These hashed or linen-look fabrics may not be used together in the end.

That purple does not really have all that blue in it - camera issues.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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When you go dumpster difing at the fabric-by-the-pound vendor there are always fabrics that don't go with anything else you've selected but they are just too neat to leave behind.

I bought lots of those:

And one panel print:

I haven't used panel prints before. There were lots of them in the dumpsters but motly 'cute', 'Christmas', 'roosters', etc. I will probably turn this into a passages quilt.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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First I fell in love with the ferns sa=o imagine my delight when butterflies turned up with the same colors.

I have no idea if these were meant to go together but the colors match so they will go in the same project in MY house.

I can hardly wait to get started planning projects!

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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It is always fun to find the same tone-on-tone print in different colors. When I went dumpster diving I found five colors of a small leaf print.

Ooooh - polkadot backgrounds!

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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Would you believe I shopped at the dumpster diving vendor four separate times? When the bins get emptied a little they just open another box and toss it on top. So there is always something new is you go back the next day or after several hours.

In this 'dive' I came up with two purple pieces in the same print:

Yummy!

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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In my dumpster diving I found several larger pieces that looked good together. I will most like ly use them together in a quilt but no idea of a pattern yet.

You can see that the two on the far right and the next two in are different colors of the same print so they will look great together.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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This dumpster diving fabric - a stripe in two color-ways - will make a good binding for some project.

I have more of the blue than the brown but will probably mix them together anyway.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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More from the dumpster diving... This print came in both dark on light and light on dark so I had to have both.

The darker one looks more like men's suit fabric but it is really just a cotton print.

There is NO shading on the light fabric - that is just my camera acting up.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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In the 'dumpster diving' I found a range of fabrics in a faux batik. I don't patricularly like sewing with real batiks so these are right up my alley.

They all have the same subtle leafy print on them.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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At one of the vendor booths they sell fabric by the pound. They have these huge bins and just dump boxes of odd lots of Bentartex fabric into them - no rhyme or reason.

Some fabrics are 1/4 yard, some whole yard, some panels, some several yards.

In our local group we refer to this as 'dumpster diving'!

I tried to pull fabrics that went well togetherso I would have the start of some project 'collections'.

This fabric in two colorings looks like butterfly wings but there are not actual butterflies in the print.

These are small pieces that will obviously need to be combined with other fabrics.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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Since I bought a serger a couple of months ago, this was the one class I was most excited about. And it did not disappoint.

I have only sewn on standard machines so I am intimidated by my embroidery machine and my serger.

The instructor has taught lessons in Threads magazine so is quite knowledgable.

I took lots of notes on her very thorough handout:

And for this class, I DID go buy the book at her booth.

Her book includes a DVD so you get actual demonstrations of the process.

I am almost persuaded that I can get my serger out and have a go at it.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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The style show was one class that we didn't have to pay for.

One of the pattern designers was showing her line as it was made up in different fabrics and with different details.

She kept emphasizing that her patterns went from sizes 6 to 22 but all of the models were skinny!

She, herself, was a short chunky lady and she did bring some of her own clothing. But the model was tall so a button that went midriff on the designer came to the center of the breast on the model.

If somebody wants to sell me on a patter that looks good on short chunky people - let's see some short chunky models!

The pants on the model were very thin white fabric so every seam showed and you could see the color of her flesh through them - YUK!

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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I have been seeing quite a few 'capsule wardrobe' posts on pinterest lately. Last spring I actually used this concept to put together a travel wardrobe for three weeks in the UK and was delighted with how well it worked.

Her concept is to start with what you aready own - weeding out whatever does not make you very happy wearing it. Then, when you have left only the pieces you like, decide which go together for mix and match outfits.

Start with 2 bottoms, 2 tops and a layering piece that all go together. Add accessories. Lay them out on a white sheet and take a photo. 

To expand, add another bottom or top that goes with some of the first pieces. Take more photos.

You will end up with a catalog of how all your clothing can be put together into outfits.

She suggests doing the same with your fabric stash - starting with a print, adding fabrics that go with it and expanding choices until you have enough for a quilt. She puts these togethr in project bags (along with a pattern if she has one selected).

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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The class on dynamic totes focused on four ways to make the same purse - with her pattern.

She was ALL about the pleather (used for the base of the purse) and a specific brand of interfacing (that she sold in her booth).

Personally, I think pleather looks cheap - it is a plastic.

There are enough free purse patterns on the internet that I couldn't see investing in hers.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PST

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I take Marti Michell's class every year because she always has new templates and sample quilts to show.

I don't own any of her templates but I'm fascinated by the instructions she has throughtout her catalog.

Many of her patterns and instructions can be duplicated with other standard rulers, though I have not done so yet.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PST

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I was actually glad when I realized that I had taken this class before!

I remembered the first step but couldn't remember what came after that or why we did it. Couldn't find my old notes either.

Now I can use this information on how to create bias striped fabrics from strips and use them on quilts or as inserts in garments.

Yay! One class I found worthwhile.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PST

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I was disappointed that the instructor, Peggy Sagers, only gave a very hurried rundown of the things she has taught on her PBS show Fit To Stitch.

Just let me say that I think someone else should listen to the class ant then write the title and synopsis in the catalog for these classes. 

She did NOT cover how to fit yourself by yourself! To me that means just me, myself and I trying to pin darts on the back of the muslin while it is on my body - without someone else to take the tucks.

Her solution... a full length mirror, a hand mirror, and taking the garment on and off till you like how it fits!

She also directed us to her patterns and whe booth SHE woould be in - but there were no patterns there.

Disappointing.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PST

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Another class I took at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo was titled Ultimate Upcycles.... really?

We had a slide show and some samples passed around. These were 99% pocket purses, handbags, etc. made from old jeans and leather coats that she gets at the thrift store.

There were a couple that I would be seen with but not much.

This is another where I have nothing to show for my time but a ticket stub:

If you are interested in her work, she has an upcycling board on pinterest.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PST

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The 'selling point' to this class was that we would learn how to make mariner's compass without paper piecing...

Um, yeah... the answer is to buy her rulers and book.

The finished compass is the appliqued onto the quilt front.

NOT INTERESTED.

That is why all I have to show for this class is the ticker I got in with!

At least I had a place to sit down for 45 minutes.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PST

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At the Sewing and Stitchery Expo I decided to get some patterns for pants. I had three pairs of thin fabric pants for travel last year but one pair was ruined when I fell. You think I could find them again... NO!

So I've decided to make them while applying things I have learned about fitting on PBS shows.

I also bought some pants elastic in white and black (for light and dark fabrics).

I will do the fitting and make 'muslins' for both patterns before buying my fashion fabrics.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PST

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