Pleasant Surprises

I once walked back to my classroom from making copies and found a box full of fabrics.  What fun! It had all sorts of fabrics including a vintage cotton I felt was perfect for an apron.  It took me almost a year to find the pattern I wanted to use, but I knew when I saw it that Butterick 6567 was perfect.

The bias tape is part of the pattern.  I couldn't find the color I need in pre-made bias. I had the perfect color in my stash bringing the cost of this beautiful apron to $1.99 for the cost of the pattern.

For the longest time, I didn't know where the box of fabric came from.  Recently, I mentioned the apron and fabric to my art teacher, friend Laura.  Thunk! (That is me hitting myself in the head.)  Of course the fabric fairy was the lady who receives all of the best donations.  She was cleaning out the overflow.  Thanks Laura for one of the most pleasant surprises ever!

Gertie's Book is Coming Soon!

Yesterday, I told you about a book I am reading.  Well, I will soon have Gretchen Hirsch's new book on my bedside table because it is available for pre-order here at Amazon!

 I didn't hesitate.  I love her Craftsy class.  She is so pleasant to listen to!  I actually met her once at the Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan.  She was very sweet, and her vintage clothing made me want to go straight home to sew.  Check out her blog if you haven't yet.  You'll see these green clogs and much more of her unique taste and ideas.

Pyjama Reveal!

Here they are:

Very comfy, and the adjustments I made are perfect.  I shortened the waist by two inches.  I wanted them to fall just below my navel.  I think this was the best choice to break through my slump.  I love them!  I have already begun cutting out a top to go with them.

And this is the current read on my nightstand.  It is definitely a page turner.

A Breakthrough! Pyjama Challenge

I know it sounds strange, but I have been going through the strangest block I have ever experienced.  I think it is related to a few different issues.  The first being a huge and difficult change in my job.  In addition I can't remember who it was, but I recently read about a blogger who said that putting her projects in a blog for others to see created a pressure that made it difficult to sew the way she used to.   I find that to be a strange phenomenon.  One of my first posts was a real wadder.   On top of that, I began to notice that I am really unhappy with the weight I've gained.  Add a change in my job that resulted in double the work and increased time.  Sewing began to make me anxious until I couldn't even think about it except to vicariously live through the blogs of others.
     Now that you have provided me with a free therapy session, I am happy to say that Karen at Did You Make That? has helped me to create my first piece of apparel for me since the block began in September -- Pyjamas.  Silly as it sounds, I was in tears when I finished cutting them out.  I caught up with the challenge yesterday and will follow her instructions for today as soon as I am done with this post.
     Appropriately, I was making this new pair of jammies while wearing a pair that I could improve upon.

  What a terrible picture!I had to have Dan take it for me, but he is a very inexperienced photographer having never taken it upon himself to take a picture unless forced to.  The legs are seamed and will soon be attached.  The next pictures are just as bad.

Thank You Karen!

Can't Wait!

     Found my camera in my secret hiding place.  I kept it a secret from myself.  Luckily, my husband saw me put it in a compartment in my car under some cds.  Unfortunately, I didn't mention the missing camera to him until I had spent several hours looking for it.
     I added to my stress yesterday by sneaking in a little me time.  I ran over to Jo Ann's for what I thought would be a quick trip to pick up my niece's birthday present and some "Pyjama" fabric.  Two and a half hours later, I came home with satisfaction and frustration. 
     I am extremely satisfied that I got everything a twelve year old girl needs to begin sewing independently.  I bought her a pair of Gingher dressmaker shears, a marking pen, tracing wheel, pins, a tomato cushion (everyone has to have at least one,) a rubber thimble, and an adorable sewing box that came with a few goodies.  The fushia, leopard print, sewing box matched all of the fushia notions and came with a measuring tape, needle threader, pearl head pins, and threaded needles.
    The frustration came with this great Lisette lawn fabric I bought for Karen's "Pyjama Challenge."    I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures.

 I don't know how I am going to wait until this weekend to get started!  It was hard to find something I could imagine myself loving and being jammie-comfy in.  I had lawn in mind but didn't think I would find it at JoAnn.  The pattern she recommended was no longer in the Simplicity pattern book, so I chose McCalls 6249.

I am planning to make the capris and bought enough for the top.  The ruffle on bottom is a bit young looking for me.  The fabric is fun enough.  I don't think I need the ruffle. The lawn will be perfect for the summer nights at my parent's house on the lake.  I often have trouble sleeping in the heat.  The button selection at JoAnn's has been seriously depleted (like all the other sewing offerings.)  I decided that these simple, flat, green buttons would be good for a wild sleeper like me.  Have you ever rolled over on a shank button? Ow!

Spring Palette

Haven't decided yet what I am going to do with this inspiration board, but I was excited by Sarai's post on Coletterie.  I am not committing to the challenge -- just playing around with ideas.  I followed the directions on Coletterie and put together this pallette on Polyvore.

Baby Steps

I am working out this slump by taking baby steps.  I began by making all the ladies in the family scarves for Easter.  Unfortunately, I have lost my camera!  With any luck, I will find it when I get back to my classroom.  What is a post without pictures? 
Well, since the urge to walk into the sewing room is coming back, I took another step today and made new beanbags for my class.  We will soon be doing "The Beanie Bag Dance."  A little advice for anyone making beanbags: use brown rice.  I have used beans, but the bags are a bit too hard and lumpy.  White rice will give the fabric a white powder residue.  Brown rice creates a soft bag without the residue.
I am thinking of taking a bigger step by trying my first sew-along.  Karen over at Did You Make That? is hosting the Pyjama Party Sewalong--just my speed.  I have the fabric, the pattern, and the desire again.  I just have to find the camera!