Pressing as you sew is super important to the success of your project. I have had may tailor’s ham for 20 years or so. Follow Nikki-shell’s directions on BurdaStyle.com and make your very own.
Monthly Archive for April, 2008
On my most recent trip to NYC, I skipped out to NJ and shopped for a bit at Nordstrom. I really, really wanted to find a pair of shoes or jeans. No luck. My wide feet didn’t fit into a pair of shoes – and I couldn’t find a pair of jeans that didn’t make me feel horrible. Thats when it hit me.
HELLO! I worked for a lingerie company for a few years, I had attended the focus groups, tons of fittings, I had all the info I needed. So why, why was I wearing maternity bras and undies for the past 3 years?
It was easy and comfy. That’s why, and cheap. Since we are pretty much a single income family, shopping for things other than the bare necessities is not an option. But you know what? The right foundation is a bare necessity.
So off to the lingerie department I went. Picked out a few things that looked and felt good and off I went into the dressing room. I tried everything on. Yikers. My maternity bras must have stretched over the last 3+ years, because nothing I tried fit.
I didn’t cry. I thought about it for a split second. But I’m not one to sit and feel sorry. I found the nearest Specialist (and this word fits – sales clerk would not be a full description of this wonderful person), she measured asked a few questions like, “Well how old is the baby now?” “What? 3!!! and you are still wearing the maternity bras? Oh this must change RIGHT NOW!” and off she went and left me alone with that… mirror. I peaked at it and decided not to really examine until I had a new bra on. It was the right thing to do.
I must have been alone for 6 or 7 minutes when she said in her Eastern European accent, “Open the door honey”. and walked in with an armload of goodies. She explained about each of the bras, their comfort and what they do for “the sisters”. I tried the first one one, she was amazed that I actually knew how to put a bra on (I explained my work history), and it was fantastic. I tried on 7 more, and they were all excellent choices. After each bra though, I put my t-shirt on to see the difference. It was 10 lbs. Each one completely and totally improved my figure. What a relief.
I also tried some of the Spanx line. I want to invest in some of these pieces. I didn’t take any home, instead I vowed to get some exercise and eat better, but these are AMAZING. I’ve never worn a shaper like this before, I tried on the Body Shaping Cami and let me tell you, I totally could have gone back and tried on those jeans and they would have FIT! I’ve heard lots of good things about this collection and always wondered about how well they shaped. I am really impressed.
This was not my first time to the Nordstrom Lingerie Department. My very first time was to find foundations for my wedding dress. Let me tell you that first time and every time there after has been a pleasure. These women I’ve encountered have the most experience I’ve ever witnessed when it comes to helping people find the right foundations. It’s so important. I hope I don’t forget it again.
So – I’ll be burning my maternity bras. Yep. I left with a lovely Natori and a Wacoal. It was more than I wanted to spend, way more, but I feel like a new person, and I didn’t have to buy a completely new wardrobe. I’ve promised to wash them only by hand and to go back in 3-4 months and be fitted again.
You might remember that I host sew-cials (aka sewing circles) at LuckyStitches? Well they are a great opportunity to sew your own bags or bags for The Bag Share. One night – this lovely bag was developed. It’s a cute little bag that’s super sturdy and will hold a lot. This was made from heavy canvas and a jean patch pocket. (scroll to the bottom to see the inside…)
I’ve typed up instructions for making this little LuckyShopper. Click here to download the PDF. One little note – I tested the instructions myself…so if you feel like it’s missing something – or if you find an error – please let me know so I can make it easy for everyone! Soon – a tutorial – maybe next week. Happy Sewing! and LuckyStitches!!xxoo
Oh! and here’s a peak into the inside…these aren’t in the instructions, but I’ll put them into the tute, after all, a bag you sew should be able to carry lots of wine…or beer…or other sorts of glass bottles and things, and the holder collapses if you just want to buy cheese and bread, or take your lunch, or carry your books.
In honor of ‘Roid Week 2008. Oh Polaroid – how I will miss you!
This was taken in a photobooth in an arcade on the Seattle Waterfront in Spring 2001.
Found on a mirror from Great Grandma’s house. It’s probably from the late 1800s but we aren’t sure.
I loved my visit to NYC. I took the train in early hoping to visit the MET. About 5 minutes from Manhattan the train stopped, for over 2 hours. Electric trains don’t work when the wire runs out, obviously.
But I made it to the MET anyway.
I think the Metropolitan Museum of Art has to be one of my most favorite places on this planet. Every time I walk into the lobby, I get a little teary and overwhelmed. (It’s not the flowers, my allergies aren’t that bad! – this week anyway). It’s a lovely place filled with history, talent and inspiration.
When I was in college I had a costume class that met every week behind the scenes of The Costume Institute. I was in heaven. I’ve always love clothes, accessories, fashion and textiles. With my little white gloves on, we were able to handle Vionnet, Grés, Schiaparelli, Dior, Balenciaga and, well, everything. We were allowed to study the fabric, the techniques, the embellishments, all the handiwork. Everytime I visit the MET, I head to the Costume Institute first. This time I arrived on the final day of blogmode.
The collection presented for this exhibition was impressive displaying fantastic period pieces as well as innovative ideas from present day designers. I had my favorites, and while I was DYING to take pictures, I didn’t thinking there would be a printed catalog, but there isn’t. The pictures on the web site are small, but there is lots of information to explore.
Tara Donovan has an installation at the MET as well. I am quickly falling for her work, I love discovering the materials used in her pieces. Here, she’s used Mylar tape. I find that I really like the way light plays a part in each piece.
I’ve been craving Spring, so a walk through Central Park was next. Lots of budding color. I love NYC in the spring.
I was in NYC for Printsource. I was working with Patricia Nugent Textiles, a source for vintage inspiration. Here’s what our lovely booth looked like. This is another piece of heaven for me, I love textiles, especially textiles with a story. Makes my heart pitter a bit faster. For the show, there was a lovely selection of clothing, paintings, fabrics and wallpaper. yum, yum and more yum.
We finished set-up early and cabbed it off to dinner. On West 37th Street, they were filming something…Evangeline Lilly and Clive Owen in the middle of the photo. Anybody know what they are shooting?
Another experience :: Wine in a Cup. Don’t try it. Yuck.
I ran into an old friend from college – and out to dinner we went. Hi Andrea! It was FUN! See, Andrea and I used to stop and have lunch on our way back from our class at the MET at an Italian Restaurant on 86th St, so we had a lovely dinner in Little Italy. It was delish!
My last day in the city I was delivering a package when I walked by the Broadway Windows @ NYU. I’ve always loved that they make art accessible by having shows here. And, it was the Hyperbolic Reef that I’ve been fascinated with, and I’m so in love with the ocean right now anyway.
I did love my visit to NYC. I miss living there. I’ll keep visiting, and I hope to bring Iz with me next time. I took the bus and met Iz and Rob in NJ. I missed them so much! At least this time, there was no pneumonia.
Big thanks to Rob for being my Guest BlogStar while I was away.
Izzy and I are in Henderson, NY to take care of some family biz. Henderson is right on lake Ontario and Izzy loves the beach so we went yesterday. Lake Ontario is big enough that you can barely see across it. Izzy said daddy this is the ocean right? Well explaining the difference between a really big lake and the ocean to a three year old is well you know. I believe it is the ocean too.
Building a sand castle was the last thing we did on the beach. Izzy first lay down in the sand and then decided that a castle was a fun idea. We dug in the wet sand and piled mounds of sand. Izzy started telling the waves to stop washing away her castle. I think the ocean is a lot of fun and Izzy can’t seem to get enough.
The path to the beach is a series of wooden pathways that keep you from walking in the small ponds and sand dunes that come before the beach. We had fun running on them and Izzy loved being on my shoulders for most of the walk to and from the beach.
The first time Zanne went to NYC for a trade show Izzy was sick. Bad fever, cough the works. I stayed home with her for three days. On the fourth day we drove to Jersey to stay with friends and met up with Zanne. Izzy is fine this time around and it is much harder. Getting her ready, getting me ready, getting her to “school”, getting myself to work it is crazy. Today after I picked her up we ran a couple errands and came home and played in the backyard for a little while before dinner. It makes for a very long day. The single parent shuffle is something that many people do all over this country and they should be commended for the effort they put forth. I am sure that one finds a routine and is able to get everything done, but when it comes for a few days at a time I find myself crashing on the couch with a glass of black sambuca and catching a movie after Izzy is to bed.
Izzy crawled until she was 18 months. The day she got up on two legs didn’t see walking it saw running. She was a little speed demon crawling and running was no different. We run and run, chasing each other all over the back yard. Running is fun and all but what really caught my eye was a couple months after she started to run she started to dance and did arabesque. I said to Zanne “Did we name her right or what?” We found a small ballet school not far from us and enrolled her. At age three kids don’t do ballet they do creative dance. It is more about learning numbers and beat and working together etc. But they also learn the foundations of what could be to come if they stay with it.
I have been dancing since I was 5 when I took tap. It wasn’t until I started classical ballet at 16 that I really understood how much I could express with my body. Fresh off seeing Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines in White Nights I found a ballet school in Watertown, NY, and was in love. The idea of being on stage dancing was not only fascinating but it became everything I wanted to do. Unfortunately it never came to be, but now Izzy and I go to the same dance school and will be performing together at the schools recital in June.
I’m off to the Big Apple for 7 days. I’m excited to spend a little spring time back home. Miss you. I’ll have lots of pics for when return!
xxoo
ps – check back – guest posting will occur by my main star…
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