Weight-loss Wednesday

Three weeks ago I jumped back on the weight-loss bandwagon than I've fallen off of repeatedly.  Usually, I can manage to hang on for about 2 weeks before we hit a bump in the road and I get dumped in the dirt again.  This time, I'm sitting in the center of the wagon and have DH anchored in with me, so we are less likely to get tossed off!  I reached an all time high weight that I'm not quite sure how I reached, but I don't want to stay here.

Why am I telling you this? What does this have to do with sewing?

I'm telling you because making a public declaration means I'm really gonna put up a fight to report back with good news (like, I haven't touched chocolate or soda pop in 3 weeks)! You've seen me try this before (aka The No-Sewing-Until-I've-Exercised-Plan, epic FAIL), so I'm hoping I won't let you down this time.

Sewing Connection: I'm already down one pattern size in the bottom!  One of my favorite skirts has been too tight to wear, but I've really been wanting to make another, but refused to re-draft it larger.  I slipped it on yesterday and zipped it up, no problem!  The new version will be ready to show you later this week!

I found a paper where I had written my measurements this past November.  Between just my waist and hips, I've lost 7 inches.  That's 5 pounds and 7 inches gone.  Hopefully, forever!

I mentioned that DH is taking this journey with me, which I am so thankful for.  Fighting the bulge together will mean that we'll be able to lean on each other, encourage each other, and applaud each other.  I've got the man eating yogurt, granola, carrots & celery, and brown rice.  Holy crap! Now that's dedication!!!  He lost 8 pounds last week, so once he saw that, he's was all-in!

The plan we're following is the Logical Healthy Plan.
1.  Drink more water.

2.  Get more exercise.

3.  Eat healthy food.

No Atkins, no Weight Watchers.  We are using the free Spark People website to track our nutritional goals (calories, carbs, fat, protein), so that's really taking a lot of guess work out of it.  I've set a goal of 25 pounds lost by the 4th of July, but really, I just want to feel better about myself.  I want to be able to run with the kids, and set a good example for them.  I want to make beautiful (skinny) clothes and fit in my old favorites still in my closet.  I want to be able to run (and like it) and bike for miles with my family and friends.

So, I will take Wednesday of each week to update you on our weight-loss journey.  I know it has nothing to do with sewing, but... too bad.  If you don't care, don't read it.  But I know that I've got the perfect fabric for a Cynthia Rowley dress, and if I can make it a size smaller now than I would've a month ago, that's a really cool thing happening in my sewing space!  And DH is taking me out to show it off when it's done, so that's an even cooler thing!

Alice in Easterland

Butterick 3350

"Children's/Girls' Dress: Slightly flared dress, lower-calf, has fitted, lined bodice, dirndl skirt, back zipper.  ABCDEF: tie ends.  ABE: short sleeves."

Fabric: A garage sale find from last summer.  She noticed it first, and really liked it.

When I started the dress, I laid out 4 fabrics for her to choose from, and both her and Daddy liked this one the best!

Construction:  Super fast and super easy.  The bodice and sleeves are lined, which finishes both the neckline and sleeve hem.  I topstitched the neckline and edges of tie ends to keep them nice through the washer and dryer.  I absolutely love the sweetheart neckline on this!  The sizing is right on the money, too.

Overall: A new favorite! We never have this beautiful of weather on Easter in Michigan (winter coats are usually necessary), but today it's going to be 65 and sunny.  She'll be comfy and cute, so it's a win-win!
(When she was dressed and hair done, I couldn't stop thinking of Alice in Wonderland.  Long blonde hair in a headband with a blue dress...)

Happy Easter, everyone!!!

Daddy-Daughter Dance 2010

Little Miss Princess is wearing Butterick 3714 in "Barbie Pink", and the jacket is Simplicity 2683 (bamboo knit).  The pink is from Joann's, which makes it machine washable (priceless for a 6 yr old!).  I found a tutorial online for the flower embellishment, and I'm so glad I made the jacket, since it's 30 degrees outside today (1st day of Spring, yeah right...)

Daddy is wearing Simplicity 7030, in black Ralph Lauren shirting (from Ressy's co-op).  It's the umpteenth time I've made it, but he loves having shirts that fit correctly.  I was supposed to make him a matching tie, but there was no time.  I started the shirt last night and finished it this afternoon! (I know you can't see it, but isn't this a great picture?)

When I saw that belting, my mouth opened before my brain could stop it.  "Check this out! It reminds me of Hannah Montana!"  Those were really the only 2 words she heard, and immediately clasped her hands in front of her and assumed the begging position.  "Please. Please. Please. Please. Pretty Please. It will look so awesome, Mom.  Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssse?"

Oh, and she also wanted her hair to look like Taylor Swift.  OMG.  If she's 6 and like this now, what do I have to look forward to???

Here's last year's dress.  Still my all-time favorite!

So, that's 3 things I made in this post.  None of them for me.  Neither was my last post.  I think I'm overdue for a little "Selfish Sewing Time"!  And there is a fun new blog/sew along called Friday Night Sew-In and it's hosted by Handmade by Heidi.  I usually find myself inside and sewing on a Friday night, so why not?  Last night I was able to get DH's shirt all cut out and the front/back/button/yoke parts assembled by 11pm.  Not bad for a Friday night!

Belle of the Ball (in Blue)

My best friend chose dress #107 from the Nov. 2009 issue, but wanted it shorter and slightly A-line.

I chose navy blue crepe back satin and china silk from Fabric.com
It went together easily, except for trying to figure out the pleating and assembly of the folded band, and by the time I got to the neck drape, I just did it my own way.

I had to make a few minor adjustments, but it now fits her perfectly and she absolutely loves it.  I'm excited for her to enjoy the cruise, and she described the dress as "very, very special".  That what friends are for, right?

Next up: Little Miss Princess put a request in for a new skirt.  To wear to school.  Tomorrow.

No rest for the wicked... (or is it weary?)

The Un-selfish Seamstress

The Prom Dress fabric has been ordered (crepe back satin). The Daddy-Daughter dress has been done since February, and is all set for Saturday.
Daddy still needs a dress shirt, though.  Will cut that out tonight...

Saturday was spent making a gift for a dear friend.  I'll give you a sneak peek now, but you'll have to wait to see the finished product. 

 A few alterations have to be made, then it's getting picked up on Wednesday and packed to cruise to Jamaica and Grand Cayman.  Lucky dress... and lucky girl!

Yes, I did say "gift".  She's my best friend, has been for 15 years, and I love her dearly.  I'll have more Saturdays to sew, but when will she get to go on another cruise, ya know?

Time to get back to work, check back Wednesday for the "Final Reveal"!

**p.s.  I love The Selfish Seamstress, and mean nothing disrespectful when I refer to her title.  I really don't want to get on her bad side... to become a nemesis would be absolutely terrible.  (Can I campaign for that?)

Sewing Anger Management

If only he was holding a seam ripper...

So, I have a temper.  The first step is admitting there's a problem, right? RIGHT????

Sunday found me working on a new fire dept. logo for St. Patrick's Day...

Really cool, huh? One guy's idea has lead to multiple orders, so that's the bright side.

The down side is that this baby has a million stitches, and takes 40 minutes to stitch out.  Ok, less than a million, but it really does take 40 minutes, on my super big fast 6 thread machine.  No kidding.

So, when I realized that I had (stupidly) forgotten to rotate the design on a sweatshirt this weekend, I was angry.  Really mad at myself for forgetting to rotate the logo, and really really mad that I was going to have to rip out half a million stitches.  Really. Really. Mad.  The only thing worse than ripping out stitches, is ripping out really tiny stitches.  Out of a lofty fleece.  With multiple layers of stitching.  (Here comes the bad part...)

My sewing space is in the basement, which also houses some exercise equipment.  Like my punching bag.  So, I threw a few punches into the bag.  And a few kicks.  And some more punches.  At that point, I felt that the rage was gone, and I could handle some quality time with the seam ripper.  When I came upstairs, my son looked at me and said, "Mumma!  What was all that noise??"  Oops...  I removed the necessary stitches (not the whole logo, and it wasn't too awful [Yes, it was.]), and continued stitching out the logo, and ended it ended up looking pretty decent (except for the F on the right).  Decent enough to lead to more orders, so it ended up fine, I thought...

Monday I was a little sore, like I had a good workout.  Tuesday I was a little more sore, and thought "Geez.  I really must've been a little more aggressive than I thought."  This morning (at 4am) I woke to an awful pain in my back, and couldn't get comfortable. 2 doses of Ibuprofen later, it still feels like someone is constantly sticking their finger into my shoulder blade really hard, and deep breaths bring on slight chest pain. The knot has stayed with me all day, and I'm hoping a hot shower will help make it go away.

The moral of the story is: when you screw up while your sewing, fighting isn't the answer. Punching bags don't belong in sewing rooms.  Oh, and don't make me angy when I'm sewing.  You won't like me when I'm angry...

Embroidery has kept me very busy, and this week has been a real bugger at work, so I will update you Sunday on the Prom Dress and other Pretties, m'kay? Kay!  Hope all of you are finding nothing but success and happiness in your current sewing spaces.  Play nice with your projects, now...

Muslin, anyone?

I feel terrible.  All of you have goodies and fun stuff to show me, but I came to the party empty-handed.
No, wait... I have something in my pocket here... but it's boring, so prepare yourself!

Cotton muslin. Don't hurt yourself ooh-ing and ahh-ing.

We had our first fitting yesterday, and she is beyond excited, which is always good!  I've got to take the corset foundation piece in quite a bit, but that's no big deal.  We've got until mid-May, and she hasn't picked out fabric yet, so we are doing fine on time!

The skirt is cut on the bias and is more fitted than the envelope shows, so there's no "maternity look", which would be tragic at prom.

The bodice has a foundation corset underneath that is boned and fitted to hold the dress up.  I'm using the Threads issue from this summer/fall about strapless dresses and Susan Khalje's "Bridal Couture" book for guidance!

She wants a "non-shiny" fabric.  In the formal wear arena, that should be tricky.  The skirt pieces are HUGE, so much so that the pattern envelope only offers yardage requirements for 60" wide.  So if anyone should know of a non-shiny and wide fabric, please let me know!  Actually, my swatches from Fabric.com came today, so I'm hoping she likes the crepe back satin...

Meanwhile, I am going to re-do the corset in a double layer of red cotton, and make it nice and snug. I'm going to re-fit her again to make it perfect before attaching it to the dress.  Can't afford any "wardrobe malfunctions", ya know?  There's also too much fullness in those front gathers (under the knot), so I'm gonna mess with that, too.  Still working on good ole Martha, and she's doing a great job.  No new part yet.

I've got a few other irons in the fire, but am just too tired to type another word tonight! So, check back Sunday... I have something pretty to show you, I swear!  I've got a knit dress that's going to be wonderful...