Back to School

I set out to design an alternative to the messenger bag. Lifting the flap every time I want to open the bag is a little tiresome. Also, when the bag is really stuffed it just doesn't look right. I wanted a BIG bag - big enough for schoolbooks, but easy to open and close. So, here is my first effort. What do you think?

Is it Fall Yet?

Inspired by my young students I have been making necktie skirts for girls! They are MUCH faster - requiring only 7, 8 or 9 ties. What a breeze. Here is my lovely long-legged niece Alex modeling. Doesn't she look great?

Zipper Pouches!

I've discoverd that a great way to use up scraps or to practice a new technique is to make a zipper pouch! The top one is made from necktie scraps, the next is ribbon scraps.


Here are the backs.


The daisy pouch features a ton of freestyle machine embroidery. I know it's hard to see in the photo. Do you recognize the last one? It's the first project from my bag of vintage trims!


Here is the lining on the daisy pouch. Cute?

March of the Penguins

I try to keep my blog crafty and not all over the place but I have to tell you that I have a new favorite movie! March of the Penguins! It is completely fascinating. There is no way you could watch this movie and not believe that there is a Divine Creator who has perfectly designed each species.

Kelly in a Gypsy Skirt

This is my oldest son's sweetheart - Kelly. Doesn't she look great in the gypsy skirt?

Vintage Trim Bounty

A trip to the local antique mall turned up this bag of vintage trims for $10.00.
Here's what's inside....
Here's a close-up of the small stuff.

What will this become?
Stay tuned....

Of COURSE I've been sewing!

It's just that there's really nothing new. More gypsy skirts, more bags, more lace minis, more necktie strawberries. Here are a few of the new bags....

Necktie Skirt Class #2

The girls finished their skirts! Here are Rebecca, Anya, Bonnie, Jodie, Katya and Nicole. Didn't they do a great job?

Because Everything Looks Better With A Rooster On It

I actually made this skirt last summer, but it didn't sell :( So... this summer I added a rooster cut out from a vintage kitchen towel. What do you think?

Fun on the Corner

Last Friday was another Designer Showcase at Here on the Corner. Do you think we had fun?




Kaitlin, Ryan, Mandy, Sunny, Jessica and Ruby!



Kaitlin and Jessica shop the Rick Rack Ruby rack....



Sunny in her gypsy skirt. Dig the belly bag.



Don't miss Mandy's cute necktie bag!

Necktie Skirt Class #1

Rebecca Chooses Her Ties....



Anya Chooses Her Ties....



Meanwhile, Katya...



...and Nicole are already sewing.




Sammy (left foreground - sorry about the quality) is an old pro. She came to Mama Klu's Summer Sewing Extravaganza last year. She's making a skirt for her very fortunate cousin. Please notice that we are using my THREE Bernina sewing machines.





At last Rebecca is sewing! This is her FIRST real sewing project! It's going to be great. This photo reminds me of a fisherman with a really big catch....

What happens next? Tune in next week for Necktie Skirt Class #2!

A New Design!

This is a lace mini-skirt. The top layer is stretch lace and the bottom two layers are ruffles. This is designed to wear outside of your blue jeans. The "Lace Mini" is debuting tonight at Here On The Corner. Thanks again to Ryan for being such a darling model!

A New Design!

This is a lace mini-skirt. The top layer is stretch lace and the bottom two layers are ruffles. This is designed to wear outside of your blue jeans. The "Lace Mini" is debuting tonight at Here On The Corner. Thanks again to Ryan for being such a darling model!

Thank You!

Thank you everyone who voted for Ruby in the latest Craftster challenge! Once again I made a decent showing...probably finishing in the top 10. Here is a link to the truly-deserving winning entry.

Tomorrow is another sewing class - necktie skirts!

Elephant Clutches

I spotted an elephant clutch in the March 2005 issue of Teen Vogue. Sorry I can't find an on-line image. The designer is Patch NYC and the price is $245.00.... Anyway, just the idea of an elephant clutch is intriguing, isn't it? My friend, Judy, gave me some Asian fabrics and I was wondering what to do with them. It took a while, but here is the result. The zipper was tricky. The tail is attached to the zipper pull and don't miss the tacky plastic fish bead! What do you think?

Something Fun!

This is a link to etsy... A site where you can purchase handcrafted goods directly from the artist. It looks great and it's brand new - Check it out!

Sam, Anya, Meghan, Katya and Nicole - all in their freshly made rainbow circle skirts. Do you think we had fun? 

A Busy Day

Samantha, Meghan, Anya, Katya and Nicole all showed up for today's sewing class! We made rainbow circle skirts. They turned out great and we finished early...which was a good thing because James, Ryan and Matt also showed up to make pajama pants from bedsheets! It was a long and busy day for me but we had a lot of fun. What do you think?

James, Ryan and Matt arrived this morning prepared with Krispy Kremes and some of Matt's old bedsheets.... 

Here are the boys cutting out the first pair of pj's... 

Here are the completed pants...shocking, I know... 

Oh yes, these boys are looking fine... 

Please Vote For Ruby - Thanks!

I completed another Craftster Challenge. It's a Chanel-type suit made from a vintage bedspread. You just have to see it to believe it. I like these challenges. They stretch me as a designer. Anyway, I would appreciate your vote - not that I expect to win....I just don't want to be embarrassed!

Thanks!

Inspired by this overall jumper worn by Brittany Murphy in "Uptown Girls..." 

...I made this! 

Happy Summer!

I finished this adorable summery messenger bag yesterday. It's made from a piece of vintage patchwork. Enjoy!

The front of the messenger bag... 

The back of the bag... 

Check out this bizarre patch of vintage fabric - Looks like a jellyfish with Asian writing.... 

Thursday's Class is Canceled.

I had the sad news today that the mother of a dear friend has died and her funeral is Thursday at 10:30. I have decided to cancel our class - sorry. I believe it is very important to support this friend in her time of loss. Thanks for understanding.

Classes will resume NEXT Thursday, June 30th with the Circle Skirts. We'll catch up with the Blue Jean pleated mini skirts at the end of the class series in July.

Finish-it Friday!

Yesterday was "Finish-it Friday." I decided to just sit and sew and finish what I could. No starting anything new on Finish-it Friday.

First I hemmed a yellow mini skirt, then I serged up the back seam of a ruffled lace mini... so far so good... Then I finished a black lace dress that I had been feeling guilty about because the fabric was kind of expensive and had been sitting around for quite a while. I was stuck because I didn't want to waste any of the fabric and I bought more than enough for one project, but not quite enough for two... So I only made one - better than none, right?

Then I finished four gypsy skirts. YAY! Maybe every Friday should be Finish-it Friday.

Bonnie, Katya, Anya and Jodi... Ummmm I think I requested a "Vogue" pose for this shot! Dig the Shamu print on Jodi's pants. : )