After School Classes April 2014

     The kids have been busy sewing in their classes after school.  On Mondays Ellen and Cara are working still on their items.  Ellen is working on the zipper in a Simplicity dress for her mom while Cara is working on the lining for a Butterick tote for her grandmother.  We did some embroidery on the inside saying 'Made by Cara'.  These girls have been working hard on their projects and should be finished soon.

Kate and her shorts

Kate and her notions bag

     On Tuesdays, Kate finished her denim shorts and did a quick notions bag with some cute St. Patrick's Day fabric.  She is now working on a square neck blouse.  Her sister Christine missed a couple of classes due to volleyball but she finished her denim shorts and graduated to book 2.  She is working with a knit fabric for the first time making a short sleeve sport blouse.

Christine and her shorts

Nonie and her wild chevron print blouse

     Nonie finished her chevron square neck blouse and will start on a new project next week.  Greta finished her blouse from book 2.  She chose a sheer fabric and opted to shorten it to wear over her tank top.  She worked on french seams and came up with an easy way to narrow hem the sleeves and bottom using WonderTape.  She said she learned a lot with this project.

Greta modeling her sheer blouse over her tank top

Lindsey and her fun summer shorts

     On Wednesdays Lindsey finished her shorts and started on a nightshirt.  Natalie is working on a denim skirt while Julia is working on a See & Sew long dress from a knit fabric.  Nick finished a coat for his dog and an apron for his mom.

Nick with a coat for his little dog

Nick showing off the apron for his mom

     On Thursdays Najiyah is working on a nightshirt while Bella finished her batik square neck blouse.  Aviva made pillowcase and is now working on the back slit skirt from a sparkly denim fabric.  Maddie is making a peasant nightgown.

Bella modeling her 'awesome' blouse

Aviva and her pillowcase

     Wow, the kids have really been having fun, I will be sorry when class ends the first week of June.  Summer camps are starting to fill and I am getting more phone calls every day.  Hoping to be able to help a new bunch of kids learn how much fun it is to sew.

Johnston Bed and Bath

     A while back a friend of mine needed some new window treatments for her bedroom and bathroom.  While on a trip she found the perfect fabric.  We tossed around several ideas including using vintage crystal door knobs as hangers.

     We settled on the Oxford Valance from M'Fay Patterns.  We used a solid fabric for the contrast in the horns and jabots.  She wound up not using the door knobs as hangers but did find a pole with crystal ends.  Looking at this now in the photo I think a blackout lining would have helped with the shadowing.

     In the bathroom she wanted something that would provide a little privacy during the day but not block all the light.  I made a flat top tab panel with a box pleated sheer underneath.  The treatment brings in the color from the bedroom but is also light and airy.  When they need total privacy they close the shades on the top.

Communion Banner 2

Cross 1 option from Embroidery Library

Cross 2 option from Embroidery Library

Praying Hands from Embroidery Library

Cross 3 option from Embroidery Library

Cross 4 option from Embroidery Library

     I had a request to do another First Communion banner.  This was from a friend of the first client.  She wanted either a cross or praying hands.  I found several designs at Embroidery Library that fit her request.  I sent the choices to her and she opted for the budded cross at the bottom.

Option 1 layout

Option 2 layout

Option 3 layout

Option 4 layout

     She also wanted the full date and her child's full name on the banner.  Using my software I chose a font and size that I thought would compliment the cross she chose.  I played around with the sizing of the lettering making the first and last name slightly larger and then played with the placement of the names to get a nice overall pattern.

     I then printed out templates of the wording and the cross.  I came up with four different options for the layout.  I sent these off to her in an email.  She wrote back that she would like to have the date above the cross and then his name below.   It was back to the computer where I separated the words and added the cross to the date file.

Final layout 

Fabric all marked for stitching

     Again I printed out templates of the designs and placed them on the fabric.  I then marked the center points of the designs using painters tape.  I 'hooped' the fabric with sticky stabilizer and floated a piece of tear-away underneath.  Two hoopings and I had it all stitched out.  I then used the zigzag blade of my rotary cutter to trim the edges and used fringe adhesive to glue it to a backing fabric that I had put a rod pocket in at the top.

First Communion banner for Brett (glue will not show when dry)

     I used the opposite colors for his banner and a different font for the lettering.  I also used a different blade to trim the edges.  I didn't want the two banners to look too much alike.  These have been fun projects for me.  Maybe I will get to do some more.

Working Out April 2014

     Last November my husband and I did the Miami Man Half Iron Duathlon.  He came in first in his age group while I cam in second in my age group.  Now mind you that there were only 3 in my age group so coming in second wasn't that big of a deal.  It did however qualify us to do Nationals for duathlons.

     When we got the invite we talked with our trainer who encouraged us to go for it.  So now here we are training for a big race in July, competing against the best of the best.  We started training with a group this past week.   Many in the group are training for an Ironman while a few for a half Ironman and some just doing their first triathlon.  We will only be doing a duathlon so we will skip the swimming part on those days.

     I thought I would be able to keep up with at least the middle ability group but found out I was at the back of the pack with the beginners.  In January I did a run challenge.  We had to see how far we could run on the treadmill for 14 minutes.  Then using that pace as our base we had challenging run workouts on the treadmill for six weeks.  After six weeks we ran again on the treadmill for 14 min to see if we had improved by a specific amount.  I just made it but did improve my speed.  That is good since I plan on trying to run the Nashville half marathon in under 2 hours in a couple of weeks.

     Next up I am currently doing a bike challenge.  We had to do a time trial on the computrainer.  That involved riding as hard as you could for ten miles.  You then saw what watts you were able to achieve.  After 6 plus weeks of free computrainer courses and challenges we will repeat the time trial next week.  We need to improve our watts by 4%.  I think I am getting there.  A lot will depend on how I feel that morning.  Several of those in the training group are in this challenge so I have been able to see how they are doing.  That is why I thought I could at least keep up with the middle group. I'm thinking success indoors doesn't always translate well to the outdoors and the road.

     I am finding that the rest and recovery are just as important as the training.  I need to find time to get more sleep so I can recover.  That plus my massages really helps to heal the body.

Schaumburg Original Sewing & Quilt Expo 2014

Machine embroidered zipper bracelets. Designs from Great Copy

     I spent last weekend working at the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo.  Pattie Otto from Great Copy asked me to help in her booth.  I like to work with her and her husband Rick when they are in the Chicago area.

     While Pattie taught classes I helped Rick in the booth.  This year Pattie asked me to help another vendor in her booth also as she had no one to spell her while she taught.  So I wound up helping in Gail Yellen's booth, Gail Patrice Designs.  What fun.

Buttons & Blooms embroidery designs from Great Copy

     I spent my time going back and forth between the booths, fortunately they were close to each other.  I did get a chance to walk the floor a little and managed to buy fabric, patterns and some trims.  Also bought a new iron and some pre-cut stabilizer.

     Pattie taught her Knit Knacks, Waisting Away in Margaritaville and The Bias that Binds.  She also did several stage demos showing her fleece techniques.  She sold her patterns, embroidery designs and her Edge Perfect Blade in her booth.

Jacket using techniques found in Gail's book

     Gail taught a couple of different serger classes and also a class showing one jacket 12 different ways.  She had her patterns, templates, and tools for sale in her booth.

Jacket using Gail's template set and jacket pattern

     I had a great time but I was tired after every day.  I don't know how they do this week after week.  I am looking forward to Pattie's next embroidery club in May and meeting up with Gail again in St Louis at the ASG conference.