Honing Skills

It's been a wild and crazy week...  Let's see...  

Last Saturday, I attended a local town's parade where Robb was marching.  There was NO kettle corn...  Can you believe it?  sigh...  I sat in between a couple buildings in the shade where some nice breezes blew through and did some hand sewing on a couple sewing projects.

And poor Robb...  marching with woolen socks and kilt in 98 degree weather and "feels like" temp was well over 100.

He was exhausted!

I spent the afternoon and evening sewing.  Made a tunic top for me and a pair of sweat pants for Leon out of a pair of sweat pants that I'd actually bought for myself but were too small.  I had to improvise on the sizing to make the pattern fit the fabric so the pants ended up a little tight around the shins...  He LOVES them!  But they're SO "at home" pants...  You know.. when he wears more than just undersnorks around the house...

Sunday, I did some grocery shopping after church and headed home to get more sewing done and a quick visit in with my bestie, but she wasn't at the nursing home!  It had been a surprise trip back home for her, so I just went back home and got to work again.  Good for her, but I needed to get our bestie talks in.  I went on Monday instead for lunch.

Also on Monday, I took all my sewing projects to one of the offshoot sewing meetings that I attend.  Some of the same women as the ASG group, so I know them.  

They are SO creative!  Don't you just love this jacket?

And although Sue didn't SEW these pants, everyone was impressed with the details and I've been inspired for the next pair of capris I make for myself.

They were so helpful as I laid out all ten projects that I'm submitting for the fair.  Even the one that I'd spilled some Fray Check on the dress itself...  YIKES!

I had read on the Google that you can soak it in nail polish remover and I mentioned that to the ASG ladies.  One woman audibly gasped and said that that could dissolve the fibers in the fabric.

It reminded me of the time that I used SunIn in college and took my beautiful lightened hair to the salon to get a perm.  They were hesitant, so they took a bit of my hair and put it in perming solution and it turned to mush.  UGGG...  Needless to say, I cancelled the perm and just went home.  I got a perm after the bleached hair grew out but haven't gotten one in a LONG time.

In this case of the dress, I was desperate.  It doesn't grow out...  It wasn't usable with Fray Check splotching up the front in weird places and it was all over...  The ladies suggested alternatives by bow placement or pulling in the seams so it won't fit me ever anymore.  I'm not really a "bow" type person...  so the dress was wrecked no matter what.

I decided to go for it with the nail polish remover.

What did I have to lose?

Instead of soaking, I decided to just rub it on the fabric with a washcloth.  Front and back of the fabric.  The remover evaporates pretty quickly so within a matter of minutes I knew if it needed a second dose.  It did in some spots.  

But it came out!  And then left a some bigger spots that were the remover itself.  Like water spots...  So I threw it in the washer and hung it up to dry.

It WORKED!!!  I was so glad!!  It just needs a good pressing now and I'll send it to the fair.

8 of the ten things are hanging up ready to go.  Just two ironing projects to do.

OH and I asked for some zipper advice as I had to shorten a zipper for Leon's jacket that I made.  They suggested a few different ideas on how to shorten my plastic zipper and I opted for the hot glue idea as I knew where one was at home.    It WORKED too!!!  

Here is the end product of Leon's jacket.  He has some ideas for the next one, but I've got a pair of new sweat pants in the works right now for him that may or may not fit.  We'll see.

The rest of the week was a blur and I'm shocked that it's Friday already...  I spent a lot of time yesterday helping a friend move.  My legs are death...  2nd move in two weeks and after Monday it will be 4 in two weeks.    Every time I help someone move, I lose a solid pound.  I need to find 20 more friends who need a new view out their front window...

Leon and I went geo-caching this week too.  We only found one.  The other three must have been SO 4 years ago when geo-caching was more popular.  But he's pumped to hide some himself, so we'll get some made up and maybe replenish the ones that had been destroyed.

It was like a treasure hunt.

Taking my things to the fair tomorrow and getting the house ready for loads of company NEXT weekend.  Also, Meri is moving into her new house on Monday.  WOOHOO!!!  

My house, right now, has 4 dogs and 2 cats in it.  Meri dropped off Ellie and Fitz while she's getting her apartment packed up.  And we've also got Jen's cat, Frank, moved in as she'll be moving in next week for a few months.  Frank hates all the other pets.  Just ask Ryan's shoulder and legs where Frank let him know...

My people and pet hoarding skills are getting honed, I tell you...

Have a wonderful weekend!!!