My goal this week is to make all of Alyssa’s muslin clothing by Thanksgiving. I will do it!! Luckily for me (and kind of unlucky at the same time) I have Thursday and Friday off from work (unlucky because I don’t get paid) and should be able to get a lot done on those days.

This weekend I totally flaked on making the patterns. Friday I went and got a nice paper cutter and worked on making my notebooks. Now I’m officially addicted. I like making the notebooks because they only take me like 15 minutes to make one instead of taking all day to make something. And they are just super cute!! The battery on my camera died last night so I wasn’t able to take any pictures, but it’s been charging all night so expect a bunch in the afternoon. =] Wish me luck!!

Ps: check out my <a href=“onlyinjapan.livejournal.com”>livejournal</a> for a poll I’m having. Everyone who comments is going to win a small prize, and on Friday the 16^th I’m going to draw a name for someone to win the Super Big Prize!!!!

It’s been a while huh? I really haven’t done much with this blog, and I really need to. I don’t mean to not pay attention to it, but after working for 8 hours, sitting in horrid traffic trying to come home, I just want to relax in front of the tv with my kitty cat! But I’m going to try and pay more attention to this blog! Hell, even my livejournal hardly gets any attention now a day! 

Well I’m sure someone has been wondering what I’ve been up to? Nothing really. I needed a break from crafting. My sewing machine and I needed a break and our space. Now we’re reunited and happy to see each other again, even if we’re in a new location. My cousin Jessica finally left her looser of a boyfriend and moved in with my mom and I. The only draw back? I had to give up my sewing room. I really wasn’t too happy about it (don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we could help her out), but I was about to order furniture for the room and make it my own. Now everything is in my bedroom, and space is a little tight, but I’m managing. The move just came at a bad time. 

Back during the summer I promised my cousin Alyssa some clothes for school as an incentive to getting good grades in school. She completely failed her freshman year of high school for a number of different reasons. It’s hard being a little goth girl in a school in the ghetto, and when your mom doesn’t work, and doesn’t make you do your home work, let’s face it, it’s not going to get done. The full blame can’t be placed on my Aunt, Alyssa is addicted to the internet, and at the end of the day, it was Alyssa’s responsibility to get her work done. But what’s in the past is just that — the past. Last I talked to her all her grades were either A’s or B’s accept for World History, which was an F on her progress report card. I’m happy to see an improvement none the less. 

So why this back story..? Well to be honest I haven’t even put a dent in the list of things I’m suppose to make her. I promised one clothing item for each class she’s taking, giving her “good faith outfits” and the beginning of the year. For every A or B on a progress report AND report card she would get another cloting item. It was here I began over reaching myself. At the time no one was really interested my my sewing so it would have been easily accomplished, but them I posted pictures of a simple black pleated skirt on my livejournal…and well 50-something comments later I had request for Leslie for a complete outfit, and Josie, and I STILL owed Rosie a skirt. It’s seriously gone down hill from there. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to sewing so I take my time and make sure everything is perfect. Which meant Leslie’s outfit took forever to do, I have yet to really start on Josie’s or Rosie’s, or Alyssa’s. Did I mention that I promised Alyssa a kimono too?! Cammy is one crazy, crazy lady. And I keep thinking of new projects to start. *shakes head* I need a team of helpers, I swear I do! I love the beginning (thinking and planning out) of projects, and the end (finishing, wrapping, and shipping), but not so much the middle (the actual work).

But I’m slowly getting back on track. Josie and Rosie will be getting everything in December, and I’m not taking on any new projects. Yesterday I kinda broke that rule by making a few journals, and spent the majority of the time trying to work out the issues. Well issue really. When folded the paper hangs out the cover, even though they are the same size, which makes sense. My $9.99 brand new paper cutter completely failed me (and is now in the trash after breaking) and Target didn’t have anything heavy duty enough. So to Joann’s this Friday to pick up a heavy duty one. Friday night I’m going to make a few journals, and Saturday afternoon I’ve been invited to a card making party! I’m totally excited! I thought about just staying home and working on Alyssa’s stuff, but I haven’t done anything for ME in such a long time. Alyssa will have to understand. I’m a busy girl with a full time job! 

I’m trying not to spend any more money too (totally random I know, but I spend at least $100 a week at the craft store on OTHER people, and it’s getting out of hand!). I need to buy my bridesmaid dress for Rosie’s wedding in January, and I need to actually start SAVING more money for a rainy day or if an emergency happens.  (Which is why I’m kinda dreading making all these clothes for Alyssa!! I foresee a $200 fabric shopping trip in my near future, ESPEACLLY when we get the fabric for her kimono!!!) 

It’s time to bring this entry to a close really. I have a few new crafting ideas, but I’ll save that for another post! I ALMOST have enough for a nice DSLR (Digital SLR; Nikon FTW!) so this journal will have a bunch of pictures soon! …Not that my current Nikon p&s (point and shoot) doesn’t work, it does perfectly fine, I’m just trying to find excuses of why no pictures! I’m totally excited for Saturday’s party! 

I’m going to keep this short!!! I have pictures of Leslie’s newest skirt by ME!!! Hehehe And now I’m going to go work on Rosie’s Super Secret Project! More pictures, and a link, under the cut! =]

Every once and a while I just don’t want to look at my sewing machine…It’s been one of those weeks for me! Monday I spent the day at Rusty’s house, Tuesday was my birthday (w00t 22 years YOUNG) and I was at dinner all night, Wednesday I wasn’t in the mood, and finally Thursday night I MADE myself do something. I cut out the size 12 for Leslie’s jacket and I HOPE this is the LAST time I have to make the jacket. After the whole fiasco of tracing the wrong size, and then having to wait for MORE grommet tape to arrive…I’m ready to be DONE with the jacket and move on. I still have Rosie’s Super Secret Project to make (hopefully this weekend if I can find the time and get her measurements) and then start on Alyssa’s clothes. *sigh* So much to do and so little time to do it!

Luckily the skirts for Leslie are done and waiting to be sent off. I still need to take pictures of the camo one; it’s on Miss J Alexander (YES! I named my dress form after the runway coach diva from America’s Next Top Model) waiting for pictures. Today after work I should HOPEFULLY take pictures.

Luckily I dug out all of my old clothes from the garage that don’t fit anymore for Miss J. Sadly I still LOVE my clothes and seriously need to loose the weight I gained so I can fit back in them. One day! I really need to reorganize my fabric. It was all fine and dandy hanging in the closet, but now my clothes are in there and it’s hard to find anything! I need to go to Ikea and get my book case *sigh* And I need a better place for my self made, and traced patterns. They are shoved into a binder and it’s not really working out having them there. But then it’s like..there are so many other things I could use my money on instead of a stupid book shelf!!! GAH!

I have a lot to get done this weekend and hopefully I can get the majority of it done. I’m suppose to visit my brother tomorrow (it’s his 21st birthday), but I think plans fell through. I’m going to make a pit of coffee when I get home and get straight to work! I’m determined to get everyone done this weekend! Now…I need food!

The fabric for Rosie’s Super Secret Project!!! NOW! Time to finish Leslie’s skirt, then draft patterns, and then sew!!!

I can’t believe the weekend is already over ;____;

Leslie’s skirt! I’m really happy with the way it came out. Pictures would have been posted yesterday, but I took a nap around 6.00pm and didn’t wake up until 10.00am this morning!!! I’m dead tired at the end of the week >_>. I’m a little mad that I didn’t wake up when my alarm went off; now I’m behind on my sewing!! *tear* So I’m going to keep this short, post more pictures, and then begin on my weekend tasks at hand!

It’s hard to update a journal that no one reads, let alone comment on. Let’s face it – I love attention. I love getting a billion comments on my post. And since no one reads this journal I find it really hard to bring myself to keep it updated. Even my LiveJournal – I hardly write in that now. =\ But this isn’t for other people, right? This is for me and my sewing. So in ten years I can look back on what I was doing. I’ll try and be more faithful to this journal. No promises tho.

I’ve been really good this week about my sewing tho! I’m happy to report that I’ve work on something after work almost ever day this week. Wednesday I didn’t; Rusty came over for dinner and I felt like I needed a break. This week was spent on Josie’s sailor outfit. I got the top to fit,  but I’m not happy with the design, so back to the drawing board on that one. The skirt…OMG! I’m not a happy Cammy. Can I say how much I HATE the way patterns are sized?! Seriously, you THINK they could be closer to RTW sizing to make everyone’s life easier. I have problem with cutting out a size 12 skirt for a girl who is the size of my THIGH and it doesn’t fit her! To be fair I need to be looking at her measurements and going COMPLETELY off of those number and not the “size.” It’s making me doubt my sewing skills when I make a size 12 skirt and it doesn’t fit someone who is super skinny. It makes me think I’m doing something wrong. Whatever. Forget patterns! It’s a simple circle skirt, so I can make one without.

Since I needed a break from my sizing problems I made Leslie a pinstripe skirt…which had it’s own set of problems! In order to get the pinstripes to run vertically I had to completely unfold the fabric and cut it that way. It’s such a waist of fabric to do it that way, but I didn’t know how else to get around it. I’m sure if I spent more time trying to find a better solution I could have, but I wanted to get the skirt done. Then the zipper gave me trouble, and the hem. I just need to cut the pattern to the right length instead of trimming off four inches of fabric once it’s cut out. Gr! But the rest of the skirt came together really nicely! I’ll post pictures sometime within the day.

I’m happy to say Joann’s is having a HUGE sale over the weekend and I WILL be spending all of my money there. LOL! I’m kinda sad the sale doesn’t start until Sunday, but what’s a girl to do? It give me time to work on Alyssa’s clothes, which I haven’t touched in a long ass time. I have a feeling that this weekend is going to be $100.00+ shopping trip to Joanns. I have a long list of new patterns I wanna get (.99 each! can’t beat that!), I need fabric for my Rainbow Bright costume, fabric for Rosie’s Super Secret Gift, fabric for Josie’s outfit, and random notions. See what happens when they have big sales! I can’t control myself! Not to mention they have 50% off coupons this weekend! Poor Rusty! lol He’s going to be so bored while I’m acting a damn fool and spending more money than I need to. But again, what’s a girl to do? Pictures 0f my great buys this Sunday!

I have all these design ideas floating around in my head, and I’m anxious to get them on paper, and finally on fabric. I’m branching out my skills. I began sewing to make raver pants and raver pants alone. Hot Topic carried them for awhile, but they slowing began to disappear. Instead all Hot Topic had to offer me was black, black, and more black. I need some color in my life! For the longest time I focused all my attention onto pants, which was great for what I wanted to do, but now I’m ready for more! 

I would love to make a business out of my hobby, and I don’t think I’ll be too successful making just raver pants. So I began making messenger bags, and now I’m about to tackle the world of accessories. Belts, scarves, purses, wallets, you name it I’m going to make it. Amy Butler and Heather Bailey have great selections of fabric that I know will work (and eventually) sell very well. My job even sponsors craft fairs (surprisingly I work at a health insurance company) and I think the next one they have I’ll have to take part in. Totally excited!!!! I’ll sketch everything out (to the best of my abilities, I’m not the best drawer in the world) tonight! What I can’t draw, and for further designs I’ll ask my boyfriend’s sister to help me out. 

This weekend is a sewing free weekend. Well…not completely, but Saturday I’m going to San Francisco with the boyfriend, best friend, and her husband-to-bed. Today I’ll be working on something for me for once. Sadly I’ve gotten too FAT for all my old pants, and in the time being have been buying pants at the mall. Sadly they don’t carry anything in my style (hence why I began sewing) so I need to sew something for myself. After I make a pair of pants I’ll start my cycle all over again. Sew something for Josie (still owe her an outfit), sew something for Alyssa, sew something for me, sew something for someone else, sew something for Alyssa. Lather, rinse, repeat. 

Now, back to my Pride and Prejudice watching, work avoid ways. =] 

(This is taken directly from my LiveJournal)

I need people’s help!!!! My fabric stash is getting out of hand. I need a 12 step program to break my addiction to fabric, and the first step is going to be start using it! I’ll post picutes of my stash later on today, or tomorrow. It’s a closet full of fabric, I joke to you not…and BOLTS of fabric on the floor.

So what do I need from you guys?? To tell me what to make YOU with the fabric! First come, first serve (kinda, I’ll get into that later). I’ll post the yardage and let you know what can be made with it (bag, pants, skirt, etc). The only catch? If you offer to pay me for what I’m making, then you get ahead of the line =] Like I have really cute pin stripe fabric and let’s say someone wants me to make them some pants…but you want the fabic too! Well, they don’t want to pay me, but you do, so the fabric goes to the person willing to pay. I’ll set up a list of prices later today too. I’ll get around to sewing everyting in a week or so. I’m still waiting on my patten making fabric so I can make Josie’s outfit and the I’ll begin on this.
 

EXCEPTION: since I’m poor, and was poor and couldn’t get anything for Rosie’s bday, she gets first pick on two items for free!!! (Hope this makes up for not getting you something!) This will work best for people who live in my area (sacramento) especally for clothes. I ALWAYS make a muslin (test) of the garmet before making the real thing at NO charge. Nothings worse than paying for something (or not) and then it not fitting. Leslie since I already know your measurments this won’t be an issue for me. That doesn’t mean if you live in New York I can make you pants or something, it will just be harder…I’ll also post picutes of the different patterns I have and the size range of each. PLEASE HELP ME MAKE EXTRA MONEY!!! If nothing else, please help me get rid of some of my fabric and spread the word that I’m an uber seamstress. Halloween is coming up people!!!

http://onlyinjapan.net/gallery/mbc <~ examples of my work; more picutes will be posted later too.
PLEASE leave a comment if you’re interested, regardless if you can pay or not. =]

I finally finished Leslie’s outfit over the weekend. Very proud of myself – yes indeed! I’ll be UPSing it to her eight today or tomorrow. Saturday I went to Target and got some really cute powder blue and white tissue paper and thank you cards to match. The cards are VERY cute I might add! They have flur de lys on them, which are my new obsession.

I also got some scrapbooking supplies from Target and two really cute journals from Borders book store. I really don’t know what I’m going to do with them! I would like to make a scrap book of all my completed clothes, which was the orignial reason of getting the journals. One for completed outfits, and one for ideas. But a scap book just seems so much easier and more fun! I was going to do an 8×8 book so it wouldn’t be too big…but I have an uber awesome photo printer, so why not do 5×7 pictures on 12×12 paper? I still need to get a book (all I got was paper and a few emblishments, at the time I thought an 8×8 book would be best). Next time I hit the craft store I’ll be sure to pick one up.

In case you were wondering, I did end up showing my sewing machien who’s boss when it came to button holes. For Leslie’s jacket I was using Coats and Clarks heavy duty thread and it kept knotting. AHHH! So for whatever reason I got the smart idea to try another thread and it worked! JOY!!!!!! Now I need to decide what to do about the button holes I’ve already made. Do I try and find a way to patch them, and then do it correctly? Or do I just send everything to her, cross my finders,  and hope for the best? I mean I DID fray check it to hell and back… I’ll just send it and be done with it.

I also got a pair of skinny pants done for my couin Alyssa on Sunday, Monday I traced and cut out a top for her, and today I’ll sew it. It’s my goal to do something sewing related once a day. I wanted to take picutes of the pants, but they are too small for my dress form! So SAD!!! I’m going to have to make a duct tape dress form of Alyssa.

Well…time to get back to work. Images will be posted later today!!! =]