Sew Expo

This is the weekend of the annual Sew Expo in Puyallup.  I always look forward to going and seeing what's new not just in the Seattle area but from all over the nation. 

I attended only one seminar called Refined Embellishments for Creative Sewing.  The speaker Londa Rohlfing was very interesting.  She has put out a video that's almost 3 hours long with more detail for the items she touched on in the seminar.  It really was a pretty interesting class.  She uses a lot of couching of threads, and bias.  She also has developed several styles of jackets with sweatshirts as a base.  These aren't the sweatshirt jackets of the '80s that you split up the middle and put some fabric trim  on the middle and cuff.  These really are much more distinguished, and was surprised that the jacket she wore in the seminar started life as a sweatshirt.  She states the sweatshirt is really just fabric and binding or ribbing that you are purchasing.  She has a website and I would recommend that you visit.

Although I went thru the entire place more than once I was drawn to a couple booths over and over. Nifty Thrifty Dry Goods is a collection of unique and vintage notions.  I love the set up on this booth, it reminds you of an old country story, with jars filled with a single colour of buttons, and cards of trims of a thousand varieties it seems, and beads , etc.  I think I went back here three times to browse their wonderful goods. They also have a storefront online.
Of course I had to go to the Professional sewing Supplies booth and restock my silk flower pins and tailors wax.  There was the Seattle Yarn shop  which is in West Seattle.  I can't wait to go over one day and visit their actual shop.  There were some lovely yarns and textures in their displays.
Lastly I went to Pacific Fabrics.  I love this place. I was so sad when they closed the Issaquah store last year.  I have to really think to go to the bellevue store or my favorite the North-gate store with its Galleria section of fabrics.  I found several goodies here.  A new release of Washington fabric that has pictures of most of the high points.  Seattle's pike pike place market, mt Rainer, snoqualmie falls, apple or cherry blossoms, wheat thrashers, totem poles, crabs, just a few things to mention here, i can't off the top of my head remember them all.  I also found some new Heather Bailey fabrics to use in my guest room.  And I picked up a couple of specialty patterns.  I really didn't spend too much this, trying to be more responsible and cut down on the excessive stash I already own.
I routinely do this show alone.  I went a few times with a good friend who also sews, but I find that I'm looking for one thing or another and I don't want to take the time to look for the things they want too.   I know its kind of selfish but it cuts down on the time I'm there. I don't care for large crowds like this type of event calls for, and its better if I can get in and out as fast as possible. 
The Expo is still on Sunday and if you live in the greater Seattle area its a fun way to spend the day or a few hours.

The revolving door

My house has a revolving door these days.  My husband left for Vermont and my auntie flew in from Hawaii on the same day.  She left earlier this week and my husband with luck will return tomorrow.  Then my daughter will be leaving on Friday for a whirlwind trip to Boston to audition for the conservatory there.  My auntie once again flies in late Saturday night and flies out Sunday, and my daughter returns Sunday night.  My little car makes that trip to the airport quite fast these days. Since they've started the "enhanced" security we no longer go in, as its the security trip that can take 40 minutes or an hour & half, but you can't spend time with family and friends any longer.
      So here's to clean sheets, fast commutes,  quick security lines and pleasant travel.  And Thursday as its the only day this week I won't be at the airport!
treva

its official!

It is official I opened my Etsy shop today.  I plan on downloading a new item every few days to keep it up in the interest area.  You can go there by going to :
http://www.etsy.com/shop/RedandCurlyBebe

Where Berries and Cream is my first item listed for sale.

taking a drive

Today was the perfect weather day.  Crisp, cool, snow on the ground in some places and clear & dry roads.  We drove to Leavenworth this morning, had lunch at Gustav's to fuel my aunties shopping engine.
Then we hit the street running- mmm actually that would be shopping.  First place out, auntie finds the perfect buys for her.  We mosey in and out stores, checking out the merchandise and giggling over several things we stumble upon. 

Finally we stumble into the Icicle Ridge Winery Tasting Room.  Yeah- I love this place.  5 pours for $2.50 and free with purchase.  I got to taste the new release of Sangiovese-a yummy red that is low acid.   A lovely sparkling white was also available to wine club members.  Yeah for being a wine club member! 

After an hour in the tasting room, we headed to Mozart's cafe and had coffee.  Cafe has a different picture in my mind this was more of a restaurant and was set romantically for dinner.- uhm yeah drink and run.  Outside was starting to cool off from the clear skies and setting sun, so we decided to head home. 
 It was a lovely perfect day for such and outing.

Theatre

Ahh what a great week so far.  Saturday and Sunday we were able to attend the Chop Shop Bodies of work- Contemporary/modern Dance showing.  Fabulous show both days.  If you weren't able to see it this year, definitely make the opportunity next year if your in Seattle in February. Congratulations to Eva Stone who put this gig together.

Today we were able to hit the movies and see Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges, Colin Farrell, and Robert Duval.  What a great flick.  They all sing, which was pretty impressive. Not bad voices either.
If you get  chance you want to hit this one up.

Olympics!

I love winter Olympics, don't you?  The beauty of the skaters, and the thrill ride the skiers and snowboarders have. What great weekend to have the Olympics going on.  Its Presidents weekend here in the states, It's Valentines Day, The Olympics competition is going on just north of us in Vancouver, and the Chop Shop Festival-bodies of work festival also was on Bellevue.


My hubs is Vermont for work, so we are spending the day apart obviously.  But I did have my daughter home this weekend, and my auntie is visiting from Kauai for the week.  We've been watching the Olympics in the evening, attending the dance festival and doing a bit of shopping and lots of eating out.

I hope you all are having a good weekend. 
I'm working on a pair of booties for infants that kind of look like ballet slippers. They were so cute I just had to try them.  pretty quick to put together, as most small items are.  Will post when the set is done.

I dedicate this post to the luge rider who lost his life the practice runs before the opening of the Olympics.  Such fierce competition, we know there are dangers in these sports, but we don't expect them to lose so much.
treva

Valentines Day & candy cards

Oye, this weekend is Valentines Day.  Now this is traditionally not too big of a deal,could include flowers, a movie,  cards and dinner usually at home.  But this year we were going to watch my daughter perform with the dance company Stone Dance Collective.  We will not be going but I will.  My husband has been called out of town to emergency work- Seriously what the hell is so 911 about software?  There's a whole company to work on it, but they can't seem to get along with out importing him.  So  I will go with my auntie who's coming into town tonight for a week.  She hasn't been here for 5 years, so its nice for her to come see my daughter who is indeed all grown up and holding her own these days. 
So quickly I must think of some creative cute thing I can tuck in the suitcase for his weekend.  He's used to traveling, but tired of it for business over the years.  He's missed many events including, Thanksgiving, birthdays, and various events over the years for his JOB. 
So I came up with a candy card.  On hot pink poster board. Its not romantic on the surface obviously being candy of various inexpensive varieties but this is what it ended up saying.
"To my wonderful lovable Big Hunk.  Please don't Snicker(s) when you read this I love it when you leave
mo-Mentos around the house or when you Rolo-over to make me Chuckles and I have to catch my breath .  You truly go the EXTRA mile on my behalf even when I'm and Airhead.  Your love sends me into Orbit and I would go to the MIlkway & back for you.  From Zero to 100Grand your definitely my Payday in life. You're my Bit of Honey. Thanks for being my Lifesaver & my Hot Tamale Train.  I just wanted to Take 5 to tell you how Special you are and I love you to  Pieces.
PS when you return you may  Skor and it will be M&m good.
so can you figure out the candy and gum?  There are so many choices you can go nuts with this, but 20 dollars of junk food is good for anyone... LOL
Big Hunk, Snickers, chuckles, Mentos, Extra gum, Airhead taffy, Orbit gum, Milkyway, 100 Grand, Payday, Bit of Honey, Lifesavers, Hot tamales, Take 5, Hersheys Special Dark, Reeses Pieces, Skor Bar, M&M's.
but you could also use Sugar Daddy(couldn't find one of those dang!) Blow Pops, Mounds, hershey Kisses, Laffy Taffy, Mars Bar, etc. 
This was fun, and I was trying to put it together while he was working on something else and kept coming around- he couldnt figure out why i was so grumpy--- uh yeah, walking in on my surprises in action is one of his habits I swear!

good reads

Do you go to the public library or do you purchase your books?
  I decided this year that I was going to quit buying books if at all possible. I still purchase books for professional references, but I'm definitely cutting back on the other reading materials.  I love paperbacks, and keeping two or three around waiting to be read is my usual habit.  But it seems as the price of books go up, and magazines cost the same as paperbacks these days, I've just got to much invested into what I call disposable reading. 
So in comes the library. Heading to the library is much different than Costco,  Barnes & Noble or my favorite Borders.  I usually check the what's new shelf, to see if anything sitting there grabs me.  Occasionally I'm lucky but not always.  Than I head to the isles where a few of my favorite authors are.  I look for anything new by those authors and then start hunting around.   Gabaldon is one of my absolute faves and she has a new book out, but I'm too lazy to reserve it.  Patricia Cornwall, along with Kathy Reich's were once on my list of must reads.   Recently I started to read Janet Evanovich.  She is a popular author here but I had not really delved into her works. But now, I'm starting down her shelf. 
After finding a handful of books, which may include a few good novels and book from the crochet area, and a cook or gardening book, I will sit down in a big chair by the magazines and peruse those for awhile before checking out.   It has cut down on some of the clutter.  And if I can make myself get rid of several of the paperbacks in my bookshelves, I will definitely be happier.

I read the "Widow's Season " by Laura Brodie while in San Francisco. This is one of the novels you pick up and wonder about, but give it a chance anyways.  It's a little bit about supernatural, but its also about the grieving process you go thru when a loved one dies.  I would highly recommend this book.

I then was desperate for something to read, so had to break down and purchase a book..The winner: Dear John, by Nicholas Sparks.  I would much rather read one of his books than see the film.  And if I'm going to see the film, I really want to read the book first.  I don't always desire to read a novel made into a movie, but I find that very often the books are much better as the time limit on a movie restricts the story telling. 

One thing I have found over time is that I go thru moods- or types of books that I find enthralling.  When I was younger a  newlywed- I loved romance novels.  My best friend at the time also was into this genre- so we shared books. Kathleen Woodiwiss, Nora Roberts, etc.  Later I took a fancy to Stephen King- actually he has visited my reading several different times over the years.  I'm not a constant fan, but can get wrapped into some of his stories. Following that I had to go to the Robin Cook books and any other medical thriller I could find.  Hence my love for Patricia Cornwall, and Kathy Reichs and Tess Gueritson falls into this genre.  Then I went into the ABC series mystery.

With the book club I joined I have read some items that I would not normally have picked up, but often find these books somewhat tedious. Live Eat Pray all though a favorite of many is one of the books I've disliked the most in my life.  I grew up with classic literature, mystery, fiction, non fiction, religious books, biographies, and what ever else entered our house.  By the time I was a teenager I ready whatever my mother brought home.  She was and avid library fan, as was my grandmother.  My mother could read a book a day, despite working full time and raising a family of three children.  It was her favorite past time. 
The great thing about reading is that its entertainment at your own pace.  Whether you read fast or slow, it doesn't really matter.  You can pick the style of read you like, and imagine your own version of characters.

I hope you find a good read to entertain yourself this week.

Hashbury

Haight Ashbury, but I call it Hashbury as a joke.  Daughter and I headed to Haight after she took a class at the conservatory.  It turned out to be a very interesting afternoon.  Although there are many things far from normal on this street its always amazing what can occur anyways.
As we are walking down the street, I see someone out of the corner of my eye with a camera.  What I realize is he's taking pictures of my daughter.  Not discreetly mind you but quite blatantly. So I look over at him, and he gives me what my mother would have called a "shit eating grin", the one you know your not doing something right- exactly but prove its wrong- grin.  So we continue to the corner. while we are waiting for the light several times he keeps trying to get photos, so I have to almost stare at him to keep him at bay.
I ask my daughter about this guy and if she noticed, and she says yeah, but usually they aren't so blatant.  I'm startled at this comment, What?  "During the summer when we come here on Saturdays, they do that,  but they are more discreet, I've learned to ignore it," she says.
Well OK, this isn't new to her, but it is to me, and what the heck is happening with those photos?
So then we head down to the street to Mendel's' Far out fabrics and art supplies.  I love this store, its full of all kinds of things in a rather small space.  There is so much tucked in there, you have to wonder if they even know everything that is there.  But we did find some Bamboo & silk blend yarn that has a phenomenal hand to it.  So I picked up three different balls to play with. We proceeded up and down the block, hitting most of the stores with recycled clothing, shoes, and other goods.  We hit the Goodwill store, and I find the perfect small table that I've been looking for  at home, and there is no way this will go into my carry on luggage.  So perfect find left behind....But it was a rather fun afternoon with my daughter. 

Weekend of walking

The weekend we lost the car!  Laughing amazingly still.  We stayed in Marin 2 days to check out a campus.  It was lovely and mostly sunny.  So with time to burn we drove into San Francisco.  Hit Union street and shopped, and shopped.  Found a cute little store called Meggie's where my daughter was ready to buy out the hole thing.  She found the most darling hot pink cotton dress and then a white top with ruffled front, and last from the discount rack at 70% off found another little dress for about 14 dollars (this needs to be shortened at the neck band  about a 15 minute job- which will make it totally wearable for her).
Then we of course we walked down the street to have Linner-( lunch and dinner because it's so late in the afternoon for lunch but too early for dinner). Strolled thru a bunch more shops and finally headed down to Union Square. Normally when in San Fran, we park the car and do bus and walk.  But because we came over from Marin, we had our rental car.  So we parked at the underground parking where the Jewish museum, and Four Seasons hotel, and Westin hotel  kind of converge with Yerba Buena gardens across the street.  It was daylight.  After several stops we finally headed to Union Square.  Went and watched a movie-
"Up in the Air" with George Clooney.  Very cute movie actually.  Strolled the mall a little bit. 
Well upon time to leave the mall its about 10:30 pm and we are pretty turned around.  So we try to find  directions. Which we get but in the dark nothing looks the same.  We must have easily walked 4 miles in a figure 8 trying to find that car park!  After and hour of searching, and the crowd getting a little more sketchy as time went on, it came to me, i might have the ticket for parking.  Ah yes, but the street is one of the little alley streets and doesn't show on most maps.  So next idea?  Ah try and call the car park.  There were two numbers and Thankfully one of them was working.. OH MY that was and adventure.
All i wanted to do when i got in that car was tear off my shoes, my feet hurt and were protesting.  Finding our way back to Marin was easy,  its just those darn car parks, they secretly move around when your inside.
LOL

San Francisco and success!

Success!  I was able to over dye the shorts and come out with kind of a burnished dark Khaki that complements the skirts and is darker doesn't scream look at me look at me.  All the the items have been labled and washed, ironed and delivered.

  Now with a big sigh, I have to quickly clean my house, and pack for a weekend trip in San Francisco.  I have one whole day, to shop.  Hoping to hit a few fabric shops and I don't know maybe a couple neighborhood areas to shop- like Haight Ashbury- My daughters favorite place to hang, Fillmore, and Chestnut street, Cow Hollow- we usually stay around the Presido for lodging but going more down town this time. So where do you San Francisco girls like to shop best, and where would you reccomend best for fabrics and yarns?  
We always go to Union square and Fishermans wharf, but would love to find some new places.  In between auditions and a few drop in classes that my daughter wants to take. I may be checking in while gone, but not a 100% sure.

Finished! well almost..

As I have previously mentioned I've been working on skirts (Simplicity-#  5914 is the  base) for dance company.  After pulling and all night-er and thinking i had these done after the first fitting, and then scramming around to make 7 pairs of short s(kwik sew #2723) to put underneath, I took everything in for what i thought was a final fitting, and that I would have to re-dye the shorts after I fitted them..

(Note photo is just a quick one taken with cell phone- they had 3 hours of rehearsal, and the its not the best looke with sloppy shirt hanging out etc. )



 I love to dye, but not when its matching colors- it gets too tricky.  This will be the third dye bath these shorts have seen.  First I made them a light tan- almost skin toned- but my dancer daughter informed me it would look like they had forgotten to wear underwear.  This kind of made me giggle, the skirt is designed off of the princess seem style but has been modified to have a large slit going up to the hip joint to increase ease of movement, and it meets the directors desires.  So we sat down on the computer and browsed the rit dye site to try and find a more compatible recipe- I'm thinking Khaki but it has too much green, and she said Caramel looked right.  Ehm - Caramel is a lovely shade but has too much yellow, and kind of does look just like Kraft's caramels.  But it also has the sheen from the nylon Lycra fabric which makes it look like a burnished gold.  Stands out way to much for tan/khaki skirts.  So now it looks like I'm going to try and do a grey and cocoa brown combo- hoping to get enough brown but not overwhelming, and just enough gray to not look green...Trying to keep these shorts less noticeable, but certainly not to look like they forgot to wear panties.  My goodness.

 And then half the skirts had to have some more alterations done on them.  Fitting dancers can be extremely trying.  When you ask they take off all their excess wear- for some reason some of them think still wearing 3 pairs of shorts- various lengths of a tights and leotard is necessary.  or the one who wears basketball shorts with the crotch down to the knees- yeah that's helpful when trying to measure..see my eyes roll here.  Although dance requires a free movement- amazingly the bodies must be scene as well.  The fit is always different from our street clothes.  so often your pattern says it has 1 1/2 inches or more of ease- my dancers want only about 1/2 inch (if that)  Garments must not shift out of place.  it can be quite challenging.  I figure 4 out of 7 were perfect- touch up on three isn't too bad.

Hopefully - not just hopefully- it must be a reality, this project will be turned over on Wednesday, with complete billing and finished. 
Then I can leave on my trip to San Francisco, Thursday with my daughter.