Saturday, June 11, 2011

Pictorial Week in Review {6.11.11}


What a week! I knew it was going to be a busy one, but I'm not sure I was really prepared for exactly how busy. You see, I had two deadlines on Monday: samples due for a magazine article I'm writing on party skirts and all the prep work completed for the filming of my "Perfect Fit Bombshell Dress" class.

Here's a sneak peek of a skirt inside. I've become totally obsessed with finishing my seams by turning and stitching them.
In the midst of the craziness, I caught some cute Henry pics. Life's too short not to play with your kitteh--even when you're on a deadline!


 

I started filming for Craftsy.com Sunday evening, but we did the majority of the work Monday through Wednesday. We filmed at The Sewing Studio, where I teach. The space was perfect, but unfortunately the a/c hadn't been installed yet! I'd have my makeup done every morning at 8:00 and it would be melted off within an hour. I don't think I've ever sweated so much in my life.

Cutting some beautiful teal shantung:


The crew was super fun and awesome, and even helped me hand-baste some underlining! How's that for impressive?

We put the fan on between takes, which resulted in this "Pantene Pro-V" picture.
I had a bad run-in with the iron. It fell on my left arm (see below) and I decided to catch it by the hot plate with my right hand. HOLY CRAP IT HURT. Filming was called to a brief halt while I ran my wounds under cold water and very nice people ran about getting me burn cream and ice.

The filming ended and was a success! I've spent the last couple days recovering and catching up on e-mails and other work. I thought I wouldn't even want to look at a sewing machine for a few days, but I suddenly started a dress for fun in my scheduled relaxation time. I have this beautiful rose print pique that I'm making a dress with a few new-to-me techniques: elastic shirring on the back panels and a coutil lining on the front bodice for support. More to come on all that!

And now it's Saturday afternoon and I'm going to meet the lovely Sal for coffee and cupcakes!

How's everything with you, dear readers?

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36 comments:

  1. PippaJune 11, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    I just had to post this - the tattoo on your burnt arm is gorgeous! Are you planning on getting it coloured?

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  2. DaneMumJune 11, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Oh NO!!! A hot iron - and on your beautiful (not yet finished, right?) tatoo!!! I know you'll be okay - it might take a little while. Burns are really some nasty wounds to get - but what about the tatoo?? Will it show that you got a burn?

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  3. UnknownJune 11, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    Ouch, hope your burns heel quickly! I also got a bad burn this week, but from the oven. It was heeling nicely, when I was distracted by Doctor Who and scratched half the blister off! Gross and painful.
    Also, Henry pics = adorable!!
    Have a nice weekend :)
    Ashley x

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  4. lapJune 11, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    I can't wait to hear about your thoughts on elastic shirring!

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  5. NicolaJune 11, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    I love seeing Henry pictures! So elegant and sweet.

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  6. LouizJune 11, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    Love the mobile friendly new look!

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  7. erniebuffloJune 11, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    My week has been fabulous. I'm a super beginner sewist, but I finished the best skirt I've made so far. I'm not sure if people are just humoring me when they express disbelief that I made it, but I'm so proud. Even more exciting? There's a baby kitty at my house. And he's totally cute-ing up the place.

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  8. UnknownJune 11, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    It looks like it was a great but crazy week, and ouch about the burnt. It must hurt!!

    And do I see you have new ink on your left arm? Looking good. I need to finish my half sleeve.

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  9. Living VintageJune 11, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Looking forward to learning about your shirring techniques I have been wanting to learn how to do that.

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  10. Toby WollinJune 11, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    AYYYYYYY! Oh, no. Take care of that arm.

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  11. The HojnackesJune 11, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    OUCH! I burned my hand on the iron when I was ironing my hair (you know how dumb 16 year olds can be) back in the day. It took 10 years for the scar to fade. I hope yours heals quickly!

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  12. fangaroniJune 11, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    yikes! feel better gertie! i had an iron burn on my right arm, but given time, it has faded. also, love the pics of the filming! looks like it'll be a great online class!

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  13. CorrineJune 11, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    Hello to Henry, what a sweetheart. I feel your pain with the burn. Nothing good about it. I have a little remedy that has served me well. Massage small amounts of Neosporin onto the site. (hopefully no penicillin allergy) This will keep the skin moist, reduce scarring and prevent infection. Use small amounts several times a day. It will likely still peel as it heals, but perhaps not before it is ready to slough off. Your week sounds so exciting, hope to be able to see the finished product.

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  14. AnonymousJune 11, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Ow Ow OOOWWWWWWW! Hope that gets better soon! And well done for surviving a bonkers week!

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  15. a little sewingJune 11, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    elastic shirring?! Tell more!!

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  16. StephanieJune 11, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    This weeks sewing has been about fitting shorts. I'm hoping for a wearable muslin tomorrow then I will be making some pink eyelet ones. I've also got some little girl dresses to make for birthday parties and am itching to make my little girl a black and white dress for the Sew Weekly challenge or maybe a black and white romper for myself. I'm sure it goes without saying that not all of this will get done. I'm looking forward to seeing the dress for your class.

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  17. BunnyJune 11, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    Big empathy headed your way! I dropped an iron on myself as well many years ago and swear I have the same scar in the same place. Hope you feel all better soon. Its been nearly 50 years since that accident but the scar is still there and I can remember it like it was yesterday.

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  18. Sewing PrincessJune 11, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    I really hope your arm will heal quickly and there will be no scar. Great to hear filming went fine. Look forward to seeing the videos.

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  19. ErikaJune 11, 2011 at 7:21 PM

    Your hair looks amazing! Did you dye it a little bit red?

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  20. PaulaJune 11, 2011 at 8:23 PM

    Oh, your week was so much fun to read about and see. Love the pics of Henry (my Little Miss Muffet is under the weather this week :(

    Your Pantene look is a great one and it's really cool to see those men sewing!

    I received my new Brother 1034D serger this week, but have been too busy to unpack it!! Tomorrow is for laundry and the serger!

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  21. ErikaJune 11, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    Oh please share always the way you finish your seams. I'm a beginner and all those how-to-finish that we see in the books are not the same in real life! Also I don't have a serger so any tips on how to finish seams is great!

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  22. Jane EliseJune 12, 2011 at 1:11 AM

    Completely not sewing related comment: I love a blog with a writer who knows that 'crew' is singular!! Wheehee!! It's one of my pet hates to see people use 'were' for singular nouns and I always get a kick out of seeing you do things 'right', even when blogging :) Yes. I am a word nerd.

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  23. DebiJune 12, 2011 at 5:48 AM

    Wowza! I absolutely LOVE the picture of the film crew helping you baste!!! Priceless!! Sorry about the burn...that looks painful! And henry is soooo cute :) Can't wait for your craftsy class...I'm totally taking it!

    xoxoxoxoxo

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  24. AlessaJune 12, 2011 at 6:20 AM

    That sounds like a very awesome week! (Except for the iron burn - hope it's healing well...) I love the Sewing Studio - chandeliers at the walls, very cool! Also, great outfits you're wearing. I'm really sad that, as I'm not living in the US, I probably won't be able to view any of the sewing shows you're making...
    PS: Henry's adorable!

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  25. ValerieJune 12, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Vitamin E straight from the capsule is my go-to for burns. Don't use the so-called Vitamin E creams or oils. Just puncture a capsule with sterilized needle and apply directly to the burn. I had a huge burn on my leg, and the Vit. E stopped the pain and prevented scarring. Hope this helps.

    And have a great weekend! It would be so much fun to meet up with you and Sal--hope you all had a wonderful time.

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  26. NinaJune 12, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    you look amazing in all of those pictures! Love those bangs on you. I hope your burns heal soon :(

    Can't wait to see more posts again :)
    ~ Nina

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  27. GertieJune 12, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    Hi guys! Thanks for the sympathy and helpful tips on the burn. :) Yes, it's pretty new ink there so hopefully this won't interfere with getting it colored in this summer.

    I'll share more about the online course when I have registration details (and coupon codes!) but you can take it any time you like and it's available anywhere you have an internet connection!

    I'll plan some posts on shirring and seam finishes!

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  28. StephanieJune 12, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    Thank goodness you put that burn under cold water right away, what a nasty mark! =/ I love your new ink, it reminds me of a coloring book for some reason (must be the outlines on bare skin) =P Can't wait to sign up for your online course, too! Sarongs are awesome, and the fact that it's going to be 50s style is just awesome to the infinity!

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  29. patsijeanJune 12, 2011 at 3:53 PM

    Like most sewists I experience an occasional steam burn (under cold water immediately) and am terrified of a burn from the sole plate of the iron (less occasionally I have hit a finger) but through long practice have schooled myself to NEVER try to catch the iron if it falls. Just hop back and let it fall even though the iron might break. I am so sorry about your burn. I purchased Zee Burn Relief Spray, a spray often included in First Aid kits, from a medical supply company. It works great and will help with the pain of the burn as well as being antiseptic. The Neosporin will help also.

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  30. AnonymousJune 12, 2011 at 6:29 PM

    You are crazy for finishing your seams like that! Beautiful, but time- consuming!! You need the serger or to French seam them! :-)

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  31. SWDJune 13, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    Ow! :( sorry to hear about your burns. That sounds really painful. I am just about to jump into trying elastic shirring myself so i'll be interested to see what you do with it & any tips you come up with. :)

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  32. GraceJune 13, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Gertie were do you find coutil in NYC? I haven't been able to find it but I'm sure I haven't exhausted all options yet.

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  33. GraceJune 13, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Oh, and that burn is wicked vicious. I hope it heals fast!

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  34. DianeJune 14, 2011 at 12:13 AM

    So sorry about your injury; these things always seem to happen when one is too busy for it! I tend to burn myself when I'm cooking or baking, so I have an Aloe Vera plant growing in a pot under the kitchen window. If I burn myself, I run the burn under cold water, then snip off a bit of aloe leaf to fit the injury and either rub the gel on or split the piece open and secure it to the burn with a bandage. It often won't blister if I put aloe on, and it takes the sting away most of the time, also. That's what my kids call "mom's voodoo medicine," but it works!

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  35. GertieJune 15, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    Grace, you can get coutil at B&J. Great quality. I can't remember how much it cost, but they have a low minimum, like 1/4" yard I think. It's with the tulles and nets toward the back.

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  36. Tez MillerJune 17, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    I'm not sure if Henry is grey or blue, but he is GORGEOUS! :-)

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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