Starting Over

Tomorrow the household goods arrive at our new home here in Northern Virginia. I'm very happy with my choice of area so far. Everything I need seems to be within 10 minutes and DC is just a quick Metro ride away, but where not close enough to have terrible traffic. I can't wait to dive into my patterns and fabric and decide what to do first.

I bought two of these little journals (one in each color) for me to write in for the girls. I am enjoying them. Two days in only but I'm surprised by how easy it is to fill up the space. Mom's One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book

In somewhat frustrating news I purchased a new phone today. When I went to transfer the telephone number and contract I wasn't able to. Turns out the zip code I originally had my account in doesn't have smartphone service and in order to use my new phone I had to change my zip code. In order to change the zip code I had to get a new phone number. Blerg. To top it off the customer service rep promised I'd be able to use the old phone until the new one was activated. Didn't happen so now I have no usable phone. I'm sure I'll be happy once the new phone is going but for now it stinks.

Honoring my craft.

I posted this on my sewing forum in response to sewing goals for 2012.

For me I just don't want to get bogged down/depressed that we are moving now and moving again early 2013. I want to unpack and decorate this home as if we will live there for years and years. In accordance with that...

1. Deck out the playroom: drapes, toy bags, bean bag covers, slipcovers, whatever. This is a long term project and things can be done over time.

2. Deck out the girls' room: bed canopies, quilt for Izzy, pillowcases. I'd like this complete by April.

3. Organize stash: Get a good storage system for apparel fabric (Leaning toward something like this) and ribbon, finish getting my wovens onto the CBB and onto shelves. Create look book with patterns that I want to make and fabric samples. Buy as little as possible both patterns and fabric.

4. Make placemats, napkins, and table runners. And use them! (Ongoing project)

5. Deck out girls' bathroom: shower curtain, hand towels, embroidery large towels. (Ongoing project)

6. Make as many clothing items as possible for me and Izzy instead of buying. This includes customizing an underwear pattern for myself and finally trying pants. (Ongoing project)

Halloween Yee-Haw!

Last night the girls went trick-or-treating at post housing. I was really pleased with how their costumes came out and actually got asked by several people if I could sew some for them!

At home in front of the decorations D made.


Getting candy from friends.


This photo cracks me up!


In this photo you can kind of see their matching treat bags that are embroidered.


I had planned on taking more photos tonight but all the festivities were rained out. So here instead is a sneak peak at our holiday matching outfits.

Hotdog

The kids chose hot dog lunchables for their lunch on our recent trip to the Samsung Children's Museum in Seoul. We went last Tuesday with the play group. It was a lot of fun for everyone. My camera though was not happy with the lighting in the building.

There was a small exhibit detailing the history of Korea.


Next we went to the build a house exhibit. One of the most creative I've seen in a children's museum. There was a structure with lots of square openings for kids to place blocks of various sizes, "windows", and tiles. There were two cranes for hauling the blocks to the second floor and tubes to dump them back down again.




Another exhibit focusing on careers was based on the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. There was a dress up area representing a career in acting.


A space flight area and many others.


The rest of the second floor was taken up by a sound and music exhibit. The kitchen band room was a lot of fun!


The third floor had exhibits on air, water, and the human life cycle.


Also on the third floor was a "television studio" with lots of drums to bang on.




The fourth floor was about interactions between people and had a toddler play room.




I made the dress Izzy wore last summer but it is just fitting now.

Hot and Humid and H20

It has been terribly hot and humid here for more than a month. The kids and I go to the water park on post as much as possible. We tend to go after lunch and first swim in the deep pool for about an hour. I made the swimsuits.





During the break we have ice cream a lot of days and then the kids play in the smaller pools while I read. D has gotten so brave and is going done all the slides now and even jumped off the diving board.





Izzy is loving the water and once got in without her life jacket, sank for a second, and pulled herself back out. I was really proud of her and happy that I had taught her well.



See that little black dot in the distance?



That is our friend the helicopter. The water park is right next to the flight line so we see a lot of choppers and small planes.

Ho!Ho!Ho!

Sunday July 19 the kids and I went to Christmas in July at the sit down restaurant on post called Alaska Mining Company. I forswore this place several months ago as being to pricey and poor quality food, but D wanted to go badly and it gave her something to focus on and look forward to with Mr. K being on vacation in Turkey. He has my camera so the photo here is by the post photographer and the only one I have.

The food was your standard Thanksgiving/Christmas fair: ham, turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, etc. Why the cook had to put coconut in the peach cobbler is a mystery.

Santa wore shorts and gave each girl a small bag with a little stuffed gorilla dressed as an elf. He was weird even for a Santa so no way was I letting D sit on his lap and Izzy refused to go near him. When D said she wanted a puppy for Christmas he asked if she meant, bosintang and went on to clarify that it is "dog stew". I sincerely hope she understood it to be, "stew for dogs" and not "stew made of dog". I ask you what kind of Santa talks of eating puppies in front of an eight year old girl?

I made this dress from the Anna Wrap Dress pattern. And yes I had to bribe her to wear it. Izzy wore a matching one, but didn't want to take hers off even to sleep!

Hobby

Sewing is by far my most expensive hobby, but I've been very spoiled living here in Korea because the fabric prices are so cheap if you know where to look! Monday July 6 Mr. K. dropped two fellow sewing ladies and me off at the local train station and we boarded the semi-fast train to Seoul. Unfortunately, we had to get off at the mid-way point because there was an accident on the line. We had to transfer to the metro which meant standing for the next hour and not getting to Seoul until 11am. We had a blast anyway!

This is just one of the buildings that house all sorts of fabric and notions.


Trying to decide which thread to buy was not easy!


I wanted to hijack this truck.


These zippers looked so pretty to me.


Some of the cute crafty things.


Have to make a purse or two like this.


Mr. K. thought I bought too little. So I'm already planning another trip.




Isn't this twill tape adorable?

Homeland Holiday

Happy Birthday America. I had a great view of the fireworks from my balcony last night but couldn't help thinking, "I hope none of the locals thinks we are being attacked by North Korea." Of course North Korea sending of missiles yesterday was in all the news but no one seemed terribly concerned. The kids and Mr. K. enjoyed some of the things on post like bowling and bouncy castles. I stayed home out of the heat and crowds. Deniz's dress is from Ottobre of course! And yes I know the button placement is not even. I had a lot of trouble with the button holes and had to rip two of them out. Do you know how hard it is to seam rip button holes? Then keep your mouth shut and appreciate that I got it done at all!

Here Kitty Kitty

I'm a great aunt. Mr. K's oldest niece in Turkey has a new little girl. He is going to visit this week so I made this for the baby.



I made all the nieces purses.



I made myself an new ironing board cover.



Not much adventure lately. I've been sick in bed most of the week and still not 100%. Going to Seoul for fabric shopping tomorrow though so watch for that post soon.

Heirloom Pattern

The sewing forum that I hang out on, Sewing Mamas is having a vintage pattern sewing contest. I love to sew from patterns found at thrift stores and yard sales so this was the perfect first contest for me to enter.

I used McCall's 5914, Child's Sports Separates from 1961. It was designed by Helen Lee, marked as a size 2, and originally cost 50 cents.



I picked up the popsicle fabric with no particular project in mind but the yellow was supposed to be in a quilt I'm working on but I went with blue instead.



Originally I was going to make it plain but I must have been channeling Patsy Aiken because I embroidered Izzy's initials and put on two different ribbons onto the top.



The shorts were the hardest pants I have ever attempted. The pattern called for a 4" zipper on the side, but I decided to put pockets on both sides and elastic in the waistband.



The top went together quickly and I really like it. But next time I will probably make it longer as I'm not sure how Mr. K. will feel about the belly button look.



Instead of going my usual snaps I actually took the time to make button holes and hand sew on cute flower buttons.



And a final gratuitous adorable shot.

Hacking ACU's

My friend here Amy asked me to make her a big purse from her husband's old ACU's. I looked for a tutorial but didn't find one so made one for all of you! Now this is my first tut so go easy on me.

Finished bag for those who are uninterested in all the details.




Tutorial for large ACU purse.

Materials Used
1 Pair ACU pants
2 ACU tops
thread

1. Seam rip the lower pockets from pants legs to use on the inside. Cut out back panel below the remaining pockets. Cut in half at the back seam and remove that blasted thick seam.


2. Sew the two pants parts back together. This will help this portion lay flatter and enable you to cut it straighter.


3. Cut out the front of one of the ACU tops. Cut out zipper on each side.


4. Sew the two top parts back together lining up the velcro strips across from one another.


5. Using the two sewn together bits as a pattern cut same size pieces from the back of each top for the inside lining.


6. From the pants and back of tops cut strips for gussets and straps.


7. Using the pockets you ripped out in step one sew on each lining piece. I left one pocket open and big and the other I sewed down the gussets to make three small pockets for pens, cell phone, or what have you.


8. Using the width of your strips as a guide turn up the bottom of one of the lining pieces. Pin a strip right sides together on each end of this turned up bit.


9. Sew the strips up the side of the liner piece tucking in a bit at the bottom. Sorry no better way to describe it as I had a difficult time myself at that point. Sew the second liner piece to the gussets you've now made on the first right sides together. Should look like this which will be the inside of your purse.


10. At this point your child/ren will probably come and give you the evils for being hidden away so long. So run and play a bit and come back later to finish up. :)


11. Repeat steps 8 and 9 for the outside of the bag. Turn up bottom, sew on strips, sew together.

12. For the straps sew together two strips twice then sew right sides together to form two long tubes. Turn out and adjust length to your preference. I made the straps quite long on this bag as it is a big bag and I like long straps.

13. Pin one strap at the top of each side of the outside of the bag making sure it isn't twisted. Turn the inside liner to the wrong side and put the outside into it so that right sides are together. Pin all along the top leaving a space between the two straps for turning. Sew around back sewing on the straps for added strength. Turn right side out and push liner to the inside. Top stitch around tucking in the bit you left open for turning.

14. You can have special strips made for the velcro bits at your local Army clothing shop. Enjoy your bag!