Altered States

Of collage and assemblage. The Altered Object - Techniques, Projects and Inspiration by Terry Taylor. Another library find. (Call No. 745.5 TAY, ISBN: 1-57990-879-9). Published by Lark Books, 2006. I love all Lark Books, so creative and well-done. If you like Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion...Cloth, Paper, Scissors...and Somerset Life, you'll enjoy these pages. I love to read the background of the artists, their inspiration and creative process. However, there should be a warning sticker for recovering packrats. And I was doing so well. . .

100 degrees in the shade!

Hello, Kitty!

Temptation strong, will weak. Though I thought I did pretty well - three Japanese fabric squares/napkins/handkerchiefs tempered the price and stash space. And I heard these kitties are good luck because one paw is raised. Who doesn't need good luck and fabric?

And of course, Carol Lane-Saber was terrific. The Japanese garments, textiles and techniques were jaw-dropping. She'll also be teaching at the upcoming Houston Quilt Festival, visit their site for class information.

Service and Style

"Service and Style -How the American Department Store Fashioned the Middle Class" by Jan Whitaker. Call No. 381.141, ISBN: 0312-32635-1

All those summers of spending time in the library, and ultimately my first job--shelving the non-fiction books at $2/hour. No wait, let's go way back, a grandmother who was a 3rd grade teacher who taught her first granddaughter to read by age 5 via "The New Streets and Roads" and "More Streets and Roads" readers, and a dad who was a high school English and History teacher (and let's not even go there where my husband was also a history major) - anyways! suffice to say we are all readers (and proud of it!) our visits to the library ultimately zone into the new non-fiction books.

Being a baby-boomerender baby, I can still remember some of these department stores. The author makes reference to many of the local stores - a handy index in the back so you can find mention of your store - some good, some not so good. Of course, fabric departments were a major part of the department store history. Even when I first moved to Houston, Foley's downtown still had a fabric department, and I spent my lunch hours and breaks and secretarial salary there. You'll also learn the marketing of "linon" and rayon "crepe." Lots of other tidbits (I'm ready for Jeopardy now!), author Frank Baum/Wizard of Oz, previously was a crockery salesman and became known for his window displays and in 1898 organized the National Association of Window Trimmers.

If you like fashion and shopping, you'll enjoy this book, too!

Friday's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Sweet, "Fox on the Run" 3:27

iTunes, Desolation Boulevard

Today's stats -- 50 minutes, 3.01 miles(!), 339 calories

Speaking of Nina Garcia. . .

Did you know she has a book debuting next month?! "The Little Black Book of Style". She will keep company next to Tim Gunn's "A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style"

And hopefully the both of them will save me from wasting my sewing time with Bad Pattern Choices!

Lady Luck

These little guys really get the job done and protect my oak tree from aphid attack in a fun and earth-friendly way. Usually I buy a couple of bags (of 2,000 each!) from Planet Natural, but this year because of rainy July, this is my first 2K.

Future generations do hang around (these guys were already "getting busy").

Vogue 2991 Jacket

Good thing I only paid 89 cents for this pattern! Though it was an entertaining and amusing way to spend a hot August afternoon sewing a jacket in wool! The heat must be getting to me. I wanted a cropped jacket and for this to work. It had it all going for it - a 2 piece sleeve, princess seams, a cool collar. But -- the jacket length is waaay too short (1 1/2 inches finished above the waist?!) On me -Dorksville, next stop! The sleeves - surprisingly longer and wider than I thought would be. Vogue needs to get a new sketch artist! To quote Nina Garcia, "it's visually not pleasing!" I'll shove this back into the pattern drawer and try reworking it again later, maybe. Onward, there are other patterns awaiting!

Summer Under the Stars - Myrna Loy Day!

It's all Myrna Loy on TCM today and early tomorrow morning! First up, "Topaze" (1933), then "The Thin Man" (1934), "After The Thin Man" (1936), "Another Thin Man" (1939), "Shadow of the Thin Man" (1941), "The Thin Man Goes Home" (1944), "Song of the Thin Man" (1947), "Libeled Lady" (1936), "Love Crazy" (1941), "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" (1947), "The Ambassador's Daughter" (1956), "Lonelyhearts" (1958), and "Naughty Flirt" (1931)

Ann Taylor Loft $25 Gift Cards

They're back! From now until September 9, every $50 you spend you'll get a $25 savings gift card redeemable September 10 to October 21. If you're also a budget-savvy fashionista, you'll combine your 15% off Loft Giveway Contest coupon (good through August 31) to save even more for now and later. I like the new colorways they are bringing out -- purple, blue, gray, black and khaki, they look so great together. I couldn't resist the striped short-sleeved henleys that were surprisingly flattering and fun looking. And doesn't the pixie on the ATL card bear a remarkable resemblance to me?! (Nan, I can hear you choking and spitting out your coffee clear to Texas!)

Chocolate Chip Muffins

This is our favorite, fast and easy and healthy muffin recipe. They are just as fast to whip up as using those chemical store-bought mixes. It's from the September/October 1992 issue of Fast and Healthy magazine.

Lite Muffins

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

3 tablespoons oil

1 egg, beaten

3/4 cup chocolate chips!

Heat oven to 375. Line 12 muffin cups with paper baking cups. In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt (and 3/4 cup chocolate chips) - mix well. In small bowl, combine milk, oil and egg (I also add a splash of vanilla extract), blend well. Add to dry ingredients, stir just until moistened. Bake for 18-23 minutes or until light golden brown. (I start checking around 14 minutes). Cool for one minute, remove from pan and serve warm. These also freeze well.

Variations:

Chocolate Chip - Add 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Apple - Decrease sugar to 1/4 cup and add 1 teaspoon cinnamon to flour. Stir 1 cup chopped and peeled apple into dry ingredients. Substitute apple juice for milk.

Blueberry - Stir 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries and 1 teaspoon grated lemon or orange peel into dry ingredients.

Whole Wheat - Use 1 cup flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour

Streusel Topped - In small bowl combine 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tablespoon softened margarine or butter, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 cup chopped nuts or flaked coconut, blend with fork until crumbly and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

Flower Power!

Meerkat Manor is BACK! Starting this Friday on Animal Planet.

It's like an animal soap opera version of "Dallas" - coincidence it is on Friday nights?! Watch it, you'll get hooked, too.

"Come Back to the Burrow"

Today is National Underwear Day

Who knew?! FreshPair does, though. They are offering a 10% off coupon code (FPNUD787) good through August 31 in case you are too busy celebrating to order today. I've ordered from them before and have been very pleased with their selection, customer service and fast (free!) shipping. They also have lots of coupon codes if you Google "Freshpair coupon code" etc., so you may be able to find an even better deal than this one.

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

John Mellencamp, "Paper in Fire"
The Lonesome Jubilee
Today's stats -- 40 minutes, 2.40 miles, 252 calories

Vogue 2977 View B top

OK, while drawings don't necessarily reflect reality, this View B top--->

<---really does not look at all like this View B top!

Granted the the cargo pants aren't the perfect pairing, it's the sleeve length and neckline.

I'm not a hoochie-mama, but this neckline is a little high for me, even my daughter said it needs to be lower. I also hoped the sleeves would at least come a little closer to my elbow. My arms aren't that freakishly long (26"shoulder to wrist). Perhaps the longer View A's will look more like View B's. You should definitely pin and see where A and B hit your arms, along with neckline. I didn't and should have. (Also, the three inch seam marking dot was omitted on the trimmed View B sleeve section.) I'm pleased with the torso length (37 inches from shoulder seam to hem), it was long enough. The band seam is approximately 2-1/2 inches above the waist. And I did like the band ruching-adjustable by the wearer with a close fit, not special side seaming.

Would I make this top again? Maybe. I would redraw and lower the neckline about 1 inch. I'll use the View A longer sleeves, and add a couple extra inches for fitting insurance. I like that 3" upwards hem seam, which gives the sleeve interesting styling detail. In the directions, Sandra also suggests using a drapey woven for the top, but keeping a knit for the band. Now that might be interesting! Vogue would probably sell more of this pattern if that option was noted on the outside envelope. I also think this is a pattern where the sum of two separate pieces is greater and more wearable than the whole outfit together.

Friday's Favorite Workout song

The Fixx, "One Thing Leads to Another" 3:15

Pure 80's

Friday's stats - 43 minutes, 2.54 miles, 263 calories

Sandra Betzina meets Marilyn Monroe

Actually, her Today's Fit Vogue 2977 did this morning!
This fabric may look familiar, I used it in another Sandra pattern, Vogue 8151

The directions say to use Steam-A-Seam 2 Lite to finish the edges of the panels. A good idea if you are using good fabric. But since it was a trial run, I didn't want to invest the time, the money and the aggravation (playing with SAS2 when it's raining and the humidity is 78% is not fun), I just carefully trimmed 5/8 from the side edges. Because it is a knit, it slightly turns under, and a wild print, so you really can't notice the raw edges.

This sewed together in about 15 minutes! The notches matched perfectly, Sandra's directions were clear and foolproof (sometimes when I do yoked skirts and pants, I sew it upside down). The finished length is 31 3/4" to the center point. I measure 47" in length from waist to foot and I did not do any length adjustments.

I think this would be a fun skirt to wear, and was surprised and pleased how it turned out. The center point covers "mature" knees you'd rather keep hidden, but allows a little flash of your side leg, which still looks pretty good!

The new Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogue Patterns

Even though I wasn't exactly wild at first over her newest three - 2977, 2980, 2991 - I bought all of them today at my super-duper Hancock sale deal at 89 cents each. I still would love to see them made up a la Sandra, I'm sure they are way better than they appear on the pattern envelope. In an earlier post, when I said I would pass on the coat (2991), I didn't know there was an adorable shorter version, which is exactly what I've been looking for. I bet Sandra probably made it in a faux fur or leopard print, don'cha think? (It's listed under suggested fabrics, along with suede and leather!). I'm not certain how the 2980 will fit over the boobies with the attached bolero sleeves. Maybe they are and will stay to the side (the sleeves, not the boobs). And I have stash fabric to try the "Elf" outfit (2977), for funsies.

In any case, I'll have a good time sewing the next few days trialing these and will report back. How and where else can you have sew much fun for less than a dollar?!

Hancock's 89 cent Vogue Pattern Sale

Started today, through August 5. In the national ad circular, they are advertised on sale for $3.99; but inside the store I went to - 99 cents! With the ASG 10% discount, mine rang up at 89 cents! I stopped her and said I thought the Vogues are $3.99. The best I could understand, this particular Hancock's (or maybe all of them?!) printed and posted two separate 99 cent sale McCalls and Vogue fliers posted just inside the door. She said it was supposed to be just McCalls, but they are honoring the Vogue flier. At least that was my take, and I took the three new Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogues at that price.

If you were waiting for Jo-Ann's $3.99 Vogue sale August 7, you may want to head over to your Hancock's now, before they come to their senses and take the flier down.

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Extreme, "Hole Hearted", 3:39
Today's stats - 41 minutes, 2.45 miles, 273 calories