Archive for September, 2007
U is for…
Unsure
Yes…I’m unsure what baby things to sew up so I’ve procrastinated…and the Baby Shower is on Sunday…ugh!!!!
So far, I’ve finished the silk pants and cut out part of the matching silk jacket…not sure I’m liking the jacket…LOL.
I’ve finished a hand beaded Alencon Lace onesie. Dyed that and a vintage tutu a dreamy pink. Just need to make a new smaller waistband on the tutu.
Finished hand beading a second tutu. Think I’ll dye it brown and use it as a coordinating piece for the above silk pants and jacket…
Back to the sewing room…
1 comment Friday, September 28, 2007
T is for…
Tatting…especially VINTAGE!
Tailor Board
Use unpadded for crisp edges and sharp points; use padded for shaping and soft curves. Prevents seam allowance impressions.
Get one with covers from Nancy’s Notions
Buy one on Ebay!
Tulle Trick
Here’s how I add 100 yards of 6 inch tulle to the ruffle of my dresses…
Purchase 6 inch rolls of tulle. Place roll on your lap and gather it on your serger using a Serger Gathering Foot.
All Brand’s Serger Gathering Feet
Tutus
1 comment Friday, September 28, 2007
S is for…
Sewing Machine
How pretty is this PINK sewing machine? Unfortunately I can’t bring myself to buy it for $200+…I’ll just have to dream about it…LOL
Saliva
Did you know that your saliva will remove your own blood? Yep…the DNA in YOUR saliva will remove YOUR blood (not anyone else’s). This trick has saved many of my sewing projects when I’ve accidentally pricked my finger and got a tiny spot of blood on the fabric. Works like a charm!
Stationery
If you love personalized stationery, stickers, stamps and other goodies, check out Doodlebugs Paper!
Spray Sizing
Two years ago, I switched from Spray Starch to Spray Sizing…what a difference! I love how the Spray Sizing gives new life to fabric…
Light Body Formula
Extra Crisp Formula
More Reasons to use Sizing instead of Starch
Add comment Friday, September 28, 2007
R is for…
Ribbon Stash
Andrea’s Stash
GT Cowgirl’s Stash
Thistletown’s Stash
Add comment Thursday, September 27, 2007
Q is for…
Quilting
Ok…confession time…I don’t like Quilts, especially the old-fashioned pieced ones. I’ve tried to wrap my head around the whole “beauty” of them…but honestly, quilting involves too much math and precision…I married an accountant to help with my math…and besides, most of the quilts I’ve seen (with the exception of some cute shabby-chic ones and the ones pictured above) look like old country bumpkin decor. There…I said it.
Just R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z to go with only 3 more days till months end…I can do it!
1 comment Thursday, September 27, 2007
P is for…
Pattern Punch
aka Rabbit Ears…aka Bunny Punch
Pincushions
My dear friend, April (aka momosclothes) absolutely has the most beautiful pincushions around…I have 3 and want more! Get one here:
Momosclothes Pincushion on Etsy
Here are some other neat pincushions:
Want to make your own pincushion?
Stickin It to the Pincushion Tutorial
How About Orange Pincushion Tutorial
Craftlog’s Square Pincushion Tutorial
Instructable’s Emery Pincushion Tutorial
Pink
You all know how much I love PINK…well, look what I won on E-bay yesterday:
a vintage PINK sewing thread caddy!!!
2 comments Thursday, September 27, 2007
N is for…
Notchers
I absolutely love my pattern notcher…picked it up in NYC’s fashion district. Not only do I use it for notching my patterns, but I also notch my FABRIC!!! No more cutting little triangles…LOL
Get yourself one:
or
NYC
Living in suburban Staten Island (one of the 5 boroughs of NYC) is like having the best of both worlds…it’s only a 20 minute drive into “the city” (aka Manhattan).
The view is breathtaking!
We have Times Square with all the Broadway Shows…
and beautiful Central Park…
Radio City and the Rockettes (did I mention my Grandmother was an original Rockette? Yep, good legs run in my family…LOL).
oh then there’s Rockefeller Center in the Winter. Christmas in NYC is breathtaking…the decorations and store window displays are second to none.
There’s Chinatown…
and Little Italy, of course…
Yankee Stadium (yes, we are diehard NY Yankee fans!)
Let’s not forget Coney Island and the famous Cyclone Roller Coaster…
We even have a store which just sells Tiaras, Boas and other Diva necessities…LOL
Even our Walk/Don’t Walk Street signs ROCK!
But my VERY FAVORITE PLACE would have to be…
The NYC Garment District (aka Fabric District or Fashion District)
The streets are literally lined with fabric stores…
Trimmings…
It just doesn’t get better than this for the seamstress / sewer!
Add comment Thursday, September 27, 2007
M is for…
Measuring Tapes
I have two of these pretty Coach Measuring Tapes…both in different shades of pink. Here’s a black one on Ebay:
Madeira Applique
I made this Madeira Applique Set last year. It wasn’t terribly difficult. Here are some good instructions:
Madeira Huck Towel Instructions
Add comment Wednesday, September 26, 2007
L is for…
(Make your own label tags at Acme.com)
I was reorganizing my children’s toys when I came upon these clear storage boxes and their printed labels. Years before we had P-Touch Label Makers, we had to resort to using our printer (boy, how lucky I was to have a COLOR laser jet printer?) and then taping the pictures on the boxes (this was “supposed” to make it easy for the kids to put their toys back in the boxes…never happened!).
Over the last few weeks, I was a bit uncentered…something was bothering me. I couldn’t find my P-Touch Label Maker…I have dozens of label tapes in every color available, but I put it somewhere so I could easily locate it next time I needed it. It’s been weeks now and no label maker.
Luckily, I had purchased a dozen of the cheaper P-Touch 80 Label Makers during the last Staples’ Black Friday Sale…only $10 each instead of $29!!! I gave them out as gifts to my kid’s teachers. They were a HIT! Thankfully I still had one left in the cabinet…yippee!!! I opened the box, inserted the batteries and turned it on. For some reason, it needed to be programmed (WTH?) and I couldn’t get it to make labels. Of course I had tossed the directions in the trash thinking I was a labelmaking pro…silly me…so there I am now on the Brother Label Maker website, downloading the instructions…
On St. Patrick’s Day at the age of 9 1/2 months old, my first child, Marielle, received a life-saving liver transplant….that’s what I call “Luck of the Irish!”
No wonder I send out my laundry to be done…my washing machine and dryer are just too complicated. When they make a washer/dryer combo set that FOLDS and PUTS the laundry away, I’ll be the first to purchase them….PROMISE…
If you are part of my family, you have a 50% chance of being left-handed. My father, sister, Mr. Diva™ and I are all left-handed. It really hasn’t been a problem for me as I’ve learned how to adapt in a Right-Handed World…even my scissors are right-handed. However, I can only do left-handed cartwheels…oh wait…I can’t do cartwheels anymore…those days are long gone!
ok…I am DETERMINED to finish this stupid Encyclopedia of ME thing before month’s end…heck, I still have M - Z to go before Monday morning. Think I can do it? But the way, who’s bright idea was this? LOL I’ll be back…
4 comments Wednesday, September 26, 2007
