Holiday ramble

Happy holidays!

Busy much? I love this time of year, so much to do, family, services, and general good will. Even grocery shopping is more enjoyable 🙂

After my marathon costume making for the Christmas pageant, I’m slowly getting back in the mood to so some sewing and posting (yes, Christmas gifts included stash-making dollars from my dear children). Meanwhile, random pics from the last couple weeks…

From the Christmas Pageant – the children were adorable and so excited. Thirty children took part, including a choir of little angels. Beautiful.

A wonky gift to Preston (everyone loved it)! I ordered the ants about a week before Christmas, and they arrived on Christmas Eve, just in time. I searched online everywhere for this ant farm, and I found it at Barnes and Noble.

My tree service guys just arrived, after a full week of rain delays. They are removing all the ancient shrubs from the front of the house, and they’re giving the tangerine tree the haircut of its lifetime. Trimming, wind-proofing, and balancing. The tree is beautiful and very old. I don’t want to lose it to a hurricane.

Yesterday was an online marathon, as I took full advantage of holiday discounts on 4 Indie patterns that have been calling my name.

Sew Over It Pussy Bow Blouse

Style Arc Cameron dress

Style Arch Armidale dress

Helen’s Closet York Pinafore

I’ve even ordered fabric, and the first delivery is tomorrow. Now I’m excited!!

Hoping everyone is finding joy and peace in this beautiful time of year,

Coco

The not-so-timid mover…

Yes, I took my house off the market in May, but after a few weeks of reflection, I listed it again 6 weeks ago. And it’s sold!

I’ll be moving to Orlando the end of August, and my predominant feelings are great calm and grateful peace. I really do want to be nearer to my family.

I thought I’d share a few pics of my favorite places in this lovely house in which I’ve lived for twenty years.

Of course, all this quiet space will be upside down in the next few weeks. I have wonderful movers, All My Sons, who also move the Miami Dolphins, Univ. Florida Gators, and the Univ. Miami Hurricanes. My kids are Gators (law school and undergrad), and given my investment, so am I. And a little aside, I have my paralegal certification from the University of Miami School of Continuing Education and International Studies. In the financial downturn of 2008, I just thought I needed a backup 🙂

Feeling blessed – Coco

Style Arc Patricia Rose dress variation

This project has been in thinking mode for a long time! When it first came out, I bought the Patricia Rose dress because I had pinned a really pretty dress with a front and back bodice fold. The Rose seemed a possible starting point for something similar.

My stash is pretty thin right now, but I did have a cute linen/cotton/rayon shirting I picked up on a whim from Fabric Mart. It’s called Traveling Bananas, by the mysterious Better Hawaiian Dress Manufacturer. Does anyone know who this is? Tori Richards maybe? Anyway, it’s a beautiful fabric, a pleasure to sew and wear.

My drafting process.

Of course I wanted my back bodice fold to match up with the front fold. So I used the front to draft the back.

Next, the skirt. I’m not fond of inverted pleats in skirts – they just don’t wear well. So I took some width out of the front skirt, leaving just enough width for soft gathers. Since the bottom widths of my front and back bodice are the same, I used the same draft for the back skirt!

A few more sewing notes:

• I sewed the size 8, based on my bust measurement plus some ease.
• The pattern has 1/2″ seam allowances everywhere except the neckline and facings, which are 1/4″. That is totally contra-intuitive given the risk of stretch and ravel on the neckline bias curves. I drew my tissue with 1/2″ SA everywhere, so much safer.

• I added 1″ to the length of the bodice, just above the area of the fold.
• And added an additional 1 1/2″ to the length of the skirt.
• My short sleeves are based on the original sleeve.
• I used 1 3/4″ hem allowances on the sleeves and skirt, just to echo the bodice fold.
• BTW, my fabric was 44″ wide by 3 yards. I had enough to cut pockets and long sleeves.

Pics!

I happened to take a snap of the front before I folded the bodice. It’s actually rather nice.

Closeups of those pretty folds:

This project was so much fun that I was sorry to see it finished! Not really the end…I have a piece of striped fabric that has me back in the thinking mode.

Parting shot: David and Preston are in Beaver Creek, Colorado, for ski week. Preston is almost 10 and has been skiing for 3 years. Amazing, my little athlete, he actually does the expert slopes (moguls this year?) with his dad!

Bye for now – Coco

New year, new gadgets!

I’ve resisted technology upgrades for ages. Perhaps because my degree is in computer sciences, and I spent 30 years managing technology projects. At home, I’ve looked for simplicity, always have. Of course I have many (4 or 5) current computers, but I’ve held out on two fronts. I’ve been using an old-fashioned flip-phone for almost 10 years!

But the charging port finally gave in and broke.

So I’m getting a new iPhone 8Plus.

And while I do have Directv, there are so many other things to enjoy with a streaming device. So I’ve ordered a Roku with composite cables (yes, my TV is a bit old, upgrade maybe next year).

 

None of this would have been possible without the encouragement and considerable support of my wonderful son, daughter, and son-in-law. They have been after me for ages to do this. Thank you, guys!

I might be absent for a few days while I submerge myself in all this new stuff!!

Bye for now – Coco

 

Event planning…

Art: Helen Dryden

Summer in south Florida. Warm, humid – incredibly strong rays of the sun…

In June or July, I’m travelling to Orlando to visit David and my DGS, Preston. They’re in a new home! Such fun to see the new digs. Plus – P.’s in various camp activities all summer, and the highlight of my visit will be watching him play soccer.

He’s such a soccer player! and was named MVP in his league last fall. Then he and his teammates won the league championship this spring. My grandmom heart beats loudly.

MVP

Champions!

My challenge is to wear something that doesn’t force me off the viewing stands. I have soooo much scar tissue, all over, that my skin doesn’t respire well. Read as potential heat distress.

So, I’m thinking that my recent Scout Tee – cropped, done in cotton seersucker lawn – with a pair of light calico shorts will work. The tee:

And a cute fabric from JoAnns for shorts – it’s a Parisian fashion theme, dress forms and so on. I really like it!

My shorts will not be short! I’ll use Vogue 9217, the Kathryn Brenne pattern, along the lines of my recent muslin.

It’s really nice to plan for a trip, a visit, an event, with family. I’ll be back with more once the ‘outfit’, including a huge sun hat from my inventory, is complete! Maybe with a parasol, definitely with sunscreen 🙂

Anyone else sewing for summer doings?

Ciao – Coco

 

B6296 – Summer (campin’) shirt

Sometimes I think I’m like a puppy – I just keep shaking that new toy. I mentioned in an earlier post that the top from the Butterick 6296 pajama pattern would make a great camp shirt. I had a large remnant of Michael Miller cotton couture in the stash, so I decided to give it a go.  Bingo! It’s really cute.

A couple pics with the shirt worn outside – I had to take these first since I knew it would get all wrinkly once I tucked it in my britches.

I used the cutting line from View A, which is shorter, and then shortened it another 2″, using the scientific eyeballing method and the back length of my TSW Trio Shirt.

I did want to ditch the PJ look as much as possible, so I didn’t use edging detail on the sleeve band. Instead, I added a curved corner to each end of the band, and then attached it ‘upside down’.

I really like this small, easy change. It also occurred to me that it also would be simple to widen the band and create a cuff.

No changes to the collar – it’s so pretty, and I like it much more than a pointed collar. It’s a generous width and really behaves. No fear of flying with this convertible collar style – without a collar band, collars are very easy to sew.

A couple more pics. It’s way too hot now for jeans, but these are my favorites. I made them several years ago in mid-weight denim,  using the McCalls 6291 cargo pants pattern (great for shorts as well).

Well, I think I’m done with this pattern for a while – but it was fun trying various looks with it. And I love my PJ sets.  I’m giving it 5 stars!

Parting shots – it’s Mother’s Day! From my dear not-so-little ones…

David sent these incredible flowers from my favorite florist, ‘Art of Flowers’. For years he sent me orchids, which kept expiring under my care. A hit to my gardener ego, but in reality, orchids from florists are tender. They’ve been handled way too much, chilled, warmed, and mushed. I love getting flowers – my living room smells heavenly.

From my creative Ashley, a precious memory of dancing together in the kitchen…

Hope this special day brings nice memories to all – Bye for now, Coco

 

Sewn with love – crafts apron

Terrible photo, but just think of the classic Williams Sonoma apron. I drafted a pattern from mine ages ago, and it’s my favorite for gifted aprons (I can’t seem to wear out my own original, probably because microwave cooking doesn’t require one).

But Ashley uses one, and so does her DH. I made them matching Halloween aprons a couple years ago, and recently she mentioned that she’s  been using hers when she’s crafting with her ‘peeps’. Which is every few weeks – they are hard core scrapbooking/mixed media artists and great friends.

Anyway, Ashley’s birthday is coming up, and I thought I’d get that kitchen apron back in the kitchen, and make her one just for her crafting. I wanted it to be ‘paint proof’ – which simply means she can wipe her hands on it, and it can take it! No, the paints probably won’t wash out, but they also won’t shout out.

The WSonoma aprons are done in something like canvas or duck, but I make mine in quilting cottons, double-sided. For this one, I used yardage remaining from her Halloween version. And I used a cute birdie print for the pockets –  it’s meant to echo the ‘peeps’ moniker she and her friends use. I added a D-ring on the edge of the pocket for attaching flair, ID’s, etc.

 

Ashley’s left-handed, so I switched sides for the neck tie and hardware:

I also made sure the pockets can stand up to use – hands, phone, tools, and so on. The stitching plan to secure them:

She’s at a convention this weekend, helping with a friend’s booth, and playing – it’s in a beautiful Marriott resort in Kissimmee, close to that place where Minnie and Mickey hang out. And the event is for women’s spa and beauty products. Great SWAG!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl – rock on!