Finished: The Ruby Slip

Check another challenge off the list! Yesterday, I finished the ruby slip that I started with Sherry's sew along way back in December! But the holidays happened, and then I had to send my serger off to the repair guy, and then, and then... you all know how that works.


The slip is actually a quick sew, and once I sat down to it, I think it was done in about an hour.


Not a lot to say about it. It's been awhile, but I think I cut the size 12 and didn't make any alterations. Next time (and there will be a next time) I'll make the back a little bit narrower and put the straps a little closer together in the back and that will help with the fall off the shoulder issue. Oh, almost forgot... Sherry had 2 lengths in her pattern, and I created a 3rd that was somewhere between her 2. It hits right above my knee. Sshhhh, don't tell Sherry, but I just eyeballed it when I was tracing the pattern. Oh, sure, I did go back and do a quick measure to make sure it was right.


The little pink flower thing you'll see. Yeah, I think I'll take that off and just put on a little ribbon bow.

Finished Object Friday -- Week 3, and Another Experiment!

I've made an executive decision on behalf of you, my readers, and have decided that my non-sewing UFOs are too mind-numbingly boring to share. Seriously. Do you really care if I manage to clean off my desk heaped with piles of paper? Or that I do my ironing from last fall? I don't really even care, and so, um, I didn't even do those chores that seem to just be hanging around to taunt and harass me.

I did manage to finish a sewing UFO though, and made 2 clutches for my shop. Now, these 2 actually are almost identical, and I've already sold 2 like them, so was in the process of making these last spring when I got sidetracked. Who knows with what. Perhaps I was afraid of an accident with teeny, tiny seed beads. And it was well that I should have been afraid, because Wednesday afternoon there were dozens of red beads stuck in my white-ish berber carpet. Nevertheless, knowing Friday was looming, I soldiered on, and finished.

 It's one of my favorites, so if it never gets sold, I won't be too heartbroken.

 Now for more experimental sewing. The ingredients for this experiment were the last remaining bit of baby blue interlock knit, some black foldover elastic, and my coverstitch machine, still threaded with baby blue thread.

What did I learn from this experiment? Mostly, that I still have a lot to learn about sewing with knits, elastic and the coverstitch. The hem looks awesome though! And it only took me about 45 minutes from start to finish! And yes, I might sleep in it in the heat of the summer. I slept in the tee last night, and that interlock is so super soft that I was cozy all night long. Too much info?

Finally, even though I had a friend drop in and visit most of the afternoon, I still managed to cut out the muslin bodice for my formal dress. Here's the pattern I'll be attempting:

I've already tried this once, but I have no idea if I even saved this attempt, so I'm starting fresh. Hopefully, I'll have the new attempt posted this weekend.

Refashioning

Back before I started reading sewing blogs, when I went shopping for RTW, the thought never crossed my mind to change something I didn't like on a particular garment. Oh, sure, I've hemmed more than a few pairs of pants, but that's because I'm short, not because I was changing the look. Now I look at things with a completely different eye.

Remember last spring, when Target had that Liberty of London tie in, and had some cute inexpensive things? I bought a couple of tops, and one of them was just not right for me, but it had a really easy fix. I was going to use this as a UFO, as this top has been crumpled in a pile in my studio since last March, but this refashioning idea is pretty fascinating to me. I've put aside a few things that normally would just go to the charity pile, but I think they can be reworked.

Back to the Liberty top.... loved the 3/4 sleeves, and the peasanty vibe. Hated the ruffle around the hips. It took, oh, about 10 minutes yesterday, but the ruffle is gone. What do you think?

Yeah, I took the before picture back in March.

Finished Object Friday -- Week Two

Um, yes, I realize it's Saturday, but I was successful again this past week, and, well, it would be pretty lame to just have a "week one" and then not continue.

So, with that little excuse introduction, what did I finish? My non-sewing UFO was not the one I had planned, but with the absolutely gorgeous weather we had last weekend, some much needed raking was accomplished. Those of you with a front and back yard may experience this phenomenon. The front yard gets precedence and always looks, if not great, at least acceptable to the watchful eyes of the neighbors, most of whom have yard services. The back yard is another story.

Last Saturday, when Thomas, Laura and puppies were visiting, Thomas raked up a huge pile of these very leaves for the dogs to play in. Well, dogs, unlike children, don't really get the excitement of jumping in a huge pile, but, the job was already started. Sunday, Thomas and I finished it, resulting in this:

OK, not really an exciting picture, but there were 10 bags of leaves. So, moving quickly to my sewing UFO...

I decided to finish a project for Jenna Belle Designs that I had gotten this far back in December (maybe it was November):

Yes, these are simple zipper pouches. Seven of them. No more than an hour, or an hour and a half's worth of work. And now they are finished and listed in the shop!

I will say that I had wanted to do a few more projects, but had a back injury sorting laundry. Kind of pathetic really. Who knew you should warm up before doing something as simple as decided which pile to toss the socks in?! After a visit to the chiropractor on Friday, it seems I've pinched a nerve, and it turns out I have a pretty significant curvature in my lower spine. The spine will always stay curved, but she'll be able to adjust the twist out of it, and already my knee (that I've had problems with) feels better. Anyway, I hope to get back up to speed this week! Oh, yeah, the raking didn't help.

Finished Object Friday -- Week One

Well, it was only on Wednesday that I declared that I would finish one sewing and one non-sewing UFO that is cluttering up my life, so you'll have to cut me some slack. I picked 2 really easy projects. Not to say that these hadn't been hanging around awhile. Oh no. For instance, my non-sewing UFO.

Looks innocent enough doesn't it. A smallish grocery bag with some stuff in it. I think hope you've all done this. Company is coming and your kitchen desk is a mess. You stuff everything in a bag, and stash it in the laundry room. I distinctly remember that this bag was filled before the dinner party we had in December 2009. Let's hope there were no unpaid bills in there!

Luckily, no. As you can see, I ended up with 3 piles, the biggest of which was the trash. Next came stuff to file (some was already in folders), and the quilting calendar that has some good pattern ideas. I'll cull through those at a later date. Yeah, you heard me. I'm moving it to another place. For now. The 3rd is that great UGA banner that we hung up for Laura's graduation party, held in August 2009. I'll see if she wants it for those football watching parties she and Thomas like to host and if she doesn't want it I'll tuck it in the Goodwill box I've started. Someone here in Atlanta can make good use of that great decoration.

For the first sewing UFO I tackled, this falls more into the mending category, but it has been haunting me for awhile.

Poor Snoopy! Somehow his ear became separated from his head, and no live dogs were involved in this mishap. The good news is:

Week One of my UFO challenge can be declared a success! Next week, I'll try to have a little more to show for my efforts, lol!

Ruh Roh

So our fabulous rescue dogs are not so well behaved after all. One of them, in fact, is a chewer. One of the first victims is pictured above. I was going to just chuck it, and then thought that perhaps I'll just remake it. How hard can it be? So, let's call it a WIP right now.

Now that the raincoat is finished, I'm feeling a bit unorganized, but finally just impulsively bought a new sewing toy. Something I've been wanting for awhile. I'll reveal it later, but it has prompted a massive reorganization and clean out of what I call the "basement" part of our basement. It's the part with the cement floor and the storage shelves, but also the part that houses my cutting table and fabric stash among other things. It's been 3 years since the last big purge, and you know how these kinds of areas get. Well, let's just say that I'm not quite a candidate for Hoarders Anonymous, but it's pretty cluttered.

So furniture is being pushed around, garbage bags are being filled, the shredder could possibly be working overtime, and the Goodwill pile is growing. And while this is happening I've decided to tackle my UFO's, both sewing and non-sewing. My challenge to my self, that I'm putting out here in cyberspace, is to finish one a week in each category. Friday is going to become Finished Friday. Embarrassingly, more than a handful of my sewing UFOs are items destined for my Etsy shops. Non-sewing UFOs will mostly include some organizational projects, but right now I'm calling the basement studio a WIP. Good thing I'm allowed to make up my own rules!!

Look! Someone ate the painter's tape! It wasn't me!

Yep, I realize that now Friday is the day after tomorrow, so I'll cut myself some slack and pick a couple of super easy projects. Sadly, there are a few of those that just need a teeny bit of finishing and they'll be ready. Sheesh *slapping my forehead*! This, of course, does not mean that I won't be starting new projects, too. In fact, a new knitting project will be cast on tonight. Dog related, though not for one of my dogs. That's all I'm saying about that right now.

GUILTY!

 

 Teddy, surrounded by his stash of approved toys. He's quite the hoarder.