Aunt Emily

Emily Bowyer Hammel was my father's older sister. She was the dearest person I've ever known. Over several adolescent summers, she patiently taught me how to sew and how to cook. I loved her. Sadly, she has been gone these few years and I miss her very much. However, I am carrying on her legacy of sewing and trying to carry on her legacy of caring.

Thursday, December 20

Christmas Sewing Frenzy

No photos because I don't want anyone to peek.

Since last Thursday night, I have made:

- five fleece blankets (love those fleece blankets);
- four flannel sleepers;
- a fleece robe;
- two L2 bags.

I've cut out four sets of baby hats and mittens, five fleece scarves, one adult hat in tiger strip fur, three more L2 bags and another robe. I still need to prepare another hat, a fleece blanket, two shirts and a Barbie and a Orphan Annie doll outfits.

So the sewing express continues on. I have not sewn this much in years and years. Maybe I will get to make something for myself soon?

Tuesday, December 11

Another New Purse and Baby Pictures

Another bag produced from the Sewing Workshop pattern. Several others on the way for gifts!!!


I seem to have a red theme this year - not sure why! The fabric I used for the outside is from the Sudo collection. I just loved it when I saw it and knew I'd use it for something. This is a gift for someone for Christmas, so I don't get to keep it.



These are photos of the pockets before I sewed the lining together. I think pockets are the most important part of a bag - if you don't have enough, or they aren't big enough, you don't like the purse.

This is the latest photo of the Eman from yesterday! Ten months old.






Thursday, December 6

New Purses

Working this week on some more bags. I have one I really like and a second, well . . . not so much.
The first uses the L2 Sewing Workshop bag, made in the Alexander Henry "Frida's Garden" fabric. It was hard to find this fabric, but I managed! Ms.Kahlo would have been 100 in 2007. I can't say the faces really look like her, but the design gets the jist of her "aura".
I did use the gusset this time. I cut four in fake suede and sewed them in place before putting the entire bag together. This seems easier than waiting until the bag is constructed, then adding the gusset. I also show a photo of the inside of the bag - in this case, it is a striped fabric. Check out the pockets! I am going to prepare at tutorial on the importance of good pockets in bags.

The second bag is not so successful. I decided to fly out on my own, cut a pattern of my design, and while it is OK, it isn't what I hoped. The problem is the handle. I covered cording with the fake suede and it just isn't substantial enough. And I think it looks terrible on the front closing of the bag. Also, I used a quite stiff interfacing, so the top does not droop as gracefully as I'd imagined.
I am going to do some surgery on this bag on the weekend. Cut the handle off and add a different one. Hand stitch the binding in place. Next time, I will add something to create some "thickness" in the body. It is too flat!


































Sunday, December 2

VINTAGE 1950s Patterns - Rare for sale

I am selling four rare Vogue Special patterns - three suits and a dress - on ebay, starting today for 7 days. On ebay, I am sorryid. Please take a look and consider purchasing a pattern you like. I was not able to find other examples of any of these patterns on the internet, so I am going to call them RARE!