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| Becka's Library Shelf |
| Becka's Games Shelf |
Andy shows off his new circular saw. He helped some friends put a door in their garage.
My friend Jen and I spent Saturday at the Craftstravaganza at the fairgrounds. It was a blast! One of the best shows I have ever been to. Here is me making felted bracelets with the kids and Jen mesmerizing them with her spinning wheel.
becka on 04.30.07 @ 08:18 AM CST [link]
I like to use bias tape to hem skirts, especially those with a round edge like most a-line designs. Turning and stiching a round edge is kind of a pain, but bias tape is a tiny bit stretchy and likes to curve, so it makes hems a breeze. The only draw back is that it does only come in certain colors. I usually try to match the fabric I am working with, but there's no reason not to mix and match. You can also make your own bias tape to match the fabric, but that's a whole other tutorial.
There are two kids of bias tape - Single Fold and Double Fold. We will start with single fold. 
Cut a piece of bias tape that is long enough to go all the way around. Lay your skirt pretty side up. Open out one side of the fold slightly and lay the bias tape fold side up, matching that opened out edge to the edge of your skirt. Then stitch in the fold all the way around. Over lap a bit when you get to the ends. You can fold it over to finish it, I usually just cut it at a bit of a diagonal and trust it not to fray too much. 
Here's the finished stitching. Now go to the iron. 
First put it right side up and press it out. Be sure to keep that folded edge in tact - don't open out the bias tape completely. Then flip it over and fold it up on your stitching line.
becka on 04.25.07 @ 08:49 AM CST [more..]
I got this book - Sew What Skirts by Francesca DenHartog - last weekend after reading about it on a blog (sorry don't remember where). I love it. The strawberry skirt is my first attempt at a pattern from this book and I think it is great!
This is my annual garage sale skirt. I always get a piece of fabric from our annual fundraiser garage sale at the Textile Center and make a skirt. One year it was vintage hawaiian floral, last year it was a peasant skirt from a floral with metallic threads and some indian cotton prints, and this year these fabulous strawberries. (Four people stopped me today and said "I love your skirt"!)
I think the book is great! It has instructions for making your own patterns (rather than paper patterns) - very simple pattern drafting. I like all of the designs in the book (very unusual for me) and there are lots of them. I chose the fitted waist a-line pattern. For the next one I will adjust the waist just a little - I felt like this was a little snug in the hips and a little loose in the waist, but I think a little adjustment of the angle of the side seams will make that better. For this one, rather than do a bunch of alterations, I just inserted a little narrow elastic in my waistband and drew up the little bit of extra. It lays beautifully now.
I had just 1 yd of this 50 in fabric, so I made a back zipper - splitting the back piece in to two so I could get everything cut out. Skirts are really the only thing I have time to make for myself as far as clothing goes, but I love them, so I am thrilled to have this book. Although the book has several clever uses for bias tape, it did not include two of my favorites, so I have put together a tutorial (!) on my favorite uses for bias tape and hems. (post to follow!)
becka on 04.24.07 @ 07:02 PM CST [link]
I have joined a knitters coffee swap! I send a package of coffee and knitting related goodies to my partner and I get one back. Fun huh? I am supposed to help my swap-sister out by answering a few questions and I thought it would be fun to share...
1. Whole bean or ground?
Either. Have a grinder and make coffee in a french press.
2. Fully-loaded or decaf?
Either. Both.
3. Regular or flavored?
I don't like super dark roasts and I prefer flavors that don't involve fruit. Raspberry does not belong with my coffee. Almost anything else is great.
4. How do you drink your coffee?
Hot or iced. Lots of milk, no sweet. Lattes and cafe au lait are my favorite.
5. Favorite coffee ever?
A flavor called "Highlander Grogg" - a blend of amaretto and butterscotch (i think).
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?
Has to be fresh. Otherwise I am not too picky.
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?
Shortbread, graham crackers, a bit of good dark chocolate. I am not a huge sweet tooth, so I like treats that are just a hint sweet rather than totally sugary.
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?
That about covers it.
9. Yarn/fiber you love?
Natural fibers, especially interesting ones like soy silk, bamboo etc. Blends of natural fibers with acrylic etc are also good.
10. Yarn/fiber you hate?
Really fuzzy/fluffy stuff. Not a fan of angora. I don't really like bulky weight.
11. What's on your needles?
Going-to-be-Felted bowl with a lid. Cascade 220 (my favorite for felting) in bright daffodil yellow.
12. Favorite colors?
Green. Especially warm earthy olive/lime shades. Purple, brown, blue. I don't like red or pastels.
13. Allergies?
Green peppers, but somehow I don't think that will be relevant to this swap.
14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest?
Hmmmm.....nothing jumps out at me now.
becka on 04.23.07 @ 06:43 PM CST [link]
A few lovely pictures from Sanibel Island...
Black necked stilt. Mom tells me that this little guy has a the longest leg-to-body-size ratio out there.
Seaweed and more on the beach.
Peek-a-boo...
A Night Heron strutting his stuff.
I see you.
becka on 04.22.07 @ 08:29 AM CST [link]
I do love being in the right place at the right time. Yesterday, a couple of volunteers at work came and fetched me for "Show and Tell", a common event when you work at an art center with a bunch of artists. One of the volunteers has a daughter who worked with the Peace Corps and helped to found an organization called Global Mamas, who works with a group of African women textile artists making batik fabrics and sewing it in to cool clothes. (I have ordered something for me and Andy!). The show and tell was a bag of scrap fabric leftover from the clothing making. The fabric is wonderful - bright vibrant colors and whimsical prints. The "right place at the right time" part of my story is that our volunteer was selling the bags of scrap fabric for $5 a piece! I had to have a bag. I spent yesterday afternoon washing all of my scraps and hanging them on the clothesline outside. What treasure! You can see pictures of the clothesline by clicking the link in the entry below. The fabric is several layers deep on the clothesline, so you can't even see all the fun stuff. I am really enamoured of the orange slices print and one with animal faces.
becka on 04.17.07 @ 08:12 AM CST [link]
More details about our recent trip to Sanibel Island coming soon...
This past weekend was the Textile Center Annual Garage Sale. Here are a few photos of my fabulous finds and some batiks that I happened upon by being at the right place at the right time. Story to follow.
See photos here...
becka on 04.16.07 @ 07:18 PM CST [link]
Gocco Printing with Chocolate
Made for part of an edible book tea.
Then, how about those Japanese once again for a great idea. Make a haramaki (tummy warmer) to fit in that gap between your too low jeans (darn designers) and too short sweater. Here's a tutorial from PlanetJune.
becka on 04.02.07 @ 06:16 PM CST [link]
