Vacation, Day 4

Today I've been vegetating somewhat. Insomnia because I got sucked into watching "Godfather 3" on AMC last night. It's not even that good of a movie, but Andy Garcia is such a babe in it as Vincent. Sigh... So anyway, I was up really really late and I've been functioning on a fairly low level today. Whatever. I'm on vacation.


Yesterday afternoon, I started actual work on New Look 6598. I did an FBA using the instructions in Singer's "The Perfect Fit." This is the book I use again and again to add darts. I really like the step by step photos. I attempted to take pictures as I worked on the top, but unfortunately, they didn't come out well so I can't share them. I'll try again on the next FBA project.


I decided that I'd make a test before cutting into the fabric I used for the Loes Hinse skirt, so I picked out some cacti print cotton that came out of the remnant section at JoAnn's a while back. Originally I planned to make View C, which has a collar, but I cut out the wrong front facing and didn't have enough fabric to recut without piecing. So I ended up making View E instead.



As I thought, I cut out the pieces in Size 10 for the shoulders and armscye, switching to Size 14 for the side seams. Umm, still a little snug in the tummy, so I tapered out the side seams there. Fortunately I had added an additional 1" to each of the side seams on the back bodice (forgot to do the same when I cut out the front piece).



And here's the top so far:



Although it sounds like a lot, there's not much left to do. The side seams are basted in, the buttonholes need to be made and buttons attached, hems turned up and sewn, and armscyes bound. I need to make a fabric store run and pick up some thread and bias binding before I can finish though. And it's good enough to wear in public, and will be a nice top for late summer's heat.



The next version should go pretty quickly since the fit issues have been worked out. And if I have enough fabric, the next one is going to have a collar!

Vacation, Day 3

ETA: Photo and more verbiage about fabric

Yesterday, I drove up to Ann Silva's and picked up the Evolve DVD I was owed. For some reason or the other, it wasn't in stock when I bought the serger. So now, I think I have everything I was supposed to have.


On the way back home, I stopped into JoAnn's and picked up some linen blends off the clearance table. My general rule of thumb is embroidered linen is ok, sequined is not. So that helped me narrow down my selections quite a bit.

The indigo with white embroidery features appliqued calico in some of the petals. It's also pretty on the back side. The cream with blue flowers is a border print, really gorgeous! The floral is a matte finish poly, not linen. I just fell in love with the print.

I also picked up a new Simplicity since they were on sale for $1.99. It's 3631, a wardrobe pattern with a bell-sleeved jacket, pencil skirt, pants, duster, and dress/jumper.

Then home to pack up a return to Smart Bargains and a goodie package for my sis, and off to UPS.


Then I made the mistake of buying Starbuck's for the office. After all they're taking care of deals for me while I'm out, right? Nothing wrong with bringing treats, the mistake was getting sucked in once I arrived. So I have another half day at the office--yes kids, that's 3 so far. I definitely will be adjusting the PTO schedule accordingly because I'm not donating them to the cause. I can use those half days some other time! Anyway, I told my boss that I'll be going to my retreat in Western New Mexico for the duration and will be back on Wednesday. He doesn't need to know that the "retreat" is my house located west of the office.


So much for my vacation plans. A lot of them have been absorbed by crap at the office. I'm considering a quick trip up to Santa Fe to make up for it. I think a visit to Ten Thousand Waves might be in order.

Vacation, Day 2

ETA: photo

OK, here's the follow up. It wasn't so bad, and I had some fun today. To start with, I visited my hair stylist and got a cut and highlights. It looks really good. I went to Pei Wei for lunch and had my favorite Asian Curry--guess what, the shrimp version has a lot fewer calories than chicken--go figure.

Following that I took a little time at ABQ. I didn't get a chance to visit the Pottery Barn this time (but thanks for the tip Raesha!). I did stop in at Chico's to try an outfit I loved in the latest catalog. Unfortunately, it didn't look great on me in real life, although I think that's more the fault of the garments than me. Too much fabric between shoulder and armscye. But that's why we sew, right?

I did get a nice necklace that will look fab with several outfits I have.



Then I spent the rest of the afternoon at the office working on the SUV deal. And hopefully, that's it till Wednesday.

I'm supposed to be on vacation

When I originally scheduled the last part of July for PTO (paid time off), I was planning on attending the ASG convention in Sacramento. However, I decided instead to attend the Sewing Workshop getaway in San Francisco this fall. But I kept the time off anyway, planning to do some sewing and chilling at home from 7/25 through 7/31.

It's not exactly working out that way. At work, we do annual reviews of our largest customer relationships. I've got one that's due on 7/31. I turned in the report yesterday. Hopefully, no major changes, at least none that my credit analyst can't handle.

And, I have a customer whose new SUV arrives Friday. The customer is preapproved for these car purchases, but apparently no one at my office knows how to do the takedown so documents can be drawn. Grrr. I'm tempted to let it go but since my incentive is based on production, I'll be visiting the office again this afternoon. I also happen to enjoy working with this customer, so that helps a little.

Lest you think it's all work and no play, I did relax yesterday morning by taking a long walk in the neighborhood while playing my iPod. There are a couple of walking/biking paths nearby so I took the one by I-40. I wanted to get a closer look at the landscaping they've been doing in that area. I should have brought my camera to share the coyote sculptures. They're basically big silhouettes made of rusted steel that have been put among the landscape. Pretty cool to look at from the highway, and they also look good from the foot path. I'll try to remember next time!

Today, I'm going to my hairdresser for highlights and a cut, followed by lunch at Pei Wei. I usually go on Saturdays when it's pretty busy in Uptown and more of a rush. So going on Thursday should be easier and more relaxing. I hope to fit in some shopping at ABQ also--that's the new non-mall that opened last Christmas. I like being able to park and window shop outdoors. Somehow it's less cheesy than a mall.

And in the sewing room, I did some assessment on the New Look blouse pattern last night. I marked the bust point and decided that the waist darts will have to be shortened at least 3"-4". Otherwise, the placement will be completely over my bust, a function of larger cups that are somewhat lower than "standard" even when cinched up in a bra. Sigh...

Pre-sewing

Another weekend without sewing, if by sewing you mean actually sitting in front of the sewing machine with foot on the pedal and hands guiding fabric.

However, I did cut out a pattern this weekend, Simplicity 7176:

This is an OOP from (gulp) 2002. I'm planning on making one of the flutter sleeve versions first. I'm not sure what fabric I'll be using, but it's not as if my stash doesn't have plenty of choices to pick from. I'm thinking this will be a cute top for late summer and something to wear with suits into the fall.

We also went to another Isotopes game on Saturday and just about froze.Welcome to summer at altitude! Tonight was Bob Dylan. Yes, still touring at his age. Bob's voice is gone, but his band is excellent. And after all he's a legend.

New Look 6598

Progress is happening, albeit slowly.

Tonight, I measured some RTW garments I have that are similar to this top and used that information to figure out what sizes to cut the pattern from. What measurements? Front shoulder width, back shoulder width, armhole depth, and circumference at bust. A little tedious but having them is a helpful tool.

Like I thought, Size 10 for the neck/shoulders. I'm going to try Size 14 from bust to hem, knowing that I'll be making an FBA (that's full bust adjustment for the uninitiated) that'll add some width to the front of the garment. And of course, those side seams will incorporate some "fit insurance." Easier to remove excess than to not have it.

Next up: tracing the garment front so I can make the FBA without destroying the original pattern. I usually use "The Perfect Fit" by Singer as my primary reference for bust adjustments. From the bookcase, I also pulled "Fast Fit" by Sandra Betzina and Palmer/Pletsch's "Fit for Real People" as back up resources.

New Vogues for Fall 2007

Nope, I'm not posting my favorites, but I did want to mention that I've really enjoyed seeing everyone else's picks! I'm not sure if I'll buy any of these lovelies (oh, who am I kidding?!?), but the Vogue team has come up with some winners this season!

OK fellow sewing bloggers, let's see some ensembles, OK?

A Shoe Challenge!

After I responded to the latest game of blog tag, Marji challenged me to take a shoe pic. Hoo boy, this will need to be a series. I don't think they'll all fit in one photo. You see, my walk in closet is laid out a little differently, in that it's wider than it is deep. And my shoe racks are along one of the wide walls.

Ah well, I digress...

Here we are, at the east side of the closet, camera pointing west...

And here we are, from the other direction.

I keep "extra" shoes like boots under the bed or up on a high shelf in their boxes.

I also have a laundry basket that houses other spare shoes, like my Clark's and Merrills.

I should note that my house is one story but has several rooms with cathedral type ceilings that follow the roof line. My closet is one of those rooms, so I can go upwards for additional storage. Hmmm...

Grilling in the Rain

It's July again, and most afternoons there are periodic "monsoon" storms that roll in. Not a lot to do but turn off the swamp cooler, open the windows, and deal with it.

Tonight, the storm came while I was grilling on the back patio. I was using one of my TNT recipes--yes, tried and true does not just apply to sewing.

I've made this marinade dozens of times. I can't say for sure exactly when I first tried it. I remember it came from the newspaper and I typed up the recipe on some software I had 3 computers ago. So that would be at least 10 years ago.

I've changed the recipe some, but my notes indicate it originally came from the book "Texas on the Half Shell," which I believe is a Junior League cookbook. Based on an Amazon search, it appears to be out of print, but maybe some of you have more information so I can give the ladies more credit for their book. I know the ingredients seem a bit weird, but trust me. This is my "go to" fajita marinade. Because I seldom cook for large groups, I usually make a big batch and freeze it in small containers for later use.

Carne Asada with Adobo Sauce

(from "Texas on the Half Shell")

1/4 cup tomato paste

1 cup strong black coffee

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 Tbsp. lime juice

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

2 lb. flank steak

Mix all ingredients except meat and heat in a medium saucepan, stirring, until sugar melts and flavors are combined. Marinate meat in sauce 4-5 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

When ready to grill, soak 2 handfuls of mesquite chips in water for 15-30 minutes, drain thoroughly and place under the grate (I put the wet chips into a foil packet while the grill is preheating, so they'll be smoldering). Sear meat quickly on both sides and cook to desired doneness, basting if desired.

6 servings, plus another meal as fajitas.

The above is pretty much how I found it. I've modified the recipe some over the years, mainly by reducing the amount of oil. And I typically marinate chicken breasts in the marinade instead of steak.

Here's tonight's dinner in progress:

Chicken breast cooked on one side, before turning. The foil packet contains the wet mesquite chips. You can't see from the picture, but there's an opening for the wood smoke to escape from.

After flipping and basting the chicken breat, side 2 is ready to go. Nice grill marks, eh? You can see smoke in this photo.

All finished, and ready to eat!

Sleeveless-ness

I think I have a pattern picked out for a blouse to match the brown and white skirt I just finished. It'll be:



New Look 6598 View C, the sleeveless view with the collar. Yes, I still do sleeveless in spite of being 49. My arms, while less Madonna-esque than I'd desire, still have some definition. And hopefully will have more as I ease my way back into my weightlifting routine.


And as I told MaryT., it's hot here! A dry heat, but hot all the same. Sleeveless is definitely an option I need to take advantage of as much as I can.


In addition, there's just enough of the fabric left to get a sleeveless top from it. Sleeves would be problematic even if I wanted them.


The reason I picked the New Look was because I want to try this pattern out. It has a high potential for being a TNT due to all the neckline and sleeve variations.

Kinda Sorta

I've been invited to join the tagging game, which is making the rounds again. I kinda don't want to because it's hard to come up with enough facts. However, being a generally good natured person, I don't want to turn anyone down flat either. So, I'm going to be a sport and kinda sorta play the game.

The rules are:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each participant posts eight random facts about themselves.
3. Tagees should write a blogpost of eight random facts about themselves.
4. At the end of the post, eight more bloggers are tagged
5. Go to their blog, leave a comment telling them they're tagged

Umm, last time it was 5 random facts and 5 bloggers. Inflation, I guess.

So here's how I'll be a slacker and break the rules. I'll participate in rules 1-3 to the extent I can come up with enough facts. However, I'm not going to do 4 and 5. If you would like to participate, please post your 8 random facts on your blog, and leave me a comment.

1. I'm thinking about throwing myself a birthday party next year. It's the big 5-0 and someone needs to.
2. I wear my diamond solitare (from the X) as a right hand ring. It's silly to have sparklies and keep them locked away.
3. The long wall of my closet is lined with shoe racks. 4 levels worth. I haven't counted up the shoes. I'm a little bit afraid to.
4. I just renewed my driver's license and lied about my weight. I used goal, not actual. Well, I'll have it for 8 years!!
5. My bachelor's is from Vanderbilt University, a school I probably would not be able to get into today. Not that I'm not qualified, but it's more of an "It" school now and harder to get into. I had a wonderful 4 years there.
6. My father was the first Kentuckian in history to graduate from Appalachian State University. He knew the founders personally (my Dad was old when he started a family). He was instrumental in ASU's Daniel Boone statue being installed (really!)
7. My maternal great grandfather moved to the US from Belfast, Ireland. His family name was Montgomery.
8. I grill out as often as I possibly can and enjoy trying new grill recipes, reading about grilling, watching TV shows about grilling, etc.

I hope you enjoyed reading 8 more things about me. Now, y'all post your own 8 facts, OK?

OK, Photos!

Here's the Loes Hinse skirt I finished yesterday. I think it came out nice, and I'll definitely be using this pattern again.

These fabrics are the ones I got at Jo-Ann's on the 4th of July. Upper Left: Brocade from clearance; it was only $1.50 per yard! Upper Right: Rayon and Linen pinstripe. Lower Right: Rayon with a slight crepy texture. Lower Left: Black linen

I bought this piece of rayon challis at Hancock's on the 4th of July. It was supposed to be $2.00 per yard per the flyer. When I got home, I found out the clerk charged me $2.95. Slow, and incompetent too! I want to support this company as an alternative to Jo-Ann's, but stuff like this makes it difficult. It's not the money, but annoying nevertheless.

Note to MaryT: Thanks for being concerned about the heat. I'm not melting though.

Fortunately, Albuquerque has missed most of the Western heat wave so far and we're at our normal (!) temperatures of high 90's to low 100's. Due to low humidity, the temps do drop off a lot once the sun goes down. We're in our monsoon season now, so thunderstorms are happening in the afternoons and evenings. They help cool us off as well.

Independence Day Recap

Independence Day was a sewing related day, but one without actual machine time (rats!) I did end up going to both Jo-Ann's and Hancock's, though, and managed to pick up some more "must have" fabrics, including yards of black 100% linen, some brown and turquoise rayon/linen blend, a couple of beautiful rayon prints, and some Chinese-style brocade. I couldn't help it. Jo-Ann's had all clearance 50% off, plus all linens were 60% off. And Hancock's had a bunch of fabrics for $2 per yard. I'm still in the process of washing everything, so no picture yet.

Hancock's also had Simplicity 5 for $5, so I succumbed. I bought 3875 (yet another Duro-type dress), 3756 (a Threads pant collection), 3678 (a cute Threads pattern for knits), 4038 (skirts) and 4275 (another Threads pattern).

My main grievance of the day is that Hancock's is so doggone slow. I swear, it took ages to get one cut of fabric measured (and it wasn't even a cut, I took it all), then I repeated the process of waiting at the cash register. It's not like there was a line, I was the only one up there. Yet it took forever (well, 15 minutes at least) to give someone my money because no one was even at the register! Hello?!. If I were a dishonest person, I could have walked out and no one would have been the wiser. I realize this is a company in Chapter 11, but please! Does your staff have to be so slow? Granted there were only 2 employees working but there seemed to be no urgency to their efforts. I'll always pick Jo-Ann's over Hancock's for this reason alone.

Anyway, the rest of the afternoon and evening kind of drifted away, although I did work on tracing off Loes Hinse's Gore Skirt Group, view B. I cut it from the fabric Thursday evening, sewed the 6 gores together last night, and have it almost finished today. I used the brown and white tropical poly that I bought at Jo-Ann's Memorial Day sale.

The skirt is a nice pattern that I think I'll be making up several more times. But beware, Loes' claim of 4" of hip ease is a bit misleading, at least to me. Loes obviously places the hip at its traditional location of 7"-9" below the waist. Umm, that's not where the widest part of my body is, in spite of the weight loss thus far. Good thing I did a little flat pattern measuring and chose L, instead of the S indicated on the back of the envelope!!

Other changes: I took off 1 1/2" inches of length at the tummy area, and ended up taking off another 1 1/8" at the bottom during the hemming process. The completed skirt is 33" long, and I'm a short-waisted 5'4". In other words, my height is in my legs. So keep this in mind if you're planning on using this pattern--it's long. I think that was more of the style in 2003, when this pattern was first published. But don't say I didn't tell you.

I'll also post a picture of this one as soon as I can put it on the dress form. This other skirt is still on it because, yes, it still needs to be hemmed. However, I'm going to leave it as a UFO until September, when I should be at maintenance weight. In other words, I think it's going to need to have the side seams altered down. Since the colors are perfect for fall, I'll just wait and do the side seams and hems at one time.

Pre-Independence Day Saturday

My original plans were to have a lonnngggg weekend, and come back to work next Thursday. Customers intervened, so instead I'll be working Monday and Tuesday, hopefully slipping away after my last sales call on Tuesday afternoon. Oh, well. I'll make it up the week after, or whenever this project is complete. Or add to my time off at the end of July. This always seems to occur whenever I take time off and don't travel. I should figure this out and leave town, preferably by plane so I can't be persuaded to stick around.


Anyway, Saturday morning I worked on the front yard some more, pulling the weeds that popped up after the last Roundup session. Xeriscape is supposed to be easy, and it certainly saves precious water, but it's not maintenance free! My big prickly pear cactus needs to be pruned, but I'm not looking forward to going near those pads and their giant thorns. Perhaps I could wait until the bad looking ones dry out and retrieve them then?


DBF and I went to the Isotopes Saturday night. They are Albuquerque's AAA farm club for the Florida Marlins. This is more his thing than mine, but it's OK. I would rather have seen Ratatouille but we already had tickets for the game, and animation is not something he's too enthusiastic about. Good thing I don't mind going to the movies by myself! I'll fit it in sometime soon.

Speaking of fitting in, I've been working on a weight loss program for about 6 weeks now. 10 down and 10 to go. This will put me at a better BMI for me, and I figured this lifestyle adjustment would be simpler to do "pre" menopause. I didn't say anything till now because I'm not one for making big announcements and requiring a lot of fanfare. I'd rather stay kind of quiet until the results are well underway, and well, they are.


I managed to get 3 more Slinky skirts hemmed Saturday afternoon. Thanks, Mary Beth and Isabelle, for the suggestions on stabilizers. I ended up using some wash away stabilizer, and it did help some. I mainly used it at the beginning and end of the hems and when going over the seams. And as I suspected, the presser foot pressure was too heavy so the thick Slinky couldn't feed evenly, especially at seams. I also lengthened the stitches, which helped too.


PS Sorry about the loud soundtracks on both websites I linked to. I also find it annoying but these are "official" sites with (I hope) the best information on their respective topics. I just wish they'd default to "mute" or play quietly instead blasting at full volume.