This is a static export of a blog I put on ice many years ago, that still has personally relevant content. No promises can be made around linkrot, styles, or working functionality.
In the monthās span where I havenāt put my Regency outfit on for photos, itās spent time stuffed in a bag on the couch, thrown on my sewing room floor, and then finally hanging on the wall mocking me about staying at the office so late recently. (I found the wool is rather forgiving with wrinkles, but the cotton petticoat and ramie chemise are a mess.)
While I still claim that I will get photos, just as soon as Carl and I can coordinate time at home together during non-raining daylight, I realized that I should figure out a storage solution for keeping the gown and accoutrements together.
The Museum of the City of New York has an absolutely wonderful exhibit online at the moment: Worth & Mainbocher, featuring photos and information on many garments by these two master couture houses.
Itās a dangerous time-sink, with the ability to do some very super zooming on many of the garmentsāyou can really see the details. Some even include shots of the interior. I love it. The interface is a bit clunky and slow otherwise, but donāt let that deter you.
I have no doubt that if youāve seen a Worth gown (Iām not as familiar with Mainbocher), youāve wanted to see how it was constructedāthis gives you the opportunity to get up close. They even have the famous “Electric Light” fancy dress gown worn by Mrs. Vanderbilt II (complete with photos of the inner bodice).
First, weāve started Cathedral Windows (on machine) at Sew You Want to Quilt, and we made one using one possible technique in class yesterday. Since I havenāt decided what I want to do for my project, I just grabbed some coordinating scraps that were large enough, and ended up with this pincushion/pattern weight/thing-that-takes-up-space: (more…)
So, this post is a bit late, but Iāve been trying to organize thingsāincluding thoughtsāso itās timely, in a sort of untimely way. I made most of these resolutions at the beginning of the year, although some are newer. Iām trying to get out of my manic crafting cycle of going nuts creating, then doing nothing for a month, and so on. Iāll try to keep updating this as the year progresses.
1. Make 10 quilts in 2012
Ten seemed like a good number, although I need to get to work if I plan on succeeding. (more…)
At the beginning of the year, I swore not to start any samplers or bees or whatever, until I finished all the stuff for the 1812 show. Then, not two weeks later, I found myself signing up for my LQSās (Tiger Lily Quilt Co.) monthly sampler group. I justified it by saying it gets me out of the house and meeting other local quilters, right? (Or would, if I werenāt a wallflower.) (more…)
When I purchased the fabric for my Tula kaleidoscope quilt, I went a little overboardāmostly due to trying to match blenders and solids while online shopping. Then, I went a bit crazy making kaleidoscopes, because they were so much fun. Ultimately, there was enough leftover fabric and blocks for a full 60×60″ quilt of 7.5″ finishing squares, plus binding and backing (with a bit of stash throw in for the back). (more…)
Have you ever done needle felting? The Mohawk Valley Quilt Club had a women give us a lesson on it at this monthās meeting. From my 45 min. introduction to it, it seems the basic premise is to take wool rovings and poke them with a very sharp, burred needle while shaping the fibers (sometimes against a block of sturdy foam) to eventually give you the shape you want (you can also poke them into fabric, like to decorate a sweater). The poking causes the wool to feltāthat is, to stick the fibers to each other. Certain ladies at my table used some very colorful words to describe their opinion of it, but it was an interesting event, I think. (more…)
The muse stopped by for a cup of tea last night, which is surprising, based on the mood I was in (it was foul).
I worked on quilting the Tula leftover quilt until I ran through all three bobbins I had wound of the right color. And, I figured out what to do for the Flock Challenge. Then it was almost 1am, so I managed to pull myself away. Plus, Iād exhausted my Hulu queue.
So, tonightās goal is to actually work on the challenge project.
But, first, I have to put in a 9-10 hour day at work.
Maybe after that, Iāll remember to come edit this with a photo of the apple I needle felted at the MVQC meeting last night. Interesting craft, though not one I think Iāll pick up any time soon.
ć¾ćć! (My inner child thinks in simple Japanese on occasion. True story.)
Is it just me, or has March flown by? Although I had two projects on my WIP list from last summer that I wanted to finish up by now, I havenāt even touched them, and probably wonāt any time soon. I do have a short list for the next week (month?) or two, thoughāso this is about my madness, not anything else, if you were hoping for me to wax poetic about basketball or something. (more…)
How do you keep your blocks organized when sewing together rows?
Iām working on a patchwork quilt of leftover fabric from Tula Does Up the Walls in Pah-reeājust a simple grid of 8″ squares and leftover kaleidoscope blocks. I canāt stand the idea of not chain piecing things like thisā¦ itās so slow otherwise.
But, after going to all the work of organizing the blocks in a specific way, I donāt want them to get out of order. (more…)
