August 16, 2009

HEY!!!

Blog SignatureBLOG SIGNATURE GONE HAY WIRE!!!


I'm just checking in so you don't think I've disappeared. I still have four more weeks left in this quarter - THEN I CAN FEEL FREE TO SEW AGAIN without guilt. It has been so hard! I work on my online class on the computer that's in my sewing room, and I haven't been able to touch the sewing machine in over a month. It's just awful!!! But, I did sneak and cut a muslin for this jacket today. It felt so good. I was operating under some type of delusion that I might be able to get the muslin stitched up today, but I was only kidding myself. But I did get it altered, cut out, and marked - that's better than nothing I guess. My plan is to make two of these jackets to match the last two pairs of pants that I made (I probably mentioned that before). If I can get these two unlined jackets made, I'll have two brand new suits to wear. That would make me feel so good!


I need to get those two jackets made before I start on the Chanel sew-a-long. I don't anticipate being able to start the Chanelish jacket until after September 15th. But I think starting on or after that date will give me plenty of time to get the jacket completed by November 15th. I have started pulling information together to assist me in making the jacket. I've got several threads articles that I've been reading up on as time has permitted; and I just ordered the Claire Shafer "Couture Sewing" book on this past Friday. I guess I won't pick out my lining, buttons, trim, and get my chain until mid September either, unless I just happen to run into something I like before that time. I don't want to start the jacket until I have good amounts of uninterrupted time to devote to it. I'll have a week and a half between quarters so I think that will be a good time to start. My next and FINAL quarter will start on September 29th. And on December 18th (end of the quarter) I am going to give myself a great big party - for finishing this degree and for my birthday!!!

That's all of my sewing related news - if you can call it news. I'm thinking about sewing, but thinking about it isn't sewing....or is it?

HEY!!!

I'm just checking in so you don't think I've disappeared. I still have four more weeks left in this quarter - THEN I CAN FEEL FREE TO SEW AGAIN without guilt. It has been so hard! I work on my online class on the computer that's in my sewing room, and I haven't been able to touch the sewing machine in over a month. It's just awful!!! But, I did sneak and cut a muslin for this jacket today. It felt so good. I was operating under some type of delusion that I might be able to get the muslin stitched up today, but I was only kidding myself. But I did get it altered, cut out, and marked - that's better than nothing I guess. My plan is to make two of these jackets to match the last two pairs of pants that I made (I probably mentioned that before). If I can get these two unlined jackets made, I'll have two brand new suits to wear. That would make me feel so good!


I need to get those two jackets made before I start on the Chanel sew-a-long. I don't anticipate being able to start the Chanelish jacket until after September 15th. But I think starting on or after that date will give me plenty of time to get the jacket completed by November 15th. I have started pulling information together to assist me in making the jacket. I've got several threads articles that I've been reading up on as time has permitted; and I just ordered the Claire Shafer "Couture Sewing" book on this past Friday. I guess I won't pick out my lining, buttons, trim, and get my chain until mid September either, unless I just happen to run into something I like before that time. I don't want to start the jacket until I have good amounts of uninterrupted time to devote to it. I'll have a week and a half between quarters so I think that will be a good time to start. My next and FINAL quarter will start on September 29th. And on December 18th (end of the quarter) I am going to give myself a great big party - for finishing this degree and for my birthday!!!

That's all of my sewing related news - if you can call it news. I'm thinking about sewing, but thinking about it isn't sewing....or is it?

August 2, 2009

NOT A LAZY BUM...JUST A BUSY BEE!

I really can't believe that I only posted once during the month of July! That is so not like me. But...I have not been lazy, just busy. My sewing has been some what thwarted because of SCHOOL - not the classes I teach, but the classes I take. Up until this quarter I've been coasting, only taking one class per quarter. But this quarter I was forced to take two classes because I want to finish this thing up in December and one of the classes wouldn't be offered again until January. So I'm involved in twice the number of classes and twice the work. Both of these classes involve an enormous amount of reading as well as writing. BUT WHAT IS ONE TO DO???? I did squeeze a few sewing related things however:

.A Sew-A-Long session with Ebony and Lisa on the 5th. It was nice and productive - that's when I started the maxi dress. AND, I got to meet Lisa's mother for the first time. She is a real sewing icon, and I loved talking with and getting to know her.

.My first fabric party at Ebony's on the 18th. Quite an experience. I loved fabric shopping in the comfort of her home, and picked up some really pretty pieces.

.I did complete two garments in July; the maxi dress and a pair of pants from Simplicity 2860. I haven't posted the pants yet, becaus
e they are part of a suit, and I get a chance to start the jacket yet.

.A fitting session with Lisa and Ebony on the 24th. Informative, helpful and a real learning experience that I am sure will prove beneficial for years to come.

.Joined the GO CHANEL OR GO HOME Sew A Lo
ng which is gearing up full force as I speak. I plan on seeing this one through, even though I keep asking myself - "WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE YOU THINKING?" I know I'm ultra busy right now, but the Chanel Sew a long doesn't officially start until September 1st and runs through November 15th. And since the making of a Chanel jacket is on my list of Sewing Goals for the year, this will actually be good for me. When I saw news of it I decided to jump right on the band wagon because I didn't want to get locked out like I did with the Coat Sew A Long last year. So, I am officially entered in. My classes end around September 16th and I think that even if I didn't start until that time I should be able to finish by the Nov. 15th deadline. After all I'll only be in the process of taking my FINAL class for this degree at that time. I have my fabric and four patterns to choose from already. I think the only thing I'll need to order is the trim for the jacket. I'm also starting to read up on Chanel Jacket construction and paying close attention to the Sew A Long blog. There's going to be a ton of inspiration and information that I can get there. I need to make a note to get the Claire Shaffer book "Couture Sewing", and I'm reading up on two piece sleeve construction. I should be good to go.

FABRIC GIFTED FROM MY MOM LAST YEAR
MY FOUR PATTERN CHOICES






Hopefully, August will be a much more productive month for sewing. I feel like I haven't even put a dent in my summer sewing....








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