Creative Expressions/Quilt Down Under

So folks this morning I got an offer for a free 6 month digital subscription to Creative Expressions with Jennny Haskins, Quilt Down Under, and Down Under Textiles.  All 3 are embroidery, quilting, sewing magazines out of Austraila.  This is being offered by Creative Living Media, who is the publisher of these magazines.  I think I got the notice because I have a subscription to the Austrailian Smocking Magazine.

I've subscribed and was just browsed thru some of the Creative Expressions magazines.  (Did I mentioned that you also get access some of the archived issues for this period?)  I am going to definitely enjoy this subscription for the next 6 months. 
Here's a snapshot of the URL:

The link if you are interested is: http://www.creativelivingmedia.com.au/
Happy Sewing!

A Vintage Dress and Petticoat finished!

Well I finally finished my vintage dress.
I used some fabric that I had purchased last year at the Pattern Review meetup in Chicago 2011. The pattern that I was making is a vintage McCall:

The fabric was a green border print:

The finished product (as worn by my sewing mannequin):

As you can see I took some of the border print and made a custom belt.
Don't be fooled by the length. This may look long on my mannequin; but on me it is only about mid-calf length
Since I love the 40's/50's style dresses, I decided it was time to make a petticoat to go under these full skirts. The petticoat is a simple align skirt with about a 12" deep double layer ruffly out of a soft netting. It was very simple to make, and I got the opportunity to use my ruffler foot - woo hoo!

I'll post a picture of me wearing it later this week.
Now on to my denim print jeans!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

No Place Like Home

Well I went down south to visit my Mom and was fortunate enough to be blessed by some friends of my Mom's with some vintage patterns:
I ended up coming home with a duffle bag filled with patterns. That meant I had to borrow a duffle bag from my Mom, since I only bought one suitcase with me:

I placed each one in a ziploc baggie, so they could survive the journey home.
You'd have thought that I had just won the lottery; well actually I did - The Vintage Pattern Lottery. There had to be over 80 patterns in the box that these ladies gave to me.
Also, after reading several reviews; and stalking Gerties and Male Pattern Boldness blogs. I decided I wanted a copy of the New Book For Better Sewing book by Vogue.
I found one on Ebay, and became the proud owner. I love this book!

I have the first pattern in my vintage stash, and have already started reading thru the chapter in the book for making the pattern. I'm so excited!
Tomorrow I'll post a copy of the vintage dress I just completed.
Happy Sewing . . . .
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

No Brainer Pick-me-up --> Luggage Tags

Every once in a while you need a little pick me up.   Something to get your adrenaline flowing and doesn't require a lot of effort or thought.  I needed one of those.  I kept thinking about all of the scraps I have, and I wanted something quick.

So I figured, Luggage Tags!  Doesn't require much fabric, and I have everything I need here.  Its something I can never have too many of.  And with all of the traveling I've done, and the traveling to come they would definitely get plenty of use.

Of course I didn't want to pay for a pattern, so a "googling" I went.  I came across this pattern: Studio Kat ID Tags.  It took less than 30 minutes to make 3 tags.

I did make a couple of changes when I made the tag:

1. The patterns calls for 8 gauge or less vinyl.  I had a box of sheet protectors that I bought from Staples, so I just took a sheet and used that for the clear vinyl window.
2. The pattern called for interfacing on the wrong sides of the tag.  I did that; but I also had some buckram.  (I had used it in a belt).I cut this to the same size as the interfacing, and then trimmed it down so that I was just barely catching it in the seams.  This gave an additional stiffness to the tag.
3. My tag is just large enough to fit a business card into the vinyl pocket (as you can see in the picture above). The instructions state to stitch the vinyl pocket closed once you've inserted your ID information..  However, I decided to leave it open.  This way I can make some as gifts for family and they can put their information into the vinyl pocket.  It also makes it easy to switch out the id card info if I need to.

Tomorrow, I'll be back on my regular program - garment sewing.

Happy Sewing . . . .

One More Piece of Organization . . .

Well, if you've been reading my posts I've been all about organizing my sewing room.  I've got my patterns, and magazines done.  Now onto the last item my stash.  I have a fabric stash notebook, but I needed a better way to organize the new additions to my stash.

My biggest problem has been that when I buy new fabrics, I don't have a way to track the specifics of the fabric.  Then, as Oprah would say, I had an A-Ha moment.  I'm carrying all of this technology with me, why not make use of it.

When I decide to purchase a piece of fabric; as it is being, cut I take a quick snapshot of the end of the bolt with the fabric description, and of the fabric on the table.  (If its a bolt that doesn't have the information on the end of the bolt then I just turn my recorder on my smart phone and record the information so I can write it down later).

When I get home I just add the picture and bolt information to my fabric entry in Microsoft One-note:

An I-Phone, I-Pad, and Microsoft Office One-note have awaken the desire to become more organized with my sewing time.  The more time I save by organizing, means more time to sew!!!!

Now I'll have access to my patterns, magazines, and stash from anywhere by computer, phone, or ipad.  Yipee!!!!!

Happy Sewing. . . .

One of my favorite notions . . .

Every seamstress has a couple of "can't do without" notions. The typical list includes: scissors; seam ripper; rotary cutter; cutting mat; etc. For me its my measuring guage. I'm not talking of the adjustable gauges:




But for me its the fixed 14 in 1 measuring gauge. These gauges allow you to measure from 1/8th inch to 2 inches.




I have two of these; one from Bernina and one from Viking. I found mine at a little antique mall in Wyoming for 50 cents each. Sewing Machine companies used to make these to give to customers; but I don't' think they do so anymore. Dritz still makes them. I've seen them ranging in price from $2.50 (ebay) to $5.00 (online).

I like these way better than the ones with the adjustable slides. When I use the adjustable slide, I have a tendency to nudge the slide out of place. This isn't the case with these. Then there is the added fact that because of there size, they are very easy to travel with (I can just stick it in a pocket in my purse). That's also the downfall; because of their size, they are easy to loose. So far I have managed to keep up with these two; with a lot of determination. (When I can't find them I start to panic).

I still use the one with the adjustable slide; when I need to measure more than 2 inches. But these are my first choice for anything 2 inches or less.

Happy Sewing . . . .

More Vintage Patterns . . . .

Pray for me for I have gone to the thrift store, and found a treasure trove of vintage patterns.  My nearby thrift stores have patterns and from time to time.  So earlier this week I decided to drop in and see what they had.  This time I lucked out and found some, in my size!  So let me show you what I found for 99 cents each!

Don't you just love the cutout in the bodice.

I like the fullness in the back.

 A nice summer dress; I love the removable caplet.

Just a simple skirt.

Check out the cowl neck; "Everything old is new again".

Check out the pleating in the bodice.

Of course there was no way I was leaving this one; I love the pleated neckline.  This will be one of the first ones I make.

Well that's it for now.  I did finish my border print vintage dress.  I'm working on the petticoat.  Hope to have pictures by end of next week.

Happy Sewing. . . .