That dress I keep talking about

Well, I finally finished it! I actually finished it a month ago or so, then I made the other necessary alterations three weeks ago, and I even wore it to work two weeks back. Prepare yourself for multiple views of said dress!

This was Simplicity 2588, more or less the exact same version as the one I made for Michelle in blue, but this one has tabs on the front. See the button? It keeps the tab in place.

You have to do the sit test before you...um...buy the dress. Well, I can sit in the dress, so we're all in luck.

This photo serves two purposes: it shows you the wacky pucker in the back that resulted from my attempt to eliminate the weirdly large gap (I'm not wearing a bulky bra, that is all the result of sewing without foresight); and Chris, see? You can totally see that piece of lint on the dress. It's right there above the unsightly zipper bulge.

Even with the zipper mishaps (zip-haps?), I'm pretty happy with this dress. I'm still excitable about how the plaid pattern has purple accents, and I like the tabs bunches, and it is the most professional-looking thing I've made. I feel it is kind of understated, doesn't scream "I made this!! See? Look at the crazy things I did!" and that (on occasion) is a good thing. Thanks to Chris for photographing me. :)

Now, if you don't mind, old woman has to go to bed. The tweed ride is tomorrow and I just made some really shoddy repairs to a dress-type-thing I found at the thrift store. We're all dying to know if the seams will hold through the whole ride! Perhaps I will post on it?

A-Team Dessert, 3-23-10

Chrisface and I were in charge this past week, and the perhaps-fortuitous discovery of rice paper wrappers at the Co-op yielded our big idea.

Ong Bak Rolls

Coconut Jasmine Rice

Raisins

Banana (sliced)

Toasted Coconut

Toasted Almonds

Caramel Sauce

Sadly, we completely forgot one ingredient I had been super looking forward to including, candied ginger. I really think it would have made the dish pop. As it was, things were a touch doughy as we under-fried the rolls. Also, this was my first foray into making caramel, yikes! Still, reviews were generally positive and I think the final ruling was "Success!", though not to the same degree as our last dessert. And now we have candied ginger, what are we supposed to do with that?

A-Team Dessert, 3-16-10

Michellibal and Scottdoch joint-captained this one.

Lamarshmallow Haystacks, in honor of their favorite Davis politico.

Marshmallow cream

Lemon curd

Coconut

Fiber One

It was determined that the lamarshmallow Haystacks are best after they have been frozen for a time. Just a tip, because I know you're running off to check your cupboards, "Do I have enough time to make this before company stops by?"

Yes, you do. Now get going!

Curtains, middle room!

Another room, another project.  I chose the middle room for the next batch of curtains, since we spend a lot of time in there. The computer and the dining table are in there, it is Timber's day room, and it is the first room you enter once you ascend the stairs. I think it is our most complete room, which is probably why I've taken to sewing in there instead of the front room. That means it is most deserving of some curtains, right?

Here is the before shot.

Once I installed the hardware and pressed them (heavier starch this time), the curtains were up in no time. Side note, I really wish we had a power drill. I have way more use for one than you would think if you just ran into me on the street.

I guess they have a bit of a country Americana feel to them, being as they are red, white, and blue. Also, this diamond patterned fabric I used for the accent fabric was far too homey for me to use on any clothing project. I actually have no clue as to why I purchased it (three yards, no less), it does not suit my style. But it does suit the curtains...and I had it long before I started this project so it totally counts as a de-stash.

I'm also quite proud of my little curtain draws, aren't they nice? I think so. Besides, if they aren't tied the Sacramento wind tries to tear them out the window. Delta breeze, you really exist!

That all said and shown, I'm staying the hex away from curtains now. It was pretty comforting to have something I could pick up any time of the day or night and start sewing, just as it was comforting to be able to stop at any time without worrying about losing my place in a modification or pattern. But it was also boring. And I want to wear something new, or at least new-to-me. I also have an extensive sewing to-do list as far as fixing clothes goes, and other things that have been on my weekly lists since December or earlier. Like fixing Michelle's tranny top, I need to get that done.

A-Team Dessert, 3-9-10

Chris and I made our first A-Team Dessert this past Tuesday. For those of you not in the know, A-Team dessert involves you building something as the A-Team would--out of found objects within your reach.
As Michellibal would say, "I love it when a dessert comes together!"
Meet Jengacake!

French Toast Fingers

Lemon Curd

Plain Greek Yogurt

Brandy-based Hard Sauce

Candied Walnuts

Scottdoch was pretty shocked that Chrisface and I could pull together something of this caliber, especially since I'm only a staff sergeant, but that is just the way we work. 

The proud yet scared Chrisface with our creation (for scale). It was pretty darn good!

If you're a dog around here...

...you gotta take a bath!

This was a big week for both Timber

and Olive.

Cheers to you, good hounds.

Long-Awaited Relief, Curtains!

I'm at home after a day of rain, listening to the new Gigi lp (thanks Chris!), glass of wine in hand. This is how a night should be.
Latest sewing update. I finished my version of 2588 from the earlier post on Michelle's version, but I still haven't taken any pictures. What I have taken pictures of are the curtains I made in the front room! Below you will see the room before.

You might notice how freakin' dark it is in the middle of the day, therefore I was not concerned about blocking sunlight--there is no light to block.
 As you may know, I have wanted to make curtains for a long time but balked at spending ~$7/yard for a kicky fabric when you need approximately eight yards/room. I also have a tendency to buy fabric I lovelovelove, spend a solid four-six months working up the courage to use it, and afterward I have some really oddly shaped fabric remnants that I cling to because I still lovelovelove the fabric. Periodically I take those remnants out and try to figure out if I could destash my collection and sew them together in a way that wouldn't look like "Quilts Gone Wild" footage, but I never came up with something I thought I could work with until now.
Granted, this isn't the best idea for a scrap buster, but it is pretty spot on for those awkward long strips I have in abundance.

This room was a bit of a trial run--the other room's will have mix and match curtains that are the same color but with different pattern accents. They will all have wonky seams.

Also, I don't know why the curtains are rumply. I even starched those beasts. What is their problem?

YES! Now we can run around naked!