Trip wrapup

I've been putting off writing this post as I didn't really know what to say. So I'll just concentrate mainly on my purchases (cos, after all, isn't that the best bit?? LOL) and do a quick roundup of Puyallup and the classes in another post.

We arrived into Portland on Sat 26th Feb and proceeded to drive to Tigard for Apple store shopping. It was quite cold & stupid me forgot her jacket. We were dashing from store to store in 34 degrees with my teeth chattering. Anyway, I ended up with DH's iPad, my red iPod nano and a blue shuffle for my mother. I also bought some goodies at the Mac cosmetics store. Good haul!

Next day, we were chaffeured around by Janis and this is where the good stuff started. First stop, Fabric Depot. My friends & I had already begun shopping there before we even left home. They had a 50% off Clover sale the weekend before so we ordered on-line and picked up the order in the store. I also managed to drop some serious $$$ while we were there which was mostly notions but also some fabric & patterns. Oh & some DMC embroidery thread which is much cheaper there.

Next stop, Mill End Store. I have to say I tried my hardest but no fabric came home with me from there. Sharon, on the other hand, got the motherlode. But that's another story. All I got from Mill End was some wonder tape & the PR book.

I'd better share some pics with you otherwise it'll get a bit boring - me rambling on about various stores etc. You get the drift. Here's my fabric haul.

Let's see..... how can I tell you what they all are? At the back, the red stuff is polar fleece from Rose City Textiles. Very yummy! I also have some black for DH that's not in the photo. This came in very handy in some of our cold hotel rooms. Why don't they ever have spare blankets in the rooms???? But I digress. The black fabric at the back right is ponte. Next row is a poly/spandex aqua print, a rayon batik (gorgeous), the black/aqua sort of stripey fabric is a very fine cotton voile and the aqua on the right is some sort of knit from M&L fabrics in Anaheim ($2.79 p/yd). Next row is the most gorgeous cherry red/black knit (I think it's rayon but can't quite remember), then some b/w meshy stuff from Marcy Tilton's booth at Puyallup, the stripe is also from her booth and the red on the right is silk weight wickaway from Rose City Textiles. Finally, the bottom row is a gorgeous pink/black stretch woven from Yellow Bird Fabrics in SLC, blue/black/aqua funky silk for my coat lining, black/aqua knit also from Marcy I think and a piece of chiffon I wanted to make a scarf out of.

Onto the notions - well, what can I say. I was literally throwing stuff into my cart at the Fabric Depot. Most of this came from there.

I won't go into details except to say that I finally got a 40" flexible ruler for pants fitting and there's a bit of FOE in that pic. Oh & the epiphany of the trip - Gutermann numbers are DIFFERENT in the US. That was a big bummer after I'd downloaded the list of colours here beforehand and had plans to fill in the gaps of my collection. LOL. So I just bought all the aquas & teals.

Books - did anyone say books? This pic doesn't include the 4 books I got for my DD which were heavy little buggers and nothing to do with sewing. The two little books on the right were part of a door prize I won at the ASG Seattle chapter dinner at Puyallup. :)

Finally, sewing patterns. Oh my! I think I went a little mad. Most of them were purchased at Joann's but I did get a couple at Puyallup.

Puyallup

After downloading the Puyallup brochure on Christmas Eve, I've finally managed to work out what classes I want to take (I think!). My main goals were classes with Nancy Zieman & Sandra Betzina. I just went through the rest & checked any that took my fancy. Turns out, I can do all the ones I picked....it just took a little wrangling. So here's what I've picked:

Interfacing & Underlining - Ron Collins (Power Sewing)

Totes, Bags, Jewellery & More - Nancy Zieman

Zippers - Easy, Fast & Fun - Linda McGehee

40 Tips to Improve Your Sewing - Pati Palmer

Needle Bootcamp - Debra Justice

Power Sewing Toolbox - Sandra Betzina

Wonderful Weekend Wardrobes - Sandy Miller

Listen to the Tissue - Peggy Sagers

The Arty Cardi - Marcy Tilton

Sewing Stars Meets Clean Sweep - Debra Justice

Clothing & Accessory Transformers - Marsha McClintock

Know Your Notions - Geri Grasvik

Sew With Your Feet - Debra Justice

The Arty T 2.0 - Katherine Tilton

Two Patterns for all Seasons - Kathleen Cheetham

Pants Fitting From You - Linda Lee

Some of those titles sound great, don't they? Anyone who knows me will smile when they see I've picked classes about sewing machine feet, needles & notions. My favourite things! I have a bit of a foot fetish LOL and adore notions. I have a list of notions to purchase while I'm away. Not to mention thread, needles and, of course, fabric.

I've also decided I want to buy Sandra Betzina's new Power Sewing Toolbox books. I saw them on her website but the shipping to Australia was $35!!! Then...duh....a lovely lady on PR told me that SB would probably have them at Puyallup for sale. I'm so stupid sometimes. No shipping and possibly a discount. Score!

I've also been reading about Sandra's retreats in San Francisco. $2600 for one week (includes hotel), sewing and fitting with Sandra. Heaven! I must save up for that.

Oh & Ruthie asked if our trip was an organised one. No...although there is a group from the Australian Sewing Guild going as well. It's just me, Velosewer & Sharon in our rental car. I've been to the US (including Portland & Seattle) three times so don't really need a guided coach trip. I prefer being independent and being able to go to the shops I want to visit. So that's what we're doing. :)

My haul

I've been shopping today. Shopping for overlocker thread. My favourite little man in Canley Vale who I only discovered in January is closing down next week (Wednesday Dec 15 to be precise) and is selling off his stock. 5000m cones of overlocker thread are $1. 1000m reels are 20c. I'm not sure if zips are reduced but they were only 20c before. I decided to buy any overlocker thread colours that I thought I may need in the future so here's a pic of my haul.

The overlocker colours I got were hot pink, turquoise, light grey, cherry red & 8 little 1000m reels of white.

The tailor's chalk was $1 a box so I couldn't resist it.




Then they brought out needles - they were also $1 a packet. Even if they're not fantastic quality, $1 for 10 needles in a major bargain. So I had to have them.

Waiting......

I'm getting a little impatient waiting for some patterns I ordered from sewingpatterns.com. They were out of stock of 2, one being Simplicity 2603 the much reviewed & sewn DK knock-off cardi wrap. I really want that pattern right now!! Wanna know why? Well...I went to a bra/apparel party thing last night. The bras I had no interest in but they did have these knit clothes that work together, one being something like the cardi wrap. Go here & have a look at their "essential long wrap". The consultant showed us a thousand different ways to tie it. A friend was interested and I told her I could make it. Now she's saying she'd pay me to do it! I'm thinking how easy that would be! All I need is some 2 way stretch jersey and I'm set. The Intimo fabric is a modal/elastane but I think any light stretchy jersey would do the job.

There's also a skirt which is basically two rectangles with ties at the waist. How easy would that be to make? And they want over $100 for it! I did order the pants for myself but I figured it would take me too long to adjust another pattern so I just bought them. They're really nice, it feels like you're wearing nothing they're so light!

So bring on those patterns Mr Postman. I'm hanging out for them!

Shopping

I met up with my real life sewing buddies last Saturday and they mentioned Pitt Trading had a half price fabric sale. So who am I to resist? I went over there on Monday and picked up a couple of things. These are their stories. ;)

I found the almost perfect print that matches my aqua pants fabric (which reminds me...I'd better get cracking on those or summer will be over and I'll be wearing bright aqua in winter!!). Not only did it have the aqua colour but also another one of my colours, a mid blue. Not that I have anything to match that but hey...a girl can always shop some more. I got three metres cos that's all they had left on the roll.

Viscose/rayon? jersey

$4 per metre

I also picked up this poly spandex jersey. I'm still not 100% sure about the size of the print but the colours are exactly what I wanted for my trip later this year (travel wardrobe colours are black/white/grey/red). I ummed & ahhed about it & then thought, what the heck it's only $4 a metre. So it came home with me.

Poly/spandex jersey

$4 p/metre

Then I headed up to the Remnant Warehouse where I made a killing. I got a Simplicity pattern for DD for a dress (we're going to my nephew's wedding in April), a 250m reel of Gutermann thread, a piece of fabric (see below) and some piping cord all for $8.95. I had a $20 voucher on my frequent shopper card and I think the girl made an error in her maths so $8.95 was my total for all that. Very happy! Here's the fabric...I couldn't resist. Again, it was my travel colours.

Poly/spandex jersey

$8.95 per metre

Here's the pattern I got DD. It's a Project Runway pattern so has no views to speak of. We're making the blue dress in the pic but with the uneven hemline. I bought size 12-20 only to discover that DD is a 10 in the high bust. Sigh.

I'm still alive

My real life sewing buddies are asking me why I haven't updated my blog. The answer is: I don't know! LOL. It's not like I haven't been sewing....it's probably more related to the lack of pics I have to show you. Dunno about you all but I find blogs with no pics a bit boring. So prepared to be bored!

Our weekend away was a total success. I made 2 tops & started a bag. No pics. Neither top is completely finished so if I get my A into gear & do that, I can post some pics & a review on PR. Sigh.

However, in other news I have been attempting to fit some pants. I haven't made pants since about 2000 when I had a TNT pants pattern done with the help of my good friend and sewing teacher, Roberta Thompson. But now that I've lost some weight, of course this TNT pattern is now useless. So I battled with adjusting a Burda pattern....it's a trouser pattern, close fitting. Yeah well too close fitting for my legs! So then I thought I might try my hand at the Burda WOF (I know it's not called that anymore but bugger it) mag that I just got. I think it's pattern 140 from the Sept issue. I traced it all off and then had an ephiphany.

I pulled out the TNT pattern from 2000.....went to my sewing notebook where I write all the details of my projects. Very handy...I can recommend doing this & you'll see why in a minute. I had made the pants back in 2000 when I was thinner than I was before I started WW and I had used them later for a fitted pant in a stretch woven with facing waistband & invisible zip. I hadn't realised until I read the notebook that it was the same pattern! So I figured why re-invent the wheel? These pants already have my extended calf adjustment and my fat thighs adjustment etc. So I tried them. OH MY GOD! They're huge. A bit clown-like in fact. So I consulted PP's FFRP pants version and took a 6cm tuck down the back leg. 6cm!! I still have both smiles in the front crotch & bagginess below my bum. My extended calf adjustment has gone to hell in a handbasket, the hip area is now too tight and the waist almost extends to my bust. I've let the front inseam out & taken in the back inseam but still have the resulting smiles & bagginess.

Ergh...it's no wonder I haven't made pants for years. I need to re-think. So much for my idea of having new pants for Christmas.

In other news, I found the most wonderful perfect fabric to match the pants fabric which is bright aqua linen/cotton blend. The top fabric is lighter aqua with splotches of the same colour as the pants fabric and is light enough to use on a lovely gathered top. However the bad news was they only had a metre at Castle Hill Spotlight. I bought it, thinking I could fudge but no. I've been thinking about this for 2 days when I finally bit the bullet & decided to go to Auburn Spotlight. Imagine my joy when I found a huge roll of the fabric. 3 metres have now come home with me. I'm doing the dance of joy. But my joy is only shortlived as the toile for the top is disasterous. Now I know why I usually sew knits.

Is that enough of an update for you? LOL

Back from Melbourne

Four friends & myself did a little trip to Melbourne last week. We stayed in an apartment in the city and shopped for four days. I don't know about the others, but I was completely exhausted at the end of all that. But here is what I got.

First up, I have some aqua denim ($12 p/m) that I got at Dancing Queen in Richmond. It will be a jeans jacket. Next to it is some boring black cotton knit from Rathdowne Fabrics and to the right is a crinkle 100% cotton that I just couldn't resist for $6 p/metre. Can't remember the name of the shop that I got this from.

This is a poly knit from one of the shops in Brunswick. $6 p/metre.

This is lycra ($10 p/m) for a rashie for my DD. Her current one is dead and I promised to have this one done by the end of the weekend. Next to it, is a piece that matches ($28 p/m) and will be used for around the neck and the sleeves if I have enough. Both are from GJ's fabrics in Lygon St.

Last but certainly not least is 1.5m of upholstery fabric that I am going to use to make Amy Butler's Weekender Bag. I've noticed that Cidell is currently making this & I am taking careful note of the problems she is having. I'm not sure when this bag will be made as I have to obtain lining and interfacing but I'm hoping to have it done sometime this year.

Oh & I also got some 100% Italian wool for a coat I want to make. $30 p/metre from Rathdowne Fabrics. It's just gorgeous. I haven't shared a pic cos...well...it's just black fabric and we all know how well that photographs!

An award for little ole me

Gwen gave me this award recently (well, actually it was a while ago now) so here I am blogging about it.

* Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.


* Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

* Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to this post, which explains The Award.

* Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

* Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

I'm supposed to pass this along to 5 deserving friends but I figure most people around have had some sort of award so I'll pass.

Sometimes I don't think anyone is out there reading my blog...it doesn't really matter to me cos I made this blog mostly for my own amusement and for interest sake. I know my sewing is sporadic at the best of times and I'm trying to improve on this. Right now, I'm working on that T from a post way below. I got together with my real-life sewing friends last Saturday and they were very helpful with fitting advice. At the moment it's very hot here in Sydney (& I'm talking 39C - 102F) and it's gonna be hotter tomorrow. So I have actually brought my sewing machine into the a/c but of course, the spot where I want to sew is where Sooty the black & white loves to sit. So I need to shoo her off first. LOL. I promise pics will be forthcoming. Right now DH & DD are off at the Top Gear live stage show & I have the house to myself (woot!).

Oh & I forgot to mention that I have bought some more fabric! Lincrap are having a 50% off fabric right now which in reality means nothing as they mostly have crap (hence the name). However, I found some nice knits at their Castle Hill store a couple of weeks ago but I refused to pay $15 p/m for them. So of course, I got them for 50% off on Thursday. $26 for 2 nice pieces of fabby...I'm a happy woman.

No sewing but I have been shopping!

If you're waiting for a pic of the Tshirt in the previous post, don't hold your breath. LOL. I haven't even cut it out. I have no excuse.

But in other news, I went shopping to the Remnant Warehouse here in Sydney with my mother & DD. Mother bought nothing but DD found a couple of pieces of fabric that took her fancy. The main reason we went was to get some sort of aqua cotton to make a sleeveless top for her. This is what she chose:

This is the pattern for it which I previously had (View C).

This is the trim I'll be putting across the band. The pic is a shocker...the trim is an almost perfect match for the fabric (aqua sequins) and looks fabulous.


Then she spotted this lycra and had to have it.....



Last but certainly not least, I picked up 2m of this for myself. Not yet sure what I'll make.