Join us for the Level 3+ Sewing Course – practically a club!  We’ll cover anything you may have missed, not quite fully understood, want to practice, etc from the previous 3 levels, as well as explore any new topics the group would like to cover.

Mondays, March 24, 31 and April 7 from 7-9 p.m. at the Routhier Community Centre.

Which room ? to be determined  – but you can NOW SIGN UP!

• Sewing Level Level 3+ – $50.00
  Register – Course #: 908372
  Mondays, Mar 24 to Apr 7, 2014 – 7:00 PM 2.00 hours
  Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON

If you have taken at least one sewing course with me in the past this will be a fun course to review, practice, and hopefully cover some new topics as well!

UPDATE: Here’s what the course outline is!

 

Numbering from top to Bottom -= and I know it’s all very similar, but here’s a moment where I’ll inquire on thoughts.

My present look is here at my main sewing site – TAV Creations

Lots of stuff going through my mind as I am taking today to fully recover from some dental work I had done yesterday.

I may get a bit descriptive in this post, so it’s okay if you choose to stop here.

The dental work itself went superbly, considering what have to be done.

I am presently sans one canine that had already undergone a root canal in 1997, but no cap. In September 2013, at a fundraiser where I was the co-chair, I sat to watch the movie we were showing with a lovely bag of popcorn and the crunch I felt was not a kernel. No pain, though, just that odd texture of broken tooth.

But with no pain, I was not worried, I did contact my dentist though and had a visit there that week. X-ray and up close and personal check up later… something should be done.

Sometimes people can ignore broken teeth – if it’s all above the gum line, nothing going into the root, etc. but I had a dark grey spot near the root, and the break had gone below my gum line.

Personal note: I am a self-employed artistic type with a stronger creative streak than business streak. I manage just fine, but I don’t have the self-discipline to pay into a monthly insurance policy to cover these types of things. So, no dental insurance.

Presented with a myriad of options:
1-save the tooth = re-root canal to get rid of the possible infection { grey spot showing in the x-ray}; cap it including gum work.
2-pull the tooth and proceed with 1 of the following options:
a- denture
b- bridge
c- implant
d- nothing.

These options have dollar signs ranging from $300 through to $4000

So, I ignored it.

Then in November, another piece broke off.

I contacted my dentist for a referral appointment to a specialist who could remove the tooth. Decision number 1.

I went for the consultation and was given a horrendous estimate including over $400 for the “laughing gas” which they found “most people need to have”.

I was not pleased.

I contacted my dentist, providing the office with full disclosure on the estimate so that they had more information when someone else might have a similar situation and after much discussion they offered to set me up for another consultation.

The second consultation had me meet with people who were much more approachable and understanding about my non insurance situation and there was only a few things that would be added to the cost, IF, they were needed at the time of extraction. This included a bone graft if I was planning on an implant in the future.

So, appointments were set and yesterday I went in for my extraction.

15 minutes late, and the first dental assistant had tendonitis, so another person would be helping, but the Dr. was totally chill and made me feel very relaxed.
Not with laughing gas.

I appreciated the warning when the second freezing needle was going in that it would “really pinch” for about 3 seconds. She counted and she was correct.

I turned on my audio book – ” The Blind Watchmaker” by Richard Dawkins – as it has successfully been putting me to sleep every time I listen to it { no offence, RD!}- and I settled in.

I have a great imagination when it comes to visualizing based on what I feel.
I could feel an instrument being wedged in between the tooth and gum in a circular motion. cool.
I am not really sure what else actually happened, but my minds eye went with a few size tests on clamps to grab hold of the tooth that was remaining above the gum line, and then she began to pull.
I figured I would help by visualizing the tooth slipping out of the gums in an easy… POP, there it went!

Less than 5 minutes of active time after the freezing had set.

And I hear, “That’s it – it came out in one piece….. and the infection came out with the tooth…. and no bone graft required.”

a bit more internal scraping to clean up and we were done.

” sorry you couldn’t get more into your book.”

I texted Tom to let him know I was done, and feeling okay, so he did not have to come out to meet me. I had also texted him to let him know when we were starting, so he was also surprised at how quickly it happened.

I came home, walking not too quickly, did everything on the information sheets – take pain killers before the freezing comes out, use an ice pack for 20 minutes on, 20minutes off.

Soft food was already prepped for my supper – and I ate well yesterday before the dentist so that I would not need a big supper.

And here I am the next day, feeling a little bit of discomfort, and only get a bit light headed if I bend forward or try to pick up something heavy.

I’ll take it easy today, and do computer work, and try to enjoy a medically prescribed day off.

Almost time for my soft food lunch!

Did I make you an amazing outfit for dance? An evening event? Your wedding?

Why do I ask?

Well…
In April 2014, at the upcoming Eurikadance Dancers’ Bazaar, she is planning to have a fashion show featuring pieces by participating vendors/exhibitors.
And while I do have a few small pieces for sale, and will probably make at leafs a few more pieces for the event, my main love has always been the custom work. And I’ve had the chance to make some amazing clients some amazing pieces!
And many of these pieces come out once every few years, if that.
What I am hoping to have happen is that a few of my past/present clients would be willing to ideally model one of her great ensembles we’ve co-created, at the April 6th event.  This will help me showcase the custom work I have done and am happily continuing to do with sparkly creative results!

If you are open to this idea:

1- I would prefer a head-to-toe TAV Creations original – something we designed together and I made the entire thing, besides any obvious accessories such as jewelry/shoes.  It can be a dance costume, a bridal piece, evening gown.

2- You are available to model the outfit during the afternoon event on April 6 – time to be determined OR
2A- You are okay with the outfit begin loaned and modelled by someone else for the show.

If you are interested/ open to this idea, please message me at tracey@tav-creations.com or on Facebook or on Twitter.

Thanks for the consideration!

Tracey

 

I perhaps should have done a play by play, but i’ve been having a finicky day with these puppies, so I figured since they are almost finished, I can post a pic or two, and take a break from the glue!

Couple of fun things to not – if you ever do this yourself, you can use the double sided tape found in drug stores that is used to keep blouses from gaping, straps from shifting etc, and temporarily cover a plain pair of shoes with fabric for a special matching feeling.  It will last for an evening I think, but not long term, and with these being lace, I wanted it to be secure.  So I used the double sided tape to hold the fabric in place to confirm positioning { the lace is not mirror image, so I did my best } before using highly toxic { I know, I know } glue to tack it all down permanently.

Final steps are to clear up any shaggy bits along the sole, and then glue a tiny ribbon along the inside to keep the edges all in place.

PHOTOS:

 

 

I also had the pleasure of adding organza sleeves to her strapless dress, beading the lace on the sleeves to complement the existing lace, adding more appliqués to the bodice and generally redesigning her dress.

 

Once again I will be teaching basic sewing this fall:

Sewing Level 1
Course number: 867021 – $50.00
Learn Basic hand sewing skills and some machine work along with what to look for when buying a sewing machine.

Register online at Ottawa.ca or call 613-244-4470
Saturdays, September 21 to October 5, 2013
10:00 AM to 12 noon – 2 hours each Saturday
Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON
POSSIBLE Monday Evening option starting September 16 for 6 weeks from 7-8 p.m. or September 23rd , 3 weeks from 6:30 to 8;30 p.m.
If this would be of interest, please contact either the centre by phone or email me info@eco-tav.com

FOR COURSE INFORMATION: CLICK HERE

Sewing Level 2
Course number: 867029 – $50.00
Implementing skills learned in Level 1:
Learn to alter your clothes, install a zipper and general repairs. Hand and sewing machine work. Basic store bought patterns will be covered. Sewing machine an asset.

Register online at Ottawa.ca or call 613-244-4470
Saturdays, October 19 to November 2, 2013
10:00 AM to 12 noon – 2 hours each Saturday
Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON

FOR COURSE INFORMATION: CLICK HERE

Sewing Level 3
Course number: 867040- $50.00
Implementing the techniques learned in levels 1 and 2, level 3 students will start and finish a basic project including zipper installation, seam finishing, some fitting skills and more.  Project will be a simple skirt.  Click through the course information link below for pattern information. Muslin will be provided. Students will then bring their own fabric to create finished project. Students need access to sewing machine for homework.

Register online at Ottawa.ca or call 613-244-4470
Saturdays, November 16 to November 30, 2013
10:00 AM to 12 noon – 2 hours each Saturday
Routhier Community Centre, 172 Guigues Street, Ottawa, ON

FOR COURSE INFORMATION: CLICK HERE

I realize that entire industries are based on finding just the right combination of floral/musk/earthy/delicate scents to entice a new mate into your life, cover up potential body odours, and a myriad of other reasons.

But here’s the thing.

When I am doing a fitting, I am right there, up close and personal. And I am allergic to perfumes.  I have been since childhood, though I don’t think my parents realized why I was so off the wall moody at times.

Besides a well known fact amongst my friends – a Fed Tracey is a Happy Tracey, another fact becoming known in my circles of both friends and now clients, be Scent-free to keep Tracey fully functioning.

Speaking of functioning, I appreciate a functioning deodorant for those folks with extreme body odour. But unless you have that problem, you probably don’t smell bad. Really, you don’t.

You probably wash yourself often enough, otherwise you wouldn’t be in a position to have clothes made/altered.

So I ask you, perfume…Really?

And it’s not just me.  Check out this article on Carfleurbon -Perfume: The New Second Hand Smoke…

 

Are we hyper-sensitive ? Yeah, probably.

But that’s the backlash of having our senses lambasted with so much stimulation for so many years – be it wheat, smoke, dairy, peanuts, shellfish or any one of the other hundreds of allergens out there, we over do things, and then our bodies rebel.

I was never into perfume, nor smoking. But I was exposed to it during my childhood from every possible source – it was the 70’s and 80’s after all.  And a few years back I had to start vocalizing my discomfort around people who did not realize that their habits were making me ill.  A lot of people have been fighting this battle with much more vehemence than me and kudos to those squeaky wheels.

I try to be nice about it, and remove myself when I can, but really, at some point, the “users” are the ones who need to be the “better person” and stop smoking around me, stop wearing heavy perfumes { natural or synthetic, makes no difference for my nausea meter – DING DING!}.

THANK YOU to all of my very good friends and total strangers who do this!  You folks are considerate,  appreciated and an example to everyone else!

But “everyone else” can be really unaware.  Unfortunately we then have to rely on legislation to protect us from the unsafe as well as the merely inconsiderate.  Every step the government takes to limit my exposure to these toxic for me substances, I applaud.

But when you come to my home studio, you may not realize the extent I suffer after being exposed to perfumes. Now I have had to include a note to every client, before they come to me for their fittings that says:

PS: due to allergies resulting in respiratory reactions:No perfumes/scented items. No fabrics or clothing with smoke residue. No fabric softeners or freshly dry cleaned items.Thanks, My lungs appreciate it.

 

There are some lovely signs out there that I might look into getting for my workspace.

And all of this was exacerbated in March due to off-gassing from synthetic interfacing I would never have purchased but it was brought to me by clients in a hurry – so thanks to my buddy Cat who gave me a couple of gas masks:

 

 

Oh, yeah. One more thing to think about when taking your clothes to be altered…Your clothes will be hung on a rack with likely a lot of  other peoples clothes. Even if they are in garment bags, all of the clothing smells like it’s owner. That is until they all frolic together on the rack and spread their scentiness to each other.

Nothing like a pile of clothing that smells like it’s been at a pub crawl in la belle province { oh wait, are they non smoking in clubs too now..?}