Tuesday, December 2, 2014

New SFD Project and Talking Books

My goodness!  WHERE have I been?

I notice I haven't posted on my blog since November 21st.  Evidently, nobody has missed me, so it doesn't really matter.  Oh, I take that back!  Phylly told me she noticed I hadn't been on my blog in several days.

Well, I am in the middle of a new SFD experiment.  The first test garment didn't turn out too good, so I started over -- as I always do.  The second garment turned out really good!  But then I put the skirt together that I made the top to go with, and I decided that I don't even like the skirt.

At first, it was long.  I didn't like that.

So I cut off six inches.  I didn't like it that way either.

Then it was time to pack everything up and head back to our other house, and that is where I am right now.  I had to go work at our store all day today, so my project is on hold.

Maybe tomorrow I will get it all together and can show you what I learned.

Thanksgiving was really nice at my nephew's house in Tulsa, OK.  My sister was there, of course.  We went to her house the day after TG.

I asked to see all the garments she has made recently, and we went back to her closet for a fashion show of sorts.

WOW!  She has made more garments than I have.  I was really surprised.  She just seems to have a natural "already know how" gene to make things fit.

She had lots of tops in all different colors and prints.  One of her tops had the strangest fabric, but it turned out gorgeous.  It had fringy strings and fur hanging all over it.  She had a non-fringy skirt to go with it.  Very impressive!

She doesn't like me to take pictures of her garments because she doesn't want to be copied.  I always consider it a great compliment if someone wants to copy what I have done.

I'll be back soon with my new SFD "lesson".  I have gotten Glenda Sparling's permission to share it with you.  I always ask Glenda before showing you my amateur videos and pictures.  Sure-fit Designs is her company.  I just have a delightful addiction to it.

And GUESS WHAT I did?

When I was at my nephew's house, I talked to his wife's mother, Christine.  She is the loveliest person and she belongs to a Book Club.  She has read TONS of books.  She told me about the latest book they are reading.  It is called "Still Alice".  I decided to try to find it on my computer.

Turns out there is such a thing as AUDIBLE books, and you can listen to them being read to you.

Probably everyone of you already KNOW this, but I didn't.  Anyway, I downloaded the book last night, and I have already listened to two and a half hours of it.  It is about early onset Alzheimer's Disease.  Sad, sad, sad -- so very sad!

Won't keep you.  Be back soon.

Hugs, Joy

16 comments:

  1. Hey Joy, I was wondering where you were. I have been looking for you night and day. I am glad that you had a nice Thanksgiving, I did too. I used to listen to books on tape back when I traveled a lot for work. I had a company van and drove to towns in OK,KS,and AR. Those tapes really kept me awake on some long trips. Glad your back. I look forward to seeing what you have made.

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  2. Hi Joy, I was also wondering where you were, therefore pleased to read you're okay. Looking forward to seeing your latest garments. Sue

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  3. Didn't miss you? You have to be joking!!! I've been frantic with worry. If you hadn't blogged today I was going to email Glenda to see if she knew whether you were OK. So pleased to see you back, Phew!!

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  4. Joy, I think there are a lot of us who check in frequently, if not daily. You were definitely missed!! So glad the absence wasn't due to sickness or family crisis. I'm a SFD devotee also so love seeing what new things you are doing.

    Sheila from GA

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  5. Missed you also! I check every day for your blog!

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  6. So glad you are back. Looking forward to seeing the new project. Missed you

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  7. I did miss you - I checked every day!! I just never comment on things for the most part
    Marciae from SG

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  8. I'm another one that checks everyday and was concerned. So glad you had a nice Thanksgiving. Looking forward to more great emails and videos.

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  9. Note to self: nag Joy if she goes more than a few days without posting. LOL Audio books are great! They are my favorite sewing companions when I'm not working on something that requires my full concentration. Looking forward to seeing what new SFD project you've got in the works...

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  10. I too, check every day!

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  11. Count another on for checking daily! Glad your Thanksgiving was nice. Looking forward to your new SFD design. Thought of you several times this week, while using your tip about Steam a Seam Lite for hems and when I used your trick for gathering the sleeve cap by holding a finger behind the presser foot. Being a relatively new blog reader, I'd love to know about the machines you use. I'd also wonder your opinion on Silhouette patterns. I've nearly bought a few but haven't yet. I appreciate your fair and honest opinions/reviews. Thanks for all the tips that are helping me be a more successful sewer!

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    1. Misty,

      Most of my machines are Berninas. Actually, they are all Berninas except for one. I have a Babylock Ellisimo embroidery machine. I LOVE the Ellisimo, and my friend Phylly has a Babylock that she loves. It has a weird name I can't remember. I have a Bernina 1130, 930, 180E and Virtuosa 155. I have several Bernina Sergers. Love ALL my machines.

      Insofar as Silhouette patterns. I have never bought one that didn't have mistakes. I have called Peggy, and she even ADMITS there are errors. She doesn't fix them, and she doesn't care. She thinks we should just KNOW how to make adjustments. You better already know how to sew if you use her patterns. They do have B,C,D bust sizing which is nice. I vaguely remember one of her patterns was missing an entire pattern piece. All that said, I still like her patterns. She has some really cute styles. OH! Her yoga pant pattern is very nice. AND, she is more than happy to help you IF she can understand what you are asking.

      Hugs, Joy

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    2. I, too, have Bernina. I am trying to bond with it, but it's a fussy machine. Nothing is wrong with it mechanically. It just is fickle. Sometimes it goes over seams like a champ, other times it gets stuck and needs one of those hump-jumpers. It does make beautiful stitches. I had a Husqvarna Viking that I loved. I took it to it's yearly tune up and it never was the same. Several trips back to the dealer and I gave up and got the Bernina (different dealer). Ironically, last week I took the Bernina for it's yearly tune up and now it is making a strange clunk noise each time it goes left and right for the zigzag stitch. What is it with me and tune ups?!

      I have been watching the webcasts that Peggy does. Sometimes I think she is quite helpful and other times quite snarky. Her design ideas seem good, maybe they just don't translate from design to pattern making and something falls through the cracks? I think I'd better get more experience under my belt before I tackle one of her patterns. I should have paid better attention during home economics in school and I wouldn't be so confused now! Then again, with all my "senior moments ", I probably wouldn't remember what I learned way back then anyway.

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  12. Glad you're back! I used to listen to audio books from the library when I traveled. That was eons ago. What is the web site?

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  13. I thought your babies were keeping busy busy busy busy... Glad you're back. Always enjoyable to read your blogs. Have a great week! Sheila in OKC

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  14. I am so glad you and your family are ok. Missed you. I check your blog every day. Even tried to find Philly to see if you were ok.

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TO COMMENT: Scroll down a bit and find the word "comments". It may have a number in front of it. Click on it, and you will be able to leave a somment. I realize you have to choose Google, Facebook or Anonymous or ? to post a comment. If you choose "Anonymous", you will be able to post a comment, but please leave your first name in your comment so I know you aren't a machine.

I do enjoy receiving comments, especially, when they are to answer my questions!

Hugs, Joy