Hi guys,
I want to start off by saying Hi! to all my new followers. I was shocked to see so many alerts from WordPress letting me know I had new followers. I hope you enjoy what you see and decide to stick around for a while 🙂
I have finished my class and submitted my final exam, so my time is my own again (at least as much as it can be with a 3.5-year-old son). I have enjoyed getting back into making again. So, what have I been up to, you might ask?
I made a couple pair of workout shorts using my modified version of the Seamwork Nantucket shorts pattern. I have been a member of Seamwork since early 2015, and while I don’t always enjoy the patterns, there are some that I make and keep coming back to. The first time I made these shorts was back in 2016 and I made them using a chambray. I wore the heck out of those shorts and eventually they got very worn and even bleached out in one spot. I loved the fabric, so I cut them up (and cut out the bleached spot) and they are going to be used in some future sewing project.
I liked the modifications I made with these workout shorts that I decided to make a pair of casual shorts in a black cotton/poly bottom weight fabric I found in a giant box of fabric my Mommom had collected over the years. I wish I had taken a picture of it before I washed the fabric. The fabric was cut into a 1-yard length, folded, and then had a paper wrapping with that described the fabric and showed examples of what it could be used for. The example showed a skirt, but I made shorts. It had to be from the 50s or 60s. So cool! I have no pics of the black shorts, as I’m wearing them for the 2nd day in a row since making them Friday, and I am not good at taking selfies in front of the mirror. Maybe I’ll get my husband to take a pic of me in them and I’ll share in the next blog post.
For both versions I straightened out the curve of the sides. I also sewed a faux-flat felled seam for crotch and inseams. The workout shorts have 2 inch wide decorative elastic for the waistband and the black shorts have bias binding for the hems and a traditional waistband with enclosed elastic. I’m really pleased with both versions!
I also have done a little bit of art. I created my first sketch of a human (my son) that doesn’t look weirdly disproportioned or scary! I just used inexpensive compressed charcoal sticks and a dollar store doodle pad. I definitely have a lot to work on, but I’m finally heading in the right direction. I haven’t had a lot of time to work on it this week, but I’m planning on doing more sketches to get the values and the mouth better. May switch from compressed charcoal to charcoal pencils or conte crayons/pencils… we’ll see!
I also did a watercolor sketch of a bouquet of flowers. I didn’t do any sketching with pencil ahead of time, so the proportions are off (especially concerning the vase), but I think some of the colors and shapes turned out alright. After I finished that, I decided to do a doodlesmudge – if you want inspiration in this category, check out my friend Lauren Sebastian. She is so creative with her doodling and art. I have several pieces of hers and just love them. Plus, she is just a wonderful, caring soul.
Right now the I just have the paint splatters, but I see a rooster on the left and a hen on the right with maybe a chick in the upper right quadrant… So my next step is to sketch in those critters and then use my ink pen to make them pop out more. Can’t wait to get started. I’ll be sure to share when I finish the doodle!
Well, that’s it for now. I think I’ll be assembling some PDF patterns (I’ve been itching to sew the Zadie jumpsuit from Papertheory Patterns for a while now), working on the doodle, making an updated muslin for the shirtdress I promised to my mother-in-law for her birthday this past September, and possibly making a sewing something for myself. I’m waiting for my May Aquanut subscription of handmade watercolors to arrive from Xanadu Art Studio, then I might make a doodle with them and record it. I’ll be sure to post on Instagram if I do anything outstanding 🙂
Thanks for tuning in and I’ll talk to you all later!
Brandi Made It! 