Monday, April 29, 2013

Sew what's new?

Ok, sew, I might be a little ambitious with two posts in two days, but hey, while I'm on a roll, let's get going.  Since I last posted, I've done quite a few ambitious projects.

After my beloved child moved out, I completely redecorated his room and turned it into my sewing room.  The most expensive cost was buying a really well-made sewing table for my machine.  I also bought a desk which is used for sewing and studying since I am still taking college courses.

Here are some pictures of how it looks:







I'm using an old farmhouse pine dining table as a cutting station with a cutting board on top.  Next expense is to purchase a really nice cutting board, but the cardboard one is still doing just fine.

I made the curtains and all the pillows on the daybed.  I really love this room and it's my go to place when I need re-energizing.

I also made my first comforter.  The fabric was on sale for 1/2 price at Hancock's and I'd been eyeing it for weeks.  Sew, I convinced my spouse that this was absolutely necessary and he agreed.  See below:

So they were somewhat big projects.  Next time, we will talk clothing....See you later, sew later.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Sew, it's been a while since I posted.  Although I've sewn a lot since.  I'm new to this blogging thing.  I love to sew, love to share my ideas, love to read other sewing bloggers, and live for my passion.  If I didn't have sewing as an outlet for stress, I would be a very sad puppy.

What's been going on you might ask?  I've been going back to to school on-line, ang it takes quite a bit of my time when I'm not working.  I also have tried really hard to be more social this last year because I tend to be a loner.  I've worked really hard to be a better friend and a support network for people.  It has helped with my anxiety around large groups of people.  I now play bunco and meet friends for drinks, something I've never done.

Work is not what I expected and there is a lot of tension and strain.  Anytime management works in secret, it creates an atmosphere of distrust, and rumors run amok.  As an emotional person. I feel the tension accutely, although it's not directly related to me.  On  my side, I feel under-valued at work, and my input is not valued, so I get depressed thinking I am wasting my time and no one cares.

Beyond that bit of crap, I have a great staff and work with wonderful people directly, so it's just management that needs real change.

Sew, to stop my ramble, I've been trying to convert my wardrobe from RTW to MeMade.  I'm becoming more successful. I really have tried not to buy new, and if I buy anything, it's thrift store.  The biggest challenge is that I've put on about 30 lbs which I am working to get off, so I'm discouraged to sew anything I love if I lose weight.  I've also had shoulder surgery which limits my ability to dress and undress.  But starting tomorrow, I can ride my bike again!

On a postive note, I have mastered jeans!  I found a fabulous pattern Butterick 5682, with just a simple pattern adjustment, adding an inch to the back, they fit wonderfully and I have garnered many wonderful compliments.  I will post pictures next.

I also have worked on my rolled hem skills, fly fronts, and trying new techniques.  Enough so that for my husbands' 54th birthay, I will be making him a Burda shirt and shorts.  I've only sewed for hi once, I took a hat apart a long time ago, and made a new one that he loved. 

Generally, I sew for myself.  I've only made friends' childrens clothes.  I'm always afraid I don't sew well enough that my friends will wear them, but I just made my best friend a dress, and I will make another a pencil skirt that I've modified to give it a pleated back edge.  My confidence is growing.

But what have I done that I'm most proud?  I've started a sewing bee!  With women I work with to teach them how to sew!  And everyone is more than excited to started.  Wish me luck.

Sew, I know this isn't written very well, or with transitions and all those nice grammatically well done writing skills I know to do, I apologize.  I am rambling, but I wanted to post sew you will know what I'm up to. 

Til next time, sew Oklahoma!