using it up

Today, my mother-in-law is celebrating her 96th birthday.  Actually, she is HAVING her birthday, I am not so sure about the celebrating part of the day. Since she is a bit forgetful these days, she may not remember that is IS her birthday today.  Other than that she is in remarkably good health.

For her entire life, my MIL was incredibly organized.  Everything had its place in her house and everything was labeled and carefully put away.  She also kept EVERYTHING, remotely usable from lidded containers to rubber bands, ribbons to wrapping paper.

When she moved to a retirement home in 2000 and cleaned out her house, I inherited – among other things – many yards of lingerie elastics.

There were lots of colors and varying widths.  I did not have a use for most of them, especially because they were at least an inch wide and too ‘lacey’ to use on top of a skirt or pant.  UNTIL I mustered up the courage to try myself at underwear. You see, I am (like probably most) VERY particular how my undies need to fit.  I need them to stay around my butt cheeks – nothing worse than undies riding up. I like them to be low cut to where I don’t even feel them.  And I like them to look good – not pinching little rolls of flesh here and there.

I have all this leftover fabric sitting around and figured that these little odds and ends may just be enough for panties. So this last fall, I took some leftover fabric (mostly bamboo) and the elastic lace to my annual sewing retreat at the coast.

Using well fitting store-bought panties as a pattern, I set out to work.

tracing a pattern, getting to work… and enjoying it!

I took several tries to get the right fit. Some were too tight. Putting elastic around the leg opening did not look pretty. Others were too high on the side and too low in the back.

But finally I got a fit that I like.

the latest batch (cotton jersey)

so pleased with the lace edging!

I am not sure when the GAP store will see me again.

my ‘lil pouch mania

A few days before Christmas, I was SO on a roll.

Sunday, I had gotten a tree and decorated it that night. Monday, I was cleaning house and Tuesday, I did ALL my shopping for the holidays and party. Oh, did I ever feel organized!

And then there was Wednesday, I did not have to go to work – and had NOTHING planned.  Nothing.  Zip.

[About a year back, my good friend and sewing addict (just like me) B. had given me a set of pouches, both boxy and flat, which I had put immediately to good use: two went into my big purse to hold various, otherwise wildly floating things; one was big enough to put CDs in, and the last one goes on airplanes with me, containing earbuds, an eyemask, along with other airplane-necesseties.]

That ‘free’ Wednesday before Christmas?  I was going to MAKE some Christmas presents!

I have tons of leftover fabric scraps.

I have hundreds of zippers in all colors and lengths.

But most of all: I have the TIME and MOTIVATION to get cracking.

Also by B.’s recommendation: there is probably nothing that a youtube video or a blog somewhere can’t explain. So I googled ‘box pouch tutorial’, found this one, got my fabrics, zippers and interfacing, sat down,

fabric and zippers, first finished pouches

moved frequently between sewing machine and computer for directions,

six box pouches, two phone carriers

and had little gifts for the girls that I met for Happy Hour that Wednesday night!

However, I did not stop there.  After sewing and clipping, turning the pouches right side out and seeing the pretty liner fabric inside just made me happy. All the memories the fabrics produced – this one I had gotten in San Francisco, that one on Italy, the silk I purchased together with D.; this one was made into a jacket, the other one made a skirt I never wore, the pants out of that one I still have… a little of my history went into every pouch.

The second batch a few days later... and still not done! Fabric of my sofa and of my chairs are seen here.

I made more pouches between Christmas and the New Year. I gave them to friends and family. One is holding underwear, one a pharmacy kit and a flat one an iPad. (so I hear)

The last batch. For now.

These last three I am keeping.  The Guatemalan fabric with the silk lining is for my phone, the grey plaid (made a skirt of the fabric) is so pretty with its liner that it makes me smile, and the green one (outer fabric – curtain, lining from Japan) is big enough for socks or panties.

Yesterday, I found more fabric in my studio that just calls to be made into a pouch. But I shall reign in my mania for now… I have tons of alterations that need my attention.  But soon, there will be a birthday, an occasion to make more pouches.

Here’s to a CREATIVE 2012!

I move and see

The other day, a friend of mine posted something to the effect of: moving makes you feel better. Actually, I think the article was about ‘exercising’ and how your mood increases, your stress level goes down and you just feel better when being active.

I do not think that I needed to read the article, just the headline alone says it all. The article described a study done with mice and moving, and being chased and how in the end the one that ran around had better brain readings of some sort. I forget.

What I DO know, though, is that if THIS mouse (me) does not move, I get crabby. Big time. I actually do not so much feel this in my body (stiff limbs and such) but IN MY BRAIN. Something does not compute well up there if I just sit or surf the couch. I need to move to feel good, to feel balanced to feel in sync with myself and the world.

So, I have been rather happy and grateful for the pleasant weather as of late. Because that means that I can ride my bike to work. Biking is fast enough to get me there in 20 minutes and slow enough to take in the smells and the sights.

I have mentioned the pretty houses along the way before but lately I have been seeing CARS. As of today, I gathered a handful pictures that I like to share.

I love the bully front and orange color!

either an Oldsmobile or Chevy... and BLUE!

I want that one. In that color - maybe a few years older than this.

The first electric car that actually looks good.

Nissan Leaf. Zero emission car. Goes 90mi on one charge. Now, if we only discover how to make electricity without polluting the earth.

 And this is what I see at the store:

This one makes my heart move.

biking… (one more time)

One more bike entry before I need to stop writing about this… unless I can live with more traffic jams (stopping in the middle of the road to get the ‘right’ angle for a picture) or falling off the bike and causing serious injury to myself trying to take the picture ‘in motion’.

Here I wanted to take a picture of my average speed, which turns out to be 19km/h (12 mi/h) up considerably from my previous commute to lower Fremont. Must mean I’m getting in better shape. Also means that I hurry to get to the shop on time! As you can see, the odometer reads 17 km/h – I scared myself to death looking through the lens and checking traffic at the same time. (Promise – no more of these!)

Ignore the cute Mazda in front – another building atrocity in my neighborhood. One of these days, I have to volunteer at the building commission in order to understand this nonsense.

With all the rain we had, the size of this Peony is unbelievable. Or maybe its size is just because.

Arriving at the shop and enjoying everything that you can see here!

we did it – in 13 days – we are OPEN!

The best part about this store renovation were the people who helped.

Everybody did what they were good at and so we managed to have everything ready in just under two weeks from when we got the key to the place.

Of course, we had to get more paint, sure enough the new outlets did not fit, the repair of the door took longer than planned, the rain pushed the moving day back…but other things just happened in a flash such as installing the floor and picking out the fabric for the dressing room.

It is all good.

The store feels and looks just AWESOME.

And today, our ‘soft opening’ on May Day, we had the first real sunny and warm day.

Off to a good start:

Look at this:  we even have a big old stamp for the bags!

charting the store progress

The other day, I had a couple of friends requesting pictures of the new store. While I have been diligently taking pictures and posting them on facebook, I realized that these friends are not singed up there and need their pictures elsewhere.

So here we go:

Maybe it should be noted again, that we decided to give the NEW store a NEW name, as we are merging SOFIA and YedOmi in this NEW creation. Citrine is a beautiful golden colored gemstone which stands for prosperity and happiness (YES!).

After much deliberation and number crunching, we came up with this design for the neon sign on top of the store. This is a preview of what the sign will look like.

Our  new storefront. It is south-facing with about 40ft (12m) of windows.

Here you can see what the colors of the store used to be (pale yellow).  We also decided to replace the brown linoleum floor.

The walls after we painted. They are now a creamy white with golden/yellow accents.

Floor laying in progress. We chose a bamboo look.

The window boxes got a light gray color.

At the time I am writing this, the floor is done. The outside turquoise trim is now white and the front door is being repaired. A once blocked window is opened and I will put up my big ‘ole IKEA shelf up this afternoon.

Doing this is as much fun (or more) as Easter Egg Hunting. Especially when the sun is out.

thrifting (2)

It has been about two years that IKEA moved into town.  A very anticipated and welcome move.  After all, we had to drive more than a couple of hours up to Seattle to get our Scandinavian fix in. While I haven’t been to Portland’s IKEA as much as I thought I would, I ALWAYS hit the ‘AS IS’ department.

I have found area rugs, odd pieces of furniture, fabric, and last week

this lampshade!  For two measly dollars!

It had a pencil mark on it. Came off easy!

Every morning, when it is still darkish outside, I sit by it, enjoying its friendly glimmer and my coffee.

Now — this find is unbeatable:

The dear husband found it on the street!

We had always wanted a bit more light in the upstairs hallway and this door is just perfect!

I have to mention the crafty qualities of the dear husband here:  he stripped the old paint, added wood on either side for the perfect fit, replaced a broken glass and painted it!

What can I say, perfect!

 

scrap… what I wanted to say

Over the course of many years, I have accumulated a great deal of fabric scraps – leftovers from as many- and many more sewing projects.  Any piece that has at least the size of a pocket liner I have saved. You never know when you might need a pocket liner or a patch….

All my left-over fabric pieces are strategially hidden out of sight – in my attic. I have yards and yards of usable fabric stashed under my sewing table and in at least three drawers, enough to keep me sewing for many days, if not months.  Therefore, I do not need to see tis huge box of basically useless and outdated fabric scraps.

But, you never know.  So I keep it.

When I visit my friend B. over here, I also get inspired when I see her latest  sewing creations as she ever so skillfully manages to adorn her outfits with bursts of color – using leftover fabric. After the excursions through her wardrobe, I am so motivated to do the same… and never seem to have the clothing pattern to actually do it.  Oh, well.

However, I then remembered my own cold feet.  For years now,  I have used a cherry pit cushion to warm my bed in the winter time.  What great opportunity to use these leftover fabrics!

 

I can get the cherry pits from a cherry processing plant out in Yamhill county. It takes about a day to dry them using my kitchen oven. And I can use my leftover fabrics to make the casings! >>> Deal!

I got on a roll and made quite a few for christmas and birthday gifts.

Warm feet – happy people.

(Greetings from a cold and wintery place in Southern Germany, where I could use one of those RIGHT  NOW!)

 

Progress

This last week marked the first solid week of Fall.

It was also the week where I was in a strange mood.

(WHAT IS IT with the beginning of Fall that puts me in such a rut??? EVERY YEAR.)

Fortunately, I got invited to share my friend C.’s house at the Southern Oregon coast. Closeness to the ocean, the breeze and the crashing waves just get my energy flowing again.

(Bandon lighthouse scanning the air…)

In addition, I countered this mood with a new haircut. A new look almost always brightens my outlook at life.

(helped this time as well…)

For the first time I went to a vegan salon. Don’t ask me what constitutes a vegan haircut (besides the animal-testing-free products and the inspiring conversation I had with the owner about vegan food…)

I also have a progress picture on the house I’ve been watching:

Now, all the siding is stripped off. I can see that the bottom floor had been partially insulated (if I remember it right – that used to be the living room).

Like a lot of things in life, this progress has been slow.

But it’s moving along.

So am I.

Happy Weekend!

late summer delights

I so enjoy these days in late summer when the sun is lower and coats everything in a soft light.

Trees are beginning to fade, the grass is burnt, the colors shift from bright to muted, almost rusty.

However, you can still see some beautiful color spots.

I just love, love the splendor of the wide open petals. And the smell is intoxicating.

This passion flower vine was gifted to my garden by M. (a glass artist friend…)

And I made myself a SUMMER dress. Yes, I know, it’s kind of late but I am still hoping for some warm days.

It is made from super soft bamboo jersey.

Part of it is my invention and part is copied from my friend L.’s dress.

(…while not a ‘big’ dress, it is rather fabric intense: the wraps alone are 2 meters (6ft) long!)

WOW – and it felt SO good to make something for MYSELF!