Holy Hula Hooper!

That's right... At the Maker Faire I got a grown up size hoop and I have been practicing every day.

One day I want to be just like this guy.. or go someplace and drink martinis and watch him in awe.



Same guy (Mat Plendl) as the kid in the commercial! He was performing at Teatro Zin Zanni in San Francisco in 2009.  Talk about finding your passion and sticking with it!
I wonder if he's still there?

As far as my own hoop dreams are concerned, if I ever master anything even remotely tricky, you'll see it here first.

I'm outta here for my weekend at Strawberry Music Festival with the ladies. Camping with the possibility of snow showers and a 100% chance of fantastic music. I am packing my hoop. No possibilities of any remote updates, but if anything exciting happens, I will report when I get home.

Made It Myself Monday: The Preppy Piped Semi-Blirt!

Okay, first things first:

Thanks for all the entries in the Hundred Dollar Iron Giveaway!

Oh. My. Lord.

I thought a few folks might want a serious iron upgrade, but I truly had No Idea!

It's so fun to see my blogland friends in there with so many new Commenteers!

I do hope you newbies will keep visiting me and say hi whenever you have the time!

If you haven't entered yet there's still time!

Now... on to something craftier!

Well here is another example for a garment with piped seams a la the grande tutorial of yesterweek.
This was conceived as an Homage to the adorable Blirt (blouse'n skirt look but in a one piece dress) made by Dorie at Tumbling Blocks.

The empire waist kind of killed the blirt-y illusion, but dress is very pretty and comfortable. Made from linen blend from Sew Mama Sew and a rescued vintage curtain, it gave me a bit of a work out dealing with combining fabrics that have a disparite drape and weight. There were many seams that required multiple basting attempts to get the fall I wanted.

In this situation I am not sure if the piping trim is helping or hurting the structure of the dress.

And I need to find a better alteration for dolman sleeves and my slightly sloping shoulders, or are they supposed to do this? Double stick tape? I'm  open to suggestions.

I think I'm going to add little lingerie snaps in the shoulders to keep all my undergarments out of sight when I wear this one.

3/4 yard new linen: 10.00
rescued vintage drapery from thrift store: 3.00
homemade piping from thrifted bias tape and sting .50
3/4 yard lining fabric 3.50

Total dress cost:17.00

Not my cheapest but a pretty decent frock for the buck. My biggest regret was not doing a lapped zipper. It was just beyond my sewing courage level to combine the corded seams and the new lapped zipper skillz into one dress.

thanks to flickr's Norma Frances for this fantastic digital backdrop

Maybe Mrs. Home Maker is right and looking stylish for less can be easy if you sew for yourself.

Bitter Betty Sells Out, Just For You!! Rowenta Iron Give Away!!!

So I did it!!
I made a deal with an Honest to Goodness sponsor, the super deluxe online retailer CSN. 
CSN has over 200 online stores that carry everything from martini shakers to tv stands and even, drum roll please, Sewing Stuff!  And they let Me pick out something to give away to you, my wonderful readers!

After a long and thoughtful perusal, I settled on something that every seamstress wants, but only a few will allow themselves to purchase. The Hundred Dollar Iron! 

"What?" You may ask yourself, "Why in the world would one want a Hundred Dollar Iron??"

(But only 89.99 on CSN, of course)

Well, because next to your Sewing Machine, your iron is the most important garment construction tool Ever! and let me tell you, from my retail merchandising days, the better irons really work BETTER. 
But you don't have to take it from me. I have included from White's Sewing Manual circa 1947 a step by step pressing guide/ tutorial, so now, with this valuable info, everyone is already a winner:

(Click to enlarge and print sweeties. You Know The Drill.)

 I know you are now convinced that there IS room for improvement in your pressing life. You need more details on that fancy iron, doncha?

Well, here's the specs:

The improved steam glide and comfort of the DX-8860 provides a new level in professional ironing. With a new better design and higher quality, the DX-8860 delivers higher performance. Its polished stainless Steel Soleplate with advanced heatshield with extra large area and specially designed dimples and channels, provides better glide and easier ironing with less effort. Get the same amount of work done in less time and greater comfort with the extra long steam burst, and full comfort handle with ergonomic controls. The 100 percent covered soft touch handle provides comfort and a non-slip grip for precision ironing, while soft touch ergonomic controls buttons provide superior control. Features:

• Polished Stainless Steel Soleplate with Advanced Heatshield
• Extra Long Burst of Steam
• Anti-Drip System
• 3-Way Auto Shut-Off
• Self Clean System
• Variable Steam Adjusts for Right Amount of Steam for Every Fabric Type
• 1750 Watts

Okay, to enter leave a comment on this post. If you link back to this post in the next week  you will be entered a second time. Let me know in your comment that you will be doing that, so I can find you easily. (Lazy, Sell-Out Betty...) 

I will combine the two lists and use the Random Number generator to pick the winner on June 1st at 9:00 am PST.

Tell your friends, especially the ones with those tatty old thrift store irons.

Where Ya Been? Wednesday: The Weekends of Joy Approacheth

This weekend I will again return to this:



and I will be amoungst the cool geeks once again!

And then next weekend I will go HERE and see this:


I am busy completing all the costumes and props required for such ambitious adventuring...
One day of inspiration and the a 4 day uber-deluxe camping and music adventure in the bosom of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Stay tuned though. I'll have sewing tomorrow and hopefully a Fancy Prize on Friday.

Ooooh! Ahhh!

Tutorial Wednesday: What to Do With Giant Underpants

Well, I'm too busy sewing and celebrating Martyr's Mother's Day* to blog right now... 

So I'm going to let Pee Wee handle this week's tutorial:

He perfectly expresses my creative mental space right now...

"A swing! Lalala. Hah Hah!"

*Some of you will find that offensive, so I apologize. 

Some of you will totally understand, so I will sympathize.

Some can't comprehend what I could possibly mean by that... 

and that's okay too.

The Age of Aquarius Top

Hiya Kittens,

Thought you might want to see some applied piping in practice. Here's that awesome vintage zodiac fabric sewn into a revised Amy Butler Cabo Halter.

What's new on this halter other than that piping hot corded trim?

Viola! I lengthened the straps by 6 inches and crossed them in back. Buttons and button holes and it is so much more comfy. I tire of a knot rubbing the back of my neck. Sassy, No?

I just love piping. Don't you?