Burda Style in English!

I filled out an online form for a free trial of the new Burda Style Magazine in English. Just got my copy yesterday. Yippee! So many patterns and instructions and pdf downloads with instructions and information. I'm so excited about the Magazine. I tried it before in German, but its not quite the same. I need to narrow down my choices and make something for myself!

Angela's April Wardrobe Challenge

Have you been keeping up? I'm hoping to do some serging for the April Challenge.

 Love my overlocks. I have 4 home plus 2 industrial Artisans right now. The Juki's are my baby's, I got a lovely BabyLock in 2008 when I placed 2nd in PFF, and I have a New Home that I loaned out and it got trashed :(. I'm going to take it in and see if its repairable when I have extra cash. It would be nice to have one I can let kids try out for lessons.

By the way did you know that VHS shelves from defunct video stores are the perfect size for most commercial patterns?

Visit my examiner.com page for more info about the contest.

Dress Alteration

I'm always doing something. It is difficult to get it all posted here. I am making an effort :), but my pictures are a bit lazy.

I re did the waist and hem decoration on a First Communion dress for a friend's daughter. I am reminded of how much I dislike alterations. I would rather make it from scratch than alter. But it turned out good anyway.

Before:

 After:

 Had to pick the waistline apart, redo the zipper and do the hemming detail. Not difficult, I enjoy sewing when I'm doing, but I procrastinated on this because I just do that with alterations.

Its supposed to be 66'F today! Yippee!

My inspiration for the 1/2 Scale Challenge

 I have entered the 1/2 scale challenge for the 2014 American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan.

All images from Alabama Chanin and Natalie Chanin books

I fought it. I really did. But the truth is I find Natalie Chanin very inspirational right now. I was machine sewing letters on T shirts in 2012 and she has catapulted me forward with her embroidery and strained my brain with the thought of hand sewing EVERYTHING. 

After listening to Joi's class that comes with this American Sewing Expo contest, I threw together this board. I even tried to sketch. I'm not yet convinced that I can learn to sketch, but it has helped a lot to arrange my thoughts. I usually just think about it and it morphs while I'm doing. Now its solidifying in a different way. I don't think I'll do the whole thing by hand, but I'm considering doing beading (yikes!). 

I will be using upcycled denim and T shirts. I took Natalie's Online Sewing Class and will be using what I have learned there and in her books.