On the Mend(ing)

I've signed up for a one-year mending workshop, taught by Ruth Katzenstein Souza, organized by Textile Arts LA.

Opening slide of Ruth's Power Point presentation

I haven't done a very good job at reducing Refurbish Mountain and I thought this might help me get back on track.

We met at Ruth's studio (so much eye candy!).
Our work table (a ping pong table!) was artfully arranged with sewing stuff along the center:

I made good use of some of the equipment -- I forgot a vital box of sewing gear.

I took too many items (as usual), including the huipil I mended two years ago (it needs MORE mending) at a previous workshop with Ruth. I didn't work on that though.

Instead, hoping to make something I could wear right away, I modified one of the African textiles that I bought last week. Got 2/3 done. The end of our day came WAY too fast.

I promise to get this done before we next meet in June.

It was a lovely, exciting, enriching afternoon  -- thanks so much Ruth and Textile Arts LA!

Linking up with Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

Meeting and Mending, Seattle and Portland

The sad news?
No Meet and Mend happened in Seattle.

The happy news?
I met up with Sherry of Petite Over 40 in Seattle and mended in Portland!

Slowly, during my drive up to and my stay in Seattle it transpired that first the venue for the Meet and Mend had to change and then everyone (except Sherry) bailed. That didn't stop us! We went on a boat! And ate a whole package of macarons!

Sherry displays our sea-worthy snack.

Strawberry, the last macaron. We spent way more time gabbing and eating than looking at the scenery.

One of the many ferries in the harbor. You can [not] see how hazy it was from the fires in British Columbia.

I didn't take many photos until we got near the container ships.
Boatloads of #dailytruck components!

Sherry is organizing a Blogger Meetup in early October, and I'm going!
Contact her directly if you'd like to join in, especially if you live in the Seattle area.
I might try to get another Meet and Mend happening, not sure yet.

On to mending...
I was hoping to start sewing during my train ride down to Portland.
Nope.
I checked in at Seattle's King St. Station so late, I ended up riding backwards with no tray table.

The next day, I worked on my first mending project:

All I had to do was sew up the side seams of my ruana to turn it into a tunic.

Ta da!
This was taken at Fred Meyer's. I designed the prints in those men's lounge pants.

What size are these? XXL?

Mending project #2 went on some adventures.

I started with silk buttonhole twist, which now I'm thinking wasn't the best choice -- the knots aren't holding.

The end of the yellow silk buttonhole twist, a little over 4 rows of stitching.

The mending visits Powells.

The mending takes flight.

I have a long way to go on this piece. I'll keep taking pictures of places it goes!

Linking up with Shelbee's On the Edge
Patti's Visible Monday
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

Summer Fun: August Update

It's time to check in with my goals for the summer.
How am I doing?
Um...

Weekly Goals:

Sew and/or repair at least one garment. 3/4
I went to a Mending Workshop, which got the needle (slowly) moving.

7/23 Chaotic Stitching at CAFAM

7/25 sewed a button on, got shirt all bloody.
[Shout out to +Suzanne Carillo for recommending OXO Brite to remove the stains]

8/12 stitching up side seams on my Ketzali Ruana at Lisa and Tim's.
This was item #1 for my Meet and Mend event in Seattle, which didn't happen.

List at least one garment on Poshmark 6/4

Vintage Asian Print Top

High Top Sneaker Print Socks

Dr Scholl's Silver Fast Flats

Kashi Kicks Pattern Mix Sneakers

90's Stretch Corduroy Swim Shorts

Vintage Mexican Handwoven Belt

and one on Trendlistr [if I can ever get back into the site, that is].
Officially putting that on the back burner for now.

Upload new art to Redbubble. 3/4

ABC-123

Quilted Clouds

Fluevog Enthusiast Black/Pink

Summer Goals:

Get taxes done.
Made minor progress, had to file state sales tax return which required adding up gross business receipts.

DeClutter the living room.
Sorted both Repair Mountain and the Resale Foothills thematically.
It's a tiny bit better, though still colossal.
The current state of the clutter magnet coffee table:

Laser-eye Lou says: You will do my bidding and feed me more treats.

Get sewing machine repaired.
Not yet.

Here are progress reports from fellow Summer Challenge participants:

An InLinkz Link-up

What to Mend When I Meet?

Remember the Meet and Mend, happening in Seattle, Friday August 11, 2-4?
Today I'm packing for the trip, and I need to decide what mending project(s) to take.
This is clearly #1:

Isn't it lovely?
It has a built-in embroidered "necklace"!
Made in Guatemala for the brand Ketzali.

Right now, it's a ruana -- not sewn up the sides! Easy fix!
(I purchased it on Poshmark with full knowledge of my required sewing).

I did a quick photoshoot with other potential mendees...

This I got on Etsy and it was in worse condition than described.

The 10.5" armholes weren't mentioned by the seller -- that size opening only makes it half-way up my right forearm!
(I don't know why some openings on huipils are created for miniature people. I've had this issue before with both armholes and necklines, no it doesn't irritate me too much).
The yarn (barely) holding it together and decorating the neckline and armholes is a fuzzy acrylic.
NOT a fiber I want against my skin in the summer.

Mending verdict? Too much work for this meet-up!

Next is a "scarf" that I got in Marfa, made by Dosa:

It was on sale, and the least expensive Dosa item in the shop, Teinda M [store closed].

Later, in a calmer, non-shopper-frenzy moment, I pulled it out to wrap around my neck.

"This looks like a tea towel."

Indeed, it IS a towel, of sorts (link).

I love the colors, the cotton fabric is light and soft, BUT, it's just a little too short to wear as a tunic with only leggings.

Mending verdict? Back to the drawing board!

The fourth item is not a garment, it's fabric that I had covering my couch.

I found more of the same in my fabric stash, and have already basted on an extremely large patch.
I'd like to stitch it with colored stripes, like the Indian scarf (on right in photo) that I got at the Fowler last April.
Mending verdict? Take. We're now using a conference room for our Meet and Mend location. That means there will be a large table! I also might be able to work on this during the drive up to Seattle. Not sure if mending while passengering will make me car sick, so that's TBD.

Now I need to find my bag of embroidery floss! ARGH!

The details on the event:
Seattle Meet and Mend

When: Friday, August 11, 2-4pm

Where: VENUE CHANGED! 2720 3rd Ave, Seattle 98121 (Big THANKS to Sherry!)

             NOTE: this is a secured building, and one of us will need to let you in.

Bring: Clothing that needs repair.  ErnieK is bringing "tubs" of notions. 

           Hate sewing? Bring yourself -- we'd love to have you join the conversation!

Cost: FREE!

Hope to see you there! 

If you intend to attend, please let me know in the comments below so that I can trade digits with you for texting, in case one of us is not in the lobby to let you in!

Linking this up with
Patti's Visible Monday

Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

Meet and Mend in Seattle Friday, August 11, 2-4pm

I'll be in Seattle the second week of August.
[Embarking on one of my cRaZy road trips. See my On the Edge blog for details and updates].
I was wondering how to meet up with friends in the region.
Since I had such a blast at last week's mending workshop...

Bella of Citizen Rosebud, ErnieK of Ernie K Designs, and I are joining forces and will be hosting a "Meet and Mend".
What the heck is that? you ask.
Fixing stuff instead of throwing it away! In a group situation!
Same idea as a knitting circle or a quilting bee.
Busy hands and camaraderie!
I thought it'd be a different and fun way to gather people vs eating or shopping.

Mending at CAFAM, 7/23/17

Don't worry about weak hand sewing skills. Bring something that needs a button! (We ALL have some of those, right?) There will be some EXPERTS on hand to help solve your mending problems. ErnieK is promising "tubs" of supplies(!). I'm liberating some fabrics from my stash. 

Please leave the carpentry projects for another day -- we'll be working with our hands on soft goods (fabrics, yarns, etc). Don't bring things that require machinery, nails, hammering, and/or smelly glue.

When: Friday, August 11, 2-4pm

Where: VENUE CHANGED! 2720 3rd Ave, Seattle 98121 Le Merde, 7315 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, 98103

Bring: Clothing that needs repair. Hate sewing? Bring yourself -- we'd love to have you join the conversation!

Cost: FREE!

Hope to see you there!