI1ptz4_rHch_q_tUnHAR4ydxh3fjYzagwMe4HMxI6wGeyoP89MqszwplwYG_DmEFWjc8b12CoZLpPZIwOsUtD9yCm0OlrwyYLYSi5fn6VOzUjYzxtQmLWKOT/s320/DSCN2091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263714263476599682" border="0" /></a> Hinse Italian Blouse when it first came out about eight years ago using a rayon jacquard. I loved this blouse and actually wore it out. Last year I came upon a similar rayon jacquard and purchased it with the intention of duplicating that blouse which I did do in September. This blouse is not fitted, but has a lovely neckline and looks great under suit jackets. Now to find another drapey fabric in different color to make another one. There must be something in my stash.<br /><br />The second blouse is a silk georgette I purchased at least <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUezOGd2-tbmcJ0DRZ3lkdE1vUkemYIVUoDy0aWS4KBk98uZ1I8Vg-zcWrfTAv-PmTaP3tV6DUuhC16auZeIIBqIEpx0UTp2cZ2U6VZZq-SHXImkXzBBH77gPQfxi6ueK7Q-zNBS-gnUF/s1600-h/DSCN2095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUezOGd2-tbmcJ0DRZ3lkdE1vUkemYIVUoDy0aWS4KBk98uZ1I8Vg-zcWrfTAv-PmTaP3tV6DUuhC16auZeIIBqIEpx0UTp2cZ2U6VZZq-SHXImkXzBBH77gPQfxi6ueK7Q-zNBS-gnUF/s320/DSCN2095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263714129280133138" border="0" /></a>four years ago at a sewing expo. It has a lovely drape, but was not the easiest fabric to cut and mark. I ended up using spray starch to stabilize it and that worked out quite well. I had actually run the fabric through the gentile cycle of my washing machine and even machine dried it to get the shrink factor out, so water spotting was not an issue. I will definitely use the spray starch again when I have a wiggly fabric such as silk georgette. The pattern I used for this blouse was Vogue 7063 which I had purchased with this fabric in mind. The front has a hidden placket. I used more decorative buttons on the sleeve cuffs and flat black buttons which are hidden under the placket. I cut down the size of the cuffs by an inch which I think looks better with a drapey, sheer fabric. This blouse also looks great under the grey wool suit.<br /><br />Last of all, I finished one of the coats for the Great Coat Sew Along. I spent June and July fitting this pattern and cut out the fabric in August along with the fabric for the other coat I plan to <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxihgVk9Ji-f02GH3NEtd-c5ZwlxjFMNdOnzZxisiSBv_bl5qRKlNOhsbJMV-GL1tI7UWt_ckReqW_FYSlkO13TRmc1-R-7NJMNo2y-J7c2jQgD7aarR3XiNsunPplw4H29IR-ZvZlNcL/s1600-h/DSCN2080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxihgVk9Ji-f02GH3NEtd-c5ZwlxjFMNdOnzZxisiSBv_bl5qRKlNOhsbJMV-GL1tI7UWt_ckReqW_FYSlkO13TRmc1-R-7NJMNo2y-J7c2jQgD7aarR3XiNsunPplw4H29IR-ZvZlNcL/s320/DSCN2080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263720661168092594" border="0" /></a>make. In September I started and finished this coat which went together in less than a week. The only changes I made to the design were I shortened the length and made single welt pockets rather than welts with flaps which looked too dated for my taste. This jacket has only a single button, so I needed to find something that made a statement. I found a two color carved horn button which gives the jacket a little pizazz and I love my choice.<br /><br />So what's up next? I plan to make another suit, this time in black double crepe using a Vogue Claire Shaffer jacket pattern. I'm not sure about the skirt yet, but it could be another Iris skirt. I plan to line the jacket in a silk animal print I bought at Metro textiles last year and use buttons I bought at Tender Buttons that same weekend. First I need to fit the jacket, so that is I how I will probably be spending my time this week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNscfecIa8Z6hAbvXGkhsP-p47r3uPDQZanVzT5B7rCTonqp7hRfSojVr-CydxcrL5KebeAE5j_F42FlVP_8TBp3sULruWlO1KdO2bQzTVL3VSSd-MvK3Pg8rTuoqFDuUaoqa7o6zLyGaZ/s1600-h/DSCN2056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNscfecIa8Z6hAbvXGkhsP-p47r3uPDQZanVzT5B7rCTonqp7hRfSojVr-CydxcrL5KebeAE5j_F42FlVP_8TBp3sULruWlO1KdO2bQzTVL3VSSd-MvK3Pg8rTuoqFDuUaoqa7o6zLyGaZ/s320/DSCN2056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263721867456893330" border="0" /></a><br />Tomorrow, I plan to meet with a couple sewing buddies to fit pants using Palmer/Pletsch patterns. I have been reading the book, watching the video and preparing my pattern all week. Hopefully, by the afternoon tomorrow I'll have a pants pattern ready to be cut out in fabric.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapcET5aoEasDPweuS07EnonLdWeROhsdqHjz8GvUYTPyEydI4GNU8yDOOXMs_WKZp4Dr0OMXRqAeaYYR1DhRYlD5OpAPiN6pROlzidRTdOMvVIpGcwC3YuyfUuQ8hDSqSibJHXIg2gu3N/s1600-h/DSCN2063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapcET5aoEasDPweuS07EnonLdWeROhsdqHjz8GvUYTPyEydI4GNU8yDOOXMs_WKZp4Dr0OMXRqAeaYYR1DhRYlD5OpAPiN6pROlzidRTdOMvVIpGcwC3YuyfUuQ8hDSqSibJHXIg2gu3N/s320/DSCN2063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263722674178354402" border="0" /></a><br />Last weekend we attended an ASG convention in Hartford where Pati Pletsch was the speaker. She was an inspiration and such a nice person. She truly wants to help people sew well fitting clothes. Recognize the jacket?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCszxkL841fVnVChDePOYPK340JoShapc56BBL84VtST7YRpdtU5qM0X2Ezy2-yb8IR9te6ZWRlRiv4CrK-8jzR3qt3blVVwqYnX-rmxT6QUGK2FBmO3xwUoGZe3vAqoGa0HchvKRKs790/s640/DSCN2018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 366px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCszxkL841fVnVChDePOYPK340JoShapc56BBL84VtST7YRpdtU5qM0X2Ezy2-yb8IR9te6ZWRlRiv4CrK-8jzR3qt3blVVwqYnX-rmxT6QUGK2FBmO3xwUoGZe3vAqoGa0HchvKRKs790/s640/DSCN2018.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-79992954293071873272008-10-31T09:41:00.009-04:002008-10-31T10:01:06.513-04:00Pumpkin PeopleThe first weekend of this month my husband and I along with his sister, Nadine, and her boyfriend, Victor, spent three days up in North Conway, NH taking in the foliage, sites and enjoying some great food. We have done this every October for the past five years. Nadine and Vic travel from Phoenix, so this is a real treat for them--a dramatic change of scenery. As for me, I grew up in New Hampshire and went to college in the White Mountains, but I'm always happy to go back and enjoy the area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniLBw3rLLjGqd3OscoTHFmG-Em-bdlTYxtzZlnBwjv4G569raLiMBlfnZDzkP3aX1KxaR1WO0uB9eXwCKQiq23l35hIKHLDbyK-H21VI6tsQC_NhTNY4AfRr9_MI_j4EL6Lmggx-LLnD3/s1600-h/DSCN1950.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniLBw3rLLjGqd3OscoTHFmG-Em-bdlTYxtzZlnBwjv4G569raLiMBlfnZDzkP3aX1KxaR1WO0uB9eXwCKQiq23l35hIKHLDbyK-H21VI6tsQC_NhTNY4AfRr9_MI_j4EL6Lmggx-LLnD3/s320/DSCN1950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263316623778601618" border="0" /></a><br />We spent the better part of a Sunday in Jackson, which is just up the road from North Conway. Jackson is a very small, but upscale town which appears to have had a pumpkin contest. I took pictures of all the pumpkin people we found.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJP7dwxovI-pila0b0KjACJh8Csw4GcWRxrj9XHVu0FWlQkyO3GnuMvydHdBAhDvoj1B9BcNp3sJJQECDz3qyKziDpf3g3Dm6TZdO1CGk-PElWZ6zrrG1oQL2_tOE9n52LJahCKDxXrMDF/s1600-h/DSCN1949.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJP7dwxovI-pila0b0KjACJh8Csw4GcWRxrj9XHVu0FWlQkyO3GnuMvydHdBAhDvoj1B9BcNp3sJJQECDz3qyKziDpf3g3Dm6TZdO1CGk-PElWZ6zrrG1oQL2_tOE9n52LJahCKDxXrMDF/s320/DSCN1949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263315509572839778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHnRh1vo8jBfW0Vpk2quP9nuRg0_1JCg_VVW1cHwB2r70G9617Sn8ySKpqho0p9MSmLUPkxwxzbH43rglkH0Q52usgaH_jJsgbnwtAYx7zvb68DXHZgTNdI_idbt2Z-w1MpMk_sI-vJVy/s1600-h/DSCN1973.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHnRh1vo8jBfW0Vpk2quP9nuRg0_1JCg_VVW1cHwB2r70G9617Sn8ySKpqho0p9MSmLUPkxwxzbH43rglkH0Q52usgaH_jJsgbnwtAYx7zvb68DXHZgTNdI_idbt2Z-w1MpMk_sI-vJVy/s320/DSCN1973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263316074255645634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguExQbTyCbG6NVyS3JgsAHXxvOxTzEHy6r-tkIMYLaUoRlh2ago_Pc6Xl9N1KqFIoep_JyKvqKpQU8IGZTAfFGryUk4bba0vZgXryfQkX8HufqbmA99L2d5NOdxih2S6uQTcFUuqdE1JyQ/s1600-h/DSCN1968.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguExQbTyCbG6NVyS3JgsAHXxvOxTzEHy6r-tkIMYLaUoRlh2ago_Pc6Xl9N1KqFIoep_JyKvqKpQU8IGZTAfFGryUk4bba0vZgXryfQkX8HufqbmA99L2d5NOdxih2S6uQTcFUuqdE1JyQ/s320/DSCN1968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263315826181657090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeIgAKFFW6iPHvetnT-gefSIK1wBUsHzKG6VaPdNPkbbZeTOVJpGMYrKqZCZ8lMdjKcClWPbROylIsWc1IqOc7wOsNsFvkb9_8Gsk7n3xmqGbSJLWcdcSRtBnYtZpS3n8EDM4Oi4KQOd4/s1600-h/DSCN1979.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeIgAKFFW6iPHvetnT-gefSIK1wBUsHzKG6VaPdNPkbbZeTOVJpGMYrKqZCZ8lMdjKcClWPbROylIsWc1IqOc7wOsNsFvkb9_8Gsk7n3xmqGbSJLWcdcSRtBnYtZpS3n8EDM4Oi4KQOd4/s320/DSCN1979.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263316393335982242" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Halloween!MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-82909608798774824562008-09-21T11:42:00.013-04:002008-09-21T12:34:14.736-04:00Back to the BlogI know I've been negligent of my blog, but I'm back. I have been sewing and promise that I will post my new projects.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULnDMoLByOtUSI8jHqwkLR3FaXrbtuADC8yEOuBZ8jSpGEw0Pm7z-T2vk-xCS1Uw4h-LcyaL4LmbwNYs-4-qdhP86ISzTONmzur7ORHyDxbCKUGLVpoAXNhKCeT_H0f3ypoG_Qdv7R7QE/s1600-h/DSCN1913.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULnDMoLByOtUSI8jHqwkLR3FaXrbtuADC8yEOuBZ8jSpGEw0Pm7z-T2vk-xCS1Uw4h-LcyaL4LmbwNYs-4-qdhP86ISzTONmzur7ORHyDxbCKUGLVpoAXNhKCeT_H0f3ypoG_Qdv7R7QE/s320/DSCN1913.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248502462482047506" border="0" /></a>Yesterday I attended the PR event at Sawyer Brook which is located in an old factory building in Clinton, Mass. I drove there with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">AnnB</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">TrishW</span> from PR. What a lovely time we had. The morning started with everyone checking each other out as we walked in ("I wonder if she made that"). It was great to see members I had not seen since last year at the PR New York weekend, but there were many more people I had never met than there were those I knew. Barb <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Blom</span>, the owner of Sawyer Brook had set up a refreshment table to welcome us and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Deepika</span> was as enthusiastic as always in greeting everyone.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkFxUR0radEZQsHo6BLcw5WTSMmJJ7oVo2gSGGkNyWCegsSbc7yf997ovMk0FrTNI1Xl5sioJjkecAsyau9Dq1juajTekrE8E1l-ot0ZL5C_JmFLFXGETsTKg43PTl_BUTTWH8uZqzrcL/s1600-h/DSCN1915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkFxUR0radEZQsHo6BLcw5WTSMmJJ7oVo2gSGGkNyWCegsSbc7yf997ovMk0FrTNI1Xl5sioJjkecAsyau9Dq1juajTekrE8E1l-ot0ZL5C_JmFLFXGETsTKg43PTl_BUTTWH8uZqzrcL/s320/DSCN1915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248502645108364802" border="0" /></a>Barb started with a truck show featuring various current fabrics, talking about fibre content, origin, and care. She would pass around the sample to us after telling us about each one. This took at least a half hour and I learned a few new things from Barb who is incredibly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">knowledgeable</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7uOT3gu2u0FmPadATI2nAGtEm8Cf5bXIj8kZW2U_P1fHlWQaZls-eq2M2qc2LAkMi6s33lmoTrfVLXIQ9tRGpTOg4P4-7RosJYLdywLyzjsUSLX8rEmxoXivhK57V5ayCnW7OA5i0N2x/s1600-h/DSCN1918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7uOT3gu2u0FmPadATI2nAGtEm8Cf5bXIj8kZW2U_P1fHlWQaZls-eq2M2qc2LAkMi6s33lmoTrfVLXIQ9tRGpTOg4P4-7RosJYLdywLyzjsUSLX8rEmxoXivhK57V5ayCnW7OA5i0N2x/s320/DSCN1918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248508752629187826" border="0" /></a>After the trunk show, we all scrambled to the retail room to search for additions to our stashes. Besides Barb, there where four other Sawyer Brook ladies, Judy, Sue, Dixie and Carol to help us. The store is set up with all the current fabrics on one end along with linings and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">interfacings</span>, buttons and dress/blouse weight silks are in the middle and the back room was loaded with remnants. Barb personally helped me pick out some terrific buttons for a suit I want to make, then helped me find lining in Ambiance and thread. I also bought a lovely rayon knit to make a top, hopefully, in the next week or so. I really love fabric, but managed to refrain from overdoing it for myself as far as my purchases went. I witnessed a couple PR members creating wardrobes which is very easy to do at Sawyer Brook since Barb purchases all her fabrics with the idea of coordination. In the past, I've been known to do the same thing.<br /><br />After about an hour or so of browsing & purchasing, we had a show & tell. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Deepika</span> had asked us <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Bf_odnvJLb8yqLh3LZQE9srOTr4UgV5gGwmfv8JCZp9DSHrPFG9B-yxbLSqnKAObSPqr3XVyGj8KIi1f0vVUV7xr6G4G2Bkizht9hxxsRbgQuOdwdW-1HZlaRygkAJhkC67p2ViMNZB/s1600-h/DSCN1916.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Bf_odnvJLb8yqLh3LZQE9srOTr4UgV5gGwmfv8JCZp9DSHrPFG9B-yxbLSqnKAObSPqr3XVyGj8KIi1f0vVUV7xr6G4G2Bkizht9hxxsRbgQuOdwdW-1HZlaRygkAJhkC67p2ViMNZB/s320/DSCN1916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248508518143114610" border="0" /></a>all to bring in the oldest item we had made. I brought an old apron I made in 1973 with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Marimeko</span> fabric I had purchase from the old Fabrications which was a store in Boston in the 1970s. I also showed a shirt I made in 1994 for my youngest son who had picked out the fabric himself (think dinosaurs) and my latest project which is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">LaFred</span> Maia jacket which I entered in the PR Lined Jacket contest (yes, I will post about the jacket). It was fun to see what others had made over the years. I am estimating that there were 30 of us at this event.<br /><br />After show & tell, the majority of us headed over to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Meadowbrook</span> Orchards for lunch which was about a 5 minute drive from Sawyer Brook. We managed to take over a large portion of the restaurant and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">thoroughly</span> enjoyed each other's company trading knowledge and ideas.<br /><br />It was a great day, lovely weather and wonderful <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">company</span>.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-69774300577536224132008-07-29T20:44:00.012-04:002008-07-30T12:41:45.720-04:00CoveredI have been noticing that several sewing bloggers have been making new covers for their ironing boards. I have had my board for twenty years and had always bought covers for it, but lately I wanted something prettier than the ready-made ones. Since I had bought fabric last year specifically for a cover, I thought now was a good time to make a new one since I couldn't stand looking at the old one.<br /><br />I first marked the edged of the surface on the old cover while still on the ironing board. This was so I could make my pattern from it. I then took the cover off the board and cut along the marked line. This line was only to indicate the shape of the board and not take any other dimensions into account.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTTdh6FXcUECeqVkgmdIp9SQ_rUEy9v_hVR2UHsyKzefkFN7tyPaOMaTi2KTabmUORLiUl_UlgJNjdrJmgh9btsgBkV4qdp7npbQhAtKlATi_nZcXirXA1ddqQmvm8-cGq1tlXAvaKBKs/s1600-h/DSCN1611.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTTdh6FXcUECeqVkgmdIp9SQ_rUEy9v_hVR2UHsyKzefkFN7tyPaOMaTi2KTabmUORLiUl_UlgJNjdrJmgh9btsgBkV4qdp7npbQhAtKlATi_nZcXirXA1ddqQmvm8-cGq1tlXAvaKBKs/s320/DSCN1611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228602086412268274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDapQfVjW4KVimurqFUlo-bPs3u6udhyHtelIYiYC6cvJnIK0HaIE90xlkKZ3JbOeifeLVD-LQu3P_Msf9DpomER-R3lPdiNhjWwLitlnOAwRo1IWbD9eehmkdNR8a-WbQKoZD5yN3XIJF/s1600-h/DSCN1612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDapQfVjW4KVimurqFUlo-bPs3u6udhyHtelIYiYC6cvJnIK0HaIE90xlkKZ3JbOeifeLVD-LQu3P_Msf9DpomER-R3lPdiNhjWwLitlnOAwRo1IWbD9eehmkdNR8a-WbQKoZD5yN3XIJF/s320/DSCN1612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228602094857925698" border="0" /></a><br />I then made a pattern by first marking the center of the cover on a long piece of paper, and placed the old cut cover folded in half on the paper along the center line. I then marked reference lines along the edge of the cover to get the board shape on half the paper, removed the cover and then marked the surface lines and added 2.5 inches all around the pattern for lapping over the edge of the board. Then I folded the paper in half along the center line (which is also the grainline) and cut my pattern.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TV0UIO-0_RcOBAEGv86oHiWBpYgiOdErWU1GIXaKwaO3vQ8jD1CNc3Mig4Sg6Z_bUiOuoX7JpgJxniVPjQwypTotvMqqpleipfI-jVHPMK_2e7X2sPGNfmD27BHtjTn6N4jw9wc8i0b9/s1600-h/DSCN1613.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TV0UIO-0_RcOBAEGv86oHiWBpYgiOdErWU1GIXaKwaO3vQ8jD1CNc3Mig4Sg6Z_bUiOuoX7JpgJxniVPjQwypTotvMqqpleipfI-jVHPMK_2e7X2sPGNfmD27BHtjTn6N4jw9wc8i0b9/s320/DSCN1613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228602104791793826" border="0" /></a>Since I was using a stripe for the new cover, it was easy to line up the center grainline with a stripe. I used 1 1/2 yards of fabric for the cover. Since the fabric was 54" wide, I have enough for another cover.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE-GP3JkALH89GIfbWW-K1K4qt-kwk33CzKj0cCT4o_53qA2SLwbpw4xiUaYd1kCU_nzClgpifPls94lx6iXF1xZhns-RI9UJFxh5OB9_ub6T5J7RfKZxHt_sfgtSgOD_-WPGELCYYjTl/s1600-h/DSCN1615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE-GP3JkALH89GIfbWW-K1K4qt-kwk33CzKj0cCT4o_53qA2SLwbpw4xiUaYd1kCU_nzClgpifPls94lx6iXF1xZhns-RI9UJFxh5OB9_ub6T5J7RfKZxHt_sfgtSgOD_-WPGELCYYjTl/s320/DSCN1615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228604706012778290" border="0" /></a>My board also needed new padding. I had some very old wool blankets which I have been saving and had hoped to use to make a large pressing surface. Since such a surface is not in my near future, I placed one of the blankets over my ironing board, marked the surface with a water soluble marking pen and cut around it leaving about 1 1/2 inches to cover over the edges of the board. I still have one whole blanket left plus half of the one I used, so someday a larger pressing surface will happen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq_M_vQg8-knl0NrM7ol9EpvdjE0KcsrW7zaS-lASCYS3YaGtOrV44x_Bg6thYxd5mWNjSQNSuo9nifwBwP9slb-gUqu-QXRWzaSLHsJJV89MshfVSJVED7iiGenQJ8knhRg9ODU_uGjG/s1600-h/DSCN1616.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq_M_vQg8-knl0NrM7ol9EpvdjE0KcsrW7zaS-lASCYS3YaGtOrV44x_Bg6thYxd5mWNjSQNSuo9nifwBwP9slb-gUqu-QXRWzaSLHsJJV89MshfVSJVED7iiGenQJ8knhRg9ODU_uGjG/s320/DSCN1616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228602481643458418" border="0" /></a>I had purchased two packages of double fold bias tape to finish the edges of the cover. Since one edge of the tape is wider than the other, I placed the wider edge underneath the cover fabric edge and the smaller edge on top and sewed in place using my top-stitching foot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w07C1pkblHBJKIzPrYUFA4jMnCPHaAgX9SuNBwXTg7tWCVWuK7VFrb7x5AREpyPhDZ92TJ_ym5VKMbreh_9uwVfHX7HFY75E5ygQMJA3R15RcAOFJBqivWAkDg-2zDuuqC6Zd1T8DWR8/s1600-h/DSCN1618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w07C1pkblHBJKIzPrYUFA4jMnCPHaAgX9SuNBwXTg7tWCVWuK7VFrb7x5AREpyPhDZ92TJ_ym5VKMbreh_9uwVfHX7HFY75E5ygQMJA3R15RcAOFJBqivWAkDg-2zDuuqC6Zd1T8DWR8/s320/DSCN1618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228602496875803410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEY6Yx6UhUvWvMkvI5kwfVCtEy1lXqpHIgiz4lGQcMGI3JnEjGXgKZ0PFVxnljnAGoWNfxwuKkx2LYk3LqlBu44MdIKx4DGTgFrTK3H_uUbPbtXj1E48Xs5UV0DgNve8TH1IuEiAE5-SR/s1600-h/DSCN1617.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEY6Yx6UhUvWvMkvI5kwfVCtEy1lXqpHIgiz4lGQcMGI3JnEjGXgKZ0PFVxnljnAGoWNfxwuKkx2LYk3LqlBu44MdIKx4DGTgFrTK3H_uUbPbtXj1E48Xs5UV0DgNve8TH1IuEiAE5-SR/s320/DSCN1617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228602489653944210" border="0" /></a><br />Past covers have had a tendency to move and one side the finished edge of the cover ended up at the edge of the board and not underneath the board where it belonged. I decided to add a couple ties to hold the cover in place underneath the board. I used the leftover bias tape, sewing the tape closed, cut four ties from it and attached them to the cover at the point just after where the curve of the narrower end of board ended and again about 10 inches from the square end of the board.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok0xKaU9WPd1HPvPdJ6BEoaV2GTjeEtE0u2_DQ7zFoOqivbcPJrnMKe-R17PH-3XvASg2DSvhoQnXlzqQ9LP2IEHFZO5lptFZ6AP1zjy13g12U5U7qzfr3oEGa6pQjo-gJnlgoC_i2GFO/s1600-h/DSCN1619.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok0xKaU9WPd1HPvPdJ6BEoaV2GTjeEtE0u2_DQ7zFoOqivbcPJrnMKe-R17PH-3XvASg2DSvhoQnXlzqQ9LP2IEHFZO5lptFZ6AP1zjy13g12U5U7qzfr3oEGa6pQjo-gJnlgoC_i2GFO/s320/DSCN1619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228602499870860370" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>I marked the points where I wanted the ties, sewed them down, the folded them over and sewed them again, covering the unfinished edge and securing them in place.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGCiLPxQIxRiT4rNgeDx2Hu-w4by3hpudGj4p3DG3ekZwOfSnKqaC-DFn6wRdK5pKjVMJaQkoqE6s0K8b1S6pgBTzsIuVreJqGzphHw92boQaVpE7kLvkuTonaSsH_ugdnj-a7lFyDBdV/s1600-h/DSCN1620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGCiLPxQIxRiT4rNgeDx2Hu-w4by3hpudGj4p3DG3ekZwOfSnKqaC-DFn6wRdK5pKjVMJaQkoqE6s0K8b1S6pgBTzsIuVreJqGzphHw92boQaVpE7kLvkuTonaSsH_ugdnj-a7lFyDBdV/s320/DSCN1620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228603035220390210" border="0" /></a>I then took a bodkin and ran a cord through the casing created by the bias tape around the edge of the cover.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmN_BJ4HsZbRW8mSORAZMXiVfkf7cZnuP1NiwAfiRttvqAr9tcNQ50XIpNd6fIz2wpQkT5KiEs1ufnNE4kKACIfYe6IfGYyli1_wlHdiN4JONstyt4F624k2lIn5xgBT_-sP5kQtPNViL/s1600-h/DSCN1621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmN_BJ4HsZbRW8mSORAZMXiVfkf7cZnuP1NiwAfiRttvqAr9tcNQ50XIpNd6fIz2wpQkT5KiEs1ufnNE4kKACIfYe6IfGYyli1_wlHdiN4JONstyt4F624k2lIn5xgBT_-sP5kQtPNViL/s320/DSCN1621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228605529002481458" border="0" /></a>Then I adjusted the cording by tightening it around the board and tied the ties under the board.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ByC5UJ1Qsp6XkRJs0mLKsEaGkKOiw4hGItuq3kJadW-0bz5O0SsuZG5O-6hU5eXdaRmaZpsEj3lclEXAYOkqK3Ccf3oaQt09HXSKrUykDB1Z2aflJvYI-dBINouqWPHt5boMtz2BEuHa/s1600-h/DSCN1622.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ByC5UJ1Qsp6XkRJs0mLKsEaGkKOiw4hGItuq3kJadW-0bz5O0SsuZG5O-6hU5eXdaRmaZpsEj3lclEXAYOkqK3Ccf3oaQt09HXSKrUykDB1Z2aflJvYI-dBINouqWPHt5boMtz2BEuHa/s320/DSCN1622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228603048375884866" border="0" /></a>Voila! Now I have a new cover and my only regret is that I didn't make one sooner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsfrk0egRB13t4q7JRRVnREOOmNjKl6N5cWmnB3Ne8jG-MP0ChkMvSY1EaoWy8WSjyf4bu6SS-K-1nEItwSDiMyz_bvNptSis3roqk3AFutm_PncogQWBcxSH5LSLBZKuYlB9vEeQab_9/s1600-h/DSCN1623.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsfrk0egRB13t4q7JRRVnREOOmNjKl6N5cWmnB3Ne8jG-MP0ChkMvSY1EaoWy8WSjyf4bu6SS-K-1nEItwSDiMyz_bvNptSis3roqk3AFutm_PncogQWBcxSH5LSLBZKuYlB9vEeQab_9/s320/DSCN1623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228603057632764210" border="0" /></a><br />By the way, the new SewStylish came today. I do like it and many of the clothes are based on Simplicity 2816. I think the styles are aimed at sewers in their 20's, but there is a lot of good, basic information in this issue. There are loads of ideas and inspiration along with a pull-out section on draping. Amber Eden also stated that this will be the last issue which she is editor, but there will be other issues. I just hope she stays with Threads since there has been so much improvement since she came to the magazine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4-5QhozWDE1JYHnr-hVld0y1Cs22CuU-DEJsjMRfM8TnTE-8-cVVt819gLYR-8qpluKO9LPQZd_Nu0V1BSFu1wkwArPkJks_3mTgZP1AMzfCjWrb2tRXTXa52cNazsLvV0L2rtZ0wmv0/s1600-h/DSCN1626.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4-5QhozWDE1JYHnr-hVld0y1Cs22CuU-DEJsjMRfM8TnTE-8-cVVt819gLYR-8qpluKO9LPQZd_Nu0V1BSFu1wkwArPkJks_3mTgZP1AMzfCjWrb2tRXTXa52cNazsLvV0L2rtZ0wmv0/s320/DSCN1626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228603065715580466" border="0" /></a>MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-2121354763998048612008-07-05T21:36:00.007-04:002008-07-05T22:16:21.323-04:00One Pattern, Two JacketsI am amazed at the people who are constantly sewing and reviewing their latest creations. I barely have time to sew, but envy those that churn out new pieces on a regular basis. Rather than dream about creating new clothes, I decided I just need to do it. One thing that holds me back is the fitting process. Once that is out of the way, things usually move along at a good pace. I guess I'm much more motived once I have a pattern I am comfortable sewing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.patternreview.com/sewing/patterns/burda/8483/8483a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://images.patternreview.com/sewing/patterns/burda/8483/8483a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t1COpy1H-i_pL11r6dGM96uZEgwgQlRMIOgKURsxdE3aM_BdEKYzuaezpVI2NW71ZWaRQNIewypafWwxVfbukkuqtCWH4B91KrdkvmWH_T6A3lD8Tv1lFF5C3TrZxO4OEEq1mMvUqEhh/s1600-h/DSCN1486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t1COpy1H-i_pL11r6dGM96uZEgwgQlRMIOgKURsxdE3aM_BdEKYzuaezpVI2NW71ZWaRQNIewypafWwxVfbukkuqtCWH4B91KrdkvmWH_T6A3lD8Tv1lFF5C3TrZxO4OEEq1mMvUqEhh/s320/DSCN1486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219710566847996770" border="0" /></a> Last year I made Burda 8433 for the PR 2007 SWAP in black linen. I really liked the way this jacket looked and sewed up. My present wardrobe needed a casual jacket other than my denim one and this pattern was just what I needed to fill in the gap. This time I added the collar and cuffs which were not included on my jacket last year. In both cases, I left off the front faux pockets since I think the design is busy enough. Since I am not allowing myself to purchase any more fabric for now (we'll see if I stick with this plan) I shopped my stash and came up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaovYc1olq99DbKdI1nZzHXh8Xz5uegIIGmXaX5asIK6bf5cqACgxHL_LQIOMzEcxk4vU4mBixXqnS3IdeTAHnjjvY-a0XGOiQYLdnmUfvuxv4_nRs0gxBTiXgY1hvZa9nFB26xYAYkYt/s1600-h/DSCN1488.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaovYc1olq99DbKdI1nZzHXh8Xz5uegIIGmXaX5asIK6bf5cqACgxHL_LQIOMzEcxk4vU4mBixXqnS3IdeTAHnjjvY-a0XGOiQYLdnmUfvuxv4_nRs0gxBTiXgY1hvZa9nFB26xYAYkYt/s320/DSCN1488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219710746923879026" border="0" /></a> with a bottom weight cotton in burnt orange. This color is a great contrast to many of my tops and bottoms in my summer wardrobe. I decided to emphasize the top-stitching by using a white thread and adding white buttons from the button stash to give the jacket more of a summer feel. Since I had fitted this jacket last year, the construction time went much faster than if I had never used this pattern. I finished this jacket last week and have already worn it three times. Something tells me that I will be using this pattern again when the right fabric in my stash speaks to me again.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-67937622198278698172008-06-19T21:54:00.009-04:002008-06-20T15:35:52.154-04:00True ConfessionsI haven't been upfront with my fabric purchases. I know I signed up for the PR fabric fast and vowed to only buy fabric when I went to Paris (or other cities I may travel to), but I have to confess that I have added some non-foreign bought fabrics into my stash.<br /><br />In March, Emma One Sock had added to her site this marvelous black sueded silk that doesn't easily wrinkle. I tried not to buy any, but the pull was just too great. Besides this stuff didn't wrinkle, how perfect for travel. So I bought eight yards and plan create my next travel wardrobe around this lovely staple.<br /><br />Then in April I went to the Sewing Expo in Worcester, MA. I usually go for at least two days, but this year I only signed up for one day since there weren't that many classes that interested me this time. I think that this is the fifth year I have gone. In past years, I have taken a lot of classes and did not want to repeat any, therefore, that shrunk my class options. So that gave me more time to shop--which was dangerous. I had gone with the intention of only looking, but the temptation was just too great.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmmnytDFqZshQX_3KLgyCUyUCB2q68rGfLT8-PPqduErATrzRlujibfKSoVOQk-hHciAtAfLN41fHa7UbB6ulQT_KTw8uxLaKGNVqyEeXjN8AHapdJ3v8rVbpGowRG0FvB0fDNpwQOf_S/s1600-h/DSCN1453.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmmnytDFqZshQX_3KLgyCUyUCB2q68rGfLT8-PPqduErATrzRlujibfKSoVOQk-hHciAtAfLN41fHa7UbB6ulQT_KTw8uxLaKGNVqyEeXjN8AHapdJ3v8rVbpGowRG0FvB0fDNpwQOf_S/s320/DSCN1453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213781065263869906" border="0" /></a>First of all, Cynthia Guffey had brought a truck load of silk this time and Cynthia, herself, helped me pick out a couple pieces that she felt suited me. How could I refuse her? I bought four yards of dark purple and two more of brick red. I plan to make a suit in the purple and a jacket with the red. I was tempted to buy more, but stopped with these. After all, I really wasn't supposed to be fabric shopping anyway.<br /><br />Then I came upon Wool House who I have bought from in the past. They carry truly lovely fabrics. Actually, I circled around this vendor a few times, left to look at other goodies at the Expo, but couldn't help being drawn back to this particular place. In my stash there is a great piece of brown wool/mohair blend I bought from Michael's Fabrics last year and was looking for coordinates to go with it for a future swap. That's when I spotted a brown and grey tweed which would make a great jacket. Then there was a large selection of this fantastic wool/silk/bamboo blend and wouldn't you know, some of them coordinated with the tweed. This is another one of those fabrics that doesn't wrinkle and has a wonderful drape to it. Well there was a taupe that just worked great. There were lots more colors to choose from, but I was trying to keep with my fast (really, I was). And I couldn't overlook all the lovely pima cotton shirtings, especially the grey & brown stripe and the grey shirting which felt more like silk than cotton. So I walked away with another nine yards of <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfaGOjh2IO9ukDK5cXvQCzxv_VOZUnXJy4hVPGtXqxxEvibKZ3w2nixPp-yVI90kI4GCmj-yYtVnIDNkzoAz6W3xIGyykCdmJKaog7vG_z5i3ubaE2LEgiK3b0bcl6SGlsO7W_LljsVRj/s1600-h/DSCN1456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfaGOjh2IO9ukDK5cXvQCzxv_VOZUnXJy4hVPGtXqxxEvibKZ3w2nixPp-yVI90kI4GCmj-yYtVnIDNkzoAz6W3xIGyykCdmJKaog7vG_z5i3ubaE2LEgiK3b0bcl6SGlsO7W_LljsVRj/s320/DSCN1456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213781365423145698" border="0" /></a>fabric. When I went to Paris in April, I found another piece to go with this group. I am hoping to start sewing this swap by the end of summer.<br /><br />And I can't leave out Vogue Fabrics. Their selection this year was not as good as in the past, but I found a few pieces of silk twill which would make great linings and they were priced the same a Ambiance. So another eight yards (in brown, green and butter) found their way into my bag. But lining doesn't count, does it?<br /><br />So let's see, eight yards from Emma One Sock, six yards from Cynthia Guffey, nine yards from Wool House and another eight yards from Vogue Fabrics. That's 31 yards added to the stash along with another 15 bought in Paris.<br /><br />I also bought another six yards of lining fabrics for the Great Coat Sew Along (but honestly, there wasn't anything in my stash that went with my coat fabrics). Since the linings won't be around long enough to age, I don't think they should count anyway.<br /><br />I know I have a problem, but I was good in May and only bought needed lining in June. No excuses in July, I promise. Anyway, I've actually bought less fabric than this time last year and have had no regrets so far. Is there a 12 step program for fabric addicts?MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-76904854807482399972008-06-10T13:32:00.005-04:002008-06-10T13:37:32.336-04:00What I Wore Today<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IX33UqG6mvMuZq3WsKyhbYsuWcF92_LUIkwcecfHJiGSyAmpn1X-DnMZqJxdTD4jianXkBMDEVI92CCXWbCKqOSYBlsjON8oFVQm-zy-8ui-20QqXZafXgDCmaWc55s_Ki22FViA98zy/s1600-h/310650904_KEN_8646-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IX33UqG6mvMuZq3WsKyhbYsuWcF92_LUIkwcecfHJiGSyAmpn1X-DnMZqJxdTD4jianXkBMDEVI92CCXWbCKqOSYBlsjON8oFVQm-zy-8ui-20QqXZafXgDCmaWc55s_Ki22FViA98zy/s320/310650904_KEN_8646-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210307166477765346" border="0" /></a>T-shirt: Ann Taylor<br />Capris: J Jill<br />Denim Jacket: Jalie 2320<br />Hardhat: Case International Construction<br />Camera Case: Ritz Camera<br /></div>MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-27584730867731550782008-06-10T12:35:00.020-04:002008-06-23T07:45:33.481-04:00Marilyn and Goliath<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDQmq1CvYzW0UZc7jMh2cq-ngotBuxmhf7ThJ4Z0G5uiR-FLMdXenccOIB9ZXpntJJRAdTidec1Ztcv1_SCbrnw4Ta-RBghzJUPwx-_NQIgOVXr4sMAJaIR1YrC5pv4Ustt474GLXgXMs/s1600-h/DSCN1353.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDQmq1CvYzW0UZc7jMh2cq-ngotBuxmhf7ThJ4Z0G5uiR-FLMdXenccOIB9ZXpntJJRAdTidec1Ztcv1_SCbrnw4Ta-RBghzJUPwx-_NQIgOVXr4sMAJaIR1YrC5pv4Ustt474GLXgXMs/s400/DSCN1353.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210301159175570818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBO_yjDMXXtHNIfRWj2xXrCB8gV5vykGtlV5cdZeZjIf0Vvvme7KKDP9EznVymAQPCv2_JDJC49CARnz1J5pUs74s_Jniabd7LlOzc08lPMZsP86Rf8bw67mc-1xo7V6sykojFBCVweTl/s1600-h/310650751_KEN_8649.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBO_yjDMXXtHNIfRWj2xXrCB8gV5vykGtlV5cdZeZjIf0Vvvme7KKDP9EznVymAQPCv2_JDJC49CARnz1J5pUs74s_Jniabd7LlOzc08lPMZsP86Rf8bw67mc-1xo7V6sykojFBCVweTl/s320/310650751_KEN_8649.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210300021734901218" border="0" /></a><br />No, I don't slay giants. But thanks to my husband, I had the opportunity to go to the top of the highest structure in our city which is a crane built by General Dynamics in the 1970's. It is located in the former shipyard, stands 20 stories high, 400 ft across and is appropriately named Goliath. (A word about the former shipyard--this is the place which originated the saying "Kilroy was here"! During WWII, there was an inspector named Kilroy who left the saying on whatever he had inspected.) The picture at the top shows only half the structure since I was too close to fit it all in a frame. This giant once was the largest crane in North America. Since the shipyard no longer exists, the crane <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCVkCBeR_DbuTXwPeFwxxJt07A6P4E3hnO_tPoOIbIsecqBP1SqER2ztHtx8OMXPzcPCd6fV4f2IFaNEeYvIJKwHCh1HxHFZQSmdxE4x2DoPbL-8f3og8HI6F-CbAdRz26ra0Wd4qaUI8/s1600-h/310639838_KEN_8591-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCVkCBeR_DbuTXwPeFwxxJt07A6P4E3hnO_tPoOIbIsecqBP1SqER2ztHtx8OMXPzcPCd6fV4f2IFaNEeYvIJKwHCh1HxHFZQSmdxE4x2DoPbL-8f3og8HI6F-CbAdRz26ra0Wd4qaUI8/s320/310639838_KEN_8591-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210302171824361586" border="0" /></a>has been sold to Daewoo and will be transported to a shipyard in Romania. To build a new crane would cost $45-60 Million. The Korean company bought it from it's current owner for approximately $650,000 and it will cost $16 Million to dismantle it, ship it and then reassemble it in Romania. Recycling at its best!<br /><br />Ken, our son, Kenny, and I arrived at 8 a.m. and met Mike, the project manager/engineer for the dismantling. Ken has been d<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUgG6-KPQ3y1i2fLJKQTHg04CiqTUL8dFX1ncIY-UR76HFM1RtxIRSV5E_RiEC7brzb70Z8vjC-JbDX8YZWx9IIKOkb18l08q3uRmPkWkJ9-V2HozfLexlO_UFRk82XarID2ErZ8MGErz/s1600-h/310651325_KEN_8614.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUgG6-KPQ3y1i2fLJKQTHg04CiqTUL8dFX1ncIY-UR76HFM1RtxIRSV5E_RiEC7brzb70Z8vjC-JbDX8YZWx9IIKOkb18l08q3uRmPkWkJ9-V2HozfLexlO_UFRk82XarID2ErZ8MGErz/s320/310651325_KEN_8614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210304055717081794" border="0" /></a>ealing with Mike for a while and it turns out that they both earned their undergraduate engineering degrees from the University of Illinois.<br /><br />We were all given hardhats, then took an elevator (thank goodness!) up 15 floors to the first level. What a great view we had. Just a little hazy, but still panoramic. We managed to get inside the center beam which was dark, but walked the entire length once we were on top of it outside. We climbed five flights of stairs to get to that point.<br /><br />We wanted to go to the highest point, but once we arrived there, a couple falcons were determined to keep us from doing that. One of them started swooping around us, just missing our heads several times. We appropriately changed our minds about going to the top. It turns o<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPGYMgMTMB2ov7yKpNSh0NNZqfNTsCbltcoXmqkBdE4hEIm091DN4MyEMzwyLnXTGxg0VtqnN4wmCbSB9ZobfBEKBNAl5NO96pV3bXQd4lCGVntpvkoPiDw7J0qXF0cNVB7graJWwiPPj/s1600-h/310651077_KEN_8619-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPGYMgMTMB2ov7yKpNSh0NNZqfNTsCbltcoXmqkBdE4hEIm091DN4MyEMzwyLnXTGxg0VtqnN4wmCbSB9ZobfBEKBNAl5NO96pV3bXQd4lCGVntpvkoPiDw7J0qXF0cNVB7graJWwiPPj/s320/310651077_KEN_8619-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210300616964777842" border="0" /></a>ut that the falcons had a nest there, but the babies had already hatched. The entire family was removed and placed in a new home a few days ago, but it appears they found their way back to the crane.<br /><br />The structure to remove the crane should be finished in a week or so and it will take only two to three days to bring it down.<br /><br />This was certainly a different way to spend the morning.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-41415207345346619032008-06-08T18:34:00.017-04:002008-06-10T13:56:25.186-04:00Great Coat Sew-AlongI have made all my winter coats for over 30 years and have no desire to purchase a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">rtw</span> one. I have found that the coats I make are much warmer, last longer and of course, fit better. Because of past success in sewing coats, I have joined the sew-along started and run by Marji. When she first came up with this idea on her blog, I thought what a great idea--anyway I could use a new winter coat. Sewing one before you actually need it is an even better idea. In the past, I've started my winter coats in November, maybe not as bad as December, but I put myself under a time constraint.<br /><br />My biggest problem was deciding on a pattern. I have a few in my pattern stash, but nothing looked right for the fabrics I had. I scoured the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">internet</span> looking for the perfect pattern, checking out all the newer patterns, but also looking at all the vintage pattern sites. Then I kept changing my mind about which fabric to use since I had a couple choices in my stash. Back and forth I went. As for fabric I have a wool tweed in different shades of grey and brown, but also I had just purchased a beautiful taupe wool/cashmere coating in Paris. I finally decided that the taupe wool needed a really special pattern. Since I could not find any pattern at the moment which I felt was worthy of this fabric, it was to remain in the stash until the perfect pattern came to my attention.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQRdKhlD3V_TdOEUz0Ex_vAF8rd5179Ta4mtSYEGf1WmG5GUsTvuZTc6xrbKz654Q8ASQPa8dqOHyOiFXWCY37BgETc0rJoKZLRJIzNLdPmdsl_Ds1VrDnVnTX60ySGHelUGACsJtm3gk/s1600-h/DSCN1352.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQRdKhlD3V_TdOEUz0Ex_vAF8rd5179Ta4mtSYEGf1WmG5GUsTvuZTc6xrbKz654Q8ASQPa8dqOHyOiFXWCY37BgETc0rJoKZLRJIzNLdPmdsl_Ds1VrDnVnTX60ySGHelUGACsJtm3gk/s320/DSCN1352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209651770042650482" border="0" /></a>So for my coat I chose the grey/brown tweed which I purchased from Emma One Sock last year. This fabric should be easy to work with as tweeds can be very forgiving. I still need to get lining, but should have that within a week. I'm still looking for buttons, too and can't decide if I want to make bound buttonholes or machine one. I think I will make both--a test bound buttonhole and a machine buttonhole--to help me decide. I also love <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">topstitching</span>, but think it might be lost in this fabric. I'll have to test that, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROgID0bgwCFbUTwhGM1n4VU8uKMLoOVfgHw_Vkx3XG27Kz3uCk4zt-uLJ0sCyx0Ls5g5Cx7Nxd8Yb-OP7O92HkY4sNvRcajCzRe6vuzuH19q75LSKf-ODeK-8ptEvrpK2iDKXn-OWuBv7/s1600-h/V7978.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROgID0bgwCFbUTwhGM1n4VU8uKMLoOVfgHw_Vkx3XG27Kz3uCk4zt-uLJ0sCyx0Ls5g5Cx7Nxd8Yb-OP7O92HkY4sNvRcajCzRe6vuzuH19q75LSKf-ODeK-8ptEvrpK2iDKXn-OWuBv7/s320/V7978.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209651993855900466" border="0" /></a>As for my pattern, I wanted a coat that just hit the top of my knees so it would look good with both pants and coordinating skirts. I finally settled on Vogue 7978 which should be easy to fit. I'm making the grey single breasted coat which I feel will look great in this fabric. This week I plan to start working on the pattern fitting and preparing my fabric.<br /><br />Well, some ladies are making more than one coat. That was certainly not my original intention.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5Kak6-grrPFbm4-C3fKOG1n22ERAvbxQrXlY8jE6HGKn4O5ruFQdamz9bteUEwbRfbdjXcsLmDgr5kxVBs8ShuSafZ6g2SQdcbzE4FOeBkpRaJzFxtBQZplDcHpULYP6EbuxJBox5EtD/s1600-h/DSCN1350.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5Kak6-grrPFbm4-C3fKOG1n22ERAvbxQrXlY8jE6HGKn4O5ruFQdamz9bteUEwbRfbdjXcsLmDgr5kxVBs8ShuSafZ6g2SQdcbzE4FOeBkpRaJzFxtBQZplDcHpULYP6EbuxJBox5EtD/s320/DSCN1350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209654475920736578" border="0" /></a> But, hey, I had this marvelous vintage pattern and some lovely green wool I purchased from Emma One Sock (again!) which would work out great for a short coat. So if I can really get my act together, I plan to make the little coat shown in orange on the pattern envelope. I still need to find a great lining and single button for this, too. Maybe in the near future, I will tackle the suit to wear under it. But for the time being, I think this will look great with pants if I make it a little shorter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PleR-2C0KuN0hnbjhBtfCSwfqzezTRIeGSOhxt6Ek5azKYMAtTgRCy3zO-6rLRXw-QJdbowlGn06bDRR1NzpNFwVI3XLzqQCO5OeI9T8bnAUAqajOEX5Ys_yf4-BW1WjoaU-s4zEo1TT/s1600-h/iPhoto.app.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PleR-2C0KuN0hnbjhBtfCSwfqzezTRIeGSOhxt6Ek5azKYMAtTgRCy3zO-6rLRXw-QJdbowlGn06bDRR1NzpNFwVI3XLzqQCO5OeI9T8bnAUAqajOEX5Ys_yf4-BW1WjoaU-s4zEo1TT/s320/iPhoto.app.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209656705243175778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_263o1UJldn4/SExoNQQlzuI/AAAAAAAABKE/Uyg5mgmoEOs/s1600-h/iPhoto.app.jpg"><br /></a>MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-53502506117027859732008-05-30T21:23:00.008-04:002008-05-31T11:16:40.104-04:00Observations about France and FashionThis was our second trip to France. We visited with a tour group in 2001, this time we made all our arrangements ourselves. The first trip was just a couple months after 9/11. We have traveled to other European countries between these two visits and have found each country is different in its own way, but they all have similarities. They are all different from the US, but in some ways are similar, too. One thing is that no matter what country we were in, people are willing to help give information if asked. People usually were willing to at least try to understand our questions, and most of them were very patient.<br /><br />On our first trip to Paris, almost everyone spoke English. This time, many fewer people spoke English with the exception of hotels and restaurants in Paris. In Bordeaux, there was very little English spoken, but we managed to get around and people were still pleasant to us. We did remember to always say "bonjour" and "merci" which I am sure helped.<br /><br />Black is the color to wear in France. I arrived with a predominately black travel wardrobe, but part of my reasoning was that after 10 days, the dirt was less likely to show and it is an easy color to coordinate. I estimate that seventy percent of the women I observed had some black on and many were black head to toe. Our tour guides at the vineyards in Bordeaux were all dressed in black with the exception of the American guide. Checking out the Satorialist and other French fashion sites contradict this, but the masses were wearing a lot of black during our visit. Everyone seemed to own a black winter coat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://p1.hotornot.com/bl/brands/NRBLS/KMRUQGKKGVHBRVBRKXPX.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 151px; height: 136px;" src="http://p1.hotornot.com/bl/brands/NRBLS/KMRUQGKKGVHBRVBRKXPX.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>In spite of the fashion magazines, stilettos are not the norm. Low heels and flats were much more common. Shoes were also usually black, and lots of boots were worn. People in France walk a lot, so lower heels make much more sense anyway. I only can remember seeing one woman wearing very high heels, and she was with a conference at the hotel so if she was just going from room to room, and meeting to meeting, then the heels probably were not uncomfortable. I saw very few platform shoes. They must be on their way out.<br /><br />More than half the women wore a scarf. All styles and colors were acceptable. On my first visit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.texeresilk.com/images/tying_guide/knots/eropean_loop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 137px;" src="http://www.texeresilk.com/images/tying_guide/knots/eropean_loop.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> to Paris, I estimate that 25% of the women were wearing scarves. This time women without a scarf of some type around their neck were in the minority. The longer, colorful wool or pashmina scarf tied in a European loop like on the right was the most common way to wear one. I had brought five scarves to wear and always had one on. I felt like I belonged! but I also wear lots of scarves when I'm home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://levi.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pLEVI1-3806038t93x106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 132px;" src="http://levi.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pLEVI1-3806038t93x106.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Lots of jeans. On our first visit I could count the number of pairs of jeans I saw on one hand. This time there were everywhere. Skinny dark denim jeans was the norm. No faded, ripped or baggy jeans anywhere. Jeans are a wardrobe staple, but they must look reasonably new, not worn out. Also, jeans were usually highrise.<br /><br />If you wore a skirt, you also wore black tights. I did not see any bare legs or even flesh colored stockings. This may had been influenced by the weather since the temperature was usually in the mid 50's while we were there.<br /><br />The big purse is popular over in France, too. Lots of big purses with lots of hardware. The<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.zappos.com/images/740/7409613/5007-618462-p.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 127px;" src="http://www.zappos.com/images/740/7409613/5007-618462-p.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> purse always looked in proportion to the woman carrying it rather than a purse with a woman attached. Purses were one items that was frequently a color and not black.<br /><br />From what I saw and if France is the leader in what's ahead in fashion, these trends have either already hit the US or will be easy to adapt (except maybe skinny jeans).MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7802648664051649261.post-26985800610454690652008-05-30T07:21:00.013-04:002008-05-30T10:41:06.891-04:00Day Nine - Two Great RestaurantsMay 1. Our last full day in Paris. We really screwed up our trip planning not realizing that May 1 is France's Labor Day--so almost everything was closed! The little bakery we had been going to for breakfast was closed, so we ventured towards the Madeleine district, which was about a 10 minute walk, to find a place to eat. We found Cafe le Madeleine where we dined on croissants and cafe creme and viewed the sparse pedestrian traffic from our window table. It seemed that everyone was sleeping in that day and the cafe only had a few patrons besides us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Paris_gare-de-Lyon.JPG/798px-Paris_gare-de-Lyon.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Paris_gare-de-Lyon.JPG/798px-Paris_gare-de-Lyon.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well, this was looking like a walking-around-and-eating day, then Ken mentioned that he wanted to see the Gare de Lyon which was the station in the movie "Mr. Bean's Holiday". What can I say but, I like fabric, he likes trains. So we took the Metro to the station. It is a rather impressive station built in 1900 for the Worlds Fair, the same event that produced the Eiffel Tower. All the <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47VwVsrFEuTzU3fwq2SJmZ8E0g9Krp55UYA3f6leGivr_8d-Mwk3guHQs_wG0BbC_9gfdXLyv5Sc-bVaqs71I0V9xaO2ukDDVUhjxuqNZjM9RutGlsgAFufthDqTiEREVT5kSW3ENHyPG/s1600-h/DSCN1308.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47VwVsrFEuTzU3fwq2SJmZ8E0g9Krp55UYA3f6leGivr_8d-Mwk3guHQs_wG0BbC_9gfdXLyv5Sc-bVaqs71I0V9xaO2ukDDVUhjxuqNZjM9RutGlsgAFufthDqTiEREVT5kSW3ENHyPG/s320/DSCN1308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206140497748869906" border="0" /></a>train stations in Paris that I have visited are very orderly and easy to get around. I have been in a number of major train stations in the US, but the French have us beat when it comes to stations. These are actually places where you can hang out which is exactly what we did. Ken's ulterior motive was to go to the grand restaurant located in the station. <a href="http://www.le-train-bleu.com/uk/galerie.htm">Le Train Bleu </a>(watch out, there is music to the homepage link) was built as part of the station and has been featured in many movies. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.le-train-bleu.com/uk/galerie/galerie01-entreerestaurant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.le-train-bleu.com/uk/galerie/galerie01-entreerestaurant.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> This place was the most elegant restaurant I have ever visited. Since we were there, we decided to have lunch and take in the full experience! This place was very expensive, but we both settled on the salmon which was 27 Euros and one of the less expensive items on the menu. It was absolutely wonderful. We both had a glass of wine, salad, cheese, ice cream for dessert, coffee and calvados. The bill was well over 125 Euros (for lunch, no less!), but well worth the price. Lunch took about two hours start to finish. I would certainly do this again. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rmc9Lbxtcgz9Jk2JBuSGObZBBbQzkSLe_nGG8MTRapI4NATMZ2KqzmnQXK84bnWcuIz_DtnA7jTRwg_cFYqqFzPSFqcPOEjj9zQxgVITqXF892IB82-jmRhD8oRGu9klfXUOGssOaNrM/s1600-h/DSCN1339.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rmc9Lbxtcgz9Jk2JBuSGObZBBbQzkSLe_nGG8MTRapI4NATMZ2KqzmnQXK84bnWcuIz_DtnA7jTRwg_cFYqqFzPSFqcPOEjj9zQxgVITqXF892IB82-jmRhD8oRGu9klfXUOGssOaNrM/s320/DSCN1339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206154675435914066" border="0" /></a>After lunch we decided to look around the area outside since we had never been to this part of Paris. We ended up at the Seine and followed it until we reached Hotel de Ville (city hall) then we walked up Rue de Rivoli. At this point, it dawned on us that we had not seen the Eiffel Tower during our visit, so on to the Metro and we headed toward the ET. This was where everyone was hanging out. Even though it was a Thursday, since it was a holiday, it seemed like a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrueQL0LY7ZSdsONsitmRzegA3bsvcbvOyg9f0IOMG1_vaDXTCvUe4PnDkTajBM6hhecTINEyTSt-KuyANjjv0_R6O_is_73rGBv3OV8-YqDlqOs1pjlmirSOKBhRezj8Hs_MNF3l2NTQ/s1600-h/DSCN1340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrueQL0LY7ZSdsONsitmRzegA3bsvcbvOyg9f0IOMG1_vaDXTCvUe4PnDkTajBM6hhecTINEyTSt-KuyANjjv0_R6O_is_73rGBv3OV8-YqDlqOs1pjlmirSOKBhRezj8Hs_MNF3l2NTQ/s320/DSCN1340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206154851529573218" border="0" /></a> Sunday. We did not want to stand in line to go up the tower, so we just walked around it. I found the place I plan to live in my next life. It's the apartment with the red awnings located across from the Eiffel Tower.<br /><br />By now it was after 5 p.m and we had dinner reservations in the 9th Arrondissement for 8:30, so we headed back to our hotel to relax, freshen up, and change our clothes and start packing for our trip back home the next day. We had made these reservation in February and had been trying for over two months to contact them. They are very particular as to the time of day when they would take reservations, so it was a big effort on our part. Ken had read about this restaurant in Bon Appetite and found it interesting that one of the hottest places to eat in Paris was run by an American. We left the hotel around 7:30 taking the Metro then walking to the restaurant. We got there a little too early, so walked around the neighborhood and found another restaurant to try on our next trip. By 8:30 the restaurant was opened and one couple was seated. In France, I guess people arrive fashionably late, too. But by 9 p.m. everyone was seated. The restaurant is called <a href="http://www.springparis.blogspot.com/">Spring</a> and has only one seating and a fixed menu with no choices (unless you make a specific request in advance). If you check out the blog for the restaurant, there is a link to a webcam located in the restaurant. The kitchen cam has been off the past couple weeks, but the seating area is usually up. This will give you an idea of the size of this place. The restaurant seats only 16 people and the kitchen and chef are in the same room as the dining room, just located in the back of the room. This place was not romantic, but it was cozy. We were seated next to two gentlemen, one French and the other a transplanted American who had been living in France for the past 17 years. He had been trying to make reservations for several months himself. Even in France it was had to get into this place. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7796/1325/1600/CIMG2686.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7796/1325/1600/CIMG2686.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We started off with a squash soup that was delicious, then an appetizer of gravlax and vegetables with spun sugar over it. The main course was pigeon (hey, it's France!). I had never had this before, but it tasted pretty much like chicken since it was a bird--a tiny bird of mostly dark meat. Dessert was fresh strawberries with a reduction sauce. All portions where small, but we did not leave starving by any means. Rather than buy a bottle of wine, we asked to be served a glass of the appropriate wine for each course, so we had four different wines, and of course, calvados after everything. Dinner took four hours, but did not drag. Conversing with the American and his French friend seated next to us kept the evening entertaining along with the great food. It was 12:30 a.m. by the time we left, finding ourselves the only ones on the street at that time of night. We were hoping that we would catch the last Metro train back to our hotel, and luckily we did! Since we did not have to leave the hotel until around 10 a.m. the next day and were mostly packed, we set the alarm clock for 8 a.m.MarilynBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065506338445261303noreply@blogger.com2