The inside waist ribbon

So here’s what I did with the waist.  I added a a ribbon waist finish.  I am no expert and the amount of mistakes I have made have made me appreciate the construction part of clothes.  I know this sounds kind of lame, but I always wonder how did those seams appear so perfect? Oh yeah, sewers have done it a thousand times and practiced and practiced.  Okay, good, 999 times more and I’m an expert.  I really enjoy how the pattern comes together when you get it right.  Here I got it right.  I have no background, but this has been such a learning experience.  I have patience and I love working on my $50 singer sewing machine.  It’s coming along bit by bit but I need to buy the right color thread to sewn the outside ribbon.  I have already sewn the inside ribbon waist.

So here’s the outside ribbon.  It’s taking me longer than expected but I like seeing my work come together.  I may need to take a class.  I love learning about different styles.  Next time, I would totally do another texture.  Next time, I have to take a picture with this one on me because I have tried it on so many times.  I really need to take a look at the hem.  That’s it for now.   Happy.

Love the girly color, hot pink, please!

These tools saved me.

Here’s the finished product.  It took me forever to finish because I ran into other projects.  So, after using up almost two spools of thread, that, and a healthy dose of the seam riper and that wonderful Gingher scissors, I made my first bag.  This project gives new perspective to how long it takes to make things.  Although I do not have a design background and very little sewing experience, the directions to make this helped my creation.  I love making practical things women can use.  Although this fabric is not made with organic cotton, it’s practically the oldest known fabric out there.  Linen can be dated back to 8000BC in Swiss lake surroundings.  Linen is made with fibers of flax plant, and in Latin it actually is the cognate of “flax plant”.  Who knew?  I knew I loved it instantly as a child growing up in those sweltering Chicago summers. The humidity  and sitting around was the worst combination for any 7 year old outdoorsy girl.  I was active and the minute I was asked to dress up in a light brown linen dress, I knew it was comfort at its best. Funny how you remember the best textures in your childhood and how they stay with you so long.   Next, my long awaited organic cotton pencil skirt.  I will finish it very soon and wear it to work!

All the work for this finished product

I cut this fabric and drew lines for a purse pattern on Sunday for three hours.  In class, we are making a handbag and needless to say, I almost finished cutting all the pattern pieces. I wasn’t the only one.   Who knew it would take so long?  It was fun.   I didn’t think of anything else.  I might add, it was quite relaxing.  There are approximately 8-10 students in the class.  (I was so busy.  No one really chatted last Sunday.)  The teacher put on the oldies station and I lost myself using the rotary cutter.   It got really competitive for space because we were using two different color fabric.  We had to cut 16 pieces total.

Rose colored fabric

I was 5 minutes late for class and I forgot to buy the fabric.  Oops.  So, the teacher pointed to the shelf where all this fabric was waiting for me.  I selected a chocolate thick brown color along with a linen rose colored fabric.  Then, I was stranded without a cutting board and rotary.  I was on my own.   Just kidding, I wasn’t on my own.  Every one has to take turns.  I was cutting and traced the inside folds, ironed and finally there was space to use the cutting materials. Golly, that rotary cut is amazing.

Needless to say, I still have to finish cutting and I am going to open studio.  Wish me luck.   Another day in the textile studios proves to be awesome!

This is the fabric I picked out.

My first sewing class

So impressed with the Lillstreet Art Center.  I got there, paid, began the class with a rock star sewing teacher.  It’s not home economics, mind you.  She was very knowledgeable and actually funny.  Music playing in the background was sweet while we worked wasn’t bad at all.  So I knew the basics of the sewing machine.  My machine at home is a bit older but these machines are so easy and the textile department (actually the whole second floor) has expanded and I’m already excited about the second class.

After cutting our materials into perfect 4X6″ samples, we began sewing seams and hems.  I feel so excited about this class and I haven’t even met the actual teacher.  The sub was great and I think this journey of a thousand miles began with a great step toward fun.

I’ve decided!  I am going to start making my own clothes and home accessories.   Now that I have my new sewing machine (got it for $50 bucks) I was very motivated to begin or rather continue my journey creating my new line of eco-clothing.  I thought, great, I can do anything!  That’s  the optimist in me.  Then, I thought for a moment, okay, let’s read the singer sewing machine manuel.  Duh, learn to wind the bobbin, etc.  What else?  Buy the fabric, oh and buy more books.  Step by step, I was creating practical things.

I started with simple things.  I made napkins, done.  I made linen coasters, done.  Easy enough.  Then, I wanted to create my first skirt.  I was ready.  I bought the fabric (still need to do more research for organic cotton) and now it was time to throw yourself into the work, right?  Wrong.  Reading directions from some books may be easy and other are just plain confusing…the good part?  I got the right books which got me into making a pencil skirt.  (One of these books was given to me for free…I feel so lucky!)

So, here I am with my ambitious self, trying to make a small sized pencil skirt, for me of course.  Finished the front and the back parts, even put lining on the inside.  Now, just have to figure out the zipper.  I didn’t mind reconstructing it a few times.   Then, I thought, there’s got to be a technique.

Even better news? I am taking a sewing class at Lilistreet Art Center.  Yay, so excited, and now I will finish that pencil skirt and wear it.   Photos coming very soon.  Next project?  My little black (green) dress.  Deadline summer 2011.

Bloom design t-shirt for women

Just thinking about going vegan sounds like a challenge because I love dairy.  But who doesn’t love a challenge?  I must love it because I launched my business in the middle of a recession.  Challenge? It’s more of a waiting game for me.  Just give it time says the optimist in me.   Time.  Hum.

So back to the dairy queen in me.  Okay that doesn’t even sound very healthy.  I think I’ve had that about twice in my life. Excuse me if I love the fat.  It’s a natural part of our food, fat.  So, let’s stop avoiding it  especially the women. Deprivation is good for only so long.   I know, it’s fattening and who wants to be overweight, right?  High cholesterol, heart attacks, obesity looms over this country’s health reports and let’s not even mention child obesity.  How did we get so far?  My theory involves portion sizes.  There is no excuse for the big glup or large than life sizes, but that’s consumerism for you.   No wonder the European women are so skinny.  It’s all those bit sizes and walking!!

For me it’s not about quantity but quality, says the foodie in me.   But maybe I’m looking with rose colored glasses.  Vegan for a week?  Maybe one of these weeks, perhaps with other vegans.  Who am I joking?  This is a personal decision.  I’m on my own.  Right now?  Back to selling those beautiful Blissful Seed t-shirts where all t-shirts are on SALE!!!  Order now and support Chicago artists, the American economy, and the environment.   Otherwise, you may see blank long sleeved tee for the fall…peace.

Blissful Seed photo shoot: (May 2009)

Torta Pascualina (Easter cake) my first time making a pastry from scratch.

As a naturally converted vegetarian, I have recently contemplated testing the vegan in me for a week.  Let’s just say I am still pondering that decision until I just naturally decide I’m ready.  That’s how I became a vegetarian.  Well, let me explain a bit further.

I never watched a movie on the meat industry.  It was a conscious decision but I really just lost a taste for red meat then chicken followed, then tuna, and then eggs.  Don’t get me wrong, I ate meat along the way but slowly but surely stopped eating it all together.     I was aware eating meat was cruel to animals yet I just didn’t crave the meat anymore. And I am a foodie!

I love food! I enjoy making the food, watching the food being made, and even taking pictures of food.  Note, my almost vegan (it has egg) Argentine torta pascualina (Easter cake) that I made for the first time last year.   I digress. So I love food.   I wish sometimes I could be a food photographer.   I love thinking of how to make more vegan pastries for my friends especially those who are trying to lose weight.  No just kidding, I just don’t believe in diets.

Anyways, it’s not a loss as foodie but more of a gain, not in gaining weight but in thinking of even more creative ideas and recipes for my vegetarian lifestyle.  So, I think of all of these ways to make dishes more healthy. I wish I can have more time to cook.  Either way,  I have make time because I don’t like frozen packaged food.  Plus, I grew up on very natural diet. No processes foods,  canned food, any junk food existed in my home.   Maybe there were chips for parties but it was never in my home on a regular basis.  But being a vegan sounds so interesting except for maybe one solid reason, no milk.

Yeah, milk was a staple in my home:  milk in the morning, milk at the night.  Then, as an athlete, milk and cereal at night as a snack became a staple, mostly because all of us athletes went through the snacks like crazy.  Milk with cookies, milk with tea, it was the best friend of this foodie.  How can I go vegan w/o milk?  Maybe rice milk?  Nope.  Soy milk?  Tastes not real, but maybe tomorrow I’ll try almond milk.  Boo.  No, moo.

Oh! To be a flower
Nodding in the sun,
Bending, then upspringing
As the breezes run;
Holding up
A scentbrimmed cup,
Full of summer’s fragrance to the summer sun.

Oh! To be a butterfly
Still, upon a flower,
Winking with its painted wings,
Happy in the hour.
Blossoms hold
Mines of gold
Deep within the farthest heart of each chaliced flower.

Oh! To be a cloud
Blowing through the blue,
Shadowing the mountains,
Rushing loudly through
Valleys deep
Where torrents keep
Always their plunging thunder and their misty arch of blue.

Oh! To be a wave
Splintering on the sand,
Drawing back, but leaving
Lingeringly the land.
Rainbow light
Flashes bright
Telling tales of coral caves half hid in yellow sand.

Soon they die, the flowers;
Insects live a day;
Clouds dissolve in showers;
Only waves at play
Last forever.
Shall endeavor
Make a sea of purpose mightier than we dream today?

Amy Lowell

Thank you Amy Lowell for such sweet words.  So I dedicated this blog to poetry month and to earth day of course, but more than anything I would like to highlight our British counterparts on their endeavors with a beautiful design of a wind turbine in form of a flower.    Particularly, I would like to commend the architect, Tonkin Liu who thoughtfully made the wind turbine even more green.

This work of art is made out of sheet  metal and lights shine out of three mini off grid wind turbines with different shades of red depending on the speed of the wind.  Amazing and innovative.  It’s  frame and petals are made of galvanized steel and illuminated by LED lights.   How green and creative can it get?

It gets better.  This initiative hopes to creative 1,100 more jobs with modern business park initiatives.  Practical and beautiful, now that’s perfect to me.

Work of art for sustainable good

A sewing machine that looks familiar from childhood.

It’s important to maintain a high level of passion for your product during these times.  Who else will promote your products as well as you without the dollar signs lingering in the back of your mind.  You. Besides it’s not all about the money, at least not to me.  Can’t speak for the rest of humanity.  That’s why I have dedicated this blog to my next purchase: my first sewing machine.  I will go forth with passion and most of all, tenacity.  Don’t worry I won’t invest in the above antique.  I’m a modernist.  This is exciting!

Then, I look to the market, all I want to do is ask why and then all of that leads to you know, complaining…but the optimist in me says to look forward and to focus and maintain better days are ahead.  I really can’t complain either way.  I have a job and my business is growing slowly but surely.

Of course, I say that as I have a day off in between jobs.   Granted I am lucky and I have a job, and I might add I have awesome co-workers who when we have time off we are laughing about who knows what but laughing like we did in high school…I digress.

So, on my way to the most important job of all, the one I gave myself almost a year ago.  Man, what a journey.  I have learned so much and what I continue to learn is amazing and most of all from the people!  I love people.  They constantly fascinate me and I learn so much from them.  Plus, I feel even entertained by most of the time.  Ha.   Laughing my way through everything.  But seriously!   I have to keep marketing, keep smiling and most of all keep looking forward to that beautiful sewing machine and the basic sewing class.  I can almost see it.  It’s on sale!  I get to the register and I have to pay.  Yes, money doesn’t grow on trees and I can’t believe I am making all these happen for me on such a frugal budget.   No complaining.

Work and everything will slowly begin to come to fruition.  I believe in that statement so much.  Everything else will begin to happen and blossom like spring.

Here is a list:

1. Recycle and that’s even easy for the most reluctant environmentalist.
2. REUSE the bag for the groceries. (That one is hard because I always have grocery bag amnesia but just place them in your car or right by the door.)
3. Use cloth napkins. for the kitchen or lunch (I know this is kind of old style but the savings add up especially if you are not buying the napkins and you have fun napkins of all kinds…but I would start with napkins in your lunch.  I would suggest LitterFree napkins especially the organic cotton napkins.   They are a Chicago based company.
4. Use less H2O. Need we say more?  What is really good is to replace the shower head in your bathroom with a more efficient one and there are some out there that are very nice!
5. Use less energy. Turn the juice off at night and we replaced all outdoor lighting with white light bulbs which is great too.
6. Use public transportation, bike, or walk to work. That’s easy here in the windy city even if some bus/trains were cut.  Man, even the bikers are fierce here.  Unfortunately, one ran into my door last winter!!  It threw him off and I was more frightened than him.  Let’s say I watch out for those bike messengers and you should too.
   

   Bike to work or just for fun

7. Buy an organic cotton t-shirt!!!! I am partly biased with this one but Blissful Seed has great designs and can be great gifts for women, men, and children.  Hurry!  We will have an Earth month special very soon.
   

   Children's collection: grasshopper design