tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26619596543015665232024-03-13T15:00:06.764-04:00Life is a MusicalBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-56603846493425842012015-09-22T17:09:00.000-04:002015-09-22T17:09:13.549-04:00Fall Sewing - Silhouette Patterns Sunny's TopMy new favorite pattern line is <a href="http://www.silhouettepatterns.com/" target="_blank">Silhouette Patterns</a>. I have made a few things, that I don't have photos of, but I do have a photo of this - Sunny's Top - since my teenager used me for her High School photography class.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TaaJJBtLsPQ/VgHBcWcKAGI/AAAAAAAABFw/69qSeAohwD0/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TaaJJBtLsPQ/VgHBcWcKAGI/AAAAAAAABFw/69qSeAohwD0/s320/DSC_0078.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
The shirt is super simple to sew together and with the B,C, D cup sizing already built into the pattern there is no need to fuss with a FBA! <br />
<br />
There is an 'undershirt', a tank top underneath the layers of fabric. The tank top has the dart sewn into it. The only edit I made was to add two inches to the top layer (yoke) to make sure my chest was appropriately covered. <br />
<br />
You can watch a video from Peggy Sagers with variations of how to sew this shirt <a href="https://youtu.be/VorsIxIYWFw" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8CnkM1UZUc/VgHCbhYy_mI/AAAAAAAABF8/EQo8Dbbdgk0/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8CnkM1UZUc/VgHCbhYy_mI/AAAAAAAABF8/EQo8Dbbdgk0/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-58109074033261539762013-03-22T19:01:00.002-04:002013-03-22T19:01:51.985-04:00Simplicity 1716<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnK_q1jCUjI/UUzgb_Cpd7I/AAAAAAAABA4/Wl023CJ8zUI/s1600/Simplicity1716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnK_q1jCUjI/UUzgb_Cpd7I/AAAAAAAABA4/Wl023CJ8zUI/s1600/Simplicity1716.JPG" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Simplicity 1716 is my new favorite shirt pattern. I have made five of them with $1.99 / yard fabric from <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/xcart/home.php" target="_blank">Fabric Mart Fabrics</a>. (three of the five happen to be shades of green - not sure how that happened) I used <a href="http://sharonsews.blogspot.com/2011/11/full-bust-adjustment-fba-pivot-and.html" target="_blank">Sharon's pivot-and-slide FBA method</a> and have to say - the shirts fit fabulously! I was going to stop making them but (1) we are supposed to get more snow again next week - so it's still cold here in New England and (2) ummm - how did I only sew with the greens? Must get a few other colors into my closet. (3) the blue one is not wearable - I cut the fabric the wrong way so the stretch is going the wrong way. Sigh.<br />
<br />
I haven't hemmed any of the sleeves yet. I'm trying to decide if I want to put a contrasting color on the shirt or not. I'm thinking I'll just hem them and be done with them. I'll put the remainder of the shirts on <a href="http://life-is-a-musical.blogspot.com/2008/10/introducing-manny-and-wanda.html" target="_blank">Wanda</a> and post photos on Flickr. <br />
<br />
Best part - I received my Travel Smith catalog and saw the same shirt (sleeveless) for $89. Mine cost way less. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ckIOqA_tpI/UUzgfETHY1I/AAAAAAAABBA/tq6GpMuYS1o/s1600/100_1174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ckIOqA_tpI/UUzgfETHY1I/AAAAAAAABBA/tq6GpMuYS1o/s1600/100_1174.JPG" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-19397448569975001682012-07-05T17:06:00.000-04:002012-07-05T17:06:00.599-04:00Simplicity 4076<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Simplicity 4076 is a great pattern. This is the 4th shirt I have made with the scoop neck and gathering in the front. There are only 5 pieces (two of them are the sleeves). I couldn't find my directions but after sewing up four other shirts from a different pattern before this I was not afraid. Well, not afraid of anything except the neck binding. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I used the technique in <a href="http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3839/video-a-neckline-binding-for-knits" target="_blank">this video</a> from the Threads website and it came out better than the shirts I had the directions for. The fact that the fabric cost $1.99 and the shirt was created in less than an hour makes it even better.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SH_T1eWqn0I/T_SvS2VpREI/AAAAAAAAA_o/sol63V_kTeI/s1600/Simplicity4076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SH_T1eWqn0I/T_SvS2VpREI/AAAAAAAAA_o/sol63V_kTeI/s320/Simplicity4076.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wanda is modeling my shirt since my sewing room is 83 degrees (up in the attic / no air conditioning) and I can't even imagine how big my hair is or how red my face is and do not want to subject that image to any of you reading this blog.</span>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-77581068666310633642012-07-04T16:59:00.000-04:002012-07-04T16:59:05.573-04:004 for the 4th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Since it is finally warm in New England I decided it was time to sew up some short sleeved shirts. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ASypl5AGwU/T_SsRIGTARI/AAAAAAAAA_A/9cbHk1hJKM0/s1600/Shirt1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ASypl5AGwU/T_SsRIGTARI/AAAAAAAAA_A/9cbHk1hJKM0/s320/Shirt1.jpg" width="310" /></a><br />
For Christmas I bought myself some $1.99/yard knits from Fashion Mart Fabrics. I bought one yard of five different knits. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QeyQzjlLqVg/T_SsR4Qd5yI/AAAAAAAAA_I/R7RURiJME9g/s1600/Shirt2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QeyQzjlLqVg/T_SsR4Qd5yI/AAAAAAAAA_I/R7RURiJME9g/s320/Shirt2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Four of them I sewed up into Jalie 2794, a sweetheart top with cropped sleeves. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VA_S_m6vj9M/T_SsS-gnOCI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/waQJHzzTCFM/s1600/Shirt3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VA_S_m6vj9M/T_SsS-gnOCI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/waQJHzzTCFM/s320/Shirt3.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
<br />
I doubled the size of the neckpiece / binding. I won't do that again. I thought it might look cool. It's just annoying me how the back of the shirt lays - so, back to the original size for the next time I sew this shirt.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VA_S_m6vj9M/T_SsS-gnOCI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/waQJHzzTCFM/s1600/Shirt3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0GM3OzatJ0/T_SsTnO1wAI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/haltBymLpRk/s1600/Shirt4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D0GM3OzatJ0/T_SsTnO1wAI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/haltBymLpRk/s320/Shirt4.jpg" width="320" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-42195241395964087052012-06-09T19:43:00.000-04:002012-06-09T19:47:39.939-04:00New Bathroom Curtain<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
In July we will celebrate owning the same home for 11 years. Since I am 99.9% positive we are never moving (until we retire or I win the lottery) I decided to finally start making curtains. I started in the master bathroom. As you can see - the curtain that has been hanging in there is, um, gross? grody to the max? has outlived it's usefulness? </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKDo2LI9lgE/T9PeB2J7_dI/AAAAAAAAA-w/9FxMBVfNvUg/s1600/CurtainBefore1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WKDo2LI9lgE/T9PeB2J7_dI/AAAAAAAAA-w/9FxMBVfNvUg/s320/CurtainBefore1.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
And - *tada* - here is the new version. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2k0CA32N3bA/T9PeBP-kzTI/AAAAAAAAA-o/lwgvykZSRRU/s1600/CurtainAfter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2k0CA32N3bA/T9PeBP-kzTI/AAAAAAAAA-o/lwgvykZSRRU/s320/CurtainAfter.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Love it. Love the pop of color. Love that there isn't a water stain running across the middle of it. Love that there isn't lace falling off of it. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I did raise the lower curtain by 3.5 inches - just to make sure that anyone that walks by the window indoors is covered by the curtain and not giving a free show to the neighborhood. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The stripes are busy and bold so I was unsure if I should add a trim. Thoughts? Leave the curtains as is or search for a just right trim? </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I am making roman shades for the majority of the other rooms and need to shop for supplies tomorrow (oh - and Joann's has Simplicity patterns on sale for $1.99 starting tomorrow. Yee Haw). </div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-48422275217512364862012-01-30T11:53:00.001-05:002012-01-30T12:03:58.112-05:00Jalie Fleece Jacket - arm embroidery<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/6679178825/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6679178825_902f3ae710_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/6679178825/">Jalie Fleece Jacket - arm embroidery</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/">bethvanduzer</a></span><br />
For Christmas I made my sister and my niece Jalie #2795 Jackets. I made a muslin for me first - to see how well the pattern fit, etc. <br /><br />The pattern is awesome. I used an old blanket as the main fabric (<i>The gray fabric was a blanket I received years ago when I worked at a large pharma company. Milk Street Cafe would give the admins 'points' for ordering food through them for meetings. Once you earned a certain number of points you
could redeem them for products.</i>) and a remnant from JoAnn's for the 'pop' of color. It had a lot of pieces but the directions were super simple to follow and it really sewed up in a flash. <br /><br /><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKlf3d9kPWQ/TybLo7VCKdI/AAAAAAAAA90/4LOXn3aZw_k/s1600/100_2649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bKlf3d9kPWQ/TybLo7VCKdI/AAAAAAAAA90/4LOXn3aZw_k/s320/100_2649.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front of Jacket and a dog to boot. She likes to have her photo taken.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acP6Al6gTfc/TybLq3U_d2I/AAAAAAAAA-M/gAZzfFPEsbw/s1600/BackofJacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-acP6Al6gTfc/TybLq3U_d2I/AAAAAAAAA-M/gAZzfFPEsbw/s320/BackofJacket.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of Jacket.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-boBgi34wu5Q/TybLqG1gllI/AAAAAAAAA-E/CU4R2915OOE/s1600/100_2774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-boBgi34wu5Q/TybLqG1gllI/AAAAAAAAA-E/CU4R2915OOE/s320/100_2774.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister's jacket. She's a Jets fan. NOTE - Jets fabric is not easily found in New England. Had to order it online.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4oqDiNbXf8/TybLpS0Nd3I/AAAAAAAAA98/kAbXZOqwk0s/s1600/100_2769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4oqDiNbXf8/TybLpS0Nd3I/AAAAAAAAA98/kAbXZOqwk0s/s320/100_2769.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jacket for my niece.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-70277192125371498622011-11-14T13:34:00.002-05:002011-11-14T13:36:21.119-05:00Happy Halloween Bats!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/6308854983/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/6308854983_0b5cc537ba_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style=" margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/6308854983/">Happy Halloween Bats!</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/">bethvanduzer</a></span> <p>I made my husband's Joker costume this year for Halloween. The pants are SuedeSays (Simplicity 1948) and the jacket & vest are Simplicity 4083. The bowtie is from a free pattern from Sis Boom.<br /><br />The pants pattern was so fabulous. Easy directions. The pockets were the first successful pockets I have ever done in a pair of pants. My husband actually wants a regular pair of pants in the pattern.<br /><br />The jacket was fun to do. I altered the back and the front to resemble the Joker's jacket from the Arkham City game. The vest pattern was not as easy to assemble as the other two. I don't like how it was put together and would do it differently next time but the overall effect is what my husband wanted, and that's the important thing.<br /><br />I used some curtain fabric from Joann's. It has the 'lines / stripes' in the suit that the Joker needed (according to my husband).</p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-17848846083297105052010-04-01T06:22:00.002-04:002010-04-01T06:22:00.053-04:00Nine Years Before the Mast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S6wN8Uacj0I/AAAAAAAAA7c/Dh890LnLjh4/s1600/FinishedTShirtQuilt.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S6wN8Uacj0I/AAAAAAAAA7c/Dh890LnLjh4/s320/FinishedTShirtQuilt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452748578761772866" border="0" /></a><br />Today is my wedding anniversary. In honor of being married to my wonderful husband for nine years I finished a UFO. It is a quilt I started for him over a year ago. Some things I learned whilst making this quilt:<br /><br />(1) Once you put interfacing on the t-shirt fabric it stops feeling like fabric.<br /><br />(2) If you are going to back your quilt with flannel you probably don't need to use batting.<br /><br />(3) If you are silly enough to use t-shirts (with interfacing), batting, and flannel material for the backing don't try to do any fancy quilting. The quilt will be way too heavy and the thread will break and you will curse worse than any sailor you have ever known (or not known). You will then be so annoyed / disgusted with your project that you will leave it on the floor and walk all over it and allow the children to play on it and use it - even though it isn't quite finished yet, because you haven't sewn the binding on yet.<br /><br />Yes, my children have used this quilt already. Upstairs, downstairs, really, wherever they could drag it. So, I guess it isn't that bad. It just isn't as pretty (the quilting part I mean) as I would like.<br /><br />Happy nine years before the mast for me and my hubby. Perhaps if I start on a pair of pants for him now they will be done before his birthday in May, or perhaps they will become a Christmas gift. It all depends on whether the pattern directions leave me cursing like a sailor.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-5562695005179047102010-03-25T20:54:00.004-04:002010-03-25T21:05:47.222-04:00New Ironing Board Cover<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S6wGs_RCarI/AAAAAAAAA7U/l6dlfHRmUQY/s1600/closeup.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 299px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S6wGs_RCarI/AAAAAAAAA7U/l6dlfHRmUQY/s320/closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452740618805734066" border="0" /></a><br />I made a new ironing board cover today. I saw <a href="http://ponderedinmyheart.typepad.com/pondered_in_my_heart/2010/03/ironing-board-cover-tutorial.html">this </a>posted via my <a href="http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-make-a-cover-for-your-ironing-board/2010/03/24/">Craft Gossip</a> email and said - I can do that. So, I did.<br /><br />The fabric and batting were from my stash. The top fabric (it is a reversible ironing board cover but I did not take a photo of the other fabric) is "go for baroque" from Alexander Henry. The hardest part was pushing a safety pin with elastic all the way around the cover. It made my fingers sore. <br /><br />What I want to do as a finishing touch, to make sure the cover stays snug, is to add some straps to the back of the cover. I must say, it fits way better than my old.<br /><br />Off to iron fabric for another project!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S6wGsYbipSI/AAAAAAAAA7M/r1gMGm_BvJE/s1600/NewIroningBoardCover.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S6wGsYbipSI/AAAAAAAAA7M/r1gMGm_BvJE/s320/NewIroningBoardCover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452740608380806434" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-48144077396884210652010-02-01T14:07:00.003-05:002010-02-01T14:17:32.358-05:00Two Dresses for Little L<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S2cnE7xZpuI/AAAAAAAAA6s/TMsJU4sJutQ/s1600-h/OldNightgown.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S2cnE7xZpuI/AAAAAAAAA6s/TMsJU4sJutQ/s320/OldNightgown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433354441163646690" border="0" /></a><br />My little one has the good fortune of inheriting lots of clothes from her older sister. That also means that a lot of the clothes have a good chance of being stained, er um - well-loved.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There was one nightgown that was well-loved. It had stains from hot chocolate spills, a gum incident left one arm eternally a little gray and hard in areas, and the fairy on the front was fading away from too many washings.<span style=""> </span>I decided, even though it was too big for my five-year-old, that I would take apart the nightgown and make a new one for her. I hoped the sizing would be better since I didn’t plan on adding a seam allowance.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S2cnFLFmNQI/AAAAAAAAA60/ckc2kFkytfc/s1600-h/MonkeyNightgownHanger2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S2cnFLFmNQI/AAAAAAAAA60/ckc2kFkytfc/s320/MonkeyNightgownHanger2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433354445274887426" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Little L was born in 2004 – the year of the Monkey according to the Chinese calendar. For Christmas I purchased some flannel fabric that featured monkeys on moons.<span style=""> </span>She was very happy with the fabric choice. Taking the nightgown apart was painstakingly slow – I didn’t want to mess it up. Putting it together proved to be rather easy. The nightgown is still a tad big but she loves it and wore it all day.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>It was also my first time using Fold Over Elastic (FOE). I think it is my new most favorite thing.<br /></span></p><p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S2cnF8yhV2I/AAAAAAAAA68/0VoGn313dU4/s1600-h/Lolabackofdress.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S2cnF8yhV2I/AAAAAAAAA68/0VoGn313dU4/s320/Lolabackofdress.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433354458616649570" border="0" /></a></p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And, since we are headed off on a cruise soon, I thought I should make her a warm weather dress.<span style=""> </span>I used Easy stitch ‘n save M5370 by McCalls’.<span style=""> </span>I had size 1-2-3. I wasn’t sure size three would be big enough but thought I’d give it a try. Amazingly it is too BIG for my little girl! It comes down to her feet. She picked out her fabrics and even picked a flower embroidery stitch to go around the entire hem. It went together easily (concept - twirly skirt attached to a lined bodice) and she’s happy and will actually wear it!<br /></span></p><p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S2cnGbVciUI/AAAAAAAAA7E/khuhIulfstw/s1600-h/LolaHugPika.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S2cnGbVciUI/AAAAAAAAA7E/khuhIulfstw/s320/LolaHugPika.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433354466816198978" border="0" /></a></p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-20374122044431733522010-01-17T18:24:00.004-05:002010-01-17T18:35:36.001-05:00Sewing With a Purpose (SWAP)<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S1OeHs47ipI/AAAAAAAAA6U/JLmpBDjKAgA/s1600-h/Shirt2a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S1OeHs47ipI/AAAAAAAAA6U/JLmpBDjKAgA/s320/Shirt2a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427855831057795730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Shirt #2</span><br /></div><br />One of my goals in 2010 is to sew with a purpose. One of my husband's goals if for me to sew with the supplies I have on hand in the house (including fabric and thread).<br /><br />I really want to sew more clothing items. Even if they appear a tad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">homesewn</span>. I doubt I'll ever run into Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kors</span> so I'll take my chances at having mistakes in my wardrobe.<br /><br />I have sewn two more t-shirts from The Perfect T-Shirt pattern. The yellow one was done earlier this week and the blue one I finished up this morning. <br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S1OeH5IH6OI/AAAAAAAAA6c/j-8HMzbve9I/s1600-h/Shirt3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 162px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S1OeH5IH6OI/AAAAAAAAA6c/j-8HMzbve9I/s320/Shirt3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427855834342746338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Shirt #3<br /><br /></span></div>I did the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">FBA</span> for the blue one and must say, I think the shirt does lay a little better now. Creating the dart was easy following the video on the Perfect T-Shirt DVD (Pamela also has written directions on her <a href="http://assets1.strongretailer.com/501044/dart_download.pdf">website</a>).<br /><br />Up next - I promised my girls each some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">jammies</span>. One daughter wants a dress out of fleece - so she can wear it outside and not be cold. I do plan on making some sundresses since we are going on a cruise in February and I am an optimist and expect that we will need warm weather clothes on the cruise. I am going to place a call into Mother Nature (oh - maybe she is on tweeter!) and let her know the dates so she can be sure we get nothing but sun and good weather.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S1OeIbKf18I/AAAAAAAAA6k/_86aDqt49yg/s1600-h/Shirt3b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/S1OeIbKf18I/AAAAAAAAA6k/_86aDqt49yg/s320/Shirt3b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427855843479508930" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;">Posing for the camera girl. She thought my other pose was boring.</span><br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-57311583003904713352010-01-03T18:26:00.003-05:002010-01-03T18:29:46.635-05:00New Year - New Sweater<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/4242311606/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4242311606_617fc9a051_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/4242311606/">New Year - New Sweater</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/9026521@N08/">bethvanduzer</a></span> <p>It's a New Year. A New Decade! And that called for - a new sweater!<br /><br />At the beginning of December I purchased some Pantagonia fabric from <a href="http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/">Fashion Fabrics Club</a>. I figured it would be warm and as I get older (and I'd like to think because I've lost weight over the past two years) I am actually cold in the winter.<br /><br />I was amazed by the raveling of this sweater fabric after the initial wash / dry. There was so much raveling! Regular knit doesn't ravel. That was the first sign I was in trouble.<br /><br />I used The Perfect T-Shirt pattern for the sweater thinking I have sweaters that look like the same shape. Oops - the sweater rib fabric is THICK. Thicker than just straight knit fabric. So the neck biding is out of whack. All user error on my part. I'm hoping a run through the washer and dryer will spring the sweater into better shape.<br /><br />The sweater is warm and even though it is 100% acrylic it isn't itchy or annoying - a good thing. If I can't fix what I ruined in the neck I'll just wear the sweater over a t-shirt or tank top of some sort.<br /><br />I am now on the lookout for a pattern that uses sweater rib knit. Anyone have a pattern they recommend for my light blue Pantagonia sweater rib knit?</p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-60846833931894780412009-12-09T16:46:00.003-05:002009-12-09T16:54:02.132-05:00Sewing while rock climbing<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/4172107247/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2523/4172107247_405505903f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/4172107247/">Sewing while rock climbing</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/9026521@N08/">bethvanduzer</a></span> <p>Yup. Why would anyone want to do extreme sewing you ask? Wait, you didn't ask? Well, let's just pretend you did. To win a sewing machine!<br /><br />U-handbag is having a contest. Simply take a photo of extreme sewing (my favorite so far is the <a href="http://chapteriii.blogspot.com/2009/12/r-e-l-x-e-d.html">ocean </a>one), post it to her flicker pool, follow the rest of the rules on her <a href="http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2009/12/win-a-sewing-machine-the-uhandbag-holiday-giveaway.html">blog </a>and voila! you have entered the contest.<br /><br />Grand prize is a new sewing machine.<br /><br />Happy Extreme Sewing to All!</p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-89440920582596996552009-12-08T11:07:00.002-05:002009-12-08T11:11:02.668-05:00Heather Bailey's new fabric - in a video<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMOVsuWVsZ0">So cool!</a><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FMOVsuWVsZ0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FMOVsuWVsZ0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-8104793738888721632009-11-29T18:23:00.002-05:002009-11-29T18:25:08.924-05:00The Perfect T-Shirt (Pamela's Patterns)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/4144700219/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/4144700219_ff4d0a2fc1_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/4144700219/">The Perfect T-Shirt (Pamela's Patterns)</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/9026521@N08/">bethvanduzer</a></span> <p>Achoo - oops. All the dust that has accumulated on this blog since my last post makes my nose tickle. Anyway...I finally used a serger that I bought this summer to make The Perfect T-Shirt from <a href="http://www.pamelaspatterns.com">Pamela's Patterns</a>. I bought the DVD to help me figure out how to sew the shirt. It was a fabulous investment.<br /><br />I love this pattern. I love this DVD. It really helped explain things that I, having never sewn with knits or a serger before, needed to know.<br /><br />This neckline is the standard jewel neckline. I'm going for the scoop and v-neck in the next two shirts. I can't wait to start on my next shirt!</p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-51986255892911879212009-09-06T18:57:00.001-04:002009-09-06T18:57:18.347-04:00Nectar of the Gods Purse<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/3893853919/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/3893853919_195f46f582_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9026521@N08/3893853919/">Nectar of the Gods Purse</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/9026521@N08/">bethvanduzer</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>Nectar of the Gods = Coffee<br /><br />Well, to me it does. The only mom I know that does not drink copious amounts of coffee to get her through her day is my sister. She prefers tea or hot chocolate.<br /><br />I love my Gracie handbag but really needed it to be slightly different to hold my handy, dandy, brandy spanking new hardcover calendar. Calendar to be used by me to keep track which child is in which school and when, who has to be at the Y for classes and when, when my husband isn't traveling - so I can at least pretend to cook him dinner, and when I can fit in sewing for me. :)<br /><br />I made the center panel of the outer fabric taller so it was the same height as the two outside panels. I made the inside pockets wider and a tad taller as well (I think). I used the only zipper in my stash that was the same length as the bag.<br /><br />What I would do next time...add a pocket on the outside and add the interior key fob holder that I forgot to sew in.<br /><br />Oh - and many thanks to my model who agreed to this photo shoot on the condition that her ring be prominent in the picture.<br /><br />Coffee Cup fabric by Timeless Treasures<br />"Coffee Talk" by Hoffman California International<br />(not shown in this photo) Lining fabric: "Big Ticking" by michael miller</p>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-49461218072906083332009-07-23T16:20:00.002-04:002009-07-23T16:21:40.491-04:00Fun Wedding!Okay - I don't know these people in the video. Found it on another blog.<br /><br />BUT<br /><br />If my husband & I are required to pay for a traditional wedding for our daughters I will require they do this at their wedding - only if I am paying for it, of course.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4-94JhLEiN0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4-94JhLEiN0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-25112584120443827852009-07-18T01:10:00.006-04:002009-07-18T01:15:24.078-04:00Vacation Memories<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SmFZklqIjCI/AAAAAAAAA54/voYd-eZCQyM/s1600-h/familyandcindybear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SmFZklqIjCI/AAAAAAAAA54/voYd-eZCQyM/s320/familyandcindybear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359663516666596386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Just got back from vacation. We visited a few bears.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SmFZ7D05_6I/AAAAAAAAA6I/uJAPFTsFErY/s1600-h/weirbeachdrivein.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SmFZ7D05_6I/AAAAAAAAA6I/uJAPFTsFErY/s320/weirbeachdrivein.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359663902721965986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Took the kids to see their 1st drive-in movie</span>.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SmFZlByny5I/AAAAAAAAA6A/wVrkmVGDtLI/s1600-h/RAINBOW.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SmFZlByny5I/AAAAAAAAA6A/wVrkmVGDtLI/s320/RAINBOW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359663524218391442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">And - saw a rainbow.</span><br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-60397040705200033002009-07-07T22:28:00.004-04:002009-07-07T22:54:13.382-04:00Gracie and H.A.<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SlQHV8BDFzI/AAAAAAAAA5c/jkIbsgCbq1s/s1600-h/halterapron.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SlQHV8BDFzI/AAAAAAAAA5c/jkIbsgCbq1s/s320/halterapron.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355913930319533874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">H.A. = Halter Apron</span><br /></div><br />I made my halter apron from the pattern I received from <a href="http://tenthmusestudios.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/halter-apron-pattern/">Tenth Muse Studios</a>. Sorry for the poor photo quality - it is raining yet once again here in New England. Some nice thunderstorms today. There was no lighting to be had aside from the house lights and they just didn't cut it. My daughters and husband all liked this apron. I was a little leery about sewing the whole thing together and then turning it inside out but it worked well. I think next time I'll add an inch or so to the waist piece. I have a long torso and really wanted the tie to be down just a bit more but that is the only complaint I have about this pattern. If you want one you can go <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26969598">here </a>to buy it.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SlQHWHttw-I/AAAAAAAAA5k/4S4CBXqpmC0/s1600-h/Gracie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SlQHWHttw-I/AAAAAAAAA5k/4S4CBXqpmC0/s320/Gracie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355913933459669986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">This is Gracie. </span><br /></div><br />She's the Gracie Handbag by <a href="http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/">Lazy Girl Designs</a>. It was easy to put together - although I think their directions leave you with a tad of a sloppy inside. I'm sure if my thread colors matched my fabric it would not be so noticeable to me. I did not have one shade of green to match the striped fabric. Bummer. I haven't embellished it at all. I'll let the girls have at the buttons tomorrow to see if they can find the 'perfect' button to put on the flap.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SlQHWod3SSI/AAAAAAAAA5s/imAVccS8yEs/s1600-h/insideGracie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SlQHWod3SSI/AAAAAAAAA5s/imAVccS8yEs/s320/insideGracie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355913942251555106" border="0" /></a>See that inside fabric. That was a free yard I won from <a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/">Sew Mama Sew</a>. I finally used it. And, there is enough to make the lining of another purse. Yippee! <br /><br />The only con about this pattern is that it wants you to purchase a Bag-E-Bottom. I had no idea what it was when I read the back of the pattern in the store and the employee that checked me out did not ask if I needed it. I finally figured it out once I watched the video available on the Lazy Girl Designs website - a Bag-E-Bottom it is a hard acrylic bottom for the bag. Newsflash - I'm not one to follow directions. So - I improvised and covered some Pellon Peltex with fabric and slid it into the holder and now I have a semi-hard bottom on my bag. I think if I really wanted to I could put another piece of Pellon Peltex in to make the bottom more solid. I'll test it tomorrow as is to see if another layer is really necessary.<br /><br />I don't think I'll ever call her Gracie though. I've always called my purses Percival (pronounced Purse-i-val) after Percival on Little House on the Prairie. He married Nellie Olsen - for those that don't know.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BabKcsN88Yc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BabKcsN88Yc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-40909039178204304872009-07-03T21:53:00.003-04:002009-07-03T21:55:04.886-04:00New Projects<div style="text-align: center;">What I am going to be working on first - before I attempt my Prairie Dresses.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Sk62PB0paWI/AAAAAAAAA5U/G4gEjgUyvS0/s1600-h/halterapron.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Sk62PB0paWI/AAAAAAAAA5U/G4gEjgUyvS0/s320/halterapron.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354417376293644642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Sk62O190gSI/AAAAAAAAA5M/-Wk3mU-2XCc/s1600-h/handbag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Sk62O190gSI/AAAAAAAAA5M/-Wk3mU-2XCc/s320/handbag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354417373110894882" border="0" /></a>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-71334009906911617402009-06-29T18:12:00.004-04:002009-06-29T18:27:51.071-04:00Patterns, Patterns, Patterns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Skk_PUKeNgI/AAAAAAAAA48/mqVIihWZ18w/s1600-h/patterns2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Skk_PUKeNgI/AAAAAAAAA48/mqVIihWZ18w/s320/patterns2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352879164449764866" border="0" /></a><br />It's like Christmas in my house! I ordered a bunch of patterns and they all came last week or this week. I ordered some patterns from <a href="http://www.fabrichound.com/store/">Fabric Hound</a>, <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/">Sew Mama Sew</a>, and <a href="http://www.pamelaspatterns.com/home/patterns.html">Pamela's Patterns.<br /></a><br />I made one Favorite Things - Little Prairie Girl top for Lola - except for the sleeves. I'm still afraid of them. I'll finish them - today? A great pattern. Easy to follow instructions. Shirt came together so quickly. Except for my fear of sleeves...<br /><br />I ordered fabric for the Prairie Girl Dresses I'm going to make me. I have fabric for the Smarty Pants for me. Just need to try the pattern out on not so nice fabric first. I have fabric for the Artisan Pants from Indygo Junction too.<br /><br />I had never heard of Pamela's Patterns before I read <a href="http://beezekneesfashions.blogspot.com/2009/06/perfect-t-shirt-fashion-reveal.html">Sew Much Fabric, Sew Little Time</a>. She was my partner for an apron swap. I read her blog now and then and let me tell you - the woman is amazing! She made 28 shirts with The Perfect T-Shirt pattern from Pamela's Patterns. With that many shirts made the pattern has to be good! I'll be trying it soon.<br /><br />AND - I actually received a free pattern from <a href="http://tenthmusestudios.wordpress.com/">10th Muse Studios</a>. I subscribe to <a href="http://craftgossip.com/">Craft Gossip</a>. Every day in my e-mail there is an e-mail from them with crafting links. One day, there was a link to a fabulous Halter Apron Pattern and it just happened the pattern was being given away. (Not anymore - now y'all will have to buy it). I'm so excited! I have some fabric for that too that I'll try to whip up - perhaps tonight? My thought - I'm not a great cook. Really, I stick to basic recipes. So - if I make something that might not taste great one night for dinner I figure my husband won't mind as much - as long as I look good.<br /><br />Whoops - I actually see the SUN outside my window. Must try to get my vitamin D for the day before the rains return! Happy sewing! BethBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-51876305259363280732009-06-27T20:44:00.006-04:002009-06-27T21:07:11.332-04:00Tofu the WhaleToday we ventured up to New Hampshire (okay - we live about 10 - 15 minutes from the MA/NH border) to visit Tofu the Whale. I'm a fan of the <a href="http://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/">Seacoast Science Center</a> on Facebook. We are members and donated money to help bring Tofu the Whale to the Science Center. The new exhibit just opened up and my four-year-old insisted we visit Tofu. She's been talking about it for days. So, today, we went.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska-0yssKzI/AAAAAAAAA4c/PpGBaOuWPxc/s1600-h/tofusTail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska-0yssKzI/AAAAAAAAA4c/PpGBaOuWPxc/s320/tofusTail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352175021348105010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tofu's Fluke- she was named tofu for her almost all-white fluke<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">On-line there is a <a href="http://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/visit_today/gallery/slideshow.php?g=24&x=1#">slide show</a> that tells about Tofu and her short life and her eventual journey to the Seacoast Science Center. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SkbBtf66-rI/AAAAAAAAA40/rsQfmve_PaA/s1600-h/LolaJohnLucywatchingTofuMovie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SkbBtf66-rI/AAAAAAAAA40/rsQfmve_PaA/s320/LolaJohnLucywatchingTofuMovie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352178194583321266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Watching informational movies about Tofu and whales.<br />The back of this bench is a life-size model of Tofu's flipper</span><br /></div><br />Inside the science center is her skeleton, a bunch of new interactive exhibits about Tofu as well as the touch tank, tanks with fish, lobsters, seahorses, and other exhibits about the area.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska-0A7qThI/AAAAAAAAA4M/5Iu4EO9Zdg0/s1600-h/JohnLolaTouchtank.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska-0A7qThI/AAAAAAAAA4M/5Iu4EO9Zdg0/s320/JohnLolaTouchtank.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352175007989124626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The touch tank.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska-z2kuw4I/AAAAAAAAA4E/tes4bMhuZIk/s1600-h/LucyTouchtank.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska-z2kuw4I/AAAAAAAAA4E/tes4bMhuZIk/s320/LucyTouchtank.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352175005208593282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lucy holding a sea urchin in the touch tank.<br /></span></div><br />The kids and I love visiting here. We can spend a day on the rocky beaches (not good for swimming) searching the tide pools for crabs, mussels, hermit crabs, periwinkles, and whelks. We have seen loons and ducks. We are told seals hang out here but haven't actually seen them yet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska-0YkbWAI/AAAAAAAAA4U/mxKq1GbZVAM/s1600-h/LolaPosing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska-0YkbWAI/AAAAAAAAA4U/mxKq1GbZVAM/s320/LolaPosing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352175014334126082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lola posing in a boat inside the Seacoast Science Center.<br /></span></div><br />Today, the girls collected rocks. My husband also helped collect garbage that was in the ocean as well as the rocks. I usually keep a plastic grocery bag in the car to collect refuse when we visit beaches but didn't have one today. Seacoast Science Center is located within <a href="http://www.nhstateparks.com/odiorne.html">Odiorne Point State Park</a>. Thankfully the park had garbage cans (as well as bathrooms) so our refuse collection found a home in the proper receptacle.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska_a9G-pDI/AAAAAAAAA4s/aQjFM0XOqFQ/s1600-h/LucyPosing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska_a9G-pDI/AAAAAAAAA4s/aQjFM0XOqFQ/s320/LucyPosing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352175676977751090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lucy posing as the tide comes in.<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska_arBF8VI/AAAAAAAAA4k/6_WM_T95W_E/s1600-h/100_3162.jpg"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Ska_arBF8VI/AAAAAAAAA4k/6_WM_T95W_E/s320/100_3162.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352175672121225554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">We found a net amongst the rocks. It was the perfect thing to hold Lola's rock collection.</span><br /><br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-13118191687953019592009-06-22T22:38:00.003-04:002009-06-22T22:42:06.961-04:00Birthday Twirl Skirt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SkBAiEhTE0I/AAAAAAAAA3k/F83ONlLCHDE/s1600-h/LolaSkirt2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/SkBAiEhTE0I/AAAAAAAAA3k/F83ONlLCHDE/s320/LolaSkirt2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350347311389283138" border="0" /></a><br />I did finish the skirt before the party. I used a tutorial found <a href="http://threeminutesandarainbow.blogspot.com/2008/05/tiered-twirl-skirt-tutorial.html">HERE</a>. My daughter found a pink gymnastics leotard (that she is wearing backwards) and decided she did not want to wear the shirt - just the skirt and the leotard. So - the sleeves will be a project for another rainy day. Let's see - we're supposed to have another one tomorrow. Sigh - then maybe off to the <a href="http://www.mos.org/">Museum of Science</a>.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-33859647118627209682009-06-22T22:03:00.001-04:002009-06-22T22:04:57.245-04:00Apron Giveaway over at...There is a lovely apron giveaway going on at <a href="http://tomatosoupcake.blogspot.com/2009/06/monday-morning-apron-give-away.html">Tomato Soup Cake</a>. Hop on over and enter!Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2661959654301566523.post-68144741183766822632009-06-22T02:20:00.003-04:002009-06-22T02:26:10.097-04:00Birthday Outfit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Sj8jgm3MYoI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/sxk8b9IzdjM/s1600-h/birthdayoutfit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FofoQU8KVLw/Sj8jgm3MYoI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/sxk8b9IzdjM/s320/birthdayoutfit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350033925434270338" border="0" /></a><br />My youngest daughter has a December birthday. December 30th to be exact. Not a great day to have a party. No one is around. We decided we would celebrate her half birthday instead. Better weather (rain instead of snow).<br /><br />I was making her a new outfit and asked what she wanted. She said a shirt and a skirt - at 9.30 pm she told me this. So- here it is. 2 am. I'm not done yet. I need to be done by noon. The shirt just needs its sleeves. And the skirt needs to be sewn together and I need to make the casing for the elastic. So - almost. Almost.<br /><br />The shirt is pink while the skirt is the cupcake fabric along with stripes. Hopefully the half-birthday girl will like them.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08307894551492750682noreply@blogger.com0