An old linen bed sheet.

See the tiny, tiny seam where the two halves meet. The date looks to be 1815, perhaps the third month? I think the name is Jane Ewing — the last name is hard to determine.

From a friend of my father. It belonged to his mother who died in the 70s. It had been sitting in a house with black mold all over the walls and ceiling since her death. A treasure waiting to be found.

Embroidery as Camouflage

Why I left a skirt that only needed a waistband and a hem as an unfinished object for more than a year is a mystery to me. Several times I took it out of storage, putting it in the things-to-do pile in my kitchen work area — so many times, that it eventually faded from exposure to the bright morning sunshine. The hem and waist band took about an hour. It only took a couple of evenings to run the band of flowers and squiggles around the hem to help camouflage the fading. Then, I read a little of the Alabama Stitch book and realized that I needed to tack down all those flower petals. The stitches are bigger than a quarter inch, which is the the longest stitch length recommended to avoid snagging. It took another couple nights just to do the tacking, which gives the once rounded petals a slightly weird geometric look. Now, I'd love to make one of those gorgeous skirts from the book, which at my rate could take about ten years.

Berry Pickin'

It helps to have a professional photographer along with you when you go berry picking.

Thank you, jo ann! It was such a wonderful surprise.

Bitch'n Bobbins

If sewing folk had their own local bitch'n groups, like the knitters, it would be a wonderful world. Beer, sewing tips, and industry anecdotes — while surrounded by fabric and yarn — is just about worth its weight in gold. There's another class tonight if you can make it.

Heather Ross Class Tonight!!!

This just in:

Heather Ross will be teaching her summer dress class tonight — July 9th and tomorrow, July 10th from 6 to 8 pm — locally (my local, that is) at Luminous Threads in Felton, California. It's the same class that she taught at Purl Patchwork in March. You can see a beautiful version of the dress on their site.

Here's a link to the Luminous Threads class schedule (scroll down for July)

Here's the Luminous Threads phone number if you want to know more: (831) 335-2621.

I think it's $80 for the two part class, but you might be able to take just one for $40. Not sure of the price for the one time class. Call for details.

Now if I could just find some childcare...

I'm feeling Lomoish

I keep wanting to write up a blog post with more depth, but it just doesn't seem to happen. I think I remember the same thing last summer.

Anyhoo, today I finished this long-time (over a year) WIP — a skirt made from a flea market baby quilt. The photos were less than great, so I paid my $25 and signed up for picnik. I probably could have played around in Photoshop using the prescribed layer configuration for a Lomoish look, but sometimes it's just easier to use a Flash interface that helps you do the same thing, only easier.

Red, White, & Blue Clothes

Happy 4th of July. We're just back from the World's Shortest Parade. I thought I saw Anahata Katkin, but was too shy to ask. I wouldn't mind if it was actually her, but, I have asked people before if they have a blog, and feel silly when they say no with a funny expression. Apparently it wasn't Anahata — looks like she went swimming.

The photos are of my sister modelling the shirt that I just made for her. Photos by Becktress.