finally updating...

sorry for not posting anything for almost the entire month!

I just noticed this month is over,,,

september is here!!

my husband came back from Canada a little over a week ago,

and we've been pretty busy ever since.

we went down to Bend for Timber Framers Guild workshop, 

and then Southern Oregon to visit friends for a few days.

in short, it was awesome!!

(sorry not to mention any details... maybe I'll upload some pics later...?)

I've been dying to upload what I had been making while my husband was away.

I was pretty motivated and occupied with sewing!

I made two pairs of scalloped shorts.

I really liked how simple and clean looking these were,
so I based this pair on ruby pattern from Burdastyle.

the scallop part was a little trickier than I imagined...
I found it harder if they are too close together(smaller scallops),
and looked very irregular(because of my sewing skills?).

instead of the side buttons for closure,

these have an invisible zipper on the one of the sides.

and I added the front pockets because they are very handy!! 

I was so excited to find this decorative stitch on my machine!

goes perfectly with the theme -SCALLOP!

these ones are alternation of tonia from Burdastyle.

you notice I went crazy with the scallop stitch!

this pair has the stitch on the front pockets as well.

this one also has a side closure with an invisible zipper.

I could not decide if I wanted the pleated shorts or not.

So I made them both :)

and I love them both!!

last, but not least,,,

in fact, this creation is possibly the most practical thing ever!!

pouch for my stroller.

this stroller didn't come with a cup/key holder when we bought it on Craigslist.

but I was very happy to make it anyway,

and one less plastic thing to contain in the household!

I basically designed it based on my own needs.

cup holder and little pocket for a wallet, cell phone and what not.

so useful and makes things easier!

everything I need is right below the handles.

now having had a little break from sewing,

I am ready to get back at it!

what is the next project??

no computer, less distraction

sorry for the lack of posting...

my husband left last Monday to work in Vancouver BC, and took our only computer with him.

so, I am going to be computer-less for THREE weeks!

it is both good and bad.

I have been getting a lot more other things done, including some sewing projects,

other than spend hours on computer, which I tend to do when it is around.

so, that's nice.

but it's really hard on my eyes and fingers to websurf on the cell with a small screen and small keys.

I can use my housemate's computer, but I can't(don't want to) use it for a long time...

I'm sort of out of the Internet world.

but not really...

you can find me here more often during the three weeks.

I never thought I'd be a Twitter'er,,,

but I guess I am now!

I will post about things I sewed when I get a chance, or when he comes home.

by then, see you all on twitter!

burdastyle book -shipped- & sewing wishlist

I just went to a FedEx office, and dropped off my coat for the BurdaStyle book project.

it's finally done and over!  yay :)!!

it got really hot here a few days right before the deadline, 

and I was so not feeling sewing a winter coat in the heat!

also I decided to give bounded button wholes a try in a last minute,

so I had to take a couple seams a part.

well, I had to do it, and I DID it!!

I find it still hard having a deadline and keeping my motivation up for it.

all the same as when I was a student.

anyhow, now fun time for sewing starts!

here is a list of the few things I want to make.

1) scalloped/or not shorts 

(image via Vivat Veritas)

maybe use Tonia or the shorts pattern from BurdaStyle Magazine as a base.

these shorts Natty made look awesome too!

2) tie skirt

from BurdaStyle Magazine

3) airy blouses

I LOVE this peasant blouse!

and oh look!

this version of Alexander blouse posted today on BurdaStyle.

woooo  LOVE!

Alden looks fabulous in it too :)

well actually before I give it a go on another project,

I probably should organize my sewing room(aka closet) first.

since I started on the coat as soon as we moved in to the house,

my sewing space is still such a mess!!

bed -my husband's work-

I wanted to show you readers this bed my husband made for a customer recently.

it is made out of all recycled materials!

a couple of doors are used, I think, for this bed frame.

he got all the material from the Rebuilding Center, located on N Mississippi ave in Portland.

it is such a cool store where they sell all the recyclable/reusable building materials, which is all donated from the previous owners.  you can find not only lumbers, but also lots of used old doors, windows, sinks, drawers,,, etc...  most of the things there is reasonably priced, and sometimes you get lucky to find a really nice stuff for very cheap!!

the company which my husband works for also uses a lot of recycled materials from the store,

and builds/remodels houses, restaurants, and shops like below!!


for more photos visit their flickr :)


interested?  you have a building project/inquiry??
you know who to contact ;)

two way garden top

I know I should be focusing on the project.

the dead line for shipping is in less than 10 days!

oh, but you know....

I got distracted(as usual), and started another project.

well, I get to have fun,

and make some summer clothes for the season!

it's been a while since the last time I made something for myself.

this fabric has been waiting for its use for a whole year!

it's from naniIRO fabric, and I LOVE all of their fabric.

this one is double gauze, light and breezy. it's perfect for the summer!

the pattern is 1 Piece Kimono Tee from Burdastyle.

it is not 1 piece anymore because I had to use the fabric crosswise(I liked how the print was that way),

and it wasn't long enough.

the sleeves were shortened a bit,

and the neckline is different- one side is shallower than the original, other is V-shape.

this way, I can wear it both ways, front or back.

I kind of like wearing the V on the back better :)

I have a tiny bit leftover of the fabric, and am planning on making a little tunic/top for my daughter.

matching clothes are kinda nerdy, I know.

but I enjoy wearing them with my daughter ;P

it's hard to see, but these are the earrings I am wearing in the pics above.

I made these parrot earrings a few years ago.

oh, how much I love birdies!

okay, that was enough sidetracking,

and now it's time for me to get back to the main project...

burdastyle book -work in progress-

a little sneak preview of what I am working on for the Burdastyle book project.

these are the fabric I am using for the coat.

I did not get what I was imagining for my variation,

which was really disappointing and frustrating...

but it seems like a lot of the people who are participating in the project didn't get what they wanted to use for their projects either...

and I'm sure those kinds of compromises are expected and needed for a project like this.

now, I'm over it, and feel better about what I got.

I worked on the pattern modification and muslin a little bit.

even though I probably should work with muslin first before starting with any kind of project,

I never have.

but for this project, I was a little too scared to just give it a go and start cutting/sewing the fabric,

and I am little more careful...

although this hot weather is not really helping my motivation to be up for the winter clothes sewing,

I will be starting on the actual fabric soon as there is only half of the time left!

work, work, work!!