The Singing Seamstress

Cell phone cases

2011-07-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a booth at the Ventura Street Fair, and the biggest seller by far was the cell phone case. These cell phone cases were designed for the iPhone, but they fit most current devices, like the Blackberry and other smart phones. The exterior is made of African wax print, and the interior is a padded suede moleskin fabric. You can buy them here, for $15.

Using a Kimono in a Bathroom Remodel

2011-03-03T17:43:00.000-08:00

A new client found me (thanks to this blog)! She commissioned me to make a custom kimono for a bathroom she was remodeling for a client. It was to be hung on a bamboo pole and suspended above the tub area. This was my first foray into the world of kimonos, and she found a pattern from the 1970's for me to use.

See the "before" and "after" photos below.

BEFORE

AFTER

Pretty dramatic difference! The green and white fabric I used (a print with little birds on tree branches) blended in beautifully with the green tones she utilized on the drawers and on the ceiling. I love how the room looks so much larger, and the kimono really works...

Only after I was finished with this project did I realize that my new client is the amazing Susan Lane Wertheimer, who once owned an enormous bridal sewing business in Toluca Lake and clothed many celebrities. (Glad I didn't realize that until later!) The icing on the cake is that I made a fabulous new friend!

The new website is up!

2010-12-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the tireless work of Rhion Magee and Marina Perrone, the new Threads of Change website has landed. And it's beautiful! Check it out:

http://www.threadsofchange.org/

Don't forget to place your Christmas orders soon...!

iPad Sleeve to featured by Rachel Bilson in "In Style" Magazine!

2010-09-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

Rachel Bilson loves our iPad sleeve! Check out the candid (paparazzi) photos of her last week, while she was out and about in Beverly Hills. That's my protoype she's carrying........
Rachel is a contributor to "In Style" magazine and she's going to feature it in the January edition!! The iPad sleeve can be ordered now on our online Etsy shop for $55...Click here: Threads of Change on Etsy

This iPad sleeve was designed by Rhion Magee and Laura Pursell (yours truly) for the Threads of Change Ghana project. How exciting!

Awning for a Garden Swing

2010-08-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the end of summer...! Last week, I sewed this custom burgundy awning for my sister's outdoor swing. Her old awning was ripped and weather-beaten, and she wanted a new one to match the new cushions. This waterproof outdoor woven fabric was purchased at Joann Fabrics (with a 40%-off coupon, of course). I finished all the outer edges with a 4-thread satin stitch on the serger, using matching burgundy thread. Inner corner pockets hold the awning to the metal frame.

I have to give credit to my brother-in-law, however, who did a fantastic job of measuring and cutting! I'll have to recruit him for my next project....

"Threads of Change" - new Etsy store

2010-08-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

All the bags, purses, belts and other products I've made for Project Okurase (out of African fabrics) are now on ETSY, an interntational online shop dedicated to handmade items. We have named the shop "Threads of Change". Check it out and mark your favorite item!

Mudcloth Messenger Bag

2010-06-15T18:07:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of weekends, I've been working on this prototype of a messenger bag made out of the mudcloth. The inside is lined with gold and black handpainted African fabric, with four interior pockets. The adjustable straps are actually made out of seatbelt webbing (how cool is that?) and for closures on the flap, I used the twist-lock closures I used for the cuff bracelets and the clutches. Do you like it? Do you think it's unisex, or more appealing to the guys?

World's Oldest Leather Shoe

2010-06-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is so fascinating...the oldest leather shoe yet discovered was kept in pristine condition by a thick layer of sheep dung in a cave in Armenia for 5,500 years, according an international team of archaeologists. Check out the shoe laces and the eyelets! They say it probably belonged to a woman (it's the equivalent of a size 5) but could easily be a man's shoe if the man was small in stature. This shoe pre-dates the Egyptian pyramids! Since its discovery however, exposure to the elements has hardened the leather; when it was found, the leather was soft and now it's hard as a rock. I'm really surprised at how modern this shoe looks, and it's proof that people have been lacing up their shoes for at least 5500 years.

Our first distributor!

2010-05-11T16:01:00.000-07:00

It's official! Several of our Ghanian products for Project Okurase are now being sold at The Mindful Nest in Burbank! The store focuses on "contemporary crafts with a conscience". When you go in, you'll find some of our cuff bracelets, clutches and keychains...all made out of African mudcloth and beatiful batik fabric from Ghana. Check it out!

Unique Los Angeles Spring Show, April 24-25

2010-04-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

Unique LA was once again, loads of fun, tons of work, and the impetus for a slew of new products. All the proceeds from product sales are going to the sewing center in the village of Okurase in Ghana. (See www.aunitedlink.com for details.) Enjoy the images!

Laura and Rhion before the show on Saturday morning

Bags and clutches

Our booth

Flour sacks made in Ghana

Cade and Powerful, a native of Ghana - the drumming was amazing!!

Rhion and her son Cade, who sacrificed his entire weekend to help us

Sewing as a Contact Sport

2010-04-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

I think I have the sewer’s equivalent of tennis elbow. Getting ready for the Unique LA Trade Show, I have pricked my finger tips with hundreds of needles, I have a callous on my index finger from cutting with large shears, and my right arm is actually sore, stiff and slow! (Since I’m left-handed, I think my right hand doesn’t get as much of a workout as it’s been getting. And believe me, pushing huge needles through thick African mudcloth is a workout!) In addition, my neck is sore, my back hurts and my fingers are stiff.

As if that weren’t enough, I broke (or seriously jammed) one of my toes when, rushing around the sewing table, I ran into a metal base chair. From now on, I’ll be wearing shoes in the house.

Who knew…? I never ached this much when I was dancing Bob Fosse three times a week!

Just for the heck of it, I google’d “sewing injuries” and found a great article on sewing safety: Safety in the Sewing Room

Rule #1 is worth re-printing:

"Rule Number One: Only cut or sew when you are awake, aware and able to focus. If you are tired, distracted, anxious, upset, rushed or tipsy, you are putting yourself at unnecessary risk of injury. If you insist on being in the sewing room anyway, restrict yourself to tasks that do not involve cutting, sewing or ironing."

I might add another rule: SLOW DOWN
(after the trade show, anyway)….

Preview of products

2010-04-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick look at some of the products we'll be selling at Unique LA, to benefit the village of Okurase in Ghana. I'm sewing non-stop until April 24 (when I'm not singing)!

My friend Jaime modeling the travel bag. This bag is made from African mudcloth from Ghana, and the large rings attached to the straps are actually 19th century brass curtain rings!
I made clutches in various sizes out of the mudcloth, with metal twist-lock clasps (which were special-ordered and not easy to find, believe it or not).
The new and improved cuff bracelet! I think we've finally perfected this one. There is a stiff plastic, bendable insert sandwiched and glued inside between the fabric layers, and the metal twist-lock clasps make this bracelet very sturdy and durable.

Check out the inside of the clutch. I added a pocket. This interior fabric is actually from Rwanda and purchased in Ghana. I've been told this is the fancy fabric that the village leaders wear. It's a sheen weave with gold filagree on one side. I hated cutting into it...!

Here's the inside of the large travel bag, with that fabulous interior fabric. There are two large dividers inside the bag, and since this photo was taken, I've added two magnetic snaps to keep the two interior panels together. There's a ton of room in here for clothes, socks, papers, books, etc.

And here's a full view of the travel bag.

It's really been exciting to work with such unique fabric, and there's so much more we have planned. I just received a box of amazing batiked fabric in a myriad of vibrant colors. Stay tuned...!

Unique Los Angeles Design Show - We're in again!

2010-04-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

I'll be in the United Link booth again, for the Unique LA Spring Show, April 24-25, in downtown LA. We'll be selling unique products designed and made from African mudcloth and beautiful dyed cotton fabrics - all from Ghana. Proceeds go back to the village of Okurase. The November show was very successful, and this time, we expect sales to go through the roof. In addition to our belts, cuffs and coasters, we have now added keychain fobs, overnight bags, purses, totes, clutches, cuff bracelets with hardward (for the men)...and more. Here are the details:

When: April 24th & 25th, 11am – 6pm both days
Where: California Market Center’s Penthouse (110 East 9th Street – Map It)
Cost: $10 at the door or in advance (kids 12 and under are free).

Your admission includes:
• Free drinks & a hosted bar (IZZE, Honest Tea, water, beer, UNIQUE cocktails)
• Unlimited re-entry for both days
• Your very own collectible tote bag, exclusive to each show… The Spring tote is designed by LA graphic designer Keith Scharwath! Sweet.
• Free eco workshops and cool handmade activities all weekend, brought to you by Your Daily Thread and Quayside Publishing
• Family/Kids creativity zone and seating area
• Access to giveaways and door prizes all weekend long
• Souvenir copy of the Vendor Directory + Mini Magazine

Red chiffon for Valentine's

2010-02-19T16:05:00.000-08:00

Here I am singing last weekend wearing the very first top I made for myself...it was Valentine's weekend, so I thought the red was just the right shade. I made this out of a (expensive) chiffon or georgette fabric I bought at F&S Fabrics, using different pieces from different patterns, and then I added the burgundy beaded straps. I also designed the little red flower (with beads in the center) and attached it at the flounce seam. I was really proud of this at the time, but last Saturday was my first time wearing it (I had begun to think it resembled a figure skating costume)!

As you can see, I actually made a matching skirt from McCall's Pattern #5055 (which is now out-of-print), and I have yet to wear the two pieces together! Last weekend, I just wanted to rock the top a little bit, so I wore it with fishnets and a short black pencil skirt.

Rehab-ing old clothes

2010-02-17T12:28:00.000-08:00

Here's an idea...rather than getting rid of those old T-shirts and vests, try embelling them and give them a new life!

Check out this inexpensive vest, which originally had buttons on the front, with no trim. (Boooooooo-ring....)I removed the buttons, added a frog closure, and trimmed the edges with lace. Now it has rock-n-roll vibe, and how cute is it with just a simple white T?

Next, we have a worn, simple peach-colored long T-shirt. I found two matching (sewn by hand) vintage lace pieces from a vintage textile trade show. These pieces look like they may have been cut away from a table cloth or a garment. I basted one piece on the back of the shirt (right unnderneath the neck) and another one on the bottom side. I then sewed them in place and then very carefully cut away the T-shirt fabric behind the lace. The result is a strategically-placed see-through applique.

So, before getting rid of my old clothes, I'm going to view them again with a fresh eye toward embellishing.

19th Century-Inspired Doll Quilt

2010-02-02T11:32:00.000-08:00

In the summer of '09, Mom and I popped into a textile store in the preserved mining town of Columbia, CA, where we saw hundreds of reproduction fabrics from the 1800's. It was so amazing to see all these beautiful calico, paisley and other vibrant prints which were exact duplicates of fabrics used to make clothes over 100 years ago. I had to have some. I had no idea what I was going to DO with it, but I knew I had to take some of these wonderful fabrics home.

We then saw a book called "Prairie Children and Their Quilts", by Kathleen Tracy.

Inspired by actual children’s diaries from the American frontier, this book explores the origins of doll quilts made during the era. It also had instructions for making doll-size, antique-style quilts. Mom told me that she has a wooden doll bed up in the attic, which was never used. It has always been a dream to put it together with her prized Madame Alexander doll from the 1940's - so we decided we would buy packages of reproduction quilting squares, and the book, and I would make (my first) quilt.

Voila!

(Click to enlarge)

This was the most rewarding project. All of the squares are made from 1800's-era reproduction fabrics, and the background and border fabric was made from vintage fabric I picked up at an estate sale.

I can't wait to give this to Mom on her birthday!

And for the men.......

2009-12-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

Since we had a few guys stop and look at our cuff bracelets at Unique LA, we decided I should come up with a prototype for the guys. I made this one wider, with snaps...and yes, it's reversible! What do you think?

Photos and Results from "Unique LA Holiday Show"

2009-12-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

What a great weekend this was! My first ever "trade show", in the heart of LA's fashion district! Rhion Magee (of Dreamworks) got me involved in this project earlier this year, and this show was our first forway into the world of commerce.

This show was HUGE - there were so many vendors, it was impossible to check them all out. Almost all of the vendors sell on Etsy, and so we were competing with some very professional booths. I'm happy to say, we had a steady stream of visitors, and our African fabric cloth products went over very well. We also sold beautiful flour cloth fabric bags made by the women in the village, plus 100% pure Shea butter from Ghana.

By Sunday evening, we sold about $1,000 of merchandise (over 2 days), all of which will go back to the sewing center in the village of Okurase. I've been up late each night and every weekend for the past month or so sewing belts, bracelets and coasters and it was so gratifying when someone (like the girl below) loved her purchase.

Happy customer!

With a body like this, we had to ask her to model it for us....!

Our booth (before the crowds flooded in)

Rhion and her son Cade standing by our booth

the belts

the bracelets

Laura and Rhion, at the end of a very long and productive day!

Unique LA Holiday Show this weekend!

2009-12-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

This weekend, all our fabulous African mudcloth belts, bracelets, and coasters will be on sale at the Unique LA Holiday Show, in downtown Los Angeles. Billed as the largest independent design show on the West Coast, if features products from over 300 local designers and artists .
The event is at at the California Market Center (110 East 9th Street), the cost is $10 (which pays for entry for two days - plus a tote bag and a free drink ticket)...check out the link for more details:
Unique LA Holiday Show
I'll post photos after the event!

More African mud cloth belts

2009-11-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

Here's the belt in the brown and black mudcloth from Ghana. I used a different contrasting fabric (also made in Ghana) on the reverse side, so you can wear these belts on either side. I took photos of each. The metal loops are re-purposed curtain rings. I finished the edges with woolly nylon serger thread.
I love this fabric, and it's the "real deal", not imitation mudcloth. This fabric was hand-carried on a plane from Ghana.
We'll be selling these at Unique LA, Dec. 5 and 6.

Reunion Dress

2009-11-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

Here's a lined dress I made for my high school reunion (and no, I won't say which one!) The top is a lined knit, with darts in front and back, and the organza skirt has a black silk lining. It zips up the side.

Very comfortable..self-drafted pattern.

Knit dress knock-off

2009-11-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

Here's the cotton knit dress I made for my friend Jaime, which was in an earlier post (unfinished). Here it is again, hemmed and finished. She gave me one of her favorite dresses, and I basically copied it. I love it with the white T!

African mudcloth fabric belts

2009-10-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

For Project Okurase, I'm making these reversible belts out of mudcloth from Ghana. The darker fabric is the mudcloth; the other side is made out of a gorgous cotton print from the same village. You can flip the belt over for a completely different look - great with jeans or a long flowy skirt. The belt hoops are actually shower curtain rings! These belts, along with fabric cuff bracelets, will be sold Dec. 5 and 6 at Unique LA. Stay tuned for more project photos for this non-profit organization.

The reverse side...

Duvet Cover and Shams

2009-08-19T17:17:00.001-07:00

I love this fabric! There are 10 inside button closures at the bottom of the duvet, and 4 button closures on the back of each sham. This took more work than I care to do again, any time soon...!

Curtains

2009-08-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of grey linen curtains I made for a client.

Yoga Bags for Project Okurase

2009-07-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

It's so exciting to actually be able to create something that might really make a difference.

I was approached a few months ago by Rhion Magee, product developer for Project Okurase (see the website: www.projectokurase.org) to help design yoga bags out of fabrics, beads and other materials created in Ghana. The idea was to create a prototype that can be recreated by the women of Okurase (a village in Ghana) on donated pedal-powered machines (the village has no electricity). The proceeds from the sale of these bags will go directly back to the village, into a recreational training facility.

I was given a suitcase of various, multi-colored African pants (which were sewn incorrectly and could not be sold), and rather than discard the pants, I was asked to design a yoga bag from a pair.

So...you are looking at our first prototype, made from a size small pair of pants. I used every inch of pants I could use, including the drawstring! The bag has a pocket on the side, beaded closure, a strap made out of webbing and then covered with the fabric, and a 22-inch zipper from Joann's. For the corded piping, I took a shopping bag apart and used the handles, which I then covered with bias strips from one of the pant legs.

Stay tuned...I'll be making more and you'll be seeing them online, soon!

2009-06-22T15:51:00.001-07:00

I needed just a basic white tee, long enough to reach the top of those annoying low rider jeans that we all wear these days (!) So I found a pattern by Sandra Bettzina that fit the bill. I made this shirt from a large scrap of very soft cotton, and it's so comfortable!

Vintage Vogue dress

2009-05-18T11:40:00.001-07:00

This dress is made from a vintage Vogue pattern, and it's basically a ready-to-wear size 4. Hand-gathered, serged seams throughout, and an 18-inch zipper in back. The fabric is a 54% hemp, 43% organic cotton, and 3 % lycra knit, and it was custom dyed at LA GenTex. One thing I learned from this process: Hemp STRETCHES.....It was taken in three times to get the size right.

Knit knock-off

2009-05-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

My friend Jaime asked me to copy an old knit dress which had been laundered a few too many times. She brought me this light blue lightweight knit fabric she picked up downtown. I took her old dress apart and traced all the pattern pieces. (Not so easy, since the knit had stretched beyond recognition is some places!) Anyway, this took forever, but it worked. She wore it this weekend and said it was very comfortable.

The gathering was done by hand. I didn't see any way around that, the way it's constructed. The upper half of the dress has self-facing. There's no zipper in back; she just pulls it on over her head.

The original dress had no hem, so we attempted that (as you can see in this photo). We opted later to add a small hem to prevent curling.

And with the left-over fabric....

2009-05-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I made an A-line dress for the client's daughter. Now they have matching polka dot ensembles..

Halter Dress Knock-Offs

2009-04-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

A client brought me a discontinued dress made by a major label and asked me to copy it. I've now made three copies of this dress, which is fully-lined and has a back 18" zipper. There are darts at the bustline and on the sides (both the dress and the lining). The hem on the lining is a rolled hem; the hem on the dress is serged and turned under. It's an extremely flattering dress for all shapes, and (if I can figure out a way to speed up the process!) I may start taking orders for custom sizes. I bought material to make a couple for myself! In Bloomingdales, this dress would cost around to $300. I can do this for $150.

The original dress...

MY KNOCK-OFFS:

In a leopard print...

In a floral print...

In polka-dots...

Doll Clothes

2009-02-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

Green linen tea-length dress, zipper in back, ribbon sash with rose

Gingham clothes for a new line of dolls (male and female). These models don't have faces yet (that's someone else's job)! Self-drafted patterns.

New and exciting things in the pipeline...

2009-02-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

It's interesting...I've been hired to do a lot of "prototypes" lately, for budding DIY entrepreneurs. I think this is a sign of the times.

I had to actually sign a confidentiality agreement for one of these items (so I can't divulge what the product is), but suffice it to say that I believe this gentleman is going to sell a kazillion of them. ( Hopefully!!) It's really fun to be on the ground level of a brand new idea and contribute to its structure and design.

When it's out and in distribution, I'll post some photos....

Also, I've been working on doll clothes for another client - again, a very different idea, and really adorable. I'll post when the clothes are finished. I'd like to help these guys, anyway I can.

On yet a THIRD note, I was approached by a graphics designer at Dreamworks to help her with a charity project for the people of Ghana. I'm really excited about this. I'll be working with indigenous materials from Africa to create grocery and wine tote bags. All proceeds will go to a vocational training center in Ghana. She and I are getting together next weekend to exchange materials and get started.

Wouldn't it be great if I could do this for a living? (sigh......)

An order from Nashville

2009-01-09T16:57:00.000-08:00

Another scarf with pockets! I made one just like this for Mom for Christmas. She wore it to the bank one day last week, and the teller asked here where she could get one. So, my mom, acting as my sales rep, took an order from the lady at the Green Bank in Green Hills! I finished it this morning, really liked the way this one turned out, and took a few photos before I popped in the mail. This is actually fleece on the white side, and a silky terry cloth material on the red side. It feels so good against your skin.

I have to say, as soon as the weather turned colder, I was inundated with requests for these scarves. One trip to the local dog park ended up with three orders. All I did in December was sew scarves. I'm ready to move on to something else!

Holiday pants for Mom

2009-01-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

I did some sewing during my trip back to Nashville last week...Mom needed pants for New Year's Eve, and she specifically requested red satin, to match a pretty red satin top she bought at Steinmart a few months ago. We went to a textile shop in Nashville on Franklin Road, picked out the pattern, Kwik Sew 2990, and bought some polyester red satin. (I can't believe how expensive fabric is in Nashville!) It matched her top perfectly! Mom wanted something free flowing, easy to move around in since she was hosting a party, and no bulk on the sides or front. We opted for these pants with a zipper in the back. Mom also has one leg slightly longer than the other, so hemming these bell-shaped bottoms was a challenge! I did a blind hem by hand. Everyone loved the outfit that night, and Mom was the Belle of the Ball....

My New Etsy Shop - "Sew On & Sew Forth"

2008-12-04T11:31:00.000-08:00

I just opened a new shop on Etsy, called "Sew On & So Forth". Please stop by and give me some feedback, when you get a chance! I'm selling my fleece scarves with pockets, as well as some vintage sewing supplies I've picked up at various places here and there. I'm going to start selling more and more items each week. Let me know what you think!

My new serger!!!

2008-11-21T16:54:00.000-08:00

I am so excited ...tonight I pick up my Viking Huskylock 905, and I can't wait to try this out. I've been using a friend's Europro serger, and I have to return it. I did alot of research and even talked to my sewing machine repair guy before I made this splurge, and from what I understand this is really good (and high end) machine. I think this will really improve my options...stay posted!
Here is the link for more info on the Viking Huskylock 905.

Fleece baby outfit

2008-11-18T15:58:00.000-08:00

This was so fun (and so easy)! I love fleece! I bought the cloud pattern fleece at Joann's (using my 40% discount coupon), and sized the pattern for a 6-month old boy. I made this for a friend, and I hope her newborn enjoys it! The pattern I used for this little outfit was Sew Baby 39.

About Mrs.O

2008-11-13T16:41:00.001-08:00

About Mrs.O

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Fleece Scarves -- with pockets!

2008-11-10T16:38:00.000-08:00

Here's a great gift item for Christmas...two-toned fleece scarves with pockets. The scarves are cozy and soft, and the pockets are great for stashing cell phones, glasses, or your wallet. I've made them in a variety of colors, and they can be custom-designed. Decorative top-stitching is also available. I'm going to start selling them in various venues soon...

Cranberry Topper

2008-10-31T16:35:00.000-07:00

At last, I made something for myself! I love the feel and the style of this pullover knit top. I used Vogue Pattern #8323 (a great pattern with many variations). It's super easy to put together, and it only used 7/8 of a yard of fabric..which means I created this top from a remnant! I'm going to make this again, in various colors. Next time, I might try a lighter-weight knit, just to see what happens.

Cool cropped pants

2008-06-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

These pants are cropped and cuffed below the knee, with a hidden flapped zipper.

Recent projects

2008-06-04T18:05:00.001-07:00

Jersey knit pullover - self-drafted pattern

Wool jacket with double notched collar - Butterick pattern #4865

2-piece chiffon blend skirt and matching top with burgundy beaded straps - McCall's Pattern #5055 (out of print)for skirt and self-drafted top

Velvet gown with satin lining, with opening slit on the left side - Butterick Pattern #4343

Velvet trimmed mesh tunic - self-drafted pattern

Stretch cotton V-neck shirt - self-drafted pattern

Blue velvet trimmed jersey pullover - self-drafted pattern

Shirt with princess seams and applique flowers around neck - Vogue Pattern #8323