Living with My Own Lewis Carroll

BuggaBoo has been really getting into onomatopoeias.  For examples:

-He likes the yolks of his fried eggs to be "jubily".
        "Please cook my eggs so the yolk is jubily!"
-If something takes a rounded form he refers to is as "plumpy". 
        "Mom, your bottom is really plumpy!"
        "Why is my pillow all plumpy?"
-Today he asked me to cook his Brussels sprouts "slimy".
        "I like it when you cook my Brussels sprouts all slimy.  Slimy and chewy."

It sometimes seems I'm in the middle of the Jabberwocky (where is my vorpal sword when I need it?), and it always brings a smile to my face.

So, quick.  Brighten your day and use an incredibly, if possibly made-up, descriptive word.  I'm sure you won't regret it.

Flippin' Furniture

I've been having some fun flipping furniture lately.  I buy 'em cheap, paint 'em up, sand 'em down, and sell 'em.  Well, I've sold one so far, but I'm hoping for another sale today (just listed it).

Here's pics to make up for my blogging absence.  Enjoy!

Before, green and falling apart.  Purchased for $3 at a yard sale.  I was test-driving the yellow, but I didn't like it.  Oh, I was also testing a brown, but didn't go with that, either.

After, creamy loveliness.  Sold for $50 the first day.

Second project, simple oak dresser.  Sorry, that picture is in a different camera.  Just imagine a plain dresser.  After, distressed denim, complete with rivet-colored handles.

I have this one listed for $350, we'll see if it sells for that.


I leave you with Doozer, pulling a face.  Enjoy!

An Apology and An Explanation

I am sorry I haven't posted the update about my meeting with Tim Gunn.

The reason is once I showed him my dress and how it worked for breastfeeding he became very adamant that I protect my intellectual property through patent.  In his words, "This idea is so good people will steal it from you."

I'm not sure which route I want to choose yet, but until I make a decision I don't want to limit my options by posting the finished dress.  I hope you understand and are willing to be patient with me.

Thank you.

Just a quick note because I'm exhausted.

I met Tim Gunn today.  He is as amazing in person as he is as a TV personality.

And.

He LOVED my dress.  Exuberantly loved my dress.

That is all, because now I'm going to faint dead away.

Mock-up Done, Tweaking Needed

Alright everyone, here's a mock-up of my design.  It's not perfect, so you will get a glimpse of my beige bra against a beige dress and panty lines.  I'm sorry for any offense that may be stirred.  I found this heavy knit in the discount section of JoAnn's and it's working well for the mock-up.  The color is horrid for me, the final dress will be a rich jewel tone.

I'm very happy with the concept and the seaming work went together like a dream.  I was playing around with the idea of piping the seams, so I serged the seams on the outside and then top stitched them down.  I'm thinking of just sticking with understated normal seams, letting the subtleness carry the design.  Also, less work.  The final dress will have an all-in-one facing for the armholes and neckline.

I'm too tired to smile in this picture.  I think the dress is too tight.  I'm wearing borrowed Spanx but there are wrinkles around my tummy indicating that it needs more room.  The nursing overlays are a mess, but hopefully easily fixed.

Hmm.  Odd twisting is going on here.  Also, the upper overlay isn't long enough to cup under my bust.  The lower overlay needs a dart taken out of it to cup under.  And what is up with the neckline?

This is with the upper overlay cut away from the top three seams and repositioned to take out the twisting.  Much better.  I took out the excess from center front at the neck.I still need more length to the overlay to cup the bust but it's better than before.  Here's a picture of the shoulder showing how much I need to add to the overlay.

Now for the back.

I had a lapse of awesomeness and flipped the midriff inlay.  I think it's contributing to the fit problems in the bodice.  My next step in fixing the muslin is to cut out the midriff, flip it back to its correct orientation, abut the seams and do a zig zag stitch.  I can't properly analyze the fit until that's done.  I'm not looking forward to the work.  Also, too tight in across the hips and rear.

Things I love about this:

The seaming details make me feel so feminine.
The sleeves are perfect.
And, after I hem it 1 14/" it will be the perfect length.
I patterned all the pieces correctly except the nursing overlays, and I knew that would be trial-and-error.

Alright, I'm awaiting your comments and criticisms.

Edited to add:  I've flipped the back midriff area and then pined out a 2" tuck on the back bodice at the armpit level.  It's fitting much better now, but still needs 2-3" of ease around the hips.  Or more?  Do I need more than 3"?

About that $100...

Changed my mind.  One hundred dollars to meet Tim Gunn?  I'll pay it!  I did pay it!  I'm going to meet Tim Gunn on Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Progress...

Now, back to work for me.  I want the pattern finished tonight so I can sew a mock-up tomorrow.  Thank heavens for knits and sergers.

I'm All A-Flutter

Guess what big celebrity is coming to my neck of the woods?

Tim Gunn.

So, do you guys think I could whip up a fabulous outfit in time?

I need to get cracking if I want to be there wearing a Krista original.

Oh my heavens, my pulse is racing...




The only thing bothering me is if I want to meet him in person I need to spend $100+ at Lucky Brand jeans and I am NOT doing that.  Guess that means I need such a fabulous dress I'll stand out in the crowd!