robynsewsthisandthat

It has been a week. And a week it has been. Here is my collection of seven (or so) photos from my week. Natalie at Threads and Bobbins created this link up to share what we have been doing with the rest of our time during the week. Anyone can join in at any time. For more details go here.

This was taken last Saturday when I dropped my youngest fledging off at the catering job she was doing and I had to stop to take a photo of the spectacular view. This is on Brown Mountain looking towards Charlottesville. The white building that you see on the next hill is Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson. Tomorrow, July 4, is the United States celebration of this country’s independence. Every year there is a Naturalization ceremony at Monticello. If you which to learn more check it out here.

2. 

I am experimenting with stamping with fabric paint. I will tell more of this later.

3. 

I received this very pretty orchid in the mail. Can you imagine? But, it is healthy and happy. Oh, I was given it because…..

4.

It was my birthday week! I have reached the magical age of “6” with a zero behind it! I got the cupcake for picking up my cake that my wonderful husband ordered. The bakery gives anyone who stops in on their birthday a free cupcake of their choice. Yes, that is bacon on the cupcake. It was dark chocolate with mocha frosting and bacon. Yum! The big cake was carrot. It was fabulous!

5. 

There was a brief thunderstorm in the evening but it cleared out and we were able to go eat dinner in the downtown area. It was lovely to sit outdoors.

6. 

The week was spent brining these sour pickles. They are now ready for us to enjoy and my husband is thinking up all kinds of meals to pair with them.

7. 

I was asked by the swim team committee at the pool to make this shirt for the coach’s one year old son. I usually monogram the swim team bags and I used to have a cute dolphin embroidery. Unfortunately, with computer system upgrades and such I am unable to retrieve that stitch out so I just created an appliqué to add to the shirt when I was making it. It is done in the team colors. I used the Field Trip Raglan t-shirt pattern from Oliver & S. It was a quick and easy project (except for the mishap with one of the threads on my serger that broke not once but, twice on the final seam. Gotta love it, right?

Hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead. Stay safe and happy and productive. I know that’s my goal.

I love my sewing magazines. So much inspiration, so many possibilities. I usually just dog ear the page to return to later and very rarely do. But, this pattern in the June/July 2016 Sew News issue really had me thinking (instead of sleeping)

Based on your measurements, you can create just one pattern piece to make this really cute, casual dress. The dress is constructed by 4 of that one piece. Neat. Right?

I don’t enjoy wearing long dresses but, I thought this would look really nice in a tunic length. And I had a piece of this colorful jersey knit that I wanted to use for my new tunic.

I took my measurements and tried to follow the directions for drafting out my pattern piece. 

You can probably see that I attempted to draw this pattern a couple of times. And then a couple of more times. Apparently I am not good at measuring myself. Or at least the measurements don’t seem very accurate. Does anyone else have the same problem? Well, I pushed forward.

This knit was my choice for the lining.

I was really kind of liking the results. That is, until I tried it on. The lower parts of the “V” were much too deep under the arms and in the front. Ugh! I had to set it aside for a day or two and ‘sleep on it’ for a bit.

The shoulders were to be fastened with buttons. And the over lap was going to be way too much in order to make it fit me correctly. It was terrible. So much so, I couldn’t bare to photograph it. After a bit of time thinking, I decided that I needed to remove the points at the shoulders and create a shoulder seam to take up the way too much depth in the dips. I really didn’t know what else to do. I opened up the side seams at the shoulder and seamed it together.

It’s still not exactly what I had wanted out of the pattern or with the fabric but, it is wearable. At least I am wearing it. Even as I write this post. I just haven’t taken a picture of me wearing it yet. So, I wouldn’t call it a total flop and I am only mildly annoyed with the way it turned out. I am still trying to work the pattern around in my mind on how to make it work out better. I do want to try it again. I guess I would feel better about the whole process if I could understand what went wrong with my measurements. Maybe my body type just isn’t suited for the pattern style? Maybe I can figure it out on the next go around. I will let you know my spin on the next one I try.

Here’s hoping all your sewing projects are winners!

I surprised myself as I didn’t think that I had enough photos to add to the Sunday Sevens this week. Of course, you don’t need seven photos nor do you need to post every week. It’s simply a casual way for bloggers to connect and share their weeks and this whole thing was created by Nat over at Threads & Bobbins. So have a look and join in the fun if you choose. No pressure.

1 – This post is Spring heavy…’cause like many of you (even across the pond) Spring has Sprung and I am fully enjoying it.

  
2 – Mr. Fox came to pay us a visit. He has been making a regular appearance just to remind me that I cannot have backyard chickens. Oh, no I can’t! There were also reports of a possibly rabid fox in the north end of town biting people and stealing scarves. Our fox does not sport a scarf so, he does not have rabies.

  
3 – More signs of Spring.

  
4 – I made these wall decorations for my sewing room. I am feeling better about my space and more organized.

  
5 – I am still trying to find tiles to add to the ones I already purchased for my kitchen. I really want to finish my various projects around the house. I found these black tiles and decided they would work with the countertops. And 20 tiles cost me less than $5.00. I just couldn’t pass it up.

  
6 – Another sign of Spring. The scooter is washed up and it needed a new battery. I finally got to take it out for a spin. Yay!   AND I put the snow shovels away!!!!

  
7 – My hubby takes the dog for walks up on a trail and once in a while I will go along. The trail is on part of the university grounds. There is an observatory there. Walking and biking trails. Some people run the trails. Lots of people walk there dogs there. Some group (environmentalists? Arborist?) tagged many of the trees. To identify them, I guess.

  
That’s about all for my week. Busy week coming ahead. I hope everyone has a great week!!

I have been working hard as suddenly the doors have opened wider to my teaching sewing opportunities. I have had a lot of help as one of my current student’s mom has spread the word of my class offerings to her neighbors that she knew had children who were interested in learning to sew. She even coordinated the days so I could come to their neighborhood and spend one hour at one house doing a lesson and then I move right next door to another house to do a second lesson. I don’t know which is harder, planning a series of lessons or coordinating the schedules of busy kids and their families. So, I really appreciate her help. I have acquired 3 new students through her efforts.

So when I have some extra time I have been enjoying a little personal play sewing. I purchased My Felt Doll Book. I have had a lot of fun in the past making stuffed toys and dolls. I wanted to try some more. 

  
I apologize but, I don’t seem to be able to leave things well enough alone as they are. I wanted a slightly larger doll so I enlarged the pattern a bit and began sewing up the main body of my doll. As I was working on assembling her (I definitely decided it would be a “her”) I was trying to imagine what her face would look like. I hand embroidered her eyes and facial features. And what personality she would develope through those facial expressions. And what style she would had.

 She did get another leg. Isn’t she cute? Some of my embroidery floss tails moved around a big on the inside of her face as I was stuffing her and they seemed to create some weird lines in her complexion. My daughter said that it made her look “old”. I was looking at yarns for hair and spotted a gray and black fun fur yarn and knew it had to be for my doll’s hair. 

  
It almost looks purple in this lighting. I love it thou. Now I need to develope her “style” and give her a name. Any suggestions will be considered and appreciated.

 Have any of you made dolls? Do you find it fun to create a personality in a doll? Please share with me.