Embroidery Hoop Awesomeness

I finally joined the embroidery hoop club! Do you know what I'm talking about? Here are some examples.  I know they had their day a few decades ago, but I wasn't old enough to make a cool one then.

Here is mine:  

I made it last week while I was having one of those days.

Vintage Inspired Box Pleat Birthday Dress

 My goal was to create the perfect dress to use some of my cotton/silk blend fabric from India.  This fabric has some great body so it really made sense to make a structured dress.  This dress has a simple shape to it; a fully lined bodice with 2 darts in front and 2 in back, and 2 box pleats in the front and 2 in the back.  It is thin fabric, so it did need to be fully lined, which also gives it nice structure.  This fabric almost broke the bank at 76 rupees a meter x2 meters....so $3!?  And the lining is a vintage flat sheet.

 I hadn't done this much clothing pattern drafting and fitting since fashion school back in 2007.  It's a long process getting the fit just right but it's worth the work.  The dress was about 4" too long at first, so I shortened it...a bit too short.  Next dress I make with this pattern will be the perfect length!

Finished just in time to wear for

my birthday!

Custom Banners

Before I left for India, I accepted this job to make some custom bunting for TWU Alumni Association.  I had 2 weeks to finish these up as well as work on our basement renovation.  In the end everything got done!  It was a stressful 2 weeks, but deadlines good for me, I work well under pressure.

I love the color combo they chose.  Check out the mustard 

color one....its a bandana! Cool right?

The Alumni Association had a free candy shop!  How awesome is that! 

(hence the sign "candyshop")

Back from a Grand Adventure

I had the time of my life in India.

I loved what I saw, I loved the people I met, I liked the food I ate, and I liked everything in between.  I took time throughout my travels to just enjoy everything, even if it was out of my comfort zone.  The temperature and humidity in Doha on one of my layovers was one of those things, it was intense, but I took time to enjoy it for the few minutes I was there. 

The trees and plants were amazing! 

I had to sew some sleeves on one of my outfits. 

LUCKY me! Getting to sew in India! 

Everything was so colorful, from the plants

to the cloth, to the exterior of houses.

So, now I'm back to the races and working on new patterns and designs.  The last thing I worked on was the page a day soft book, did you enjoy it?