Memory Lane Monday

I just read about this on Donna's blog and as I was reading her memory, I instantly remembered something. Not from a long time ago, but only from about 3 years ago. Donna said, "Mum helped my little brother hold his tiny hands together for grace so that he could learn the concept of gratitude at an early age." and it brought back memories of when my daughter and her son Jack lived with us.

This is Jack now, with his baby brother Evan

All of us sitting around the dinner table, Mike saying grace, Jack with his head bowed and his little hands folded properly... when Mike said, "Amen." Jack would throw up arms up in the air and say, "AMEN!" with a big old smile on his face, and then we knew it was time to eat. But not until Jack 'Amened' - Praise Style. :)

Thank you :)

We have enough to pay the plumber, but the sale will continue until 2/2, as a thank you for all the help :)

Now the plumber was supposed to come today, but evidently an emergency with Chuck E Cheese's sewer lines kicked us out of the line up. That wouldn't be so bad, except we are expecting 'the storm of the century' - first, up to half inch of ice, then between 12 - 18" of snow on top of it. Wed night it's supposed to be -8 degrees. Now... how is the plumber going to work in this?

Really, I'm just hoping our power doesn't go out. Brings back memories of the Winter of whatever a few years ago, when we had no power (same kind of storm) for 8 days. ugh. But now, I"m making sure everything is charged up - phones, camera's, iPods etc. Am putting together little kits of things I can work on without using a sewing machine or anything else electric. Expect lots of embroidery and knitting! lol

If you remember from this post, I was challenging myself to use the embroidered parts of this dress, (from my Lingerie Class I'm taking from Don McCunn) on my new shirt. Well, after much noodling, I decided to use some Heat n Bond (which I've NEVER used on clothes), and fussy cut the embroidery from the dress.

The fussy cut pieces

Then, I arranged them on the new shirt until I was happy with them, ironed them on, and then sewed around each piece. I wasn't going to trust Heat n Bond to keep my pieces on, but it did help keep things from fraying during the process.

Closeup

Before Sewing

Pinned Together

This dress form isn't my size, but it's handy for taking pictures. Just don't judge the fit by what is shown here. It fits ME lovely :) My plan is to make a gauzy white blouse to wear under it, since I am over 50 and I feel like my halter top wearing days are past me.

Closeup

Now, I have to put a word in here about the class I'm taking Swimsuits, Lingerie, & Empire Dresses This has been a fantastic class. He taught us how to make a bikini top in a few styles and then use that pattern to create different garments - such as this top.  I've learned so much and am sorry this will be the last week. I can't wait to take another one, and I will!

Please Help Us Pay the Plumber!!!!

HUGE SALE - 30% off EVERYTHING until FEB 2. This is the Plumbers Sale! The house where Plain Jane lives (ahem, moi) has a broken water pipe and we have a huge Plumber Bill! So... Here is your coupon code PLUMBER12 use it on checkout and 30% will be deducted from your TOTAL!!!! Help me pay the plumber! And tell your friends, pass that coupon code around everywhere you go. Thank you :)

Plain Jane Etsy Shop

Worlds Biggest Stash of Yarn

And I thought I had a lot of yarn. I'm not even in the League of this woman!!!! Biggest Stash in 2007 and the update in 2011

I just don't know what else to say!

Swimsuit, Lingerie Class

So, I'm taking this online class from Don McCunn on how to draft the pattern for, and make your own swimsuit or lingerie, and the many different garments you can make from these patterns, not just swimsuits etc. This is Week 1 of 3 and I've got my pattern drafted and my top (no, not a swimsuit) :) planned. This will be along the lines of a baby doll top, with an empire waist.

The interesting thing (I think) is that I'm making this top from a dress I bought at the thrift store, just for this purpose - remaking it into something else. I bought it over a year ago, but I've not had the right opportunity to use it, till now!

I had already cut off the sleeves when I took the before picture -

I know it looks orange here, but the true color is a beautiful Raspberry Red. It's a rayon fabric, with same color embroidery around the neck and around the sleeves. The following picture of the sleeves are the true color.

It's a rayon jacquard, and it's simply beautiful. The dress is a size 8, and my challenge to myself, is to find a way to use these embroidered parts on my top.

I've got the two main parts of the top cut out. There were also tucks in the dress, that I managed to take advantage of, hopefully you can see that in the next picture.

You can also see the wonderful texture of this fabric.
I have a good way to go yet, but I think I've done the hardest part - started!

Plain Jane Wants YOU!

Have you visited my Etsy shop Plain Jane Candles and Soap yet?

Or been to Plain Janes Facebook page?

Or visited her blog and signed up for the Plain Jane Newsletter?

As you can see - I've been a busy girl! I'm selling soap and candles like hotcakes!!! Ok, I sold one candle and 1 lb of soap. I have to be honest, but I don't feel bad about that at all - I'm barely open and already 2 sales!!!!! :)

I'm studying marketing like a fiend, I haven't sewn anything in a week and I'm suffering from sewing withdrawal! Tomorrow, I must sew!

But first, I have to show you what Mike got me at Lowes the other day :) Are these the cutest things or what?
Yes, I have my own toolbox, I have too! I have a hammer, a needle nose pliers, some screwdrivers and a little box of different nails and screws - and now these little cute things. I've never seen a .... whatever that silver thingy is called .... that small before, but like Mike said, "I'm sure you could use this somewhere!" He's probably right :)

Spinning!

I ordered a grab bag of odd wool bits - as in wool roving, not cloth - to make some Wool Covered Soap from The Sheep Studio for $7 and received this HUGE bag of odd bits and a gorgeous sample of creamy, perfect roving. oh my gosh, I wanted to spin it up right away. But I don't know how to spin!!!!
So I sent out an emergency email to my friend Bridgett who is an expert at spinning and ask her, "Quick - teach me to spin, I have to spin this roving!!!!"
Thankfully, she emailed right back and said, Make yourself a drop spindle and a link to the directions. So, as soon as Mike got home from work, I hauled him off to Lowes for a couple things, came home, made it and started spinning. Yes, it was that easy!!!!

Here it is, with just a little yarn on it. 

And here is my first center pull ball of yarn!

I wonder if I'm ready for a spinning wheel? well, probably not, but I sure do love doing this!!!

I finished my first men's shirt!

Yes I did! I studied DPC's book for the longest time, finally ordered fabric and started in. I made a lot of mistakes, did a lot of things over more than once, but the other day, I did finish it. The only problem with it, are that the sleeves are in backwards. But I'm not changing them. It's either a practice shirt, or he can wear it with the cuffs rolled up :) Here are some pictures!

The shirt

The collar

The cuff

The hem

All in all, I'm pretty proud of what I accomplished, even with the backwards sleeves :) I have another piece of shirting that I'm going to cut out and sew this next week, before I forget everything I learned!

My NEW Etsy Shop - Plain Jane

I'd like to invite you to visit and bookmark my new Etsy shop - Plain Jane! I'm making soy candles with the most delicious fragrances - Coffee, Vanilla, Baby Powder, Chocolate Chip and coming in the next few days - White Tea with Berries, Lavender, Lavender/Vanilla and Tea Tree. Today, I start making soap - yes, soap, the old fashioned way, so look for it soon! I was a soapmaker years ago and then just kind of stopped doing it. Not sure why.

Soy wax is absolutely wonderful to work with and to burn. It burns clean, no smokey mess on your candle jar. It's also moisturizing! I can hear you saying it - huh? Read my info page linked in the next paragraph! :)

Each candle is 8 oz. and burns for approx 21 hrs

I make the most wonderful laundry soap, and dishwasher soap - wait till you try it! You can read more about my Plain Jane products HERE

Today I'll be listing laundry and dishwasher soap. Are you interested in being kind to the planet as well as to your skin? Well, this is what you want!

Laundry Soap - 1 TB per load of clothes!

Come and visit!

Coming up: Wool Wrapped Soap, Chapstick, more Soy Wax candles, and more soap!

With each order of laundry soap, you also get my Super Duper Recipe for Pre Treating Stain Spray!

The Quilt Pattern Magazine

Have you seen this new online magazine for quilters? Well, i just happen to work there :) and today!!!!!! the first issue is released! We are all so excited! There is even a social networking group for all subscribers - and get this - a subscription is just 11.99 a year!!!!

Now, tomorrow, on my Facebook page I'll be posting about the magazine. Leave a comment, and I'll pick a winner from everyone who commented, and they will win a subscription to the magazine! But only tomorrow (Sunday Jan 2).