CJ used to be a BOHICA. Now she's an ex-bohica (aka xbohica). Family, sewing, public broadcasting (NPR and PBS), travel, marketing and other stuff. Caille is in high school and a natural-born seamstress and crafter. She started learning to sew from her grandmama, CJ, at the age of 8. Now Caille sews for theatre groups, her teachers and her friends. She loves national parks, trees and gardens.
05 February 2013
31 January 2013
3-year old UFO eliminated!
I am not sure what took me so long, but I made most of this jacket top about three years ago. The only thing left to do was sleeve cuffs, buttons and buttonholes. DONE. Finally!
The fabric is painted. I brought it back from the Big Island of Hawaii four years ago.
*UFO: UnFinished Object
The fabric is painted. I brought it back from the Big Island of Hawaii four years ago.
*UFO: UnFinished Object
06 January 2013
The sewing room: totally organized!
I've wanted a bona fide sewing room since I was about 4 years old. 49 years later, I now have one!
I should have painted the walls before the shelving went in, but that will wait for another day. Also needed: removal of trashy blinds, replaced with curtains.
My wide range of sewing ephemera is now completely organized! I had various fabric and sewing gear stashed in bins, closets and bags in rooms all over the house. Now that it's all in one place and organized, I realize: OMG, I HAVE A LOT OF SEWING STUFF AND FABRIC!
This was a Christmas gift from my husband Mike. My son-in-law and father assembled the shelving and desk (IKEA EXPEDIT). Thank you, guys!
I thought about posting a "before" picture, but it would have been too embarrassing. Just a room with bins stacked around, a bed on the floor and Legos scattered wildly about.
I should have painted the walls before the shelving went in, but that will wait for another day. Also needed: removal of trashy blinds, replaced with curtains.
My wide range of sewing ephemera is now completely organized! I had various fabric and sewing gear stashed in bins, closets and bags in rooms all over the house. Now that it's all in one place and organized, I realize: OMG, I HAVE A LOT OF SEWING STUFF AND FABRIC!
This was a Christmas gift from my husband Mike. My son-in-law and father assembled the shelving and desk (IKEA EXPEDIT). Thank you, guys!
I thought about posting a "before" picture, but it would have been too embarrassing. Just a room with bins stacked around, a bed on the floor and Legos scattered wildly about.
Stuff you can sew for teens
Hoodies. You can't go wrong with hoodies. This is the second one I made for 14-year old Crispy this season. It has a phone/iPod pocket in addition to standard lined pockets.
30 December 2012
She's a natural!
We got 12-year old Caille her first sewing machine for Christmas and this was her very first project. WOW! What a success!
The only thing I helped with was the zipper. Otherwise, it's all her own work.
Layering on the pink sweater we got on sale at Kohl's today makes it work for more than just a summer dress.
Simplicity 2373.
The only thing I helped with was the zipper. Otherwise, it's all her own work.
Layering on the pink sweater we got on sale at Kohl's today makes it work for more than just a summer dress.
Simplicity 2373.
05 August 2012
Seeking green guinea pigs
I made four sandwich/snack bags, lined with FDA-approved food-safe nylon tyvec and cute cotton print on the outside. These are reusable, machine washable, low-temp iron.
I need a couple of beta testers who will test one or two of these, putting them through real-life use and then providing me with candid feedback about the product.
Comment below to volunteer. There is no cost. I am also putting this on Facebook. Up to four people total will be chosen from comments here and on the xbohica Facebook page.
I need a couple of beta testers who will test one or two of these, putting them through real-life use and then providing me with candid feedback about the product.
20 July 2012
15 July 2012
Let's get bohemian
Join us at the Bohemian Music & Poetry Festival Saturday night 8pm-midnight in Waco, Texas!
http://www.facebook.com/events/449802288372203
http://www.facebook.com/events/449802288372203
14 July 2012
10 July 2012
Lots of new stuff for Bohemian Music & Poetry Festival
Waco, Temple, Killeen folks -- don't miss the Bohemian Music & Poetry Festival on July 21. Starts at 8:00 pm.
Caille and I have been busy making some new things you'll see there at the XBOHICA table.
Here's the event info on Facebook. http://on.fb.me/MfSbNs It's free! Please bring a canned food item for the food banks when you come.
Caille and I have been busy making some new things you'll see there at the XBOHICA table.
Here's the event info on Facebook. http://on.fb.me/MfSbNs It's free! Please bring a canned food item for the food banks when you come.
19 April 2012
Doggy incontinence
The poor old Captain is approaching 13. (He was born 9-9-99, an easy date to remember.) his back end doesn't always work. The vet says he has a cancer of his liver. He has a tumor on his eye that we had removed in a very expensive operation. It grew back three months later.
He's an old guy. He's had better days.
He lost control of bodily functions over a year ago. That's when I started experimenting with making doggy diapers. The last thing I want is to be freaking out about him peeing on the floors when he is so old he doesn't know what I'm freaking out about. No reason for the stress.
I designed several different kinds of diapers. He has figured out how to scrape them off, move them down, get them off, any way he can.
The one I made today might be the best one yet. I don't think he's getting out of this one.
On the inside, I stick a large woman's feminine napkin. I change that out when he wets it.
04 June 2011
Monkey see, monkey do
I made this for a friend's new baby. I STARTED with Simplicity 2428, but the design puts a zipper from baby's neck to crotch in the front of the romper. Are you kidding? I would not want any baby *I* care about to have a zipper there. They'll get pinched during zip-up and irritated by zipper teeth if they lay on the tummy. No way was I going to put a zipper there. This required a complete redesign of the front, with a placket and snaps (snap tape). Ah, now I feel much better about it. Too bad it took me about 5 hours of sewing, ripping, sewing, ripping, recutting the pieces, sewing, ripping, sewing, for it to work out.
(The light tan color fabric is synthetic suede. It looks and feels like suede, but it's washable.)
The blanket design for Simplicity 2428 called for just a binding tape around the outside edge. I couldn't bring myself to do that. I know from experience that babies/kids like a silky binding, so I used satin blanket binding instead.
The monkey appliques required some precision cutting and sewing, as well as some hand embroidery. They were fun. I like the fact that the ears are left unattached and flap out from the romper and blanket.
Have a happy life, Zach. And may your mommy and daddy sleep again one day!
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