Checkerboardskirt

Well, I'm actually on vacation in Ponte Vedra, Florida but it's also pretty bitchin'. I'm taking a break from the sun today because a) I've gotten too much in the past two days and b) it's cloudy. Just seemed like the best idea. The house we're staying at has gotten progressively more decrepit throughout the years (I think this is the 14th time we've stayed here, so I have a small frame of reference), but I think we're all having a pretty wonderful time regardless. I for one couldn't have gone on vacation at a better time. There are beach cruisers and kayaks, both new additions this year. The house sits on a plot of land that extends to a private beach, and has a pool on the opposite side. We have been playing Hand and Foot , a commitment of a card game involving any number of people. The we've eaten pretty well also. (At least in my eyes.) Day two was grilled chicken kababs, grilled corn on the cob and steamed purple snap beans. Day three w

Action shot! I was quite excited. Whew, long time no postie. So I've been talking about the dress I was working for a good friend's wedding. It was (somewhat surprisingly) done in time and turned out pretty nice! It was a nice and successful wedding as well. In other sewing news, this week I was playing around with some patchwork strips I made a while back. Lately I've been getting bored with just patchwork, and wanted to try something new. So in my testing, I figured out a super easy way to make patchwork look different and unique (I think anyway). I also like this because I think it looks more complicated than it is. That's right, I invented "Pleats". I made a couple of zippered pouches in this way thanks to this tutorial : These may end up on etsy, but I doubt it. Perhaps later..

B5324 On this sunny 80 degree Sunday, I decided to wake up with an angry migraine. In lieu of lounging in the sun like I'd like to be doing, I'm trying to stay in and feel better. So since I don't feel like doing much of anything, but would still like to be slightly productive, below is the exciting progress on my B5324 dress. It's looking like this will work out. Beware the particularly precarious photography. This piece is called the "upper front" which is appropriate, but sounds weird to me. Here it is in pieces.. Here is is in fewer pieces. I am physically unable to hold a camera steadily when the flash is off, but I promise this dress is not blurry in real life. The pattern and instructions for this dress reminded me of why I don't usually buy Butterick patterns. The instructions include several steps that I skipped, and there were several pattern pieces I didn't end up using. Despite the sort of confusing pattern, I'm pretty happy with how th