[Tamara]

I thinks its choosing the fabric that has me stumped when it comes to window treatments. When we moved into the cottage I thought I would be clever and make roman blinds which were all the rage back then. Now I can’t stand the dusty crooked old things and am glad to see the back of them. I would like something simple at the window. I was even contemplating plantation shutter type things so that the heat can stay outside! Still thinking on that one though.

My new Inspirations magazine arrived in the mail yesterday so I spent an hour (whilst the children had their piano lessons) reading and imagining what I can make to adorn the little strips of wall in between the windows. They would have to be either skinny bell pull type things or mini pictures as the width between the windows is only 24cm. It had my mind racing though.

When all the book shelves and wardrobes are in there will not be much room to hang items but I have allocated a wall to have as my photo taking wall.

All these things take time to get used to – like figuring out how not to burn the bottoms of biscuits in the brand new oven!

It is almost lunchtime. I hope to get going on those little jobs straight after that, once I have located the vaporiser which is in a box somewhere.

I ordered several copies of Ottobre design magazine last week from Crafty mamas and was hoping they’d turn up by the end of the week. Alas they have only just been sent today – oh well! That means I can really be settled in by the time they turn up.

[mcholley1]

I can’t believe you are moving and sewing at the same time!!! We’ve moved four times in the past ten years and it seems like every time took weeks just to be able to get dinner cooked and keep our heads above water…much less be settled and thinking about sewing!

Feel better all of you that are feeling crappy!

I’ve got a stack of things cut and in kits waiting on me to find time to sew. I ordered the March 2013 Burdastyle for a nice pair of very basic girl’s shorts. Hopefully I can get that and one more pattern traced this week.

[Masha Richart]

Sharon, I can’t wait to see your dress! Hurry and finish it! Nicole, I hope you are feeling better. And good luck to those of you making your sewing spaces (jealous!).

Last night I cut out two 2+2 tops. The girls need some new warm-weather tops and my 2+2 pattern is much-neglected. I am making them sleeveless like the first one I made; I think they look really sweet that way. Got one in Lisette sateen nearly completed last night; hope to finish that one and make good headway on the second today.

After that, something more for me, I think 😉 I am debating over Rae’s new Josephine top. I really love how it looks on her, and on a lot of the other people. But I wonder whether it will end up being like the Washi for me – something I like on others but not on myself. And should I spend $16 to find out? What to do, what to do?

[with love Heidi]

If you don’t like the fit of the washi the Josephine is probably made from the same body block so the fit difficulties will probably be similar. Sorry to be a spoil sport 🙁

Get well, Nicole! And I love the white puppet Show!

I’m also looking forward to seeing the peach Chantellie 🙂

[Tamara]

Mcholley, we only went up the track by 300metres. But two weeks on we are still living out of boxes and the sewing room is still at the cottage. I had to bring my machines up here as I couldn’t bare the thought of anyone else having a play. Sewing will happen on the weekend. I am totally on track. I have just completed slapping some paint on the skirting boards (and I really did slap it on). Most of the skirtings will either be removed or hidden so I am not going overboard and one looks like it was termite lunch! So when we remove the ones currently sitting where the sewing room storage will go, we can patch it with a decent piece.

I have a few “finish me off” items I could get on with if I can get the table in here tomorrow. But the real sewing kick off won’t happen until at least Saturday.

[Masha Richart]

That is a good point, Heidi, and something I had thought about. But upon thinking about my Washi and what I don’t like about it, the bodice/skirt seam and pleats were two of the main factors. Since the Josephine has neither, I feel like there might be a chance (but there is also a very good chance that I won’t like it). I know that for sure I’d have to lower the neckline for it to look decent on me, and those sleeves are quite puffy. Hmm.

[Lightning McStitch]

Thanks everone for your comments.

What I wanted to hear is that options 1 or 2 (my original plan) would work but I’m coming to the realisation that they won’t.

The unspoken but certainly correct option 4 (thanks Meleliza) is out cause I don’t want to purchase anything more.

Nicole, if that jersey lining happens to be a mushroom-y grey/brown colour then I’d pay sny price.

I think a singlet style shift underneath will work. Thanks for the link Heidi.

It’s just that I didn’t want and hadn’t envisaged a sheer dress. The full underlining would have given it a more casual air.

So there was no right answer really, or at least none that would please me. Rtwg nailed it though as I don’t know what I’m doing most of the time either.

But since I spent about four hours cutting this sucker it will get sewn

[Nicole]

Its white Shelley, but I will have a go at dyeing a scrap in some tea tomorrow.

I have made Elsa a tee, a singlet top and some trackies from her list. Just the shorts and jacket to go.

I just lurve sewing knit (sarcasm font here)

[Mama_Knowles]

Well I didn’t finish my dress last night, I had to stop taking my beta blockers for my racing heart and palpitations for another stress test to be done today. (This one is to make sure my heart can take surgery for next week) Needless to say it was a very long night and I still have four hours to go until the test. : ( On the bright side though even my cardiologist thinks my heart problems will get better after my thyroid is removed. That would be so wonderful! I am hoping this afternoon I will be feeling better so I can finish up this dress. : )

[mcholley1]

Oh Sharon! Sending you my thoughts and wishing it all goes as well as expected! I know you will be glad when it is all behind you!

mc

[meleliza]

But Heidi, the Josephine is a totally different shape. Washi has waist definition and back shaping. Josephine is a loose blouse. It looks nice on Rae, but she’s tall, straight and flat. Just the kind of figure for those loose tops. But if you like loose and boxy, go for Josephine, rtw girl. Just think about what shapes you like to wear.

[Tamara]

Oh Sharon what a shame you didn’t get to finish your dress. But it will be so good for you once surgery is out of the way. You will be sewing up a super storm then.

[Masha Richart]

That’s the thing, Melanie – I don’t like boxy. And my shape is much more hourglass than Rae’s. But I have seen a couple of Joesphines on shapes more like mine that are cute and flattering (they are the ones with the elastic casing in the back, which is one of the options in the pattern) … that is why I am unsure. At this point I probably won’t buy it. I might make another Moss skirt instead.

[Tamara]

I have seen the washi but can’t picture the josephine. Will need to check it out. Totally in love with the blue garden party tunic – gor- jus!

Floor is done and I will be moving my precious things in tomorrow.

I think then by the afternoon I might be sorted enough to finally sew the binding on the table quilt I made ages ago.

[Sarvi]

Meleliza if the bias is very wide, I’d worry that it might warp or pucker a little, depending on the fabric it’s made from. I assume there are limits to even bias’ ability to stretch at different rates along the two edges. Maybe split the difference with the widest bias that works, and a bit of lace behind it?