Lupine

 

I rather stupidly included some very detailed flowers into my design.  Because they are my favorite wildflowers.  Made some progress on the lupines.  Had to return to the fabric stash for blues as the purply-blues I first picked, blended too much with the background. 

After I added the leaves, I decided to do a re-design, so there will be a 3rd lupine instead of the leaf I'd planned.  And one this side is done, there's the mirror image for the other side.   But once all that fussing is over, there will be large expanses of stylized leaves that should go quickly. 

Apple Cake

 

Hung out with my 4 year old granddaughter this week end.  We made pillows from some of her art. Every time she says applique,   I hear apple cake.  After practicing this weird new word, it became apple lick cake.  Sounds like I need to develop a new pastry recipe. 

This is her self portrait.  She picked out the thread to match her original. Traced from original with pencil and used a tight zig-zag. 

I found a 12" pillow form someone had re-homed to me.  As we were wrapping it, she decided that she really wanted it for her bed because it's the right size for her. Guess that will be sorted out when it's opened at Christmas. 

Here's her original art. 

I didn't know she could write her name.  We had to practice her age a few times.  I forgot to take a picture, but used the same zig-zag technique to add this to the back of the flower pillow. 

Sewing for me

 
My favorite hobby is buying fabric and patterns for clothing I will never sew for myself.  

My last attempt was 8 years ago.  But my post-menopause body is a different weight and shape from when I had that figured out.  So I'm starting from scratch again. 

I started with this super basic pattern.  Fitted and has a side zip. 

While looking for muslin fabric, I found this shirt, but decided I'd rather wait and make something really wearable from this shirt.  I thought that using the finished hem and button placket would be worth while.   It's also a very nice Brooks Brothers cotton that I got at a thrift store for a couple dollars.

I muslined the pattern with an old mauve bed sheet.  After a full day, I got it looking this close to working like it would fit me. There were still issues with the neckline and hip width.  But I naively thought that would be easy to adjust. 

I was feeling super clever at re-using the buttons so I wouldn't have to use the side zip.  But there wasn't enough fabric...so I had to piece in an arm section for the front bodice.  It worked really well. 

But the front neckline was all kinds of messed up.   I spent hours swearing, tucking, rolling and tacking down. 

After a half dozen extra darts and tucks, I have a shirt that's actually wearable.  And unlike earlier versions, doesn't look like I'm wearing a tent.

Final fix was replacing the functional button with an oversized fixed one. 

Extra thanks to my Buddy Beve who is my sewing spirit animal.  I can send her pictures of my failures and she alternates b/w advice and cheerleeding.