2011 in Review!

It's leap day and I don't have someone to propose to, so I have to do other impressive things like beat my mile goal time (holla! yes!) and finally post my year-in-review. 

January !

2^nd: Bethie’s tweed dress

12^th: Scott’s Spice Pack

20^th: Bryce’s fireplace

January was a “clean-up” kind of month. I had a lot of Christmas gifts to finish and deliver. I was really stoked about Bethie's dress, but I made the huge mistake of choosing brown tweed for the fabric. I am fairly certain she has never worn it because it is brown (and a little big, but who's checking?).

February !

6^th: Chris’s bed pocket

22^nd: Jenn’s skirt   

We went to Mexico in February, and that seems more impressive than finishing up a skirt (hemming it, really) and making a bed pocket.

March !

23^rd Turquoise playsuit

26^th: bedroom curtains & ties

27^th: curtain ties (for the front room's curtains)

27^th: Cate’s pillowcases

Ah, the first playsuit! Made a size too big in some cheap yardsale fabric. Oh, how I love it! And my best curtains to date. So pretty and remarkably even in the hem!

April !

6^th: Michelle’s camel skirt

17^th: 5 pairs of bloomers for the KDVS Fundraiser!

May !

-fail-

But even if I didn't sew, it seems that I did wash a dog that month.

June !

12^th: Michelle’s light blue net dress

16^th: black w/ red & tan flower dress

30^th: coral window pane romper

Wedding dresses and other lifetime goals! I'm still mega proud of the dresses I made for Michelle and myself for Clara's wedding, and I can't wait until the return of romper weather. It should be a good time for all. 

July !

12^th: Michelle’s yellow playsuit

15^th: two headbands (one of which matches Michelle’s playsuit)

24^th: Orange/tan paisley Sorbetto top

 A Colette Patterns-heavy month, if I do say so myself.

August !

23^rd: teal skirt w/ black/white/red buttons

31^st: bed pocket for me

My teal skirt...why must you rumple so? I also need to do some serious fixin' on the lining, which I've shredded with my power stepping.

September !

2^nd: Jenn’s Art Tote bag

3^rd: Merril’s bloomers

22^nd: Thrift storedress modification

30^th: Blue BurdaStyle sleeveless top (never saw the light of day)

You guys haven't seen this shirt, but it is all around bad news. Susan is so embarrassed to be seen in it! I'm starting to think the buttons are cursed (they were used on my doomed Sencha blouse, too) since everything they touch turns to awful. Hrm.

October !

11^th: Atmosphere bag (decoration)

21^st: Jenn’s houndtooth wiggle dress

 Jenn didn't give me a picture of her in her houndstooth wiggle dress. I'll remember that. My atmosphere bag is pretty fun, though!

November !

12^th: Stella’s skirt

12^th: Cate’s sleep top (adorableness, why don't I have a picture?)

December !

1^st: Michelle’s laptop bag

1^st: Cate’s bloomers

11^th: Bryce’s eye mask and bloomers

16^th: Cate’s sleep top (I had to go back and finish the hems, then it was really done)

21^st: CJ’s bed pocket (which he keeps at the ranch)

24^th: 12 lavender sachets

24^th: Bethie’s white eyelet top

24^th: Claire’s summer fun dress

24^th: My red/tan lace dress

Busy month, don't you think?

That is my 2011 in review. December was easily my most productive month and May the least productive (I was distractedly working on Michelle's blue dress for Clara's wedding the WHOLE MONTH), and there were lots of bedpockets and bloomers. Colette Patterns dominated the show with thirteen items (though eight of those were bloomers), and my own love of cutting out shapes for home decor purposes made a good showing too. (hello bed pockets and curtains!) At the end of the year there were over 40 notable things I had sewn. Wow! Good job me!

Now that we're entering March, any ideas on sewing goals for 2012? It's not too late!

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.

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!