Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The house is finally done!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The problem with the carry-on bag and the personal item...
Friends should be wondering why I'm thinking about my next trip when I just returned from one.
Answer:
(1) always evaluate what worked and what didn't from your last trip,
(2) I was reminded that we are celebrating a friend's graduation and birthday in the next 4 months.
On my most recent vacation, to head off laundry I packed too many clothes: cardinal rule is figure out what you can/will wear more than once and remove other items accordingly to minimize your travel load. I also had issues with my carry-on bags: I packed lightly but my duffel bag's design was cute and cumbersome, and I carried a great purse that was so small I couldn't fit items I use in-flight close to me (read: constantly had to go into the overhead for my in-flight needs).
Solutions:
I'm obsessed with those uber-sized handbags stewardesses (politically correct: flight attendants) carry because they are "personal items": they're these huge purses that can carry SO MUCH STUFF! I just spent 2 hours trying to track one down. They're this great leather and larger than the average purse. I have visions of carrying my toiletries along with my *substantial* arsenal of daily essentials and a carry-on for my next trip instead of a bulky rolling carry-on box to minimize my carryings.
What I found that fit the description was the Stewardess bag from Coach, which explains the great leather, but no generic and less expensive brand. So I'm thinking Coach rightfully patented this design (since they did of course invent it) and no other company reinterpreted it because flight attendants are such a small market. I'll have to investigate this theory further at my local Coach store ;,).
Some NICE alternatives are available from many designers of course:
- Louis Vuitton invented the custom travel bag category: I'm salivating for the XL bag because of it's a cute sack, the Marina GM because it's a structured sack, and of course the Speedy because it's iconic . These 3 options could stylishly stow plenty, you'll just have to eat Top Ramen for a month.
- Dooney & Bourke has some great items also: I love the idea of a roll-up tote for inevitable shopping, and this carry-all references LV's Speedy at a lower price point, and I saw this travel tote in a magazine and thought about my love affair with the vehicle of the same name. The preceding are lovely but I blew my monthly fun budget on a Zebra duffel and matching purse, justified because travel bags should be functional and stylish! Why clear? The clear versions are less expensive than the leather or cloth versions and a friend once traveled with an LV clear logo diaper bag (just for its roominess) that was flyy...I've been obsessed since then. Money being no object I would have a Zebra duffel and medium sac in grey/white (medium so there's no question about fitting under the seat in front of you). The Croco duffels are not bad either...
- Diane von Furstenberg has designed some great luggage that you can find anywhere from her flagship, to Macy's, to eBags, to your local Ross or Marshall's. I first saw her luggage in Ross: a black suede with tan leather trim, that came with packing accessories and a brush for the suede. Matching pieces were readily available also. Salivating? The only reason I don't own that piece is the suede would never last if I were asked to check my carry-on. Her luggage is always stylish, on trend, noticeable and admirable.
- Jansport has some VERY CUTE offerings at VERY REASONABLE prices: I saw a blue polka-dot print at a luggage specialty store at my local mall that I had to walk quickly away from, and many are available at eBags. Perfect rolling uprights, backpacks, duffel bags, and personal item bags.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
All About Light Bulbs
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/printableStory.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/MH6_LightBulbs_07292004.xml
Get the basics on light bulbs for your home, including tips on types, efficiency, and care.
From the book, Making a Home
Screwing in Lightbulb
Incandescent Bulbs
This is the original filament-style light bulb that has been around for decades and is readily available at retail stores.
The color of the emitted light is warm and flattering, mimicking natural light. The light level is easily controlled with a variety of different wattages, and bulbs are also available in various decorative shapes.
Where white bulbs are the most common, and soften the light to help prevent eyestrain when reading, colored bulbs are also available for mood lighting.
Special use anti-vibration bulbs (also known as overhead garage door bulbs) are a good choice for high-traffic areas in multistory homes, where the bulb on one level is jarred by people walking above.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Fluorescent
Fluorescent bulbs offer true light, although the light is not as pure and friendly as incandescent. They are more expensive but last much longer and are more energy efficient.
Over time, they generally save money. Because fluorescent bulbs are long-lasting (some up to seven years), they are ideal for hard-to-reach areas.
In addition to the long tube and original ring-shape bulbs, fluorescents are also available as screw-in bulbs that fit many lamp and ceiling fixtures.
Before purchasing a fluorescent bulb for a light fixture, check that it fits the socket and does not extend beyond the shade.
halogen bulb
Halogen
The newer bulbs on the block boast a crisp white light that intensifies the colors of the room. Halogen bulbs are more common and less expensive than they were in the early 1990s, but they are still pricey compared to incandescent bulbs.
They are designed to be long-lasting, but common variables (such as finger oils, airborne oils, and dust) can shorten their life considerably.
To make halogen bulbs last longer, wear plastic gloves or a small disposable plastic bag over your hand when handling new bulbs. Avoid touching them with bare hands, since oils can reduce the life of a bulb.
Also, be sure to dust halogen bulbs frequently with an untreated feather duster or canned air that has no additives. Do this only on bulbs that are completely cool.
Safety Tip: Halogen bulbs get very hot. Allow the bulb to cool completely before removing or handling it!
The Right Bulb for the Job
Incandescent: Classic for warm, soft light or for light tinted by colored bulbs, the easy-to-find bulbs are used for lamps and overhead fixtures.
Three-Way: Used for lamps with three-way switches, these bulbs are an easy way to create mood lighting without dimmers.
Halogen: In fixtures and lamps, these bulbs provide clear white light. Do not use in homes with small children; the bulbs get quite hot.
Xenon Bulbs: New on the market, Xenon is becoming popular for accent lighting and undercabinet lighting because it provides a clear white light. The bulbs are a variation of the halogen bulb, but are cooler-burning than halogen and use less energy.
Fluorescent Bulbs: Chosen for long life and energy efficiency, the bulbs are manufactured for newer lamps designed for fluorescents.
Tubular Bulbs: With a candelabra base, these are used to highlight art and sheet music. They also are used in some small accent lamps.
Find more types below.
04HDT-Dining Room with Glam
More Information: All About Lighting
Chandelier: These candle-shape bulbs, which may be displayed without a shade, are made for chandeliers and some sconces and lamps.
Globes: Clear or white, these round bulbs are sized for lighted vanities as well as decorative indoor and outdoor lantern-type lighting.
Full-Spectrum Bulbs: This type of lighting is a close match to natural daylight. It is a pleasant, natural, and bright light that many people prefer.
Fluorescent Tubes: Cool, long-lasting, and energy-efficient, these tubes are practical for overhead lighting in utility areas.
Compact Fluorescent: Designed for under counter spaces and tight spaces. These generate less heat and last longer than incandescent bulbs.
Reflector: Designed for ceiling or wall track lighting and recessed fixtures, these coated bulbs provide directional light.
Krypton Bulbs: Brighter than ordinary light bulbs, krypton bulbs are often used in flashlights and car headlamps. They are now also available for home use from Web sites such as bulbman.com.
Have you taken up a fashion pastime of yesteryear yet?
According to the article below sewing is the next fashion pastime of yesteryear making a comeback. I also dabbled in sewing in my younger years: making outfits for dolls, repairing my own clothes, so it's inspiring that this pastime is also making a comeback...Some other pastimes I'd like to explore are jewelry making, hat making, embroidery, furniture making. It's going to be a busy year!
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/346712_sewing10.html
Sew hip: 'Project Runway' helps create a hot new pattern for a fading craft
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Last updated January 11, 2008 1:33 p.m. PT
By CECELIA GOODNOW
P-I REPORTER
For a while it looked as if home sewing was going the way of butter churning. It seldom saved money over cheap, imported clothing, and its dowdy image was a turnoff for young career women.
Then came "Project Runway."
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| New Look's '50s-style pattern creates a hip, retro look. Sewn by Ellsworth. | ||
Now in its fourth season, the Bravo-TV reality show -- think "Survivor" for fashion designers -- has touched off a home-sewing renaissance among young, urban hipsters eager to add fabric draping and bobbin winding to their repertoire of craft skills.
"Oh, my God, it's insane," said Glorianne Cubbage, 35-year-old owner of Bernina Northwest, a Seattle sewing machine dealer. " 'Project Runway' was the best thing to happen to this industry."
Cubbage opened her Northgate-area shop two years ago after working for a dealership that closed after its traditional customer base faded out. In fact, Cubbage said, "Sewing as it once was is dying."
Rising from the ashes is a new brand of sewing that emphasizes self-expression, individuality, digital technology and girls-night-out camaraderie (though a surprising number of men have take it up as well).
One hot trend is "refashioning": finding stylish new uses for secondhand clothes. A spate of recent books shows how to turn a favorite T-shirt into a tote bag or create a smart tube dress from a pillow case. Craftster.org, a craft forum and project-sharing site, has lots of examples.
Regardless of the project, sewers say creativity and custom design are a big part of sewing's allure.
"It's starting to be appreciated by a younger generation," said Jessica Heiman, a 24-year-old spa receptionist at Hotel 1000 in Seattle.
Heiman, who requested sewing lessons for Christmas a few years ago, said, "I think people are really taking back the idea of homemade. I feel like myself and a lot of my girlfriends are re-embracing that."
Donna Whitsett, 31, a research analyst and post-doctoral student, is a prime example.
"What I've noticed is, up until three or four years ago, if I said I knew how to sew, people were very shocked and surprised," said Whitsett, a social psychology student at the University of Washington. "Now I have a couple of friends who (recently) bought sewing machines."
Whitsett, who reupholstered her sofa for $80 in fabric and made a pillow to match, is such a devotee she keeps her sewing machine at the ready at all times. For a while, she had both a sewing desk and a computer desk but space got tight and one had to go.
She kept the sewing desk.
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| Stitches owner Amy Ellsworth fashioned these toys from 32-cent felt squares. | ||
A highlight of her week is getting together with four to eight of her fashionista friends -- women who work in architecture, psychology, the environment and high-tech -- and watching the latest TiVo-ed episode of "Project Runway." (New episodes air at 10 p.m. Wednesday.)
They're part of the demographic that has made Seattle the No. 1 audience for the series, which pits aspiring fashion designers in a race against time -- and each other -- as they vie to complete their assigned garments. One recent show challenged contestants to create clothing from Hershey's candy paraphernalia.
The show is so hot, one major fabric manufacturer, the Robert Kaufman Co., is about to unveil two new lines that will carry the "Project Runway" name.
"We really think 'Project Runway' played a big part in getting people interested (in sewing)," said Judith Neukam, senior technical editor at Threads magazine and its year-old spinoff, Sew Stylish, a newsstand quarterly aimed at the young, hip market of beginning sewers.
"It shows the possibilities of designing," Neukam said. "You see them struggling through their project. I think that's part of the fever."
Erin Donnellon, 30, who works in sales, counts herself as a wannabe. She recently stopped by Stitches, a Capitol Hill fabric boutique, to choose fabric for a skirt. A friend has offered to stitch it up for her.
"Whenever I see 'Project Runway,' I wish I sewed," Donnellon said.
The sewing revival isn't happening in isolation. It's part of the vast craft renaissance that has flowered recently as younger women reclaim domestic arts once shunned as housewifely.
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| Silk sundress by Skolfield, made from surplus designer fabric. | ||
"There's no stigma anymore," said Diana Rupp, author of "Sew Everything Workshop," one of the new crop of how-to books. "I think people have reached a point where they say, 'Oh, feminism is (about) doing what I want to do.' "
Rupp, who has family roots in the Puget Sound area, was in Seattle last month to teach a workshop at Stitches, which caters to new-generation sewers -- or "seamsters," as she calls them.
Rupp's New York-based Make Workshop offers classes in everything from shoemaking to letterpress to soap-making. Right now, she sees sewing overtaking knitting as the hot new craft.
"I teach all the knitting classes at Make," Rupp said, "and it's really dropped off because everyone knows how. People have kind of mastered it, and they want the next thing. It's crazy how many people want to learn to use a sewing machine."
In Seattle, sewing is less established and even its fans admit it has some inherent limitations: It's less portable than knitting, it requires more investment in equipment and there still aren't a lot of hip, indie fabric stores.
Even so, sewing classes are taking off fast as the post-home-ec generation tries to master Grandma's old Singer -- or springs a new racehorse of a machine with digital functions.
Cubbage said, "When we first started, we only had two or three classes a week. Now we have a class going on all the time, and they're usually filled.
"I try to keep them like a party," she said. "People come here to have fun. It's their safe haven."
Around the country, sewing lounges are injecting a lively, social element into what used to be a solitary pursuit.
One of the best known is San Francisco's Stitch Lounge, an urban, drop-in lounge that opened in 2001 to serve as a modern-day sewing circle. Classes, fabric, workspace and sewing machines are provided on site.
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| Hemp blouse by Jaime Skolfield, Stitches instructor, tops a Japanese print skirt by Amy Ellsworth. | ||
In Seattle, at least two stores, Stitches and the Quilting Loft, are trying to replicate that, making workspace and sewing machine time available -- at little or no cost -- when classes aren't in session. It's a boon for space-pinched condo dwellers and dabblers who aren't ready to spring for the cost of their own equipment.
A good, basic sewing machine typically runs around $300. Embroidery machines, which add custom embellishments to jeans, pillows and the like, can cost $400.
Some machines, such as Singer's $800 Futura model, do both. It has a USB cable that connects to a laptop or PC, letting sewers download stitch designs and literally walk away as the machine whips it out.
Pfaff's new Creative Vision machine, unveiled in September (Martha Stewart got the first one), has cutting-edge features that include a high-definition touch screen that displays three-dimensional designs.
Despite its staggering $8,500 price tag, Pfaff initially was swamped by the demand. On its Web site, a grateful company executive terms it "the greatest product introduction in the history of sewing."
Pattern-making has gone high tech as well, with products like Bernina's My Label 3-D Fashion Pattern Software, which comes with 20 built-in patterns.
Enter detailed body measurements plus your choice of fabric and trim and view the result on a digital mannequin. Hit "print" and your computer will spit out a paper pattern.
Bernina Northwest has sold more than 20 copies of the $499 software since its September launch.
For hobbyists with cash to spare, Neukam recommends investing in a good iron to press seams open and shape garments. A pro-quality "ironing system," complete with a specialty table that suctions out steam or floats the garment on air, can cost more than $1,000.
"You spend more time at your iron than the sewing machine," Neukam said. "It's the key to good sewing."
Glitzy gear aside, you can have just as much fun with thrift-shop equipment and a creative spirit. Sewing's Zen-like quality may be the biggest attraction of all for a career-minded generation longing to reconnect with tactile pursuits.
"It's a form of meditation," Rupp said. "You're able to be just in the moment. It's like being back in kindergarten, coloring in your coloring book."
COMING UP
SEWING & STITCHERY EXPO
WHAT: Nation's largest sewing show, with 32,000 attendees from around the world, more than 100 seminars daily and more than 400 exhibitors
WHEN: Feb. 28-March 2. Gates open: Thursday-Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Shopping begins: 9 a.m.
WHERE: Western Washington Fairgrounds, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup
TICKETS: $10 at the door, $9 advance registration; 866-5548559 or sewexpo.com
SEWING RESOURCES
BOOKS
STORES AND CLASSES
Pacific Fabrics & Crafts, Northgate Village, 838 N.E. Northgate Way, 206-362-0111; outlet store 2230 Fourth Ave. S., 206-628-6237, plus other locations. pacificfabrics.com . Wide selection of fabric and many sewing and craft classes, including how to make a bridal veil.
P-I reporter Cecelia Goodnow can be reached at 206-448-8353 or ceceliagoodnow@seattlepi.com.
© 1998-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Winter is Upon Us!
Your jackets have to be slim not bulky, even for puff coats, so your silhouette is not dramatically increased. Layers keep you warm outdoors by adding to your bulk, and indoors by allowing you to increase or decrease your clothing to adjust your body temperature. And you can wear boots to your destination to keep warm and dry, just carry a cute bag with a cuter pair of shoes to change into.