New Shirt

 Here is a mesh shirt that I just finished. I have had this fabric that I got from Marcy about four years ago. I used a black mesh doubled around the neck and sleeve cuffs. I used some bias fusible tape on the neckline and hemline from Lyla Messinger. It really helps with keeping the mesh from stretching when sewing on it.

 I wore a black camisole under the shirt. It should be cool for the summer.

Looking at the back. I feel accomplished as I am trying to work on some of the things that I have had around for a long time. I didn't like the color of this fabric, but when I combined it with black it looks good to me.

New Purse

 This purse took a long time. There were a lot of pieces and interfacing to do cut. The pattern has you make your own bias tape, but since it was black I think I would buy it already made next time. It took a long time to make and put on.

 This is the front of the purse.

This is the back. I put pockets inside for my billfold and IPhone and a pencil. I figured once you dropped them into a big bag like this you would never find it again. Especially the phone when it rings. I really like the design of this purse. The only way to get into the purse is on either side of the handle. So I put a zipper in the section of the handle on the lower part of the circle. Then I can put in my IPad, otherwise the two side entrances are too small for a IPad.

Garden

I just had to share the new addition to my garden. Aren't these frogs just cute? Notice that one is on a cell phone. Loving it.

Art Day

For those of you that are local.I will be participating in Art Day at
 Siena Home Boutique
132 Bridge Street
Arroyo Grande, CA  93420
I will be there with another artist from 11-4 on this Saturday. I will have my kimono scares, dyed fabrics, purses, hand painted scares, cards and tye dyed children's shirts. The store that I will be in has some very nice boutique items and will be serving a free glass of champagne. Come join me.

Jewelry

 I attended a workshop with Nicky Ruxton and she used junk to make her jewelry. These are some of the examples of her necklaces and bracelets.

This is my version. I used a piece of upholstery fabric, hand stitched and beaded. A couple of old buttons and some founded metal.

Vogue 8975

 This is one of Marcy's patterns. I really like it. I took it in a little at the waist to give it more shape. I used rayon/lycra. I love this fabric. It took a little to get used to working with it, but it is so soft. I did learn that it does't dry well in the drier. It comes out all wrinkled and it takes for ever to dry. Just hanging out to dry works well. The pattern is tricky, but now that I have it I want to make another one.

 This isn't the best picture of me, but at least you can get a idea how the dress looks. If you look on Marcy's blog you will see all kinds of suggestions of how to combine fabrics to make the dress. Mine was suppose to have some of the stripes across the back, but I had to recut some pieces for my mistakes.

New Sunporch

 We are quite excited in being able to replace our old sunporch. The sunporch that was on the house when we bought it, we learned was 35 years old. It was leaking and we weren't able to use it for much any more. Here is the cement truck arriving for the new foundation.

 Totally gone and only the old tiled floor and new foundation.

Today the framing is being done. We were able to make the room a little longer and wider, so it will be 382 square feet.