I managed to get some sewing done

The outfit is not finished yet, thus no pics yet, but I did sew a bit yesterday afternoon. Had some animal print rayon that was dying to become a pair of Louise Cutting's One Seam pants and a simple top for summer. All that is left is the hemming and finishing the neckline of the top. Maybe pics later today.

I'm awaiting my very first Hot Pattern. I watched early on with all the excitement folks had about that pattern line, but nothing called out to me. I ordered the Cosmopolitan Dress pattern. I saw a few made up and reviewed and decided it was time for me to try one too.

Have you seen Erika B's crocheted dress here? (Her blog is here.) Isn't it fabulous? Makes me want to do one myself. I crochet, but don't know if I have the "stick to it" factor to finish such a project. I'll keep thinking about it.

I really wanted this pattern, but the bidding got out of my budget. It sold for $56+ on E-bay. Oh well, maybe one will come my way some day.

Well, need to get going. Time to go exercise!

A week gone by

A week has past and not much sewing going on here--not that I didn't want to. I spent time in the flower beds and the yard this past week. I promised myself when I retired I would get my yard back in shape. I'm working on it. I do love being with the flowers and getting my hands dirty. My flower beds out front of the house had grown up so badly due to my neglect (I just didn't have time to do them justice when I worked full time--you know how it goes--not enough hours in the day.) I've taken some "before" pictures, but I'm not ready to post them just yet. I'm also taking pictures to show the progress and it REALLY IS looking better.

My sister and I gave each other bicycles last Christmas. She used to walk (for exercise) but has had some knee problems, so the doctor suggested a bicycle. She's more apt to exercise with me along, so this past week we began what I hope will become a habit--riding our bikes at least 3-4 times per week.

Onyx goes in Wednesday for her big "H" operation (actually her spay). I haven't told her yet, but I'm sure she will do fine. I may ask him to pull most of her teeth. She's still using those needle baby teeth when I least expect to be attacked! Those things are still lethal!

Our ASG group has a shopping trip planned for Tuesday. One of the DFW area independent fabric shops (Grapevine Collections) has decided to close--not enough business she tells us plus she wants to spend more time with her family. She's a wonderful lady, and we will miss her. Anyhow, she's beginning with a 20% off everything, so we must go support her (and add to the stash--which, as you know I don't need to do!--but this is a once in a lifetime deal, right?)

I keep monitoring E-bay for vintage patterns, but have't bought any lately. It's fun to look!

Maybe some sewing will happen here soon!

$400+

Our ASG neighborhood group garage sale went very well. The weather was beautiful and we took in over $400. Isn't that great?

We had a real variety of things. Our group leader is a real flower gardner, and she dug almost 100 iris to sell. They went like hotcakes at 2/$1. Iris are in full bloom here so she brought some of the cut iris and that made a great selling tool!

The leftovers are being donated to various places here in the area. A bit of a tiring day, but a good one.

Best thing for me? The packed SUV is empty and nothing came back home!

Still kicking

Yes, I'm still here. Lots of different things happening and not much going on in the sewing room. Did get two more dresses made for our community service program. I can do one of those when I have a hankerin to sew, but don't haven enough energy to put lots of thought into a new project. These little dresses go pretty fast and satisfy my need to be in the sewing room. (The green tag notes the size.)




Bumper is doing her best to teach Onyx the ropes. Here Bumper is being her "good dog self." I've enjoyed her so much since she wandered up looking to be adopted.



And here is Miss Onyx at about 4 months old. Haven't weighed her lately, but she's to the point I can barely pick her up. What a face! That dirt on her nose? Yes, I have new holes in the back yard!



I've been getting ready for our ASG garage sale that is on for this Saturday. Everything is priced and packed into the SUV. And I mean PACKED! I'm so happy to be getting rid of an SUV full of "stuff."

Interview by the Newspapaer

Our ASG group was interviewed by our local paper yesterday. How fun is that? The reporter was interested in our charity sewing, and we thought that pretty neat. Our local paper is a weekly, so we hope to see ourselves and some of our handy work in the paper that will be out next Wednesday.

On my way to the guild, I took my camera (which I've been meaning to take my camera on one of my drives)so I could snap shots of our beautiful wildflowers. This has been a good year for Bluebonnets, an OK year for Indian Paintbrush and primrose. I love that I have a "pretty drive" to "town."

Bluebonnets: The Texas State Flower



It may be hard to see in this blurry photo, but the little blue/white petals form a little "bonnet."



I should know the name of these wine colored ones, but I can't remember right now.



Indian Paintbrush: one of my favorites



Can you see how each of the little petals looks has if it has been dipped in red paint?



This time of year is so nice!

Mistake Not Bad Afterall

I got a bee in my bonnet (as my grannie would say) to try Louise Cutting One Seams as capris. I had 2 yards of some loud print rayon that I got for $1.50/yd. I got out the pattern:



and proceeded to follow the instructions for making a capri version. Louise explains how to measure for the "most flattering lengths." I was going to try the longer length. (Being impatient and not verifying my thoughts) I was thinking my fabric was not wide enough to cut using the fold of the fabric (which I would have been able to do as I found out later in the process)I proceeded to fold the fabric in half lengthwise, cut a snip, then tore the fabric in half. Well, yes, there was a problem. It wasn't the exact half for some reason (operator induced, of course) so I had to resort to the shorter length version. But with that said, there was a silver lining to my "impatience" and I now had enough for a sleeveless top.

What do you think? I think I like it!




The top is Kwik Sew 3049 shortened to a top:



I've had this pattern for a while and had yet to use it. So I gave it a try. The dresses are bias cut dresses (which I hadn't realized--well, I knew view A- stripe was, but I was assuming the others were on the straight). My top is not bias cut, I barely had enough fabric to cut on the straight. But I like the way it came out, and I think I will make the bias dress for the hot summer.

I'm so AADD or something. This had not been on my radar as my "next project," but I just glommed on to it today. I guess that's OK. At least I have a new outfit. And it only cost $3.00 at that!

Productive Sewing Afternoon

These are two little sundress/panties combos that I made for the Rainbow Room. This is an old McCalls pattern. I used it for my granddaughter a number of years ago. I put the applique on just the one. The other fabric is a brocade look, so I thought that decoration enough. It is the one where you see the back view.









Then, I "unbasted" my sister's dress that fit and that I put together last week (or there abouts). It is serged now, and I just need to tack down the neck facing and hem it and its sleeves. I need to find the right color thread to use my coverstitch machine. When I'm fresh in the morning, I'll tackle that final portion. It is a very soft rayon/lycra knit.



Hope everyone had a nice Easter. It was still chilly here this morning, but weather folks say we'll be back in the 80's some time this week. That means more yard work for me!

As the saying goes.....

In Texas, if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute. It was 84 degrees this past Tuesday; today we had snow. The last time this happened in April was 69 years ago.

So much for global warming..........................

Sis's Dress Fits

So, I will take out the basting and sew real seams--hopefully tomorrow.

Today was Guild meeting day. I meant to take my camera so I could share some pics of my sewing friends, but I forgot. Also wanted to take some pics of our beautiful wild flowers to share with you. The bluebonnets are having as bang up blooming spring and the Indian Paintbrush are so pretty. I'll try to get photos before they are "over" their prime.

No big news. Busy day, but no sewing.

Another Sun Dress for the Rainbow Room

It's not hemmed yet, but that won't take long. Slow afternoon. After church and lunch, I read some, then got sleepy, napped for about an hour, and then sewed this little sun dress. It was already cut out and the pockets (trimmed in lace) were already sewn on.

So today was not totally "sew lacking."

I've Hit a Lull

Haven't been sewing much. "Life" seems to have taken over these last several days. I began cleaning my front flower bed--the weeds popped up over night it seems. It goes the full length of the house in front, so that is NOT a one day job.

Then my "adopted" brother had his 50th birthday on Thursday. I was making his request of chocolate cup cakes and chocolate pie, and then went by the party store to get the black balloons to deliver to him. After Curves that morning, the birthday stuff took most of the day.

The yardwork took a back seat to the rains we got - almost 10 inches. Some flooding in the area, but our place is fine. If you've seen the news, many parts of Texas got lots of water and some damage from high winds. We are thankful for the rain. It is sorely needed in our "drought area."

Anyhow, I DID get DS dress basted together so that she can try on for fitting. We'll try to get that step done this afternoon. Once this is completed, I can add to my "stash sewn" yardage number as this DID come from the stash (and not from the March madness shopping I did!).