tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57687996675055871832012-01-11T16:35:12.890-08:00elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.comBlogger241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-40492634636080642412010-01-13T20:49:00.000-08:002010-01-13T21:48:34.986-08:00

Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!I can't believe it's been August since I last posted. It blows my mind to think how fast the rest of 2009 went. Nothing in particular ate up the time but the idea of saying goodbye to a close friend left me in a mood to avoid all things for a bit. Alas, the beautiful Nealla Rose and her lovely, wonderful mom left for Ireland just before Christmas. It makes my

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-6965746162760086012009-08-21T07:47:00.000-07:002009-08-21T07:50:13.501-07:00

Guess who came to visit last night? The beautiful and talented Nealla Rose! Isn't she the cutest ever?I adore her faces and smiles. I'm now super-motivated to try making some pint-size clothes!Happy Friday!Rachel S.

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-90777586219129215592009-08-08T16:11:00.001-07:002009-08-08T16:50:37.015-07:00

I'm skipping the ongoing wonky saga this time so I can bring you...the guts of my sewing machine. This morning I sat down to practice some buttonholes prior to sewing up a pillow for the couch. I haven't really done too many buttonholes on this machine in the year I've had it. Well, let me tell you how NOT to machine stitch a buttonhole. It all comes down to this: play it safe. If, when

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-36174989779685883112009-08-01T00:02:00.000-07:002009-08-01T17:31:17.213-07:00

It's been about a month and it has ALL been WONKY. Oh I've been doing some sewing. Quite a bit actually. Nothing fancy. Almost nothing has gone right. Don't get me wrong I'm not paddling down the river singing a sad song yet. I keep trying. Of course the misses have not inclined me to create a blog entry but I finally decided that it's all just laughable so I might as well post.First, Wonky

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-24890168146089286232009-06-28T14:23:00.000-07:002009-06-28T15:09:59.902-07:00

Among other things I've been wanting a tank pattern for jersey knits (with elastene) that is figure-fitting but appropriate for work. I have this RTW that I purchased at Ross. One of those cost-$8-and-it's-one-of-the-coolest-things-you've-ever-worn items. I pretty much only have BWOF patterns and few Vogue patterns I purchased on sale. Since I feel very much overspent in the sewing department, I

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-14457663787976616092009-06-04T13:35:00.000-07:002009-06-18T11:01:35.587-07:00

How cute is this? When I found it DB declared "You love junk!" It was said with a grin but maybe he thinks the stuff I like is junk...OH well! How could this stuff be considered junk?! Maybe he thinks "junk" is a synonym for antique (and also rather charming)? This my new darling antique thread sorter (found on Etsy). I love it, love it. In the background is one of my other favorite items - my

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-42143407955390949232009-04-30T16:05:00.000-07:002009-04-30T16:08:26.237-07:00

Haven't had much of a head to post lately. My mood has been leaning towards grumpy andwork has been knocking the stuffing out of me, leaving me exhausted and creativeless. I've still been doing a few things here and there. Here's an update. No photos on this one, though, as I lent my camera to a traveling friend. (The camera needed to take a trip even if I can't right now!) Tried another

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-50637350097246097292009-04-20T17:11:00.000-07:002009-04-21T08:02:29.407-07:00

Love this, love this. Saturday I got to fabric dye for the first time in over 20 years (egads!). Then it was tie-dye for school spirit. This weekend it was the serious dye for things that you want to stand the test of time. This is me in my Serious Dye Gear. Yep, those are my swim goggles. DB said, "watch out for fumes" and, generally speaking, this gal listens to safety tips. (I really love

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-67135851737708156252009-04-13T09:49:00.000-07:002009-04-13T10:13:04.953-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! We had a fairly quiet and restful one - just hung out at the house. Pretty lazy actually.Except for the (almost) completion of a little Turtle Buddy for Nealla Rose. She ended up being quite a little learning project. Everything was sewn up twice, I think, due to my own thickness. Next time, it should go twice as fast and be a little stronger. This one is

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-5719715496803037872009-04-10T09:02:00.000-07:002009-04-10T10:01:34.254-07:00

Pretty excited about today. I have a lot planned and want to get to as much as possible. First off, the baby has arrived! Hoo-ray! It's a girl and her name is Nealla Rose. So pretty. Haven't been able to see her or "mam" yet. Of course, DB got to see a picture and his words were, "She looks like a baby." *big sigh* I didn't even respond. Anyway, I'm on a mission to make her a Turtle Buddy today.

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-1201034078593945152009-03-31T14:26:00.000-07:002009-03-31T14:45:29.222-07:00

I wanted to post some learnings from that skirt fiasco...Most important: Making petite adjustments to a skirt and cutting extra off the bottom of the hem are NOT the same thing, Rach! Ok so I knew this and had actually had a thought about it in the beginning. In fact, I did that (took up my fabric length above and below the knee) with my current pants muslin. Why, oh why I didn't think of it

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-90985084825094854702009-03-30T22:21:00.000-07:002009-03-30T23:28:12.260-07:00

..as in really dense. At least sometimes. Here's why I am this time.. I sewed the lining into my skirt (who knew it would take that long to sew it to the zipper tape - geez) and then did the topstitching of the waistband. I was really pleased. It's too big through the hips by a size but it went together nicely and since I don't like tight things I was ok with it. Went to hem it and saw my big

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-47008136645577134312009-03-21T13:55:00.000-07:002009-03-21T14:55:22.842-07:00

Oooh, it's gorgeous here. Well, it's mixed. We have a wonderfully, sunny gorgeous day and then a rainy, gloomy one. My moods have been riding the same wave so I've been hit and miss on my projects. I do just have the hem of the skirt (that just won't finish already!) but I am putting it off because I'm unhappy with the fit of the hips. It's just too big and I haven't the heart to rip everything

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-58822159616499145632009-03-10T07:49:00.000-07:002009-03-10T10:23:50.591-07:00

Stitched this up on Saturday for something different to do. I've been waiting on a huge shipment of linen for the bazillion projects running around in my head. How cool is this monogram? Think it should be filled in? I found it in one of my japanese stitch books. No other letters were available. lol - guess DB is out of luck. It's just as well. While he did appreciate my uniform stitches the

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-23463931616152627632009-03-04T16:09:00.000-08:002009-03-05T06:41:01.800-08:00

I will resist....buying a huge lot of zippers off of eBay to practice making zipper pouches. Best thing to do would be to wait until I use the last of the most recent bulk purchase. But those are so nice (such a fantastic deal that was!).....the urge to begin a quilt. I don't know how to do this and my garment sewing isn't yet where I want it to be. There are a gazillion items I want to (read

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-10139270917889286032009-03-02T14:43:00.001-08:002009-03-02T15:12:21.972-08:00

Happy Monday! The weekend went by very quickly over here. Friday night I drug DB to the DeYoung Museum. They have Friday events and I wanted to rip through the YSL exhibit before visiting it later this month with a girlfriend. I was so struck by the quality of the fabrics and their care. Really, the fabrics are all so stunning. It really impressed upon me what a difference quality fibers make and

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-70152963594038954582009-02-24T16:08:00.000-08:002009-02-25T08:41:01.900-08:00

Rutroh! I'm a little behind again. I've been keeping busy. Just not with the things I thought I was going to be doing. Ok, so it's been just about 2.5 weeks since the last post. That makes me feel a little better as it felt like a month! Still don't have the skirt finished. It's oh-so-close and now I'm just procrastinating. It makes no sense since I'm only a couple of hours away but that's me

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-51361188166187268272009-02-06T10:01:00.000-08:002009-02-06T10:32:20.595-08:00

Hi there. I had the flu last weekend and I'm playing catchup.Sewing Update: Skirt is still waiting for the lining. Traced & fit BWOF top 114 from October '08. I have some pretty turquoise knit that I'm anxious to use for this. It might have to wait, though, as I signed up for a fitting class next Tuesday at The Sewing Workshop! I'm excited about this one. You are supposed to bring in a muslin and

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-63611618387756634702009-01-30T11:23:00.000-08:002009-01-30T11:30:31.678-08:00

Just a quick update - The week flew by. Wednesday we went to see Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (fantastic show) and Thursday I recovered! Still need to sew my skirt lining in (hopefully this weekend). I did begin a new (far less roomy) hat with the tweed wool. Wasn't feeling too well last night so I thought I'd begin this even though it is way too warm out right now. (San Francisco is really

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-62856296856145712612009-01-23T14:04:00.000-08:002009-01-26T14:42:48.544-08:00

2009 Goals: I've been thinking about my sewing goals since the beginning of the new year. There are too many things I still need to learn. I guess it will be helpful to post them, right? Girl has to keep some focus, right? Ok, here they are:+ getting the fit right - This is a big one for me. I'm only 5'1 and I'm not a stick so one of the most appealing things to me about sewing is the opportunity

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-18147001872097975792009-01-23T12:33:00.001-08:002009-01-24T11:03:34.022-08:00

My first post of the new year! And it's in January even! Whoa!So it's been longer than I thought. I have still been active on my projects but nothing is complete yet. Here's a photo of the Mobius Shrug so far. I'm really happy with how it's turned out so far. It just needs a couple more inches of length and a border. I ran out of yarn but luckily was able to get another three skeins at

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-35962915069357255662008-12-15T23:10:00.000-08:002008-12-16T09:18:49.337-08:00

Hoo boy. Second attempt at posting. I'll get the hang of this yet!Meant to come home and begin stitching on BWOF 10/08 skirt 106 but got mucho distracted by some yarn beauties. They arrived today from Baananewoolworks' shop on Etsy. I'm thrilled with them and began work right away on a mobius scarf / shawl pattern I've been wanting to try. I aimed for the small size but think I'll size it down a

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-39677356287396321532008-12-13T13:23:00.000-08:002008-12-15T23:55:15.767-08:00

Holiday social activities have begun and I'm finding it challenging to stay productive. Work on my new skirt may have to wait until Saturday.DB and I will be leaving in a couple of weeks for Milwaukee. This necessitates careful thought go into an Activity Bag. I'm an Activity Bag Gal. Necessary contents include latest book (currently Green Mars), 2 or 3 sewing magazines (Threads and Burda WOF), a

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5768799667505587183.post-88859398463067520282008-12-09T21:02:00.000-08:002008-12-09T21:25:00.648-08:00

Ok so, evidently, a year ago I thought I had it in me to maintain a blog. Then I realized I'm not so sure I have much that's so interesting to post. On a regular basis, that is. Anyway, I began this blog (had a plan, actually) but nothing beyond 2 posts ever materialized due to a major change in my life. During the past year, though, I took up sewing in earnest and have been thinking about

elberethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554976226353461033noreply@blogger.com0