During my recent visit to Britex I purchased a beautiful stretch silk floral fabric, the most expensive piece of fabric I've ever purchased (but so worth it!). I only got a small amount, with some kind of sleeveless shell in mind. After making the Minna blouse by Salme patterns, their Peplum blouse caught my eye.… Continue reading Peplum blouse, pattern review
I could not resist this pin cushion pattern from Heather Bailey. Truly, the price was a bit high at my local boutique fabric store, but I bought it anyway--it's that cute. In an ongoing effort to reduce my fabric stash, I used what I had on had: some leftover Lotta Jansdotter "Bella" dotted yellow for the… Continue reading Henry Turtle pin cushion
Samantha from At Home with Mrs. H has created a lovely new pleated purse/clutch pattern and I had the opportunity to test it out! For my version, I used an upholstery-weight linen/viscous blend. I adore this orangey-pink nubby fabric that I snapped up from FabMo--it's perfect for a vintage-y clutch. The bag is lined with… Continue reading Pleated clutch
As part of the Sewing Buddy Project, for Challenge #2 we were instructed to "create two projects that coordinate or reference one another through the use of color". Buddy Jennie and I tackled this color challenge with gusto! Jennie focused on improving her sewing room with beautiful and functional quilted pieces (including a sewing machine cover,… Continue reading Sewing Buddy Challenge #2
So I started back to teaching this week, very part-time, but working nonetheless. Sewing (as well as many other things) gets shifted into low(er) gear this time of year. Which is hard, since I have so many projects on my to-do list! Now, we're into the must-dos on the list...First up: a door stop.… Continue reading Miscellaneous sewing
School has started for the kids, the weekly dinner menu has moved toward longer-cooking and baked meals, and I found myself buying tights today. Even without the crisp air and colorful leaves that I grew up with, Fall has most definitely arrived in the Bay Area. My own teaching quarter starts next week and I… Continue reading Vogue pattern: V8755
This is the first Salme pattern I've tried--the Minna blouse. I had purchased the fabric on sale (Cocoon Voile, Shine in aqua, by Valori Wells) and really wanted to sew *right* then, so I went looking for a printable pdf blouse pattern. Minna fit the bill. It's also really simple, with some interesting details at… Continue reading Minna blouse
Despite the heaps of apparel fabric and stack of quilting yardage I have on my to-do list (not to mention pants to hem, tops to alter, etc., etc.), I have not forgotten about the second Sewing Buddy Project. After our fab showing at the last Buddy Project, I definitely don't want to let my buddy… Continue reading Work in progress–Buddy project #2
San Francisco is a scant 40 or so miles away from my house, yet the thought of driving into the "big city" is completely daunting to me. This makes not a bit of sense since I have taken public transit (with children) all around Tokyo and London, and just spent two weeks driving myself and… Continue reading Trip to Britex and fall fabrics
For my birthday, my awesome brother signed me up to get Vogue Patterns magazine. It's mostly just a giant ad for Vogue patterns (hence the name), but it's working; despite previously eschewing store-bought patterns, I walked into the fabric store "just wanting to look" at the instructions for a couple of dresses featured in the… Continue reading Vogue patterns: V8663
Bea & Lucille 