Sewing...no photos yet...

I made 2 Loes Hinse perfect t's last week and a pair of brown wool pants from the July 2009 Burda. but no photos yet. It all started when I saw an orange sweater in a store window one morning during my exercise walk at the mall. Eventually, I went back and bought the sweater and made some slacks and a t shirt to wear with them. I'll take photos soon.


We are in a resort town in the Rockies and when we were walking home from a delicious meal, we noticed both people and elk on the local golf course. So, we hurried back to the hotel, got the car, the dog, and DH's camera equiptment and headed off after the elk. DH got some fabulous photos of the bull elk and his magnificent set of antlers--even a shot or two of the bull bugling to keep his cows in line. Very interesting.

I love to see and learn new things! I'm learning my new little travel sewing machine too. I made buttonholes this afternoon and was very pleasantly surprised with the outcome. It is a lightweight Janome and I have never owned this brand. Not that different from my others, just a few things to learn! I want to use it to take to classes or when we travel, so I need to be adept at its operation so I can enjoy the process and not worry about how the machine works. DH is attending a photo seminar here and will be occupied during the day. I will do a little sewing and a little sight seeing while he is busy. Good combination!

Photos will be along soon.

Quick Photo--Vogue DVF Wrap Dress

Tonight is our anniversary and we are headed out to see Jersey Boys at the Palazzo. Quick photo of the dress I made this summer--haven't worn it yet so this is a first!

I got this fabric at the Michael Levine Loft store in downtown LA. It is one of those places where you pay by the pound. I got 3 pieces of different fabrics for $6--I will show all 3 items I made one of these days! A dress, a scarf, and a t shirt. Not bad! Sort of a fun day and I wanted to try this pattern. I bought the necklace and bracelet at Francesca's on 2nd St in Belmont Shore. Bigger purchase than the fabrics. LOL

Hard to believe we have been married 41 years today! Yikes!

Finally Photos--2 Burda vests and LH Oxford Pants

I have been doing some sewing, or finishing of some sewing projects. The vest at left I made right after I made the khaki one, but it needed buttons and button holes and I just put off doing those steps! It is from the 1/2009 issue of Burda magazine. I like the fabric--bought from Casual Elegance (Sharon) during a Loes Hinse seminar.

The second vest is from a downloaded pattern at burdastyle.com. It is currently one of the top 5 downloads, so easy to find. This was a muslin made from o remnant of fabric left when I made a pair of Loes Hinse Oxford pants. I really wiggled the pieces around on the fabric to get it all out of the piece I had to work with. No welt pockets, just didn't have enough to play with. I am pleased with the final garment and will wear it with the Oxfords and with other black or olive solid pants. Finally, I got a photo of the Oxford pants I made earlier in the summer. It has been too warm to wear any of these pieces, but fall will come along soon. Even in the desert!
We are home and mostly unpacked. I am going for physical therapy next week and hope to get full use of the knee soon. I am back to walking 4-5 miles a day and have regained most of my range of motion. Still have a little swelling and bruising, but that will dissipate with time.

I got a new sewing/embroidery machine at the Long Beach Quilt Show and have to rearrange the sewing room to accomodate the new goodies. That will take a little time, but I have made some progress already.

Not sure what my next project will be--I delivered the outfits to my DGD for her 7th birthday. She has more clothes than a little girl needs, but they are fun to make and buy! I raised two sons so having DGDs is a treat for me. I have 3 DGS's as well, so plenty of both boys and girls. That's about it for now!

Burda Kids Fashion and Burda WOF May 2009

Do you keep older Burda issues or are you quick to purge your copies if they do not immediately appeal to your current taste? I tend to keep mine--but then I haven't bought many Big 4 patterns since I started collecting my magazines. Well, I do still buy, but not just to have a source of inspiration and style details like I used to.

I made a jumper for my soon-to-be seven year old DGD. I saw a cute jumper at a nice children's chain and thought "I can make that!" and started searching through my Ottobre collection for a suitable pattern. I found lots of OK ones, but just not what I had in my mind. Then I got out the kids' issues of Burda I have had since my older DGD (now 13) was a baby. Voila! Found a simple jumper in this issue and made the corduroy jumper below from the pattern. This is style #604 (a pinafore dress) made in a size 122. When shopping at my local H & M for a coordinating long sleeve t shirt, I found a two pack of pink shirts. What to make to go with the darker pink shirt?

I had purchased this piece of corduroy hoping it would match the piece above--wrong color. The yard piece was just the right amount for skirt #138 from the May Burda WOF. This is an easy skirt with an invisible zip in back and a waist treatment created by pleating the top and stitching down the pleats--no waistband. I did make a casing on the inside to accommodate some buttonhole elastic. DGD is pretty slim and I'd like the skirt to stay up! LOL The ribbon belt does not look like a good match in this photo, but it is in real life!

I know DGD has several pairs of pink (light and dark) leggings to wear with these outfits when the weather gets colder.

I finished up this skirt in spurts--still sitting around most of the day wih my leg elevated. I thought I felt good yesterday and may have overdone it a bit.

My next project is on the cutting table--a vest I bought and downloaded from Burda Style. It is one the top 5 downloads and just a classic longer vest. This is cut out of a remnant of some wool blend fabric I got at Michael Levine's--made a pair of Loes Hinse Oxford pants and had a piece left over. I guess I forgot to have DH photograph those pants...oh well!

On the Mend

No sewing--I had outpatient surgery on my right knee on Friday to correct a torn medial meniscus. I am doing well and hope to be up and running (well, walking) in a few days. I did download a Burdastyle.com vest and want to get it put together and ready to cut out. First things first with the knee, then I'll be ready to tackle the sewing projects!

Be back soon!

Slight Detour--Life Issues!

I have been doing a little sewing, but more visiting of my dad in the hospital, back at his care facility, checking on details for his care, etc. Also, seems I did some damage to my knee while playing at Disneyland with my grands. Monday will reveal the results of the MRI--always something!

I'll be back!

Finally Photos! Burda Top

Well, the grand kids went home and we finally put things back where we usually keep them. DH took a photo of the #108 Burda top from July 2009. It is OK--I always like these designs in the magazine and then not so much on me. I think I'll wear it with black pants or capris and a cami.

I also bought DGD some sale stuff at the Children's Place--they had these green shorts for a really cheap price, but no top that really went with them. So--I bought a white shirt and an extra pair of shorts. Cut up the extra shorts and got a couple of strips to make an embellishment around the neckline. I cut off the little heart and made a patch for the shirt. Still very thrifty and I think it's a cute outfit! I have more fabric left and may do something on some longer pants for when the weather begins to get cooler.

I am currently working on Vogue 8379, the DVF wrap dress in some fabric I bought at the Michael Levine Loft store. Will post more on that later.