More May Sewing Fun 2013

Ellen and her ruffle skirt

     The girls are starting to wrap up their sewing projects.  On Monday I had just Bella and Christine.  Julia I guess has decided to be done with class even though she wasn't quite finished with her skirt.  Bella is almost done with her nightshirt.  Meghan and Katie both missed due to school functions.  Christine joined us on Monday because Izzy was going to miss on Tuesday due to a death in the family.  Christine is making the back slit denim skirt from an embossed denim.

Hayley and her shorts

     Wednesday's group was a little better this past week.  Cara is working on a blouse and Hayley is working on her skirt.  Ellen got the top all cut out for her sister and Greta has all the pieces cut for her pillow.  There should be lots of sewing this afternoon.

     My summer sewing camps are filling nicely although the beginning camp in June still has no one.  All the intermediate camps are a go this year, a first.

Kidscansew.com

     I decided to not go to the ASG conference this summer and instead work on my certification for becoming a window treatment fabricator.  It will involve two more trips to Charlotte NC this year plus a home study course.  I think it will help me have an even better product for my Creations by Celeste business.

   

Sewing Fun May 2013

Christine and her nightshirt

     Things are staring to wind down in my sewing classes.  This past Monday Meghan couldn't come because she had her band concert.  In Tuesday's group Izzy wasn't going to be able to make it because of her band concert and Lauren has decided to take off the last month to spend more time with her brother who is home from college.  Christine joined us on Monday so she wouldn't have to miss class.  Here she is proudly showing off her cat nightshirt.

     Julia is working hard on finishing her two layered skirt but she isn't sure she will be back next week, her other after school activities are keeping her quite busy.  Bella is working on her nightshirt.  She is my youngest student and has really blossomed.  As she was working on her nightshirt she was remarking how she remembered this step from doing her square neck blouse.  So glad to see when the girls are able to apply what they have already done to what they are currently doing.  Katie is happily working on some capris that are so much easier than her tote.
 
     Wednesday's group last week had spring fever.  They were so chatty I had to ask for some quiet so we could concentrate on their projects.  Two of the girls were starting new projects not in the book so they required a bit more attention.  Ellen is making a knit top for one of her sisters and Greta is making a large throw pillow with a flange for her bedroom.  Cara is finishing her blouse and Hayley started her back slit denim skirt.

     I just finished sewing a quick project fro myself that will come in handy this summer.  It is a shrug from a lacy knit fabric.  I had made myself a t-shirt (lined) with the fabric a few years ago and had a large piece left.  It was perfect for a coverup for bare shoulders in chilly restaurants.  I hemmed the sleeves and used fold-over elastic on the opening.  Now I have a pretty 'shawl' that won't fall off.

Pattern for shrug

Finished shrug

Detail of fold-over elastic trim

May 1st and Finally Spring

SPRING!!!

     It seems like spring has finally come to the Chicago area.  Yesterday and today it will be near 80 and I heard the weekend was wonderful in the 70s with sunshine.  We missed it however as we were in Nashville running a race.  This is what our weekend looked like.

PJ and Kate trying to stay dry and warm

     That is my son and daughter-in-law trying to stay dry in the rain.  It rained Friday night into Saturday morning and then all morning with intermittent showers the rest of the day.  On top of that it was only in the low 50s.  A totally miserable day for a run.

Rainy race course

     This was the first year my husband ran in the Country Music marathon/half marathon.  I ran the first time in 2008.  Last year I took second place in my age group in the half marathon.  This year he decided to run the half and I chose to do the full marathon for the first time.  This was his third half ever and only my second full.

    It is a hilly course and the rain did not help things.  He did get a PR though for his half while I was 17+ minutes over what I wanted for the race.  I seriously considered turning off at the half point because I was so wet and cold but decided I had come to do the full and I would finish.

     Around mile 19 I started with calf cramps that became increasingly worse.  I had to walk or stop to stretch often.  I did finish and was able to run over the finish line.

     I have to give a big thumbs up to all the volunteers on the course.  They handed out cups of Gatorade and water with big smiles on their faces and words of encouragement.  The cheerleaders and bands that did come out were great too as well as the spectators and even the police.  One police officer I think was doing more cheering than directing.  He was great.

     The rain finally stopped by about mile 24 for me.  By then I was so soaked and my shoes were so heavy with water it was hard to tell that it had stopped.

A soaked finishing me

     I am glad this wasn't my first marathon, I don't know that I would have done another one if this was my only experience.  Time to rest and recover and get ready for a half in July and then our big race in Miami in November, Miami Man Half Iron Duathlon.

My finishers medal

End of April Sewing Classes

Meghan and her sports shorts

     The after school sewing classes are starting to wind down.  A couple of the girls are going to stop at the end of the month as end of school activities start to pick up.

     Julia is working on finishing her layered skirt.  The waistband is on, now time for the elastic and the channels for it.  Bella started a nightshirt using a cute cat print flannel.  Meghan just finished her sport shorts.  She is trying to decide on her next project.  And Katie finally finished her tote.  It took her months but she kept at it and wound up with a great handbag for summer.

Katie and her purse

     Izzy is working on some sport shorts is a striped jersey knit.  After using some Best Press on the fabric to tame the curling issue the sewing is going quite well.  Next week she will do the buttonholes for the twill tape cord.  Lauren finished her black and orange plaid pants.  After sewing them up she decided they were too small for her and gave them to a friend.  Her friend couldn't believe she made them herself.  She is now working on the back slit denim skirt.  Next week she will sew on the buttons and add her label.  Christine made great progress on her bird print nightshirt.  She will probably finish it next week and be ready for a new project also.

     Cara finished her square neck blouse and will be starting a new project this week.  Hayley is almost done with her hot pink shorts.  Ellen and Greta are both working on the ruffle skirt.  Ellen missed class last week because of play practice so Greta is ahead of her and will most likely finish it this afternoon.  The skirts are turning out so cute.

     I'm off to Nashville tomorrow to run my second marathon.  I had been hoping to beat my time from October but I have been having some hip and muscle issues that have slowed me down.  I hope I can run the whole thing on Saturday.

     I am going to close this out with a cute photo of my grandson from Easter.  He made such a cute bunny.

Pillows

Assorted pillows

     I have spent the last few weeks making pillows for a designer client.  They are all reversible so the customer will have lots of options for displaying them in her home.

Oriental design with a ribbon fringe

     This ribbon fringe is so lush and lovely but definitely not the easiest trim to work with.  It didn't want to lay flat so I was constantly having to smooth it down so it wouldn't get caught in the sewing.  It did turn out quite lovely though.

Reverse of above pillow

     The reverse of the pillows using the Oriental design fabric was this stripe.  I lined it with a piece of napped sateen to give the fabric a bit more body.  There is a matching rectangular pillow.

Brush fringe trim pillow

     This graphic print will add some contrast to the Oriental/stripe pillows.  These use a wonderful multicolor brush trim.

Back of brush trimmed pillow

     The back of the graphic print pillows features this cozy chenille fabric.  The pillows look like just the thing to cozy up to on a cold winter day.

Round pillows with buttons

Round pillows showing reverse side on one

     The last set of pillows for the same room were these round ones with twist cord trim.  We used fabric covered buttons with the striped fabric from the first set of pillows.  Again I lined the floral fabric with napped sateen to give it more body.  The customer decided that the same flower should be featured on both pillows.  We could have chosen another flower that also had a round center to make them just a little different.  

4 more pillows

     These large pillows are for a different customer.  The designer chose to have all four fronts feature the same motif of the fabric.  Once again these have a lush multicolor brush fringe.

Brush fringe trimmed pillow

Back of above pillow

     Next up for this designer is a London shade valance.  I learned some great tips while in NC at CHF Academy for making these.  

     Time to stop writing and start sewing.  See you next week.

Quilt Retreat 2013 and CHF Academy

Colton's pillow case to match quilt

     I had two wonderful sewing trips.  The first was a quilt retreat that I have been doing with some friends for the past few years.  It is located in Hillpoint WI and called Homestead.  The place is part old log cabin and part new building with lots of windows.

     There are tables set up with two cutting stations, a couple of ironing stations and some design walls. All very conducive to sewing quilts.  I put the binding on a quilt for my grandson on the first day.  Then I worked on a quilt kit that I had bought several years ago in Sisters Oregon.  I had done the main cutting at home.  I also got the binding machine stitched onto another quilt so I will have that ready now for when I want to do some hand work.

     It really is fun and inspiring to see what everyone is working on.  Kris and I also stopped at Millhouse Quilts.  It is our favorite store in the area and we always are sure to allow ourselves enough time to stop and shop.  This year I bought a great fat quarter bundle of batik fabrics.

Close up of embroidery

     Last week I was in Charlotte NC taking classes at CHF Academy.  I took a week long class, Professional Window Treatment Fabrication I.  I made four different window treatments and learned so much.  It was also great to use industrial machines and a real work table.  I really need to figure out how to redo my work space.

     There were seven students in the class from all over including Cameron from England.  We had a great time, I have never laughed so much.  But we also all learned and helped each other.  I have included some photos of the sample window treatments that they have hanging on the walls.  What inspiration!  I can't wait to go back to learn more.

Sample of valance some of the others made on our last day

Love the trim on the valance

     Now time for me to sew some for my clients.  I am also going to make a couple of treatments for myself to practice what I have learned.

Mini-Camp 2013

Mini-camp 2013

     This week I am writing about the mini-camp I held over spring break.  Three girls joined me to make a mini-shoulder purse.

     We started by my drawing the rectangle sizes needed for the girls on their chosen outer fabrics.  They then cut them out and used them as a pattern to cut the batting and lining pieces.  After carefully pining all three layers together they then stitched around the edges.

     I then drew lines on the fabric for them and they quilted the pieces together.  Ellen and Greta chose to do a diamond pattern while Christine chose to do straight lines but using a decorative stitch.
 
     They then edge finished two edges, folded them under and using some Wonder Tape applied an exposed zipper.  They were quite excited to be able to do a zipper.

    Next was applying the cord in the right spot and sewing up around the edges.  Some trimming and edge finishing and they were done.  Of course things did not go totally smoothly.  We had a few broken needles, a zipper that didn't work after it was all sewn in and some very thick cord that was hard to sew.

     The girls worked through all the problems and we were only a few minutes late finishing class.  We also took a break for some delicious home-baked pecan sandy cookies that Ellen's mom made to celebrate her birthday which is tomorrow.

     We may not have had sun and sand on our spring break but I think they all had a good time.

Christine and her purse

Ellen and her purse

Greta and her purse