What a month it has been....

Where has the month of May go? 

On the 2nd, I quit my in-house alteration job at EB.  I just couldn't continue to work for a business where the policy of lieing was encouraged.
 
From that moment on, I have been looking for another part-time job.  I have had several interview and as of Friday the 24th.  I have 2 jobs.  One at Stitch in Time and one at the Buckle.  I am very excited for something new and the possibilities.

Garrett is now going to be a First grader and I can't believe it .  He is very excited.  We are going to have to do alittle work this summer with the language skills like reading, writing and spelling.  Those are his tough skills to learn.

I am going to continue to my home sewing and have a few ideas that I am going to try to do.  I also have 3 wedding dress that I need to get on Ebay to sell. 

Almost a year later.......I am back.

I can't believe that it has been almost a year since my last post.  Reason, I totally forgot which email address and password I used.  Thump!!!.............Hand to forehead.       

What I do when I am not sewing....

I caught 2 pound, 5 ounce big mouth bass. 

Now let me start by saying that I was really fishing for bluegill or sunnys, so hooking into this fish was quite a surprise.

The best part of this tale is that I caught it with a pink hook.  Go girl power. 

Will be back and sewing on Sunday, or it may be Tuesday depending on how the laundry goes. 

A month has come and gone....

A month, how does that happen?  I know that I have been busy and all of the business make it fly.  July will be no better.  I have a week of vacation and then start working on getting my DS ready for kindergarten. 
But to prove that I have been doing something, here is what I have been doing.  I have been making these pillowcase dresses in a whole lot of diffrent sizes and colors.  Sold a couple but not enought.  I am selling them over at www.alexaltercreate.biz  come over and look and tell all of your friends.

 The other think that has taken up some of my month is cleaning and organizing.  My wonderful husband made me a couple of wooden shelves to put some of my fabric stash on.  So, I had to move a dresses out of the closet, move my cutting table into the closet and then get the shelves in. 

 This is the chaos,

this is the calm.  Now, as may sewers know, it does not say clean for long.  But I am trying.

The other big thing that has been taking my time is the garden.  There has been some watering, but I am already picking from it.  Got a zucchini, summer squash, 5 cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.  I have been amazed that we have gotten all of this before the 1rst of July.  We may be in trouble.  Husband planted 18 tomatoe plants and 13 pepper.  Salsa city will be here in August for sure.

What changes the seasons bring...

I know that I have been busy.
 March/April was filled with dance costumes.  I made some skirts, lined some tops and made boy shorts.  3 times, I made the same boy shorts.  A little frustrating.
April/May I have been busy trying to make dresses that are to fill up spaces on my website, www.alexaltercreate.biz. 
I am now looking at June and have started to think about what to make for winter.  Very weird to do when it is 90 degree outside right at this very moment.  I am also working on some items for a baby shower that we are having for my sister-in-law.   I should make extra to put on the website.
My birthday is tomorrow and with it is excitement, joy and some sadness.  As of tomorrow, I will have out lived my mother.  Missing her very much. 
My wonderful husband couldn't wait till tomorrow to open presents so I got to open them yesterday.  So, I sit here on the couch working on my new laptop.  So exciting!!!!  It even brought tears to my eyes. 
Because of this being a new laptop, I don't have any of my pictures on it yet, so this post will be picture free.  Next post should have a few pictures to show.

New Friend, and Once Upon a Thread garment.

So, it has been a while since I have posted and I have to say that I have been alittle busy.  Not crazy busy, just alittle.
I did make a decision on sergers and so I introduce to you, Pearl

She is a beauty.  Got her from allbrands.com and got a great deal.  In a package, I got the serger, a carrying case, extra feet, 12 white cone thread, and extra feet.  She works great and can go through some thick fabric.  I used her to repair some jeans and she was able to sew through the hem.   Love!

Unfortunately, I have only gotten one outfit done for the Once Upon the Thread Sew along. 

We Help Daddy is the book that I choose to make an outfit from.  I just love the illustrations in this book.

 I have been trying to do alot of ReCreating when it comes to kids clothes and this outfit was no exception.  I found this large stripes mens button down shirt and figured it would work.

 So after alot of cutting, this is the dress that I came up with.  The only problem was that it is alittle short for a dress. 

I decided to make up some cut pants to go with dress/top to make it wearable.   I wish that I had a little girl to have model it.  But it is a size 1 so I am out of luck.   

Now on to the next project.  I am planning on putting together a website to sale some of the outfits that I have been putting together.  The name is going to be Alexander Alter & Create.  I am going to get some   bodyforms size 1,3,5,7 to help with the photographing of the outfits.   Stay tuned.

Brooke Snow Workshop

So, I have come across the photographer Brooke Snow blog and love all that she does.  She teaches online classes to improve your camera skills.  Right now they are not in my budget, so I noticed that there was a give away on this website.  Now, I never win anything off another blog, but I couldn't let the chance to win get by.   Here is fingers crossed.

“Come check out the Workshop Jungle Featured Review on Brooke Snow at www.WorkshopJungle.com and win yourself a FREE spot!!“

Joining in....Once upon a thread

This is from http://thedillspiel.blogspot.com/search/label/Once%20upon%20a%20thread%20%2711

What a Valentines day...

Had a great valentines day.  Got my lovely husband a digital photo key chain to put on his desk at work so that he can always see us and the changes my DS has gone through,  my DS got his obsession filled Lego Ninjago Skeleton Bowling Set.  He is in heaven with it.

I got from my wonderful husband a Pandora bracelet with 2 beads.    Now I just want to state right here that I had asked for the imitation bracelet that Target has.  He never goes the economical way.   LOVE that man. 

Now for the bad part of Valentines day.  

I had taken in my trusty serger that got me through these dance costumes.     With all of the fringe, he was tired.              



So, as I was driving home from a wonderful day, the repair man call,  RM "I have bad news.  There is a part that is broken,(at this point I tuned out) and they no longer make the part.  We will not be able to fix him"  Me "OK, do I need to come pick him up?" RM "no, we can depose of the body. We have a guy that picks them up and parts them out for the metal."  ME "OK, go ahead and do that" 
UUGGGHHHHH!!  Now what to do?  I am currently using the serger that my mother had purchased many, many, years ago.  She is getting up in age and just isn't keeping up like she should.  Skipping stitches and going alittle slower.  So, what do I get?  I think I have is narrowed down to to machines.
               Juki MO644D and Juki MO 654DE Pearl. 
I have looked at all of the reviews and people rave about this company.  I know that I just need a power horse that does will with knits.  There is only $100 difference in price.  I am really leaning to the pearl.   If anyone out there has a Juki serger, please comment and let me know what you think of it.

Update:

Wow!  Things have been crazy in this household. 
I got the dance costumes done and have check in hand.  Yeah!! The girls look wonderful and got high marks on the costumes.  I am very proud of them and how they look.  When they get professional pic taken, I will get some uploaded for all of you to see.
Then on to the next job, I have a friend that wants to give his boss a polar fleece quilt for a belated Christmas present.  I am proud to say that it is done and here are a few pic of the process.

 As you can see, piles and piles of 5 inch squares.  This was the first time of doing this pattern and it was alittle time consuming.   First you cut all of your squares then you put to different colors together and then draw a diagonal line across it.  Then you sew a 1/4 inch stitch on both sides of the line. 

 Then you will use your ruler and rotory cutter to cut them apart. 

 This picture is the piles in the pattern that I want to put together. 



The start of the process of the quilt.














After all of the blocks are attached together I put on a border and then backed it with more polar fleece.  This is going to be one warm blanket.

My next job is doing some alterations for a friend of mine grandma that has turned 90 and has lost about 4 dress sizes. 

Then on to some maternity sewing for the baby sister-in-law that has just announced that they are expecting. 

Update on Eating Clean.  I have lost 10 pounds at this point.  A good start, but have found that I am stalling for some reason.  Thinking that I am getting lazy with the choices that I am making.

Eating Clean ROCKS!!!!

Ok, so I have gotten through my first week of clean eating and gingerly stepped on the scale.  I was doing cartwheels after, 4 pounds gone.  Now the biggest amazement is how much I eat every day.  Granted, alot of it is fruits and veggies that were pretty much non existent before changing the eating habits but still. 
The only struggle that I have is making sure there is a veggie or fruit with our dinner.  I think that I am making it harder then it should be.   I am spending alot of time worrying if my husband will like it or eat it.  I have to stop this thought process. Stop it, stop it. 
So, off to the grocery store to get more clean food.  Yeah!!!

Beginning of 2011

Wow, that year went fast and I see that I haven't posted since November.  I have to sit back and think, what happened in November that stopped me from posting and I had a light bulb moment.  I started my sewing for Anderson Hoxie Dance Project.  I have been busy. 
These are what are taking up most of my time.

Now if I only had to do one it would be no big deal, but I have to make 12 and then when done with the bottoms, I have tops to do.   But I have to say that I love making this for the girls. 

The other thing that had me busy was the holidays.  I had a wonderful time this year.  My DS is 5 and everything is all exciting for him.  The best present that was had has to be the wii.  It has been played everyday since opening it.

My next great 3 month to life adventure is to take on the eating habits of Eat Clean.  I need to drop a large number of pounds and I need to get my cholesterol in check.  So far I am on day 2 and so far, so good.  I have alot of cleaning out of cabinets, pantry's and fridge.  Way too many simply carbs around. 
As for sewing, after the dance costumes are done, I have a polar fleece quilt to make and then on to polar fleece hats and masks for the hunters out there.   I need to really sit and figure out what I want to sew and if I want to do the Etsy way of selling.  Much to ponder.

 

Out of girls curtians...

 I found these girls curtians at the local thrift store and just knew that they would be perfect ReCreated into little girls dresses. 
Pictured  first is a infant flower petal dress and second, a toddler dress for the Ottobre magazine.  I lined the dresses with a bright pink broadcloth that I had in my stash. 
I have to say that I am in love with them and only wish that I had a little girl to dress them in.   Figure that they will possible go on Etsy for sale and then if not sold by April will be put on the Take 2 Kids Consignment sale.

PUL One Size Diapers

OK, I have actually made some cloth diapers.  Now, no laughing, but I have had this PUL fabric for at least 2 years now. 

The reason for the delay in making the diapers was confusion and fear.  For the life of me, I just could not wrap my brain around how to make them.  So after talking to my friend SS, I went on line and found on You Tube a tute from Jalie about how to make them and Thump in the forehead, I got it.

Now, I did purchase the Kamsnap pliers and am very happy for the purchase.  It has made the construction very easy. 

I lined the diapers with a stretch velour and the soaker is 2 layers of thrifted towels and a micro terry. 

I am very happy with how they have come out.  Now I have some solid red, lite pink and lite blue to work on. 

Hoping to sell them in the end.

Roses for a wedding

I have a friend that will be in her brothers wedding this weekend. I did the alterations on her bridesmaid dress and then she asked me to do something for your 2 daughters that are the flowergirls in the wedding.
Since fabric roses are so popular right now, I couldn't resist the opportunity to try my hand at making them these roses for headbands. The fabric is a satin and the color is gorg. They turned out great and I really think on little girls will be precious.
Once my hair grows out alittle more, I may have to make one for myself.

I am still here.

Where has the month gone? I know that I have been busy, just have not pictures to show for it at this moment.

I participated and volunteered at the Take 2 Kids Consignment Fall/Winter sale and did pretty good. Have decided that I will not be taking the nursery sets and swaddling blankets back. They really don't sell there. I did make some Halloween costumes and some sold, some didn't. Got alot of great deals in toys and boys clothes. DS will be well dressed for the winter.
Now on to spring and summer sewing.
I am planning on doing some ruffle buts onies, summer dresses and nursing tops. Will take some done pictures later.

DS has been busy with preschool and swim lessons. Having some troubles with being friendly with some of the other boys. But he so desperately want to have a friend to play with. I am frustrated with it all.

I am still participating is the Wardrobe refashioning. I think that I am addicted to thrift stores. I love the hunt and the discovery of something that will be perfect as something else. It is hard to come up with storage I have found.

Well, I better get going. I have myself and DS to get ready for swimming.

Till Later

Another 4 months of Wardrobe Refashion.

The Pledge
I can't get the pledge copied over from there site. So, I will pledge to not purchase retail store clothing. Only purchasing from thirft stores and fabric stores. I will work on getting the pledge copied over and do it offically.

vacation and crashed computer

Sorry for the longer then normal absents.
We were on vacation from the 15th to the 25th in Minnesota. Then when we got back we tried to start the computer and nothing.
So after 10 days in the shop we have it back.
Unfortunately, I have learned a lesson the hard way.
We lost all of our contacts, old emails that were saved in folders, and anything that we had written.
Oh and the saddest was that I lost pictures that I had taken of lighting, and Dawson's 5th birthday party. So, moral of the story is back up everything and do it often.

What I have been up to...

Wow! Where has the time gone? I am in amazement it has been 1 month since I have posted anything.

I have been alittle busy. I re-created a sweatshirt for my son.

Started with a men's sweatshirt size L. Made it to fit my son that is a 5/6.

Then it was on to more important work. I have been doing alterations on my cousin-in-law's wedding dress. As of today I am finished with it, but this is how it looked a few weeks ago.

This is the bodice totally taken apart to create a bust curve that it previously did not have.
This is all the pieces back together. Still missing the skirt but it will be reunited very soon.

I have to up load the bride in the finished dress. Maybe you will get to see it tomorrow if I get on the stick.

Next up on my plate is some sewing for vacation. I am making a really cute 3 in 1 garment. You can wear it as a skirt, bandeau dress and a halter dress.

Till later, keep creating.

Morbid on my birthday.

Today is my birthday and I am trying to not be to upset about it, but for some reason it is not working. This may get alittle morbid,,,,,

I am thinking that the reason is because at this age, my mother had one more year of life. I am also trying to remember what I was doing that last year. I know that alot of my time was concentrated on my then fiance' Mike. We were getting married and that took alot of my time and mental time. I do seem to remember that I spent more time away from the house then at the house. I really believe that I was in total denial of any chance that my mother was going to die. But less then a year later, she did.

I am now sitting here with the hard facts smacking me in the face that with Gods will, I will have lived longer then my Mother. I have gone in and had a colonoscopy so, that deadly possibility has been taken care of.

At this point in life, I can honestly say that I miss my mom. I would love to sit down and have a long conversation with her about life and what is going on. Talk to her about sewing and how she gave the greatest gift by forcing me to sit there during 4-H, making me make something to enter. To be able to talk to her about my son and the possible autism spectrum diagnosis and how do I do things better for him. To talk to her about men and wtf? are they all about and about how to put more faith in God.

For any of you out there that is reading this, make sure to give your mother a big hug and tell her how much you love her. You will never regret it. I am sitting here now and am totally regretting that I didn't take that last year of her life and hugged her more and telling her what a great women and mother she was.
Mom, I so miss you.