The Archives
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06.12.09Wanted: Dead or Alive (Size 7)I need these Chuck Taylors. Need. Them. Unfortunately, the Converse website only has them in a size 12.5! And I wear a 7. This is a freaking tragedy. Because they're meant to be my shoes. They're red. They're patchwork. They're Chucks. They're perfect. I've looked high and low online and can't find them. So, if you see them, please, please, puh-lease let me know and send me a link. Otherwise, enjoy the gorgeous canvas shoe eye-candy. Sigh... ~Sarah Related posts:Ten Things I Heart Right Now (And a Few I Don’t) Ten Things I’m Really Loving Right Now… 1.) While I...Comeback Covered Button Jewelry ...
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06.06.09I’m Still Sewing, I Swear!I haven't written a whole lot about sewing projects I've been doing lately. I'm not sure why, probably because some stuff just isn't that interesting to write about. However, one project that I've made recently that I'm just loving is the Buttercup Bag, a swell free pattern from craft blogger Made by Rae. The reason I found this pattern is that when Rachel was in town a couple of months ago, she and I went to Bolt. While I didn't really "need" anything, I couldn't resist two sewing-inspired fat quarters--one in a scissor print, the other in a measuring tape ...
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05.25.09Ten Things I Heart Right Now (And a Few I Don’t)Ten Things I'm Really Loving Right Now... 1.) While I was in Pittsburgh, Josh was able to put heavy-duty grommets (Or are they eyelets? I never know the difference.) in the awesome Trail Blazers-ified Gadsden flag he made me and hung it in our entryway, which is looks totally amazing. Yeah, visiting our house is probably a strange experience for newbies. 2.) When Josh picked me up from the airport, after I'd been in Pittsburgh for over a week, he met me with my favorite burrito from Laughing Planet (tempeh, pinto beans, rice, veggies, salsa verde). Some gals get flowers, I get ...
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05.08.09Support Independent Fabric Shops – Check Out Project 95I've been very fortunate to begin working with The Fabric Shop Network, Inc, the trade association for independent fabric shops. It's been well documented here that Josh and I are passionate about supporting independent businesses, from Bolt to Powells, so this has been an exciting opportunity for me. Sure, just like everyone else, we can't avoid or Costco and Fred Meyer trips, but we try to do our best. One of the most exciting things that I've had the chance to work on with FabShop is Project 95. Project 95 is aimed at growing support for independent fabric shops. Why? ...
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05.04.09Book Review: Weekend Sewing by Heather RossI have been pretty much over-the-moon excited about Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing book for a year--ever since I saw the proofs at an event at Bolt here in Portland when Heather was in town for Quilt Market. Well, it finally hit the shelves, and boy was it worth the wait! I love that Weekend Sewing is a real sewing book. Not to dog on any of the fine sewing books out there, but many of them are definitely geared toward beginner sewers or are more on the quick craft project or learn-to-sew end of the sewing spectrum. Few are actually down ...
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04.10.09Comeback Covered Button Jewelry Set + Our Favorite Texan Visits PDXI've given up all hope that any of y'all who read this hear blog think that I'm in any way what you'd call, "normal." Just so you know. I figure I'll just keep sharing all my weirdnesses and those of you who enjoy it will stick around, and those of you who don't will head for the hills. Fair enough? So, I've got a couple of random ramblings to share today. We had a great weekend last weekend hanging out with some lovely creative folks who were in town. And we were super-fortunate to have the delightful Rachel staying with us. ...
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04.07.09Coolest Facebook Group EverWell, not really. But I know you want to join the Blazers Craft Posse anyway... ~Sarah Related posts:Comeback Covered Button Jewelry Set + Our Favorite Texan Visits PDX I’ve given up all hope that any of y’all who...More Buttony Goodness No, it hasn’t gotten to be all buttons, all the...Wanted: Dead or Alive (Size 7) I need these Chuck Taylors. Need. Them. Unfortunately, the... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
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03.21.09More Buttony Goodness[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Some of the original projects from "Button it Up." I got to pick a necklace to wear during the event--I sort of felt like Angelina Jolie borrowing fancy jewelry for the People's Choice Awards."][/caption] No, it hasn't gotten to be all buttons, all the time here, but Josh and I have both been sick with various bugs--again--so we still haven't had much of a chance to do much in the way of projects or photograph a few (now) oldies for Sewer-Sewist. I've also not had a chance to take pictures of my progress on my colossal project ...
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03.11.09Another Reason to Love ButtonsWhat's this? Two posts in one day? Be still my beating heart! (Although the first was definitely "unplanned posting," so I'm not sure if that really counts.) In case my review of Susan's new book didn't give you enough reason to love buttons, here's another--this really charming necklace that the aforementioned Susan dropped off at the house last night. But, before I get into the awesomeness that is this necklace, I have got to say that this is one of the reasons Susan is such a gem--she's always finding or making things for other people--and they're always things that are just ...
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03.09.09Sewing Heritage Sunday – Sew for VictoryFirst things first. Something's been bugging me. Most of you probably read my last post. What you probably didn't read was Ben's post over on BlazersEdge (the most comprehensive and active Trail Blazers blog out there)--because I doubt many of you avidly consume Blazers' news (despite my best attempts to convert you into fans). In that post, Ben references my story about meeting Channing Frye and linked to my post. Wednesday morning--when I saw that post on BlazersEdge--I stupidly thought that he was mocking me. I would like to publicly apologize to Ben for assuming that he was making fun ...
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03.03.09Completely Off TopicIf you're weary of my Trail Blazers posts, you're welcome to stop reading right now--you won't hurt my feelings, I swear. But as you know, I've documented extensively here on this web site about my whole Channing Frye thing. So figure that I owe it to y'all to keep you up-to-date on any breaking news. If you've been paying attention here you know that he's my favorite Blazer not named Brandon Roy, that I was worried that my "Buffet of Goodness" screenprints that I made for Susan and I might be cursed, and that I think it would be awesome ...
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03.02.09Letterpress Class, Part 4: The One Where I Admit to My Classmates That I’m a Bit of a NutIt was inevitable... You know, when you've sort of let people believe you're a relatively normal person, but you know that time is coming when you're going to have to say or do something that will give people a glimpse into the fact that you're a bit weird? You've all had that experience, right? Right? I've mentioned in my previous posts about my totally amazing letterpress class through PNCA Continuing Education that part of the class is coming up with a large project, for which we have to write a proposal. I didn't really this about this when I started the ...
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02.13.09Letterpress Class – Week Deux[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Photos of letterpresses and letterpress tools from around flickr. Click through for links to the original images."][/caption] Why I felt the urge to call this post "Week Deux," I cannot explain... Last night was the second installment of my letterpress class through PNCA's Continuing Education Program (and, no, I'm not pushing PNCA just because I'm teaching a class there this summer--it's an awesome place, I swear). We got to fire up the printing presses and play with inks and actually start printing. Well, by "we" I really mean the collective "we," rather than actually "me." You see, when ...
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02.06.09Letterpress Class – Week 1[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Some of my favorite images of letterpress type from around flickr. The lead and wood type is so beautiful in and of itself. (Click on the photo to get the links to the originals.)"][/caption] I've wanted to try letterpress printing for ages and ages. I remember back when I was a kid we went on a school trip to some historic site or another and someone was printing on a old printing press and thinking it was absolutely amazing. I think it appeals to me much in the same way that sewing and screenprinting does--there's something simultaneously ...
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01.08.09Buffet of Goodness (AKA The Mysterious Case of the Cursed Hoodie)I have a terrible, sinking feeling that my latest screen printing project may be cursed. Which is truly unfortunate. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="337" caption="This cool hoodie can't be cursed... Can it?"][/caption] Before you continue reading this post, I do want to make an important point: I'm not a Fan Girl. And I'm certainly not a Channing Frye Fan Girl. If I were going to be a Fan Girl of any of the Trail Blazers players, it would have to be Martell Webster. Yes, I know Rudy Fernandez is the flavor of the month, but, for me--if I were to become a Fan ...
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01.05.092008 In Review, Part 1I'm labeling this post "Part 1" in hopes that I can persuade Josh to do a similar post. Right, Josh? I thought I'd do a bit of an informal, unstructured, year in review, highlighting some of my favorite project Josh and I have finished up, some stuff that wasn't so successful, etc... Here we go. Favorite Project by Me, for Me: Amy Butler Sophia Carryall [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="379" caption="The AB Sophia Bag--sans bottom piping."][/caption] Hands-down, the sewing project that I've gotten the most use out of was my Amy Butler Sophia Bag. I love, love, love this bag and carry it more days ...
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12.03.08Book Review: Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Anna Maria Horner's first book, Seams to Me, is exactly what you'd expect from this popular fabric designer. "][/caption] One of the sewing books that I'd really looked forward to much of this year is Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me: 24 New Reasons to Love Sewing, which was released by Wiley in October. Anna Maria is one of my favorite fabric designers--I love the highly artistic graphics she utilizes in combination with vibrant colors. The result is a rich, bold and distinctive aesthetic that's modern and fresh. When Seams to Me arrived in our mailbox, I ...
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12.01.08More Blazers CraftinessObviously, I'm in need of a cell phone with a better camera, because I've spotted some awesome Trail Blazers craftiness at the last three games and my pictures suck, suck, suck. First, on Monday versus the Sacramento Kings, Susan and I were behind this guy on our way to the Fan Shop: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="This dude cut strips of black, red and white felt and then sewed them to a patch to create a wig fit for a true Blazermaniac."][/caption] Next, the lady sits in the row in front of us, and sewed a great blouse out of Trail Blazers ...
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11.30.08Sewing Heritage Sunday: Boy Sewing[caption id="attachment_308" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="From the Life Picture Collection, by John Pillips, Ohio 1942."][/caption] While I couldn't find out any details about the boy in this picture and why he's sewing, I think this is proof positive that Ohio boys have been sewing for a long, long time. Right, Josh? ~Sarah Original photo link on Google Images. Related posts:Wanted: Dead or Alive (Size 7) I need these Chuck Taylors. Need. Them. Unfortunately, the...I’m Still Sewing, I Swear! I haven’t written a whole lot about sewing projects I’ve...Book Review: Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross I have been pretty much over-the-moon excited about Heather ...
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11.25.08Bingo, Bango, Bongo!That post title doesn't really mean anything, but it's a quote from the great Bill Schonely, the best play-by-play announcer of all time. When someone would do something really awesome, The Schonz would randomly shout, "Bingo, Bango, Bongo!" There were other things, too. Like, "Rip City!" or "Ocean to Ocean..." or "Lickety Brindle up the Middle." I listened to him call Portland Trail Blazers games on the radio my whole life, and no on will ever be as awesome as The Schonz. Seriously, Josh and I saw him walking down the street last year and I literally started hyperventilating. He's ...
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11.07.08Book Review: French General Home Sewn[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Cover of Kaari Meng's French General Home Sewn, published by Chronicle. "][/caption] Chronicle Books' latest sewing offering, French General Home Sewn: 30 Projects for Every Room in the House, is a unique sewing project book from Kaari Meng, owner of the well-known store in L.A., French General (you can visit her blog here). (I figure it's pretty well-known, since I've actually heard of it.) Part tour of the vintage French aesthetic, part sewing book, this is an appealing book for folks who are Francophiles or fabric collectors, in addition to those looking for unique designs for sewing ...
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10.14.08We’re Still Here!We both just managed to each have a case of what will now be referred to as "The Worst Flu Ever." First I was sick, and Josh was so wonderful taking care of me, and then I started to get better and Josh got hit with it even worse that I. But we're on the mend, and will hopefully resume our regularly scheduled programming here at Sewer-Sewist shortly. Meanwhile... Before our untimely case of the flu, I was busy being frustrated with my attempt to make this lovely kimono-style robe from a Burda World of Fashion from this spring. It's adorable, right? ...
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09.28.08Sewing Heritage: More Stitching Up Old GloryAs a follow up to last week's sewing heritage post, this photo is quite striking. In sharp contrast to the highly-mechanized sewing of the American flag in the factory of the Brooklyn Yard, this woman, in 1917---which is about the same time as last week's photo, is hand-stitching an American flag. As Josh said, can you imagine the intense work that went into sewing this by hand? Photo credit: DN-0069332, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society ~Sarah Blogged with the Flock Browser No related posts. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
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09.14.08Sewing Heritage: Women, Sewing & the WPAFolks, it's time for a little sewing history lesson... The Works Progress Administration (rename Work Project Administration in 1939) was created in 1935, and employed millions of people--especially in the rural West and Appalachia and other mountain regions--following the catastrophic downturn of the U.S. economy resulting in the Great Depression. What many people don't know about the WPA is that a sizable number of people put to work during this time were women, around fifteen to twenty percent of WPA-participants. They were considered unemployed heads of household for a variety of reasons, including abandonment or a husband's death or disability--and the ...
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08.26.08InkedI've cooled down a bit on my complicated garment sewing lately, partly because I don't really have anywhere to wear dress, etc, and partly because we're stuck in that weird time of year when I know it's not going to be warm much longer, but don't want to actually admit that I need fall clothes. But I did recently have the opportunity to wear a dress in good weather -- since my hairstylist recently had a lovely wedding on the rooftop of the Ecotrust building in Portland's Pearl District. It was motivation to get the Amy Butler "Lotus" dress that ...
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08.18.08A Giveaway!(Note: Comments are now closed. We will announce the randomly-drawn winner shortly.) But you gotta work for it a little bit. Remember The Alabama Stitch Book that I reviewed back in June? The one that I used to make the skirt that I wore to that get-together with some old friends? Well, the lovely folks at Stewart, Tabori & Chang sent me a copy to review as well, so I have two copies. So, looks like I need to get rid of one of them... I think that whomever gets the copy of this book will really enjoy it. There are lots of ...
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08.15.08Oh so pretty…It's settled. One of us is going to have to learn Japanese. Because all of the goodies that we keep finding at Kinokuniya are getting a bit out of control. This time, and innocent trip to Uwajimaya has resulted in quite the find -- The Pretty Bag Collection. I have such a weakness for bag-making, as you've probably noticed (it's funny, too, because I have only been making bags for a year or so). And this book has some really awesome projects. It's, like many of the Japanese sewing books, brokenn down into thematic sections, this time by fabric type: Silk ...
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08.10.08Behind the TimesWhew! I'm still trying to catch up blog-wise since our computer crash (we lost 100+ photos through that whole mess). So, we're a bit behind the times with posting some completed projects. My mom's birthday has come and gone once again, and once again, I made her a new bag (the woman used to just have one bag and carry it until it died, so I've taken it upon myself to ensure that she has an appropriate wardrobe of bags for various occasions). Last year, it was the Amy Butler High Street Messenger Bag. This year, it's another Amy Butler pattern ...
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06.24.08Pintucks > PleatsThis is about the only math I remember, the ">" sign, meaning "greater than." (Yes, the world breathes a sigh of relief that I was a liberal arts major and not a rocket scientist.) I cleaned up the horrific mess that was on our, er, dining table (which sees more thread, needles and fabric than plates, cutlery and food)... (I'm thinking the dire situation with our workspace may have been adding to my creative funk caused by my impending unemployment. Just maybe... I'm also thinking it would be a brilliant competition to see who could name the most items in this picture. ...
