Sunday, October 7, 2012

Fall is finally coming! Time for Pumpkins and Sewing!

The wretched heat of September is finally gone. (I hope.) And Halloween is right around the corner. My mom was my adventure buddy today. We stopped by Tanaka Farms to pick up some veg. They have a giant corn maze and pumpkin patch. I love these fall colors...




 My mom is 81 and pretty much game for going anywhere. She is the most amiable travel companion you could possibly imagine. She art directed the photos.
 It was crazy packed with kids all running around feeding goats and jumping off hay bales.



Afterwards, we went and ate lunch at Ruby's over looking the lake in Woodbridge. Then we dropped in on my sister's place and gabbed for a bit.

We finished up with a trip to the fabric store. Joann's Fabric is having a 99 cent Simplicity pattern sale.  I went completely bonkers and bought five patterns.

I haven't sewn myself a piece of clothing in thirty five years and never very into it. I was more of a woodworker, quilter and embroiderer. But last week decided it was time to take up sewing clothes again. Right now I'm in the middle of sewing myself a black crepe jacket. Who knows how it will turn out?


I'm perfectly Hobbit shaped and finding clothes that I actually like is pretty much impossible. Most bigger sizes have huge ghastly prints, colors not found in nature, no shape other than boxy and unflattering necklines. Plus, women's sizes cost more than regular clothes. I shake my fist at you shopping mall! If you won't sell me a decent outfit for under a hundred bucks then I'll make it myself!

So, wish me luck with my new mania.

Here's what the black jacket is supposed to look like.... I've got a lot of Haunted Histories booksignings and presentations coming up and I'm hoping it will turn out nice enough to wear.


Next, I'd like to make something like this.... 


Or this... (fake fur would do just fine)


If you could make anything... what would you make?

Marilyn.

"Take your pleasure seriously." ~ Charles Eames

12 comments:

  1. I've just discovered your blog and by coincidence have been planning some dress-making of my own.I am way behind you as I haven't even got a sewing machine yet, but the idea is there ! So I will be very interested to see how it turns out. Love your paper toys too :)

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    1. Thanks, Snippety. :-) Let me know how it goes. I barely know anything about my sewing machine other than how to thread it and make it go forward. I need to figure out how to adjust something called "the tension" YouTube videos have been a great help in learning techniques. What are you going to make first? M

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  2. This is exciting... keep us posted, please, on your progress. I sew a bit, mostly quilting, crafts, and clothes for my daughter. I like your purpose and ambition.
    I also love this turn of the weather and the prospect of the fall and Halloween goodness!

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    1. Natalie! I will. You never know what you can do until you try. :-)

      Marilyn

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  3. I LOVE the pattern you're making .. and the ones you want to make. I haven't sewn in ages and you are an inspiration!
    Do keep us posted as you keep working~~

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  4. Oooh, I like the look of your new jacket! Lines that I would love! Hope you'll show us the end result, Maz! And how fabulous does your mum look at 81!! :) xx

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    1. Thank you my dear. I promise to show off the final piece once I get there. It's coming along pretty good so far. I just need to get the sleeves set in.

      And my mom is the Queen. :-)

      Hugs, Maz.

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  5. good luck! I hope it comes out amazing. I have always had really good success with Vogue patterns - they have been true to size for me, with great instructions and some really nice details. I love their retro patterns, too! I also really like this blog for sewing inspiration/tips/just to see what someone else is sewing - http://stitchywitch.wordpress.com/

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  6. So I think I have been following you and the marvelous toys since 2008 when I worked with at risk youth programs. Today, I still follow u but for my two little ones, for the great pics and stories and for a smile.
    Gabli

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    1. Gabli, you are most welcome. I'm so happy that you all are having fun with the toys. :-)

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  7. Best of luck with your project! Here are some ideas that might help in the future if you catch the sewing bug. I found one of these Master Pattern Kits at a thrift store (http://www.bonanza.com/listings/VINTAGE-THE-NEW-MAGIC-FIT-MASTER-PATTERN-KIT/37792681) And I checked these fitting DVDs by Threads Magazine out from our library: http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4762/fitting-dvd-series-preview. Any good fitting book will help, too, so you can adjust your patterns to actually fit correctly. (They are designed to fit some mythical person, it turns out.)

    Thanks for all the great toys. I'm a librarian and they are wonderful for our programs.

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