Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge.

A few weeks ago, Sarah over at Pings and Needles posted a challenge.
A Japanese Scrap Bag challenge.
The winner gets a year's subscription to The Eternal Maker's Japanese charm club.
Being a fabric whore *cough* and free associating what I could possible make with a scrap bag, I typed in "a corset belt for bellydance" and added trimming a bra if there were left overs.

Um...nevermind that I don't usually sew my own costumery. I've made one circle skirt. It was very very heavy. I think I measure the waist incorrectly and had to keep adding panels.
I've also never applied a grommet before.

I did have a pattern that I'd bought long long ago.
Tempest's corset belt.
I lusted after her originals for a long time, but I settled on a pattern instead of being a big spender.

The pattern was really designed for someone with a Serger. I do not have a Serger.

BUT I WAS UNDAUNTED.
I tried a prototype. It's brocade. Which is really really slippery.
I didn't finish it after I realized it would mean doing 80 instead of 40 grommets.

I agonized over the placement of each scrap.
I grommeted until my fingers bled. Literally. I had to pull a few of them off and cut up my fingertips.

(As an aside, I found the grommet kit that used a hammer and a metal plate to be the easiest. The hand/plier thingie didn't have great results for me.)

How To Grommet:
Gather the following supplies:


Take the pointy awl and jam it through a premeasured spot:

How far you jam it through the piece might depend on your grommet size. For mine, I pushed it all the way in.

Remove the awl pointy bits and push in the grommet:

You may need to grab the scissors and trim the hole a bit.
Make sure you push the grommet through the hole as cleanly as possible...it will make lining things up easier at the hammering stage.

Line the grommet up into the base of the grommet maker:


Take the top of the grommet maker and line it all up:


Then grab this:

Tap on the grommet maker about 4 times. NOTE: IF IT SHIFTS, STOP. YOU DO NOT WANT AN OFF-KILTER GROMMET. Removing it with sucketh.

Ta-Da!!!! (It's not quite perfect because brocade is really hard to grommet, but you get the idea:



Anyway.....I'm sure y'all really want to see my final project....so....

Here's the finished product:


It's getting worn in a show in Dec. I still haven't picked out my music.

...And, because I promised the other ladies I'd model.....
Here I am:



I'll put up the link when voting goes live over at Pings and Needles. In the meantime, if you want to check out the work of the other fabulous contestants, you can see them here. I'd love to win, but, truth be told, I've had a blast regardless, met some rad women, and learned a lot!

Yay! ZIppers!

I am not super scared of sewing them any more.
I'm not a master...but...
I SEWED TWO ZIPPER POUCHES TODAY!!!!

I made this one for my Pretty Little Pouch swap partner:


I hope she likes it. I'm pondering what to put in/with it.

I then kept up with the pouch mojo and made one for me.


I may or may not add some embroidery.

I didn't do any more bee blocks, make it to the post office, or finish my 100 quilt for kids quilt.

I also got to talk to my dance partner. She sounded really good. I may or may not get to see her tomorrow, if she's feeling up to a visitor.

I also ate Pad Thai, since today is Eat Noodles day.

WIP Wed 10.5.11...

I got some stuff done today.
Not as much as I planned because a meeting ran late.
I had to get zippers for my pouch for the Pretty Little Pouch swap.
Totally terrified of zippers.
*eep*
I got three blocks done for the Nubees:


I got most of the machine sewing of the binding for the 100 quilts done. Unfortunately, my bobbin went wonky and I have a row to rip out and redo.
I'll post pics of it when it's fixed.

So, on tap for tomorrow:
Finish Nubee blocks
Fix 100 quilts quilt binding
prototype for pouch
Sew Bee It blocks

slightly on hold:
monkey quilt
New Bee wonky star
picking block/cutting fabric for my bee month
Hoopla

What I REALLY need to do:
get my swap idea up and running ASAP

Linking up to WIP Wed.

Phew...

Okay, so I knew I wouldn't be sewing today. It was a back to back schedule.
Reg work, extra class I teach afterschool, then time for a 30 min nap, then an hour of dance class and almost 2 hours of staging a piece for an upcoming show. It was a blast.
Thankfully, I remembered far more than I thought I did of the choreography.
The first dance class involved fired. I had my candle holders prepped, but I make the executive decision that I was too tired to safely use fire.
I think it was a good call.
Maybe next week.

I got an update today from my dance partner's husband.
Her surgery went well. It appears not to be cancer.
Woooo!! She's got to recuperate. I'm sure there are more questions about what this indeed was, but this is good. She's doing well. Thank all of y'all that sent good wishes her way.

no sewing..

Today was spent running around.
Derm visit. (My skin is appearing to heal.)
YAY!
Then a run to get binding fabric for my 100 quilts for kids quilt.
Then a dinner meeting...until 9:30.
And I'm exhausted...
and on Benadryl.
I need to sew HSTs, but I'm afraid I'll mess up the cutting.
I feel cruddy because of the meds.
Blarg.
Tomorrow is a crazy long day.
Regular work, waiting for updates on dance partner, then teaching drama afterschool, then home to eat, then dance class, followed by a 3? hr rehearsal.
So tired.
that's why I'm not sewing today.
I wanted to...but I'm not.

Sunday...can't believe it's Sunday.

Here was my to do list, as posted yesterday:

1. Bra edge for Japanese scrap bag challenge
2. 100 quilts for kids quilt
3. House block for Skill Builder
4. Pouch design
5. Bee blocks! (for Sew Bee Blissful, New Bee on the Block, and Nubees)
6. Hoopla

Here's my to do list now:
1. Bra edge for Japanese scrap bag challenge

2. 100 quilts for kids quilt...still needs to be bound
3. House block for Skill Builder

4. Pouch design
5. Bee blocks! (for Sew Bee Blissful, New Bee on the Block, and Nubees)
(Nubee fabric pulled, block chosen)
6. Hoopla

I've got pics coming soonish...
edit: Pics added

September recap...

I got a lot done in September.
Three full quilts, I think.
A bunch of blocks.
I have a top partially assembled, a second Across the Sea QAL top done, and most of a charity quilt top done.

It was a good month, given that there was a camping trip and a return to school in there.

I still have a big "to do" list, just for this weekend even.

I got my pincushion done today.


I got to hand my quiltie gift off to my dance partner...and give hugs and talk.

I still have the following to do Sunday, all before dinner:
1. Bra edge for Japanese scrap bag challenge
2. 100 quilts for kids quilt
3. House block for Skill Builder
4. Pouch design
5. Bee blocks! (for Sew Bee Blissful, New Bee on the Block, and Nubees)
6. Hoopla

I'm also linking up to the Small Blog Meetup. I've found some awesome folks that way.

I have a charm swap idea in the works...trying to get the details sorted this week.
I might even have a giveaway planned when I hit 50.