Vogue 1068

I love this coat!

I decided to get it made before I started the next mini-wardrobe contest on PR. I am using this great orange upholstery fabric I picked up at Hobby Lobby for $2/yd!!!!!

To follow the grain when I was cutting the fabric out, I used painter's tape. I lined it up along the grain. Then, I measured from the marked grain to the grain line on the pattern. This seems to have worked great.

Now, I'm stuck. I'm at step 7 in the instructions which tell me to show the lower backs to the upper back. Then, step 8 tells me to stay-stitch the neck.

I'm thinking they forgot to tell me to stitch the front to back at the shoulder seams. And the side seams too!!! I've emailed CS, so we'll see what they tell me...

Book Review: What Not to Wear for Every Occasion

What Not to Wear For Every Occasion

by Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine

Published in 2003

ISBN: 1-59448-050-8

Some Chapter Headings:
Work Wear
Work to Play
School Events
Summer Holiday
Underwear

I liked:
The book is full of wardrobe ideas! For example, the same pair of brown trousers is recommended 3 different ways: with a tailored shirt and long cardigan for a casual job interview, with a long coat and a Kelly bag for a smart work outfit, and with a great coat to wear to a school play. Plus, that tailored shirt would also work great with jean-style cords.

My dislikes:
Not really any, as it was exactly what I expected.

Conclusion:This certainly isn't a book I'd rave over. However, as I'm planning the garments I'll make for fall and winter, it does have some inspiring ideas.

Would I buy it for myself? No. And I wouldn't buy it for a beginner either. However, it is a reference I'd borrow from the library or bum from a friend.

Charlie Browns

I love church cookbooks. When you can't find a favorite childhood recipe anywhere else, it will always be in a local church cookbook. And the smaller the church--the better the cookbook.


Someone brought Charlie Browns (a wonderful chocolate-peanut butter oatmeal no-bake cookie) to Grandma's on July 4. I have wanted them ever since. So, tonight I hunted up the recipe. It wasn't to be found in my tried-and-true Betty Crocker cookbook. It wasn't in the local junior league cookbooks. It wasn't even in my mom's church's cookbook. I finally found it in my grandmother's church cookbook. (This church might have 100 members, but they've got some great recipes.)

Here's the recipe for Charlie Browns (Thanks to Mrs. Rogers of Beulah Baptist Church.):

1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla

Bring butter, milk, sugar, and cocoa to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, oatmeal, and vanilla. (At this point, I let it cool for a few minutes (7 or so). ) Scoop it out in tablespoons onto wax paper and allow to cool and harden.

Enjoy!

4 kids, pizza, lots of games, and a giant mouse...

Well, we promised a trip to the local crazy pizza place this summer. We've put it off since May 21. We finally had to give in. Here's a look at the fun.

Little Man and his Best Buddette

The Big Girl and her Favorite Friend

He's Dangerous at Skee Ball (watch out if you're standing behind him.)

She racked up some serious points at the basketball game.

Just like a boy--passing on a hug for food!

I'll try anything once...

Well, maybe not anything. But close. This time--I put up homemade grape juice!

We've lived in the same house since the beginning of 2000. When we bought the house, one of the descriptions (and certainly not the one that sold us on it) said, "Lots of Fruit Trees." What they meant--an apple tree, a pear tree, a plum tree, strawberry plants, a grape vine, and a black walnut tree.

Over the years, we've only gotten an apple or two a year because the squirrels beat us to them. Until last year, a neighbor harvested the pears. Last year, I claimed them and put up 11 quarts of pears. The strawberry plants and plum tree didn't make it. The black walnut tree continues to bring forth nuts in abundances. And the grapevine--well, herein lies my story.

The first few years, the grapevine produced plenty of lovely, tart, Concord grapes. But, I had no desire to make jelly, so I just let the birds and squirrels enjoy them. Last year, I noticed that the grapevine didn't look so hot. This year, when I looked at the little structure where the vines should I been, I didn't see a grapevine. (Okay, it's important to know that the grapevine is on the other side of our half-acre lot and I don't actually walk over there often.) Thus, I concluded that the grapevine died.

Imagine my surprise when the hubby walked in the house with a bucket full of grapes Sunday night! Here's the conversation:

Him: "I thought you might want to do something with these."
Me: "What are those?"
Him: "Grapes." (like I should have known)
Me: "From where?????"
Him: "Out front." (again, like I should have known)
Me: "That grapevine is dead. Where'd those come from?"
Him: "That grapevine isn't dead. There are tons of bunches of grapes out there." (Obviously, I should have known this.)
Me: "Where????"

So, he leads me outside and tells me to look up. Look up? Yes, the grapevine has snaked itself from the ground, up the fence into the mimosa tree above. And, you really can't see the vine from the driveway. And, yes, there were tons of grapes hanging above my head. My reply to him, "Well, are you going to pick the rest of them?"

So, I pulled out my trusty canning book (which I recommend to anyone thinking of canning) and got to work. Here's the short and sweet.

1. Wash the grapes.
2. Crush the grapes.
3. Add a little water.
4. Cook the grapes and water at 190 degrees for 10 minutes.
5. Strain juice. (Not as easy as it sounds and my hands have been red for 2 days!)
6. Let it sit overnight in the fridge to settle.
7. Ladle out the juice, leaving the sediment at the bottom.
8. Add sugar.
9. Heat to 190 degrees again.
10. Cool.
11. I added water to the concentrate until we liked the flavor.
12. Freeze.

Of course, it took a little longer than all this. In fact, it took at lot longer. About 4 hours! And the pay-off. 4 quarts of juice. Let's see that comes to 2 quarts in 2 hours, which at $5.85 an hour comes to $23.40 a gallon. And I thought gas was expensive!!!!

New Mini-Wardrobe Contest

PR's next Mini-Wardrobe Contest starts August 1! I've been thinking about my entry for a while, but I thought it started in October. I'm not ready!!!!!

That said, here are the rules:

1. 4 pieces, 3 of which must be different types of garments
2. 3 different colors in the wardrobe
3. they must combine to make -4 distinct, different outfits

Ugh! That's exactly what I did in May--and others did not! (Yes, I'm whining. Now I'm done.)

Anyway, now it's almost August and I need to get in gear. I had been thinking about using this contest as a way to expand the hubby's closet. I'm leaning toward:

1. A pair of casual pants
2. A long-sleeve button-up shirt
3. A short-sleeve tee shirt
4. A fleece pull-over

I think that adds up to:

1. Pants + button-up
2. Pants + tee shirt
3. Pants + tee shirt + unbuttoned button-up
4. Pants + fleece pull-over

I just need to confirm that the different shirts will count as different types of garments and choose some patterns and fabrics.

Book Review: Applique Martha's Favorites

Applique Martha's Favorites

by Martha Pullen

Published in 1991

ISBN: 978-9992865163

Some Chapter Headings:
Types of Applique
Stitch Maneuvers
Applique Designs
Fancy Closures-Not Just Buttons

I liked:

• The clothing patterns included with this book: a girls' jumper, a boys' suit, and an apron.
• A great supply list that explains why you need all those things, like stabilizer and interfacings.
• The very detailed (at first glance primitive, but actually quite informative) diagrams in the "Stitch Maneuver" chapter that instruct you as you begin to applique, turn inward or outward curves, form corners and stitch points.
• The "Little Red Riding Hood" applique design.

My dislikes:

• While some of the designs are very cute, others are quite dated (think things we wore in the 70s!).
• I found the boys' suit to run very small.
• No instructions for sewing snap tape into the crotch of the boys' suit.

Conclusion:
First, this book is a bargain, when you consider all that it contains. Just purchasing a girls
jumper and a boys' suit pattern could run you upwards of $20. Plus, you get all the applique designs and how-tos.

Second, if you can sew, you can applique and this book is detailed enough to show you how. Even if you don't love these designs, you can take this information and make your own designs.

Would I buy it for myself? I already did--several years ago, when I wanted to reproduce similar designs to those I'd seen at a local upscale children's boutique. While I don't refer to the book often anymore, it was invaluable while I was learning to applique.

Would I buy it for a beginner sewer? This book would better serve an advanced beginner.

Too much?

Here's my take on Simplicity 2971. I had originally planned to make view B, but after seeing Erica B.'s, I couldn't resist View F.

I made two significant changes: I made the straps a bit wider in hopes of covering bra straps and I used narrow elastic to create the bubble hem line.

Unfortunately, I'm not comfortable with my shoulders that exposed. (Even my swim suits cover more up top!) So, I'll be wearing this one under a jacket.

And, as the personality quiz in this magazine pointed out, I'm allergic to bling. I'm thinking the rhinestones are bit too much...

Look what she made...

This summer I have offered a series of no-sew, low-sew classes at a local fabric store. My Big Girl has participated and created lots of fun things: a bandanna pillow, a blue jean bag, a swimsuit cover-up, and CD folders. This is the Santa Bag she made Monday.

It's amazing what a 6-year-old can do with fabric glue!

Book Review: Sew U

Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe
by Wendy Mullin with Eviana Hartman
Published in 2006
ISBN: 0-8212-5740-4

Some Chapter Headings:
Getting In Gear

Chop, Chop

Skirts

Shirts

Pants

I liked:

• That the book is very easy to read.
• The wonderful inspiration for "designing your own" based on a pattern.
• The notions and supplies chapter because she points out that you don't have to have much to get started and encourages you to wait until you know what you need before investing.
• The "Anatomy Lesson" defining and describing pattern pieces.
• Page 82 that has an excellent explanation of thread tension and why it is so important.
• The Project Ticket Form

My dislikes:

• The section on measuring yourself is not detailed and only includes instructions for measuring bust, waist, and hip. In my experience, using only these 3 measurements leads to ill-fitting garments and loads of frustration.
• I found the A-line skirt pattern to be almost a pencil skirt.

Conclusion:

While this book isn't as thorough as other "Complete Guides..." it certainly has its place. I personally picked up the book because the look of it appealed to me. And, the book is actually quite detailed for the beginner, describing and explaining techniques that more intermediate and advanced sewers would take for granted: stay-stitching, stitching direction, finishing seams, topstitching, understitching, and even sewing on a button!

Another feature that appealed to me: the book includes 3 patterns. While only the skirt has worked for me, the shirt and pants provide new options and can be a jump-start for a new sewer. That said, the limited measuring instructions and virtually no fitting information are potential roadblocks in sewing your own wardrobe.

Would I buy it for myself? I do own this book and I've made the skirt several times and in several ways.

Would I buy it for a beginner sewer? I whole-heartily recommend this book to a tween, teen, or even 30-something beginner--as long as they have a fitting resource (like a very, very good friend) handy.

New Vogue Patterns are Out!

Vogue has published their early Fall patterns. Here are the two that caught my attention.

This coat would be great in orange with jeans or jean-cut cords.

I'm looking for a cardigan, but I'm not certain this is the one for me.

Ridin' Bikes

The Little Man got a new bike! The first day, he made it to the end of the drive way. By day 2, he had it down:



Turn the volume up to hear the sound effects on this one!

My Fall Sewing Inspiration

I've been browsing. Here are a two pieces that could translate into something perfect for this fall...




From the runway:





I like the sleeves. I like the belt. I like the cord. I wonder if this pattern would work.
















I like this top. I like the sleeves. I like the texture. I like the idea of pairing it with a Hollywood waist.












Both of these are from this designer. I'm hoping to have a fall plan soon. I'll post when I do.

Book Review: The Science of Sexy

The Science of Sexy

by Bradley Bayou

Published in 2007
ISBN: 978-1-592-40260-1

Some Chapter Headings:
The Red Carpet Questionnaire
My Ten "Dress-Sexy" Commandments
The Four Steps to Sexy
The Fitting Rooms: 1-12

I liked:

• The math I could use to determine my shape. (Much more analytical than just looking at my silhouette.)
• The "Conceal and Reveal Exercise" (pages 23, 24)
• Good definitions of "Skinny fabrics and cuts" (pages 50-51). Now I know what to look for when shopping for fabrics and patterns.
• Mr. Bayou's method of complimenting your assets before telling you what to hide and how to hide it.
• The comprehensive list of the types of dresses, tops, skirts, pants & jeans, coats & jackets, jewelry & accessories, and shoes that each type should wear and not wear.
• Three perfect options for each size and shape (casual, career, and formal).
• A fashion must-have for each size and shape (mine's a peplum jacket--guess what new pattern I'm looking for...)
• The most awesome glossary at the end of the book. It includes the definition and line drawing of 100+ styles of shirts, dresses, pants, skirts, jackets, accessories and shoes!

My dislikes:

• Only the first 67 pages applied to me. Then, only 4 more out of the remaining 230+. Of course, to make an entire book about 1 body type would mean that he would have to write 11 other books about the other body types...
• It wasn't quite as precise as the "math and science" suggest. I actually fall into 1 of 2 categories depending on the day of the week.

Conclusion:
Okay. I confess. This isn't a sewing book. But, since I am still trying to figure out my style--and I want to make clothes that flatter me--then, this qualifies as a sewing reference book to me. I read this book just before a huge snoop shopping trip. Since I knew Mr. Bayou's recommendations, I could try on styles to see what I really liked and what I didn't. Now I have a good idea of the next few pieces I'd like to make.

Would I buy it for myself? Okay, another confession, my sister actually bought this book. And during the 3 hour trip to the beach, we identified all our body types and recommendations. Definitely got our (her) money's worth!

Would I buy it for a beginner sewer? Yet again, it's not a sewing book. However, if you are a beginner at garment sewing for yourself and you don't know where to start, this might work.

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July!

This picture is actually a year old, but it's my favorite summer shot of these 3!