fabric from Natchez

This was me preparing a salad to have with friends yesterday.  We went over to there house and had dinner.  There was much conversation and laughter and we all stayed up much too late.  It was nice to have it there because of their lovely red head little one.  

Notice those two knives in the picture?  They are both seconds so they reside in my kitchen.  My Beloved and I got into discussions about how they work, what is good, what is bad, and what my Beloved is going to design next.  It is part of my cooking anymore.  I help with the knife design.

I said I would post pictures of the fabrics I bought in Natchez, though I did think that would be yesterday.

This is a lovely embroidered silk.  I am going to make a dress of it.  Because there was a large cut out, I got three yards for the price of four.  Better yet, the price I paid was a tenth of the original price so I am very pleased.  I am going to make one of the chemise dresses I have been making recently (and in the past).

I do not remember what this was made of but it is light and shimmery.  I bought six yards for $5  a yard.  I have a few ideas but I also have a feeling it may be difficult to work with.  I will have to find out.

This is an organza with a pale gold stripe.  I bought four yards but it is 127 inches wide.  I do believe it was $6.50 a yard.  Again, I have ideas but it may be difficult.  But then some of the most interesting things in life are difficult.

And this is the picture of the grey dress on me.  Because Miss D asked.  I find it is very hard to get someone to take pictures of me modeling what I make.  Maybe someday I will actually get pictures of the Small Mister in all the pants I made him.  

silk dresses

I have to admit that sewing keeps me sane.  A lot of the time, I am working on quilts but I do have some fabric now for dresses.  Dresses go in waves for me because I seem to make a few or a lot at the same time.  They all seem to destroy themselves at the same time.  Or they have a fence help!  I love my long cotton dresses but I decided I wished something shorter for the heat here.

I pulled out a very old Vogue pattern and put two chemises together for myself.  This one.

And one in red.

They work well for work.  I had a black cashmere cardigan. They work well for the house.  I could put a pair of pumps with them and go to a wedding or a party.  There is something to be said for having a few chemise style dresses in the wardrobe.  They roll well into a backpack too!  Just comfy.

grey dress (large smile here)

I finished a linen dress for myself.  Grey.

With pockets.

And sparkly buttons.  

This dress is so comfortable.  I have to admit that I had a bit of getting used to the pockets but now I miss them on any other dress I wear.  The linen in this dress is very light and breezy.  It is nothing special but I like it.  The sparkly buttons are just fun.  My Beloved told me I did good.

I have been wearing this to work so my guess is it is not going camping with us this weekend.  Oh well.

an old pattern and silk

I am going to say the hardest thing about having my computer down is that the pictures I want to use for blog posts are on that computer.  It makes it hard.

I did go out this weekend and spoil myself with the purchase of silk.   I pulled out an old pattern to start making some simple dresses for summer.  The pattern is over 25 years old.  Vintage Donna Karan Vogue.  I wanted something that was silk, a shift or chemise style, and that I could throw into a backpack at a moments notice.  Maybe I should be an adult here and say bag but, in reality, it would be a backpack.  Add sandals or stockings and heels and I can go to any occasion.  If I put a skirt over it, I have a lovely top.

I cut out the right size but I am hoping the pattern still fits.  It has been a few years.  I have extra fabric if I need to do some modifications.  Two pieces of fabric.  Four seams.  One placket.  Four hems.  That is all there is to it.  If only every dress was this easy!

hot pads - everyday sewing

Hot pads have become part of my every day sewing.  Whenever I am working on another project, like pajama pants, Small Mister pants, or dresses for me, there is a hot pad I am working on when I do a straight seam.  

I was looking at the hot pads I have had for awhile and they were filthy!  It has something to do with how often I use my oven (almost every day), how often I use cast iron (almost every day), and how often I just plain cook (almost every day).  Even though it was on my list of things I needed to make, I had not gotten around to making anymore hot pads.  

Now I have.  I kept it simple.  The same piece of fabric on each side.  A felted wool blanket in the middle.  It is very hot to combat pans that are 500 degrees Fahrenheit.  The hottest oven in the house goes up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit so I just need thick wool and nothing else special.  I quilted them and added a binding.  I put a loop on them because I have S hooks on the metro racks in my kitchen where I can hang them from.  

I can wash the other ones now.  They do not looks as bad as they did but they do look used.  My Beloved likes these a bit better because they fit his hands better.  They are little bit large for my hands but they work.  They are a happy median.  I am working on another six.  I decided I needed some extras and a few need to go in the trailer and the camping box.  Just more everyday sewing.