October already!

Here it is Sunday, Oct 4th and I finally have some time to sit down and blog. Yes, I have been sewing; the latest being a "black capsule" for work. That was a Loes Hinse Garbo jacket and Loes Hinse New York dress, both in black RPL. I also made another NY dress in a matte jersey red/black oriental style print from JoAnns. No photos as black isn't too exciting to photograph. Anyhow, I digress. September was full of lots of things to do. First off, I entered a brown/black brocade jacket in the fair and won a blue ribbon. The big cash prize when to a person who made two 3 piece outfits for children. I know now I need to made an ensemble to be in the running I think. I was very happy to get the blue ribbon though!

The weather continued to be really hot all month so the garden kept going. We finally yanked it all out last weekend. We made tomato sauce with all the tomato surplus. Yet, because of the hot weather, it is delaying my fuji apples from ripening up. They are still on the tree. Now it has been cold the past week so I think it won't be long.

Our Italian plum produced well so I dried them all into prunes. Very tasty. The bosc pears were a little less fruitful this year but I got enough to make 4 half pints of pear butter, which I love. I may buy more pears to make more. I also bought some local Elberta peaches to freeze (sliced) since our peach trees lost their flowers last Spring-no fruit.

The big purchase though this past month was a Vita-Mix. I had never given this any attention until a friend of mine got one and I got to see it in action. Wow! It really blends up ANYTHING. I have made soup, ice cream, green drinks and salsa to name a few. It is a spendy item but we figured with the produce/farm thing going, it would get used a lot. And it has. Last weekend I did applesauce--blended up and filled up a 7 quart crock pot to cook all day. Yum! I still have apples from our golden delicious tree which were picked in August. Yesterday I cleaned out the pantry and found a Southwest Black bean soup mix. So, I made that up and at the end, decided to blend it in the Vita Mix--perfect! I do not sell these things but really think they are worth every dime.

We have also been busy with Winter preperations. Not quite like Alaska but close, maybe. We now have almost 7 cords of wood out there stacked. Some of it we split and some we bought. We have a lot of trees on our property but only have cut a dozen or two down to burn. It is a lot of work. Last night, we lit our first fire in the wood stove. It is so cozy. The freezer is packed with veggies, soup and fruit that I have prepared. We also have some chicken and turkeys that we have raised. The pantry is full of jam, fruit juice, fruit brandy, fruit wine, and other dry goods. It is a great feeling to have a full pantry, freezer and wood pile going into the cold weather. Unfortunately, my DH now has the flu. Not sure if it is the H1N1 strain, but he feels crummy.

Now, I need to continue my "Fall organizing" and tackle my sock drawer and closet. I also have ambitions to re-organize my pattern collection and revisit the fabric stash to see what I really have. It is all in cabinets which makes it easy for me to forget what is in there pushed behind other fabrics. The current project that is cut and ready to go is another pair of the Simplicity pants 2700 out of a heathered brown denim I purchased from Emma One Sock a few years back.

Farm Update

I had to comment about what's been going on around the farm besides sewing....

We had been raising nine heritage turkeys from incubation in March. They were doing well and seemed to be full grown. This got the attention of our "friendly neighborhood" coyotes. Four days ago, we got up to do the normal chores and found our "turkey tractor" top netting ripped off and some of the chicken wire pryed off of the wood. Three turkeys were gone with evidence of the struggle on the ground. I'm sure the remaining six were terrorized. My DH heard some kind of noise aroun 3am but didn't get up to look--we regret not doing so.

We fixed the tractor and decided it was time to take them to the poultry processor before the coyote came back for more. We took the turkeys on Thursday and that night, the coyotes came back--howled right by our bedroom window around 3am. I'm sure they were disappointed!!!

We took the processed turkeys to our local butcher, to have them all smoked. We were raising them for meat but also for fun you know.

DH loves all kinds of critters and he is a vegetarian! I am not but really do not each much meat. He will eat meat on Thanksgiving. We are selling one or two. The largest one is 11 pounds and the smallest 5.6 pounds. Life on the farm is never dull. Our chickens and goats are doing well.

The garden is still producing tons of harvest gold (not sure of the name) cherry tomatoes and a few zukes. Beans are done and a few peppers are straggling.

In the orchard, I picked our golden delicious apple tree--two five gallon buckets full. The green gage plum gave us about 2 dozen; they are sweet! The Italian plum is almost ready. Probably by the end of the month the Fuji trees and the Bosc pears will be ready to be picked. Then we'll be real deep in processing and canning all of that!!!

We having cords of wood delivered too in preparation for winter. We use our wood stove for heat and it saves $$ for sure; plus it is cozy. The past two winters we have broken records for snowfall--I think 90+ inches last year. So we are prepared. It's a nice feeling to have a full freezer, food in the pantry, wood stacked and most importantly, a big fabric stash for when we get snowed in and I can sew all day!!!!!!!!!

Pant perfection and new skirt!

Today, I had a window of time to sew up a new skirt, Butterick 5249, view A. It is a high waisted skirt with belt carriers. I cut out a size 10 with NO alterations. The fit is very, very good. I used a drapey poly suiting with some lycra that I picked up at Hancocks a few weeks ago. I'd have to say that though the fit is great, I threw a FIT while constructing. Actually, I had a lapse of sewing sense and tried to use a regular zip, centered because that's what the pattern called for. What a mistake! It looked awful because this fabric was pretty slippery, even with basting tape. So, I ripped it out carefully and installed an invisible zipper. BIG difference. I can sew those in pretty well--done many of them.
The shirt is my fourth Burda 2561--cut out last year and just finished a few weeks ago! I love this shirt because it is only 5 pieces and no collar stand or separate facing for the shirt

These jeans are my third pants and really the best fitting of all. Simplicity 2700. I LOVE these pants. I have more of the fabric that I made the skirt out of so that is next in this pattern. Pretty much no alterations either; just a smidge deeper outside seam.

It's hard to photograph dark clothing but take my word, they look great!!!

Next on deck is probably one of those Donna Karan Cozy Cardigan wraps, or a jacket, or a coat, or a........

Hard for me to decide.

I've been back at work now for almost 2 weeks so it has cut into my sewing time--ha. I guess I need to earn money so I can sew more!!!

Happiness and frustration!!!

First the happiness!!! The UPS men just delivered my first Fabric.com purchase!
I am really impressed with all of it. With free shipping and my ASG discount--it was even better!

I ordered this double face wool melton in red and green (the red is a blue red--but doesn't look that way in my photo); they are perfect for coats!!! I have McCalls 5718 in mind for at least one coat; a fun ITY knit, a pretty chiffon for a blouse and a red/camel wool blend boucle that is just gorgeous!!

Now on to frustration. Is there any easy way to sew these in? I finished my brown Vogue pants and it required two of these. They sure do slip around a lot when sewing and making sure they are lined up right, etc. Next pair I may just do two buttons instead.

Busy summer!!

This is what happens when you don't post often!!
Blogger did not let me post all of these photos at the same time; had to do it one by one.
Anyhow, this is where I left off on the last post.

I made the two Amy Butler Cabo halters. Both fit well and I am pleased. I have worn them a little bit; fun for summer.


The next thing I made was this jersey dress; Vogue 8571.
It was easy but the gathering took time.



This shirt was cut out last Fall!! It is one of my TNT patterns; Burda 2561. This is the third shirt I have made and have a fourth one cut. I cut a straight 34 and do my "standard" 1/2 inch trim off the shoulder seam and then add that back on to the lower armsyce.

The pants are Simplicity 2562, Amazing Fit.

Went together fine but it took lots of tweaking with the fit. I should have added about an inch to the crotch length on the pattern before cutting out. They are totally wearable though.

The brown pants with the blue zip (what I had in the stash) are the pants from Vogue 8547. No pockets on this one. I just cut and sewed this up this afternoon. Still have to press and sew down the waistband and hem. I did add an inch to the pattern this time and it made a big difference in fit. Still a little tweaking. That takes the most time with pants!!!

My DH and I have a big garden and a mini orchard. The apricots came and went, and so we made jam, froze some, have some apricot brandy brewing and still have a few left to eat in the fridge. The methey plum tree was loaded this year. DH made lots of plum jam. We will have apples and pears and Italian plums in the coming weeks.

Everything is going gangbusters in the garden. Lots of tomatoes, zukes, cabbage, bell peppers and cantelope! The bush beans are there too but the taste/texture hasn't been the greatest.

My next sewing project will be another pair of jeans. I have a TNT Burda pattern that I will use.

I might make another pair of the Vogue pants in a black suiting. I really need lots of nice pants in my wardrobe. There is also a pencil skirt in that pattern (8547). That may be tempting.

Burda WOF eyelet top

Hi again:
I have wanted to sew up a white eyelet top for awhile now but could not find suitable fabric. Yesterday, I found this wonderful eyelet, substantial pima cotton (that is not so thin that it is see through!) at the only independent fabric shop in our area. I also bought enough to make the Burda WOF tunic from the July 2009 issue. This top is from the WOF March 2008, # 110. I sewed up a muslin in a 34 and it was too tight. This is a close fitting pattern so I went to the 36. It has a side invisible zip and self bias strips to bind the neck and armholes.

I also purchased the Amy Butler Cabo halter pattern and plan to make two in the fabrics shown.

Off to make some dinner!!!

The Maxi Dress

This maxi dress is from Burda WOF July 2009, #116. I would have loved to find the jersey border print that was used in the magazine but no luck. I settled for a poly/lycra jersey print from JoAnn fabrics, at a 50% discount no less.

I made the size 17 and took it in an additional 5/8ths on the sides. No, I did not use a zipper; this is a knit! I do not know why they recommend a zipper with a knit. It was pretty easy to sew and looks great on.

Out of curiosity I looked at the the Nordstrom's selection of Maxi dresses. The purple one here on the right is the same pattern as the Burda! The price is $235.00!!
I am very excited to wear this dress.