01.30.09
Posted in Giveaways at 7:00 am by deRomilly
It’s been quite a week here, at maison de shimmy. So no full sized post. I’m going to go make a cup of tea and take a long bath.
But a reminder for you before I go… If you’re interested in Arts and Crafts needlework, or cross stitch, and would like to combine them, don’t forget to sign up for the giveaway. You’ve got until Monday before i draw the name. Actually, you’ve got until Monday at noon my time, because that’s when I’ll print out the comments and cut them up for my nephew to draw one of. I’ll post the winner on Tuesday.
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01.28.09
Posted in Dance at 7:00 am by deRomilly
OK. Now I’ve got a pattern. Time to create the buckram lining (or outer shell) Really, it can go on either side of the bra. I tend to put it inside since I a) line the bra with felt and b) like being able to bead into the foam surface and c) like that this keeps the foam outside a bit smoother. If you’re making a bra, play with it until you decide which you prefer.
Note: I’ve got a friend who just told me last week to Dispense with the buckram altogether and just coat the whole bra in Liquid Stiffy fabric stiffener. I haven’t decided how I feel about this idea yet. I may try it on one, but frankly, I sweat like a horse when I dance and always have, and I’d be afraid it would melt through the fabric in the heat. I’ll do a little more research and then report back on this idea! (I’ve used it in small amounts on my professional bedlah, though, so maybe it would be ok… that MUCH though… that’s what’s throwing me for a loop!
I cut my buckram out to match the pattern I made earlier, without leaving any seam allowance. You really don’t want any overlap or it gets too bulky (I’m bulky enough on my own…). I have NEVER had this actually be completely accurate. I whipstitch the buckram together along the seam line in the middle, and then stuff it into the bra cup and baste it down with big basting stitches so that it won’t shift.
Next part – covering the bra with pretty fabric!!! The fun part starts!
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01.26.09
Posted in Stitching Genres at 7:00 am by deRomilly
OK, so maybe kitty-pillows aren’t the best present for a soon-to-be twelve boy. (Although I still know he’ll love it, I’m a bit iffy about the whole concept).
I’ve still got until February. I was going to give him curtains for his room with dragons embroidered on them. But I discovered that the dragon I had and the curtains I had didn’t go together size-wise. So he got the curtains last week. Probably a good thing anyway, as they were needed. 
The curtains were originally made for my husband and my first apartment together. We had HUGE windows that weren’t well insulated. The curtains are a heavy polyester/wool blend in a medium grey, with brass rings on the top. They are hand-hem-stitched all the way around. (Have I mentioned that I’m often over-ambitious?)
Anyway. They are on his windows. Sans dragons. But I’ve still go the dragon patterns… two of them, so they can face each other on the curtain rods. I also have about 9 yards of dark grey fabric left over from an inexpensive buying spree years ago that resulted in matching 12th century clothing for the EO and I… BANNERS! That’s it! I can stitch banners, one for each window to go over the curtains in a sane location. They’ll last longer than the curtains, too, and can be moved to college or an apartment or wherever if he’s still dragon-happy as he ages (which I suspect he will be. Currently he’s following my pattern of development with the exception of my love of ballet – he’s replaced that with computer games – pretty closely).
So I’ve started the banners. They’re actually coming quite quickly, even the setup part that I hate to do. See? The first one’s already basted onto the fabric… It’s too dark to do the tracing thing, and I’ve never been able to make transfer paper marks stay on the fabric as long as it takes me to stitch something. Isn’t his face wonderful? I’m taking the basting out as I stitch (not enough to photograph for you yet, but it will come). i’m replacing it with black micron pen. It’s difficult to see on the grey, but it’s visible.
And it’s waterproof so there won’t be an issue with it running if the kiddo washes these in the future.
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01.23.09
Posted in Stitching Genres at 7:00 am by deRomilly
I bought two little pieces of needlework at the antique shop the other day. one is just very beautiful in a simple way – and the other I just felt sorry for. Yet the one I keep looking at is the cross stitch piece – not the pretty, well-stitched doily. Click the images to see them closer.
I find myself wondering who stitched this piece of uneven crosses and questionable color choices. And, of course, it will be the one I post detailed photos of here! The crosses aren’t even real crosses in that they don’t cover a symmetrical number of threads in many areas. The brown stitches are carefully begun and ended, yet there is a 3 inch float of the pale pink across the back between the two ladies.
The silhouette at the top, which could be beautiful, is done in such a pale pink that I can barely see it against the linen (which is high-quality) yet it is this piece that makes me wonder about the stitcher –
- was she very young?
- was she very old?
- was she limited in her thread choices?
- was she actually a “he”?
It just goes to show that imperfection makes for character. I wish I could meet the stitcher. 
So much care and love is obviously put into this piece… and yet it isn’t nearly what we would consider perfect. This ties into my newfound personal work of art journaling it’s not an end result of perfection I should be striving for, but just enjoying the journey!
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01.21.09
Posted in Artwork at 7:00 am by deRomilly
I meant to post this earlier — but the best laid plans and all that!
Last week we had rain. But we also had some sun – and what is the result of that combination? Rainbows! One of my favorite things.
A double rainbow, in fact.
One that got BRIGHTER as it was fading!
I was not only inspired, but put at peace. (Which probably explains why I didn’t post…)
I’ve been a rainbow fan forever ~ Past Worthy Advisor of Southgate Assembly #71, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
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