Still Standing

I love NYC, I love Broadway. But I'm glad to be home.

The Balmain isn't done, but I did find SOME time to work on it. I also found time to SHOP... Our hotel was just a few blocks from the garment district, just dreamy. DH made friends with everyone at M & J Trimming, and also with the owner at Mood Fabrics, - we had to ship boxes home... Think it's a good thing we don't reside in NYC...

The weather was all over the place. Freezing (all the cashmere in the world couldn't keep me warm), and then a heatwave (95). DD returned from the Rockefeller Center ice rink stating she should have brought her bathing suit cause it had turned into a pool :))

And now I think it's time for a giveaway:

There were so many entries for the last magnifiers, so this time I'm giving away TWO :) All countries welcome as always.

Just leave me a comment on this post and I will add your name in the random drawing, to be done on Friday, April 23.

I hope to get back to sewing soon. It's been a long two months and DH and I will only get busier in the coming months, but I need it BAD in order to keep my sanity. I still need to unpack, though...

This pair of Magnifiers...

... will go to:

Daisy!

Please email me at bjorum at mac dot com.

You are all so deserving, thank you for telling me what you could use a pair of magnifiers for. I love reading those mini stories, it's like peeking into everyone's sewing room, and in one case; kitchen :)) I'm using mine for all sorts of things other than sewing:

excellent for removing splinters

checking your child's eye for stray eyelash or the likes

checking for lice- yikes! (so far so good though)

... and how about reading that fine print on all sorts of contracts :))... Not so fine anymore, that's for sure :))

More giveaways soon, maybe even while I'm in NYC. Nancy K, we should definitely try to get together as well. Grace, I'm not sure how much, if any, of April will be spent there, but I'll let you know.

Bound Buttonholes

Since I had more construction photos of this coat, I decided- being on a roll and all that :)), another mini tut was in order. Must be tons of great info on this in cyberspace, but here it is for what it's worth;

The Very Incomplete Bound Buttonhole Tutorial

And notice on the side bar of my blog: I have put a picture of the Magnifiers that are glued to my head on a daily basis. Lindsay T used them while constructing a gorgeous, boned, strapless dress- What I Learned, Part 1. I have an extra pair... maybe another giveaway in the future? :)) Seriously, I couldn't sew without them, and I mean it. You may not believe me, but once you've tried these you'll never go back, they are a blessing.

Be Like Edna

You know you love her. Edna Mode. The über fabulous designer from The Incredibles.

That spunky woman wants to see EVERYTHING.

And she does.

And, finally, I do too.

Kathleen asked to know more about the magnifier I mentioned in my last post.

I was graced with perfect vision- until a few year ago. All of a sudden ingredients, instructions, news papers... everything seemed to conspire against me. I finally surrendered to a pair of reading glasses. That's close to a year ago (I think). I got +1 and +1.25, but it's getting a lot worse. And how do I know that? Because my arms aren't long enough to thread the needle that's how ;) So when it came time to do the beadwork on the Balmain jacket I knew it was time to be like Edna.

I was shopping at Fire Mountain Gems website for pearls and crystals and decided to look for a magnifier while I was at it. I picked this one because it has the three-in-one feature, was lightweight and inexpensive ($8.81). If you click on the link below it will take you directly to the product:

Magnifier at Fire Mountain Gems

Here's a picture of the magnifier with some more details.

It's truly quite amazing, and Kathleen, I think it will work great for the purpose you stated in your comment. I had left faint marks on the velveteen with a watercolor pencil which I could not find without the magnifier. I don't have to be close either, just about regular distance, so it doesn't cause any strain on the back or neck. I'm sure this could be a variable due to each person's eyesight, but still be workable for most. And since it's so lightweight I can wear it all day long. Which I do. There's always something that needs a closer inspection for this Bubblegum Monk ;)