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BEI Design

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May 5, 2013, 4:12:55 PM5/5/13
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I am having an electrician over tomorrow to scope out (and
fix, I hope!) the constant electrical problem I have going
on in my sewing room. If I leave a couple of lights on
behind me when I go downstairs, then turn on the overhead
light and the iron, I can depend on having to run back
upstairs to throw the circuit breaker as soon as the iron
cycles on. :-( I finally had enough last week, when I
couldn't get the power to that room to stay on for more than
a few minutes even with all lights off except for the one
overhead. BAH!

In order to prepare room for the electrician to work, I
finally got around to re-mounting the shelf which collapsed
some time ago. Now I'm making labels for all my patterns
(which were in shoeboxes on the shelf and which all fell in
a jumble on the floor) and getting ready to sort them
properly into plastic bins. This has needed doing for a
loooong time. I have patterns going back to the 60s which
I'll probably never use again.

Next, sort and label buttons, trims, zippers, boning,
shoulder pads, other notions....

:-}

--
Beverly




Bobbie Sews More

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May 5, 2013, 5:50:06 PM5/5/13
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Ahhhh Beverly , I hope this doesn't take as long as it sounds like it's
gonna! Glad you are going to get the electrical problem fixed!
Barbara in wet SC

"BEI Design" <nospam_b...@comcast.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:km6ea6$jt6$1...@dont-email.me...

BEI Design

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May 5, 2013, 6:03:26 PM5/5/13
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Bobbie Sews More wrote:
> Ahhhh Beverly , I hope this doesn't take as long as it
> sounds like it's gonna! Glad you are going to get the
> electrical problem fixed! Barbara in wet SC

The shelf is securely up, and I'm starting to sort all my
most recent patterns. My huge problem is deciding what to
do with 20-30-40-50-year old patterns. Some of them bring
back very fond memories of garments I made, but I know I'll
never use them again. I'm going to keep a few for the
costume box. But, eighties biiiiig shoulders??? gah!

What to do, what to do... paper recycling or donate? I
think a few which were never cut (VERY few, I used almost
all of them) I'll donate, the rest can be shredded.


Bobbie Sews More

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May 5, 2013, 6:52:45 PM5/5/13
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"BEI Design" e...
> Bobbie Sews More wrote:
>> Ahhhh Beverly , I hope this doesn't take as long as it
>> sounds like it's gonna! .........>
> The shelf is securely up, and .........> What to do, what to do... paper
> recycling or donate? I think a few which were never cut (VERY few, I used
> almost all of them) I'll donate, the rest can be shredded.

There is a church thrift store I shop at in FL and I often buy patterns that
have been used.
I'd say to donate all you don't want!
Barbara in wet SC


Kay Lancaster

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May 5, 2013, 10:01:03 PM5/5/13
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On Sun, 5 May 2013 13:12:55 -0700, BEI Design <nospam_b...@comcast.net.invalid> wrote:
> I am having an electrician over tomorrow to scope out (and
> fix, I hope!) the constant electrical problem I have going
> on in my sewing room. If I leave a couple of lights on
> behind me when I go downstairs, then turn on the overhead
> light and the iron, I can depend on having to run back
> upstairs to throw the circuit breaker as soon as the iron
> cycles on. :-( I finally had enough last week, when I

With luck, it's a bad circuit breaker, which is a fast and cheap fix,
instead of something involving wiring in the walls. Might want to let him
know what brand of breakers are in your box before he comes, if you've got
something besides the usual Siemens or Square D or GE.

Speaking of electrical things... I bought a cheap LED bulb from Costco
to try in the bathroom. I'm favorably impressed with the color spectrum.
Now if it just lasts longer than the CFLs...

Kay

Pogonip

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May 5, 2013, 10:15:23 PM5/5/13
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On 5/5/2013 7:01 PM, Kay Lancaster wrote:
> Speaking of electrical things... I bought a cheap LED bulb from Costco
> to try in the bathroom. I'm favorably impressed with the color spectrum.
> Now if it just lasts longer than the CFLs...

If it's American made or made in Europe, it will last for years,
possibly more than you'll live in that house. If it was made in China,
all bets are off as they are not "up to snuff" yet.
http://www.cggc.duke.edu/environment/climatesolutions/greeneconomy_Ch1_LEDLighting.pdf
--
Joanne
stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us.earth.milky-way.com
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/

BEI Design

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May 5, 2013, 11:24:34 PM5/5/13
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Kay Lancaster wrote:
> On Sun, 5 May 2013 13:12:55 -0700, BEI Design
> <nospam_b...@comcast.net.invalid> wrote:
>> I am having an electrician over tomorrow to scope out
>> (and fix, I hope!) the constant electrical problem I
>> have going on in my sewing room. If I leave a couple of
>> lights on behind me when I go downstairs, then turn on
>> the overhead light and the iron, I can depend on having
>> to run back upstairs to throw the circuit breaker as
>> soon as the iron cycles on. :-( I finally had enough
>> last week, when I
>
> With luck, it's a bad circuit breaker, which is a fast
> and cheap fix, instead of something involving wiring in
> the walls. Might want to let him know what brand of
> breakers are in your box before he comes, if you've got
> something besides the usual Siemens or Square D or GE.

We had to have additional service brought in from the street
(all underground wiring in this neighborhood) when we
installed whole house AC about 18 years ago. We had the
circuit box upgraded at that time, and the company who did
it is still in business, they are the ones who are coming
tomorrow. I really hope it's a bad breaker. Barring that,
I hope he can somehow split the sewing room wiring off from
the rest of the unfinished basement and run it to a
dedicated circuit breaker so I don't continue having this
issue.

> Speaking of electrical things... I bought a cheap LED
> bulb from Costco to try in the bathroom. I'm favorably
> impressed with the color spectrum. Now if it just lasts
> longer than the CFLs...

LEDs are going to have to come way down in price before I'll
invest in them. Even if they manage to use a lot less
electricity, one would have to last many MANY years to
compensate for the much higher initial cost.

I loath CFLs.

--
Beverly



Joy Beeson

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May 5, 2013, 11:34:44 PM5/5/13
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On Sun, 5 May 2013 20:24:34 -0700, "BEI Design"
<nospam_b...@comcast.net.invalid> wrote:

> I loath CFLs.

CFLs are just fine as long as you don't want to read or sew or sit for
a while. Good for places like garages and hallways where the light is
turned off only once a day. The first one I saw was a porch light on
a dormitory, where it was left on all night as a navigation aid.

--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://roughsewing.home.comcast.net/
The above message is a Usenet post.
I don't recall having given anyone permission to use it on a Web site.

Kay Lancaster

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May 6, 2013, 5:42:03 AM5/6/13
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On Sun, 5 May 2013 15:03:26 -0700, BEI Design <nospam_b...@comcast.net.invalid> wrote:
>
> What to do, what to do... paper recycling or donate? I
> think a few which were never cut (VERY few, I used almost
> all of them) I'll donate, the rest can be shredded.

If you're heading into Portland in the near future, drop 'em all off at
SCRAP: http://scrappdx.org/

Kay


Pogonip

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May 6, 2013, 6:23:41 AM5/6/13
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On 5/5/2013 8:24 PM, BEI Design wrote:
> LEDs are going to have to come way down in price before I'll
> invest in them. Even if they manage to use a lot less
> electricity, one would have to last many MANY years to
> compensate for the much higher initial cost.
>
> I loath CFLs.

They've improved a great deal. In my old house, we were having to
change lightbulbs frequently, and since the ceilings are so high, it
requires a stepladder. A PITA. With the improved CFLs and their much
longer life, I've grown to like them. But the LEDs are predicted to
last 25 years and more, which is even more attractive. Plus they don't
contain mercury.

BEI Design

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May 6, 2013, 12:38:26 PM5/6/13
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Nice! I have a load of computer stuff for Free Geek
http://www.freegeek.org/, I'll take stuff to SCRAP as well.

Thanks.


BEI Design

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May 6, 2013, 2:41:30 PM5/6/13
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Kay Lancaster wrote:
> On Sun, 5 May 2013 13:12:55 -0700, BEI Design
> <nospam_b...@comcast.net.invalid> wrote:
>> I am having an electrician over tomorrow to scope out
>> (and fix, I hope!) the constant electrical problem I
>> have going on in my sewing room. If I leave a couple of
>> lights on behind me when I go downstairs, then turn on
>> the overhead light and the iron, I can depend on having
>> to run back upstairs to throw the circuit breaker as
>> soon as the iron cycles on. :-( I finally had enough
>> last week, when I
>
> With luck, it's a bad circuit breaker, which is a fast
> and cheap fix, instead of something involving wiring in
> the walls.

Yay!!! It WAS the circuit breaker. He replaced it, I
turned on every light AND the iron, and it has all stayed
lit for over an hour. Whee! (I will replace several of the
overhead bulbs with CFLs.)

And since electricians charge by full hour increments, I
asked him to install my third security camera, so now I'm
covered front, back and side with motion activated cameras
which record video and audio. :-)

Beverly


Polly Esther

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May 6, 2013, 10:06:07 PM5/6/13
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Please do re-think weeding your pattern collection. I did. Gave away
hundreds. I sincerely and many times over regret it. So many times since
then I have needed one of them and could not find a good replacement. I am
a nut about keeping my creating area tidy; even the kitchen pantry and
medicine cabinet - but will never ever get rid of a pattern unless it one of
those ... you know ... one that deserves to be set on fire and profoundly
stomped to smithereens. Polly

BEI Design

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May 7, 2013, 12:26:21 AM5/7/13
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I'm definitely keeping patterns for all wedding gowns, prom
dresses, and other special occasions. I agree with you that
the older patterns were drafted so much better, but no
matter how good the pattern is, jackets with HUGE shoulders
from the 80s (think Joan Collins in Dynasty ) are probably
never going to be useful again. As well, I am unlikely ever
to be a (pattern size) 10 again.

:-}


Kay Lancaster

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May 7, 2013, 5:42:03 PM5/7/13
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On Mon, 6 May 2013 11:41:30 -0700, BEI Design <nospam_b...@comcast.net.invalid> wrote:
> Kay Lancaster wrote:
>> With luck, it's a bad circuit breaker, which is a fast
>> and cheap fix, instead of something involving wiring in
>> the walls.
>
> Yay!!! It WAS the circuit breaker. He replaced it, I
> turned on every light AND the iron, and it has all stayed
> lit for over an hour. Whee! (I will replace several of the
> overhead bulbs with CFLs.)

Glad to hear it was an easy fix. If you ever need another circuit
breaker replaced, consider checking all the GFI/GFCI outlets in the house
as a "filler job" -- they also go bad over time.

Liz Megerle

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May 8, 2013, 7:56:42 PM5/8/13
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I was in Escada a few weeks ago (shopping with my mother) and mentioned
to the sales clerk how I wished I could wear my gorgeous 80s vintage
pink wool jacket. She claimed they're coming back!
Liz

BEI Design

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May 8, 2013, 9:27:43 PM5/8/13
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Liz Megerle wrote:
> On 5/7/2013 12:26 AM, BEI Design wrote:
[...]
>> but no matter how good the pattern is, jackets with HUGE
>> shoulders from the 80s (think Joan Collins in Dynasty )
>> are probably never going to be useful again. As well, I
>> am unlikely ever to be a (pattern size) 10 again.
>>
>> :-}
>>
> I was in Escada a few weeks ago (shopping with my mother)
> and mentioned to the sales clerk how I wished I could
> wear my gorgeous 80s vintage pink wool jacket. She
> claimed they're coming back! Liz

I seriously doubt Alexis' look is EVER coming back:
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2008/12/03/alexis.jpg

http://www.childofthe1980s.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/joan-collins-shoulder-pads.jpg

...or maybe they are:
http://trendland.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Margiela-Fall-Winter-2007-Power-Shoulders-Trend-2.jpg

!!! ;-}




Polly Esther

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May 8, 2013, 10:22:02 PM5/8/13
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Those shoulders served a purpose. I used to snip the shoulder pads out and
staple them to the ends of my clothes hangers. Made great padding to keep
the shoulder/sleeve soft instead of creased. Polly

coooooool grandma

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May 8, 2013, 11:38:39 PM5/8/13
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I recently retired but I had a customer that wore nothing but Escada. (
I did alterations). Needless to say the clothes were gorgeous and so
well made...but...I had to shorten all the jacket sleeves and they all
have true buttonholes ...so it makes it very ha rd to do. They are
impossible to remove..and hard to get the exact measurments since the
first button should not be so close to the edge and this happened all
the time with her clothes. I even Emaied Esacada explaining this. :-)
Doubt if they listened.
Audrey from Oyster Bay Long Island NY aka Stitc...@msn.com (my PC)

BEI Design

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May 9, 2013, 2:46:08 AM5/9/13
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coooooool grandma wrote:
> I recently retired but I had a customer that wore nothing
> but Escada. ( I did alterations). Needless to say the
> clothes were gorgeous and so well made...but...I had to
> shorten all the jacket sleeves and they all have true
> buttonholes ...so it makes it very ha rd to do. They
> are impossible to remove..and hard to get the exact
> measurments since the first button should not be so close
> to the edge and this happened all the time with her
> clothes. I even Emaied Esacada explaining this. :-) Doubt
> if they listened.

If sleeves have a vent with buttonholes, the better option
is to shorten the sleeves from the top. I did this recently
on two jackets for my (short) daughter. Fortunately, the
two-part sleeve seams were generous, and I was able to add
width to the sleeves at the top and then recut the cap about
2 inches shorter.

--
Beverly


Ursula Schrader

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May 9, 2013, 2:52:11 AM5/9/13
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"coooooool grandma" <Audr...@webtv.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:26132-518...@storefull-3112.bay.webtv.net...
I have been wondering: If you have a sleeve like that, wouldn't it be
possible/easier to do the shortening of the sleeve by taking the entire part
higher into the armscye? I bought a jacket for DH as a present and the
sleeves are too long, too. It doesn't look too bad, but every time I see him
wear it, I think about this option of alteration. It can hardly be more work
than re-doing all the buttonhole stuff.

U.

Ursula Schrader

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May 9, 2013, 2:53:56 AM5/9/13
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"BEI Design" <nospam_b...@comcast.net.invalid> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:kmfghq$o16$1...@dont-email.me...
Ah, question answered!

U. ;-)


Ursula Schrader

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May 9, 2013, 3:09:34 AM5/9/13
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"Polly Esther" <Poll...@cableone.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:av0fic...@mid.individual.net...
> Those shoulders served a purpose. I used to snip the shoulder pads out
> and staple them to the ends of my clothes hangers. Made great padding to
> keep the shoulder/sleeve soft instead of creased. Polly

Hmm, I never thought of that! What a pity, so many opportunities missed...
Let me be entirely honest: When the 1970s-flared trousers revival came up
first (and even before that), I said that I'd rather be dead than wear one
of those. When everybody was wearing them, I tried on one too, and found
that it is a nice optical counterbalance to slightly enlarged thighs, as
long as it's not overdone. The same I should say for those wide shoulders.
Some of the patterns then had amazingly clean lines, and I loved (and still
love) Sean Young's look in 'Blade Runner'. One shouldn't overdo it, of
course, and the vivid colours and dazzling rhinestones on some of the 1980s
clothes are more than just a bit irritating. That said, I have very wide
shoulders by nature and am afraid that, to achieve the intended look and
line, I'd need a football player's gear in my jacket. ;-)

U. - weighing more than 300 lbs at a height of 1.80m



coooooool grandma

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May 10, 2013, 12:46:57 PM5/10/13
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After the split cuff's buttons, the seams return to 5/8 inches. And the
customer had heavy arms so that didn't work Wish it had. :-(

CypSew

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May 21, 2013, 12:10:11 PM5/21/13
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"BEI Design" wrote in message news:kmettl$gk1$1...@dont-email.me...
But if they did come back in style, I hardly think I would consider wearing
them, since age has to be considered. At age 81, I don't think they would
be the right style.
Emily

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