Char in summer

Char in summer
New dressage horse

Sunday, December 30, 2007

SWAP FABRICS

Today I should be able to manage to post some downloaded pics of my thrifted and stash fabrics for the Swap. I am going out to buy some Rit dye and will dye some beige linen from my stash. I look forward to this because linen always dyes so beautifully and the colours are so subtle.. I anticipate some kind of mossy green will result. The cotton pieces are going to be panels in a skirt I think, or some sort of graphic configuration.


PRAIRIEGIRL WINTERWEAR

I am also working on a Winter line of clothing mainly denim, corduroy and plaid flannel shirting.
D-Squared promoted the iconic Canadian winter attire world-wide a few seasons ago i.e. the plaid flannel overshirts we all wear out in the barn, and fur hats with earflaps (a la Elmer Fudd).--I have been working on a wearable line that typifies the Prairie Winter lifestyle and pioneer history. I am creating some under-skirts with ruffles made of plaid flannel shirts, to be worn either alone in the house, or as underskirts under denim amd corduroy.--Wearing a nice "Winter" type of skirt out in December or January is quite daunting, because the wind here is an icy blast and just tights and long boots over a mid-lenth skirt is just too drafty!! I will post when I have a completed garment.
--I was hoping to upload some pics of Christmases when the girls were little, but the program can't seem to configure them--I wil have to let my Internet guru take a look!--Cheers--M.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

MORE ON THE SWAP

Well, today I got up all prepared to post my pattern images..then I went out to pick up the patterns I had selected.....but much to my dismay, the 2 New Look patterns--including my main "Wardrobe" foundation pattern--are not available in Canada! So I have chosen Burda 7926, which is very similar, but has no knit tops.. I haven't sewn a Burda since 1989-when I was asked to make 3 nightmare bridesmaid dresses-in peach satin. The satin had to be manipulated into 3 gathered lengths with handkerchief hems--and there were no seam allowances on the pattern.---Needless to say it put me off Burda for a long while. This pattern looks very nice though. I have contacted Julie to order Aeterna linen to make a jacket and some of the skirt panels. Now I have to get busy and make a muslin of the jacket, and Rit dye some denim and some extra linen in my stash.
Thanks to my first visitor "A Little Sewing On the Side"--for your kind and encouraging comments. -Jeremy is a 4-yr-old half Boer goat---he really looks like Rudolph, without the red nose! . He is a neutered goat, and just a pet, but in kidding season he plays "Uncle" to the baby boys. My other goats (not yet pictured) are Angora girls-hence my url.-- Mr Spook is actually 21 years old--but don't tell him that, he has no idea! He is the barnyard boss. He has been out to Brandon, Manitoba for his first ever dressage shows in 2006 and 2007. If he continues to be healthy and fit we will be competing again this summer. He shows off pretty well in the ring, and the Brandon folks can't believe he is 21!-- I love him to death.--Just to get things straight, I actually live in town, but board my animals with my best friend Cathy who raises champion Boer goats for breeding (not eating). We ride and show together and have a lot of adventures. She also is a very competent seamstress, and taught me to be more disciplined (i.e. plackets on sleeves and pointy collars and --ugh!! (shudder) zippers! She has also taught me to knit and crotchet in the last few years. I have boxes and boxes of mohair from my goats all ready to do exciting things with. For Christmas my DH bought me an Ashford spinning wheel...so many projects...where to start!!----M.

Friday, December 28, 2007

FIRST POST

Hi! This is my first ever post on my new blogsite! I will be posting pics as soon as I can download them from my camera. I will be using this site primarily to chronicle my sewing and fibre arts projects.
Happy Holidays to all!
TIMMEL SWAP 2008.
After much deliberation I have decided on New Look 6609. This is a pattern for wovens. I will supplement this with pieces from New Look 6628, a similar design but for stretch knits, and Simplicity 4193, also for knits, but with a long seater coat with front ruffle. I may use some of the pattern pieces in a very unorthodox way! For colour and fabric selection, I am using primarily recycled fabrics..i.e. thrifted and vintage pieces cut apart and recut to pattern. My colour scheme was inspied by a little tank I picked up at VV, with a Miami Beach type feel...very joyful and happy......made me think of the 80's with all that white cotton with paint swirls we loved so much!. The complimentary colours will be green and violet. My neutral will be white. Sunshine yellow and hot pink will be for colour punch accents..
I plan to use some of my stash of bluejean pieces and overdye them green. From this I will make the woven jacket and 6-panel skirt to match. From the stretch knit patterns I will make a cardigan or kimono style top as a more relaxed alternative to the jean jacket. I plan to use vintage linens for other pieces. I will probably purchase some linen from Julie at Timmel to round out the Swap.--I may be planning as i go, since I have made a firm commitment to use recycled fabrics fo everything else, and alas, it is not "garage sale season", so the selection at thrift shops in my area is quite limited.--Ironically, I don't have much to go with my "Inspiration" theme in my stash!!
--I will post pics of my Storyboard as soon as I get caught up--I am technologically impaired!--M.

SWAP COMPOSITE

SWAP COMPOSITE
all pieces minus purchased shirt