I don't sew anymore.
I haven't sewn anything since my Halloween costume of 2010, and that was a last minute hack job, since we were deep into home renovations and moving plans.
All of my fabric has been in boxes in my basement since we moved into the house. The likelihood of it leaving those boxes for a viable project in my house is pretty slim. The likelihood of it leaving my house to be donated to someone who might actually use it is better.
There is just NO SPACE in the house for proper planning/cutting/sewing. (At a little over 800 square feet, there's actually no space for much of anything.) Eventually, we will finish the basement, and there could be space for sewing, but honestly, I've lost the urge to sew. I find that I far prefer buying a lovely, quality, item of clothing to sweating hours making something that I will definitely find a flaw in. The perfectionist in me demands finished seams and clothes that don't pucker. EVERYTHING that I've made for myself (with the exception of my Sencha Blouse and my bow tie bag) is gone, ravaged in closet downsizing missions, or tossed in a fit of distaste at the lack of garment perfection. Yes, I could work on achieving perfection, but patience is not a virtue that I possess in great quantities.
I don't actually miss the sewing. I sometimes wonder where I used to find the time to do it at all. After performing the normal post work rush of pet care/dinner prep/clean up/dog walking/miscellaneous house chores, it's usually time to collapse onto the couch and catch an hour of television before I fall asleep at 9 (or collapse into my chair and read for a bit--this depends on what night of the week we're talking about). The workday starts all over again for me at 5:30 a.m.
Weekends are a haze of house cleaning, laundry, food shopping, and other miscellaneous chores. If I'm lucky, feeling motivated, and the weather is cooperative I take a long bike ride or a long walk on one of the weekend days. Mostly, though, Sunday night arrives in a flash, I'm vacuuming madly, and I wonder again, when did I used to have time to sew? Do I even want to have time to sew? And if I'm honest with myself, the answer is no.
I like having the ability to sew, the knowledge that I can hem trousers, make curtains, or whip up a skirt. I enjoy reading crafty blogs and books. I just don't enjoy the act anymore. This doesn't make me sad. I have realized that I've mentally moved on. The item has been checked off of my "to do" list. I'm ready to learn some new things, or perhaps revisit old ones. (Maybe learn another language or craft. Maybe revisit the knitting, since it can be done in small spaces.)
I may sew again. I'll never get rid of the hardware, the machine, the scissors, the pins, the thread. I'll always be available to help those who can't hem their own pants.
Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sewing. Show all posts
Monday, August 1, 2011
Friday, March 26, 2010
To do tomorrow morning...
Attempt to knock off a summer purse that I saw at Gap...
The best part of this project...all of the supplies cost me about $5 at Jomar. I'll work on it tomorrow, and if it is a total failure, I'll simply use the 20% off coupon that I have for Gap and just buy the real thing. I feel like I have to make an effort on my own, though.
The best part of this project...all of the supplies cost me about $5 at Jomar. I'll work on it tomorrow, and if it is a total failure, I'll simply use the 20% off coupon that I have for Gap and just buy the real thing. I feel like I have to make an effort on my own, though.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Colette Sencha: Fin
My first attempt at the Colette Sencha blouse was a success, I think. It definitely looks fine under a jacket or cardigan, and I can absolutely see it tucked into a super high waist pencil skirt (must get right on locating the perfect pattern for that).
I cut and sewed the size four with no alterations. I like that the pattern size is so close to ready to wear sizing! I used a cheapy fake silk from Joann Fabric. I spread my work out over the course of a few evenings after work...there is a lot of hand sewing (sleeve hems, bottom hem), and I didn't want to lose patience.
I will absolutely sew this again and hopefully improve the wonky parts. Oh, I used colored snaps instead of sew in snaps in the back closure. To accomplish this on such a thin fabric, I did interface the back facings per the advice of some others who had sewn the Sencha. I'm glad I did.
I cut and sewed the size four with no alterations. I like that the pattern size is so close to ready to wear sizing! I used a cheapy fake silk from Joann Fabric. I spread my work out over the course of a few evenings after work...there is a lot of hand sewing (sleeve hems, bottom hem), and I didn't want to lose patience.
I will absolutely sew this again and hopefully improve the wonky parts. Oh, I used colored snaps instead of sew in snaps in the back closure. To accomplish this on such a thin fabric, I did interface the back facings per the advice of some others who had sewn the Sencha. I'm glad I did.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Instant Gratification
I'm working on my Sencha blouse. I'm taking my time, doing a little each night. Still, I needed a little instant gratification. While killing time on the web today, I came across this scarf by Land's End. I remembered that I had some cheap knit in almost the same print left in my stash. Hence, this:
It took five minutes with the scissors, and it was a scrap piece of fabric. Nice.
It took five minutes with the scissors, and it was a scrap piece of fabric. Nice.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Things I won't do again.
1. Sew this McCall's pattern. I'm trashing it. Maybe it was the $1 a yard knit that I used, or maybe it's just heinous. I tried to do the version that is shown in red. Ugh. It came out super horrible, like it was a reject from a Wham video costume designer.
2. Drink the beverage known as the three R's at Farmicia. It supposedly contained Root Liquor, Rye, Ginger Ale, and was served over rocks in a glass with fruit. I was expecting a little rocks glass drink. Nope, it came in a giant coke glass. I finished it. I do not remember the ride home from the restaurant. Apparently I told my husband that he was not a nice person. I also could barely taste the Root part, which was the appealing part of the beverage when I read the description. I'll have to get a bottle to try in other ways.
3. Eat too much spinach. I am a mostly vegetarian gal. Thus, I live on mostly vegetables. You know what sucks? When vegetables make you feel like you are going to puke. Some fruits do this to me too. Currently on my list: zucchini, yellow squash, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon. I had to add spinach last night. I put it on a sandwich (with some veggie chicken, garlic, tomatoes and provolone) and was rudely awakened around midnight with a need to lay on the bathroom floor and feel like I was going to die. This has happened before with spinach, I was just in denial.
2. Drink the beverage known as the three R's at Farmicia. It supposedly contained Root Liquor, Rye, Ginger Ale, and was served over rocks in a glass with fruit. I was expecting a little rocks glass drink. Nope, it came in a giant coke glass. I finished it. I do not remember the ride home from the restaurant. Apparently I told my husband that he was not a nice person. I also could barely taste the Root part, which was the appealing part of the beverage when I read the description. I'll have to get a bottle to try in other ways.
3. Eat too much spinach. I am a mostly vegetarian gal. Thus, I live on mostly vegetables. You know what sucks? When vegetables make you feel like you are going to puke. Some fruits do this to me too. Currently on my list: zucchini, yellow squash, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon. I had to add spinach last night. I put it on a sandwich (with some veggie chicken, garlic, tomatoes and provolone) and was rudely awakened around midnight with a need to lay on the bathroom floor and feel like I was going to die. This has happened before with spinach, I was just in denial.
I'm on a roll.
Got myself some new Gingher scissors this weekend. They were a total impulse buy. I went to Joann for some sewing needles and interfacing and they magically appeared in my hand at the register. They are, in a word, amazing.
Started working on the Colette Sencha top. I'm using a cheap synthetic silk that I got at Joann to see how it comes out.
Performed up to my quality control representative's lofty standards. Why is it that as soon as I lay out fabric and a pattern, Rocky decides he needs to be right on top of me?
Yes, this is acceptable.
Started working on the Colette Sencha top. I'm using a cheap synthetic silk that I got at Joann to see how it comes out.
Performed up to my quality control representative's lofty standards. Why is it that as soon as I lay out fabric and a pattern, Rocky decides he needs to be right on top of me?
Yes, this is acceptable.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
It's Snowing. I'm Sewing.
I owe this blog to Jaime. Last night was supposed to be her Mad Men themed holiday cookie exchange. Unfortunately, her little girl came down with a stomach plague earlier in the week, necessitating the postponement of the one holiday party I actually look forward to attending. Boo, stomach germs! Boo, puking. Boo!
As part of the party, invitees were instructed to come dressed in clothing inspired by Mad Men. I decided that this meant I should make something. I found someone's entry on the Sew Retro Blog and admired the dress made with Simplicity 3673. So, I decided to try it.
I used some suiting fabric that I had in my stash (leftover from when my mother in law worked for Jones New York...she had an unending supply of designer fabric remnants). I lined the top with leftover pieces of an Ikea Gaspa sheet (very silky smooth, and easier to work with than normal lining). I really should have lined the whole thing, to cover all the unfinished seams (don't have a serger yet), but the dress has 8 darts. That would have meant sewing all 8 darts twice. No thank you. I'm all about instant gratification and being lazy whenever possible.
Altogether, I spent several evenings working on the dress. I've learned that more complicated patterns are better split up in this way. I make fewer mistakes and am way more careful. There are still a few wonky points, but thanks to the super black fabric, you don't really notice them all that much.
A self portrait would be nice, but thanks to crappy winter lighting and a broken tripod, you get this:
Rest assured, it fits rather well. Well done, me!
I spent this morning in my PJs, alternately sweeping up snow from my front steps (hello to the blizzard of 2009), playing with my dogs in the snowy yard, and working on another version of Simplicity 3835, the Built by Wendy top/tunic that everyone in the world of sewing has made at one time or another. I myself have made two other versions. This time, I decided that I wanted a casual bathing suit cover-up for my upcoming trip to Hawaii, so I went with the tunic length, but used the elastic neck instead of the zip up back. This meant that I was able to omit the center back seam, and just cut the back piece on the fold, which was nice, because I used a striped Kaffe Fasset cotton, and matching lines would have been irritating.
I experimented for the first time with french seams on this project (again, no serger for seam clean up). I used this tutorial. They were super easy, and look very nice.
Still, the neck elastic casing is a little messy, and I think I may have twisted the elastic during insertion, but eh, I'm only wearing this to the beach. It doesn't look too bad. It's very muumuuish, which is appropriate for Hawaii.
I have plans to make another version of this in a different print. Maybe later tonight, between shoveling snow and eating these cookies that I made.
As part of the party, invitees were instructed to come dressed in clothing inspired by Mad Men. I decided that this meant I should make something. I found someone's entry on the Sew Retro Blog and admired the dress made with Simplicity 3673. So, I decided to try it.
I used some suiting fabric that I had in my stash (leftover from when my mother in law worked for Jones New York...she had an unending supply of designer fabric remnants). I lined the top with leftover pieces of an Ikea Gaspa sheet (very silky smooth, and easier to work with than normal lining). I really should have lined the whole thing, to cover all the unfinished seams (don't have a serger yet), but the dress has 8 darts. That would have meant sewing all 8 darts twice. No thank you. I'm all about instant gratification and being lazy whenever possible.
Altogether, I spent several evenings working on the dress. I've learned that more complicated patterns are better split up in this way. I make fewer mistakes and am way more careful. There are still a few wonky points, but thanks to the super black fabric, you don't really notice them all that much.
A self portrait would be nice, but thanks to crappy winter lighting and a broken tripod, you get this:
Rest assured, it fits rather well. Well done, me!
I spent this morning in my PJs, alternately sweeping up snow from my front steps (hello to the blizzard of 2009), playing with my dogs in the snowy yard, and working on another version of Simplicity 3835, the Built by Wendy top/tunic that everyone in the world of sewing has made at one time or another. I myself have made two other versions. This time, I decided that I wanted a casual bathing suit cover-up for my upcoming trip to Hawaii, so I went with the tunic length, but used the elastic neck instead of the zip up back. This meant that I was able to omit the center back seam, and just cut the back piece on the fold, which was nice, because I used a striped Kaffe Fasset cotton, and matching lines would have been irritating.
I experimented for the first time with french seams on this project (again, no serger for seam clean up). I used this tutorial. They were super easy, and look very nice.
Still, the neck elastic casing is a little messy, and I think I may have twisted the elastic during insertion, but eh, I'm only wearing this to the beach. It doesn't look too bad. It's very muumuuish, which is appropriate for Hawaii.
I have plans to make another version of this in a different print. Maybe later tonight, between shoveling snow and eating these cookies that I made.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Mannequin Dress
I'm referring to the finished product of Butterick 4790 as The Mannequin Dress. It looks great when you stand still, but when you move, all sorts of weird things happen. The straight under-dress rides up (see photo below, where I obviously didn't adjust it down before CPM snapped the shot). If you take a deep breath or bend the wrong way, the snaps might pop open, and then your lady parts are exposed for all the world to see.
Me Not Moving:
Still, I liked the way the bottom skirt was all twirly and fun. I had to find a way to save it for at least one wear. So I dug through my closet and found my favorite sweater. I think I can make this work, if I add a few extra snaps to the waist portion for added insurance and use the sweater to cover the top part not fitting me as well as it should. Also, I should probably wear a bra. I just threw this on from wearing my PJs and skipped that important foundational undergarment.
Maybe This Can Work:
Me Not Moving:
Still, I liked the way the bottom skirt was all twirly and fun. I had to find a way to save it for at least one wear. So I dug through my closet and found my favorite sweater. I think I can make this work, if I add a few extra snaps to the waist portion for added insurance and use the sweater to cover the top part not fitting me as well as it should. Also, I should probably wear a bra. I just threw this on from wearing my PJs and skipped that important foundational undergarment.
Maybe This Can Work:
Monday, November 23, 2009
In progress...Butterick 4790
I'm breaking my usual rule. If a pattern features a drawing on the cover, and not an actual human, I normally don't even attempt it. I don't trust that the finished product will actually look good on a human. But I was intrigued by Butterick 4790 after I saw this post on the Sew Retro blog.
You must understand how enthused I was about making this dress. (I don't actually know what came over me, I never get that focused about a project.) I had to go out and buy the pattern on Friday night after dinner so that I could have instant gratification. I couldn't order it and wait. I also luckily had exactly the right amount of fabric in my stash: a king sized Gaspa sheet from Ikea. When I got home from dinner/shopping on Friday, and my husband went to bed (at 7:30pm, go party animal!), I spent the next two hours cutting the pattern and fabric and pinning the darts.
On Saturday morning, I resisted the call of the sewing room in favor of working out and cleaning. Once the chores were out of the way, I allowed myself to be sucked into the sewing...fast forward several hours of sewing and hem pinning (mostly hem pinning, there really is a lot of hem to this dress). I should have been planning and cooking dinner during the latter portion of my sewing time, but I allowed myself to be convinced by my husband that going out to eat was the right choice, because it maximized my sewing time. When we got back from dinner, I sat on the couch for two hours and hand sewed the massive hem on the rear wrap portion while we caught up on our "programs." (I love our DVR.) This dress is a serious committment! I was then able to finish all of the bias bindings before hitting the sack.
So, I have no progress photo. I have to sew on a few snaps, a few buttons, and finally put it on. I have a feeling that it is 1 size too big for me, but I am determined to make this thing work, even if I have to stuff my bra! Stay tuned...
On Sunday night, I made these pumpkin scones. I highly recommend the recipe. The scones are incredible. I was craving a pumpkin scone from Starbucks all week last week, and these are even better. Of course, I didn't unload the photo from my camera yet, so all you have to go on that is the satisfied sound of my belly digesting the one that I ate for breakfast this morning. *Gurgle*
You must understand how enthused I was about making this dress. (I don't actually know what came over me, I never get that focused about a project.) I had to go out and buy the pattern on Friday night after dinner so that I could have instant gratification. I couldn't order it and wait. I also luckily had exactly the right amount of fabric in my stash: a king sized Gaspa sheet from Ikea. When I got home from dinner/shopping on Friday, and my husband went to bed (at 7:30pm, go party animal!), I spent the next two hours cutting the pattern and fabric and pinning the darts.
On Saturday morning, I resisted the call of the sewing room in favor of working out and cleaning. Once the chores were out of the way, I allowed myself to be sucked into the sewing...fast forward several hours of sewing and hem pinning (mostly hem pinning, there really is a lot of hem to this dress). I should have been planning and cooking dinner during the latter portion of my sewing time, but I allowed myself to be convinced by my husband that going out to eat was the right choice, because it maximized my sewing time. When we got back from dinner, I sat on the couch for two hours and hand sewed the massive hem on the rear wrap portion while we caught up on our "programs." (I love our DVR.) This dress is a serious committment! I was then able to finish all of the bias bindings before hitting the sack.
So, I have no progress photo. I have to sew on a few snaps, a few buttons, and finally put it on. I have a feeling that it is 1 size too big for me, but I am determined to make this thing work, even if I have to stuff my bra! Stay tuned...
On Sunday night, I made these pumpkin scones. I highly recommend the recipe. The scones are incredible. I was craving a pumpkin scone from Starbucks all week last week, and these are even better. Of course, I didn't unload the photo from my camera yet, so all you have to go on that is the satisfied sound of my belly digesting the one that I ate for breakfast this morning. *Gurgle*
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Simplicity 3692
What the hell. I spent 2 hours putting together this knit top. I should know better. I have no serger. I used a cheap Wal Mart knit with horizontal stripes. I was also an idiot, and cut 2 back yokes instead of 1 front and 1 back. By the time I realized my error, I decided that unpicking seams would make me want to stab myself, and I'd rather just go with the flow. I know a wadder when I see one. I considered this more of a learning experience. Gathering knits: check. Making a yoke and yoke facing: check. More practice attaching sleeves correctly: check. I can wear this to clean the bathroom, so it's not a huge loss.
The pattern is Simplicity 3692. I've seen it done in wovens, and I may try that next. Eventually I'll get a serger and return to the land of knit.
It looks much better on the hanger than it does on me.
The pattern is Simplicity 3692. I've seen it done in wovens, and I may try that next. Eventually I'll get a serger and return to the land of knit.
It looks much better on the hanger than it does on me.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Mojo = Back!
I took a trip to Joann fabric yesterday. I had a list of assorted notions that I needed. What I didn't need was fabric, but I bought some anyway. Sari fabric was 50% off! I decided to use some to make myself a small "evening" bag for a wedding that I have to go to this weekend.
The pattern that I used is free here, except you might have to register to see the page.
Finished result:
I have enough fabric to make about five more of these bad boys. Woohoo! It was super easy and came together in a little over an hour and a half. This is my kind of project.
The pattern that I used is free here, except you might have to register to see the page.
Finished result:
I have enough fabric to make about five more of these bad boys. Woohoo! It was super easy and came together in a little over an hour and a half. This is my kind of project.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Apparently, I live in the ghetto.
This was supposed to be a triumphant post about how I finally finished my very first quilt. So here's that part...I finished my very first quilt! It's loosely based on the lap quilt in Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing. I just tore strips of fabric (purchased ages ago from Reprodepot)for the top and sewed them into long strips, and combined the long strips into the quilt top. It measured about 42" by 60" when completed. I did that back in June. Then I put the top away and forgot about it. I didn't really make much of anything all summer.
This weekend, I decided to finish the darn quilt. It was hanging over my head. Luckily, the fabric that I bought was large enough to act as a back without any piecing. Go me and my over shopping. I made the quilt sandwich and then quilted via the "stich almost in the ditch" method. You know, the method you use when your seams don't line up perfectly, and you don't really care that much because you think it gives the quilt character. I made the binding. I attached the binding. A huge thanks goes to Oh Fransson's binding tutorial. Amy Karol's instructions are very overview-ish. I needed detail, because I've never done this before. This tutorial rocked. My miters are almost nice. My next quilt binding will be better because now I've done it and understand what needs to be adjusted. I also learned that I won't be making any king sized quilts ever because all that hand sewing of the binding would make me want to stab myself to death.
Quilt Top
Quilt Back
***
After I finished the quilt, I felt like reading a bit before hitting the hay. It was 10:30 on Saturday night. CPM was already in bed. I read in my living room until near midnight (finishing this set of books by Garth Nix). The entire time I heard loud voices outside of my window. I ignored them, because I assumed it was my neighbors, who keep late hours and like to hang outside.
When I went up to bed, I peaked out of my bedroom window to see that the noise was not my neighbors. It was quite a large group of teenagers congregated in front of my house. I watched them for a while to see if they were up to no good. Eventually, I just decided to go outside to ask them to move, because they were so loud that I would never be able to sleep with them hanging outside.
I went outside in my pajamas, my phone in my hand. I asked them to move. At first, they were nice and said, "okay." When I asked them to make sure to collect the two dudes who had strayed a bit apart from the group, things got ugly. One of the young women began screaming obscenities at me, and walked at me in a threatening manner. I used my phone to call 911. I told them that I was calling 911 just before doing so. The screaming continued, but the young woman's friends wisely pulled her away. I went back inside. I tried to fall asleep, but I was shaking in fear and anger.
I am still disgusted. I was told on Sunday that my neighbor came outside after I had gone in, and found two of the kids remaining, and taking a pee in the bushes across from us. Nice. This has made me hate my neighborhood, hate parents who don't provide supervision for their teens, hate teens who have no respect for anything, etc. Yes, once I was a teenager. But if an adult had asked me politely to move along, I would have gone. I never would have begun screaming curses at them.
This weekend, I decided to finish the darn quilt. It was hanging over my head. Luckily, the fabric that I bought was large enough to act as a back without any piecing. Go me and my over shopping. I made the quilt sandwich and then quilted via the "stich almost in the ditch" method. You know, the method you use when your seams don't line up perfectly, and you don't really care that much because you think it gives the quilt character. I made the binding. I attached the binding. A huge thanks goes to Oh Fransson's binding tutorial. Amy Karol's instructions are very overview-ish. I needed detail, because I've never done this before. This tutorial rocked. My miters are almost nice. My next quilt binding will be better because now I've done it and understand what needs to be adjusted. I also learned that I won't be making any king sized quilts ever because all that hand sewing of the binding would make me want to stab myself to death.
Quilt Top
Quilt Back
***
After I finished the quilt, I felt like reading a bit before hitting the hay. It was 10:30 on Saturday night. CPM was already in bed. I read in my living room until near midnight (finishing this set of books by Garth Nix). The entire time I heard loud voices outside of my window. I ignored them, because I assumed it was my neighbors, who keep late hours and like to hang outside.
When I went up to bed, I peaked out of my bedroom window to see that the noise was not my neighbors. It was quite a large group of teenagers congregated in front of my house. I watched them for a while to see if they were up to no good. Eventually, I just decided to go outside to ask them to move, because they were so loud that I would never be able to sleep with them hanging outside.
I went outside in my pajamas, my phone in my hand. I asked them to move. At first, they were nice and said, "okay." When I asked them to make sure to collect the two dudes who had strayed a bit apart from the group, things got ugly. One of the young women began screaming obscenities at me, and walked at me in a threatening manner. I used my phone to call 911. I told them that I was calling 911 just before doing so. The screaming continued, but the young woman's friends wisely pulled her away. I went back inside. I tried to fall asleep, but I was shaking in fear and anger.
I am still disgusted. I was told on Sunday that my neighbor came outside after I had gone in, and found two of the kids remaining, and taking a pee in the bushes across from us. Nice. This has made me hate my neighborhood, hate parents who don't provide supervision for their teens, hate teens who have no respect for anything, etc. Yes, once I was a teenager. But if an adult had asked me politely to move along, I would have gone. I never would have begun screaming curses at them.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Jesus. I can't post regularly to save my life.
Two weeks ago, my house was invaded for a weekend of band practice. Band practice weekends mean that all of my little OCD cleaning/shopping/chore routines are shot to shit and I am forced to have fun, eat out a lot, and basically chill the eff out while the rock is happening in my basement. The vacuuming and bleaching can get done during the week, right? I took no pictures. I cooked dinner twice (lasagna, veggie chicken cheese steaks) and breakfast once (blueberry pancakes). I ate out at our favorite Thai place, our favorite veggie place, our favorite Mexican joint, and a good sushi joint. One of the house guests wrote about it on his blog way back on June 24. That's how late I am in updating.
Last week I took a spontaneous vacation day and went to Laurel Hill Cemetery with Jaime to take some photos. You should look at hers, not mine, because hers rule and mine are meh. I need to learn Photoshop.
This weekend, we became a four dog house. Our "niece," Rosie is staying with us while her people are away visiting Shamu. My three dogs are not allowed on the furniture. Rosie, however...
Our couch cushions will be squished down to pancakes by the end of the week, and that will be just fine, because she is so darn cute.
This weekend, I ventured into experimental ice cream territory. I made the vanilla ice cream from the ice cream maker's manual, and then added chopped frozen cherries and chopped bittersweet chocolate at the end. CPM says this is my best ice cream yet.
I also made a skirt. I got it done in two hours! The zipper isn't as wonky as it usually is! Woohoo!
Last week I took a spontaneous vacation day and went to Laurel Hill Cemetery with Jaime to take some photos. You should look at hers, not mine, because hers rule and mine are meh. I need to learn Photoshop.
This weekend, we became a four dog house. Our "niece," Rosie is staying with us while her people are away visiting Shamu. My three dogs are not allowed on the furniture. Rosie, however...
Our couch cushions will be squished down to pancakes by the end of the week, and that will be just fine, because she is so darn cute.
This weekend, I ventured into experimental ice cream territory. I made the vanilla ice cream from the ice cream maker's manual, and then added chopped frozen cherries and chopped bittersweet chocolate at the end. CPM says this is my best ice cream yet.
I also made a skirt. I got it done in two hours! The zipper isn't as wonky as it usually is! Woohoo!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Things I've Made...
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Delicious! I left out the peanut butter patties because I was in a hurry to try this!
Strawberry Ice Cream (from the manual that came with the ice cream maker)
Heavy cream makes any ice cream better!
Tzatziki in Progress
It turned out well, however, I think this recipe could use a little lemon juice or something. I ate it with two baked potatoes. I love baked potatoes and can never eat just one.
The Headband from Weekend Sewing
There was a lot of guess work involved in a few places due to some imprecise directions (for instance, when you tell me to sew pleats, tell me how far apart to make the marks to make the pleats even). Next time, I'll do a better job. Also, telling me to do a 1/8" fold? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. I laugh. I always up this dimension to 1/4".
And now appearing in my container garden, tomatoes!
Delicious! I left out the peanut butter patties because I was in a hurry to try this!
Strawberry Ice Cream (from the manual that came with the ice cream maker)
Heavy cream makes any ice cream better!
Tzatziki in Progress
It turned out well, however, I think this recipe could use a little lemon juice or something. I ate it with two baked potatoes. I love baked potatoes and can never eat just one.
The Headband from Weekend Sewing
There was a lot of guess work involved in a few places due to some imprecise directions (for instance, when you tell me to sew pleats, tell me how far apart to make the marks to make the pleats even). Next time, I'll do a better job. Also, telling me to do a 1/8" fold? Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. I laugh. I always up this dimension to 1/4".
And now appearing in my container garden, tomatoes!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Blah Blah Blah
What a weekend. Bones had his surgery to repair his torn cruciate ligament last Thursday, and came home on Friday. Here he is, plotting my demise for making him wear the dreaded cone.
Apparently, the vet no longer sends the dog home with a padded bandage on the leg. Bones' stapled incision is exposed. Woo boy, it's a doozy. On the positive side, he won't get the nasty pressure sore that Ollie got from his bandage. For the first night, as expected, he whined and cried from the discomfort. After that, he figured out how to get comfortable, how to walk around, how to lay down, how to demand a chin scratch, basically how to be a dog again. He's healing well (I think), and gets his sutures removed next week. I'll feel a lot better when that happens. I hate making him wear the cone. I think it really bums him out.
Since I was confined to the house for the weekend, caring for Bones, I got lots of domestic crap done. Primarily, I was psyched to try my new ice cream maker. Wow. Why didn't I get one of these before? I started with a recipe for coconut ice cream. Instead of saffron, as called for in the recipe, I simply added toasted coconut. Wow. Wow. Wow. Because I can't eat ice cream without something, I also whipped up a fruit crisp, using the abundance of plums and apricots that I had on hand. I ate only one bowl. CPM made it disappear little by little over the course of the next few days.
I also whipped up a quilt top.
I don't have a rotary cutter, so I decided to tear my fabric to make the pieces. That was actually fun. The pieces ended up coming out not exactly the same size, but I don't believe in perfect, so that was fine. I still need to make the quilt sandwich, make the binding, quilt the thing, and then bind it. Eh. Maybe before the year ends.
I will leave you with a post from another of my favorite blogs, Stuff White People Like. This one hits a little too close to home, I think. It's about Vespas. I have a Vespa...I am white. Oh god.
Apparently, the vet no longer sends the dog home with a padded bandage on the leg. Bones' stapled incision is exposed. Woo boy, it's a doozy. On the positive side, he won't get the nasty pressure sore that Ollie got from his bandage. For the first night, as expected, he whined and cried from the discomfort. After that, he figured out how to get comfortable, how to walk around, how to lay down, how to demand a chin scratch, basically how to be a dog again. He's healing well (I think), and gets his sutures removed next week. I'll feel a lot better when that happens. I hate making him wear the cone. I think it really bums him out.
Since I was confined to the house for the weekend, caring for Bones, I got lots of domestic crap done. Primarily, I was psyched to try my new ice cream maker. Wow. Why didn't I get one of these before? I started with a recipe for coconut ice cream. Instead of saffron, as called for in the recipe, I simply added toasted coconut. Wow. Wow. Wow. Because I can't eat ice cream without something, I also whipped up a fruit crisp, using the abundance of plums and apricots that I had on hand. I ate only one bowl. CPM made it disappear little by little over the course of the next few days.
I also whipped up a quilt top.
I don't have a rotary cutter, so I decided to tear my fabric to make the pieces. That was actually fun. The pieces ended up coming out not exactly the same size, but I don't believe in perfect, so that was fine. I still need to make the quilt sandwich, make the binding, quilt the thing, and then bind it. Eh. Maybe before the year ends.
I will leave you with a post from another of my favorite blogs, Stuff White People Like. This one hits a little too close to home, I think. It's about Vespas. I have a Vespa...I am white. Oh god.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Take that!
For some reason, I knew I wanted to make a skirt today. I bought this pattern about seven years ago, before I could sew, just because I thought that one day I would like to try it. Today I did it. The pattern calls itself a "1 hour" pattern. Yeah, right. From cutting to finishing, I spent 4 hours. But it came out fabulously, and I will absolutely do this again. This fits perfectly, with no alterations necessary, and is the ideal work skirt. As usual, my zipper installation could be better, but I'm getting there.
On a completely unrelated note, this was my set of Scrabble tiles last night. I'm bummed that I couldn't actually play "diarrhea." That would have ruled.
On a completely unrelated note, this was my set of Scrabble tiles last night. I'm bummed that I couldn't actually play "diarrhea." That would have ruled.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I don't even speak japanese!
I found some hat patterns online, thanks to intrepid link following...a sewing blog linked to a sewist's flickr set, and whilst perusing her photos, I came upon some hats that she had sewn. In her comments she provides some handy links to other hat patterns. I decided to give one a shot, despite instructions being written in Japanese, using some scrap fabric that I had on hand. Mickey is modeling the outcome below. It's reversible! And too big for my head. According to the pattern (I think), you were supposed to use six pieces. Six pieces created a hat that was too small to fit around my head, so I expanded to eight pieces. It's now just a tad too large. It will work, but not on a windy beach day.
I will definitely make more hats! This one took absolutely no time at all, so it's very handy when you want a quick project.
I will definitely make more hats! This one took absolutely no time at all, so it's very handy when you want a quick project.
Monday, April 20, 2009
It all started innocently enough...
The weekend, that is. The following post will be long. I apologize.
On Friday night, while CPM was busy playing a punk rock show somewhere in Pennsylvania's hinterlands, I went to the mall with my sister and grandmother to get a pedicure. We shopped a bit, and grabbed a late dinner at a favorite local Mexican restaurant. I OD'd on melted cheese. Life was good.
On Saturday morning, CPM and I headed downtown for brunch. We've worn out the Sabrina's thing lately, don't really care for Honey's, have only done the Morning Glory thing once on a weekday, and have decided to search the city for other delicious brunchy goodness. Farmicia has been a favorite dinner spot, but apparently, they also have a weekend brunch! After perusing the online menu, we decided to give it a shot. What can I say? It easily replaces Sabrina's as a new favorite brunch spot because: a. the food was delicious and b. at 10:45 am on a Saturday morning, it was not crowded, and we were seated immediately. Score!
We started off with a cheese sampler. Who gets appetizers at breakfast? We do, apparently. We love this...the fruit chutney makes it amazing:
Since I've been craving the yolky dippyness lately, I had a simple breakfast, 2 fried eggs with whole wheat toast and roasted potatoes:
CPM had the eggs benedict, and he asked them to substitute vegan sausage for the bacon, which they did without any trouble:
Farmicia, we will be back, and I will be ordering that sour cream pecan waffle next time!
CPM soon left on a trip to somewhere in Brooklyn to play more punk rock. I decided that a bike ride through Pennypack was in order. After I completed getting sweaty and grungy, I was visited by an old neighbor. We walked to and I had my first Rita's of the season (small lemon with a pretzel, thank you). We chatted. We stoop sat. Then my phone rang and the night went insane.
My sister had a male friend visiting her from North Jersey. He has been training for a marathon. He needed to a do a run, and decided to head into Pennypack Park, since it's nearby and has a great trail. He left his cell phone with its helpful Google Maps/GPS feature and assorted necessary phone numbers at my sister's house. (Brilliant, since he was running in a strange city.) He left and said he'd be back in about an hour/hour and a half. 2.5 hours later he hadn't returned. It was dark. My sister was worried. He had to be lost.
My sister first drove herself to the place where he was supposed to exit the park. She then hit a few other park entrance openings. Another 45 minutes passed with no sign. She came to get me, my two flashlights and my mace. We were going to have to go into the park and look for him. Let me say this...the park is a creepy place at night. There are absolutely no lights. There are large trees. There is a creepy mist coming from the creek. The sound of a lone geese honking becomes the sound of some faceless monster. We again drove to the few local park entrances, and went into the park a little ways with our flashlights. We soon realized that there was no way he could be in the park...it was too dark for anyone (except perhaps teenagers) to be in there. Luckily, at our third stop, we happened upon some helpful park rangers who offered to drive the entire 8 mile trail and call us if they came upon my sister's friend. Brilliant! Thank you rangers!
We headed back to her place to see if he had exited the park at the wrong spot, found a payphone and perhaps called his own cell phone, since he didn't know my sister's digits by heart. (Note to all people...memorize important phone numbers, it will save you time in an emergency.) Eureka! We had a mysterious phone call from a Philadelphia number! But no voicemail. And no idea where it came from, except that it was probably a payphone. Minutes later, we got a mysterious text message. I kid you not, it said "Last known location..." followed by the location. I called this helpful person. They had seen my sister's friend and he had asked if they could send this message to his phone. Great! Except then he kept walking. Um, yeah. If I'm ever lost like this, I plan to find a retail establishment, and sit my ass down, call whomever I can and WAIT for help. I will not keep walking in a strange place. I swear.
My sister and I headed to the "last known location." We then scouted in many directions from the "last known location." We finally were figuring out that her friend was obviously directionally challenged, because the "last known location" was so far south of her house. We decided that we would think like a directionally challenged person and look for him even further away in the wrong direction. Except then his cell phone rang, which I was carrying with us to ensure we caught him on the next call. My sister's apartment number showed on the caller ID. He had made it home.
Where was he? He exited the park about 3 blocks from my house, hit a CVS for gatorade and bought a map. (At least he took his credit card with him.) Except, duh, the only street maps sold in CVS show the streets of Center City Philadelphia. This is not helpful when you are in the far NE. He then used the payphone to call his cell phone. No answer, because at that point we were out talking to park rangers. He then decided to keep walking. In the wrong direction. He found those helpful people at the "last known location." He kept walking. In the wrong direction. He ended up in a bowling alley at Oxford Circle where he finally decided to call a cab back to my sister's apartment. The end. I got home at 11:30 pm and finally had dinner. Lean Cuisine and wine. Yum...
On Sunday, I was still alone. CPM was out punk rocking somewhere in Jersey. I decided to sew something. Since I have thrifted so many shirts recently, I decided to refashion one using Simplicity 4077. I wanted to see if I could do a better job on the gathers than I did on my first version. I still reused the existing button holes, but found that I had to make 2 more using my automatic buttonhole feature. They came out great! So, if you look closely, you can see some wonkiness, but eh, this is totally wearable:
My weekend ended quietly, thank goodness. I had enough excitement on Saturday night. This week I will get to see CPM play some punk rock at a show with The Bronx. I will take the following day off from work just because. I will pray for the warm weather to return and stick around for a while...
On Friday night, while CPM was busy playing a punk rock show somewhere in Pennsylvania's hinterlands, I went to the mall with my sister and grandmother to get a pedicure. We shopped a bit, and grabbed a late dinner at a favorite local Mexican restaurant. I OD'd on melted cheese. Life was good.
On Saturday morning, CPM and I headed downtown for brunch. We've worn out the Sabrina's thing lately, don't really care for Honey's, have only done the Morning Glory thing once on a weekday, and have decided to search the city for other delicious brunchy goodness. Farmicia has been a favorite dinner spot, but apparently, they also have a weekend brunch! After perusing the online menu, we decided to give it a shot. What can I say? It easily replaces Sabrina's as a new favorite brunch spot because: a. the food was delicious and b. at 10:45 am on a Saturday morning, it was not crowded, and we were seated immediately. Score!
We started off with a cheese sampler. Who gets appetizers at breakfast? We do, apparently. We love this...the fruit chutney makes it amazing:
Since I've been craving the yolky dippyness lately, I had a simple breakfast, 2 fried eggs with whole wheat toast and roasted potatoes:
CPM had the eggs benedict, and he asked them to substitute vegan sausage for the bacon, which they did without any trouble:
Farmicia, we will be back, and I will be ordering that sour cream pecan waffle next time!
CPM soon left on a trip to somewhere in Brooklyn to play more punk rock. I decided that a bike ride through Pennypack was in order. After I completed getting sweaty and grungy, I was visited by an old neighbor. We walked to and I had my first Rita's of the season (small lemon with a pretzel, thank you). We chatted. We stoop sat. Then my phone rang and the night went insane.
My sister had a male friend visiting her from North Jersey. He has been training for a marathon. He needed to a do a run, and decided to head into Pennypack Park, since it's nearby and has a great trail. He left his cell phone with its helpful Google Maps/GPS feature and assorted necessary phone numbers at my sister's house. (Brilliant, since he was running in a strange city.) He left and said he'd be back in about an hour/hour and a half. 2.5 hours later he hadn't returned. It was dark. My sister was worried. He had to be lost.
My sister first drove herself to the place where he was supposed to exit the park. She then hit a few other park entrance openings. Another 45 minutes passed with no sign. She came to get me, my two flashlights and my mace. We were going to have to go into the park and look for him. Let me say this...the park is a creepy place at night. There are absolutely no lights. There are large trees. There is a creepy mist coming from the creek. The sound of a lone geese honking becomes the sound of some faceless monster. We again drove to the few local park entrances, and went into the park a little ways with our flashlights. We soon realized that there was no way he could be in the park...it was too dark for anyone (except perhaps teenagers) to be in there. Luckily, at our third stop, we happened upon some helpful park rangers who offered to drive the entire 8 mile trail and call us if they came upon my sister's friend. Brilliant! Thank you rangers!
We headed back to her place to see if he had exited the park at the wrong spot, found a payphone and perhaps called his own cell phone, since he didn't know my sister's digits by heart. (Note to all people...memorize important phone numbers, it will save you time in an emergency.) Eureka! We had a mysterious phone call from a Philadelphia number! But no voicemail. And no idea where it came from, except that it was probably a payphone. Minutes later, we got a mysterious text message. I kid you not, it said "Last known location..." followed by the location. I called this helpful person. They had seen my sister's friend and he had asked if they could send this message to his phone. Great! Except then he kept walking. Um, yeah. If I'm ever lost like this, I plan to find a retail establishment, and sit my ass down, call whomever I can and WAIT for help. I will not keep walking in a strange place. I swear.
My sister and I headed to the "last known location." We then scouted in many directions from the "last known location." We finally were figuring out that her friend was obviously directionally challenged, because the "last known location" was so far south of her house. We decided that we would think like a directionally challenged person and look for him even further away in the wrong direction. Except then his cell phone rang, which I was carrying with us to ensure we caught him on the next call. My sister's apartment number showed on the caller ID. He had made it home.
Where was he? He exited the park about 3 blocks from my house, hit a CVS for gatorade and bought a map. (At least he took his credit card with him.) Except, duh, the only street maps sold in CVS show the streets of Center City Philadelphia. This is not helpful when you are in the far NE. He then used the payphone to call his cell phone. No answer, because at that point we were out talking to park rangers. He then decided to keep walking. In the wrong direction. He found those helpful people at the "last known location." He kept walking. In the wrong direction. He ended up in a bowling alley at Oxford Circle where he finally decided to call a cab back to my sister's apartment. The end. I got home at 11:30 pm and finally had dinner. Lean Cuisine and wine. Yum...
On Sunday, I was still alone. CPM was out punk rocking somewhere in Jersey. I decided to sew something. Since I have thrifted so many shirts recently, I decided to refashion one using Simplicity 4077. I wanted to see if I could do a better job on the gathers than I did on my first version. I still reused the existing button holes, but found that I had to make 2 more using my automatic buttonhole feature. They came out great! So, if you look closely, you can see some wonkiness, but eh, this is totally wearable:
My weekend ended quietly, thank goodness. I had enough excitement on Saturday night. This week I will get to see CPM play some punk rock at a show with The Bronx. I will take the following day off from work just because. I will pray for the warm weather to return and stick around for a while...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Pants! Pants! Pants! also Sewing!
Things have been getting desperate in the broomcakes closet. Don't tell Stacy and Clinton, but I've been wearing the same 4 pairs of pants to work for the last 3 years. See, the dress code at work is business casual. I've translated this to mean "boring shirts plus black pants." Hey, I frequently have to clip a walky-talky and a cell phone to myself when I leave my desk. Wearing skirts is difficult under these circumstances. That's not to say that I don't do it occasionally, but when I do, everyone notices..."OMG, broomcakes, you have legs!" Har har har. Thus, on Saturday, I forced CPM to take me to the consumer mecca that is King of Prussia Mall so that I could restock my work pant collection with items that were not faded and threadbare. (It wasn't hard to convince him...I just dangle the prospect of Fazzoletto in front of him, and he's waiting for me in the car.) Apparently, everyone in the tri-state area had the same idea because that place was packed! Someone needs to tell people that the economy is in the toilet, because it sure doesn't seem that way when you hit the mall on a rainy Saturday. After lunch, and 3 hours of traipsing around the mall, I had 4 pairs of pants that fit (2 in black, 2 in khaki--sorry). I had to hit 3 different stores to find them, and try on multiple sizes in every store to determine where I land on each brand's mysterious size chart. I also broke Stacy and Clinton's multiples rule...that's right, I bought two pair of the same style pant in different colors. Sue me. A big thank you to Banana Republic, Gap, and Ann Taylor Loft for figuring out how to make pants that fit the height challenged curvy bottomed members of the population.
***
While many households may have observed Easter yesterday, in the broomcakes household, we chose to observe a day called "oh crap Target isn't open today." Thus, I went to Walmart to buy a zipper and spool of yellow thread so that I could sew something and I emerged 18 yards of sale fabric later. While that new fabric was in the laundry, I thought it would be a good idea to use up the Alexander Henry Baddana fabric that I washed 3 weeks ago. Out came Simplicity 3835. This time I went with the mini-skirt, which I intended to wear like a tunic (because I am 32, and too old to be worrying about whether my undies are showing when I bend over). Here is the result (CPM took the photo):
I'm glad I used a busy fabric, because you can't see the wonky sewing around the zipper. I made the mistake of following the pattern instructions when inserting the zipper. Next time, I'll just do it the way I know works for me. I have one more fabric selection for this pattern, for the dress option. Maybe next weekend...
***
While many households may have observed Easter yesterday, in the broomcakes household, we chose to observe a day called "oh crap Target isn't open today." Thus, I went to Walmart to buy a zipper and spool of yellow thread so that I could sew something and I emerged 18 yards of sale fabric later. While that new fabric was in the laundry, I thought it would be a good idea to use up the Alexander Henry Baddana fabric that I washed 3 weeks ago. Out came Simplicity 3835. This time I went with the mini-skirt, which I intended to wear like a tunic (because I am 32, and too old to be worrying about whether my undies are showing when I bend over). Here is the result (CPM took the photo):
I'm glad I used a busy fabric, because you can't see the wonky sewing around the zipper. I made the mistake of following the pattern instructions when inserting the zipper. Next time, I'll just do it the way I know works for me. I have one more fabric selection for this pattern, for the dress option. Maybe next weekend...
Monday, March 30, 2009
Another Posty Mish Mash
I'm starting this post with a meal that has become a regular feature for us in the broomcakes household. Jaime turned me on to this Cooking Light recipe for Cuban Black Bean Patties with Pineapple Rice. CPM quickly convinced me that I would need to double the recipe in order to satisfy his appetite. It's a little bit labor intensive for a weeknight, but definitely worth it:
On top of the labor intensiveness of the main dish, CPM requested that the meal be accompanied by pineapple salsa. WTF. I don't know how to make pineapple salsa. So, I winged it. I tossed a sliced fresh pineapple, 1 jalapeno, half of a red onion, the juice of one lime, and a little cilantro in the food processor and whizzed away.
Pretty tasty:
I finished two shirts...first the refashion victim:
y
Second, Simplicity 3835, what I am calling the muumuu shirt:
This was an easy sew! I love this fabric, but I'm not sure I can pull off wearing the shirt...it's a little busy. Maybe with some black pants? Who knows. I actually sewed the pattern size 12, because that is my bust size, and I didn't want to look like I was wearing a maternity shirt. My hip size is closer to 16-18 (otherwise known as having "junk in the trunk"). I counted on the pattern ease to accommodate my ample posterior. It worked! It fits. I have a funky skull fabric that I might try next. Stay tuned.
Finally, Jaime and I hit up a couple of thrift shops this weekend. I busted my wallet grabbing up clothes for refashioning, old drapes to use for a purse design I am working on, cheap uncut patterns, and this non functional but completely adorable clock. I have it watching over me in the sewing room.
On top of the labor intensiveness of the main dish, CPM requested that the meal be accompanied by pineapple salsa. WTF. I don't know how to make pineapple salsa. So, I winged it. I tossed a sliced fresh pineapple, 1 jalapeno, half of a red onion, the juice of one lime, and a little cilantro in the food processor and whizzed away.
Pretty tasty:
I finished two shirts...first the refashion victim:
y
Second, Simplicity 3835, what I am calling the muumuu shirt:
This was an easy sew! I love this fabric, but I'm not sure I can pull off wearing the shirt...it's a little busy. Maybe with some black pants? Who knows. I actually sewed the pattern size 12, because that is my bust size, and I didn't want to look like I was wearing a maternity shirt. My hip size is closer to 16-18 (otherwise known as having "junk in the trunk"). I counted on the pattern ease to accommodate my ample posterior. It worked! It fits. I have a funky skull fabric that I might try next. Stay tuned.
Finally, Jaime and I hit up a couple of thrift shops this weekend. I busted my wallet grabbing up clothes for refashioning, old drapes to use for a purse design I am working on, cheap uncut patterns, and this non functional but completely adorable clock. I have it watching over me in the sewing room.
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