research

Well so far I am taking some free courses from HP so I can figure out how to use some of this stuff on my high tech computer. I am trying to prepare myself for the pattern software I plan on purchasing. If i don't get this crap right then I could mess up big time. so i prefer not to be in the dark. It would help If I learn a little something. I might not be able to retain all of it, but at least some of the stuff will probably look familiar.

Saturday morning I am going to a textile swapmeet .....guess that what you call it. They say they might have fabric there. I am hoping that it won't all be cut up in squares for quilting. Since that seems to be the only thing that people are interested in lately. There is just something about cutting up squares and then sewing them back together in order to make a design that drives me nuts. Maybe it's just a visual thing. I am looking forward to this day and hope that maybe I might get some deals. I might think about taking the camera there so that i will have something to post. Let you know what i come up with.

changes

You know i was trying to find a way to operate this web cam. By gosh....when i caught a glimpse of myself. I wondered how the hell my nose grew and why it's spread half way across my face. I know your nose and your feet grow but this is ridiculous. The feet i can get used to, but my nose is another thing. I touched my nose and of course a tablespoon full of oil came out of it. The darndest thing is that the rest of my body is like the gobi desert. It's so dry that my skin can literally make a nice flake cereal....ok I know that's disgusting but that's what's going on in my neck of the woods. Face in tact and body drying out. My feet need sandpapering. Of course i am going to get my feet done...hope they don't charge me extra. Dry dry dry dry ciao for now

my computer

ok i was on the phone this morning for two and half hours with hp and them adding a few more things on my computer. I am so high tech now that I don't know how to operate jack crap. so now I have to train myself on the new things that they added. I have a photo of the lady wearing the bag i liked most but I can't figure out a way to post it. so sue me. I don't think i'll ever have a famous blog. ellen degenerous needs to help me out with a new serger. Not to mention a car so that I can go to the fabric places. But of cours that's a dream. Ellen that's my girl.

same jacket part 2

okay this is part of my face. I lined just the inside of this fleece with flannel. I know you don't have to line it, but for me it keeps the static down and it wears better. I have another jacket that I made with a flannel lining. It doesn't get too hot, nor do you get cold in it. I haven't found a way to load all of the pictures on this post yet. I would like to thumbnail them. But don't know how yet. still learning.

my jacket

okay this is my boxy jacket. The material looks better in person, it's an light olive green. you'd never no it, and monday I tested wearing it. It's a little too warm, but that's alright. I would like my sewing to look more refined. I look like I am a retired greenbay packer in this photo. So next time I won't show my face.

horrible!

I have been on the phone with "Brewers" the quilting and notion people. I have been waiting for my "Stitches" magazine since December of 2008. Ok now they tell me that they have been having trouble with the distributers and they need of quota of 300 subcribers. Well "Brewers" only has 100 people. This just sucks! sucks! and more sucking that I could just scream. Of course this tells you what my life is all about doesn't it?
I even emailed australia for christs sake. So now I am going to have to go back to Erica in Indiana to get my back orders. Right now I have to do first things first and that's get those mags. I'm addicted to that magazine like crack! now it's gonna take forever to get it.

youtube

Since i was not sleepy I decided to watch youtube howto's. I was looking at the wordpress blog and trying to figure out if I want to go there or stay here. There seems to be a lot more on the sight in which to choose from. So I am in the thinking process right now.
I am also waiting on a friend to take a picture of the purse that I made for his wife a few weeks back. I wanted to post that picture. so I will come back with more on the possible switch as soon as I ask my internet guru friend about it. ciao for now

today

I am still working on this jacket. Really procrastinating with the zipper. I should have it done this week. I only worked on the zipper all a mere 10 minutes, and then just stopped. You really have to be in the mood to do this. Some days are better. I will attempt to put this together again tomorrow. I think I am going to force myself every day at the same time. Which is 11:00.

Bernina

Thursday I went to Hancock fabric. It seemed like I was going to another country almost....it took just that long to get there. Anyway I was so surprised to find the Bernina people there. This has got to be the cleanest and neatest Hancock fabric I've ever seen.

I spoke to one of the ladies....and I mentioned that I'd spoken to her on the phone about possibly working with Bernina. I really love the sewing machine. Even though I have my Brothers Ult2003 I will always end up using the Bernina for hard core stuff. It might be on the noisy side but I like it none the less. Anyway if the lady can't hire me I emailed and told her that I would be more than glad to volunteer working there. What more could a person ask for? I get to learn a lot and play with the machines. That would be the ulitimate job for me, because I would be doing something I love.

I don't know if I will hear from the lady but who knows what might happen? If she doesn't take me someone else will take me up on that offer. I am also going to try and see if I could go further up north. Of course the ultimate would be working in Canada at a sewing place. Those women have sewing, fabric and machines coming out of their noses. Towards the end of the month I hope to go up to Mill end fabric and see what deals I can come up with. I would also like to check out their tapestry.

Stitches magazine

Well I've been awaiting my "Stitches" magazine since December of 2008. I renewed also in the latter part of the month. I have contacted Brewers quilting it had another name and I can't think of it at the moment. Anyway I spoke to them today for the second time regarding my subscription. They claim that they've not heard anything from the Australian publications regarding distribution.

The representative told me that there is a posibility that it is no longer in publication. If that is so I am going to be so disappointed. I love that magazine more than "Threads" primarily because they are more into styles and coutour. I like the pictures that are in the magazine and also the way the articles are done. I've written Lynn cook who is the editor at large i guess. I'm starting to get really worried on whether or not they have gone under.

Right now there are more knitting magazines than anything else, and I am not into knitting. Just like there are more knitting books than there are sewing books. There are just as many things to do regarding sewing. So if this is the case that there are not going to be any more magazines then I am going to cherish the old ones that I have.

I am making a jacket today.....and as usual I don't have something I need. I need a zipper for this jacket. I'm afraid to ruin it with buttons. I love the material. I will take a picture of it as soon as I'm done. ciao for now

bunk

I know I am not suppose to put anything personal on here other than sewing stuff but sometimes stuff just tickels me and I have to write. Since moving here I've come across really colorul characters; while waiting to go to my various sewing stuff. While residing at shady rest minnisota junction: I find that older adults act just like kids.

Observation: I am no longer looking for any relationship especially on line. As i told my friend this morning. You should see the guys that have hit on me in this building. Sometimes looks say a thousand words: there is a gentleman who looks just like a walrus with a mustache...just got a haircut the other day. He has two cheddar teeth and the top and the other three at the bottom look like they are going on demolition rot. Anyway he has an enormus girth, his stomach enters the room before he does but somehow he seems to find me and wants to talk. Why is it that folks who are losing teeth, or don't have teeth find the need to smile and show you their gums or tooth rot? They really don't care. It's just amazing!

Second guy is question: is like obi one canobi only this guy as the runs of the mouth God bless his soul. Nothing is remotely pertinent when he opens his mouth to speak. Starts off talking about flour and will end up talking about fly spit. Who cares? Then there's another guy that has long hair, southern drawl, overall blue jeans. We have these magnetic cards that get us through entrance of the building. He's the only guy that opens the door with his ass. Just amazing. These three gentleman are in heat, and always have something to say to me. It just goes to show you that people who look crazy, and are three sandwiches short of a picnic love talking to people who are sane.

Well on the on hand that makes you probably wonder about me because I talk to these people. I just don't want to be rude. I figure if these guys are like this now, just what will they be like when it gets warm. Lord please let me be gone all summer long. You know people always watch the newest person that moves in the building. Maybe I am fair game. Another guy is on an oxygen tank has four teeth, and smokes, and is delightful to a certain extent. I told him, "if you remove the oxygen hose from your nose and gave me a hug, you would probably fall down. I figure there is no sense in him looking, but he can dream can't he? which makes him all the more safer to talk to because his health is in such poor condition that him making a pass at me; makes him safe! Boy what a relief.

Well my computer is still being service, and i will try and take a picture of myself with makeup on, and then I will get someone to take a picture of me in the stuff I've made. I'll have to admit that I don't go by the rules in sewing. So my stuff is a little unorthadox. Well so much for personal stuff. I'll get back as soon as I get an itch to write. ciao for now

visiting

well i was visiting a couple of sewing blogs, and i realized that i wanted to spice my background up a little. Maybe i am just jumping the gun first things first. Well i found out that there are a couple of glitches in my new computer, and it will have to be sent back. So you won't hear from in the next nine days. Wah wah wah.....now you know that when you've got the computer right here with you, you are not thinking about using it. Now that i know it's going to be gone I am going to want to use a computer. That's just ass backwards I know.

Can't wait for the spring to start up so that i can go fabric hunting. Think I will start around March. Then by April I will have a few things sewn up. last year i didn't buy any clothes from the store. I made all of my skirts. I've really got to get on the ball in making shirts. I think I am just afraid of the buttons. I didn't know that you have to have stabilizer for button holes. No wonder the button holes looked like they were going to get up and walk, and tiredly i might add.

now that I am in Minneapolis i suddenly am getting advertisements from Vogue fabrics. Too late guys. I really can't wait to find out how this place is in the summer. Hope i haven't gone from bad to worse. I do like what i see so far. In the mean time i am going to get as many sewing dvds and watch sewing videos. I am want to take this class in St. Paul for march. It might be a little later. Right now though I am having thoughts of grandeur on what to do for my birthday. Even though it's in may......i would like to be in a different state .....just for the day....be someplace different that i've not been before. What a wondering soul I am.....ciao for now

glad to pose

This is Linda she does not sew, but knows that Sue and I do, and she was such a dear in staying with us the whole 2hours while we drooled. This was my first time using the digital camera, and my first time on this fabric trip. Linda is holding up one of Sues quilt like squares. The are really works of art, and they adorn Sues walls. So now I've figured this out pictures and posting. Now it's on to the next hurdle. I'm learning!

Swith reels.....saw myself on the webcam and nearly scared the hell out of my self because I almost didn't recognize the reflection staring back at me. Age is just shocking some time. I am going to try and take more pictures now of the fabric places and then give the thumbs up and down. ciao for now

bagged treasures

This is the same day with Sue and Linda. Sue is the crafter and dyes material. She walks out of the store with paying only 15.00 odd dollars. Since i felt like alice in wonderland naturally I spent 53.00 but that was pretty good, out of this trip I've made two purses with leather, and will also have some canvas for a tote bag. Three shirts, well just jersey tops. Those are not that exciting. I am going to save up next time, cause i will need exactly a good 200.00.....

then this way I can make my whole spring/summer stuff.

my first time working with leather & tapestry

This is another style bag minus the straps that I gave to another friend. I scalloped the leather (white part) with a perscription bottle, and this is what I came up with, the upper part is tapestry. The bag came out pretty good, but I have to learn how to defince stuff a little more. I made this without a pattern. I gave this one to another friend of mine. She said she like it, and that it would match her shoes, or boots.

fabric heaven

At last this is the picture that i downloaded on my desktop. Don't know how I did it, but now you can see the smile that i was talking about. I haven't figured out yet how to download all of the pictures at the same time. so here goes

new new

ok now i have everything new and don't know how to use, i am learning. Tried to download the pictures but don't know how to do that yet. I had a headache in just going back and forth on this notebook. It takes some getting use to no doubt. I am going to play with this a little more, and try to see if i can get some on hands help. ciao for now

trying to keep busy

Ok you know how this goes, you start on something like my Morroccan Jacket, and then I have to stop. I have the sleeves in and all I have to do is put the collar on and hem the sleeves, and the bottom of the Jacket. My problem is.....I don't have the asian buttons I need to finish the prodject. I am almost petrified in making button holes on this fabric, but I now know that you have to stabilize the buttons holes, I learned it the hard way. Also I wanted to do a hongkong finish on the inside of the Jacket, because I thought that I would be able to wear it in reverse. It's an interesting piece. I need bias tape, black bias tape. Anyway that frustrates me not to be able to complete something because I'm missing another piece to the puzzle.

So guess what I did? I picked up something else to start on. I saw this Eyptian looking tapestry and thought it would be nice to make a bag out of. I am not using a pattern. I also brought some leather from the goldmind that I visited earlier. I am going to use the leather for the bottom of the bag, and if I can make handles out of the rest of the leather. It's really a nice color. I will more than likely have a new computer by february and then I will post the pictures. I will just take pictures of what I'm making and then you will see what I've done during the winter.

I thought to myself wouldn't it be interesting to using invisible thread on this bag. So I tried it. One thing I know not to do, is to try wind the thread on bobbin. It's just awful. The thread starts to unravel before you even put the bobbin in position to be wound. So one of my friends told me she would never put that thread on the bobbin. I said thanks for telling me after I spent an hour trying to remove the thread from inside the bobbin spool. I thought I was going to have to take the machine apart. So i am just using the thread at the top and using regular thread in the bottom. It works out alright so far. I like the effect the invisible thread gives on this tapestry.

I also used uphostery needle 100-94 I believe or i can use the denim needles either one will work. So later on I will get to putting this bag together. Another thing I wanted to try was using glue to position the leather in place. Guess what I have no glue. So now this will be another unfinished thing until I get to the fabric store. One thing I know for sure sewing is expensive, and when you get into to notions from now on am going to pick out something I don't need at the moment, because I never know when I'm going to need it in the future. I think these two things will turn out nice though. I am going to have to get someone to take my pictures with me wearing my stuff. well ciao for now.....if anyone has any ideas at all feel free to send some views.

Ok today I decide to cut into my virgin fabric from Morroco. I was so nervous I had to come down here to be on the computer. It's so nerve wracking because you know that once you cut into the fabric there's no turning back. But I've had this fabric for 2yrs. Got it in Chicago. I am going to attempt to make a jacket out of it, but first I must procrastinate.

The material is uphostery. So I thought that this would be unique in that it would be sturdy jacket. I know though that this must be dry cleaned. I'll get around to sewing it tomorrow after I watch one life to live. I haven't a clue how this is going to turn out at all. I promised myself that I would cut into the fabric, that means the fabric I got from China 6yrs ago from a friend. I got scared after screwing up the fabric that my friends brought back from Ireland. Man did that hurt. Of course I tried using a pattern. This was the real wool. The pattern sucked.

So now I am going to go by myself without a pattern to see how this is going to turn out. Sometimes I score and sometimes I don't. I am just to go for it. This should be fun. Right now though I am going to have to go because someone came down and started to talk to me while I am on this thing. So I will talk to you later.

sunday

Well i've just moved into an another apartment. Which is really a long story. Let's just say there was a rent adjustment. I moved from a really large apartment with plenty of room for me to collect crap. This is due to a monetary and paper gliche that management had on properties. The properities had already made their adjustment on rent increase for the year. Wish they told me that in august when I applied.

In my new apartment I can sneeze, fart and blow my nose and be in the same room. My point....there is no room. What ever will I do? I've got to find a way to be able to sew in this new place. The walk in closet is filled with fabric scraps and patterns, not to mention some fabric that i've not sewn yet. I am going to have to sew the stuff now. In the other apartment though short lived I made two shirts and a pair of pants. I was really going to go to town. Of course I've been bitching about not being able to get any fabric this month.

This move has cost me up the ying yang. I am still going to buy fabric. I would like to have just 100.00 so I could get some fabric and make some things. Now i know I said I don't have any room, but something tells me that I will fill up my closet with a few hanging things. By the way my closet is filled with stuff I sewed up last summer that are now in boxes. I've thought about putting some things in storage. Now that's an idea...put my sewing stuff in storage. I am going to have to work this out. I have no time to have a nervous breakdown at this point. I keep telling my self...."this too shall pass" and I hope it passes with a quickness. I was going to get myself some fabric for this month, but had to pay some unexpected charges in housing. Well let's hope that the new year brings me much more than I've had this year. The term bumpy ride does not even remotely sound familiar. This is like gargantuan, monolithic, and any word used to describe what i've been through this year.