Monday, March 30, 2009

Jalie 2806 and Meredith's Quilt

Pictures of Meredith's quilt. I really like the bright pink walls, her bedroom is on the top floor. In our house the top floor is a story-and-half. The side walls are 4 foot high, so not tons of pink but enough to make the room super-cute and matches the quilt perfectly.

Here is one picture, the colors are the closest to true here. The fabric is Lila Tueller and it is a layer cake. A layer cake is 10" squares of each fabric in a collection, usually 30+ squares. We used 2 layer cakes and cut them on the diagonal. Meredith sewed each of these together and some of the rows. I helped her more than usual because I wanted it done!




A better angle:



Punched up the color a bit. I made the shams this weekend so the room is done.



Some quick sewing, Jalie 2806 from a remnant.

Neckline:


Full view:






Friday, March 27, 2009

I Have Been Busy


Making a purse:




cute ruffle



This chair has been moving around my house. It is in my 19 yo dd's room now and it isn't to her liking or mine. We are trying to redecorate this room a bit. After she moved to college, one of the twins switched her rooms. The paint color in Erin's room is fine, just the bedding is very young teenage girlish. I want the room to be inviting and welcoming for Erin on weekends, so she picked out a brown bedding set. Looks great with the red walls, especially after I make a few pillows to tie the two colors together! Back to the chair, the toille like fabric just she isn't her. So off came the fabric, which I kept for a pattern for the new fabric.




Then outside on one of our few decent days, new spraypaint color. So here is during:


Then after, a brown and white zebra fabric from Sew Mama Sew, a Sis Boom fabric by Jennifer Paganelli. I am loving this look, perfect for a cool 19 year old. A dreary day with no natural light so the picture doesn't show how wonderful this chair looks. This is the first time I ever upholstered anything, I am pleased, especially the matching of the pattern. I have just a bit left, possibly enough for a pillow front.
It is rainy and yucky today, so lacking natural light for great picture but this will give you the idea:


I have been making purses for my friend's shop. They sell better if the display is full and she has been selling quite a few.


Pastel one:




Cherry fabric, vintage looking (this one sold the day I took it in)




Close-up of handles:






I tried a different style, not sure I like it but everyone has different tastes so we will see.












My favorite and 19 yo dd's favorite, so if it doesn't sell, then it will have a home. The colors are vibrant and the early morning darkness doesn't help the colors.







I made 4 other purses and forgot to take pictures. Also, sewed binding on Meredith's new quilt for her room. I have to make shams and then I will get pictures of that, it is darling, she is so proud of it.


Now off to record a podcast, look for it later this weekend. Finally, right?


Then off to the quilt shop for a sewing studio night. Sewing from 5 to 11 pm with food and prize drawings. I am going to work on some class samples for the summer and possibly work on a quilt for my bed. This fabric came into her shop this week and I so like it.







Friday, March 20, 2009

Questions answered Thanks and 3 months from Today

Sorry for the delay but please let me thank you for all the kind comments on the tunic.


Here is some questions you asked in the comments:


Nancy K asked:

The blouse is lovely, but the pattern calls for jersey, did you make fit changes to accommodate your woven fabric?


I did not make any changes and I was lucky. I had my garment cut out when I read the suggested fabrics, not a great move. I was a bit nervous while sewing and as soon as the side seams were stitched, I tried it on. Whew, tunic was fine.


Lindsay T asked:

Cute tunic, Lori. How's the fit? Blousy or slim fit?


It is more of a slim fit, Lindsay. I think you could eliminate the drawstring and have a slim fit tunic.


Christina asked:

Does your regular Burda size work for you in a woven? It looks like it would because it's blousey.


I did use my regular size and it is more slim fitted, so you could adjust the sizing for more of a blousey look.



Now the reason for my blogging absence. Three months, yes, only THREE months from today is my daughter's wedding. How did that happen so quickly?

The weather has turned very nice here and I have been outside working in all my flower beds. Not only cleaning but thinning out some perennials. Then that leads to new mulch and more flowers. Today I get to clean up all the piles of debris! The reception is going to be here, in a rented tent with a dance floor. My mom keeps teasing me, "you know you are having a wedding reception here?" Last weekend, I painted 2 bathrooms. Yes, I do know.


This weekend, the bride is coming home. Her wedding dress is in, so a fitting tomorrow. I can't wait to see my beautiful daughter in her gown, yes, I will bring tissues. Then a trip to Joann's to look for fabric, I am making the dresses for the twins. They will be the candlelighters.


I need to get a podcast out, too. I have not been very good at that this year, sorry. My plate has been very full and it could be getting fuller.


Oh, yes, today is the first day of SPRING, hurray. It has been a long winter. This will be blooming in my yard soon.
Doesn't it look wonderful?

Saturday, March 14, 2009

BWOF 2/2009 #126



Pattern: BWOF 2/2009 #126
Description: Being comfortable and grabbing attention at the same time is no problem in this tunic – an absolute hippie classic. Plunging v-neckline, wide dolman sleeves and a waist drawstring.
Sizing: 36 to 44

Instructions: The are easy to follow and this is an easy tunic to construct.

Likes/Dislikes: I liked the tunic look and the drawstring added some fit to this style.

Changes: Most of the changes were for my sheer fabric.
*I used silk organza for the interfacing. I used this on the neck band and for the buttonholes on the waistband casing.
*I used French seams
Some garment construction changes:
*I basted the neckband facing to the neckband before topstitching
*I measured and marked the waistband casing from the hem.
*A tip from Mary Ray on small drawstrings or spaghetti type straps. Sew from the fold instead of the raw edges when making my drawstring. This is a much straighter edge to use and your finished drawstring looks great.

Fabric: A sheer silk fabric from Fashionista Fabrics.

Conclusion: I have a nice top for hot summer days, dressy and stylish while staying cool.
My tunic with a brown cami underneath

Gathered shoulder detail.


Monday, March 09, 2009

We Have a Winner!!

Thanks to Random.org number 25 (26 people entered) is the winner. So, Lisa H, you are the winner of the purse, congratulations. Please email me you address and the purse will be on the way to you lori_michael@hughes.net



Thanks all for entering and sorry I didn't post the winner until today. I was just too tired on Sunday. My oldest daughter (the birthday girl) became a homeowner on February 28th, exciting. Hubby, the twins and myself went to her home and worked for two days. Along with her fiance and his dad and then his mom on Sunday. We painted 4 rooms inside the house and the huge entryway and upstairs hallway (all two coats), caulked and painted the front door, put up a new outside light by the front door, installed a new mailbox post, installed laminate flooring in the kitchen and laundry room (the guys did that), cleaned the bathrooms and taped more rooms for painting. Makes me want to paint some rooms in my house but my muscles have to feel better first!



Sewing.... I finished a pair of BWOF pants from 2/2009 and started a blouse from the same issue. Hopefully pictures soon.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

More Changes



I asked Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for advice on my living room. Here is before:


Sarah suggested more pillows on the couch and maybe some color at the windows. I moved the blue vases up on the jelly cabinet as she suggested.
After:



I bought the pillows at Target, all on sale, the striped ones were $7 each. the curtains were sold as panels, one per package. I bought two, cut them in half and hemmed up the sides. the piano (right side) will be moving to a new home soon. Oldest daughter became a home owner last Friday. All the girls took piano lessons but she was the one that really loved it and stuck with it.
I am happy the piano is leaving my home and going to a good home! I will be moving the rocker to that corner with some lighting.
Now off to finish my BWOF pants, I have been trying all afternoon to get to them!




Tuesday, March 03, 2009

An Award


Claire at 1 Seam at a Time
awarded me The Sisterhood Award. What an honor and such a fun award. I feel it is so appropriate for blogland, many other sewers and crafters with blogs and are always so willing to help.

The rules of this award are:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received your award.
So no particular order (and trying not to duplicate Claire's choices - many which I would pick also) I would really like to nominate all 169 feeds from my bloglines!

Monday, March 02, 2009

Giveaway time

I made this bag for a sample in my friend's quilt store. Well, we have switched out some samples and this one came home. It is such a cute bag but alas, not big enough for all my stuff! So I am giving it away


Leave a comment on this post and on March 8th, my oldest daughter's birthday and I will draw for a winner.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Jacket on Me

Okay, the jacket on me.

Buttoned




My cropped head, thanks Kaitlyn.


I was hired to make this purse, it was used in a scholarship silent auction, a cattleman's association. Perfect fabric for that.