Class 4: Bodice

I'm still very much enjoying my sewing class. Week 2, we went over the pattern instructions related to cutting out your pattern, and how to make some minor alterations. I got over my fear of using the rotary cutter without a ruler. Week 3, we learned about pattern markings, and then the teacher demoed how to do darts, gathers, understitching, and a few other techniques. I learned a lot of new terms, and had a major d'uh moment about tracing the markings from the pattern. I've never done this. I've always used the notches but never any of the markings! (And despite there being a lot of markings on my bodice, I didn't use any...yet.)

This week was all sewing! The bodice of my dress also has a lining, so I get to do everything twice! That meant 8 princess seams. I did the first one no problem, but then had trouble with the rest of the ones for the front bust. It's tough getting them pinned and going slow on the machine so the fabric doesn't pucker or gather. But it was all easily ripped out and I got it right. The back princess seams weren't as steep and not as challenging. I completed the bodice, and now just need to add the cap sleeves and skirt. I think I'm in good shape to finish during the last class. Here's a really bad photo of my bodice taken with my cell phone. I think if you squint you can just make out my lovely princess seam.

I've now added a tailor's ham (which really does look like a canned ham only padded) to my growing wishlist of items.

Garment Sewing...Part 1

I am taking a 5 week garment sewing class at Stitch Lab. I'm super excited to fill in some gaping holes in my pattern following/garment making knowledge, and really just have some one guide me through a pattern instead of figuring it out on my own! I'm hoping to make something without throwing a tantrum or having to rip something out!!!

I'm making a cap sleeve dress with a cute purple and green dotted/circle fabric. Can't wait for next week!!

Around the World in 52 Books

I'm participating in the Goodreads Around the World in 52 Books challenge. 52 books taking place in 52 countries. I'm going to map my travels as I read. Since I'm going to travel where ever my fancy takes me, I'll have a crazy map, but it'll be fun to see how it goes. I started off in Vietnam with Inside Out and Back Again and now I'm in Trinidad with Woman on a Green Bicycle.

View Full Size Travel Map at Travellerspoint

Watercolor Batik

I had to get up ridiculously early for this class, and I'm not a morning person. But it was soooo worth it. Thanks Wendy for a great class!!

How absolutely fun this was. We painted this Kathie George design on rice paper and used watercolors and wax to create layers of color. In the end we crumbled it all up, added one more layer of wax and voila. Well okay just a little more watercolor to finish it off. :-D Dead easy, loads of fun, and once again I'm playing with wax!!

Once Mural

And here's my lovely once mural on the wall, complete with an Italian biscotti wrapper lamp shade next to it. It's like I have a portal to Tuscany in my living room. So very cool.

Mural Repurposed

In 2008, I painted this mural for the niche in the house. When I moved out, I really couldn't bear to leave the mural behind. It was such an achievement for me in painting. So, I took it. My Dad offered to cut it down and build a frame for me. It took a while, but it finally got done. So now I have my lovely once mural repurposed into a picture. I can't wait for the varnish to dry and get it on the wall.

What if...

I don't ruminate much on this blog, well really at all. I mostly just use it as a way to document and share creative stuff I make. I'm in a ruminating mood today, with the new year. New Year's is one of my favorite holidays. I love the idea of saying goodbye to the last 12 months, and waking up with a fresh start. It's hopeful...optimistic...full of possibilities. So I've spent the last couple of days thinking about what I want my year to look like.

I am a creative person, but...it's not always easy for me. It's not easy to admit I'm creative, but I am. It manifests in my life in a variety of ways that I'm just starting to acknowledge. It's present on this blog. How many people do you know who decoupage their litter tub? :-D It's something I've been working on...embracing my creativity with wild abandon...one of my new year's resolutions.

Writing my resolutions got me thinking of one of my friends telling me about Debbie Macomber (an author) who picks a word every year to meditate on, to be the theme for her year. I liked that idea. I've been mulling it over in my mind since I heard about it a couple of days ago. If you pick a common word, then every time you hear the word you have a trigger. Almost like you are setting up your own subliminal programming for the year.

I like this idea on so many levels. I love words. They are so fun. Some just flow off the tongue and are so much fun to say...like zeugma. Others just have such wonderful meaning...like meraki. How do you pick just one word to be your theme, your meaning, your trigger for the year?

Well it came to me writing my resolutions. Embrace my creativity with wild abandon. Abandon. I looked it up on www.m-w.com. It's both as a verb and noun. As a noun it means "a thorough yielding to natural impulses." How awesome is that? I yielded to my natural impulses today by cooking all day. I cooked with wild abandon. It felt good. I was in a state of meraki.

As a verb it means "to cease from maintaining, practicing, or using." That works too. I'm working on abandoning any ideas, thoughts, patterns that don't help me be the best me I can be.

How cool is that? I get double meaning out of one word. Encouragement to trust my instincts, explore new experiences, create art that sings to my soul, and a gentle reminder to let go, to quiet that critical voice in my head. It fills me with hope and wonder at what the year will hold if I embrace the idea of abandon. Oh the possibilities just lead to a series of lovely, wonderful, optimistic, hopeful What if.... What if... What if...