Curtain Time

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving (or a great Thursday for my international friends). I have a project for the weekend. I need to make curtains for my family room. I'm using this English cotton from Gorgeous Fabrics.

I think I'm just going to make tab-top curtains. I like the clean look and they are easy. Soooo.... off to the sewing room. I want to try to get them done this weekend so I can clean the atelier in preparation for Susan Khalje's Sit and Sew next weekend. That's going to be so cool. It's 3 days of independent projects. I know many of the students, and I'm looking forward to meeting the folks I don't know yet. She's coming back in May of 2010 to do a full-blown 6 day Couture class. If you're interested, contact her (through her website). But I need to clean and vacuum so it looks less like a fabric bomb exploded, KWIM?

Happy sewing!

Progress Thus Far

I've been working on the bustier, but I'm waiting to get my final two pieces of boning before I can really finish it off. I did cut out my lining today. I wanted to line it with silk crepe de chine, but I couldn't find the right color, so I decided to use silk habotai. As you can see, I used the muslin for my pattern. I'll use dressmakers' carbon to trace the stitching lines on it tomorrow, and I'll sew it up. Then hopefully I'll have the boning from Susan early next week and I'll be all set to finish this.

I've spent the last several days reorganizing my office and studio/classroom in preparation for a really exciting event! I'll tell you all about it when the plans are finalized. It's going to be great. Keep an eye out here!

Speaking of exciting, you still have 2 more days (through Tuesday) to take advantage of the Labor Day sale at Gorgeous Fabrics. Almost every fabric is on sale for at least 15% off, and a big selection of fabrics are 25% off!

One last thing - if you get Womens Wear Daily, check out page 2 of Thursday's edition (September 3). Cotton Inc. takes the gloves off. Wow!

Happy sewing!

Sit and Sew with Susan Khalje and Kenneth King

Where to begin??? This was one of the best sewing excursions I've ever done. It was four days of sheer sewing bliss, punctuated by fun, adventure and frustration at the fact that there is no f***ing 14 inch spiral steel boning to be had on the island of Manhattan! But I digress

The class is taught by Susan Khalje and Kenneth King. "Class" is a bit of a misnomer. It's more of a directed study. Students bring whatever projects they want to work on, and Kenneth and Susan help with all aspects of the project. Some of the projects included a Chanel style jacket (Kristine), a guipure lace skirt (Joanne), a strapless boned semiformal dress (Meg), pants, gowns, slopers, and lots of others. I'm telling you - it's four days of sewing heaven! Oh yeah. The company is pretty good too.

If you read my blog earlier this month, you may know that I was out of commission for the first two weeks of August thanks to a bout of pneumonia. This had a two-pronged effect. First, it got me some reactions of, "You're taking another week away from business???" Yes - it was paid for months ago. The pneumonia was an afterthought. Second, it meant that I, notorious procrastinator that I am, lost two weeks of doing nothing on my muslin and/or plans for my project. I lost my Marfy muslin, too, but that's another story.

So I decided to go back to my original idea and make a lace bustier. I draped the pattern for the bustier on a dress form and I tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to adjust it on me. I figured Susan and Kenneth could help me with it, so I wasn't too rattled by my inability to get it well fitted beforehand. Kristine pegged it when she said, "Don't expect to walk away with many finished garments, as this class is all about quality, not quantity." You can see from my last post that I came home with my bustier about half done. But the things I learned from Susan and Kenneth gave me the tools to tread where I never would have before. I'm almost to the point where I'll insert the zipper and then I will do the lining, add the waist stay and then, I'll have me one spectacular bustier to wear to singing gigs! I'll do some blog posts all about the construction, no worries. But right now, check out some pictures from the class!

Each day started with a hands on lesson or a show and tell, and there were several breaks where Susan and Kenneth would demonstrate techniques. Here's Kenneth showing off his broadtail coat:
Susan is next to him on the right. Here is a closeup of the broadtail/leather join, with his hand leatherwork. Fab-u-luss!

Susan and Kenneth worked with each student, and they were incredibly generous with their time and talent. Susan took me shopping for my lace and silk. How fabulous is that? Here she is working with Ellen, who was making a concert dress (she's a violist).
Kenneth also brought in a Chado Ralph Rucci jacket that he bought at a flea market!!! I want to go flea market shopping with that man.
Here's a detail from the jacket.
There are so many more things to say and show, but I don't have time right now. I'll post more progress and photos as the bustier comes together. I'm saving my pennies to try to go again next year. If you have the opportunity to work with either of these two wonderful teachers, don't hesitate - do it!

Happy sewing!

It IS a Woman's Perogative to Change Her Mind

Yes, I said I was going to make a jacket. No, I still haven't found that damned muslin. So on Monday of last week I grabbed my dress form that is closest to my current measurements and started draping a bustier. On Tuesday during lunch, I basted it and then tried it on and tried (hah!) to do some fitting on me. After 20 minutes of futility, I decided that I would wait until the class. I'm glad I did. I'll talk all about the process later, but here's the project in its almost current state:


The lace is a corded, beaded French lace. The underlay is silk duchesse satin. The backing of the underlay is muslin. So far the toughest part was actually cutting the lace. But it's coming together and will be a spectacular outfit for my next singing recital. Good thing I don't have a date yet. I need to get this baby (and the accompanying silk chiffon skirt) finished first. More later...

Happy sewing!

A Jacket It Is!

I'm taking a couture sewing class late this week. Hallelujah, I finally get to learn from someone else! It's a directed study class. Some students are making formalwear, some are making Chanel style jackets, some are making pants. I'm kind of over my Chanel jacket jones for the moment. I've made several, every one of which I love and wear. I've been going back and forth trying to decide what to make. The choices have been a heavy duty corset or a YSL style jacket. But since my favorite designer has always been YSL, I decided I want to work on a YSL style jacket. Besides, while I can definitely use a lace corset for singing gigs, I'll get more use from the jacket. Paco's Facebook vote was the one that threw me over the top (along with everyone else's). Alas, I haven't time to make a muslin of the Marfy I was thinking of. But I did buy this Claire Shaeffer Vogue pattern and I'll make up a muslin of that:

You know, now that I think of it, I DO have the Marfy muslin all traced and cut. Where did I put that? Stay tuned, I may change my mind yet again. Don't worry, it will all be done in time for the class. I'll bring my home sewing machine with me on the train if I need to and sew on a table. That should wig out the conductors, eh?

I have no idea what fabric I'll use. I'll probably buy that while I'm at the class. I'm having a hard time motivating myself. I'm not sure if it's residual from being sick, if it's the weather (Hurricane Bill has pulled out of here, but it's still going to be muggy through tomorrow) or if it's something else. I'm really hoping this class can revitalize my mojo.

Happy sewing!

Finally Back in the Land of the Living

Oy, I say, oy! I have never been that sick for that long, and I hope I never am again. Thank God for Zithromax.

So what have I been doing? Nothing. Nada. Zip. I do have most of another (one last) summer dress cut out. It's the same Simplicity pattern that I made my maxi-dress from:

This time I don't have enough fabric to make it long, so I'll make the knee-length version.

Oh! We finally got the air date for DS' episode of "Dancing Tweens". September 15th at 10PM. It'll be interesting.

I'm also starting to prep for a class I'm taking next week. I think I'm going to make a bustier, but I'm still not entirely decided. I need to decide today because I have to have the muslin ready to go next Wednesday.

I ordered a new book for my library. I just got it yesterday and tonight I'll start poring over it, Building Patterns - The Architecture of Women's Clothing by Suzy Furrer


So far it looks really interesting, and unlike some other pattern drafting books I own, it looks quite useful and usable. Review to come later!

I chopped my hair all off this past weekend. I love doing that. I feel like, in addition to losing 6 lbs from the pneumonia, I lost another 10 when I got rid of my hair. It's always a surprise to my family when I do that. One time, when I first went from blonde to red, I never told my DH that I was planning to, so he walked right by me without recognizing me at a restaurant! I'm contemplating changing the color again. We'll see.

I am overdue on posting a review of a biography of Laura Ashley. That will come soon too. Stay tuned, much more later. God, it's good to feel human again!

Happy sewing!

Cottons, Classes, Cameras and a Crisis of Faith

It's been a busy week, and I haven't had much time to post. But just to bring you up to speed, here's a rundown on what's been happening.

First up, cottons, linens and shirtings are on sale at Gorgeous Fabrics! We have some great fabrics on sale for 15% off, just in time for warm weather. And I've been adding some spectacular silks to the mix too. Check it out and have a ball. The sale lasts through Sunday.

Tomorrow's Saturday Seminar is all about designer seam finishes. We have a great crew taking classes, and it has helped reboot my sewing mojo. Now if only I had more time this week.

Cool Toy! Thank you to LindsayT for introducing me to the Eye-Fi Wireless memory card. It plugs into the camera and once it is set up, badabing! It automatically uploads pictures from your camera to your computer. I asked for it for Mother's Day, and it arrived just in time. Alas, my camera takes a ScanDisk memory card, so we had to get an adapter. But last night DH got it all working. No more dealing with cables. Hooray! Here's a picture of Hoover taken with it.

According to DH, you don't have to be in close proximity of the computer to download. You can be one or two rooms over, or upstairs. Kewl!

Now for the not-so-fun part. Last June, the priest at my church, Father Lenny, left to become pastor of a church near Harvard University. We were without a permanent pastor for 6 months. I referred to us as The Island of Misfit Toys. We had a temp guy, Father John. He seemed nice and funny, and ultimately, he became the pastor.

Well, be careful what you wish for. Not to put too fine a point on it, the guy has turned out to be a psycho. He's dismantling everything that Lenny put in place over his 14 years at the church, and he's driving away many of the parishoners. Our choir director is leaving in June and he has told the parish council that we're not going to replace him. And this guy is an angry, angry man. I could tell all sorts of tales about his atrocious behavior towards people who don't "yes" him all the time. And he keeps telling people that he can't wait to get rid of the people who come from other towns and just make this a "Burlington parish". Alas, it is his type of priest that prompted me to give up Catholicism for 17 years. I'm not a holy-holy type of person, but I had found a home and community in this place, and now he's destroying that for the entire parish. It's sad and I'm really pretty upset about it. I'm going to start shopping for a new church this weekend. My DS the Eldest is going to be a confirmation candidate starting next year, and I don't want him confirmed under the tutelage of this guy. It's frickin' depressing. Maybe I'll go back to singing with the Anglicans.

Anyway, that's what's been keeping me occupied. I hope you all are having a good week. Oh! And my Marfys finally arrived. Yay!!! So I'm tracing off the muslin for the jacket and I'll start on it this weekend.

Happy sewing!

Still No Sewing

But lots and lots getting done. I'm busy prepping for the first Saturday Series Class this weekend. Yesterday, I went to get my mail and found the most delightful surprise waiting for me! Barbara of Cat Fur Studio sent me the most wonderful, drool-worthy book,

THANK YOU BARBARA!!! This book is to die for, and I'll dive into it this weekend.

I'm also reading a guilty-pleasure book,
How can you resist? It's the classic Jane Austen story, punctuated by encounters with the undead. What's not to love? I have to admit, I was immediately sucked in when I read the full title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance - Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem!

As I say, how can you resist? I'm giggling myself to sleep at night, reading the adventures of the Bennett girls as they negotiate the zombie-infested waters of 19th century romance. I've never been a big vampire fan. Twilight and its ilk leave me cold. But zombies? Love it! One of my favorite movies ever is Shaun of the Dead.

And speaking of geek chic, how happy am I that Simon Pegg, aka Shaun of the Dead himself, is playing the role of Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the new Star Trek movie??? I am very happy. My weekend plans are set. Teach class on Saturday morning, perform as featured soloist at the Wakefield Chorus' concert on Saturday night, go see Star Trek on Sunday. Sounds like a good weekend, and I may even get some sewing in!

Happy Trekkin'!

I've Ordered the Marfy

Thanks for your input folks! I think Phyllis pegged it for me when she said the Burda, fabulous though it is, is more Armani than YSL. I really want the YSL sharp shoulders look. So I ordered two Marfy patterns: the green one in my previous post and this one:

I'll evaluate both of them and make a final decision when I have them in hand. Though I'm probably going to stick with my first choice. I have lots of fabrics that I can make into this jacket. And for fun, I ordered this skirt

I love the seaming detail on it, and it will be a nice change of pace for the summer. I even have some appropriately garish bright orange poplin for it. With a little tee or tank, it could be lots of fun for summer.

Boston Area Class Alert
For those of you in the eastern Mass/southern NH area, I'll be offering a "Saturday Series" starting in May. It's going to be a series of 4 classes, each two hours long, from 10AM to noon on Saturdays running May 9 to June 6 (no class on May 23, Memorial Day weekend). Each class will be self-contained and will teach one technique or related set of techniques. The four classes are:

Hand Picked Zipper with embellishments
Foolproof Welt Pockets
Designer Seam Finishes
Padstitching techniques for tailored jackets

The classes are $35 each or $100 for the series of four. Classes are limited to 6 participants. If you are interested and you're not on the class mailing list yet, drop me an email at ann "at" gorgeous fabrics(all one word) "dot" com. I'll send you the email with details.

Happy sewing!

What I Did Today

I taught a Brownie troop to sew!

This was so much fun. I was contacted by the leader of Troop 1608 here in town. This is a troop that consists of 1st to 3rd graders. They wanted to get a sewing badge, so I got the requirements and put together a class. We made tote bags. I have to tell you, these girls were SO CUTE! There were five of them, and they were so attentive. They were also incredibly fast learners! I told them all that I wanted them to come to my adult classes to show off for my students. They all decorated their bags and after we were finished I let them each pick out a fabric from the remnants I keep in the sewing studio. The nicest thing at the end was that they all started shouting, "I love sewing!" And they asked if they could come back in the spring to make something else.

I don't have any pictures, but suffice it to say that it was one of the most fun sewing experiences I have ever had, and that is saying something. I'm still smiling from ear to ear. If you ever have the chance, and want to totally energize your sewing mojo, get yourself a Brownie troop and give them a class. You will be so glad you did.

Happy sewing!

Classes and S&Bs

Attention all metro-Boston and Southern New Hampshire sewers! If you're interested in getting on the mailing list for classes and Stitch 'n B****es at the studio, please send me an email with the subject line "Sign Me Up" and I'll put you on the mailing list. The next S&B is next Saturday. I think we're at capacity. But I'll be holding more, and I'll be offering classes starting in the fall. Send your contact information to ann "at" gorgeousfabrics "dot" com.

Happy sewing!

What Classes Would You Want to Take?

I have a great space for teaching small classes, and my landlord and insurance company both have okayed it. So now I have to decide what classes I want to teach. The great news is that I can teach whatever I want to teach. Unlike when I teach for other organizations, I don't necessarily have to have 7-10 students for the class to be a go. So here are some ideas I have already come up with:

Fitting a Bodice
Fitting a Skirt
Fitting Pants
Embellishment Techniques (that will be Sewing Diva Phyllis' baby)
Sewing with Knits
Tailoring Techniques
It's All in the Details
Sewing Evening Wear
Copying Designer Details
Quick Gifts to Make
Sewing with Leather
Couture Jacket Seminar
Sit 'n Sew (Independent Project)

That's just a partial list. All classes are fashion-sewing oriented. I don't do home dec or quilting. I'll probably keep teaching the beginner classes through other outlets. This is for more advanced classes that would draw smaller groups. So what other classes would you want to see offered? Leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks, and happy sewing!