Tunic

I finished this tunic over the Christmas holidays, it's tunic A from the Japanese pattern book "Stylish Dress Book." What should have been a very easy project wasn't: I failed to notice that the pattern called for a gathered neckline, which I hate, so it ended up being too big. I opted to put in darts instead, and it turned out OK. Also, I used a size too big and had to take it in a lot, but I had already made the side slits (a variation on the pattern). I'm still not 100% happy with it and may go back and fix the side seams.



For the top stitch I used a metallic thread and had a lot of problems with the thread breaking. I've used metallic thread before without problem so I'm not sure what the difference was this time. After some research I discovered that a special needle should be used, so I had to go out and buy new needles... but now I know.

Sketchbook project: done!

Well, it's done - my sketchbook for the 2011 Sketchbook Project is in the mail. Fortunately, the deadline was extended by a few days which gave me a chance to finish it. What I learned: I am not artistic. At all. Creative, yes, but not artistic. This is evident in my "sketches". A lot of my pages look more than a scrapbook than a sketchbook. However, I really like working with charcoal, which is very satisfying but also very messy. Plus I spend considerable more time on a charcoal drawing than one done with pencil or another medium. Had I planned my time better I would have done more charcoal drawings. And I would have chosen a different theme. It was really difficult coming up with "happy thoughts"; I noticed that a lot of the pages are of physical objects which make me happy, and not of events or people which make me happy. There's a difference. Not sure if I would participate in this particular project again but it was fun.



My worktable is once again messy. I'm currently finishing up three new silk saris for my Blythe Etsy store. You can see Margot in the background modelling one I've already finished. They should be up in the store on the week-end.

Corduroy dress and other projects

Over the holidays I had a long list of little things I wanted to get done around the house, most of which I accomplished (updating my finances, tidying closets, re-organizing sewing supplies, all that boring stuff). I was hoping to get more sewing done, I had purchased new fabric to make two tops but I also had some repairs and alterations to do.


This was a dress I had made a few years ago before I had a serger, so the seams weren't very good, and I've since lost weight so I wanted to re-shape it. I also added some contrast trim so it doesn't look like a sack - there's now a black and white floral trim along the hemline and armholes (forgot to take the before pics). Much better!

This week-end I hope to finish up a tunic I've started. My sketchbook is about half done and there's only 10 days left to finish it, to I need to really get some serious work done on that!

Coming up in my Etsy shops: I'm sold out of saris for Blythe so I'll be making new ones soon.

Purse for my mom

Well now that Christmas has passed, I can show the purse I made for my mom as a gift. It's very similar to the one I had previously made for her. The outer fabric is a heavy weight cotton in a dark floral print. There is an outside and inside slip pocket and an inside zippered pocket.

I'm currently taking a bit of a break from the sewing, and in the meanwhile will re-organize my sewing room, work on updating my Etsy shops and pick some new patterns to make. In the spring I will look for new consignment clients, as The Rage will be closing their doors soon. Oh, and I still have that sketchbook project to work on, which will keep me busy for the next 3 weeks.

Skulls!

Somewhere in between craft shows, online sales, and Christmas shopping I made this t-shirt for myself. I had some black cotton jersey knit to use up, and I found this awesome skull fabric to use as a coordinating fabric. I used a t-shirt pattern, and copied the kangaroo pocket from a hoodie. I used the skull fabric for the sleeves and pocket (I love pockets!). I think it's pretty awesome.

Shop updates

Saturday's Movies and Makers show went really well, I'm almost sold out of my small zippered pouches, which I debuted at this show. Both of my Etsy stores have been updated with new items, and some items have been reduced. I'm going to start putting together gift card sets, such as this one here, available in my Karen's Creations Etsy store:



It's not too late to place online orders for Christmas gifts. If you're in the Toronto area, I would also be happy to arrange for local pick-up.

The Workroom fabric sale

One of my favourite fabric stores, The Workroom, is having a fabric sale, in conjunction with the Sheridan Textile Studio Sale. This means not only is the fabric on sale, but there will be hand printed fabric, aprons, t-shirts, and other texitle gifts for sale designed by Sheridan students. Can't wait! I'm going to stock up on fabric to work on projects over the holidays and cold winter months.