Quality Time

mutual.

2008-10-15T16:11:00.000-07:00

Admiration, that is.

The amazingly talented Niamh of Urban Threads just featured your own little jemima bean (aka ME) on her blog! SWEET!

Feel free to go HERE to view my 15 seconds of craft fame.

Since I am a huge fan of Niamh's artist-y goodness (and I've kind of had a crap October personally speaking) I feel all warm & fuzzy inside.

Thanks Niamh!

I've got two tees for my girl Lu ready for some UT embroidery, so keep watching (or should that be...watch out?)

I ask you, what's not to love about
humorously fabulous machine embroidery?

winner.

2008-10-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

Jenna, you had us at Bjorn. If you haven't read Jenna's apology, go HERE and read it, it's a hoot. Thank you all for playing along! It was great fun and we had a hard time choosing a favorite. Jenna, if you will send your mailing address to jemimabean at gmail dot com, I'll get your book in the mail this week!

This afternoon I tinkered with my assortment of jewelry pliers & my new beads, & came up with this piece of finery:

Sparkly, dangly earbobs. As promised.

And then I gathered up some favorite patterns to pick out a new project. I turn my back for TWO SECONDS and this is what I find.

Me: "Fat Kitty! Have you no shame?"

Fat Kitty: "I don't understand a thing you say sometimes."

Listening to THIS

loot.

2008-10-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Twenty Dollar Saturday was a success! Wanna see what an Andrew Jackson buys in today's economy if you put your mind to it??

Firstly, I packed snacks. I didn't want to waste any of my moolah on eats and drinks.

Next, I stopped at the bank to pick up my $20. Must have been a conspiracy or something because I got 2 Alexander Hamilton's instead. Aha! Alex spends just the same as Andy. My plan can't be foiled that easy!

Next up...Oops. No really, that's the name of the store. It's a reseller of discontinued or overstock merchandise. And a TON of fun to browse around in because everything is dirt cheap. I fell in love with this little guy, the most expensive thing I bought all day:

See, me & the frog prince go way back. It started years ago when I lamented how I sure had kissed an awful lot of frogs in my time...where the heck was my prince anyway? It got to be a thing, and my girlfriends have been buying me frog prince's ever since. This one was just too cute to resist.

Oops Total: $4.92

Next up, the flea market! I have to be in the mood to enjoy flea marketing, and today wasn't exactly that day. But I did want a new book for reading on this lazy weekend I've got planned, and I also was hoping for a good magazine to thumb through. Score! This issue of Domino is even the Oct/2008 issue! And the book is by one of my favorite romance authors, LaVyrle Spencer.

October 2008 Issue of Domino = $1

Twice Loved by LaVyrle Spencer = $1

Flea Market Total: $2.18

I've been a little tired of my current selection of earrings. I am a loyal jewelry-wearer. I pick a good, classic pair and wear them every day. As such, I've got a gold pair of dangly hoops and a silver teardrop pair that I alternate. I've been wanting a little more flash and bling these days though.

Since I'd rather not blow the entire rest of my day's budget on sparkly dangly earbobs...a trip to Hobby Lobby was in order. Fate was smiling at me today because jewelry findings were 50% off! I picked up some ear hooks and eye pins, and some beautiful AB crystal beads. Sparkly, dangly earbobs coming right up!

Hobby Lobby Total: $4.87

Rue 21 just happens to be across the parking lot from HL, and they just happened to have some sidewalk sale racks today. Score again! Taupey-Gray tee, perfect for some rocking Urban Threads embellishment:

Rue 21 Total: $3.28

A Saturday outing just isn't an outing without a trip to Hancocks. Right? It really was my day because Buttericks & McCalls were both on sale for 99 cents today. My take? McCalls 5632, 5429, and 5631.

Hancock's Total: $3.24

Any math whizzes out there keeping a running total? Ya, I have $1.51 left. What am I going to find out there for $1.51?? Including tax? I thought about returning to the flea market. I had about 8 books in my hands before I decided to spread my money around.

Instead, I decided that since my luck had been so favorable all day, I'd try my local Wal-Mart, which has always carried the best overstock & mill end fabrics on the $1 table. (I know that's not true for most WM's, but we're very close to the distribution center which may make a difference. We get a lot of good stuff!)

Don't hate me because I'm lucky. But yes, 1.25 yards of beautiful pale lime, soft and buttery cotton knit came home with me.

Wal-Mart Total: $1.36

And the grand finale, Twenty Dollar Saturday Total is...
$19.85!!

So there you have it folks. A complete day of shopping til dropping, all for under $20!

listening to: Eddie Money of course!

twenty.

2008-10-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

I like the weekend because I have "me" time...where I can lay around in my pj's (original plan for today) or I can hop in the car and go browse Barnes & Noble or my favorite fabric shop, or the flea market. I don't have to make small talk, I can be completely incognito (oh, ok then. Antisocial.)

It's not that I don't like people. Really. It's more that I spend 8+ hours of the weekdays surrounded by 25 of them, and I spend most of that time talking. Sometimes I just like to...be.

But these days I've been limiting the me-trips because the economy's crunch is getting personal. Oy.

I decided to treat myself today and venture back out but limit myself to one Andrew Jackson. For the day.

Now I'm all excited thinking about ways to stuff as much into old Andy as possible. Starbucks? I think not. I'll make my own at home and take it along. That's a cool 4 Georgie-Boy's saved.
New book at BN? Maayyybeee. But I can find loads of em at the flea market for 2 bucks. (Erm, still going to BN because you never know when you might run onto handsome boy-who-reads-soulmate.)

I'll admit though, the fabric & pattern store IS a problem. Hmmm. I'll get back to you on that one.

I plan to document the day, so I'll report back later with my loot.

Wanna play along? Join me for a 20-dollar Saturday (or whatever day you like to wander out with the masses.) How much can YOU buy for 20 bucks??

listening to this

snatched.

2008-10-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

Not much creativity going on here. It's been sucked forcefully from my brain by Mon-Thur. But I had to snag this cute graphic from LindsayT's blog anyway:

No, all that's going here is football, beautiful fall weather, and lots of sleep. I'm still trying to catch up. TGIF!!

Don't forget you have TWO MORE DAYS for the Apology Contest! View all the details in the post below, including the pretty cool prize. Shannon & I will choose our favorite Sunday evening & I'll post the winner Monday.

Listening to THIS

shenanigans...and a contest!

2008-10-08T19:47:00.001-07:00

I had the absolutest best conversation today with my buddy Shannon! (mind you, if you're not familiar with my BFF Shannon, she's beautiful, sews rings around normal humans, and is a kind, true friend to boot)

Anywho. We were talking about WORDS and I asked a somewhat rhetorical question: If someone apologized in an incredibly wonderful surprising way...would that make the offense lesser somehow? (For me, I'm a word girl, so yeah. Prolly.)

To illustrate, I wrote the following apology. One that I must say, I would most assuredly accept and give XOXO for:

You know this already, but I'm a huge ass. I made an idiotic mistake. I'm sorry beyond all scope of sorrydom. No man has ever lived who comes close to being as sorry as me. I'd shave my head and move to Tibet, but I hear they don't have gmail, and I laughably still hold out hope that one day I'll find the words poetic enough to do justice to an apology just for you. For now, the best I can do is profess that you are undeniably the cream in my coffee, the leaves on my trees, and if I thought for one stale moment you might answer an email from this thrashing, big dope...my fingertips would be black with smoke from the burning speed of my typing.

And I can do even BETTER. No, really! But what was most fun was that the whole process made me giggle like a goon and I'm in the mood to pass the luff around. Soo...

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, write the gaudiest, boldest, sappiest, corniest, wordiest, smooshiest apology you dare. Post it here and I (along with Shannon who I nominate as a judge even though she's at work and can't have a say so but will agree just because she luffs me too) will pick our favorite.

Fabulousest apology giver wins this, a brand new book release from Alice Butcher and Ginny Farquhar.

This is such a cute book that features lots of little projects, both hand and machine sewn. Perfect for that upcoming gift-bonanza season! I've got a copy ready to mail out to the winner, which we'll pick on Sunday evening (extended a day!)

So go! Pull out your wordy brains & sharpen your wits! I wanna hear angst, soul, ridiculousness with purpose. You guys are such great writers, if I'm not cracking myself up chances are YOU are doing it for me.

Here's a hint...if you make it personal, not an apology FROM you but an apology you wish someone would make TO you, it's a lot easier (and more cathartic to boot. Giggles are funny that way.)

Comments are open and waiting!

Was Listening to this and Now listening to this

angel.

2008-10-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

Another uber cool design from Urban Threads, embroidered this rainy afternoon while I stayed home with the very sickly G-man.

The angel...

(sometimes.)
Sidenote to my children... you know I love ya if I make something that requires re-hooping. Just sayin'.

No disaster, just mush.

Could listen to this forever.

secret.

2008-10-04T15:29:00.001-07:00

I'm coming out of the closet. I watch disaster movies while I sew. My favorites are the world-ending ones like Armageddon or Independence Day or The Core. But I'll even watch less action-packed ones like Apollo 13 (Ok, I'll admit that has more to do with my crush on Tom Hanks. And Gary Sinise.)

And can we get a big woot for Netflix!? I'm addicted to watching on my laptop, and it sure was nice today while I was sick & achy to lounge on the couch & pick out movies to amuse myself.

I didn't waste a Saturday tho...since the plan is to lounge in my pj's for the entire weekend, I decided a new pj top might be in order. I set up the embroidery machine and let it do the work while I concentrated on saving the world (you know, vicariously and all that.)

Here's a close up of the design:

It's from a fairly new embroidery company called Urban Threads that I ran across last week. This little design was calling my name (along with a few more you'll be seeing soon I'm sure.) Stitched up perfect (the outline is off intentionally.)

It's kinda hard to do anything when you can't turn your head to the right. Or to the left. Yes, the neck & ear still hurt. But I really DO feel better! Thanks for all the well wishes (and antibiotics. Thank you Lord for antibiotics.)

Disaster film of the day. (Which kinda sucked. Not in a good way either.)

Listening to THIS.

a day in the life

2008-10-02T15:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I forgot to brush my teeth (luckily I keep an extra toothbrush & paste in my desk).

This morning in the shower I washed my hair. And then I washed my hair again.

When I got dressed, I took my shirt to the kitchen to iron it. And promptly forgot why I was in the kitchen. So I fixed my lunch, put on my shirt & went to school...

Where I looked down and remembered why I went to the kitchen in the first place. I could have gone across the hall to the room with the irons...but I was too tired of thinking about why I forgot in the first place to explain. So I was just a little wrinkled. But at least my hair was squeaky clean.

At 10:50 I realized I had forgotten to eat my breakfast.

At 12:25 I realized I hadn't eaten my lunch. I ate my yogurt (the breakfast) because it was easy to manuever while I taught.

Back at home, my neck is stiff, right ear aches, and all I really want to do is lie on the couch in my pj's and watch tv. So I picked up my jammies, headed to the bedroom to change...

and forgot what I was doing. When I remembered and tried to find the pj's, it took me 5 minutes to find them. (I'm in them now.)

At 4:50 I stood in my kitchen again, folding clothes (neverending laundry. I wish I could forget about THAT) thinking about old friends, pondering the complexities of new.

And then I pulled up this photo from last night...the glorious, sparkling, exuberant smile of the G-man...two hours post braces removal.

...and decided life is beautiful. Squeaky hair, stinky breath, wrinkled shirt, confusing, mixed up world and all.

What I'm Reading.

What I'm Listening to.

What I'm watching. (For you, Mr. X)

Charming Tiered Twirl

2008-10-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

Here it is! I finished Lu's charm pack twirly skirt, in beautiful fall colors, the night before last...but it was too dark for pictures! Today was a beautiful day, but Lu is at her grandma's...so it's just hanging out in the back yard for pics! (Which is a shame, because this baby will TWIRL!)

I used 2 charm packs for this skirt, plus about 1/2 & 1/4 yard of 2 coordinating prints for the yoke and ruffles. The charm packs were "Sonnet Collection", an assortment beautiful fall color prints, by April Cornell for Moda.

Construction was pretty simple, just time consuming. I measured Lu's hips, added about 6" ease, and that became my length measurement for the first tier (and the yoke.) I divded that measurement by 4 for the number of charm squares to use. (Charm squares are 5" square, but I assumed 3/8" seam allowances, so rounded down to 4".)

For each additional tier, I multipled by 1.5. So for Lu's skirt, she measured 10 squares for the first tier, 15 for the 2nd, and so on. (I actually added an additional square to each tier just for extra grow room, so Lu had 11, 16, 22, and 30 squares in each tier.) It's not an exact science, I rounded up and down for the 2nd, 3rd & 4th tiers based on what prints I had, how much gathering I felt like, etc.

I ripped strips of 2" & 3" widths for the ruffles. I roll hemmed in robin's egg blue, for a nice contrast...and gathered using my gathering foot. All topstitching was also done in robin's egg blue.

I have this gathering foot business down, let me tell you! I can pretty much eyeball the correct tension & stitch length for quilting cottons (to gather at a 1.5" ratio) on my Bernina. I almost never gather by hand anymore! There are ruffles between the 2nd & 3rd, 3rd & 4th, and along the bottom. The bottom ruffle was 6 fabric widths!!! I did trim off a bit of excess, but NOT much. I used both contrast fabrics for the bottom ruffle (alternating each.)

The pics aren't my best. I've been in a bit of a fog all day. I didn't sleep well last night. And frankly, my mind is elsewhere. Have you ever had a shock or a surprise that just throws you for a loop? Ya. I had one of those yesterday...but no worries. It wasn't a bad surprise (it wasn't exactly good either), just a very unexpected surprise. My mind isn't quite ready to accept it, so it's been in reject mode ever since.

Unfortunately that also means I've been surrounded by fluffy brain clouds all day.

But it was very therapeutic to stand outside in the setting sun , on a beautiful fall afternoon and photograph a simple handmade skirt on the clothesline. I'm glad I have this hobby in my life, its saved my sanity on more than one occasion. And Im really glad you're all here to share it with too. Here's one more peek...

charmed...a small peek.

2008-09-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

I love Charm Packs. I pick them up at the quilt shop even though I'm not really a quilter. It's just all the coordinating prints & lovely colors & perfectly square pieces with pinked edges...I can't resist!

I spent the better part of an afternoon & evening working on a project for Lu using Moda Sonnet Collection charm packs by April Cornell (available last fall...but possibly you can still find them!)

Not giving you all the details because the whole enchilada is coming your way (hopefully) tomorrow! But here's a sneak peek:

See, the plan was to have this finished & start on a little top & jacket to match (TODAY). But the hellspawn who manufactures Maxi-Lock serger cones had other ideas. In my quest to have coordinating rolled hems, I spent the better part of an hour trying to force a robin's egg blue cone of thread into submission. (I won. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

In other words...you'll have to wait til tomorrow to see the "charming" results.

crushed.

2008-09-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

When my mom was in labor with me, she was watching Cool Hand Luke on the tiny tv in the hospital.

Thus began my lifelong love affair with Paul Newman. I've seen most of his movies, tho not all of them. I do have my favorites that I watch over and over. Maybe they haven't left time or space in my heart for the ones I've never seen.

When I was 6, I was determined to be his Sundance Kid. I methodically learned to pick a diary lock, a padlock, and a doorknob lock, in that order, in preparation for our first meeting. (It's still a relatively handy skill to have in a pinch, altho Butch never did call.)

In my teens I fell hard for Brick. I've seen Cat on a Hot Tin Roof a hundred times, and I will likely see it hundred more. Brick & Maggie are tortured and steamy, and it never tires. Even after 50 years, its still one of the best movies ever made.

I really never had a shot though. A bit before filming this, my 2nd favorite movie, Paul met his Joanne while working on Broadway. Five years later they made the Long Hot Summer, one of my top 5 movies of all time.

They were married in 1958 and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. Perhaps his most famous quote about their marriage refers to why he has been faithful all of these years..."Why fool around with hamburgers, when you have steak at home?

An amazing philanthropist, he and his family have donated more than 200 million dollars to various charities. And if that's not enough to convince you to check out his incredibly large body of work, let's face it, the man was beyond gorgeous.

I would imagine there will be one ore more tributes on AMC or TCM in the coming weeks. Catch old favorites, make new.

To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.
~Thomas Campbell

Cotton Candy Pink - No Pattern Required

2008-09-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Mindless sewing was on the agenda today. I needed some stress relief, and nothing makes me happier than an opportunity to use my gathering foot! Lu needs a few easy skirts for Sunday School and those other occasions where a skirt is necessary attire.

Since she will still wear the occasional ruffle, I pulled out a cute retro print I've had in stash for a year or more, along with a cotton candy pink dotty print, and happily started ripping. I measured her from waist to knee for desired length. I measured her hip to determine how much to take off the selvedge edges; a full 44" width would be a bit too full & "Becky Home-Ecky" for the look I was going for. It's all about proportions. RIIIIPPP.

The dotty ruffle was 2 lengths of 4". Two more RIIIPPPs. Ahhh. Stress already leaving. I made one seam in the dotty lengths to join, then pressed together hotdog bun style for a long double ruffle. I gathered using my gathering foot (superfast. Yay!)

A couple of seams & some elastic later, and here ya go!

Cute dotty hem:

Then, I pillaged through my remnant and notion stash and found some pink shabby rose trim. Lucky me, Lu had an exact matched Old Navy tee lounging in her drawer. I snipped a few lengths of the rose trim and zigzagged it in place around the neckline.

Truth be told, it ended up being easier to stitch on by hand, and quicker too. I'm lazy sometimes though, and have to learn the hard way! I picked this rosebud trim up at Hobby Lobby for about $4.00/yd. But for this tee, I used about 1/4 of a yard, so that's not a bad price!

Sometimes it's nice to just do a quick project, you know? And this one has me all in the mood to do some more!

Ouch.

2008-09-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

Brief recap of my first Razorback game...

the Alabama Crimson Tide stomped all over the Hogs, 49-14. But the U of A Razorback Band was amazing!! This isn't a great pic (both pics courtesy of the U of A website's recap of today's game) and I forgot my camera!

During the halftime show, they played Thriller...and then they chucked their horns and actually DANCED THRILLER. It was AWESOME! Best part of the game by far. (The pretzel was good too.)

We parked like 25 miles away, entirely UP HILL. Over rough terrain. With stairs. I wish I were exaggerating. There may be a Ouch Part Deaux post tomorrow because I'm pretty sure my butt is going to be in sad shape tomorrow.

Beautiful day, football, girl pals...all in all a really great Saturday afternoon!

Remembering

2008-09-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

We had a moment of silence this morning, in honor of 9/11. And afterwards, when we said the pledge, I got choked up. Even after 7 years, I remember.

On a lighter note, at least we didn't get sucked into a black hole or compressed into fiery bits of strangelets by that large hydron thingie-majig over in Europe:

The black hole would have been bad, I'm assuming, because we'd kinda notice getting sucked into nothing. The strangelet thing, we'd never realize in time, so I was kinda hoping it would go south in that direction...you know, if it decided to go south at all. Crazy Europeans and their big bang theories.

Either way, I'm glad I'm still around to sew a little this weekend. I am going to a Hogs game next weekend and I probably need a red tee. The G-man is thoroughly disgusted with me and says that any old red will do, because the Hogs aren't "Crimson and Cream" like his beloved OU.

Well, Okay then.

And now, because we haven't ogled any yum in a while, we'll have a brief pause to admire this piece of finery from the upcoming Quantum of Solace:

Mmmm... he even looks nice all banged up and dirty. (ok that came out kinkier than I thought.) Trailer looks amazing. You can find it, and lots more pretty pictures of Mr. Yum, HERE.

Mini-Wardrobe Motivator Extraordinare

2008-09-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

For all those who didn't finish, and those who never started (stop pointing), there is now a thread on PR for motor-vation & support!

Let's get busy & finish those wardrobes! (or, you know, start em.)

Still working on the same storyboard:

and I'll probably be working on the pants this weekend. I need pants. Vogue 1035 in darkwash denim:

And I'm really thinking about making a grown-up version of these for myself:

I may start on those tonight. I bought a pair of jeans a couple weeks ago that were too short. Perfect opportunity to crop them off and make some pretty. (tutorial for these is in the Tutesville section on the right.)

And a blast from my recent past...a fellow PR-er was kind enough to send me the photos of my red duct tape pantsform project from January '06. I had lost the original photos, so my review didn't have images any longer. Which, if I do say so myself, are classic.

That my friends is my bum in all its glory. The bum double died a sad death a year ago, and needs to be remade. Although, it takes a certain frame of mind to tape up your netherparts. If you'd like more info (and who wouldn't??) you can read the review/tutorial HERE.

Toodle-oo!

In Tribute...

2008-09-02T16:39:00.001-07:00

An icon right out of my childhood.
Peace go with you into the night.
RIP Jerry Reed.

Fruits of my Labor Day

2008-09-01T15:07:00.001-07:00

Instead of hotdogs, burgers, and potato salad on the lakeshore, I had Chinese food at the mall with a couple of girlfriends! Gave me a good excuse to wear my Asian print lounge-y pants made from Simplicity 5074:

I was inspired by a similar pair in a Boston Something or Other catalog I got in the mail several months ago. You know how much I like big prints on my butt. These are so comfy and cool...and they're super fast to make. Drawstring waist in front/sides, with elastic in the back. I hemmed these quite a bit shorter than my last few pairs (no reason. Just did.)

These are my favorite quickie pant. Especially conducive to those times you find you have a big butt print lying around.

After Chinese food, we went to see this:

and now we are most definitely on the lookout for some shiny sequined spandex. And maybe some platform boots. Because a reenactment simply must be done.

Just call me Merle.

Simplicity 4264

2008-08-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

Trying to find things to sew for Lu that are tasteful to me, but that she approves of gets a bit harder all the time. Sigh. But how cute did this turn out?

I would absolutely wear this myself! I used a "That's So Raven" pattern from Simplicity, the tee view. We've made the tank and the skirt before from this pattern, and I have the knit wide leg capri's cut out in hot pink to match this top. This pattern turned out to be a real keeper for us!

I cut out the 16 because she wasn't here to measure. I thought it would be fine because the top has elastic in the back and in the shoulders (similar to a peasant top). I was wrong! It was a little gapey in the front, since there is not an elastic casing there. I fixed it by taking a small box pleat at CF. This is covered by the ruffles anyway.

The other problem I had was that it was too short! Quite a bit too short, actually. I remembered (too late) that the tank had been too short too, and I had added a ruffle. So...we added an elastic band with tie sash out of the contrast.

I cut 2 strips (selvedge to selvedge) about 4 inches wide. Then I followed the directions in Simplicity 3887 to attach it (3887 is a ladies pattern with a similar waistband and tie). I love it when mistakes end up making the garment better!

I added 1" elastic to the waistband too, instead of gathering the top to the band. I just cut the elastic shorter than the bottom of the top circumference and left the band topstitching open at one side seam (actually both sides of this side seam) so that I could thread it through. Then I stitched through the ends to hold it in place.

I also added the ruffles from View D (tank) instead of the shoulder ruffles. They were a bit finicky at the neckline, since I didn't use the front facing. I just serged and turned the top edge under to stitch. I had to topstitch the top ruffle to get it to lie flat. The others are just stitched through the (serged) header. (The pattern doesn't call for finishing these edges before doing this, but that would be a mess I think!)

These 2 prints have always been Lu's favorite and I was saving the last bit for a special project. This little top took less than a yard, so we have enough left over for one more twirly skirt or some other project I think.

And she loves the top, which is the important thing!

Ottobre 2-2008-14

2008-08-23T05:46:00.000-07:00

Not on my mini-wardrobe or anything, of course. But I have sewn a couple things this past month that I haven't shared yet. Why?

Well, one didn't fit the way I wanted it to. Two of the pictures were crap.And none of it was for my wardrobe, so they were all tinged with contest guilt.

Here they are anyway! First, I made a Textile Studios Santa Monica tee, one of my favorite TNTs for a quickie sewing fix. This one is in that pretty blue aqua knit I showed you last month (I'm still making a BWOF tee out of it too, I have plenty!)

See, not the best pic because you can't actually SEE any details of the tee. Especially not the neckline, which is my favorite part (it's raglan sleeve, but the neckline squares off. It's pretty, but you'll just have to take my word for it.)

Then I made the Jalie Sweetheart top out of my mauve knit. It would be perfect except that I didn't mark the shoulder portions clearly, so when it came time to gather & match notches, I had to guess. I guess too low for the top notch, so the entire neckline is off. Argh.

Still an OK top, but you can see my bra strap on the left. Phooey. This is a really thin knit though, that I planned to wear a cami or tank under. Maybe I'll wear a tank in a contrast color and pretend like it was "planned" to show.

Then I made the gored skirt from Ottobre 2/2008. I had this gorgeous brown Amy Butler print, but not quite enough to lengthen it like I wanted. I think it needs another inch. This is becoming a regular alteration for me with knee-length skirts. I have long legs and a shorter torso.

I am not crazy about the finished skirt. (It's been sitting on my sewing table waiting for finishing stuff for 3 weeks.) I loved it in the magazine! And I liked the contrast hem band, but I think the proportions are a bit off. I'll make it a bit wider (deeper) next time. Th.e skirt is also a bit too big. It sits below my waist and I can tug it over my hips without the zip. Whoops.

The directions were wonderful. No problems at all deciphering them. I really like Ottobre directions. They're to the point with no fuss or wasted time. I didn't have an invisible zip, so used a lapped zipper instead. I also added topstitching to the gore seams, in pink thread:

I really like the waist treatment on this skirt too, it's neat and tidy. It has a weird overlap though (for snap(s). I left it at first, but it was really unruly (almost 2 inches of overlap!) so I ended up trimming it off and I'll add a hook/eye instead.

I love the fabric I used for the hem band so much I've been hoarding it for years. It pains me that I don't love the skirt now. The only pic I have where you can see it is before pressing.

But you can see the tone on tone embroidery & the sequins that add a little "sparkle" (hehe, Tamara, are you reading?) You can see the lining fabric in this shot too, a pale pink satin batiste, also from the hoard, erm, stash.

I'll probably try this one again and lengthen the gores a tiny bit, and add to the hem band's depth. I have lots of quilting cottons and this skirt is perfect for them!

Today at the zoo...

2008-08-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

me: All of you need to turn on your filter now!

them: Say what?

me: You know, the thing that connects your brain to your mouth. Turn it on please.

them: Why?

me: Because contrary to what you may believe, you actually DON'T have to say everything that pops into your head. Out loud. At top decibel.

them: No way.

me: Way.

me again: See, just as soon as you feel those words coming out of your mouth, close your lips (cue demo of fingers pinching lips closed) and then THINK about whether you really need to say whatever it is. If you're not sure if it's appropriate...raise your hand and whisper it to me, and I'll let ya know.

them: (crickets)

(Jerrie this one was absolutely for you.)

Happy Birthday!!

2008-08-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

to my bestest buddy Shannon!!

(technically it was yesterday, but I know you love me anyway.)

BTS!

2008-08-19T04:46:00.001-07:00

I'm not ready!! Too late...my first day included a class of 24 (I have 24 seats, so full house). Four girls...20 boys. Freshman boys.

Most of my attention was directed towards maintaining order. Which is rather hard to do when you're busy biting your lip to keep from laughing. Silly boys.

And where did summer go, anyway?

5 Years Ago

2008-08-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

Do any of you journal? I used to keep a journal, the only place I could jot down my thoughts on a regular basis and free my mind. Since I picked up blogging, I don't journal. But while I was cleaning out some magazines this morning, I ran across my journal from 5 years ago. It has a list of To-Do's for each room of the house...things to paint, refurbish, buy, etc. Almost none of those lists were ever completed.

The pages where I jotted my thoughts are gone...ripped out, although I don't remember when that happened. 5 years ago this week, I shared too much with a friend, who shared too much in return. And instead of dealing with the fallout, I decided to walk away for a while. We haven't spoken since.

I tried conjoling, teasing, joking, pleading. This had to be attempted entirely online since he refused my phone calls. I seriously considered actual begging. In person. But the logisitics of it all weren't in my favor. The ocean was a problem.

So I waited. Waited for a phone call, an email, a letter. Waited for forgiveness, which never came. Meantime, I journaled my thoughts. At some point, they must have been painful to re-read...thus the ripping and removing.

Five years ago, I sent an apology fruit basket (don't laugh yet, it gets better). All the way from Scotland filled with exotic fruits & nuts, obnoxiously large and extravagant. It was intended as a joke, but also a plea.
One month later I received a notice in the mail that I had a package too large to deliver. Filled with ominous foreboding (hehe, that's me being literary) I went to my tiny local P.O. to sign for my package. A 3 x 3 foot box was hauled out, it's corners stained and leaky. From the UK.

Mortified I signed for it and raced (as fast as you can race with a 3 x 3 leaking box) out to my little 2-door car. The box wouldn't fit. I couldn't wedge it in the back seat, and I couldn't fit it in the miniscule trunk. Meanwhile, I had gathered quite a crowd of observers because it's not every day someone in my little town receives a package from o'er the pond...not to mention one that was apparently VERY INTERESTING.

I squished it as much as possible and got the trunk closed, thankfully able to rush home. But dare I open it? Obviously, it reeked. I can't imagine how it ever got through customs. Inside the box was a sad, once-extravagant, exotic fruit basket. Bow now limp, fruit now mush, nuts intact.

Of course I didn't hesitate to paw through the smelly mess hoping for a letter, a note...but no. Nothing. Just the basket. I actually enjoy this story now, although at the time I thought it possible my heart would never be pieced back together.
I felt so much frustration because we weren't communicating. With time and distance, I can now see the dialogue I refused to see then. Because we were definitely having a conversation when I sent the large tub of fruit, and he in turn sent it to me. It just wasn't what I wanted to hear.

Five years ago, on our birthday, I sent a funny card. It had been picked up long before the email that ended all emails. When I mailed it, I didn't include a return address so there was no way to return it to me. Victory! (Shut up! He did too read it!)

You see, we share a birthday. Just one of those coincidental, odd trivialities that once was a blessing("HA! Now you can never say you forgot my birthday!") and became a sort of curse. Because it's true...I've never forgotten.

This week I lost a favorite girlfriend (who turned out to not be much of a friend at all.) It wasn't as painful as 5 years ago, but maybe I'm numb. I've learned enough in the past 5 years about friends and people to know that...people aren't always who they seem. I don't know if that makes me wiser or jaded.

But you know what? I have a whole lot of friends left. And maybe it's true that your heart has to break a little to grow. Not to get all mushy or anything, but I'm thankful for all of you. For distracting me from my troubles, for making me laugh, for emailng to check when I'm absent, for passing the bottle when I need it (and even when I don't. you know who you are).

I ♥ my girlfriends!

The payoff if you made it to the end of this extremely long and non-sew-isty post was, of course, the LURV.

Fly-By

2008-08-13T04:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, back to school cra-,erm, stuff is kicking my butt. I haven't gotten to work on my wardrobe at all.

If I was a nail biter, I'd be chewed up by now. Lurker1 : "Will she finish?" Lurker2: "Finish? You moron. Will she start?"

me: "Oh, shut up."

And...my fabric is prewashed, so there. Well, OK. Not ALL my fabric. But my first piece! I'll be laying out and cutting tonight because I've nothing better to do. And it's the perfect Olympics watching activity.

Did you see this?

I missed viewing in real time by 4 STINKING MINUTES. But the replay video over at NBC is every bit as exciting as the real thing. Oh, ok, maybe not as the real thing but it's close.

I've developed a bit of a phan-girly crush on Mr. Phelps. And the fact that he calls Dara Torres (who's a whopping 4 years old than me) "Mom" diminishes the phan-girl not at all.

Here's a shoutout to my girl Tamara, who's been lurking, and who I will forever think of as my "Stepsister".

This is the vulgar-ist, raunchiest, wrong-est movie EVER. And we laughed our butt off. Hee.