Low Sew Accessories in the March issue of Sew News magazine

I finally gave in and restarted my subscription to Sew News magazine. The first issue I received was the February issue - the one that Stacy (Stacy Sews) had an article published in.

I received the March issue the other day and my girlfriend is published in this issue!

So, I'm giving a shout out to my girlfriend Cheryl for her article "Unexpected Accessories" in the March issue of Sew News.

The article encourages you to look at everyday items in a new way and includes directions for a little purse made from nothing but zippers and bias tape.

The photo below shows is an animal print purse trimmed with a feather duster.


These purses began life as (clockwise from top) a chenille rug and napkin rings, a placemat and kitchen cabinet hardware, and a sleeve from an old fur coat.

The article is a prelude to her upcoming book "Low-Sew Boutique" which will available this May. I've heard about some of the projects in the book, but I haven't actually seen any of them. But knowing Cheryl and her ingenuity, combined with her creativity and sense of humor, they should be good. And I bet I can get the author to autograph my copy!

There's another reason I'm looking forward to purchasing the book. When she was working on it she invited all of her friends, students, and family to consider submitting a project (made from a pre-made kitchen textile) for possible inclusion in the gallery section of the book. The publisher choose what items to include and she informed us that everyone had at least one item accepted. I submitted six items. As much as I want to see the projects, I admit that I will flip to gallery section of the book first to see which one of mine made the cut!

By the way, if you're interested, Sew News has a special offer on their website for the book.

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I accept the challenge - here's the "real" sewing room

First it was Stacy from Stacy Sews, then it was Stephanie from Stephanie Sews, so I guess its time for Sharon from Sharon Sews (do you see the pattern here?)

What did they do? Showed their sewing room/space - mess and all.

Now remember I shared by sewing space with you a while back? It was tidy, neat, and organized. That's because I *gasp* straighted it up before I took the photos (I bet you couldn't tell, right?)

So, I accept Stephanie's challenge and I'll show my sewing room. Right after reading her blog entry, I took photos of my sewing room in its current state.

I challenge you to do the same! Once you're done reading, take photos of your sewing room/space and post them to your blog and let me know so I can see them!

Okay, here goes:

As you enter my room, this is what you see. The shelves hold books, patterns, sewing notes, alteration/mending projects, and a few cut out projects. The totes next to the shelves hold some of my overflowing pattern collection. The peg board holds a few purse handles, some trims, a wind chime (why? I don't know) and my safety glasses. GiGi is dressed in a Vogue dress I'm finishing up.


Moving right along, you see where I sit to sew on my Pfaff 2056 (and I'm still in love with it!) and my Elna serger. My old reliable Kenmore is sitting on the other side of the Pfaff (propped up with a sewing book my Ardele Maglois). There are two items next to the serger waiting to be fixed - a tassel on a pillow and a hem on a co-worker's dress. The bookshelf holds some of my sewing books, the paper bag is my trash can, and the door to the sewing table/cabinet holds sewing needles, bobbins, pin cushions, drapery trim glue, that kind of thing.


My iron and ironing board are set up across from my sewing table. Not the most efficient set up, but the only place it fits. Behind the ironing board is a second dress form. That is Isabella and I received her from my neighbor who no longer wanted her. She's not my size but she's still loved. The white shelving units hold yet more patterns on the top shelf along with cut out projects in totes. The other shelves hold Threads magazines, thread, and various pressing tools. The plastic bins hold my sewing notions, zippers, buttons, bias tapes, dressmaker trims, rulers, decorative yarns, purse hardware, and paper for tracing patterns. The file cabinets hold business papers, old Burda WOF magazines, and (shoot, I hate to even say this) more sewing patterns. The bulletin board has a few odds and ends pinned to it - sewing inspiration, notes, etc.


The final view shows what is piled on my cutting/work table right now. Fabric and patterns for: A red knit top for my daughter; a red print dress for myself; lining to complete the faux fur jacket I've been working on; and a burgundy/rust jacket for myself. There are also some patterns from Lazy Girl Designs, rulers and markers, and a couple of beautiful silk remnants that I don't know what to do with. There's a few misc. books from the library hidden in there also.


Its your turn! Will you accept the challenge and share your sewing room just as it looks right this moment? Pin It

Learning to knit at Knit-Out 2007 at the Mall of America

Last Friday I wrote that I was planning on attending the 2007 Knit Out & Crochet event at the Mall of America sponsored by the Craft Yarn Council of America.

The event was advertised as a "fun and exciting knit and crochet extravaganza." I had no idea what to expect but the free knitting lessons caught my attention so my daughter and I went to the mall to see what this thing was all about.

We headed for the free knitting lessons first. We only had to wait ten minutes before it was our turn to have a chance for one-on-one attention from an accomplished knitter (who was volunteering her time.) Our instructor was Trish who was so much fun to knit with! We were both given a skein of yarn and two knitting needles with a few rows already begun for us. Trish then showed us how to knit.

I finished my first row but something didn't look quite right. I showed it to Trish and she very kindly said I skipped a stitch which was to be expected when learning and then proceeded to fix it for me. Trish also said that I'm a "loose" knitter and my daughter is a "tight" knitter.

We were able to sit and practice as long as we liked. After a few more practice rows we decided it was time to move on, so with our yarn and knitting needles in hand we bade farewell to Trish and wandered through the mall to find the other happenings.

We waited in a number of long lines to pick up our freebies. Shoot, I don't even knit yet but I was picking up free patterns and needles and crochet hooks and a big bag to hold it all in. There were more give-aways but we were bored with the long lines and figured we didn't need the stuff anyway. I stopped at the Leisure Arts booth and visited for a few minutes with a delightful lady named Cheryl, who is (according to her blog the director working on Quilt, Knit, and Crochet books. Be sure to check out her blog - Living in a Material World.

Next stop was the rotunda to see if we were in time for any of the fashion shows. Sure enough! We were just in time to see the dog fashion show! Which, being the dog nut that I am, was the highlight of the event for me!

All of the dogs in the show are rescues and have been trained by the Humane Society as helpers for people with disabilities. Here, for your enjoyment, are photos of some of the dogs in the knitted fashions for dogs show.

If you look closely at this dog you'll notice that she only has three legs. It is amazing how adaptable these dogs are! She walked up the stairs to the stage and strutted her stuff proudly!

Isn't he beautiful?

This coat had a lion's collar and a lion's tale that the dog did not like one bit. He kept trying to shake the lion's tale off of his back!

This dog was a chow/black lab mix and absolutely gorgeous!


This little black poodle quickly stole the show.


And I love this picture because dogs are dogs even if they're dressed up and in fashion show!

All things considered, I'd say the event was worth attending. That little introduction to knitting has me hooked, although I wonder how I'll ever find time to fit one more thing into my busy life.

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So what happened to my long weekend filled with sewing?

Can it really be Monday evening already? It seems as if it was just Friday evening. My darling hubby was on the bus with the ski club on his way to enjoy three days of nothing but downhill skiing. I was gearing up to spend three glorious days in my sewing room only coming out to feed the dog (and myself of course.)

But now I realize it is Monday evening and do you know how much sewing I completed? None, naught, nada, zilch, zero, nothing! And it wasn't as if I was sitting around eating chocolates while watching the television. (Because I don't watch television while eating chocolates...I read a good book!)

So, where did my time go?

• Knit Out 2007 at the Mall of America on Saturday. My girlfriend, her daughter, my daughter and I all spent time standing in lines to get our free stuff. After a hour or so my daughter and I went off on our own. We enjoyed lunch together and then she did a little spring shopping. She is in love with the new spring dress styles.

• Saturday night - the boring stuff needed to be done. Cleaning, washing clothes, paying bills.

• Sunday? I didn't get home from church until after one as I was asked to help out with a prayer ministry right after service. My daughter was at my house when I arrived home, so we spent time looking through my stash for some knit fabric to make her a tee shirt like one she purchased at Nordstrom's Rack. Then we looked at Simplicity patterns online to pick out a few. So that's sewing related at least!
  

• Sunday evening, just as I was preparing to sit down and sew, a friend called to see if I wanted to go out to dinner. Well now how could I say no to dinner with a friend?

• Monday morning stopped in at my chiropractor's office for my appointment and went straight to Joann's for the notion sale. I picked up the "must have" notions for my friend who is learning to sew, notions for myself, and patterns for my daughter - 3867, 3837, 3956 and 4125. I also picked up a copy of the new SewStylish magazine so I could see what it was all about.

• Joann's had very little dress trims, so I stopped at Hancock's on my way home to pick up trim for a knit dress that I have cut out.

• Made it home by late morning and promptly sat down to glance through the SewStylish magazine. I think it is a great resource for new sewers or those who aren't as confident about their sewing skills.

• Completed FBAs on four patterns - two dress patterns and two jacket patterns.

• Scanned photos of my dog Brandi to share on another blog. Today is the one year anniversary of having to put her to sleep. She was an old girl and such a sweet,loving dog right up to the end...and I still miss her a lot.
  

• Organized photos of Brandi and the other dog, Sophia, after realizing how much time it took me to find all of the photos of Brandi!

• Cropped and cleaned up photos from the Knit Out at the Mall of America - I'll share those tomorrow.

• Baked banana bread for my hubby to enjoy when he returns tonight after his ski trip. It'll soften the blow when I tell him the garage door opener quit working. Although he should be able to figure it out when he sees my car parked outside of the garage...
  

And now I see it is Monday evening. There won't be any sewing this evening as I have a desktop publishing project I need to complete tonight.

So much for unlimited free time...guess I just need to go back to my daily routine of work, workout, dinner, sewing to get some sewing done! Pin It

Pink poodles tote from Vogue 7563

The second tote from Vogue 7563 is completed. I posted photos of the sunflower tote the other day.

The second version is also made from home dec fabric. This time in a bright pink with poodles scattered all over. Reminds me a bit of a 50s Paris theme. I used the same black and white check as accents as well as the same white home dec fabric for the lining.

This time I added a beaded trim underneath the bias binding on the pockets and at a portion of the top edge of the bag. I used a zipper foot to secure the bias binding, stitching slowly and as close as possible to the beaded trim.

On this bag I secured the inside pocket to the lining before adding the lining to the purse. The inside pocket on the previous version was only attached at the top of the pocket to the facing. I think the pocket will be more useful if it is secured in place.

And here is the finished tote!

Shhh! Don't tell Sophia that the dogs on the bag are poodles, not Maltese....

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Knit-Out 2007 at the Mall of America

I vaguely remember my grandmother showing me how to knit when I was young - six or seven years old - but once I was introduced to sewing, well what can I say. Knitting was left behind and forgotten.

Perhaps it is time to pick up the knitting needles once again. The people I've spoken to who knit find it to be an incredibly enjoyable hobby. And some of the knitted creations I've seen on knitter's blogs are fantastic!

So when one of my girlfriend's mentioned that she and her eight year old daughter were planning on attending the Knit Out and Crochet event at the Mall of America this weekend I made a decision to check out the festivities myself. There is a wide variety of knitting and crochet activities planned through out the day and the best part is the cost - free!

I will definitely try and get to the free knitting and crochet lessons described as "beginner one-on-one knitting and crochet lessons in a relaxed, informal setting. Take home instructions, yarn, needles or a hook!"

A trip to SR Harris had been planned for this weekend, but that fabric store will still be there next weekend and this event will not. I'll take lots of pictures and report back on the fun!

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Isn't this a romantic and unique bed and breakfast?

Ah, Valentine's Day. ...cards, chocolates and roses. I didn't actually get any of those things, but I bet many of you did! Unfortunately, my sweetie is working this evening so we'll celebrate another day with dinner for two at a nice restaurant.

But, in the spirit of Valentine's Day romance, I want to share what I think would be a very romantic bed and breakfast. The bed and breakfast is called the Covington Inn and it is a refurbished towboat docked on the Mississippi river outside of St. Paul.

(photo from www.covingtoninn.com)

I heard about it on a radio talk show this afternoon while driving home from work. The radio host had spent last night on the floating B & B and was gushing about it on the radio show. I'm not sure I would enjoy staying there during the winter while the river is frozen or in the spring when the ice begins to melt and break away, but I sure would enjoy a summer stay.

Take a peek at the website to see the different suites that are available. While I think any one of them would make for a romantic getaway, I would want to stay in the Pilot House suite.

If any of you have ever stayed there, leave a comment and let me know. Or, if you ever have the chance to stay there (before I do) let me know what you think.

Perhaps I can drop a few hints that this would make a wonderful getaway gift for my (summer) birthday...

Happy Valentine's Day! Pin It

Sewing a tote from pattern Vogue 7563

Vogue 7563 has been tucked into a plastic storage box for a year or so along with a piece of pink home dec fabric sprinkled with black and white poodles. With the stash reduction contest underway at Patternreview, it seemed like a good time to sew up this tote.

While I was at it, I decided to make another one for a bag swap I joined. I pulled out numerous fabric combinations, and settled on a black/white /yellow because 1) the main fabrics were home dec, 2) after days and days of sub zero weather I am eagerly awaiting spring and these flowers remind me of springtime.

After cutting out all of the pieces, I fused a heavyweight craft interfacing to the front, back and side panels.

Instead of turning the bias binding under 1/4" on one long edge and burning my fingertips in an attempt to iron it in place, I used a clover bias tape maker. If you haven't used them before you really should try them out. It is so easy to make bias tape with this tool! You just cut your bias strips twice the width of your finished bias tape and slide one end of the fabric into the bias tape maker. As the fabric is moved through the bias tape maker, the ends fold in and meet in the center. You follow along with your iron setting the folds in place. Super easy. I bought an entire set at a Sewing Expo from Homestead Specialties when she had a show special. (Note - I'm not affiliated with Homestead Specialties - just a satisfied customer as well as a friend!)

The bias tape was used to finish the top edge of the pockets and was used as decorative trim in the side seams. The bright yellow helps the yellow in the flower on the pocket to really pop.

The same yellow fabric was used as contrast on the under side of the handles.

When I pinned the side panel to the bag I discovered the panel was too short.

After checking the side and body pattern pieces, I figured out that I had cut the body for tote bag view "A", but had cut the side and bottom panels for view "B". I hadn't realized that view "B" was actually a smaller bag.

Rather than make the bag smaller, I pieced another piece of fabric to the side panel to the needed length.

That meant that I needed to piece the side panel of the lining also.

After the body of the bag and the lining were sewn together, I slipped the lining inside of the bag with the wrong sides together and basted the upper edges together.

The pattern doesn't call for a lining, only a facing at the top of the bag. After adding the lining I finished the top edge of the bag with the facing securing it in place by stitching in the ditch on the right side of the bag.

The inside has a pocket attached to the facing. I found an old sewing label of mine and stitched in onto the pocket completing the tote bag.

Here is the side view.

Here is a front view.

I only hope that my swap partner will be happy with it. I certainly enjoyed sewing it with thoughts of spring dancing in my mind!

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Well, there goes the pattern reduction diet

I just couldn't resist. I liked quite a few of the new Vogue releases so on my way to my Bible study group last night, I swung into Joann Fabrics to take advantage of their pattern sale. I had my list in hand, so I was able to pull them from the drawers and check out in mere minutes. Only two on my wish list were out of stock, and I can certainly wait for those and this new group pf patterns will keep me busy for quite some time! Pin It

"Hat attack: Fashion makes a cloche call"

Since I have no sewing news to share with you, I thought I'd direct you to an interesting article today in "The Paramus Post" about the author of the book Saturday Night Hat, Eugenia Kim.

http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20070201213326767

I must say that I agree with Stacy in that the only think I don't like about the book is that the patterns must be enlarged on a copier. And that is actually and inconvenience more than anything.

Although I'm eager to begin one of the hats in this book (a cloche), there are just too many other commitments are using up my free time. Pin It

Saturday Night Hat - I'm lovin' this book

Do you like hats?

I think wearing a hat can make you feel cute or classy or sexy or sassy. Putting on a hat changes your attitude. Hats have a way of pulling an outfit together.And I bet most of us have thrown a hat on when we're having a "bad hair day".

Me? I love hats. I love the thought of wearing a hat. But I don't actually wear them that often. However, that just might change after browsing through the book "Saturday Night Hat" by Eugenia Kim.

When the book first came out I was tempted to purchase it based on the cover art and description alone. But I'm reluctant to purchase a sewing book without seeing more than the book cover. I've been disappointed too many times by great ad copy and a beautifully photographed cover only to discover that the content didn't come close to delivering what was promised.

The local Barnes and Noble didn't have a copy in stock, although they were willing to order it for me. But, I don't want to order a book I haven't seen yet. I checked my library and they did not have the book either! So I put in a request with the library and asked that they purchase the book. They did indeed order the book and I impatiently checked my account daily to see when the book would arrive.

After Stacy reviewed the book on her blog I grew even more impatient. But not impatient enough to go buy a copy. The book finally arrived today and tonight I am browsing through a brand new library copy.

My thoughts? I should have just bought the book! This book does not disappoint.

The book is filled with colorful photographs of the hats to compliment the how-to instructions. The chapters begin with a brief history and a bit of trivia on the each hat style, which I found informative and fun to read.

• Chapter 1 - the Beret - including the mini beret. Which, I gotta be honest here, reminds me of a clown hat. Now it could be because my father and I are volunteer clowns in a clown club and many clowns were undersized hats to complete their costumes.
  
• Chapter 2 - the Cloche. This is one of my favorite hat shapes. This hat looks really great if you have a short bob hair cut.
  
• Chapter 3 - The Cocktail. Think Jackie-O and the era of the cocktail parties. Very classy. The author includes some really cute styles - like Hello Kitty. Not that I would wear it, but it does have me thinking "outside the box" on potential hats. (And the first thing I thought of was what a great children's craft project it would make - the girls could make Hello Kitty hats with paper plates as a base.....)
  
• Chapter 4 - The Fedora. This is one hat style that I love I can't wear it very well. This particular chapter gives ideas for embellishing a pre-purchased fedora hat. There are no instructions or pattern for creating one.
  
• Chapter 5 - The Cap - baseball, newsboy and engineer. Basic hat shapes where you can highlight great fabrics. My favorite is the newsboy. I find it a little softer and more feminine - even when sewn in traditional menswear fabrics - than the baseball or engineer cap.
• Chapter 6 - The Sun Hat. What hat book would be complete without instructions for these floppy wide brimmed hats? A sun hat is a delight to wear - fun or flirty - depends on your attitude while you wear it.
  

The book does include patterns/templates to use to sew the hats, but they need to be enlarged on a photocopier.

And if the book doesn't provide enough inspiration, you can always check out the designer's web page.

I already own a few other books (and a dozen or so patterns) for making hats. Two of my hat books are for making miniature hats but are great for inspiration.

This book, The Art of Making Miniature Millinery, provides step by step instructions for making fashion doll hats. However, there are some great hats that I'd like to make for myself including a gorgeous tea hat for when I take my mother to a Victorian tea luncheon next month.

And this faux fur one.

And this lovely little beaded pillbox.

Another great hat book in my library is Classic Millinery Techniques. This book is also filled with photographs of beautiful hats with the focus on the construction and technical aspects of creating hats.

I think Saturday Night Hat will make a great addition to my sewing library. Fortunately for me, until I get around to purchasing a copy I can have use of a copy for free - courtesy of my local library!

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National Wear Red for Women Day

Today is National Wear Red for Women Day and the only jewelry that I've added to my red jacket is my Red Dress pin.


This campaign is not as well known as the pink ribbon breast cancer campaign, but it is an important reminder about women and heart disease. I only found out about the campaign a few years ago when I needed to analyze a public relations campaign for a class assignment. It was an eye-opening assignment - not just from a public relations point of view, but from a women's health point of view.


I'm wearing red - are you?

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