beautiful rainbow

got these babies in the mail today.  SO exciting to be able to order such great colors you can't find in local shops.  LOVE them! and can't wait to use them.  Stay tuned for where they end up...

Invisible Zipper application

LOVE using invisible zippers - you know, those zippers that sit inside the garment, but from the outside look like a regular seam?  Many people are intimidated by the installation process.  Believe me, it takes longer to fit the invisible zipper foot onto the machine than it does to install it.
It's a few basic steps -
-install the invisible zipper foot onto your machine.  Most machines don't come with this. You can buy a kit at your local fabric store for about $4 that includes the foot and shank adapters (that thing that attaches it to your presser foot arm) to fit all sorts of machines.  Just look at the photo on the back of the pack to see which foot you need.  They are colorized.  Figure out the one you need, now go throw out all the other ones.  Unless you buy a new machine, you'll never use the others.
-Unzip your zipper and roll the zipper coil out flat with your fingertips.  Iron this down flat on your ironing board and let cool for a second.
-Lay your zipper face down on the right side of the fabric about 1/8" in from the edge.
-Go to your machine and place the fabric/zipper under the pressure foot.  You want to place the zipper coil in the left groove of the pressure foot.  This ensures that the stitching stays next to the coil close enough to achieve the invisible look from the outside.  Use a regular length straight stitch.
-Stitch as far down as the pressure foot will allow.
-Repeat for the 2nd side of the zipper.  You will have to slide the zipper foot over to the right a touch so this 2nd coil goes into the groove on the right side this time.
-Zip the zipper up and make sure you like how it looks
-install your regular zipper foot.  Turn the garment inside out, place right sides together and stitch this lower seam.  Begin the seam at the lowest part of the stitching where you installed the zipper.  This closes up the gap at the bottom of the zipper and finishes this seam fully.

See?  3 simple steps - stitch 2 zipper sides and one seam and you are done.
This method is less steps than a traditional zipper and I think looks SO professional when done.
Enjoy!
  

nail polish happies

Rimmel London nail polish - Steel Gray, #270.  Just go buy it. 

new goodies

New cutie watches in the shop!  LOVE the gift bags.  they make me happy.

Spirit Pants

Got these babies done in about 90 minutes.  They are from a great book I picked up on Amazon.  I really like the Farbenmix and Studio Trantrum patterns, but they are sold as individual patterns and they are VERY flamboyant.  It's hard to choose one pattern. The patterns are traditional tissue patterns and the directions are pretty good. I would say appropriate for an advanced beginner.  BUY this book - you won't have to choose !  The price is terrific also: it's about the same price as one of the patterns.   The book includes TEN patterns.  The only thing you need to remember to do is add the seam allowance and you are off and running.  Like my girl and her Dad.  They were off and running to the UConn game.  They won 62-3.  My guess it was because of the Spirit Pants!