A2 Seamster - Living the Crafty Life

So....what's going on?

2020-08-09T14:22:00.004-04:00

I've been in a creative funk for some time now, but Covid 19 has been nudging me out of it. So....some good has come out of this pandemic?

So Geeked!

2012-07-18T10:26:00.001-04:00

20H10_WE/TH

Chanel and That Jacket

Claire Shaeffer / Claire Shaeffer

One of the most creative and fascinating couturiers in the twentieth century, Coco Chanel created a look that is still popular today. This 2-day Master Class will focus on Chanel’s iconic jacket and the Chanel-isms which make it distinctive: the fabrics, quilting, unique double buttonhole, decorative trims, chain weight, and 3-piece sleeve. Students will complete a variety of samples, decorative trim, and 3-piece sleeve.

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I am so geeked. I was able to register for this class at the American Sewing Expo before it sold out. Claire Shaeffer is a nationally known expert (in some circles) whose expertise is in the tailoring of Chanel jackets.

Posted with Blogsy

Gah!!!!!!

2011-10-12T19:14:00.000-04:00

My iPad is stuck in recovery mode. Apparently the Apple servers are overloaded with the IO5 upgrade.

Bad Blogger

2011-10-12T01:29:00.002-04:00

I know - I'm a bad blogger

The things I do --

I'm working on a secret project for Christmas. It's not easy, but I am determined.

Go blue

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T09:53:00.001-05:00

Ann Arbor City Council passes ordinance banning couches on porches

2010-09-21T09:57:00.001-04:00

Can you tell we live in a college town?

Day 8 - Nest Watch

2010-05-13T10:16:00.001-04:00

I haven't seen Mama Robin since yesterday, and it has been raining all morning.

Day 7 - Nest Watch

2010-05-12T09:23:00.002-04:00

I saw Mama looking down on her nest, like she was thinking "what the hey?", so I peeked. Three bright blue eggs.

How long do robin eggs take to incubate?

Day 3 - Nest Watch

2010-05-08T11:08:00.002-04:00

A sneak peek at Mama Robin's eggs.

Colin held the extension mirror and I took the picture. It's very windy today and the tree is whipping around. Mama is sitting tight.

Robin Baby Moma

2010-05-07T10:53:00.002-04:00

A robin took up residence in the tree outside my study window. There was one egg yesterday. Today the rain is coming down and mama is hunkered down.

The robin chicks watch begins.

My Really Big Tinker Toys

2010-03-19T17:39:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid, I loved to play with Erector sets, Girders and Panels, Tinker toys, and even Lincoln Logs. As an adult, I have discovered the wonders of PVC pipe. I made this frame to cover with fabric to provide backgrounds for photos.

Pretty cool, huh?

Oops - What happened to February?

2010-03-02T13:48:00.001-05:00

Pictures to follow.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T10:57:00.002-05:00

OK, so no points for originality, but lots of points for sincerity.

The past few months have been blog-lite, so I'm going to try to be a bit chatty here. And more chatty about my crafty life. The sad thing is that, even though I've already sewn something (yay me), I've sent it off without taking a photo first. My bad. But I think the mystery item is so cute that I'm making one for myself. I'll post about that when it's ready.

In the meantime, here is a link to a story about an event I attended in college - The Day a Beatle Came to Town. I don't remember every act that performed (how could I not remember Stevie Wonder?) but I can report that it is possible to get a contact high.

Peace

Goodbye to 2009

2009-12-31T09:13:00.003-05:00

Na na na na, na na na na
Hey hey-y
Goo-od bye!

Good bye, 2009. Here's your hat - what's your hurry. Don't let the door hit you on your way out.

(Edited to add: I've been told this post is kind of a downer., so let me explain. I had a good year. Even my car company is looking up. I was speaking in general - the economy, stuff like that.)

Here's to a happier, healthier, wealthier, better, New Year!

The Art of Couture

2009-07-13T16:32:00.002-04:00

This video is an interesting look into the art of couture design.

(Hit 'cancel' if asked for a password)

Bento Art

2009-06-21T20:11:00.002-04:00

I'm more of a "it doesn't matter what it looks like if it tastes good" cook, but this bento art impresses the hell out of me.

How can you resist this?

Grouchy Bf bento
Originally uploaded by Sakurako Kitsa

Nature

2009-06-14T19:54:00.005-04:00

Nature is not always pretty. I think this bird

is a cross between a cardinal and

a buzzard.

(All pictures taken in our back yard.)

We checked with the Dept. of Natural Resources - Hubbo's cousin a DNR biologist - and word came back that the lack of feathers is from poking his head into a bird feeder hole, and the distorted beak was from hitting something. It's not a dread disease; just an unlucky bird.

Move along. Nothing to see.

2009-05-30T16:38:00.004-04:00

It's been a while. Not too much crafty-ness going on here. I have been working in the garden, but so far it's been mostly cleanup duty. Ah, well. There is always next month.

Google has a cool new feature

2009-04-01T15:09:00.005-04:00

Check it out. Introducing CADIE: a singular upgrade to your online life.

APRIL FOOL!

Three episodes before we know all

2009-03-04T16:16:00.001-05:00

And we will be on vacation for the last two. Arghhhh!

Star Trek Opera

2009-02-07T00:42:00.001-05:00

I never watch Adult Swim, Robot Chicken...whatever. But this is wonderful.

Shhh - Don't Tell Joanie

2009-01-12T19:30:00.000-05:00

My sister-in-law Joanie is an interior designer and helped us with our new light fixture, so I made her this bag. It was designed by another interior designer for carrying samples around.

It is really big.

Really big. (Excuse the blurry photo; the auto focus doesn't seem to work with the self-timer.)

Light - At Last

2009-01-12T15:58:00.003-05:00

The Monday before Thanksgiving, the ceiling fixture blew. Annoying since Thanksgiving was to be at our house. What to do? The fixture was beyond repairing, so we took it down, installed a ceramic socket and stuck on a clip on shade over the bare bulb. Stunning. Don't believe me? See for yourself.

Didn't I tell you?

We eventually found a light fixture we liked. I think it looks pretty good.

Another view.

It is so nice to be able to see at night.

First Monday, 2009

2009-01-01T12:04:00.003-05:00

All resolutions take effect on the first Monday of the New Year. No sense setting oneself up for immediate failure. (I always find weekends detrimental to the proper execution of a good resolution.)

With that out of the way -

Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!

Fending Off Cabin Fever

2008-12-31T09:36:00.003-05:00

Not long ago I learned about Smartflix. It is this great little site that rents instructional dvds. The subject matter is pretty broad: art, photography, welding, math, sewing, lutherie etc.

I guess it works a bit like Netflix - you rent a dvd and it is sent to you. You have a week to view it and return it in the prepaid mailer. If you sign up for a collection, called a University, you get three dvds at a time, and can keep them as long as you wish. A new one is sent for every one returned.

No long term commitment required, if you don't want one. The dvd selection is good and the process is easy. I like it.

I've even decided to try a shameless promotion. If you click on either the button below or in the sidebar and sign up, I'll get a commission. Heck, I might hit 2 figures. Have fun.