New Camera

Playing with my new camera this morning:

Garment Sewing Revisited

I have written about my challenges with garment sewing in Misadventure #1 (the too small, too tight skirt),  Item 1 (ugly skirt with unfortunate flower), and Sorbetto Unpicked (the muslin disaster). 

I tried the Colette Sorbetto again, and with some serious hacking and restitching, I managed to create a FrankenSorbetto. One armhole is actually larger than the other. I wear it while camping because it's cool in the Summer and I don't care if it gets ruined!

FrankenSorbetto

It seemed I was destined to only make simple elastic waist skirts like these I wrote about in Garment Sewing.

 
I'm very happy to say, however, that I will be getting professional instruction on garment sewing! I'll soon be taking classes at a local fabric store that will teach me how to alter a pattern and sew a shift dress. Altering a pattern is something I need to learn in person because I've tried reading books, reading online, and watching online videos and I still don't get it.

What challenges have you had trying to learn something new? Did you throw in the towel or seek help from someone more knowledgable?

Charming Beaded Necklace

When my daughter recently sang her first solo song for a jazz choir concert, I wanted to present her with a special gift to commemorate the occasion.

I'd make a beaded necklace with a musical charm to wear during the concert. I purchased the beads and treble clef charm but had elastic cording at home which I used to string the beads and charm.

Well, it looked okay, but it wasn't very stable. The beads were a little too heavy for the elastic cording and I was afraid it would stretch out or even break.

Don't use elastic cording for longer necklaces or heavy beads!

I did some quick online research and found the website, Beadwork, and decided to try it. I was concerned because usually when I learn new crafts it takes a few times to get it right. It was the first show day and I was almost out of time. I printed my coupon and rushed to the local craft store for tools and supplies.

Following the directions from the website, I was able to remake the necklace on beading wire and add clasps. Now, the necklace is stable and beautiful!

Beaded on beading wire.

Necklace clasp.

The proper tools are absolutely necessary. I had the jewelry pliers already, purchased with a 40% off coupon, from a previous project. I bought the crimping tool with my 40% off coupon but had to pay full price for the jewelry wire cutter because I was out of time for this project.

Wire cutter, crimping pliers, round-nose pliers

It's so easy, and if you plan ahead, you can get the supplies on sale at the store or at a discount online through a jewelry supplier. It's an inexpensive way to treat yourself to something pretty or to make meaningful gifts for others. I definitely will be making more jewelry!

Mature College Student

In January 2013, I made the leap to go back to college. This has been something I've wanted to do for 16 years! Soon after I finished college (the first time), I got a job & was reasonably happy for 3 years. When the kids came along, I decided to stay home with the intention of going back to school at some point. The problem was, I didn't know what to pursue!

After a couple false starts over the years, with graduate school and assorted prerequisites, and entering and leaving the workforce (again!), I recently decided to pursue a web developer certificate from the local community college. It's a completely different field from what I studied the first time around and it's been challenging to say the least. Also, having a family and other responsibilities, being more financially stable, being more mature, etc., has also had it's pros & cons. I was going to list and discuss those pros & cons here but I think a series is in order, titled: College After 40.

Have you thought about going to college later in life or pursued an education after 40? I would love to hear from you!