Friday, August 31, 2012

McH's Inspiration Point Bit

Pin It Okay everyone the August inspiration point was a bell tower that Major Mama's man snapped a shot of.  Just for some persective my hubby served 11 years of active Army service, most all of it in the BIG RED ONE.   He was a the finest NCO and we loved the army life.  We were also stationed in Germany for 5 years and the pic reminded me of the small bell towers in every town littered across Europe.  Since I am a writer, I wrote something...


August Inspiration Point Picture
Cinderella has nothing on me.   She at least got until the twelfth ring of her bell tower.  What do I get?  To five.

The sneakers help.  I don’t even want to think about running in this crazy town in 3 inch heels.  Europe and their insane alley ways and streets.  The cobblestone is completely unforgiving on your hands if you fall. At the reckless way I am running it’s a good bet I am going to biff it. But I have to make the bus.

That was the third strike of the bell from the middle of town and if I don’t make it he will leave.  He can’t leave.  Not yet.  Not when I have a chance.

This wasn’t how I was supposed to find “him”.  I was to finish my enlistment, go home, and finish school, something.  Not this sprint across Rotenberg on a single soldier MWR trip. 

This long weekend has been more than amazing. We got off opposing buses on Friday evening and with a handful of brochures.  His matched mine so we smiled and went off together to buy Christmas ornaments for our mothers.

I haven’t laughed so much in years.  Since I left home really.  I knew what I was signing up for, sort of. Four years of my life in exchange for tuition. I didn’t know I would like the structure, or the people.  I didn’t know I would love the challenge and hate the motor pool.

But this weekend I didn’t want to stop.  Here I am running like a maniac trying to get to his bus before he leaves.  He is stationed near me for now, but that can change in a minutes’ notice.  I need to get him my number, take a chance he will give me his. 

And that echo ringing in my ears is the fourth toll.  I knew he was leaving.  He said as much but I just wanted to look at one more thing, one more shop.  Before I knew it he was gone and the clock said his bus was leaving at 1700 on the dot.

Damn military promptness. 

The sun is bright and warm this Labor Day and it blinds me as I burst from the alley into the main square where the busses are parked.

I stop and look around for the Graf. bus.  He has to be here somewhere.  I can’t be too late.

“Mitchell!” I turn at my name and there he is 10 meters away.  His smile grows as I sprint over to him.  He lifts me up and tucks me in tight, despite a hundred troop’s cat calls around us. 

“I thought I missed you.”  My voice is shaking and breath heavy.  Mostly it’s from nerves but a portion is the sprint across town.

“Nah.  I wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye.”  His smile is contagious and we let each other go enough to dig our phones out. 

The start of the bus and yell of the NCOIC gets us both moving apart. He waved from his seat a moment later.  I start moving out to catch my own bus when my pocket starts to ring.  Pulling out my phone a text waits for me.

*Miss U already. TTYL my Mitchell*

Yep, Cinderella has nothing on me and my prince charming.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Fall Collection (for the big girl)

Pin It Well, my pictures are lousy, but I finished a pretty decent wardrobe for Abi's School clothes.

I tried to use three main colors so many of the pieces would be interchangeable.  As you can see, I used purple, pink, teal, and zebra as my focus colors/prints. 

I also tried to keep my designs very "playable".  I want my daughter to be able to run, jump, and play until her hearts content at school.

The collection
I want to highlight some of my favorites from the group.

I loved these jeans.  The name of the denim is rockstar blue and I think they are super cool.  You can't see them very well because they are so dark, but trust me, they are nice.  I machine embroidered little flames by the front pockets.


I think this shirt is lots of fun.  I made the hair and eye color of the girl match my daughters.  The texts says "Because I'm Awesome"

This is a Creating Kids Couture pattern and one of the few patterns I used that were not my own.  It is just too easy to pass up as it all is a bunch of rectangles.  How peace signs are still in style, I don't know, but Abi loves it.

Here is another favorite.  It is a silky dolmen shirt with a small placket at the neckline.  I made the placket off center for fun and Abi had the brilliant idea of bow buttons.  I think it makes the animal print very girl appropriate.

This is what she chose to wear for the first day of school.  It is the peacock shirt and a skirt made of pre-ruffled fabric in a zebra print.

I still have lots of fabric and ideas running around my head, but I need to do some sewing for the boy and that will come next.  I can always add to her wardrobe during the year.  That way she has fresh new pieces and I can keep up with any major growth spurts.

P.S.
For more pictures, check out my flickr page @  http://www.flickr.com/photos/major_moma/sets/72157630817316608/

Friday, August 24, 2012

The Great Mayo Debate

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I just couldn't believe it! I had my hands on my hips glaring at my husband in the middle of Econo Foods grocery store.  The term husband was a very new concept since we had been married 4 days.   I thought that there wasn't anything we couldn't talk about and reason out together.  Until that day.  There he was, my brand new husband with the same stubborn look on his face as mine, along with one of disbelief. 

"No, don't even think about putting that in the cart." I said

James gave me his eyebrow and replied with equal fierceness.  "Oh really and instead you're going to put what in it?"

"Mayo of course! I can't believe that you eat that nasty stuff! Do you know what they put in Miracle Whip? It’s totally gross!"

"I hate Mayonnaise. Its tasteless and I won't eat it!" James replied

"Fine.  You don't have to eat!" I yelled

There we stood, our first fight. We like to call it the great Mayo/Miracle Whip debate now.  Back then I was truly upset that there was something we couldn't compromise on.  We both thought there was nothing the two of us couldn't talk through.  A two year, long distance relationship had cemented our ability to talk but as we were staring each other down in the condiment aisle, all of those skills slipped by.

We were on our first grocery shop ever.  Our goal was to fill our new 500 sqft. home with things like hamburger helper, soda, spaghetti, ramen and Mac and cheese. Neither one of us knew what to do next.  I had gone straight from living with my parents  and high school, were James had been living in the barracks eating at the chow hall every day since joining the Army two years earlier. 

We were young, 18 and 20 respectively.  Not to mention tired because we had been on the road the last three days from Washington State to Ft. Riley, Kansas where James was stationed.  Add to it that we were completely ignorant on how to set up a home. 

I look back at our stubbornness and laugh, but at the time the ability to compromise and shrug off the little things were major blocks to allowing each other into our everyday lives.  What was the line where one of us was going to give up something for the other?  Even something small like Mayonnaise.

  We were both upset that we couldn't convince the other to join their side on the issue.  We had not yet learned to allow us each to have our differences.  We knew we had a lot in common but we didn't see all the differences because we were so wrapped up in our individual lives.

The process of joining our lives together was more complicated than we understood. We didn't look beyond the surface things, like bills, and name changing, to the more important things like what makes my spouse happy? What hurts her/him?  What is my spouse passionate about? What kind of condiment does my spouse like on their turkey sandwich?

You might say I am making a bit much over our fight but it was the first of many clashes that still 15 years later happen occasionally.  James and I are better at recognizing the symptoms of selfishness and stupidity.    We now use effective tools like rock, paper, scissors to make all minor life decisions.

Time, effort, and caring about what our spouse likes also helps prevent confrontations in the grocery store.    Sometimes just a raised eyebrow and "Really, Rachel?" (James forte) and we both stop and look at why we are both being so stubborn about something.

James and I in that aisle looked at each other in a new way.  We saw a person that we had cleaved our life to.  We saw a person that despite all the letters and phone calls and love for them, we probably needed to get to know more.  What makes them who they are and how can I be part of that? 

We still have to look at each other with those eyes sometimes.  Who is James today?  What would make him happy?  What does he need and how, as his wife and friend, can I meet that need even if it clashes with one of mine? If my spouse’s happiness is linked to mine then these are important questions.

So, you are asking what happened in Econo foods aren't you? Who won right? Well we both did. After yelling it out and maybe seeing how completely silly we looked, we decided this was a fight we needed to move past.  We decided that there was no compromising so we put both Mayo and Miracle Whip in the cart.

 15 years later if you look in my fridge door you will see both labels sitting side by side.  Not that the great debate has ever ended.  My oldest son Ben is a strictly Miracle Whip man and daughter Sarah is a mayo girl and Sam likes neither. 

Thursday, August 23, 2012

sew much to sew

Pin It I have a sewing to-do list that is way longer than I will be able to accomplish this weekend.  Plus, I have family activities to enjoy this weekend which will limit my sewing time.

Why is my list so long?

  1. Abi starts school on Monday
  2. Project Run and Play starts 10 September
I have been working on Abi's school clothes wardrobe and have made several pieces.  I have not taken pictures yet, but I hope to visually document them all this weekend and have a great "back to school post" next week.


long sleeve silky T


The picture is blurry, but Abi is making matching jewelry for several of her outfits.
A sneak peak is this pretty long sleeved T-Shirt.  It is made with a silky knit with stripes of individual sequins.  I used a light lavender for the cuffs, waist band, and neck.  I  embroidered bows on the lavender in order to link it into the body of the shirt.

So, this weekend, I need to finish up a few more things for Abi's school clothes and then I need to get busy on my PRP entries.

I hope to sew along every week.  However, some of the themes are not exactly thrilling me.  But isn't that part of the challenge?  Take something you would never do and make it your own?

Well, you will be hearing either a lot from me because I will have a lot of projects to show OR you will hear from me very little because I will be too busy sewing.


P.S.

There are 8 more days for you to play along with our Inspiration Point.  And if you can't get a project done in the next week, never fear, we will have a new inspiration up on the 1st!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Inexpensive and fun Custom T

Pin It For those that read the blog frequently, you know I am working on a school clothes wardrobe for my 3rd grader.  I am trying to make things that are:
  • fun
  • comfortable
  • stylish (in an elementary school way)
So, I went to my favorite embroidery store and checked out what they have for kids.  They have lots of funky and alternative embroidery here and I picked out something great. (They also have a lot that is not for kids.)

Next, I had to pick some fabric.  I actually saw a men's L polo on clearance for $2 and grabbed it.  I knew it would be more than enough fabric for my daughter's shirt and I could use the hems on the shirt and save myself some time.


I think it turned out pretty cute.  Maybe someday I will get a picture of her wearing it.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

for the love of the boy

Pin It Last year we took the kids to a medieval market.  There were lots of vendors, food, jousting shows, and .... people in costume.

It was a great time for everyone and the kids had a blast.  However, the kids saw everyone dressed in period costume and they wanted to be dressed up too.  This is not my kind of thing.  I don't dress up in period garb.  But, the look on my boy's face as he watched nights joust and costumed people stroll by made it so I could not say no.

So, over the winter and spring, in between more pressing projects, I conducted some historical costume research and made the whole family medieval costumes.  I call them my 80% accurate costumes.  Only 80% because I used my machine embroidery machine to embroider them and I took a little bit of licence on the construction.  But for the most part, I tried to remain pretty true to the period.

The boys have an older model of the ubiquitous tunic.  According to my pattern it was popular from about 600 AD forward.  Abi and I have a more set in sleeve without a gusset, which makes it more advanced.  It was used from about 1100 on.







Isabel's is not from a pattern.  I took the basic themes of ours and the scraps of the kids' fabric and came up with something that was close to accurate and would be easy and comfortable for a toddler to wear.

And this Sunday we wore them all.  We were quite the sight.  But, because we were in costume, we received a huge discount on the entrance fee.

It was very hot, mid 90s (very hot for Germany) and so we did not stay as long as we would have liked.  But there are a few more medieval markets within traveling distance over the next 6 weeks (it is fest season here in Germany) and we will attend them all dressed up.
I have to say, my Man does look pretty good in a dress.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Paris Souvenir

Pin It I am going to interrupt my ranting about pants and talk about some thing that DID turn out.

We recently went to Paris and I wanted to make something for Abi to remind her of the trip.  I love t-shirts as souvenirs, but as we all know, they are often expensive and cheaply made.

So, I bought a cool machine embroidery file of the Eiffel tower and made a shirt for her.

It is a long-sleeve raglan style t-shirt.  I made a band hem on it to give a bit of a polished look. 
I used a lightweight purple with white ribbing.

It is super comfortable and will be both a nice reminder of the trip and a good addition to her school clothes.  And I think I will have to embroider something else with that Eiffel Tower.  It is super pretty.

Monday, August 13, 2012

perseverance vs. pig-headedness

Pin It
Where does perseverance end and pig-headedness begin?



practice muslin

first pair
I have been working on making Abi custom pants and after one muslin and 3 pants done, I was completely frustrated.  They had improved, but there was a serious fitting issue and I could not figure out how to fix it.

second pair


third pair




I had read my Vogue sewing book.
I called my mom.
I asked others.

Then I tossed out the pattern and drafted a new one.

It was even worse...  After several fittings and adjustments, the last pair was impossible to wear.

I was completely deflated but unwilling to give up.



It reminded my mother of a time not too long ago when I was working on my thesis.  It took 7 painful and frustrating drafts to finish it.  And I did not finish well.  When I defended my thesis my advisor brought all those separate drafts (these were not the "just needs some proof reading" type drafts) and stacked them up on the desk.  And he then tells the crowd about my "tenacity".  I am still not sure if he was mocking me.

All this to say, I am seeing a pattern.  Maybe my perseverance has crossed over from virtue to vice.

In my discouragement, I did something I should have done 2 pants ago.  I contacted the help desk of my pattern software.  They immediately responded to my email with lots of helpful advise.  I made a sloper (generic fitting pants) and emailed her the picture.  She was pleased with the results, as was I.


fitting sloper



So there is now hope.  I just need to keep stubbornly pushing my way through "the quest for the perfect pants".

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Tuscany Jumper

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Well, here it is.  This is what I made for our August session of Inspiration Point.

front
It is not very fancy.  And since it was my turn to pick the picture, you would have thought that I had a project already in mind. 
But I didn't. 
I just really liked the picture.  As I thought about the picture, two things kept coming to mind. 
  1. The colors ... oranges, browns, and blue,
  2. The straight lines.
back
After a lot of thought and tossing of fabric on the table, I designed a jumper with a square neckline and box pleats to make straight lines that also created dimension.  And the fabric I picked had all those colors that Tuscany is famous for. 
If you look closely, you can see the bias trim.  I made this trim out of some brown fabric that looked to me (from a distance) like little bricks.  I thought that would be a fitting way to finish all the edges.  And I used it to make a small bow in one corner of the neckline.
box pleats
I think it will be a pretty addition to Abi's Back-to-School clothes this fall.

Back to School

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Well it’s about that time of year.  The give you hives, balance your check book twice, measure feet and sort the pants drawer time of year.  It’s back to school.

Technically we have a little under a month until the kids are back at school.  Some of my friends in the South and Midwest have already started. But when Super hubby and I were laying out the August calendar it felt completely booked already.   Not to mention I have a 30% coupon for a teen pants store that expires tomorrow.  So I am going back to school shopping today.

I really am doing the hard bit today.  The boys.  They can’t stand shopping.  My boys would rather go to school in holey jeans and shoes than trek the wilds of Old Navy.  I understand because I can’t stand shopping with them either.

My daughter will be a fun adventure full of laughing and spending too much money on accessories.

 My sons are simple; all they need are jeans, tees, some long sleeve tees, a hoody or two, one pair of slacks and a dress shirt. Done.  It shouldn’t be big deal.  The key is to use reverse psychology.  I just need to tell them I love the pink stripes so they pick up the green solid.

 I have had to succumb to threats for cooperation this year.  The biggest struggle is the “belt” issue.

“Mom I don’t need a belt, its fine,” says my oldest. 

“Okay, but I will sing ‘I see London I see France I see Ben’s underpants,’ every time I drop you off and pick you up.  In front of your friends.  Girls. ”

He has agreed to the belts.

So wish me luck as I put on my sturdy shoes, and whine proof super mom cape.  It’s Back to School!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Confession time

Pin It I have a confession.

I am color challenged.

I know, how can that be?  I sew, which means I have to pick out fabrics and make them go together all the time.  Well, I usually just go with standard color combinations because I know that is safe.  But sometimes I get "creative" and combine colors because I want to.  That usually turns out awkward.

You saw my second pair of pants in the quest for perfect Abi pants?  Well, I almost put teal zippers in those pockets.  But just before I did, I called my mom.  She talked me down off the ledge.  She suggested that I use a color wheel whenever I make something and follow the rules.




Next, I was working on my Inspiration Point project.  I really wanted to go with browns.  The colors of Tuscany really stuck with me.  And I wanted to do something with bias tape.  I was still working out the details in my head but I was throwing out some of my fabric I had on hand and was going to go with this combination.

But, the more I thought about it I realized those browns really don't go together.  So I dug deep into the recesses of my fabric stash and found some large scraps from projects years ago.  I had to change up the pattern I was making up in my head. But I think I will have a pretty good end product.

They say that the first step is admitting you have a problem.  Maybe I am on my way to color challenge recovery.


Sunday, August 5, 2012

The quest continues ...

Pin It I made another pair of pants.  To fix the baggyness problem in the last one, I adjusted the pattern a bit.  I came in more at the yolk at the back and adjusted the way I sewed the front crotch seem and the fly.  I also, at Abi's request, made them a straight leg version. 

Here are my results:





They turned out pretty cute but there is still some distortion in the front.  According to Vogue Sewing, I need to lengthen the crotch more.  So, next I will use some scrap fabric and make just the hip portion of the pants and see if that is what it will take.

Some of you may be wondering why I am working so hard on custom pants and not buying a pattern.  Well, Abi has a shape that is much different than the patterns.  She would wear a size 10 (girls) for the length but her waist is the size of her baby sister's (see the cute girl who snuck into the picture).  She is long and leggy and clothes never fit her quite right.  But it dawned on me, I can do this.  Why would she need to wear ill fitting clothes, I can make her ones that fit!



Despite the distortion, Abi likes this pair.  She said she will definitely wear them and she really likes the welt pockets with chunky zippers.

On a different note, any of you planning on participating in Inspiration Point?  I was working on mine yesterday and hope to finish it this week.  Remember, you don't have to sew to play along.  Any creative endevour is allowed!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Inspiration Point Kick-off!

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When we started this blog, we had two goals.
1) connect with each other (the co-blog writers scattered around the world)
2) connect with others … That would be you.

But, we were so new to blogging that we decided it would be best if we just got the hang of it before we start any regular interactive activities.  As you probably can see by looking at our posts, we are creative gals.  And, as much as we love showing our latest creative endeavor, we would like to see yours!  And to do so we will be hosting a show-n-tell called Inspiration Point. 

Each month one of us will post a picture of  . . . something.  Then, your challenge will be to create something inspired by that picture.  We have a group flickr account to which you may upload your image(s) (no more than 2 per project) so that we all can oooh and ahhh over your talent.  If your creative outlet is visual, then of course you upload a picture of your creation.  If you are a writer or musician … this is more difficult.  So, for you I would suggest that you create an image (like of a portion of words) and a link to your blog.  Then at your blog, you can post your short story, poem, or music file (you get the idea).  That way all can participate in their own way.

At the end of the month, we will highlight our favorites and might share what we were inspired to create.

We do have RULES though:

1.      It must be something you made/created
2.      Inspired by our image
3.      And be rated no more than PG13.  (We are a family blog after all.)
4.      Please, no advertising or spam (they will be removed).

Lastly, we would be thrilled if you would add our button to your page or post, or wherever you store your link party-type things.  You don't have to use the button to participate, but since this is a community show-n-tell, it makes it more fun!
So here it is..... {drum roll please} 

Our first Inspiration!


Photo Credit: Jeremiah Hooke



Now READY, SET, GO!

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