Friday, November 28, 2008

Where do you get inspiration?





Where do you get your artistic inspiration? Well, today for me, it was shoes. Wonderful, delightful shoes. I'm sure there is a new outfit in my head now forming around these shoes. And I'd like to wear them with funky tights. I have a strange green/yellow pair, sapphire blue, wine/purple, brown, boring black, black fishnet and a silver pair. The sapphire, wine, or yellow pair would all look lovely with these shoes. I'm going to have to give some thought to the perfect outfit for these shoes. Be rest assured they will go with the shoes and the tights. I've been noticing that almost anything goes in the designer world.  I've been told I am very good at putting things together. I take them at their word. I decided a while back that who cares what people think if I like something, I like it, and I wear it or buy it and/or put it in my home. It works for me and I have things I really enjoy. What is interesting about this approach is that I get away with it. People tell me I could pull off wearing this or that, but they never would. I've decided it is attitude or an aire of feeling comfortable in your own skin. Mid-life crises have turned into a very good thing for me. Something does happen after forty, something very fun and exciting if you're up for the challenge. I love wearing what I want because I want to, regardless if it is matchy, matchy. I am no longer concerned about it. I always thought I'd have to be thin to get away with that. Guess what... you can be fat and still get away with it. It is the greatest thing. When you mentally get ready to lose weight, go for it. But until then, let it go. You might as well have an enjoyable journey. When I get an outfit idea to go with the shoes I'll post the picture or the concept drawing. meanwhile I'll have to figure out how to get the expensive shoes.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Technical Finesse

Wow, I can't believe how easy they make customizing your blog.  My husband will attest to the fact that I am technically challenged in the area of computer usage. If things are not easy it won't happen for me. The invention of the iphone was a genius of a phone for people like me. Before my iphone I could not figure out some basic elements like how to save a phone number and a name or to text someone. My sister being more savvy than myself would text me. I honestly would try to text her back but it did not happen even once. I now have a 30 minute infomercial I give to anyone looking at an iphone. I could be a new salesman for that piece of technical genius.  People in the computer industry must have people like me on their radar. Or some smart person like Steve Jobs just knows people like me. I'm digressing now. Anyway, I am so happy to have easily figured out how to add photos onto my blog!!! Those of you who may be interested in my work can now see a few pieces of it. Maybe I'll be able to get a web page up that includes more of my work. I discovered one thing though, I don't take great pictures. Most of the pictures of my work don't show them they way I'd like. They are crooked and at strange angles so they don't fit the box well. I'll have to enlist the help again of my 14 yr old son. They like to be helpful with their superior technological know how. I'll let you know how that project is coming along as it progresses. But for now, I've got more sewing to do! 

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Sew for Profit?

Sewing for profit has its benefit. Yes, cash is the answer. you get some. Getting some of this right now is not overrated. You need it. But how do you charge the customer. Any of you who sew and come from a background like I did of being just down right cheap, or wanting the nicer things but always wait for a 75% off sale in order to get it know what I mean. The silk blouse at Macy's now $10, the lined skirt to match $15 and the shoes, $7 at the outlet. (of course on sale)
back to sewing for profit... The rates are outrageous! I would never pay $100 just for the sewing of a dress.
the gal who has hired me suggested I charge by the hour. OK, I'll charge $15 an hour. She agreed to it! I keep reminding myself, she did agree to it!!

 (yikes, can I do that)It's been a long time since I've worked by the hour. When I started my working life the minimum wage was upped to ta da... a whopping $3.65 an hour. yes, you heard it here. Oops am I dating myself? I'm pretty sure my dad worked for a dime and hour in his day. So I'm not that old. Anyway, I've already worked four hours and I haven't set in sleeves or sewn a side seam yet. I'm excited for my cash... but, it's not too much...is it?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Thread: what's the big deal?

Take thread for example, why would it ever cause an issue. There are only about a hundred different kinds, silk, rayon, metallic, cotton covered polyester, mercerized cotton, silk finish cotton, top stitching, quilting, etc. etc. Then come the weights, 50w, 40w, etc. You get the idea. So what thread for which project? I would think cotton for cotton projects is a great place to start. For now anyhow.

Oh, I forgot, needles to go with that thread. There are as many choices for needles as there are threads. 

Since I'm quilting a cotton quilt I think I'll use a quilting thread with a quilting needle. 

Oops, Oops, Oops I can't seem to get beyond one minute without thread breakage. Change needle. Break... sew... break. It's driving me freaking crazy. Change needle again. how about now? sew, sew,... break. I've been on this road before. maybe the thread is coming off the spool wrong and twisting. Stop , turn thread upside down. How about now? NOOOOOOOOO! I'll google for help.  

This lady says she uses a JUKI machine. that is what I have. She only uses King Tut thread from superior threads. 

lucky for me there is a huge quilt show with a large vendor choice that my friend is at. She had asked if there was anything I needed. 

Dial, yes, would you please........

Oh joy!!!! SING!!!!!!!!! it works. my new fav.... KING TUT.