conference call

Gee I know it's been a few days. Today I had a three way call with two other ladies from the sewing association. One lady is totally into crochet, and the other lady holds my interests. Which is just mainly to learn how to sew our own clothes. So two of us decided that we would clone one another in making our own body doubles. Basically I am just fiddling around in the dark with this sewing thing. I figure I will learn through trial and error.

As you recall on our first meeting there were three ladies I met. Well the lady that happens to be a tailor gets paid 20.00 and hour. I didn't know that until tonight. So we may invite her, or should I say we might pay for her to come again. The 1st lady that is suppose to head the sewing club is a member of of ASG but she doesn't feel that she is doing enough, and therefore would like to hand the rains to someone else. In addition to that there really are only two of us, and since the first lady has other interest that involve fabric making, weaving, and crochet she is not that interested in the sewing aspect too much.

However she is going to be taking a sewing course. That is a whopping 700.00 but it takes you from the very beginning. So she has offtered to share the lessons with the two of us when she signs up for the course in February. By the way I made another jacket with a purse to match out out of upholstery fabric. I really need critique from a knowing eye. But that will have to wait for the time being.

don't nothing today

Okay I know this is the new year..........however I don't feel like doing crap today. Usually I have follow that train of thought because if I start on something in this frame of mind, I will screw it up. Someone brought me some silk from china, and I will make a blouse out of it, of course I am going to hold on to that thought until summer. I am working on another tapestry jacket. It's just about through. For the past three days I was struggling with the armhole. Of course this is done without a pattern. Sooner or later I will get the hang of this I know. In the mean time I will just have to put things together.
I need to make at least two more pairs of pants and some shirts for the next few months. I am thinking about getting the pattern for a shirt at hotpatterns. There's this universal top that looks good on everyone. I am trying to get out of the boxed looked, and get more into conturing.

today

It never fails but always on the last day of the year......I become linear, and take mental inventory on stuff, my stuff and all stuff. So while I am processing and making out my cards on steps to be taken, I am still thinking of more quicker ways to reach my destination, and maybe there aren't any, but i am going to make it fun in trying to get there. I just have a gut feeling that this is going to be the year for me shine..........I'm going to push myself as hard as I can to make things work. Putting as much positive energy out as I possibly can. I will also be doing a lot of praying for this next task. It seems I have to prove something to myself again.

new year

okay I finally know what I want to do, but must keep it under wraps until the ball gets rolling. this is going to be the biggest thing I've done so far. I can't wait until things go in motion. I put my Janome sewing machine on lay-a-way and I have a target for august. It is the 6600 and this is 1,000 stiches per minute. I think that is really fantastic for a so called domestic machine.

I've only told two people that I trust about this machine. the other so called friends my throw a monkey wrench it my dream. I am going to carry out this plan. From what I can see it's going to go just right. it's a shame that folks wish you ill when you are trying to accomplish something. I am in the last phases of life so to speak and I intend to make them count for something. I decided for once in my life that I am going to do something I love doing, and I am going to work with machines. I now have to boil it down to the two items I plan on developing. I've got a check list, and I am going to go down the line after everything I accomplish. I am not going to let anything stand in my way............the fact that I've even typed this out in black and white for all to see makes me have to go through with this process.

all that's left of a quilt

this is the jacket that was made out of a queen size quilt. I will never do this again. As it was really difficult trying to maneuver the fabric under the feed dogs. I also made some oven gloves and a makeup bag. I got as much out of the quilt as I could. At this point I would not try to make a bag. I got tired of working with this fabric.
The only thing left to do is put the asian tie buttons on this jacket. It is a warm jacket though, but the fabric is not that pliable. For some reason the quilt felt a lot softer before I chopped it up. Again with my hard head I decided to make this without a pattern. Who knows I just might get the hang of this.

not complete

Here is one of the jackets I was working on, but now I have to wait to get the asian twist buttons that I want. I should be sewing at this moment but just don't have the go button on just yet. Believe it or not this is something that I've had for over a year and decided to work on it.

i know, i know

Right now I am working on a blanket that I tore apart and for some reason decided it would be a good idea to make a jacket out of it, and also see if I could make a purse as well. Tomorrow I will take pictures of the scraps and then you can get a good idea of just the mess I've created. I am hoping this is working out. As for the sewing machine that I would like to get, I've been reading up on the janome 6500 and the 6600 and it seems that the women are having trouble with the bobbins ect. I am so hoping that I don't have this problem. After I've gone through the mental process of throwing myself into one family.........Janome. I was going to do the Baby lock but I've always wanted a Janome, and I guess I won't be satisfied until I get one. At 1,000 stitches per minute this is right up my alley. It seems like my other machines are too slow. Or maybe it's just my imagination.
So far I've not heard from the ladies that I met at the sewing expo and that's alright. I am moving on to the next group of people. so I am going to continue in scoping out the sites and I really should be checking up on the blogs but have been so preoccupied with the machines. Not to mention how I'm going to keep in shape during the winter. I've got to get a stationary bike it's a must. I am really going to get in better shape. No sense in sitting around. At my age I need to be in minimum shape. I would like to age gracefully. I figure that the sewing will keep me mentally alert. It's all I have at this point. Still looking for some type of work. So I can support this habit. Something will show up I'm sure. I should say sources beyond my control will point me in the right direction around the setting that I wish to be in. I hope this is soon. Can't believe that this is December. Another year coming up...............hopefully i will be better at putting things together.

saturday

Well today my friend Carmell took me to the Janome place. I had no intentions whatsoever of getting a machine at this point and time. Guess what.....I am now putting a sewing machine on lay-a-way. It's just the one I wanted to......the guys name is Walt and we talked briefly about sewing machines. I had been on line at the Janome site and reading what the women were saying about their sewing machines. So this is one I wanted. 6600 series I believe. So this is going to be great. It will be a few months before I get this machine out, but I don't care at this point. It's better than getting one used.
I am not going to tell my other pals about this machine until after it's paid for. Thank God I have two others that I can use. This is going to be great. Also we stopped by S&R Harris fabric outlet, and of course I brought something that I had no intentions of getting. But since I hadn't been there since last November I thought to myself.......get it now because I may not come here for a while. I am going to be dreaming about miracles now that I have this machine on hold. It felt good just knowing that it will be in my possession soon. I know what you are thinking. This broad is sick.......yes I am about sewing machines, but now I finally got what I always wanted and thats a Janome. Over all this has been a really good day.

first meeting

Well I was suppose to meet my sewing buddy saturday, however she bit off more than she could chew and ended up running people around. We were suppose to meet at 11:00 and she ended up calling me around that time to say she was going to be later and could we possibly meet up on Sunday.

Needless to say I told her, "I had my bag all packed and everything" I was really disappointed, anything to get out of this place and somewhere new. So the lady told me, " let's make it for 11:00 Sunday without fail, no matter what we will make this an all day thing." So I said, "alright" for the remainder of the afternoon I just mentally vegged out and watched movies.
Now Sunday is here................cut to the chase..........I call her at 9:30 to make sure that I am not going to be stood up. She say's I will call you when I get there." 11:00, 30, 12:00,30, 1:00,30, 2:00,30 and then she calls, "I'm on Bloomington, I just go down to park? Right? Right I say...now anyone that knows me, knows I do not wait, hate it, hate it, if you tell me 11:00 you'd better be there at 11:00 or I'm off somewhere else...........but I am not driving so I am just at her mercy. When the car pulled up, all I could do was shake me head.

Now cut to the chase..........she had a nice house, and I think she was more or less trying to feel me out, after all this is the first meeting. So I brought a jacket that I am working on, my goal I told her was to finish everything I start. This fabric came all the way from Morocco so I didn't want to mess it up. She gave me some really good pointers and told me she couldn't believe that I cut this without a pattern. I also made a bag for her as a gift for our new found sewing friendship. I really hope this turns out well.

As for the second lady that I met at the sewing expo.....I find out that they don't see each other all the time. So I guess I will exclusively be her sewing buddy. I made two bags one for each of them. She was thrilled with her bag and the other lady gets her bag by default. We talked about patterns, family (just a tad) I wanted to get to the sewing part screw the niceties (isn't that crazy) but everything must take it's course. So she showed me her pride and joy: viking 500, and babylock machine, and evolve serger (the air one) and a viking serger (905) so now I know she is really a sewer. She showed me how to pop a seam, which I didn't know how to do, something regarding pockets and how to make them and place them on a jacket without showing a seem. That was neat.

Over all I think she will work out fine. I will do a follow up. She did tell me that she doesn't drive in snow, so this means that I will have to take the bus to her place. This is Minnesota for petes sake! So I might not see her that often. I don't know what I am going to do in the winter besides keep busy. We are suppose to go to the fabric place. I will make sure I do this in December. This will be my christmas present to myself. My other sewing buddy calls from Chicago and impishly gloats over sewing stuff with me, called up Katty and asked, "How are you doing?" I said, "you just called to see how the day went on my first visit with this lady." She just laughed. I'll keep you posted

two more bags

these are the bags that I made to give to the two ladies that I met at the Sewing expo. I thought that maybe it would nice to bring something to the table in that we will be sharing things with one another. So I am hoping that this goes over well.
I've decided that I am going to sew all the UFO's or as many as I can. Cause if I don't do that then I will have a lot of things unfinished. so I am going to work on one more bag that I will post and then i am going to take the morrocan fabric and show it to one of the ladies and get some help on it, really all I need is shaping of some sorts. Then I will be on my own. I will meet with her this saturday and let you know how it goes.

friday

Today I forgot to take my camera. I really, really, meant to take my camera. This was my first sewing expo in this part of the country. I'd been to the one in Puallup, in Washington state, but this was a first. I was in heaven just walking around looking at everything. I arrived around 11:30 in the morning and would you believe? I stayed until the raffled the sewing machines away.

There were so many ideas out there, and examples of things that people sewed. Even some advice on how to join an embroidery club, regardless of what brand machine I have. I was looking at the babylock sewing machines and I really liked what I saw. The serger was awesome and at 2500 dollars it should shine my shoes. It's worth every penny from what I hear. I also managed to pick up two ladies who I am sure that we will remain in contact with each other. They spent at least 300.00. I came even though I had no money but did buy something from Vogue fabrics, my hometown Chicago fabric store. It was nice seeing some of the ladies that had waited on me in the past. They didn't remember me but I remember them because I shopped there frequently. It was the only store for miles around that had such a large selection to choose from.

I also tried to see if I could get some connections with working for Babylock. I now realize that suggesting volunteering to work at any fabrick shop is out of the question. Hiring is the key. So I guess I will just keep plugging away. It's a very tough place to try and get into especially if you are a woman of color. I still enjoyed just being there. I will make sure that I attend next year, and maybe take a class of some sort. I was advised though by my new found friends that taking a class was not all that beneficial. So I just remembered. These ladies really sew, so I am quite sure I will learn something from them. Well that's all for now. I am tempted to go again saturday, just to see if I can win a machine. Who wouldn't want to win one, but now since Babylock says they have a lay-a-way then I am going to go that route.

sewing expo

Well monday I went to the Pfaff sewing center up in St.Paul. I just introduced myself and inquired about a job. I know they are not hiring, but I added that I would like to volunteer two days of my time just so I could learn about sewing machines. Well the lady just looked at me and smiled like you would with a child. At least that is the way I felt. She gave me a free pass to go to the sewing expo....so I am really happy about that, but I told the manager that I would like to be loyal to at least one sewing machine.

I told her that I was familiar with the top of the line sewing machines or should I say makes of sewing machines, and that I always keep myself informed on the latest with the on line sites and what the ladies are saying out there. I think that this would be a plus having someone with that type of info. I jokingly stated that trying to get a part time job in this field is like trying to get into the mafia. It's so tightly run and most of the time it's by private owners and they are so far out in the subburbs. I also asked if she had a lay-a-way plan. That was a definite no but it was in the eyes followed by a soft verbal no. I will see if I can make some type of contacts at the sewing expo. I am going to be a sewing machine whore........and to the person who takes me up on my offer. I refuse to work with Singer. I'll do anything but singer. I'm not that crazy about viking but I will even surrender to them just to get my foot in the door. I will report on thursdays outing.

ASG

Today I spoke to a member of the american sewing guild. She was nice but we'll see how things go. We were discussing how things are run and which type of groups that I might be able to join. Also how close they are. It appears that the majority of these places are really far out in the sub burbs as is the usual case, and the rest of them are in St. Paul.
I've been checking out St. Paul lately and so far i like what I saw. I am anxious to meet someone who can share my enthusiasim. It would be nice. I am trying to find a meeting place that we might show up in, also I would like to meet more than just one day out of the month I'd feel cheated. I'm also told that if I join the guild that I would get discounts on fabric and stuff. Can't add up to to much. I am keeping my fingers crossed on another thing, I dare not say it, also I found a Janome dealer but I've got find out whether or not I would be able to reach this place by bus. This is my biggest drawback since moving from Seattle. No car, and boy do I miss having one.

the inside of the poncho

I did not mean to show two of these pictures. I'll get this right yet. I've been fidling around with this camera all day. Lost the pictures, duplicated pictures, deleted pictures. Sooner or later I'll get it. It's just remembering all of the is crap.

todays poncho

still looking

Right now I am still looking in trying to find something involving sewing. Determined that someone is going to let me in this market. In the mean time I've been going to "savers" it's like the salvation army or something. Hopefully I will find some type of fabric. But to tell the truth I think that I am going to better off going on line to buy fabric. I will have to develope a buget of some sort.
I spent all this time building up credit to have the company fold. Now I will have to find another outlet. I had planned on getting something from all brand in addition to the software. I will get the Vikant because it's less trouble. I really wanted to start using this embroidery machine but the software is what stands in the way. I can put in on lay-a-way and that will be a start, but I've got another prodject I am working on as well. Will upload as soon as I get the chance or take more pictures.

photos

i hope i am doing this right. Trying to download the pictures. So up at the top I wanted to decorate this old stand. So I took some regular old sheet material and put some lacey stuff around it. The next picture is of yours truly in a fruit material. It says native italian on it. Who would walk around with oranges on themselves? Only me. Then there's the picture of my canvas shopping bag. I broke three needles on the machine trying to make that bag. I've not gotten the hang of focusing. The last pictures are of downtown minneapolis from the 5th floor.

tuesday

Okay i know that today is thursday, but tuesday I went to this place called savers, and I think from now on I'll keep looking for fabric. So far I've lucked out in buying some fabric, usually it cost me around 1.99 and I can make a pair of shorts or a top from it. So this tues I found some teal like fabric and also some type of tee shirt (white and stretchy) all in all 4.00 and which each of the fabrics I can get a pair of pants for the teal, and a top. With the blouse I think i will just get a top and save the rest of it.
Now mind you I've not brought any store material just yet. The way I figure it I might not be able to get anything until November. Right now I've got my eyes set on this Janome sewing machine. I am thinking about putting it on lay-a-way. I may start next month. Either way I hope to have it out by January. I don't want to sign up for a class until I get the machine out.
It's amazing how folks think I can sew cause they see me wear the stuff I make, and haven't a clue as to what I did, most of the time I am just tracing things out from other stuff I've worn. I can't wait to take some of the on line classes. I am also going to get the Vikant. I just don't feel like dealing with a lot of stuff. The Ped design is not too clear, and I really need something a little more easier. I forgot how to work my camera and download....so I have to go back to the instructions and try to apply them to this site. My friend is Seattle is really nosey so she wants to see. She can't help herself.

long time

well i know it's been a while since my last post. However I've been paying down some bills and still doing my research regarding a sewing machine. So far I've gone back to the sight on the Bernina (i will always love that machine) but realistically the price right now is just too much. So i've been going back and forth to all brands.com and looking at the Janome deals they have. I am really torn between three sewing machines. One I has a large bed, and that would be wonderful but not too practical to take to a sewing class.
Then it brings me down to the cheaper brand....hate the word cheap, what's more hate getting cheap anything. I feel it's much better suffering with getting what you want so that you keep it a longer period of time. So I might go a little higher with the Janome. It has a good reputation. Hopefully i will get some fabric soon.
As for the summer I've been going to second hand stores in the area and finding good deals on remnants. Made nothing but shorts, and and awful suit....that I will show later. Right now I am working on a shirt. Will take a picture and post it. I've been out of needles so I've got to get some and have spoiled myself with getting the Klasse needles you don't have to change them as often as the smetz. Well I will try and put the photos on during the weekend. Right now the Minnesota fair is going on.
Made a little change cutting hair so there goes my sewing needles. ciao for now