Summer Winding Down

Well summer is winding down. I can already feel it in the cooler nights, a much welcome relief. That means that my after school sewing sessions are starting soon. I will start again the week after Labor Day. I have two girls in my Monday class and three in my Wednesday class. There is still room if anyone wants to sign up. The girls have so much fun and I look forward to their enthusiasm every week. I want to start something new with them this year. I would like them to prepare to be in a fashion show next October for our ASG group. Every year our Chicago chapter has a fashion show luncheon. We alternate between the north side and the south side of the city. In 2012 the luncheon will be up this way again so I would like to encourage my students to get ready to 'strut their stuff' next year. I think they will like having a goal of some kind.

This is Anna showing off her pajamas she made.

With that in mind I think I will also plan a camp for the summer that will involve them making an outfit with a matching purse for them to be able to model also. I am also planning a winter break camp so the girls (or boys) can make gifts for the holidays.

I finished up a set of seat cushions for a kitchen nook. The client was thrilled. They make for a great little place for her to enjoy her morning coffee. Next up are pillows for a family room to brighten up a rather dull room. I love being able to help people transform their ideas into reality and make a house a home. What can I help you do?

Doesn't this just make you want to 'sit for a spell'?

ASG Conference Reviewed

I went to the ASG National Conference in Los Angeles over the weekend. I flew in on Thursday evening but even with the plane landing early I didn't get to the hotel/conference center until after they closed registration for the day. Fortunately they still allowed me to enter the exhibit hall because I was able to show them that I was a paid attendee. Started by scoping out all the vendors and then buying a purse kit and pattern from Purses by Design. I bought The New Yorker pattern and kit for view C. A couple of days later I bought all the pieces to also make view B. Friday I bought some fabric to make the purse and the following day I bought fibers from The Fiber Goddess to weave a handle using the Diva Cord Maker. I had bought the cord maker a few years ago at another ASG conference and hadn't done much with it. This should be fun. I am hoping to get the purse made before my son's wedding on the 10th of September.
I also bought some gorgeous turquoise linen, patterns from Cutting Corners and some embroidery designs from Momo-dini Embroidery.
On Friday I took a class on using Photo-Shop Elements to organize your patterns. When I got home I asked my hubby if we have this program (I know a little after the fact). Of course we don't but he said he thinks that iPhoto has something similar so that will be my next quest. Then it was a class with Louise Cutting, Cutting to the Chase of Great Garments. After lunch it was Drafting Pants with Couture Fit with Connie Crawford. So much information my head was swimming. Friday night was the fashion show. As usual so many wonderful garments. Some of them though I wondered if they were ever worn anywhere or were they just made for the fashion show.
Saturday was an all day class with Jennifer Stern Hasemann. We turned a pair of jeans into a skirt. This was not your typical jeans to skirt look though. I have included some photos of one of her many skirts and then my skirt in progress. I will be adding embroidery as soon as I can. That will be the wonderful designs I just bought from Momo-dini. I can't wait to finish it and wear it soon. The best part of all is that the jeans don't have to fit. She shows how to add side gussets to make a small pair get larger or how to take away fabric to make them smaller. My jeans fit so I was able to just cut apart the inseam and front and back crotch seams. That did make it a little harder though to sew.
That evening I went to Santa Monica with other members from the Chicago chapter to watch the sun set over the mountains and then have dinner at a restaurant on the beach. We had a wonderful time. Then it was up early Sunday morning to pack and come home. I only stayed for two of the three days because with the upcoming wedding I didn't want to be away too long.
I am looking froward to going to Houston next year for the conference. I always learn so much.

Another Beautiful August Day

Today is another beautiful day. Did a 6 mile run this morning on the trails. What a great day for it.
My client picked up her headboard cover and seat cushion. She was delighted with the covered cord that replaced the flange on the headboard cover. The flange had been made with a linen fabric and she said it never looked quite right. Being linen it was always wrinkled and never stood up straight but was flopped over looking rather sloppy. I replaced the flange with cording, covered with that same linen fabric. It is now clean and crisp looking. She also liked the cushion but confessed they are now going to probably move it into another room as they are going to be doing some remodeling. She said she will need some new window treatments when that happens so I will be going over there in the future to help her with those. Working on some cushions for a kitchen nook right now. They should be a nice addition to the cozy seating area.
Just embroidered some backpacks for my daughter's classroom. I had made the backpacks several years ago with the intent to sell them at a boutique that has since closed. My daughter needed some new backpacks for the classroom so I unearthed these and personalized them for her.

Beautiful August Day

The hot weather is taking a day off. The temps today are in the 70-80 range with low humidity, sunshine and a breeze. These are the days that one has to remember when the snow piles are over your head and you think you will never see the grass again.
Just did some alterations on some sundresses for the winner of the Lake County fair pageant. She needed them done quickly because she was headed downstate for the State Fair and lunch with the governor. When she tried them on after I finished she was so happy. She said that her mom said they looked like muumuus on her when she tried them on in the store. Now they fit her like a glove and showed off her pretty figure. What a difference an inch or two makes. Now to try to make my mom's dress for my son's wedding look better on her. First I will shorten it and then I will see what can be done for the shoulders.
Finished redoing a headboard cover for a client and now starting on the seat cushion cover. The old one was so dirty. Why would a company make something that can't be taken off and washed when you are designing it for a kid's room? Not only will the new one be removable but it is made from a Sunbrella fabric which can be washed. If you haven't seen what Sunbrella is doing with fabrics you should really check them out. They even have velvet like fabrics that can be used outdoors.
It was so nice to run in cooler weather this morning. I did a 5K race on Saturday and the humidity was just awful. But all my training in the heat paid off because I was first in my age group. It wasn't a PR but with the heat and humidity I wasn't surprised.
Below is a photo of some bridal 'emergency bags' that I made. I embroidered them with the date of the wedding and then sewed up the bag. My daughter then stuffed them with all the things a bride might need on her big day such as bobby pins, tissues, hairspray, safety pins, etc. I know that when she gave it to my future daughter-in-law she was so touched by the thoughtfulness.

August is Here

With it being August now, that means that summer is nearly over. I am already missing the longer days. It also means that county fairs are in full swing. I entered ten items into the Lake County Fair and won ten ribbons, first, second or third. I also won two champion ribbons. We went to the fair on Friday evening to see the rodeo but the line was way too long so we just went back home. Went on Sunday then for the demolition derby. Always a lot of fun. Ate elephant ears and tried a new thing, a pizza made with a crepe. It was okay, could have had more cheese.

End of summer also means that fall after school classes will be starting soon. I will once again offer classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays after school. I can't wait to see my students again. They also have a nice surprise awaiting them as the Sew Much Fun Sewing Studio is complete. I just have a few things to hang on the walls and also make a small window treatment but the floor is fixed and the walls are all painted and the furniture is all back in place. It is slightly smaller than before because of the wall system they used but we will be fine.

I finished a few small projects last week and also a faux hobbled Roman shade for my massage therapist, Karen Langel from Grayslake Massage. She recently had her room repainted and this treatment will be the finishing touch. I look forward to seeing it in place. Starting on a couple of projects for a previuos client. She needs her headboard cover remade with covered cord instead of a flange and a seat cushion recovered.

Saturday was the shower for our son PJ and his fiancee Kate. Our daughter hosted it at our house because hers is so small. We catered it from Infinitea from Antioch. We had a delicious assortment of finger sandwiches, sweetbreads, and scones with all the fixings. We also had three different teas that they brewed for us. That was followed by an assortment of desserts from Infinitea and a cake from Lovin' Oven Cakery. Everything was so good. The wedding is in just over a month. I need to get shopping for my dress but work has kept me busy, which is not a bad thing.

My trainer has me a a gluten free diet right now to see if we can solve some issues that I have while running. It worked today on my 8 mile run. I have a 5K on Saturday so we will see what happens. It is really hard because I love my bread and pasta.