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Recap: A designer calls cheating on 'Project Runway'

Anyway, Heidi informs the designers of what we already know from last week's preview: they'll be designing a look for Nina. They are excited! They are terrified! They are excited and terrified! Do the designers ever get a challenge and say, "eh, this should be fine"? They always seem to collapse into Scarlett O'Hara faints and swoon for the cameras about the absolute shock and horror they feel about… designing an outfit each week. Yes, sometimes that outfit needs to be made with paper cups, but still, they don't really change up the show that much from season to season, people. 

Nina explains to our designers that she's going to be tough on everyone, because she hates everything. Well, not everything, but most things. Really, she should just have Tim Gunn design a little Liz Claiborne outfit for her, slap a wrist cuff on it and declare it good. But seriously, Nina seems like an ideal (if not pleasant) subject to design for, in that she clearly articulates what she likes (classics with an edge, streamlined looks) and hates (color, prints, volume, fun). 

Bryce, however, thinks hating volume screams cowl neck and loose, drape-y tops. Bryce may actually be learning disabled or, if he's lucky, deaf. But I'm going with plumb stupid. How is a cowl neck not volume? Bryce is circling the drain, I think. 

The designers get a half hour to sketch, then Nina levels her critiques. She likes Anya's outfit. She hates Bryce's cowl idea. Shocker! She hates Josh B.'s ideas. Kimberly wants to design a dress. Nina wants pants. Kimberly can't understand why no one will let her do a skirt! I'd say Kimberly should just be happy she's being recognized for doing something difficult very, very well. Nina declares Cecilia's look a little "Dynasty." Oof!

Before she goes, Nina tells Tim she doesn't want a runway covered with gray garments, and she doesn't want boring. Which almost guarantees someone will make something boring and gray. I don't know why that is, but I think some designers either subconsciously want to go home or they're involved with something else at that moment and think, hmmm, Tim said she wants gray and boring!

Sewing Up a Kitchen – Part 1 « KLC Creations

One of the first things I wanted to do this summer was brighten up my kitchen.  We’ve lived here for a number of years now and I still haven’t done anything to make it inviting and warm.  I looked around and thought how sad it looked.  The window wasn’t even adorned with a curtain!  There was no color in this kitchen at all!  Ugh!  I’ve got work to do and I’d better get started.

I spent a good many trips to different fabric stores before I found material I thought would work well in my kitchen.  My discovery was made at one of the JoAnn stores by our home.  The fabric has many colors in it and it is definitely for a kitchen.  I had no idea how much to buy and when I saw it I didn’t want to go home without it.  Who knew if it would be there the next time I shopped.  I knew I wanted enough to make a valance for the window over the kitchen sink and I thought a valance over the doorwall would add a little pizzazz to the room.  I also wanted enough material to make a couple hot pads and maybe use it in placemats or a table runner.  I left the store with whatever was left on the bolt.  I believe I ended up with 7 1/2 – 8 yards of fabric and I either used a coupon or it was on sale.  I never want to pay full price if I don’t have to!  Wow, that sure seems like a lot of material! 

I was feeling a little overwhelmed and daunted by having all this material at one time.  My next step was to figure out how to cut and sew the valances.  There is a first time for everything and I did not want to make a mistake.  I measured both the window and the doorwall and then measured how long I wanted the valance to be.  I read through all my books and googled everything I could on making curtains and valances.  (One site I found helpful was here .)  There are so many different ways to do this and I was feel exhausted and drained.  Was I in over my head?  Can I really do this?  We will soon find out.

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