Project Runway 2013

A couple of seasons ago, when the contest was won by another nincompoop who couldn't sew or design anything original, I swore off Project Runway for good.  I said I would never, ever, go back and watch that group of know-it-alls make such poor decisions, especially knowing how hard some people work and NEVER get the chance for that much recognition.

Well, my mother used to say you shouldn't swear.

I have to tell you I really like Tim Gunn.  He's the voice of calm in a mad world out there in Lala Land.  And I don't hate Heidi Klum.

So, Thursday night, with nothing else on TV worth spitting at and not really being in the mood for anything I recorded, I switched on PR and watched the first 20 minutes of the new season.  If you watched it, did you love the way they took the designers to the airport runway and had the jumpers come down with colorful parachutes?  Those guys were worth watching, and I was holding my breath!

The idea of making a fashion statement from a parachute was interesting.  And two of the designers are from Milwaukee.  So I pressed record, went to be, and hoped for the best.

Today I watched the taping.  I watched the runway show twice.  How cool were the designs?  The winner and runner up were awesome.  I really liked both equally well, and I think the judges made a good decision.  And hey, I even liked one of the lowest designs, but the Russian guy has to learn to fit better so parts that should remain unseen actually do.

And what the heck is up with eco-guy, doesn't believe in hair products and makeup, and then HE comes out in a pair of glitzy high heals??  Duh.

So I'm hooked again for a little while, anyway.  This season the judges are going to chat with Tim Gunn before deciding, and they're going to look at the garments close up.

All I can say is THANK GOODNESS Michael Kors is doing something else this year.  And I'm actually starting to like Nina Garcia.

OMG this could be fun!

Sew on...

Becca Sews

I've talked before about my Friday night sewing sisters... actually they're aunties and cousins and such.  We meet lots of Fridays at one of the aunties' homes, and sometimes we sew, other times we plan or talk or eat or comfort each other as needed.

Last Friday, one of the little girls decided to come to "sewing", and she had a project to complete.  She's 9, so she can reach the petal of the machine and she isn't afraid of the actual act of machine stitching.  This is always a plus!

She wanted to make a quilt for a baby gift for someone in the family.  I'm not saying who, so you can be surprised.  Anyway, she came with her little project bag and asked if we would help her sew.

Nancy showed her how to use a rotary cutter, and helped her even out the edges of the panel she had found.  They cut some border pieces from her other fabric.  She pinned the borders on with Nancy and Grandma helping.  Then she sat down to sew.  With the aid of a quarter inch sewing machine foot, she added the borders.  Grandma turned the speed down to low so she had time in the sewing for adjusting the fabric feeding in.  I showed her how to press, but she did most of the pressing herself.

Grandma and others then helped her layer backing, batting and top for sewing together using the Eleanor Burns 'birthing' method.  She sewed the layers together with only a bit of help.  After she turned it, Aunt Amy did a little free motion quilting around the fairy to hold the layers together. 

Here she is with her finished product.  Can you think of the last itme you've seen a bigger smile?

She says even when she gets to be a teenager and the other girls want to go do other things, she will STILL want to come to sewing night!

I believe that this little girl has the bug, and I'll bet she goes on to wonderful things!

Sew on, Becca!

Do You Know This Bird?

This afternoon my hubby said "hey, do you want to see a strange bird on our patio?"

OK, sure.  We have lots of birds in the yard.  We have a feeder and a birdbath, and we like to listen to them and watch them come to eat.

This bird is one I have not seen before... it stood very still on the patio, very nearly motionless for about three minutes.   The air conditioner was on and the sliding door was closed, so I didn't think he could hear me.  I grabbed my cell phone and moved slowly toward the patio door.  I took a couple of snaps through the screen door side.  The bird moved ahead a couple of steps.

I moved over to the side without the screen, to get a picture not distorted by the mesh of the screen. 

The girls were waiting for DH to open the pool, and we didn't think this guy was going to be getting to the birdbath any time soon, so he opened the back door and the bird flew up into the tree.

Strange bird for sure!

I did some internet research, I believe this is an American Bittern.  It's a relatively common bird in Wisconsin, although never in my back yard!

 

Sew on!