She Talks to Angels

Yes, I admit it, I have a new monkey on my back. I've been spending my time at jewelry making and not at sewing. But it's okay. My closet is full!

Birgitte of Bubblegum 4 Breakfast apparently, is fighting this addiction too. She's right, I did warn her. Taking up a new hobby can be expensive, but that's not the worst of it. It's that darn learning curve. My focus has been primarily wire wrapping with a little bit of polymer clay work thrown in. The latter requires a level of artistic ability that I don't possess. That doesn't mean I won't keep trying, though.

Here are a few of my (obvious) beginning efforts:

This is one of the first pieces I made and is constructed with glass beads. It's heavy but I do like it.
Sterling silver wire wrapped Lapis Lazuli and silver beads. My first attempt at wire wrapping.

Sterling silver wire and Bali-silver bead bracelet. The coils around the beads were tough to position.
Sterling silver wire wrapped cabochon pendant. It's a little wonky, but this was fairly difficult for me.
An embarrassing attempt at an ethnic pendant. I have cording and clasp to complete this, but it looks too much like an insect pupa. You have no idea how long I worked on this polymer clay piece. Although it's not wearable, I learned a lot about composing polyclay canes.

Polymer Clay fish pendant. There are glass bead embellishments and one large Lapis Lazuli bead for the eye. Although it's not visible in this picture there is a silver bail at the top for a chain or cording. I love this little guy but I'm not sure I'll ever wear it as a necklace. It's really not my style, but he is cute!

I cannot take credit for any of the designs here. All were made with instruction from various books including: Polymer Pizzazz, Aug 2007 Wirework magazine, Jewel School CD.

For your listening pleasure.

The Best Laid Plans

I intended to make that suit I really did. It's just that I really don't have any place to wear something like that. For months I was pissed that I'd impulsively purchased that lace. It was expensive. I could have bought yards of knits that I would be able to wear every day. In the end, I'm really happy it was there in my stash. I have a wedding to attend in a few weeks and I need a dress to wear. I've decided to use some of the lace, but of course in it's ivory state it would be inappropriate for a wedding. So I dyed it! It's loverly!!!

Even BETTER in person. Today is officially a sewing day.

By Brian Crane
Courtesy of Pickles free online comics

You Are The Star

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Yes, it's a cop out post, but it's fun. I've been very busy this summer as Mom's Taxi Service. I haven't been in front of my sewing machine in almost 3 weeks. I guess I've lost my sewing mojo, at least for sewing summer clothing. Next weekend we are starting a flooring project in our media room so I probably won't sew for another 3 weeks. Perhaps by then I'll be motivated to start on my fall wardrobe. Till then...........What tarot card are you?

Vacation here I come!

Well, not really, but I'm READY for a vacation. I know the Weekender Travel Bag by Amy Butler has been reviewed to death, but I just had to add mine to the list.

I ADORE this bag. It was tedious and time consuming work, but well worth all the cursing.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the bag is large but I couldn't get everything I'd need for a weekend into it. It would be perfect to carry essential items on a plane (jammies,meds,change of undies) when you have checked baggage. In a pinch I could get two days clothes in there if the only shoes I brought were the ones on my feet. But we know that's NOT going to happen.



I did make one tiny little mistake. BWAAAAAAA...I knew something was wrong when I was sewing over those darn handles. Oh well, that's what they make rippers for. I highly recommend a surgical steel ripper. Cuts thread like buttah. In a pinch it can be use for self defense. ;)

I added a cool little label. Hubby and I have been known as Mr and Ms Jekyl for years, so I had these lables printed up. Added a contrast border and I think it looks great! And yes, I know the famous Doctor's name had two l's. Here's a shot of the label and a detail of the piping I made from the lining fabric.



Here is the side view to give you some idea of the depth of the bag.

This is the inside pocket I added for shoes. It was hard to get a shot of this once the bag was finished. I simply added width to the top of the pocket panel, added a piece of elastic the width of the finished pocket panel top, sewed a vertical seam for two shoes then sewed the lining as instructed.

My intention was to match the fabric design as much as possible. I managed to do this pretty well on the bag face, but the top was a little more difficult because of the zipper. I didn't read ahead or I would have realized that the seam allowance for the zipper is 1 inch instead of the half inch I calculated for. Thus, my circles at the zipper are squeezed together and slightly off center. Oh well......

I made a cute little cosmetics bag to match the travel bag using the scrap fabrics. I added two pockets on each side with velcro closure for longer items like lipstick, pencils or mascara. The interior can hold other cosmetics.
A few complaints:

1. I would have liked for the pattern to have included the few pieces that you are to measure and cut. When I buy a pattern I want all the pieces included. Even though it was easy enough, I shouldn't have to do any drafting.

2. I had to remove some length from the bottom Peltex pieces as other reviewers mentioned.
3. If you are going to write revised directions, just revise the entire directions instead of including "inserts" that need to be added. For Example:

"In step 6, replace 6A with the revised instructions below." and "Please delete step 4D on the instruction page. Then change the step letters on E, F and G to D, E and F respectively."

It was confusing for my tired little brain. I would think from a technical writing perspective, editing the original instructions would have been far easier than the "delete this, add that, change this word" approach that was used. {shurgs}

Just go through and delete/mark the changes before you begin. Well worth using the updated instructions as it make bag assembly much easier. I didn't break even one needle on this project. ;)
The completed set! I just love this project. No fitting and nothing makes my butt look big.

Zero 8

If you happen to be a fan of barbershop quartet, this performance will delight you. I sang in a women's group (Sweet Adelines) several years ago, so I have a fondness for this style of singing. The reason this group was brought to my attention is that the conductor is the brother of a friend of my sister-in-law. (HA)

The choreography is a little over the top as is common in barbershop quartet so you may want to close your eyes while you listen.

Muslins are your friend

Or....What in the hell was I thinking?

From Burda World of Fashion 04-2009: Plain and simple sheath dress especially for petite ladies, this sleek sheath in Jackie Onassis style is perfect. Why? Because the clean lines flatteringly show off a slim figure.



A what? A slim figure you said? Bwaaaaaaaa I forgot I don't have one anymore! And I shamefully admit that I really do look this bad most days.


This is just wrong on me. In more ways than one. It makes me look 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. I'm so glad I made a muslin, although I lost an entire afternoon tracing it, cutting and sewing up this crap. I really think this design is more suited for someone willowy and tall. Back to the pattern catalog, but first:

Get haircut. Check
See cosmetic surgeon. Check
Lose weight. Check
Exercise. Check