First of all hello to any new readers coming over from Sew Mamma Sew! I just wrote an article for them called, "Seam Finishing Made Simple" so pop on over to check it out! This month is Women's Clothing Month over at Sew Mama Sew and there are all sort of wonderful articles. I especially like this one that Beki wrote about Full Bust Alterations. So helpful. Anyway it was great to write an in depth tutorial on something that I probably have spent too much time thinking about. If Izzie reads this blogs she should be laughing, a mere 6 years ago I was laughing at the necessity of seam finishing. Or seam allowances. Or sewing properly period. I've sewn all my life but it wasn't until college when I took my first, last and only sewing class. My teacher was mean and we definately had a personality conflict. Izzie and I both made sure to change the assignment as much as possible but still be within her rules just to be bratty kids. FYI here's the skirt that I made for that class (first time doing a zipper, first time using flat fell seams, etc. Still doesn't have a hook and eye, though):
I almost ALMOST got rid of it a year ago. Fortunately I'm too lazy, I mean busy, to get to the thrift store to drop things off. So, it stayed and I'm glad! I don't have the blouse that i made, though. It was hot pink cotton pique with orange contrast. I really don't remember what I did. Izzie of course made something super beautiful, a long brown skirt that was an alteration of the pattern. I can't remember how she did the faux wrap closure but it was confusing, brilliant and amazing. Anyway, long story short I was an obnoxious teenager who wasn't very good at sewing. So I feel very accomplished to have written an article about something I used to be so horrible at!
Sorry I haven't been good at updating, as usual. April was a whirlwind, spider bites, Asheville one weekend, Richmond the next, then Boston for 5 days working under incredible deadlines, Raleigh the next weekend and finals. I am so surprised I lived, let alone passed (with good grades!) all my classes except art history. I have an incomplete, though, so hopefully the spirit that came over me and allowed me to write a 5 page paper on seam finishes will come again and write 15 papers on pre-Renaissance art.
Since school has been out I've been working feverishly on a shop update. Lots of new things that I'd been making for months but didn't have a moment to photograph. I finally opened up a little etsy shop for my vintage cloths and I even made Big, Bad, Reuse bags but I haven't taken a picture yet so I'll announce that later when I get that done.
I finally got a day to do a little goofing of yesterday and it was really great. I wrote about it on my flickr, so if you've already read this sorry. I'm copying and pasting :)
"Today was a really awesome day. Besides getting in one of those add
downward spirals where it takes 4 hours to pack 4 items to ship (and
not big items that require special packaging or going to the attic).
Seriously, not sure what I was doing that whole time. Went to the PO as
fast as I could since it closes at 4:30. Went to the Trent River Coffee
Shop to get a bagel and some iced tea. I was so hot I was literally
dripping, it was gross. I'm sure you wanted to know that.
"Last Saturday when honey and I went in, Ed the owner of the coffee
shop, gave me someones number to call. He said we'd get along. So I
called her today and left a message. Then by a miracle, she showed up
at the shop about 20 minutes after I did! We talked for 2 hours. It was
awesome. She's so creative and interesting, I'm excited to hang out
with her more.
"After I left I met honey and the dog by the water, we walked with our
doggy friends, talked to people, and eventually ended up at the "cow
cafe" and got ice cream and talked to more strangers. Someone gave the
rest of their cone to lily which she thought was dandy. On the way home
we saw my friend Margaret from school, she is next to impossible to get
a hold of since she rarely gets online, has no phone, and lives on a
boat in the river. I missed the last day of school because honey had a
medical emergency so I didn't get a chance to tell her I wanted to hang
out with her this summer. We talked about education, and art, and all
those good things.
"After we parted ways with Margaret we walked down the dark, quiet,
tree-lined roads of the historic area. While I was gabbling on about
how much Southern nights rock, and how beautiful the magnolia's smell
etc etc etc it started to rain. Hard. So I said goodbye to honey and
lily, I had my camera in a not-waterproof bag, and pedaled home as fast
as I could. Magically, honey and lily got home 2 minutes after I did.
And they hid under the Gothic church during the worst of the rain. So
my honey runs faster than I cycle. Carrying a dog.
"It was a good night, helps me to remember why I like this place."
Details: All vintage. Gunne Saxx dress shortened. Boots my true love. My new awesome vest that's dirty because i climbed onto the roof of an abandoned house.
I was so glad to be back on my bicycle.
I love summer.
