What a Dreary Day?

The girls are doing so well this year with their sewing. Here is Katie showing off her back slit denim skirt. She was so proud of it she had worn it to school that day. She is working on a top to go with it currently. Julia is working on her skirt and Lauren finished her tank top and is starting on a robe now. Anna is just about finished with the car organizer for her aunt and Meaghan is working on her banded blouse. She has had many challenges getting the banding around the neck but I think she has it on now. I have a new girl staring with us this afternoon, Isabelle. I'm sure the girls will warmly welcome her. I am looking forward to meeting Isabelle and her mom. Here is a photo of the button Katie chose for her skirt.

I met today with a new group led by Monty of Action Coach. I will be joining them for sessions every other week to help build my business. Look out world, here I come.


Here is a photo of a Roman shade I saw in browsing the web. I am going to use it as my inspiration to fabricate a faux Roman shade for the sewing studio.

So even though the weather has definitely taken a turn for the worse, my prospects are looking sunny and I am looking forward to all that is going to be happening.

Windows Palooza 2011

I attended Windows Palooza yesterday. It was put on by the Chicagoland chapter of WCAA. What a wonderful day. In the morning I took a drawing class with Jackie Von Tobel. Now I can't hardly draw a straight line with a ruler so this was going to be a stretch for me. Jackie was so patient with everyone. She broke down the treatments into basic elements and then using graph paper we started drawing them out. I drew a pinch pleat drapery, a goblet pleat, a gathered treatment, swags, jabots and finally a side panel with a tieback. She also explained how our renderings would actually look in fabric. I have to say that my drawings really did look like the treatment they represented.
Then on to the vendor floor. We received a punch card for the vendors to mark off and when they were full they were placed in a basket for the big door prize at the end of the evening. I talked to lots of different reps and came home with tons of samples and ideas.
There was a wonderful lunch followed by my afternoon class with Deb Barrett. She had a trunk show of lots of new ideas for window treatments plus ideas of how to fabricate them. She just amazes me with everything she comes up with. Here is another photo of some of the things I saw.

Then it was back to the vendor floor with more visits and some short demos. Prizes were being given away throughout the day and then during dinner, which was also very good, the majority of them were awarded. I won a gift certificate to one of my favorite suppliers so I was very excited.
One last photo. Isn't this Roman shade adorable? I could just see this in a kids room.

More Beautiful Fall Weather

Well the weather has been great for the past week. Let's hope it holds out until the weekend when John and I are doing our second duathlon. We went out and rode the bike course last Sunday. It has a few good hills in there. Did a trail half marathon with my daughter on Saturday. It did not go very well. Things were great the first half but by mile 10 I was ready to walk. I have done many half marathons but I just didn't have it in me for this one. I never did walk but I did send my daughter on ahead. She finished about a minute and a half before me. I have been considering doing my first marathon next year, now I'm not so sure.

I finished another jacket from the challenge to make one pattern 10 different ways. This time I combined the Capri Jacket pattern from Textile Studio with Swing Jacket from Country in the City. I copied the back with the yoke and pleat, added cuffs to the sleeves and straightened the side seams. I also eliminated the v-neck and curved the top of the front the same as the bottom. I added a contrasting 'placket' to the right front. The button on the back is actually two buttons combined. I had enough fabric left over that I made a matching shell from Great Copy 1260. And the best part is that it was all from stash again!

In class, Julia is making good progress on her back slit denim skirt and Lauren is working on her tank top. She had wanted to embroider something on it but she chose such a flimsy knit that I told her it probably wouldn't hold the stitching well. Anna missed class last week, Meghan is working on her banded blouse and Katie started on her peasant blouse. She was proudly wearing her back slit denim skirt that she had finished last week.

Finished the embroidery for 2 Hot 2 Handle Glass last week and now am working on some pillows and a kitchen valance. Just lost a project because the client didn't want to drive 30-45 minutes to get to me. Oh well I need to work on getting some more work onto the table now.

Beautiful Fall Weather

As they say about Chicago, if you don't like the weather just wait a few minutes and it will change. Last week was cold and rainy, this week has been sunny and in the 70's. I have a half marathon on Saturday so I am hoping that the weather will hold.

I have included some photos of the items the girls are making in class. Julia finally finished her nightshirt. She says she likes to take her time and enjoy the process. I like to get something done and move on to the next exciting project. To each his own I guess. Lauren got the trim on her capris and started on a tank top to match. Anna continues to work on the car organizer for her aunt while Meghan is working on a banded top and Katie is finishing her back slit denim skirt.

I have just about finished with the embroidery for 2 Hot 2 Handle Glass. One more jacket back to do. Working on some throw pillows for a client. She is coming by today with the fabric for her kitchen window. I can't wait to see what she found. She was so excited to have found something she really loved that she has pushed ahead to do it even though it was originally at the bottom of her list. I love it when clients get excited about finding just that right fabric.

My hubby and I have started a new class to lose some weight and body fat. Now that the racing season is just about over it is time to go into calorie deficit mode. There are about 12 of us in class so it should be interesting. After weigh in, body fat measurements and a short talk we hit the trails on our bikes for about a ten mile ride, slow fat burning speed. It will be a challenge as the temps drop and the days get shorter.

Here is one last photo from class, Julia and her new nightshirt.