Bra Modification

So -- remember those new bras?  The good news is they fit GREAT.

The bad news is that the hooks on the back are annoying. They don't exactly dig into my skin...it's more like an irritating little poke...

I am delighted to have four new bras to put into rotation...and they are SO CLOSE TO PERFECT.

But, if I use the very last row of eyes...I get the annoying that annoying poke.

I need some extra backing in that spot, so I cut and folded a piece of gray knit fabric.

Then, I sewed the piece of gray knit under the eye part of the bra.

Now, when I fasten the hooks and eyes, the gray knit provides a buffer between my skin and the hooks.

This was a simple five minute fix...but made all the difference. As I was doing it, I thought about all the other bra/swimsuit modifications I've made over the years. 

The #1 fix for me has always been to remove any underwire. They never work for me. 

There were some bras that fit fine, but they were too tight (At one point in my life,  I accidentally gained 100 pounds)...so I cut off the hook end, added a 2" extender, then re-sewed the hook portion to the NEW end.  Easy peasey...

Another common mistake designers make with bras for big girls is that the sides are too high.  So, after a couple of hours, I have a painful rubbing under my flabby arm.  I cut the sides down about 1/2 inch...then, use a strip of t-shirt fabric to make a new softer edge. 

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO WHO DO NOT SEW??   Honestly...I cannot imagine.

Yes.  Sewing is my Super Power...

Denim Criss Cross

You may think I am obsessed with Mary's Criss Cross apron pattern. And you wouldn't be wrong.

SEWING is how I relax....it's how I create....And these aprons scratch my itch on many levels. For one thing -- they give me a good excuse to walk through a thrift shop -- looking for recycle candidates. I've purchased linen chair covers, a drapery...and -- then-- THIS HAPPENED...

John needed some new jeans -- and I found a GREAT PAIR...in excellent condition...for $3....

But they were too tight.

Instead of taking them back to the Goodwill store -- I decided to cut them up and make a Criss Cross Apron.   NO SURPRISE, EH??

First, I cut away the waistband and zipper  (too thick to sew through)

Then, I made a new seam to join the two fronts together

I cut the jeans off where I wanted -- opened up the back center seam...which made those back pockets wrap around to the side...

I opened the seam on the bottom of the leg...then, used it to create the bib of the apron

I left all the edges raw -- and after putting it through one cycle of the washing machine -- I had to trim A LOT OF THREAD...

Yes, I know. My obsession with this pattern has passed all reasonableness....AND she has an updated version of it now -- complete with a facemask pattern! Check it out here...

 

It's All About The Pockets

The truth is, I believe I actually would be able to make one of Mary's Criss Cross aprons in less than ten minutes...if it weren't for the POCKETS.

I AM LOVING THE POCKETS...I think every apron needs two pockets.  But trying to sew and then place two identical pockets would take my ten minute apron into the two or three hour realm.

There's no magic to making pockets -- especially if you are deliberate about NOT having them match.

I like to line the pockets...then, I sew around three sides -- leaving one edge completely open to turn the pocket.  Of course, then THAT edge is how I sew it into place.  

Criss Cross Apron Extravaganza

This is about Mary Mulari's Criss Cross Apron. Again....You know I believe this is absolutely the BEST apron pattern of all time.

Mary Mulari's Criss Cross Apron pattern, .

And I honestly do not know how many of these suckers I've made now.  I gave one to Grandma Dorla for her 90th birthday party, one for my MDF friend Sandy, and her daughter Melissa and for my sisters Deena and Ronda...cousin Julie, SIL Maureen...well -- you get the idea.  I LOVE THIS PATTERN.

BUT -- I sent one to my sister-in-law (Maureen) -- and she asked me to make her two more. 

NO PROBLEM.

I've actually decided to make TEN of these aprons...using up my fabulous fabric stash....(there's a reason -- which will be revealed in the future).... 

 

Sandy is modeling a linen apron I made out of a thrift store chair cover. It has one large pocket at the top of the apron -- and an angled pocket on the right side. (having TWO side pockets is at least twice as much work).

Linda is modeling an apron I made out of some fabric remnants (50 cents a pound) I found last week during my Anne-and-I-on-a-treasure-hunt. The pockets were from a wonderful charm pack (5" squares of fabric). I need some close-up photos...

Jackie is modeling an apron I made from a Marimekko tea towel. (by Target). I had to add some fabric for the side and bottom...but I LOVE the way it turned out.

Jackie's apron DID have two side pockets -- but they were different sizes...deliberately meant to NOT match.

I LOVE MAKING these aprons.  Mary's pattern is meant to be reversible -- but I'm just doing one layer, then I serge around the entire apron, and turn the edge for a 1/2" hem. You can do it all in ONE FELL SWOOP around. (is that a real phrase? You know what I mean.)

I bragged that "I can make one of Mary's aprons in eleven minutes"...But that was just bravado. The thing is -- maybe I could do that -- IF THERE WERE NO POCKETS.

But, an apron without pockets is like a sundae without chocolate sauce...

The Three B's: Bert, BLT's and Breakfast

Given the current constraints of my life, a major element in my happiness is having people come to the house. I'm always aware that these are my last parties in this house...so I try to have somebody coming to enjoy the porch every week. TMBC has been here this summer, the MDF several times...my sisters...Cal and Jeanne....I seldom miss a week.

Last week, my special guest was Bert.  For years, I spent every Saturday with my friend Bert.

Mostly, we went to auctions and I WAS ACCUMULATING MY LINEN COLLECTION.

Bert always bought more than I did...but we had different areas of interests, so we were the perfect pair.

Since Bert was to be my "porch party" this week, I decided to make her favorite thing...BLT's.

It was a bonus that I got to use one of my toastholders.  For the last 20 years, she was helping me to FIND the darn things!!

This is what happens when you don't use a waterproof marker for your outdoor artwork...

The porch couch Lilly and I painted has held up well...

The monkey table will go with me to the new house.

I made some delicious, crispy hashbrowns to go with our BLT's.

I made a pound of bacon in the oven...

And the tomatoes are DELICIOUS this year.

Bert and I had a great visit -- and I would urge you to DO THE SAME!! Sometimes, it's hard to catch up with old friends -- but what could possibly bring you more joy??

My Day With Anne!!

John's current schedule is that he goes out for breakfast with his friend Don twice a week. Afterwards, they go to Don's house and sing Karaoke for a couple of hours. JOHN LOVES singing -- and I think it's been very good for him. Don sings at area nursing homes and has 125,000 songs on his laptop. John's favorite song is Unchained Melody, and he thinks if he gets good enough, Don will take him on tour.

In the interest of "take care of the caregiver" -- I try to plan something special for those days.

Last week's event was LUNCH IN IOWA CITY with my young friend Anne.

She had a lovely upscale restaurant in mind -- but then, I drove by a little hole-in-the-wall joint called El Paso. I saw a big crew of road workers going inside...

Honestly....I would never go into this joint if I was alone. But -- hey -- I'VE GOT ANNE with me...so we can be brave...

Inside, about 2/3 of the business was a Mexican grocery store.

We nabbed one of the four tables.  (the workers sat in a separate area -- inside the grocery store).

My Chimichanga was big enough for TWO meals.

Anne's beef tacos had double tortillas, and chopped steak instead of hamburger...

OF COURSE, any time Anne and I get together -- there will be a thrift store adventure.  We were short on time -- but we did manage to visit a few of our favorite haunts.

These pants were only $9.99!!

Genuine faux leather -- WITH aluminum foil accents!!

 Shockingly --  neither one of us bought the pants.

Thanks again, Anne -- for being the best young friend an old lady could possibly have!!

John's Happy Birthday

John's birthday was last Sunday. He must have asked me 20 times how old he was...and every time I told him "77"  he was shocked.

It was a beautiful day, so I kicked off his birthday with breakfast on the porch -- his current favorite food -- blueberry pancakes!

For lunch, Calvin and Jeanne brought him an ice cream Birthday Cake from Dairy Queen!!

John was DELIGHTED with his special birthday cake!

For supper, we went to a Mo Brady's restaurant -- which is a step up from our usual diner joints.

Wherever we went, John kept telling people it was his birthday. (And then he would ask me to tell them how old he was.) I'm GLAD he told the waitress at Mo Brady's -- because she brought him a wonderful dessert! Caramel bread pudding with cinnamon ice cream. He was SO HAPPY...

 

When he told the waitress it was his birthday, he wanted her to guess how old he is. She said, "49?"...He has retold that story at least 6 times...

I left her a $20 tip...

My Clock Collection

 Another collection that will be sold at the auction will be my clock collection.  Hey -- I don't pretend to know anything about clocks -- except that I loved hunting for them. FOR YEARS...

I always loved finding a Big Ben

And I had a few early "digital" electric clocks

They've been sitting on a high shelf for YEARS...so I made a half-ass attempt to clean the years of dust and grime.

I built the shelf out of barnboards...35 years ago.

These clocks brought me a lot of joy.

I don't know how many of them work. About 25 years ago, my niece decided to set them all...(she was maybe 12 at the time) -- and she set the alarms on all of them to go off at 6:00. AND MANY OF THEM WENT OFF...but some of thm didn't. And I have no idea which is which. Also, I had a pretty extensive collection of little travel clocks. I thought they were so charming...they were a fun thing to hunt for. I didn't get any pictures -- but I think there will be at least a dozen of them on the auction