By Debra VanDeventer
Vintage patterns are a blast from the past.
“Do you have any vintage sewing patterns?” I asked the man working on a display case in an antique shop in Bisbee. I was searching for 1970s patterns; the era of my Kenmore sewing machine. I had a half-baked idea to redo its yellowed, plastic carrying case using the artwork from the envelope covers.
(Just like my new pants, this post is cropped, comfortable, and fun!)
I recently blogged about finding the courage to begin a new project or try something different. I was nervous about making a pair of gold linen, wide-leg pants. They’ll be too bold, too wide, too wrinkly I thought. http://seamslikeastory.com/the-courage-to-bloom I received a comment from a reader who wanted to see the pants when they were finished. (coincidently, this person has the same name as my sister) Here is the finished product. I’m still fiddling with the waistband, but overall I’m happy with the way they turned out. They’re comfortable and the wrinkles in the fabric don’t bother me. Besides, they’re roomy enough for slouching.
Now if I just had somewhere fun to wear them!
P. S. Yes, I have a hat named Audrey. You may see her again sometime, but that seams like a story for another day!
Take a chance!
Be bold!
Have fun!
Go for it!
Meet Melanie, a bright, beautiful, energetic eleven-year-old whose smile lights up the room. She loves Disney princesses and has developed a passion for RV-ing. Melanie has autism. Each individual with autism is unique. Though Melanie can communicate through short, repeated phrases or words, she is mostly non verbal. Meeting her specific emotional, behavioral, and educational needs requires a team comprised of her family and a network of dedicated professionals. I am proud to play a supporting role as one of her grandmas.
When Melanie outgrew her Disney Princess dresses, my daughter Kelli asked if I could make a “grown-up girl” sized tutu. Though I’d never made a tutu before, I was willing to try.
We’ve been told “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but maybe we should! A fabric book cover adds a touch of elegance or whimsy to an ordinary book or journal. Here’s how, and why, you should give this project a try:
We’ve been told “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but maybe we should! A fabric book cover adds a touch of elegance or whimsy to an ordinary book or journal. Here’s how, and why, you should give this project a try:
Sky and Leaf
By Debra VanDeventer
Spring green Palo Verde leaves sway against the backdrop
of a brilliant blue sky
and a long forgotten memory stirs on the breeze.
A mother’s hands smooth out two pieces of fabric,
sky blue and leaf green.
Not willing to sacrifice one for the other, both are chosen
and a skirt is designed for her child.
Stitch by stitch, mother teaches daughter.
Together they create
a magnificent skirt
born of the mother’s imagination–wraparound, reversible
sky and leaf.
My mother taught me to sew.http://seamslikeastory.com/about-debra/ I don’t remember those first steps in learning to sew, but this memory of a blue and green, wrap-around skirt recently came to mind.
One joy of sewing is the ability to pass the skill on to others. One joy of retirement is you have time to do so. A few summers ago, my (then) eight-year-old granddaughter, Lillian, came to visit for a week. As a former teacher and current sewist, I was delighted when she expressed an interest in learning to sew. Here’s how we began…