Sew Brilliant

Etsy :: Your Etsy Mini

2010-02-09T15:36:00.000-06:00

Anti-Fashion Show

2008-10-21T15:17:00.002-05:00

The October 18 2008 Anti-fashion show was a new experience for me. Aggregate all the gorgeous and exciting clothes and all the gorgeous and exciting people, plus an adoring audience, the result was more than beautiful. And no claws.

Irisewn and Karma Rags sponsored the Anti-fashion show, and they were kind to allow my entries of 3 skirts and 3 shirts. Click here to see the entire flikr stream. The brilliant Corry Lee Smith photographed the event.

I made this skirt from a cotton breastfeeding blouse, a rayon/polyester curtain tieback and a length of really really old wide cotton bias tape.

I got tagged by Wardrobe Refashion!

2008-09-13T00:14:00.004-05:00

I received my invite to Wardrobe Refashion today!

So here is my Pledge:

I, Sue, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 6 months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!

Signed,
Sue

Derby Girls Score More

2008-09-09T14:11:00.007-05:00

Here it is - my first dark craft object!
This "Derby Girls Score More" skate bag will be sent to my swap partner on Craftster.

Not that Martha, the other Martha

2008-07-18T12:22:00.000-05:00

Martha Pullen, of Sew Beautiful magazine and Martha's Sewing Room PBS series, is from Huntsville. Click here to see a list of her books available from Amazon. To celebrate her 65th birthday she's hosting an entire week of School of Art Fashion classes and seminars at the Huntsville Von Braun Civic Center. Pfaff, Bernina, Baby Lock, and Husqvarna Viking are providing serger and embroidery machines for their exquisite decorative and heirloom construction classes. Most classes are designed for the students to walk away with a completed project. Many of the students, who are arriving from all over the world, are bringing their own machines for the classes taught by extraordinarily talented artists who not affiliated with a manufacturer . The coat pictured here is the project for a class taught by New Zealander Beverly Sheldrick.

350 ppm

2008-07-17T17:10:00.000-05:00

Craftster, Etsy, Craft:, Burda Style and Thrifty Fun have joined an awareness campaign for reducing ozone CO2 emissions down to 350 ppm. If CO2 count is reduced to 350pm, scientists say we can prevent global warming. So check out the 350 campaign and see how you can help.

Yearly checkups

2008-07-02T17:04:00.001-05:00

Several people have asked me where to take their sewing machines for cleaning and repair. There are two places I have used and really like:

The Sewing Center (Sew Amazed) at Oakwood Drive and the Parkway has consistently been a great place to get sewing machines cleaned and aligned for 30 years. They have an open sewing group that meets on Friday nights.

S & R Sewing (Sewing Circles) is on Arcadia Circle. They have classes scheduled throughout the year, but Martha's big birthday party next week has caused classes to be postponed. They have been working around the clock to prepare.

Um, what have I been sewing?

2008-06-20T10:24:00.000-05:00

I will post pics of the two shirts I've been sewing. I haven't sewn in a long long time.
This stitch lounge lets me have the room to sew and not have to put everything away. Plus it's the best idea I've ever had.

The first thing I sewed was a deceptively simple blouse in a slinky knit. And I have never sewn with knits. The blouse looks great, but the front wrap neckline was stretched a tiny bit while sewing on the facing, so it rolls forward and thankfully it's not easily noticeable. I re-learned that stretched synthetic fabric can't be steamed back down to shape.

The next blouse started out Easy but I upgraded it to Advanced. I chose a hot pink rayon. I replaced the darts with gathers. I kept the lining but replaced the front piece with sheer silk organza with woven patterns. Re-learned lesson: Delicate fabrics require stabilizer. I used Scotch tape. It's a real pain to remove itty bitty bits of scotch tape from under a seam line.

In sewing silk organza with a woven in pattern, if you press the seam over, the woven-in thread sticks out as if it were frayed or cut off at the edge. So I added bias bindings for the neck, back, and under the arms. I used a rotary knife and cutting board/straight edge to make the quickest most accurate bias bindings ever. Did I mention that the hot pink rayon shows hand stitches unless I only pick up a single thread? I'll be hand rolling the edges for the flouncy shoulder-attached sleeves, no bias bindings, I ran out of fabric. The blouse is cut on the bias so it will probably hang slimmer on me than the tissue pattern and measurements indicated. Are we laughing yet?

I thought I would jump into the deep end of the pool and come out looking good.
Big Lesson re-learned: Sewing requires fit and construction techniques, and knowing your fabric.

Play the Building, win valuable prizes

2008-06-13T12:05:00.001-05:00

My husband's brother played at David Byrne's 'Play the Building' today.
Link here to visit his website. Very nice.

Flying Monkeys

2008-06-11T19:28:00.001-05:00

The Flying Monkey is a vastly interesting oasis in this desert called the Tennessee Valley.
There are many types of activities sponsored here:
Film seminars, competitions and screenings by the Filmmaker's Co-op.
Absurdist burlesque written and performed by the Posey Peep Show
Incredible music from Crash Boom Bang Theater
Open mike poetry reading nights, aptly named Monkeyspeak
And excellent food at Tina's Cantina
Apparently, we have it all.

Sewing Sites

2008-06-11T19:10:00.001-05:00

I like free patterns on line.

Here's a pretty scarf at Husqvarna Viking in their Sewing Room site. And I've never before considered sewing with fiberglass window screen, and certainly never pondered making a food cover with it. Very impressive, and a must-have for the back-yard socialite.
Burdastyle's Danielle dress looks great. Their 'open source' sewing model is refreshing. Burda actually wants to see your version of their patterns. Anyone can upload their fashion pics of a completed Burda pattern to this site.
The plush bird pattern from Spool is really cute and easy.

How do we do it? Volume...

2008-06-07T16:41:00.000-05:00

Sew Brilliant is in an artists' co-op. At this time we only accept donations. You put in the jar what you believe is fair. In return, we offer the promise of perky craft projects and some company. The money is used to replenish supplies and service the machines.

Pics as promised

2008-06-05T21:02:00.000-05:00

Lots of pics here: Sew Brilliant Flickr stream
And more pics here: Flying Monkey Flickr stream

This banner was designed by my wonderful step-son. I wish we had better names for family relationships.

Wait for it

2008-06-04T20:01:00.000-05:00

I meant to post the new pics, but the camera's been eaten by the Lounge! So I'll post the new pics as soon as I dig it out from under those scraps I've been playing with...

How did this happen?

2008-06-03T00:29:00.000-05:00

It's been 2 months since I discovered the Craftzine podcast for Stitch Lounge in San Francisco. This podcraft revelation spawned Sew Brilliant in the Flying Monkey's artist co-op. Sew Brilliant is a community rescue mission which provides support for the craft-addicted and stitch-craved members of our society.

Baby Pictures

2008-06-01T17:30:00.000-05:00

This is the first bay I rented. But it wasn't big enough.
The splats on the floor are shoe manufacturing glue.

Sew Brilliant is Alive

2008-05-27T20:38:00.000-05:00

The Sew Brilliant Stitch, Knit and Craft Lounge has been patched together & electricity has been applied. We're in the Flying Monkey wing of the Lowe Mill Arts Center. The floor's been sealed, the comfy chairs have arrived, the vintage sewing machines are in cabinets and the sewing & craft library is on the shelves.