Monthly Archives: November 2010

‘giving day art

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The feasting last week was fabulous.  We invited some friends over and I really outdid myself with the tablecloth;  rolling out the white butcher paper and encouraging everyone to doodle. 

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The back story here is that we have this giant cottage cheese bucket full of markers, and the like, that hasn't' moved off the center of the table for weeks now.  It's quite convenient, although not that pretty (thinking I need to take the spray paint to it. ding ding ding. better late than never right?). G wanted a tablecloth for feasting and together we thought a paper one, like in the 'fancy dinner stores' would be fun.  I sugested to M that we write out the name cards straight on the table but she was too busy playing outside to want to take the time.  No worries here, by all means play outside :-)  

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Doodling was done and there was even a friendly competition regarding the best weather system.  I think we'll have paper tablecloths more often.

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3 tools and an afternoon

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Armed with only a hammer, staple gun and screwdriver/drill in the space of a quick afternoon I gave a breath of fresh air to our kitchen chairs. 

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I pretty much love this 1970's set that came from my Grandma.  It was her dining set but since our dining room is filled with racks, stuffed with bolts and trim, and a giant cutting table, we moved it to the kitchen.  The table could use a little help, maybe a light sand and fresh stain (I'm not really sure so I'm not doing anything … yet).  But it has extenders, making it perfect for holidays when we have bonus people to share meals with.

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I decided on this fabric because it wouldn't be the same design on every chair.  Stripes down one middle, flowers down the other.  But not quite centered, because I like it like that and because I've waited so long I'm almost out of fabric and had to make 2 chairs fit on 44" wide wide, when in actuality I really needed a couple more inches.

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 These aren't the first chairs I've recovered and I've learned a few things along the way.

*If the current covers are the original and still all nice and tight do NOT take them off, this is going to save you a lot of time and will make it easier to get the re-cover nice and smooth along the edges.  Just put your new fabric on top.

*Take note of how the corners are done so you can make the folds the same way, helping to make your corners as nice as possible.

* Start in the center of one side, put one staple in, pull your fabric taught, staple the opposite center.  Now the other two centers. 

*Decide which side you're going to work on first and put a few staples in do the same with the opposite.  I did NOT work from one side to the other put rather stapled one on close to the outer edge, then one close to the center, same for the opposite side of the chair.  Then the same thing for the other half of the 1st side.   Filling each side in with staples.  Finally, I completed the last 2 sides in the same manner.

*screw your seats back into the chairs.

Clear as mud???

Have fun!

good for the soul

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We got out of our space, out of our routines and got much more in tune with each other.  This past weekend was good for the soul.  There is much to be thankful for.

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a gaggle of girls

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beautiful scenery I didn't realize Garner was ON the Frio river :-) We didn't pack quite enough clothes for a romp in the river.  Good thing we could fashion a clothes line out of rope and the trees were plentiful.

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This girl loves poll climbing and took full advantage  at our campsite.

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no computers, no beeping only buzzing, running, laughing, page turning and the like.

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spooky stories were told by the light of the full moon.

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mellows were marshed

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yummy.

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water was heated

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Chocolate and coffe were sipped

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and we're ready to go again!

 

 

 

good for the soul

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We got out of our space, out of our routines and got much more in tune with each other.  This past weekend was good for the soul.  There is much to be thankful for.

112510-1

a gaggle of girls

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beautiful scenery I didn't realize Garner was ON the Frio river :-) We didn't pack quite enough clothes for a romp in the river.  Good thing we could fashion a clothes line out of rope and the trees were plentiful.

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This girl loves poll climbing and took full advantage  at our campsite.

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no computers, no beeping only buzzing, running, laughing, page turning and the like.

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spooky stories were told by the light of the full moon.

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mellows were marshed

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yummy.

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water was heated

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Chocolate and coffe were sipped

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and we're ready to go again!

 

 

 

twice this week

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6

Today is the second time this week G has worn this dress to school, I think she likes it.  Despite reminding her that she's repeating this dress she was undeterred, and this is NOT a battle I'm going to wage.  My number one goal in the morning is to make sure everyone is fed, clothed and takes care of hygiene with as little fuss a muss as possible and in time for an on-time departure.  Getting to school on time and starting the day without anyone having a come-apart = success!

Back to the dress; I'd like to introduce Abacadabra 103.   Abacadabra patterns often have lots of gores and lots of twirl – darn I didn't get any twirling shots, I'll have to remedy that – this dress is no exception.  Made for KNITS, with a tie back, fancy sleeves and an underdress, that can easily be shorted for a cami.  This is a good pattern.

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Look closely at the pattern cover and you'll notice that this dress is cut short, I'd almost say tunic-ish.  The dress here is the 128 size, G is presently 131 cm tall.  I traced to the 152 bottom line (not adding any additional hem allowance on top of that) and it's at her knees.  I didn't want to lose any length in hemming so I opted for a bias trim hem.  I retrospect I REALLY wanted to add both the leaflet and the wolfie and sweeny ribbons along the bottom to add a pop of blue, but that should have been done before joining all the gores and topstitching.  Next time, there's always a next time.

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Instead of making the cami or underdress I opted for a "fake tank" similar to this one.  I was a little worried about how another layer of knits would get along and didn't want a bunch of, well, bunching up.  I added the fake after the dress was completed and then attached it by stitching along the same threads that attach the contrast V portion.  My piece goes up from the bottom of the V 4.5".  Stretching the campan knit seems to have helped it to not get all gappey.  Score!

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These sleeves are a pretty cool.  I attached my label just about the drapey part.  Even with adjusting length and adding the fake tank.  I finished with enough time to get to the gardens.  This was an easy dress to make.

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G is such a ham for the camera but she was cold and it seems she's like her mother… it's written  all over her face that somethings not quite right.

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fyi: fabrics are mad sky, stenzo dots and campan, pink/brown.

 

twice this week

Posted on by
6

Today is the second time this week G has worn this dress to school, I think she likes it.  Despite reminding her that she's repeating this dress she was undeterred, and this is NOT a battle I'm going to wage.  My number one goal in the morning is to make sure everyone is fed, clothed and takes care of hygiene with as little fuss a muss as possible and in time for an on-time departure.  Getting to school on time and starting the day without anyone having a come-apart = success!

Back to the dress; I'd like to introduce Abacadabra 103.   Abacadabra patterns often have lots of gores and lots of twirl – darn I didn't get any twirling shots, I'll have to remedy that – this dress is no exception.  Made for KNITS, with a tie back, fancy sleeves and an underdress, that can easily be shorted for a cami.  This is a good pattern.

111710-1

Look closely at the pattern cover and you'll notice that this dress is cut short, I'd almost say tunic-ish.  The dress here is the 128 size, G is presently 131 cm tall.  I traced to the 152 bottom line (not adding any additional hem allowance on top of that) and it's at her knees.  I didn't want to lose any length in hemming so I opted for a bias trim hem.  I retrospect I REALLY wanted to add both the leaflet and the wolfie and sweeny ribbons along the bottom to add a pop of blue, but that should have been done before joining all the gores and topstitching.  Next time, there's always a next time.

111710-2

Instead of making the cami or underdress I opted for a "fake tank" similar to this one.  I was a little worried about how another layer of knits would get along and didn't want a bunch of, well, bunching up.  I added the fake after the dress was completed and then attached it by stitching along the same threads that attach the contrast V portion.  My piece goes up from the bottom of the V 4.5".  Stretching the campan knit seems to have helped it to not get all gappey.  Score!

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These sleeves are a pretty cool.  I attached my label just about the drapey part.  Even with adjusting length and adding the fake tank.  I finished with enough time to get to the gardens.  This was an easy dress to make.

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G is such a ham for the camera but she was cold and it seems she's like her mother… it's written  all over her face that somethings not quite right.

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fyi: fabrics are mad sky, stenzo dots and campan, pink/brown.

 

wasn’t expecting that

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12

I've had this in my head for a while,  a long while … too long.

A little double border Japanese fabric and fun coordinates to jazz it up.

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This design took a little detour after the pre-washing.  I threw the above pieces into the wash along with various clothes that were waiting patiently in front of the machine.  Much to my surprise and displeasure I was met with very PINK Japanese fabric when I opened the washer.

READ ON and don't shy away from that awesome red/white dot fabric!  The dots are still white, the white dress shirt that was included is still white, all the other pink/red and "light" colored clothes are still as they were.  The LAGUNA that is half pink/red half lime green is still a vibrant lime green with no pink where there shouldn't be.  ONLY this fine, darling even, Putite Encore fabric took off and went pink. 

A google search later I thought I'd try a small amount of bleach in a pot of almost boiling water to remedy the predicament.  The pink did wash away, it was quite a sight to behold.  Only problem was, so did the colors.  The poor fabric is now light grey, white and orange-ish.  I think it'll make some nice napkins or something. 

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Fast forward to new yards of fabric washed, by themselves, I wasn't taking any chances.  A final pattern read through and then the sewing commenced.  The KYOKO pattern by Modkid, whipped up pretty easily.  If it weren't for the operator error of attaching the bodice to the skirt having the top INSIDE OUT, I would have made it though without having to used the "un-picker" at all.

Sorry I declined to take pictures of these debacles, because although I can laugh at myself – I, too, have my limits!

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M is 6 and pretty regular sized.  This size 6 seems a little big, although it is made to be roomy.  Since it's a woven with no fasteners if it were too fitted there would be no getting it on and off.  The OBI sash is a great compliment to the dress, and I much prefer it with sash to without.  Yesterday, while playing outside the obi kept inching it's way down her tummy.  Today I made sure to place it high and it stayed just fine for the photo shoot at the Japanese Tea Gardens as well as the romping that was done on the park's playground equipment.  I think placement might be key.

Footnote:  Placement doesn't seem to be key.  Save yourself a bit of headache and attach a small sew in snap, just one should do, one either side of the cross over and the top edge of the obi

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hemmed with westfalen bias and leggings are from the LAGUNA pattern in stenzo dot with lyrcra (no saggy knees after a few washings)

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Kyoko obi sash with petite encore faces and dots in fire ribbon

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Sleeves, this is the other side of the double border fabric used for the bodice.  I used every bit of 2 yard for the dress.  I could have used a little less but I wanted to place the sleeves on the fabric just so.

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…love…

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