non-euclidean topography

Me: If I can ever wrap my head around the geometry of trouser fitting I will rule the world.
Hubby: Is it because non-euclidean topography has a real life application after all or did math geeks just figure out a way to get --> girls' pants?
Me: ...  You are such a nerd. 

In related news, I started a pair of Colette Clovers after finishing three Renfrew tops. Once I'm done with the two pair of Clovers I want to make (which should be this weekend) I'll have enough cake that I can get on to some frosting. Tasty Tasty frosting. No good photos as of yet, so uh... here's a pic of my cat in a box. 

I'm in a box! 

DIY Fabric Labels

There are quite a few DIY how-to's around the internet on fabric labels. Most of them involve printers. And if you are like me, trying to get any sort of unconventional printing done (whether is fabric or wax paper) on your printer makes you want to go all Office Space on the bitch.

So, enter my other hobby, scrapbooking (really, paper crafting and art journals, and some actual photos). I don't have much in the way of photos because I think this one photo is fairly self explanatory  I will, however, give you a supply list.

Supplies:

1) Satin Ribbon - about 1.5 inches (38mm) wide. You probably have something like this in your stash.

2) Hero Arts "Sew Artsy" stamps  Its possibly these may be sold in a craft store near you. I got mine at Archiver's.

3) Stamp Mounts.  There are several different varieties out there, I have clear acrylic blocks. Michael's and JoAnn's sells several options as well.

4) Ink. My recommendation is Versafine Onyx Black.(not pictured) I tested it and it is color fast. Yes, its expensive, but if you make sure to close it when done and then store it upside down (this makes the ink stay on top where it does the most good) it should last you a year or more. I've had mine for two, but I don't use is a lot.

5) Fine tip permanent marker.

So, stamp along a length of ribbon, make sure to give yourself room for sewing it on after you cut them out. TADA! Clothing labels. However, if you really want to sink some money into it, I found this Etsy shop will do 300 personalized embroidered ones for about $70. They are in China and it looks like it takes 6-8 weeks, but so far the best deal I've found. I might try them when I get my year end bonus. If so, I'll give a full report on what its like to work with them.

What Have I Been Up To?

To be perfectly honest, I've been up to a lot but it feels like I'm spinning my tires in mud for all the good its doing. I got my house organized and cleaned up only to end up with piles of boxes since I agreed to store things for a friend*. She gifted her smaller of two beds to Felicity, which was wonderful of her, as an early Christmas present, and now Simon has access to all of her manga (in book form) and he's a happy camper
too.

Felicity's new bed with a puff quilt by my Mother underneath the stars quilt by my mother-in-law. 

I, on the other hand, have been battling my own brain chemistry.  The unfortunate events happening to friends + getting turned down for a promotion at work blew chunks. Also, I've been worrying (for all the good it does) about everyone affected by Superstorm Sandy, including my niece. She's fine, and the only person that I communicate personally with that hasn't been accounted for is Oona, so if you are reading this, HOLLA BACK LADY! I'm worried sick about you!  But yeah, brain chemistry is no joke.  I spent years self regulating through diet/exercise and when they put me on Elevil for sleep problems due to chronic pain I also discovered a whole world of anti-anxiety and what it was like.  I'm thinking that we may need to adjust my meds now, I'm not sure. I'm slowly getting back on diet and exercise regime that I was on before Mom died, that seems to be helping too.  So, that's all part of my radio silence.

So on to the good stuff. I finally finished the cropped jacket! YAY!! That only took me almost two years. *chortle*  I love it and have several items planned to make to go along with it. Here's a few instagram/phone photos, cause I couldn't be arsed to bring out the good camera.

mmm, self made piping!

Before adding the lining and hemming sleeves

THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

In making this jacket I discovered I need to have broader shoulders on my dress form. Yes indeed. I also regret that I didn't block fuse the entirety of the jacket instead of just what it called for on the instructions. Leh Sigh.  In all, I did a combination of couture and RTW tailoring.  It fits, looks nice. I'm happy with it.

OH OH OH!!! And for those of you following me on Facebook and Instagram may have already seen this, but Dad finished my shelves and cutting table. I'm stoked!  Lots of photos:

The white cubes are from Michaels, not from Dad, but this arrangement was what I had in mind when we were working out specifications. The black spot on the floor is a hair scrunchie.

Check it out, a space to hold BOLTS and my cardboard matt, and the wax paper.

Add caption

 You can't really see it, but the bottom shelf  has my Mom's machine and the Bernina serger. Its no longer kicking around on the floor.

Seasonal fabric rotation will happen here.

Action shot from when I was doing my layout. 

Best part about this is I can take the rotary mat off and block fuse on the table. WOOT!

This is what it looks like now with my old curtains now acting as a skirt of sorts.  I used upholstery tacks. Now I don't have to worry about the sun fading my fabric. YAY!

Peek-a-boo

Oh, lets see, what else? Oh, I made a Renfrew wearable muslin.  I did an FBA using VickiKateMakes tutorial.  I'm about to transfer it over to the view A+C version, as I did B here.

I'm just going to pretend that gathering in the center was intentional. While there's not much stretch to this linen/poly blend (2.98 a yard fabricmartfabrics.com), its too light weight.  I can wear a skin-tone cami under it and its solves most of my issues, but otherwise it needs knit with substance.

So, I have a few more Renfrews of the cowl neck variety planned, a beignet, and then I'm starting on Felicity's coat.  I finally was able to order the lambs wool interlining.  My daughter doesn't like the cold so much. While she inherited my hair (she's slowly getting more and more red, like i did) and build, she inherited her father's melanin and ability to tan and her paternal Grandmother's distaste for cold weather. Harrumph.

So tell me, what are y'all up to? What do you have planned for the next few weeks of holidays? Or as I stole from a friend "The Gauntlet".

*Its involved a lot of drama that I am not going to discuss on a public forum. Its a family matter, 'nuff said.

Stormageddon!

Hi everyone. I know this is the first post after a hiatus.  Lets just say that there has been LOTS of drama, some of which including bailing a friend out of jail. Right now I'm at work, and since we are a network operations center for a huge communications company, well... its crazy.  Please, all my New England readers be safe, let me know you are OK and that the sharks didn't get you.

Seriously, stay away from the sharks.

Blog Break

More photos here. Not my photo.

Hello dear readers. I just wanted to give you a little heads up that I feel the need to take a break from blogging. There are a whole bunch of little things going on right now that need my attention at home and at work. And I also need to focus my energy on leveling up (to use a gamer term) my tailoring skills so I can have the work wardrobe I want and need.  I know Halloween is around the corner and this is usually a pretty fun time for me, but I'm not feeling it right now. I haven't even managed to write up a few interview questions for some awesome people I want to introduce you too.

So, I take a break.  I'll still post interesting finds on my facebook page and you can find me as ladykatza on Instagram, if you want more day-to-day insanity.  I plan to be back about the 28th of October, hopefully with lots of project updates, interviews, and thoughtful posts about DIY culture.

So don't go away! I promise I'm not going to drop off the face of the planet like some people.

Pencil Skirt Obsession: Lace and Leather Edition

Vogue 8697

Well, we've already established that I like high-waist pencil skirts.  And I also like to have a corseting action going on in the waist, too.  I think this might combine those two quite nicely. I only include the technical drawings because all of the fashion samples were fugly. BLEH. In fact, for a while there I questioned my motives in buying this pattern in the first place. I blame JoAnn's sale. So there.

Moving right along...  I had one of those brilliant ideas you get when driving home in the car. I know the PERFECT fabric combo for this, and I already own everything I need to make it! I even remembered to write it down, nay, TAKE A PICTURE! when I got home.  Bully for me. Wanna see?

So here we have Egyptian cotton in Pepto Bismol, knock-off Chantilly lace, and a black deer hide.  Before you get upset about deer hide, please understand that there are many in my family that hunt, or know people that hunt, and my Aunt buys leather from local businesses that dress and carve deer to make moccasins for charity. At least, that's usually how she gets it.  Other methods can be read about here. Lets just say my family has its own share of quirks, and one of them is if we'll eat it, we'll use other parts of the body too. Enough about that.

So, yes, I have a deer hide in my fabric stash, originally it was sent to me with the idea of using it as the bottom of a purse, but I couldn't bring myself to use it for that purpose.  So back to my skirt idea.  I want to use the black leather for the waistband, with a lining that has horse-hair and boning to keep it upright.  I think it would also be good as an accent for the top of the two side panels, those sort of chevron pieces.  The Egyptian cotton I had bought thinking it would be the lining to my Earth Day dress, but I then realized it was much too heavy for that.  I've learned a lot about fabric qualities in the last year. Of course I'll use the black lace over the pink, I think that, with the leather, will make it edgy and feminine at the same time, and possibly even on-trend for the runway.  And I still have my chiffon blouse with sparkly beaded embroidery in my closet from what a friend of mine dubbed my "corporate goth look" .  Add a black chemise underneath and VIOLA! Instant badass chic.

So, that's on my mind, along with finishing the fit on my bolero and starting to work on some TNT trousers and button down blouses. And if any of you have some good tips on working with leather in garment sewing, I'm all ears! Well, not really, cause that'd look weird.

They Just Aren't Geek Enough

Lean to the side giggle.

I managed to get a few photos of Simon in his Horde Shirt, though I can't say they are very good ones.  Capturing the male of the Katza species on film is difficult at best.  Almost up there with Chupacabras. I'd love to do an actual photos hoot with him in this thing, but honestly, this is about what they would end up looking like anyway.  Usually, no matter how hard I try, he ends up fuzzy. Much like Big Foot.

Surprise face!

More fuzzy cam smile. 

Personally, I think this looks awesome with the red leather Wilson's jacket I got from a consignment sale for $25. Not something I'd ever pay full price for and he loves it to bits, so score one for Mom!  I asked him if any of his classmates noticed his shirt, he said no. Unfortunately we live in an area of little geekiness. However, when we went to Anime Weekend Atlanta to hand off two kittens (five more to go!!), lots of people there were all "Cool little dude".

Yup, about right.

In other news, I've been thinking about inventing a portable distortion field to prevent surreptitious photo taking. I figure there's enough scientists among this crowd we could put something together. Feminist sewists unite!