Thursday, September 17, 2009

No entry in the Jacket contest :(

Well, due to the fabric I'm using (very bad ravelling) I've had to finish the sleeve seams different than the contest rules state. You are not to have any exposed seams in order to qualify....so I'm not going to enter. However, I will finish before the deadline. It is coming along very nicely! Pictures to follow.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Contest Jacket progress

Well after cleaning up the house,laundry and making a grocery list and making it to the grocery store, I was finally able to get in the sewing room and continue the work on the contest jacket. I sewed the front sides and have the sleeves ready to put into the jacket. Here are a few pictures.




Here is a picture of the "extra" fabric that I had to purchase. I haven't had to cut into it yet, but after I get the sleeves in, I will cut this for my facing pieces.

And speaking of grocery lists...a fellow WW member told me about this website that you can pick the type of meal plan you want and what store you want and for $15.00 for 3 months, it will calculate the points, have recipes, grocery lists and the prices for that store of the items on your grocery lists. I signed up for the Points system, for 2 people and any store (because I hate shopping at Wally World) and I bought my groceries from the list today. It seems pretty neat! Give it a try, I have the link over to the right! Weight loss update...another 1.4 # for a total of 46.2 pounds!

Friday, September 11, 2009

It's Here!!!

My fabric arrived today! Now I can cut the other 2 pieces and get started again on the jacket. I have all the back and sides done.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Rejected.....again!!!

Yes, can you believe it??? I was rejected to give blood again! This time.....I went to Costa Rica. So, now I'm banned from giving until June 2010, but I'm traveling to Mexico in 2 weeks. I guess I'll just have to be one of those people that will NEVER be able to give blood, because I'm always traveling out of the country for work. 2011 - I'll be in Brazil, 2012 I'll be in Russia. No blood from me!!!!! I really am disappointed :(((

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Contest Jacket is coming along

I started sewing the contest jacket tonight. Yesterday I discovered that the paisley knit top I made on Monday will look fantastic with the new jacket. The colors match perfectly. The other fabric should arrive either tomorrow or Friday. I've really gotten as far as I can go for now until the other arrives.

Tomorrow I am going to do something I have never done before.....Give blood! Yes, I'm going to try it again. Over 20 years ago I tried to give blood at the hospital for this woman that had to have her arms amputated, and she was an accountant. I felt for her and her family and decided to give in her name only to be told that the meds that I was taking (Bactrim) was a sulphur drug and I wasn't able to give blood because there are too many people allergic to sulphur drugs. I never tried to give again. Last night the local blood bank called for my DH and I took the message that they were wanting his blood, then asked me if I had ever given. Tomorrow the blood bank is having a special 12 hour drive and I'm going to head over there at lunch and give a pint! I'll at least lose 1/2 pound :)))

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

I'm in luck!!

The store called first thing after they opened and the sales clerk found my fabric on the remnant table with 1 3/4 yards left!!! Plus it was on sale! I only needed 32inches, so the extra will be nice. She took my credit card info and will charge me and ship tomorrow via UPS!! The jacket is saved.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Change of plans.....again!

I had to make a change to the plans after the cutting day yesterday, because I goofed again! I realized my jacket pattern calls for 4 front pieces instead of 2 (this happened on the other one as well and I totally forgot about that little tidbit)I need to highlight that CUT 4 on that pattern piece, seriously I really need to go do that NOW! Anyway...I was doing all my markings on the pieces and I saw that little 4 there and remembered..and I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FABRIC!!! I am about 4" short, or course it could be 2" and it doesn't matter because I still don't have enough fabric. I frantically looked for the receipt and thankfully it does have the fabric item number on there. So I called the store, and they are closed today because of the Holiday. I left a message and hopefully they will call tomorrow and maybe I can get over there before the end of the week and keep my fingers crossed that they still have the fabric! YIKES...I was so upset.

Sooo, I regrouped and I started making the knit top that is the Talbot's knockoff. It turned out fantastic!!! Yay!!! But before that my DH helped bring in the Europro Vacuum Iron and Ironing board that my friend Jayne gave me. I didn't have the direction book and couldn't locate on online, so I really didn't know how to use the thing and honestly, I was a little scared! I had read that sometimes they pull so much electricity (1500 watts) that it needed to be on its own circuit. Well, it works WONDERFUL. I can't say that enough, it is totally AWESOME (and I don't use that word often because I think people use that way too much). This thing irons a seam so flat....well, I've just never seen anything like it, except maybe from something that the dry cleaner did. Here are a few pictures of this wonderful little machine.




With that said I had a great day in the sewing room after all. Here is the finished top!


So, I may just get started this evening on my PJ's! Plus I'll get to use the cool iron again.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Cutting Day

Today I've been cutting...and cutting...and cutting!

I have 3 projects cut and ready to go. I rented Margaret Islander's Industrial Tips video tape and one of the tips was to take a day and just cut out projects. Gather all items together (threads, buttons, seam binding,etc.) and tie with a scrap of the fabric.


The project to the left top is my next pair of pajamas. All my PJ's are too large now so it is time to make a new pair. I bought this fabric at Nancy's Notions online quite awhile ago. It is quilting cotton from one of Michael Miller's collections. I'll be making a short sleeve tunic style top and capri length bottoms. This will be #3 to sew in the cue.

The project on the right top is my Talbot's knockoff top. I mentioned this one earlier in one of the posts. This is #2 in the cue.


The fabric is a knit that was purchased in New Orleans at Promenade Fabrics.

And the front project is my jacket that I am going to enter in the PR Lined Jacket Contest. This the same pattern that I made for the Stitch and Flip Jacket class that I took from PR in July.

The fabric is a Home Dec that I bought in Mandeville a few weeks ago. The fabric is a blend of Linen/Rayon...we think! It steams/irons very nicely, but I will dry clean. The fabric is very similar to the fabric in a jacket that I had years ago. I'm using Ambiance lining fabric that I ordered online. I'll have to get to work on it tomorrow because the deadline is Oct 1 and I'll be leaving for Mexico on Sept 22 and not return until Oct 1...so I have to have it finished and photographed and my review written by the 22nd!

Now onto a finished project. I took another class Building a Better Blouse from PR in August and I put the finishing touches on it Saturday. This is a pattern that I blended from PMB and a Kwik Sew pattern for the sleeves. I am pleased with the way it fits. Not sure about the fabric though...maybe a little too "old lady" looking. However, I do LOVE me some paisley!


Oh, and I'm down another 1.2# for a total of 44.8....yes, .2 from an even 45#. Urgh! And it has been 35 completed weeks!