relaxed to skinny

My mother bought these Gap jeans for me about 3 years ago at a thrift store. After shrinking them, it became apparent that I needed to lower the waistline. I removed the waistband, replaced the zipper-fly with velcro, and tapered the legs (and added some length to the legs, with slits on the sides). The skinnyfication was not as hard as I thought it would be. Overall satisfaction with reconstruction: 7 out of 10

new bag for April and Peter

click on the photo to view more photos


April and Peter are about to have a baby. This is the bag I made for them to carry around their baby items + personal stuff like wallet, cell phone, keys, etc. It took a long while to complete because I was making it up as I went along.

materials:
floral curtains
blue table runner with neat raised pattern
striped bedsheets
vintage button from grandma's button tin
blue satin ribbon
batting
blue bias tape
acrylic felt

textile art, thrift, and gift

This is my first attempt at this "photo to textile" representation - I sewed a bunch of fabric scraps to a piece of muslin then stretched it all over a wooden frame. The photograph I interpreted is one of a golf course by Christop. This is a present for my boss who loves to play golf.


Recent offerings from Salvation Army Family Thrift Store:
>>> "Xhileration" red denim shorts that fit great
>>> "Lux" turquoise cotton tiered peasant skirt with tulle trim
>>> "Symphony Classics" vintage shirt dress (shown below, click for full view)


Recent gifts include:
>>> "Predictions" light brown mary jane/ballet hybrid (shown above)
>>> vintage leather purse (shown below, in midst of workspace)

dress #1 prototype

(Check out all the full-size photos, and please e-mail me with any feedback :) I don't have many people around here for second-opinions.)

I want to make a dress! I have a beautiful blue patterned pillowcase I'd like to use for the body and a large rose/pink fabric napkin I want for the upper portion.

Inspired by suzdeth's tutorial for a smock top, I started working on this mock-up made of bed sheets a few days ago. Of course with a pillowcase there's only so much fabric to work with, so to get used to this, I cut out 2 pieces from the sheets that are the same height as the pillowcase and half the width of the pillowcase when seam-ripped and laid flat.

I think this design would look at lot better if the main part flared out from the top band instead of going straight down. Does that make sense? Right now, it's just a straight tube that's gathered at front and back to fit the top band. The pillowcase I plan to use is patterned so perhaps that will distract the eye from unslightly bunchiness? I don't want to put a contrasting belt all the way around because that would take away from the pattern on the front of my pillowcase for final version.

Questions:
1) Have fabric ties in the back?
2) Make flared instead of straight?

If I make it flare out, I will have to add fabric panels of some sort to extend the sides of my pillowcase pieces - but I rather not :-p

Changes that will be implemented for my final version:
>> longer shoulder straps by an inch or so
>> add a lining (these white linens will be the lining)
>> might add another panel to the bottom and tack on a few horizontal layers of black lace

Air Oeuvre is online!

My husband has launched Air Oeuvre, a sport kite design company. Wholesale is in the works, but for now he is selling them directly. At least, go check out his handy-work. We've been using our new Pfaff for sewing the kite sails. I inspired the sail pattern and did up the website. His brother, Steven, helps with framing the kites with carbon rods. One of his latest customers, Frazer Worley, took these photos. Check it out!

Abstract Flower Brooch and Thread Collection

I was inspired by mollychicken's tutorial for simple fabric brooches. I made this one (my first) for my mother recently - hopefully she got it in the mail! I plan on making more of these soon, and also hairclip versions.

Specs:
+ multiple layers of materials from the following sources:
- suede scraps someone gave me
- egyptian cotton sheets
- cotton landscape print
- backside of stretch denim jeans
- fabric covered button from grandma's stash
- vintage sky blue cotton curtains
- brown cordouroy pants
- brown embroidery thread
+ about 4" across
+ 1-1/4" steel nickle-plated pin back



And as you can see, this is part of my thread collection. I have a lot of wooden spools (most with little/no thread) that are up for grabs if anyone wants to trade me something for them :)

About two years ago on eBay, I won an auction of thread and small sewing-related knick knacks. I haven't bought a lot of new thread; this photo shows mostly someone else's old things.

ridiculous shirt made cute

My grandmother-in-law knows a "plus-sized" older woman who loves crazy prints and crazy designs. I got a heap of her clothes. This is first reconstruction from this stash.

I removed the 3/4 length sleeves. There are three tiny pleats at the shoulder, on the front, hidden under the collar. This causes some puffiness. I applied red, double fold bias tape to the armholes. Taking in the sides proved to be a bit difficult; twas my first somewhat successful altering of a woven fabric garment with a zipper in the back.

It's my new favorite shirt. Click for larger image.

My first "wedding" cake.

My friends Sandy and Renee were married this evening, and I made them a small simple wedding cake. Click on the image for more information.

dress, dresser, and dressed up wingback

Last week, I spent a few hours with Jackie one day and with Oma and Opa on another day. I ended up leaving with all sorts of neat things, like...

+ 3 80s leather shoulderbags with gold accents and neat metal closures
+ 1 wingback (?) chair that she lovingly reupholstered
+ 1 secondhand yellow/pea green curtain panel (same color as our living room wall) which serves as a cover for the chair
+ 1 secondhand dark wood night stand with tiny drawer
+ 1 secondhand dark wood mini-dresser that matches a large dresser I already have
+ 1 tall gold desktop clock with chime and glass dome cover
+ 3 pieces of fabric, with printed pieces/instructions to make 2 dolls and 1 country cow apron

Here is the little dresser. It's only a few feet tall. My grandmother crocheted the orange and green mat.

Earlier in the month, I wore this robe/dress thing. I'm still wondering what I will do with it (sell, reconstruct, keep?). Click for full-size picture.

squirrels and magnolias

Sitting at the computer desk and looking out the bedroom window, I notice a squirrel in my front yard that is working its way down a tree and INTO my mailbox. I grab the camera and make way out the front door, tip-toeing ever so quietly out into the yard. But darn-it-all, the little bugger has already run off and up the tree. Did he snatch a little magnolia blossom for himself?

Spanish, Chef hats, and ice cream

04.21.06

Today at work when my boss made a telephone call to a customer to ask a question about her cake order, he discovered that she spoke mostly spanish and not enough english (for him). After he hung up with her and tried to find someone who spoke her language, I reluctantly came forward and offered to call her.

Despite my completion of four high school spanish courses, I am not confident about my ability to speak spanish. To escape any possible embarrassment, I secluded myself in the boss's office to make this private phone-call; no one else would be able to hear my attempts to communicate with this woman. Before I dialed the number, I recalled a few words that I needed: Hablo español pequeño. I scribbled a couple of other spanish words on a piece of paper as well.

I called her. We communicated. It was the highlight of my day. During our conversation, I apologized for not knowing how to say what I wanted to say - I was upset with myself for not remembering words like "what," "when," and "how many!" - but we got through it. It felt special, to work hard at this simple task of communicating, and understand each other in our own way.

04.20.06

+ "off-the-clock" antics at work - found some disposable chef hats in the boss's office and well, as expected, I put them on and waited until someone found me and joined in on the hat wearing
+ had a nice ride home from work listening to the Black Eyed Peas - really loud!
+ gave away some fabric via the local Freecycle - she was so happy!
+ visited with my mom and enjoyed reminiscing while sipping a ColdStone Creamery Smoothie

art museum, sail patterns, spring cleaning

03.30.06 - visited the Tampa Museum of Art to admire the selected works of Maurice Sendak and Keith Haring
04.02.06 - collaborated with Robert on the sail pattern design for his kites: the Mohawk and the Spike
04.03.06 - clearing out the clutter in the house and listing non-fiction books about pop culture on Amazon.com
- went to Treasure Island and got some good video of Rob and T.C. flying their matching Mohawks
- currently obsessed with looking at cat pictures at Flickr.com, especially those of Jimmy Leo

Featured on Etsy.com !!!!

Eeek! I'm excited! I got an e-mail this morning from one of my customers saying that one of my handmade items is featured on the front page of Etsy today! The featured item on 03.23.06 is my Reconstructed Jean Skirt with Pink Felt Flowers.

Edit on 4.17.06 - SOLD!

Day off in Downtown

+ scheduled a pick-up of my fabric donation to a local sewing class for girls
+ photographed 3 kites @ Gulfport beach for reviews on KiteLife Magazine
+ parked in downtown and walked around and sneezed like mad (oak pollen) but was a beautiful day out!
+ paid the utility bill
+ ate at subway and pondered what life would be like if we lived in a small apartment downtown - no need to use the car because everything but family is so close, having less "stuff" to clutter our lives, not owning a house
+ looked around Star Booty and learned that they take cool clothing, etc. for store credit and also consign handmade items/art
+ came home and now I'm off to clean more

Rob's new kite and video

Oh yeah - Rob's been rocking his kite-making skillz. This is his standard version "Mohawk," soon to be available for sale. This is the kite that he has been testing and losing sleep over for months. I think it paid off.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO featuring the music of The Dismemberment Plan, Pedro the Lion, and Headphones.

day trip to saint augustine

highlights from the fun-fly kite day trip:

- being awake before the sun rises
- hearing Robert's first handmade kite (the Mohawk) roar through the air like a fighter jet in 25 mph winds
- watching dumb people feed sea gulls and other beach/park birds
- being proud of Robert for his great job with the Mohawk
- being exposed to unhealthy amount of Jimmy Buffett

birthday details and thrift store scores

Well! I had a great day. Started out with a Robby hug before I went to sleep a little past midnight. In the morning, my mom came to my house to teach me how to crochet. Then my big brother brought burritos, and we reminesced (sp?) about growing up.John brought presents from my dad and Susan. Then Rob's mom picked me up and took me to a great Goodwill! Spent about an hour there and I hardly got past the SHOES. It was great. (see pictures below) Then Rob and I went to Kinjo Japanese Resturant where I recieved free dinner - woohoo! Then to his mom's house for ice cream b-day cake and (half) a Godiva Rum Truffle (which was the only "alcohol" I had) and visit with Oma. Then home for seam-ripping and Olympics-watching and a phone call with my dad. And to bed I go! Yay!

Rob & Steve - Sawgrass Lake Park

Robert and Steve went to Sawgrass Lake Park in St. Petersburg, FL, on Tuesday. Click on the photo to view my flickr photo set. All photos by Robert, except the one of him, which I suppose Steven took.

Robby made a kite.

Robert made this. It looks so beautiful in the air. Once I get a pic of it in the air, I'll replace this photo. But you get the idea. Tuxedo!

Candace sent me books!

Robert's mother's sister's friend Candace has been reading my journal and thought I'd enjoy some books of hers that she no longer needs.

1. Classic Millinery Techniques: A Complete Guide to Making & Designing Today's Hats
2. Hat Tricks: 80 Instant Makeovers to Transform Ordinary Hats into Fabulous Creations
3. Stitch & Stencil: Over 40 Easy Fabric-Based Projects
4. The Complete Soapmaker: Tips, Techniques & Recipes For Luxurious Handmade Soaps
5. The Complete Candlemaker: Techniques, Projects, and Inspirations

I'm really getting into the first book. But in order to jump into any millinery projects, I'll definitely need a wooden hat block thing - which I've never seen in person. And then some buckram and millinery ribbon. I have almost everything else. Perhaps I'll hit up St. Pete Freecycle to see if anyone has a hat block. Wish me luck!

Also, in my research I found this inspirational painting by frenchman Edgar Degas - The Millinery Shop. According to the Art Institute of Chicago, its oil on canvas and from 1884/90. I forgot how much I enjoy Impressionism.