text:
now closed – giveaway! blog tour with christine haynes

March 6, 2014
Hello! I have a special giveaway today to help kick off and promote Christine’s brand new book: The Complete Photo Guide to Clothing Construction. I’ve had the pleasure of previewing the book and let me tell you, it is THE Complete Photo Guide for beginners. Christine covers absolutely everything from pattern terms, cutting layout, marking tools, fitting your shape, actually sewing a garment together… I mean it. She really thought of EVERYTHING. I wish I had a guide like this when I was first starting out!
Aside from the very thorough information and instructions, I really appreciate all the photos of vintage notions sprinkled throughout the book! A lot of instructional books tend to be very visually dry and wordy, but this book definitely isn’t.
Oh right, the giveaway! Christine has generously offered up 1 and 3/8th yards of a fabulously fun wool blend, along with some vintage notions, for one lucky winner! This giveaway is extended worldwide and will close on Thursday March 13th at 10pm EST.  One winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, March 14th.
For your chance to win: Leave one comment below (with your first name and a valid email address) telling me which of your sewing skills you’d like to improve on. That’s it!

Check out all of these other chances you’ll have to get a sneak peak of the book and win some really awesome stuff! Don’t miss out 😉
Monday, February 24 – City Stitching with Christine Haynes
Friday, February 28 – Sew L.A.
Monday, March 3 – Coletterie
Tuesday, March 4 – Miss Crayola Creepy
Wednesday, March 5 – Whipstitch
Thursday, March 6 – Lucky Lucille
Friday, March 7 – Grainline
Monday, March 10 – Oonaballoona
Tuesday, March 11 – Paunnett
Wednesday, March 12 – Sewaholic
Thursday, March 13 – Lladybird
Friday, March 14 – House of Pinheiro
Monday, March 17 – Flossie Teacakes
Tuesday, March 18 – The Sew Convert
Wednesday, March 19 – Craftsy
Thursday, March 20 – Sublime Stitching
Friday, March 21 – Sew Stylish

Good Luck!

(**NOTE: Your comment may need to be pre-approved before appearing below. All comments will be approved in the order they were received.)

You Might Also Like

  • http://gravatar.com/delamija LM

    Gathering is my kyptonite – I would really love to master it! I have such a hard time getting the gathers evenly distributed and even after basting, I still end up redoing sections.

  • Glyn D

    That wool blend is fabulous – can almost picture what I’s do with it – and having a good how-to guide for those times when I’m at a loss would be wonderful too!

  • Kate Dundas

    I saw the book at Mood NY yesterday- looks fantastic. I am venturing into the world of coat making shortly so any skills in that department will be needed!

  • http://nikkisstitches.blogspot.co.nz/ Nikki

    Fitting darts for an FBA. This book looks amazing

  • eva lo

    I need to improve pants sipper fly, it is a challenge for me!

  • Anneh

    Invisible zippers, for sure. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • Carole

    I’d like to learn more about my overlocker /serger.

  • http://gravatar.com/jessibethviera Jessibeth Vicenty

    I will love to learn to do the bias binding attaching with my sewing machine, I say learn since every time I have try it, it come out so horrible is like a little girl do it :/ Hopefully more practice will make me like what I see a little more.

  • Karen W.

    I want to learn how to scale a pattern that doesn’t come in my size to make it small enough.

  • http://girlfighter.net/ Jenny

    Fitting and finishing! Those are the two things I need THE MOST work on :).

  • natasha

    I’d like to improve my bias binding attaching w/ my sewing machine!

  • http://www.fromthesunnyside.wordpress.con Ledys

    Thank you, Rochelle! I would love to get really good at fitting–it seems so tricky and it takes such courage to try and figure out!

  • http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/tanepuri naoko

    I’d like to make better collar stands.

  • http://clippedcurves.wordpress.com Emma Jayne

    Gosh a lot of scrolling to find the comments box!!! Hopefully I didn’t miss the deadline for entries to the giveaway.

    I’d like to master top stitching so hopefully Christine’s book includes this technique.

  • Grace

    I really want to improve my fitting skills the most

  • Eleanor Krause

    I would love to get better at setting in sleeves and machine sewing zippers. I can do both adequately but it always ends up looking rather homemade…

  • Laura

    I’d like to work on zippers and learn pant construction and fitting.

  • http://hepkara.blogspot.com Hep Kara

    I really need to get better at lapped zippers – although honestly, at the moment, I’m debating just making anything asking for a lapped zipper with an invisible zip instead. For some reason lapped zippers don’t quite make sense to me at the moment.

  • Piroska

    I’d love to master the pocket–all kinds.

  • Emma

    As a beginner I really need to improve a lot (all) of my skills but some skills which I really want to learn is how to sew the perfect collar and how to sew the perfekt button placket.

  • Naheema

    I would like to learn more about fabric draping and sewing on the bias

  • Emily

    I would love to improve my fitting skills. I enjoy sewing so much, but I don’t think there is anything much more frustrating than spending hours working on something to only have it end up not fitting correctly! I hate it when that happens and it certainly puts a damper on wanting to sew as much…

  • http://gravatar.com/acupofanouk Anouk Jaaniste

    Thanks for the giveaway. I need to increase my confidence in putting in zippers.

  • http://learningtosewbysewing.blogspot.com/ Nikki H.

    I’d like to work on my tailoring skills. And learning how to work with leather. But of course any skill can use improvement. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • http://www.simonasgata.blogspot.com Simona

    It’s quite ordinary but I would love to improve on my courage to start sewing my first dress. I would love to make myself a dress to wear this summer!

  • StephanieM

    I definitely want to learn more about fitting skills and some more about knits!

  • http://lamammaitaliana.wordpress.com Em

    I’d really like to get more confident at sewing with knit fabric. It seems like everyone else finds it really easy, but I just get frustrated! Fingers crossed :)

  • Nicole Morgan

    I really want to improve my fitting/alteration skills, and I would love to learn how to work with knits.

  • http://greencoffeepot.blogspot.com Julia

    Really looking forward to getting my hands on the book, looks brilliant! I need to improve my fitting skills, I haven’t managed to get it right yet.

  • Emily

    That fabric is gorgeous!!

  • LexiLee

    Well, like many others before me I’m a total beginner. I’ve only sewn 1 garment on my own. The area I’d most like to improve in is marking patterns onto fabric. I never seem to get it right!

  • http://gravatar.com/adanielleh Amber

    I’m a beginner and I don’t want to rush through things! So, I’ll be focusing on getting the basics down.

  • http://farben-freude.blogspot.com Alessa

    What a great giveaway!
    Fit seems to be a popular choice for improvement, it’s also what I would like best to be better at. :) Second choice would be closures, zips, button holes and the like…

  • Anna Fleming

    I have really been wanting to improve on my tailoring skills, my sewing goal is to one day make a beautifully tailored blazer!

  • http://youngseamstress.blogspot.ca youngseamstress

    Thanks for the giveaway! I’d like to improve my zipper installations, and fitting. -Shannon, youngseamstress@gmail.com

  • http://tinyangrycrafter.blogspot.com Carla

    I’d love to improve on my lapped zipper installation, and learn to sew welted pockets!

    okamishoujo -at- gmail -dot- com

  • http://www.mythreesuits.wordpress.com Lisa Suit

    What a lovely giveaway! And I really need to work on improving fit!

  • http://gravatar.com/carolinedoreen Big Red

    As a total beginner, I really need to improve, well, ALL of my skills. I suppose fit will be the most important one. :)

  • http://englishgirlathome.wordpress.com powell2317

    I’d like to improve my hand sewing (including hand sewn button holes) and become a serger expert

  • http://lilliansesembles.blogspot.com Veronica lewis

    Thank you Rochelle for this post. As a sewer with not others immediately around me, online resources and books have been a major factor to my sewing. I do need to improve fitting, adjusting a pattern to my shape/size. Thanks again. vlewis835@comcast.net

  • Katie

    I really need to work on fitting, this often makes me stumble and leaves me feeling deflated :(

  • Diann Cornell

    Definitely need to improve my fitting.

  • Kerry

    I am a big fan of Christine’s teachng style, she came across so well in her craftsy class and sews with such precision and detail

  • http://www.chronicallyvintage.com Jessica Cangiano

    Sounds awesome!!! :) I’d not caught wind of this new book yet, but will now be adding it to my wishlist. Even as (essentially) a non-sewer, I always love learning more about the art and find that often books like this can be helpful in terms of furthering my knowledge about textiles and fashion in general, not just the act of putting garments together.

    ♥ Jessica

  • https://www.facebook.com/aleksandra.russek.5 Aleksandra Russek

    This fabric is fabulous! Well, the sewing skill I’d like to improve on… There are a lot of 😉 but for now I think it’s plaid matching

  • Jackie Lee

    ✂Oh my! I will definitely need this book as soon as it comes out! I need help with linings and fine finishings. I’m all thumbs!

  • mariah

    I would like to improve my fitting skills–i always find that choosing the right size is a scary prospect for me–i guess i need to practice matching my measurements with the finished garment size more accurately… luckily it seems like the patterns I’ve bought recently are good at giving the amount of ease built into the garment :-)

  • http://makingitwell.blogspot.com Jo

    I want to improve my lining skills as they scare me haha!

  • Lisa Eck

    Draping! My draping skills are not so great and I definitely need some improvement. I am an “oldie” and I use nothing but paper patterns to sew. Well, when I went to the fashion school 25 years ago, draping was something we didn’t learn there. Wow! This smells a little dusty, it doesn’t? ☺
    I remember when I used to see famous designers on TV draping around their dress form, but I didn’t think that years later it would be so popular and everyone would be doing that ☺

  • Nathalie

    Really have to try working with knits again! wumbs ät gmx döt de

  • http://gravatar.com/wowbunnies Colonel Hazard

    I need to work on my sewing machine phobia — I always do things by hand but it takes so much more time. I really need to sit down with my machine and re-teach myself how to use it, and keep practicing. That book might be a good aid!

  • http://disaster-inadress.blogspot.com Hazel

    lovely giveaway, the fabric looks lovely! I’d like to improve my finishing techniques, I always feel I rush that part so I can get to wear my garments quicker! hazel.berryman (at) hotmail.com

  • http://cmanas.wordpress.com Manas

    Buttonholes! What a wonderful giveaway. carita dot kazakoff at gmail dot com

  • http://www.soverycharming.blogspot.com Jessica

    I don’t think my comment went though. I need help with garment construction. Every time I try to make something wearable I end up in tears and a huge mess so mostly I stick to quilts. My cutting skills could also use work.

  • Heather

    I would like to work on finishing my seams in neater ways. Everything always looks so sloppy!

  • http://www.showandtellmeg.com Show and Tell Meg

    I’d love to improve my finishing skills on the insides of my garments. At the moment I mostly just pink the seams, but I’d love to get the official word on how to do other treatments.

  • Ybat

    Hello, I have been sewing for years for my niece and nephew so I have very little experience putting in zippers. This summer I would like to make some clothes for myself so I would love to get more experience with putting in different styles of zippers. batresyohana@yahoo.com

  • mary mac

    I need to improve my sewing skills with knits.

  • http://symondezyn.wordpress.com symondezyn

    I feel like a total brat entering this giveaway because I also entered the one over at Jen’s blog LOL – but I couldn’t resist – that wool is so cool!! ^_^ Thanks for hosting the giveaway, and in answer to the question, I really need to perfect my zipper skills. They were good when I first started out sewing but I appear to have lost my knack, so I’m determined to get it back! (that totally rhymes LOL)

  • https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007738904099 Elisabete Santos

    I just want to start sewing after reading your blog dear Rochelle. So, my mom just offered me a sewing machine (because I’m broke, hehe)! I ordered some vintage patterns from Etsy and soon I will be sewing my first project and I will be starting with a skirt. So, I need to learn ALL! But it’s so exciting :-)

    Miss Beta

  • http://www.soverycharming.blogspot.com Jessica

    My attempts to make anything wearable always ends in frustration and tears, so I often stick with quilting. I’d love to make something actually wearable!

  • Angie H.

    I would like to work on my fitting skills. I tend to buy a pattern and just hope for the best. I haven’t cut into some of my more expensive fabric for fear of messing it up! so sad…I really need a fitting class.

  • daniela portales

    I need to work on really sewing neater because my projects tend to come out lopsided. Like for example, the bottom of a skirt might be longer on one side than the other. Whoops! Also I need to improve everything having to do with creating a pattern from scratch.

  • http://elenaknits.wordpress.com Elena Knits

    I tried to leave you a comment but I got a bad gateway error :(

    I want to thank you for this giveaway. I would like to get better at finishings.

    elenaknits (at) gmail (dot) com

  • Tina C.

    Fitting… I so need fitting instruction!

  • http://cookinandcraftin.blogspot.com/ Meg

    Zippers! Particularly the invisible ones.

  • Norma

    I would love to improve my sewing skills with knits, how to pick ’em (when buying online), characteristics, what type to use for specific garments.

  • Tiffany

    I’d like to get better at drafting facings that don’t pucker, and drafting, in general.

  • Jennifer Sustar

    I need to work on my fitting skills and more patiences at working a project all the way through, making it the best it can possibly be. Not just rushing so I can have it finished.

  • Karen U

    I swear I left a comment yesterday….I would love to lose the fear of inserting zippers. I lack total confidence in a good finished look. Thanks! narekkm at g mail dot com

  • http://gravatar.com/sewcookgardenrepeat Carlee

    I’d love to master set-in sleeves! So far all my handmades are sleeveless!

  • Tracy Dawson

    I need to work on my tailoring skills, need to make look more professional not messy.

  • Laura

    I’d love to get better at a lot of things, but I think that sewing zips has to be the most urgent!

  • http://dotmadgirl.blogspot.fi/ Essi P

    That fabric is absolutely gorgeous, I love the colour. I need to improve on fitting and button holes. and my email address is essi.prykari(a)gmail.com

  • http://www.debajo-un-boton.com Ana

    Closures! And matching prints, which I haven’t even attempted yet.

  • Tina

    Zippers! I’m quite scared of them…. /Tina garnludd@gmail.com

  • Judith

    Zips, I am scared of zips, really, not leeches or salmonella, zips!

  • http://crinolinerobot.blogspot.com Mim

    Please enter me for the giveaway! I am an utter n00b (embroidery aside) so I need to learn pretty much everything. I read sewing blogs so when I do start, I won’t make really obvious mistakes.

  • Mary Carol

    I’d like to improve my hand sewing, and sleeve insertion. Thanks!

  • Sarah Boyd

    Oh what a lovely giveaway, I would like to improve on my fit whilst dressmaking and finishing off so it look pretty, also lining

  • MelodyJ

  • Louise

    Thank you for the giveaway. Since I class myself as a beginner at sewing I think this book would be perfect for me as I need to improve in all areas of my sewing skills!

  • Melanie

    My main Goal is to improve the Fitting. Maybe the i will wear the things i create more

  • http://rachsews.wordpress.com rachsews

    I need to work on fitting skills and pattern matching.

  • Nikie

    I would love to better fit garments for myself, thanks for the chance to win 😉

  • sarah

    my goal for this year is to make something for myself and so i would like to improve on fitting skills as so far i have made clothes for everyone else bar me.

  • My Sewing Suite

    I would like to improve my Hand sewing skills.

  • Nicole

    I need to improve my skills on making fitted skirts and pants, as I have larger hips and a small waist- gathered skirts are easy, but to make fitted skirts lay smoothly, and fit everywhere, is hard!

  • Treva Putsche

    I sew want to improve my fitting issues for myself.
    Treva Putsche

  • http://Anneshjemmehygge.blogspot.dk Anne

    I’d like to be better at finishing nicely and to fit patterns to me.

  • Carolyn Wong

    Fitting issues, too often my garments are loose and shapeless.Or gapes.

  • Chris

    I can quilt, make craft items, drapes, curtains, children’s clothes no problems but making clothes for myself, not so great. I need to work on this.

  • http://akramsideas.com Akram Taghavi-Burris

    Everything! I’m still kind of a noob when it comes to sewing, though I’ve got several sewing projects under my belt now, I think I’d really like to better my skills in the area of better fittings. (akram@akramsideas.com)

  • Erin

    Zippers and buttons!

  • Megan

    so many areas need improving- zips, sewing with knits, learning how to umake full use of the various feet…. but most of all I wish I was better at modifiying patterns

  • http://Craftsanctuary.com Ashley

    I’d love to be better with waistbands. I never can seem to get them quite right! They’re always gaping, bulkiness, too-tight, etc.

  • Joy

    I want to make shirts – I have signed up for the author’s Craftsy class and it’s still a little daunting!

  • Amy

    I want to try a flat-felled seam and a french seam on upcoming projects.

  • http://www.thesewcialist.blogspot.com Caroline

    I would love to start to really focus on quality finishings. I could use a little more knowledge but I also need to feel more comfortable and stop being lazy… :)

  • http://buzzofthebees.wordpress.com Mrs. Bee

    I’d love to be able to modify pattern. I’ve made garments before but I don’t know how to make a muslin and what to do with them if I did! I’d love to be able to do this.

  • Chastity

    I could use some help setting buttons and sewing machine and hand stitched button holes.

  • http://www.diannetalley.com Dianne Talley

    I want to work on bound button holes. I would love to make myself some vintage type jackets.

  • sharon

    Understanding some pre1970 pattern instructions. Working on slowly sewing a wool 1960’s suit at the moment. And agree with above comment about correct fitting.

  • http://make.rebekahheacock.org Rebekah

    I just made my first dress last weekend, and I have so many things to work on: precise hems, sewing curves, working with knits. That said, though, I’d really love to make a collared, button-up shirt!

  • Kathy Davis

    I would love to improve my applique skills. Thanks, Kathy

  • https://plus.google.com/103116098474630742966 Colette Godfrey

    I need some more zipper tips!

  • http://steviesews.blogspot.com/ Stevie

    While I am a newbie and need to improve on everything! I would say zippers are a hurdle I need to cross soon!

  • http://twitter.com/em_originals Esz (@em_originals)

    Oooh what a great comp! I would love to improve my welt pockets. Since I’ve only ever done one, as a trial on a muslin. And its for a client so I need to get the ‘real’ one right!
    I’d also like to improve my fitting for other people. Its not that I’ve not had success lately – but I am flying by the seat of my pants, so I’m most likely not very efficient or accurate. Its all worked out in the end but I’d probably save myself a lot of time if I was better at it. 😀

  • http://gravatar.com/susanbryand SUSAN

    I’d like to work on my hemming…

  • http://cathywu.com/journal/treadling/ cathy

    I would improve my facing techniques!

  • http://dreamingdashie.wordpress.com macinic

    Ohh, Lovely!!! 😉 I’ve been working very hard on my fitting & knit skills, but suddenly, I’ve realised I never nailed hem/armhole finishes on floaty wovens! So, lots of lightweight bias strip finishes before I destroy some silk! 😉

  • http://sofenshjorne.blogs.no Janne

    I want to improve my skills with the overlocker/serger. There are so many possibiities!

    jachelno at gmail dot com

  • http://kaorumarie.blogspot.com KaoruMarie

    what beautiful fabric! I’ve never done flat-felled seams, so that’s definitely something I want to try and then improve.

  • http://irishthredhead.blogspot.ie/ Aoife

    Ooh, I like the sound of this book – one for the reference library! I have yet to sew with knits so that’s definitely a skill I want to learn, they make such flattering and easy-going clothes.

  • http://Sewnbyelizabeth.blogspot.com.au Liz

    Woo hoo! I’d like to work on my hand stitches. I avoid it at all costs!

  • http://thoroughlymodernvintage.blogspot.com Jenifir

    While there are many skills that could use little bits of improvement and tweaking, I know that I need to be more patient and do more fitting and altering with a muslin. Paper pattern pin fitting and measurement based alterations just are not living up to standard in a finished garment. Impatience(and lazy, wishful thinking) seems to win…sigh!

  • http://www.thehomeyowl.blogspot.com Stacia

    Oh how exciting! I’m definitely going to be checking this one out! I want to get better at altering my clothes for a good fit and self-drafting patterns based on clothes I already have and love. baskin . stacia @ gmail . com Thanks for pointing the book out to me!

  • http://www.laurasinclair.com.au sewlaurasew

    Wow, that fabric is gorgeous! My main sewing nemesis at the moment is the lapped zipper. I’m hoping I can have them looking… less weird by the end of the year. :) laura.h.sinclair @ gmail.com

  • http://dreamingofavonlea.wordpress.com Dreaming of Avonlea

    What a lovely looking book and that fabric is uh-may-zing. I’d love to improve my hand sewing including buttonholes and putting zips in! x

  • http://secretlystitching.blogspot.gr/ Mara

    I need to improve my button holes and collars, grecomara at gmail dot com

  • http://tumbleweedsinthewind.blogspot.com EmSewCrazy

    Ooh sounds like a great reference book for our libraries. That wool is gorgeous too.
    I’d love to improve my buttonhole techniques. I never get placement exactly right or know whether they can go up or down.
    Emily from emsewcrazy(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • karolina

    I would like to improve my skills in details such as insert a zipper, pockets, interface, buttonholes etc for that perfect finish.

  • Katie Emma

    I need to work on topstitching – it’s one of those things that can really elevate the look of sewn garments but can also get wonky and sad so easily. Love Christine and her work, thanks for hosting on the tour!

  • Helene

    I always want to be a better stitcher, here’s hoping maybe I win! Thanks for sharing, Rochelle!

  • http://www.missourimel.com Melissa Miller

    I need to work on free motion quilting.

  • http://www.oldfashionedwhimsy.blogspot.com Alesha

    I’m earnestly working to improve my fitting skills and techniques. I want to be at a place where I love to wear what I make because it fits properly. Often times, I finish a garment and hardly ever wear it because I’m simply not happy with it. So, that is something I would definitely like to improve on.

    xoxo, Alesha

  • Karina Reid

    I would love to learn about adjustments and fitting a pattern!

  • Emily

    I would like to learn to sew clothes, which is not one skill, but would be the end goal…I’m thinking this book would help!

  • Ellen

    I have sewn for many years, at least 50 plus, yet I still feel I need to improve my finishing. Maybe I’m hurrying, but it is often the last details that disappoint.

  • http://dressingakaiser.blogspot.com Jen

    I’d personally love to get better with finishing techniques such as seam binding and facings. I love making a garment as pretty on the inside as the outside and I like to make them last. 😀 The book looks so interesting, I’ll have to add it to my wishlist. Thank you for sharing.

  • http://maqda.blogspot.com/ Maqda

    Sleeves. Setting, fitting, everything about doing them is a nightmare for me. I just hope that practice really makes perfect.

  • Katie

    I’d love to learn how to sew a fly! Want to make some jean shorts this summer!

  • http://www.bluebirdssinging.blogspot.com Joanne

    That wool is beautiful! I’m am currently struggling with 2 things–a) finishing projects, and b) fitting sleeves. Also, buttonholes. Okay, that’s 3, but I’m not sure anything but a kick in the pants would fix the first.

  • http://gravatar.com/essian essian

    Definitely fitting. Handling thick fabric would be good too. And which corners you can cut and which you can’t…when is it really important to be accurate.

  • http://gravatar.com/tinygoldenpins Colleen

    What beautiful fabric! I so want to learn how to fit my rather, er, large bust. I just can’t seem to logic out the FBA and so I usually end up with baggy shoulders.

  • http://kaizenfashionproject.blogspot.com Heather S

    I’d like to improve my embroidery!

  • http://errantpear.blogspot.com Claire

    Oooh… that wool is so eye-catching! A technique I would like to work on this year is getting better with knits – specifically with figuring out tension. I would really like to be able to make myself a T-shirt, as boring as that sounds. Once I can tackle that, I can move onto merino wool wrap sweaters, comfy dresses, maybe even running wear!

  • http://abookblogofonesown.blogspot.fi Tiina

    What a lovely giveaway! I would like to improve my skills sewing collars

  • Forrest

    I would like to get better at hand-stitching. I have no consistency with my stitch size! It’s so annoying!

  • http://gravatar.com/raevenfea Rae

    Hemming has always been my kryptonite. In fact, the last three bits of clothing I’ve sewn—all dresses—all either have hem-taped hems still (worn once each), or a hem that is in severe need of ripping and redoing.

  • http://www,kittenishbehaviourblog.com Sian

    I would love to learn some new zipper techniques

  • http://3outsidetheskinny.blogspot.com/ threeoutside

    I’m a very basic (beginner level, though I’ve sewn a lot over the decades) sewist (love that word, btw!) so I need to start basic: seam edging. My seams tend to unravel (I don’t have a serger).

  • http://riange.blogspot.com Angela

    Aside from fitting, I’d truly love to install an invisible zip that is…invisible.

  • http://blog.knitbitch.dk/ knitbitch

    Oh I’d like to improve my fitting skills when it comes to my own fitting .- fitting for others seems to go ok…..

  • http://sewcialwarrior.wordpress.com sewcialwarrior

    I’d like to improve my fitting and drafting skills.

  • Rhi

    I’d mostly like to improve my fitting skills- learn how to do an fba for example. It’s great to be able to make nice clothes, less great when they don’t fit right and are tight around the bust etc!

  • http://Teafortwodiary.blogspot.com Jen

    There are so many things I’d like to improve on! But to pick one right now it would probably be linings.

  • http://sewinsteady.blogspot.com Sue

    This book looks SO AWESOME. And, beautiful. 😀
    I need to work on my zipper-inserting skills, and altering patterns to improve fit, and sewing with slippery fabrics, and… well, there are a lot of things, haha.
    I would love to win this giveaway and I’m definitely planning on picking up Christine’s book!

  • http://luxperdiem.com paige p @ lpd

    count me in!

  • http://submissivebydesign.com Sarah

    I grew up wearing handmade clothing and it’s unfortunate that I didn’t learn to sew as a child. I understand some basic concepts, but I consider myself a beginner. What I love most about this site and sites like it is the energy and breath you’ve given to sewing overall. It’s such a cornucopia of eye candy goodness that leaves me glaring at my machine wanting to do something, anything right now! :-)

  • http://almondrock.co.uk Amy

    I’d really like to work on fitting clothes to different types of bodies this year. I’m hoping to dip my toe into menswear and making for friends!

  • Angie

    Thanks for hosting! I’m trying to work on making the insides of my projects as nice as the outsides (or at least, functionally finished. No more fraying seam allowances!)

  • Leah Thomas

    I really want to get better at fitting. That book looks wonderful and fabric is gorgeous!

  • Jennifer

    I would really like to improve my fitting skills as well as my knowledge about sewing with knit fabrics!

  • Leah

    I would like to improve my fitting skills. The book looks wonderful and that fabric is gorgeous!

  • Tanja Haack

    Pants. Me and pants are not friends. If I can learn that, I will be a happy.

  • http://vintagezest.wordpress.com vintagezest

    I would REALLY like to improve my fitting skills as well! I wouldn’t mind tips for everything from A to Z because sometimes I wonder how well I do those steps too. :)

    Diane : vintagezest (at) gmail (dot) com

  • Shelley Gibb

    I would like to be better at adding a linings and sewing knits and fine fabric. The book looks fab. Thank you.

  • Sarah C

    My goals this year are becoming more professional at fitting and closures.

  • http://morvenshandmades.blogspot.de/ Morven’s Handmades

    That’s really gorgeous fabric and I’d love to make something out of it.
    And I really need to improve my knowledge on modifying/adjusting bodice patterns, my darts always get misplaced.

  • Henna

    I love the vintage notions and the fabric! I really want to see the book’s picture tutorial of making sleeve cuffs and plackets – I need to get better at putting those together!

  • http://archmom.com Toni

    Buttonholes. Not sure why, but I really despise them.

  • http://booksbobbins.blogspot.com Amy W

    Fitting!!! It’s the big road block for me.

  • http://casehanks.wordpress.com anniehanks

    I want to improve the fit of my garments and finishing techniques.

  • http://gravatar.com/themeriwether Meriwether

    I’d like to improve my fitting skills, but I guess that isn’t really sewing. So learning bound buttonholes would be it.

  • http://diyinterrupted.com sarah

    I want to improve my serger skills!

  • http://www.somanypatternssewlittletime.blogspot.com sewlittletime

    ooh lovely! i am trying to improve my topstitching and understitching as i’m not great at getting them nice and straight!

  • http://sewclassic.blogspot.com Kristin

    I’d really love to improve my draping skills – I can usually drape on my dress form but I can’t transfer that to a finished product!

  • Jessica R

    I’ve just started out with sewing, so could do with improving ALL my skills! Think if I won, I would have to save that beautiful fabric til I know a bit better what on earth I’m doing!

  • http://pootleandmake.wordpress.com Pootle and Make

    What beautiful fabric. I’d like know about tailoring techniques as I’d like to make a coat this year.

  • http://www.shanniloves.blogspot.com ShanniLoves

    I’m always looking to improve upon my fitting skills!
    Fingers crossed, that fabric is lovely!

  • Hannah

    That wool is so pretty! I’m very much a beginner sewer, so I’d like to better at all kinds of ZIPS.

    • Lynne Johnson

      I haven’t sewn for myself in ages. My goal this year is to remedy that. Improving my fitting skills would help me move forward. What a wonderful incentive the lovely fabric would be too.


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Type: response

text:
designeratheart's Blog

  • Advertise with us
This blog is written by designeratheart | 0 entries so far

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-180-206-219.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2015-22
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for May 2015
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


text:
Superman Scroll Saw Plaque

  • Advertise with us
Project by WoodJediNTraining posted 01-11-2011 05:53 AM 3186 views 1 time favorited 3 comments Add to Favorites Watch
Superman Scroll Saw Plaque
Superman Scroll Saw Plaque No picture No picture No picture No picture No picture
Zoom Pictures

Im a huge fan of Superman .. this was a scroll saw Project I made to hang in my shop..

-- Newbie, aka Wood_Jedi,

3 comments so far

View majuvla's profile

4728 posts in 1772 days

#1 posted 01-12-2011 10:49 AM

Great sign.Can I weare it?

-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted

View EmeraldDragon's profile

145 posts in 1074 days

#2 posted 08-28-2012 03:17 AM

Did you see my Batman one?

-- There are countless woodworking plans but have you checked out God's plan? Jeremiah 29:11

View WoodJediNTraining's profile

409 posts in 1598 days

#3 posted 08-28-2012 03:57 AM

No Emerald I havent, but I am going to go look

-- Newbie, aka Wood_Jedi,

Have your say...

You must be signed in to post the comments.

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics


text:
Game Chip Holder

  • Advertise with us
Project by Norris posted 01-12-2013 01:53 AM 1213 views 6 times favorited 6 comments Add to Favorites Watch

I made this case to hold a set of custom poker chips for a game that my wife and I play. If any of you have played “Power Grid”, you’ll probably agree that working with the paper money included with the game can be a bit of a hassle.

I made the poker chips using cheap blanks and some mailing labels. The case itself is made from two lengths of 1X6 walnut with maple spacers. I bored the holes using a 40mm forstner bit. The whole assembly was then wrapped with some scrap walnut strips with the ends bored to show the chips inside. Sanded and finished with 3 coats of amber shellac.

The interior sanding is quite rough, but generally speaking I’m happy with how it turned out. I chose the dimensions of the case so that it would fit inside the game box. Instead, I think this looks just fine sitting on the shelf.

6 comments so far

View Monte Pittman's profile

Monte Pittman

16966 posts in 1243 days

#1 posted 01-12-2013 01:57 AM

Nice job on the case

-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it.

View gsimon's profile

725 posts in 1018 days

#2 posted 01-12-2013 02:05 AM

nice job – looks pro!

-- Greg Simon

View a1Jim's profile (online now)

113254 posts in 2482 days

#3 posted 01-12-2013 06:27 AM

Very cool chip holder.

-- Custom furniture

View Boxguy's profile

1680 posts in 1172 days

#4 posted 01-12-2013 10:12 AM

Norris, I like this box. Is is purpose-driven and is nicely designed to do a specific job well. It is not clearly stated in your explanation, but you bored 5 holes 400 mm in diameter into a piece of walnut…4×6? You then used a band saw or tablesaw to cut the bored pieces in half and create the troughs. You didn’t state the overall size of the finished box, so it is hard to tell from just the pictures.

I have some questions: How did you extend the bit length or did you bore from two sides? Did you hand sand the troughs with a rounded block? Could you have mounted the sanding block on a lathe? Is this design really heavy? I think you made a good choice not 45ing the corners of the holders. But for the record, why did you do that? Did you print the mailing labels or buy them somewhere? You have spent quite a bit of time thinking this out and working out the details well. Are there other tips you would care to pass along?

I agree with you that this looks fine sitting on the shelf instead of hidden in a box. It is a nice job and good solution to a problem. You should be proud of how this turned out, it is beautiful. Thanks for sharing this with us I enjoyed seeing it. Keep boxing and keep posting.

-- Big Al in IN

View Norris's profile

6 posts in 2042 days

#5 posted 01-12-2013 03:06 PM

Thanks for all kind words everyone. This project was all about firsts and experimentation for me. Suffice to say that almost every aspect of this project was something I’d never tried before. In all honesty, this project’s main purpose was to keep my mind occupied before my daughter was born.

Boxguy, in resonse to your questions, the finished dimensions are 9 3/4”L X 5 1/4”W x 2”H. The case weighs about 2 lbs empty, and 6 or 7 lbs with the chips in it.

The case did actually start as two pieces of 1X6 about 9 1/4” long. I didn’t have access to any 4X6 material, or a bandsaw to cut it for that matter. Instead, I laminated strips of maple onto the plank across the width. For the center of the bores I used some sacrificial pieces of poplar to keep the bit centered. I matched the two halves together and fastended them using clamps and plenty of masking tape.

Cutting the bores was the most stressful part of the project. I don’t have a drill press, but thankfully, a friend of mine let me invade his shop for a few hours. We ended up starting the bores on his milling machine, which gave us a lot more control over the speed of the cut. Unfortunately, the plunge length on the machine meant we had to switch to his drill press with a bit extender to finish the bores. You can see the transition in the thrid picture.

All of the sanding was done by hand. I didn’t buy a rounded block, but wrapped some of the paper I had around a D-cell battery. I didn’t 45 the corners because I bored the holes before preparing the strips for wrapping. I was worried that the planks might start to bow or twist after I removed so much material, so I opted for the simple joint so I could reinforce the troughs more quickly.

As for the chips, the mailing labels were full page labels that I got at Office Max. I printed the images on my home printer and cut them out by hand. A lot of piddly details and handwork, but it kept my mind occupied.

View Boxguy's profile

1680 posts in 1172 days

#6 posted 01-12-2013 09:03 PM

Norris, thanks for taking time to answer my questions. The D battery idea was a nice surprise. I hope you and your daughter and her mother are doing well and have started your new adventure in life together. Your build was a nice job of problem solving all around. Thanks for sharing.

-- Big Al in IN

Have your say...

You must be signed in to post the comments.

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics


text:
Spiral Dream

  • Advertise with us
Project by HumidorMinister posted 08-29-2013 11:10 PM 2349 views 14 times favorited 47 comments Add to Favorites Watch

May I present “Spiral Dream” my entry for the Baleigh tools contest here on LJ. Please visit the cntest for all the details.

I added one last picture. I studied up on taking better photos, let me know if I did ok. Thanks.

-- What you listen to is your business...what you hear is ours.

47 comments so far

View Ronald G Campbell 's profile

Ronald G Campbell

676 posts in 909 days

#1 posted 08-29-2013 11:23 PM

Bill congrats this is just a great piece

-- Ron Campbell

View diggerdelaney's profile

292 posts in 2655 days

#2 posted 08-29-2013 11:25 PM

Fantastic piece hope it does well in the contest. I have always wanted to do a vase with a spiral but never have had the nerve to do one let alone doing a lid and finial as well.

-- Derek, Kent, UK,

View RogerBean's profile

1387 posts in 1858 days

#3 posted 08-29-2013 11:35 PM

Exquisite. Nicely done.

-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)

View dclark1943's profile

186 posts in 1092 days

#4 posted 08-29-2013 11:37 PM

Good Golly, is there no end to your talent? What a beautiful piece! I admire your talents!

-- Dave, Kansas City

View Dave G's profile

Dave G

212 posts in 953 days

#5 posted 08-30-2013 12:01 AM

Truly a most beautiful piece.

-- Dave, New England - “We are made to persist. that's how we find out who we are.” ― Tobias Wolff

View HumidorMinister's profile

410 posts in 2288 days

#6 posted 08-30-2013 12:03 AM

Thanks guys, but I just take off the sawdust, you all inspire me to do so. Thank you!

-- What you listen to is your business...what you hear is ours.

View HillbillyShooter's profile

5234 posts in 1197 days

#7 posted 08-30-2013 12:20 AM

Elegant! Beautifully done—best wishes on the contest.

-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington

View lew's profile

10400 posts in 2660 days

#8 posted 08-30-2013 12:22 AM

Looks like first place, to me!!

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the Universe's finest custom rolling pins.

View MShort's profile

1744 posts in 2323 days

#9 posted 08-30-2013 01:29 AM

Wow Bill. Your work is always amazing but this is jaw dropping. EXCELLENT !!!!

-- Mike, Missouri --- “A positive life can not happen with a negative mind.” ---

View Northwest29's profile

1122 posts in 1395 days

#10 posted 08-30-2013 01:36 AM

Absolutely amazing!! Excellent craftsmanship.

-- Ron, Eugene, OR, "Curiosity is a terrible thing to waste."

View MarkTheFiddler's profile

1966 posts in 1093 days

#11 posted 08-30-2013 03:18 AM

Just – amazing! Wow!

-- Thanks for all the lessons!

View a1Jim's profile (online now)

113255 posts in 2482 days

#12 posted 08-30-2013 03:39 AM

Very very cool,amazing workmanship.

-- Custom furniture

View BBF's profile

142 posts in 744 days

#13 posted 08-30-2013 03:42 AM

-- I've never been disappointed buying quality but I have been disappointed buying good enough.

View peteg's profile

3198 posts in 1727 days

#14 posted 08-30-2013 03:46 AM

Bill a simply fabulous piece of design, skill, & patience, I defy anybody to walk past this piece & not turn their head.

Congratulations also for the cover on the WOW ( World of Wood turners) site, richly deserved :)

-- Pete G: If you always do what you always did you'll always get what you always got

View Oldtool's profile

2026 posts in 1095 days

#15 posted 08-30-2013 03:46 AM

AMAZING. Enough said.

-- "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The point is to bring them the real facts." - Abraham Lincoln

showing 1 through 15 of 47 comments

Have your say...

You must be signed in to post the comments.

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics


text:
Reply by Quentin

  • Advertise with us

Posted on A Special Tribute To Niki

View Quentin's profile

47 posts in 3051 days

#1 posted 09-29-2007 06:14 PM

Niki’s posts are my favourite posts and the ones that I always read! Please keep up the good work Niki. A book sounds like a great idea!

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics


text:
Reply by grfrazee

  • Advertise with us

Posted on Construction Grade SYP Roubo

View grfrazee's profile

356 posts in 1044 days

#1 posted 11-05-2012 01:02 AM

Thanks for the Benchcrafted link.

I bought some leg vise and end vise hardware from Lee Valley a couple weeks ago. The Benchcrafted hardware looks amazing, but a little out of my price range. I’m also planning to make a Moxon vise this next weekend, but I got a couple veneer press screws for that.

-- -=Pride is not a sin=-

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics


WARC-Truncated: length

text:
The July 2013 issue of the PCLinuxOS Magazine.

Posted by meemaw on Jul 1, 2013 8:04 PM EDT
Mail this story
Print this story

The PCLinuxOS Magazine staff is pleased to announce the release of the July 2013 issue of the PCLinuxOS Magazine.

The PCLinuxOS Magazine is a product of the PCLinuxOS community, published by volunteers from the community. The magazine is lead by Paul Arnote, Chief Editor, and Assistant Editor Meemaw. The PCLinuxOS Magazine is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share-Alike 3.0 Unported license, and some rights are reserved.

In the July 2013 issue:

* LibreOffice Tips & Tricks, Part 1 * Running A Simple HTTPD Server * dmidecode: See What Your BIOS Has to Say * Game Zone: Sacred Citadel * Xfce Power User Tips, Tricks & Tweaks: File Utilities, Part 1 * PCLinuxOS Puzzled Partitions * Inkscape Tutorial: A Torn Paper Effect * PCLinuxOS Recipe Corner * ms_meme’s Nook: Sandbox Blues * My Mobile Home Park’s Wifi Setup * And much more inside!

This month’s magazine cover was designed by parnote and Meemaw, and features Rudge’s dog, Molly.

Download the PDF (7.7 MB) http://pclosmag.com/download.php?f=2013-07.pdf

Download the EPUB Version (9.1 MB) http://pclosmag.com/pdf/201307epub.epub

Download the MOBI Version (6.6 MB) http://pclosmag.com/pdf/201307mobi.mobi

Visit the HTML Version http://pclosmag.com/html/enter.html

» Read more about: Story Type: News Story; Groups: Community, Linux

« Return to the newswire homepage

This topic does not have any threads posted yet!

You cannot post until you login.


text:
Lowcountry Headlines

Woman rescued from Ashley River

Woman rescued from Ashley River

From our News Partners at WCBD-TV:

A woman was rescued from the Ashley River Sunday afternoon after being swept away by the current.

According to officials, two women jumped into the river to cool off. The current began pulling both women away from the shore. One of those women was able to pull herself out of the water and called 911 to help her friend.

Shortly after 3:00 Sunday afternoon, authorities from the Coast Guard, Charleston County Rescue and other agencies reported to Devereaux Street in downtown Charleston.

Jaydan Raybin was near the incident when noticed the woman who was able to escape from the water run for help.

"She happened to get out, call 911 and then came and ran down our dock to look for her friend," Raybin said. "Then we saw her running back and then police started coming here. It was about an hour until they found her."

Crews located the missing swimmer in a marsh just a few docks down from where the currents took her.

Officials with the U.S. Coast Guard say these type of incidents happen too often in Charleston.

"It is probably one of the most important things here," Lieutenant Commander Derek Beatty said. "We've had a number of cases where people have been either injured, killed or rescued because of the currents."

Currents can become difficult to swim in because of changing tides. Beatty is urging people to be water aware before jumping in.

"People need to be cognizant of when the tides is coming in or going out," he said. "As the tide shifts, that's when you usually have the strongest currents and that's probably the most important thing: pay attention to the currents."

On average, the Coast Guard handles 600 water rescues a year. So far this year, they are on track to have fewer rescues than average.

Image courtesy of WCBD-TV.

More Articles


text:
Asthma Triggers Lurk Indoors in Winter

December 06, 2012; 11:35 AM

People who have seasonal allergies often view winter as a time of year to catch a break. The lack of airborne pollens and grasses has many of them breathing a sigh of relief.

But for some people with asthma, the wind and cold are just backdrops to a season of misery. This is because they are sensitive to indoor allergens. Spending more time inside brings greater exposure to dust, pet dander, mold, cockroaches, and other allergens.

Asthma triggers cause airways to swell and narrow, making it hard to breathe. But you can help prevent allergy-induced asthma symptoms in the home.

What you can do

Control dust mites

Dust mites are tiny bugs that live in dust. They are mostly found in mattresses, pillows, carpet, and bedding. Their droppings are a common allergy and asthma trigger. Be sure to:

-Cover mattresses and pillows with airtight covers.

-Keep household humidity below 40 percent.

-Remove carpets, rugs, and heavy curtains from bedrooms.

-Wash bedding in hot water every 7 to 10 days; dry in a hot dryer.

-Remove extra clutter that will collect dust.

-Dust weekly with a damp cloth. Wear a respirator when you dust.

-Vacuum rugs and carpets at least once a week.

Eliminate mold

Molds are microscopic fungi with spores that float in the air. Mold grows in moist places during the winter or areas that may not be routinely cleaned and disinfected:

-Refrigerator seals

-Air vents

-Under kitchen sinks

-Shower ceilings

Click through to read how to get rid of mold

Continue Reading on >

Aches & Pains Allergies Respiratory Cardiac Health

Enter postal code or city...

New York Miami Los Angeles Browse for your location English (US)   °F

Lifestyle Weather

Hunting Fishing Driving Migraine


text:
Weather News

News Blogs

Watch Now: AccuWeather LIVE Discusses Dorian's Track

July 25, 2013; 7:09 PM

On the latest edition of AccuWeather LIVE, our meteorologists provided your up-to-date forecast, and the most current information on Tropical Storm Dorian's progression.

Now that we are officially in the dog days of summer, we explained where that phrase comes from. We also hosted a representative with the New England Aquarium to discuss the biggest water concerns for beachgoers, focusing on how the warmer waters of summer impact marine life populations and bacteria growth.

Additionally, we covered the best ways to help your pets beat the heat this summer.

Dogs and cats are unable to cool themselves the way people can. As Kirsten Theisen, the director of Pet Care Issues for the Humane Society of the United States, puts it, "Dogs and cats pant through their mouths. Obviously, that means moisture has to leave and if they are breathing very wet air themselves, it's harder for them to cool off through panting or the pads of their feet."

As always, our social segment provided answers to fan questions and our best weather pictures of the week.

If you have a question or photo for us, submit them on our Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ account and tune in at 4 p.m. EDT on Thursday to see if it ends up on the show.

More News

Enter postal code or city...

New York Miami Los Angeles Browse for your location English (US)   °F

Lifestyle Weather

Hunting Fishing Driving Migraine


text:
Monet and the Impressionists

11 Oct 2008 – 26 Jan 2009

Location: Major exhibition gallery

Charges apply

$18.00 adult
$12.00 concession
$12.00 member
$48.00 family (2 adults + up to 3 children)
$5.00 student in booked school group

(left to right) Claude Monet Water lilies 1905, gift of Edward Jackson Holmes, and Charing Cross Bridge (overcast day) 1900, given by Janet Hubbard Stevens in memory of her mother, Janet Watson Hubbard. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, photographs © MFA, Boston


text:
Astros sign lefty Sipp for bullpen duty

Astros sign lefty Sipp for bullpen duty

HOUSTON -- The Astros bolstered their bullpen Friday by agreeing to terms with veteran left-hander Tony Sipp. To make room for him on the roster, right-hander Paul Clemens was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and right-hander Jesse Crain was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

Sipp had appeared in 11 games this season at Triple-A El Paso of the San Diego organization, going 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. He asked for his release from the Padres after it became clear a big league opportunity wasn't on the horizon.

Sipp's agent, Hunter Bledsoe, said he could earn up to $700,000 with incentives.

The 30-year-old comes to the Astros with a career 3.84 ERA in 304 appearances with the Indians (2009-12) and the D-backs last season. He's held lefties to a .224 average in his career and righties to a .209 mark.

"It's definitely kind of a better chance coming to a club searching for some kind of stability and me just, not trying to make a name for myself, but to almost prove to yourself that you still have the same success that you had the last few years," Sipp said. "I had a down year last year, and to get an opportunity to go out there and prove yourself, prove to everyone else that this is where you belong, that's what every player wants. I want to make a home, and there's no better place than Houston."

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Sipp was added to fortify the bullpen, as well as giving manager Bo Porter another left-handed option to join Raul Valdes. Luhnow said the Astros had good reports from Sipp during Spring Training and saw improved control this year, and they like he had success against right-handers and left-handers.

"It gives Bo a lot more flexibility to have two left-handed options in the bullpen," Luhnow said. "I think Valdes has done a nice job, but Bo had to think carefully about when to use that bullet each game, and now he has two options."

Sipp will provide help to an Astros bullpen that ranks last in the Majors in ERA at 5.86 and is tied for the most blown saves with six. Kevin Chapman began the year as the lefty specialist, but was optioned to Triple-A after giving up five runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Sipp joins fellow veterans Chad Qualls and Matt Albers in the bullpen, though Albers is on the disabled list.

"Just like anything, you want to sit back and get acquainted with the guys before I start giving my input," Sipp said on whether he'll serve a leadership role to the young pitchers.

Clemens, 26, has made four appearances for the Astros this season, posting a 4.73 ERA. He pitched on Wednesday against Washington, tossing 3 1/3 innings, while allowing one run.

Crain, 32, has been on the disabled list the entire season while recovering from offseason surgery on his right biceps. He currently is rehabbing at the Astros Spring Training complex in Florida, throwing off flat ground, after being diagnosed with bursitis last week.

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for and writes an MLBlog, Tag's Lines. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Atlanta Braves Bring "Christmas in July" to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

ATLANTA - The temperatures may be hot outside, but it will feel like winter holidays as the Atlanta Braves will be spreading cheer during "Christmas in July" at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston this Friday, July 12. The extraordinary children and their families will meet and mingle with several of their favorite big leaguers including: Tim Hudson, Chris Johnson, Jordan Walden and hitting coach Greg Walker.

Braves players and coaches will spread joy by visiting patients and distributing toys collected during the annual Braves Wives Toy Drive held earlier this season on June 29-30 at Turner Field. Additionally, Braves Manager Fredi Gonzalez, will have a private visit to the Shepherd Center. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston is an Atlanta Braves partner whose mission is to enhance the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. The Shepard Center specializes in the medical treatment, research and rehabilitation of people with spinal cord and brain injuries.


text:
Checkup shows Venters' elbow is on track

Checkup shows Venters' elbow is on track

ATLANTA -- The ulnar collateral ligament in Braves reliever Jonny Venters' surgically repaired left elbow was deemed sound after he received an MRI exam and met with Dr. James Andrews.

Venters has not thrown since receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection a week ago, and he will be shut down for another three to five weeks as the shot takes effect.

"Everything's good," Venters said. "I'm just going to take some time and let that ligament mature a little more and start throwing here in a little bit."

Although Venters hopes he'll be able to throw again in four weeks rather than six, he is mainly relieved the recent soreness he experienced -- even after rest -- was not something more serious.

"I was a little worried because it wasn't feeling much better after a week of rest," Venters said. "Once he looked at the MRI and said ... everything's good in there, I felt better."

The Atlanta bullpen's recent woes are not lost on Venters, who has endured frustration since undergoing Tommy John surgery early last year. The southpaw wants to help his club, but he also has to keep his long-term health in mind.

"It's tough, because I want to pitch and I want to help this team and I want to get out there as soon as possible -- and that's what I'm going to do," Venters said. "I think that's best for my career. … Whenever it's ready, it's ready. Hopefully, it'll be sooner than later."

Joe Morgan is an associate reporter for This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Garza won't throw again until he's pain-free

Garza won't throw again until he's pain-free

MILWAUKEE -- On second thought, Matt Garza's stint on the disabled list for a left rib-cage strain will almost certainly extend beyond the minimum 15 days, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said on Sunday.

Roenicke had expressed a different mindset a day earlier, saying that until he was told otherwise, he was operating under the assumption that Garza would be back immediately. He had updated information Sunday morning.

"He's not [throwing] any time soon," Roenicke told reporters. "Now, I don't know what that means, but the next few days he's not going to throw."

Garza made improvements last week and was pushed in workouts, Roenicke said, leading to some soreness on Saturday.

"He didn't have a setback, but until he is completely pain-free in a bunch of different motions, they're not going to let him throw," Roenicke said.

Garza is eligible to return from the DL beginning Aug. 19, but, "it's not looking good," Roenicke said.

Off-days could allow the Brewers to operate with only four starting pitchers from Thursday, when Mike Fiers starts against the Cubs, until Sept. 3, but at the moment the club intends to continue to keep all five of its starting pitchers in order.

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for Read his blog, Brew Beat, and follow him on Twitter at @AdamMcCalvy. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Osceola County blind puppy looking for new home

Published On: Jan 15 2013 12:30:53 PM EST

Osceola County Animal Services is looking for a home for its 3-month-old blind puppy, Stevie.

Although his eyes still respond to light, Stevie has always had trouble with his vision, but he's learned to use his nose to navigate around and find other pups to play with at Animal Services, officials said.

The department is looking for a new owner for the brindle pup who can provide a safe home with a fenced-in yard along with other stipulations.

“He really needs a family who understands his needs,” said Kim Staton, director of Osceola County Animal Services. “We know there’s a home out there with loving and dedicated people, who can provide a safe, structured environment where Stevie can lead a normal life.”

For more information about Stevie or other animals available for adoption, call (407) 742-8000.

The views expressed are not those of clickorlando.com, WKMG or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum (Please note the 'Flag' button). By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms Of service
blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
Share this story
Close X
Switch to Desktop Site

Secret Service scandal becomes diplomatic embarrassment

The prostitution scandal involving Secret Service agents and military personnel seems not to have caused security breaches. But it is an embarrassment to both institutions, which may be just as serious an offense.

Prostitutes walk in front of the Hotel Caribe in Cartagena, Colombia. As many as 21 women were brought back to the hotel by US Secret Service and military personnel in an incident involving alleged misconduct with prostitutes.

About these ads

The prostitution scandal involving some two dozen US Secret Service agents and military personnel seems not to have caused any security breaches during President Obama’s visit to Colombia for the Summit of the Americas.

But it is an accelerating embarrassment to both institutions, which may be just as serious an offense judging by the response so far.

As of Saturday morning, six Secret Service agents had lost their jobs, either fired or forced to resign, and more can expect to be let go or reprimanded.

Lawmakers are pushing to broaden and deepen the investigation beyond last week’s episode, and Sen. Charles Grassley (R) of Iowa added a political dimension to the affair Friday when he urged Secret Service investigators to check the hotel records for White House advance staff and communications personnel who were in Cartagena for the summit.

RECOMMENDED: Secret Service scandal sheds light on sex tourism in Latin America

The scandal took another political turn when Sarah Palin weighed in after pictures from ousted Secret Service supervisor David Chaney's Facebook profile emerged. He had joked about "really checking her out" after a friend commented on a picture of Palin, with Chaney standing in the background during the 2008 campaign when Palin was the Republican vice-presidential candidate under Secret Service protection.

Palin said the scandal was a sign of "government run amok."

It’s all a reminder that Secret Service agents are trained to do more than handle weapons, check out potentially threatening venues, guard high officials, and “take a bullet” for the president (as one did when John Hinckley attempted to assassinate former president Ronald Reagan in 1981.)
"You will be exposed to so many new experiences, challenges and, yes, temptations," a top official warned a 2002 graduating class of agents, according to a Reuters report.

"A Secret Service agent can sometimes be perceived as celebrity. We are not,” the new agents were told “Your daily conduct must be better than that which is technically legal – your compass must point to that which is right with a clarity and precision that reflects your commitment to this new responsibility."

About these ads

Violating that responsibility is at issue in today’s scandal, which stemmed from agents boasting that they were in Colombia to protect President Obama, then bringing some 20 women back to their hotel rooms. (The episode might have gone unnoticed but for the row that occurred when an agent argued over paying one of the women.)

Based on what is known so far, the after-hours carousing by a Secret Service and military advance team in fact appears to have been technically legal. Prostitution is allowed in Cartagena, Colombia (unless it involves under-age girls or boys).

But engaging prostitutes violates the Secret Service code of conduct (as does adultery), which can result in revocation of an agent’s security clearance. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), patronizing prostitutes can lead to a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and up to a year in prison, the Marine Corps Times has reported.

Senator Susan Collins, the ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said this week the Secret Service is “scrubbing the files and looking at whether there were any hints that there had been previous incidents.”

"Think of all the missions and countries that the Secret Service visits in advance of the president's trips," Sen. Collins told reporters. "I think they should look at disciplinary records, at whether supervisors … had admonished [agents] even informally. My instinct is that this was not one-time."

It’s more than a cliché that Secret Service agents and military personnel represent the United States as unofficial diplomats. Any misconduct can reflect badly on America, which is part of what Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey was talking about when he said, “We let the boss down.”

“What’s striking is the attitude of these agents, who see Colombia as an inferior country, like a bordello,” Senator Armando Benedetti, of Partido de la U, President Juan Manuel Santos’s governing party, told The Daily Beast

“We are not talking about just anyone,” Sen. Benedetti said. “We’re talking about the first and second circle of the most powerful man in the world, a country that is not just a military power but the leading culture in the West. And when they come like this and humiliate these women by not paying them, this says a good deal about how they view us – as inferiors, as though we’re a second-rate country.”

RECOMMENDED: Secret Service scandal sheds light on sex tourism in Latin America

Follow Stories Like This
Get the Monitor stories you care about delivered to your inbox.


text:
Belt sent to Triple-A to make room for Ross

Belt sent to Triple-A to make room for Ross

Belt sent to Triple-A to make room for Ross
DENVER -- The Giants optioned Brandon Belt to Triple-A Fresno with instructions for the first baseman to refine his hitting technique.

Belt, who turned 23 on Wednesday, was dropped from the active Major League roster to accommodate outfielder Cody Ross, who officially left the 15-day disabled list. Ross started in right field and batted fifth in Wednesday's series finale against the Colorado Rockies.

Belt entered Spring Training with the same sort of hype that accompanied 2010 Rookie of the Year Buster Posey's ascent to the Majors. Belt made the Opening Day lineup at first base after hitting .282 in 28 exhibition games, with three home runs and 13 RBIs -- which tied him for second on the team. But consistency eluded the 6-foot-5 Texan, who hit .192 in 17 games with the Giants.

Belt said that he examined videos of himself and realized that a "timing issue" has been causing him to dip the barrel of the bat ever so slightly when he swings.

"I'm fouling balls off, even if I'm getting to them in time," he said. "I'm confident I can fix it pretty soon."

Belt relished his stint with the Giants, short as it was.

"Even though it didn't go the way I wanted, it still was a lot of fun," Belt said. "It gave me an idea of what to expect when I get back here. And hopefully, I'll be back up here sooner than later."


text:
HTC posts more teasers of its One smartphone

18 February, 2013

HTC has felt that teasing its upcoming One smartphone in a quick video just wasn't enough and has decided to release some additional photos.

The photos in question hint at the phone's features such as the phone's mouthwatering ultrapixel camera, quad-core processor and stereo speakers. The speakers will even be front-mounted if the leaked press photos of the device turn out real and not a hoax.

Check out the photos and tell us if you can make out any other clues to the HTC One specs sheet.

According to some rumors, the latest flagship device from HTC will be up for grabs starting from March 22 and the smartphone will be priced at $300 for 64 GB variant and $200 for the 32 GB model in the US. Naturally, those prices only come if you are willing to sign a two-year contract.

The time when we'll get to know all there is to the HTC One is tomorrow at the company's simultaneous press conferences in New York and London. We'll be there, so stay tuned. The event starts at 10:00 AM EST (New York) and 3:00 PM GMT (London).

Source | Via


text:
Transition to Tribe seamless for Gomez

Transition to Tribe seamless for Gomez

The trade might not have exactly sent fans dashing to the ticket windows.

But Chris Gomez has offered an undeniable lift to the Indians since they acquired the utility man from the Orioles for $20,000 on Aug. 10. The 36-year-old former shortstop, who made his debut with Detroit in 1993, had 10 hits in his first 25 at-bats with the Tribe to raise his season average to .314.

And his impact transcends the field. A quiet leader, Gomez is respected by his peers to the point where an offseason story in the Washington Post was headlined, "Utility Man Becomes Key to O's Clubhouse." recently caught up with the Tribe's new addition and talked with him about his life on and off the field. Here are his thoughts: You've been with the Indians during both their season's lowest point in mid-August and probably their highest point right now. Overall, how has your first month in Cleveland gone?

Gomez: It's been great. Fitting in has been easy, because the guys are such great guys. We don't have a lot of big egos in this clubhouse. Guys go out there hard and root for each other. And that's not surprising because we're having a successful year. The adjustment's been pretty seamless. You've always been known as a good guy in the clubhouse, a good leader. Your teammate in Baltimore, Brian Roberts, even pleaded with your general manager to bring you back this season. What is it about your personality or the way you go about the game that's so respected?

Gomez: I don't know. I just like to think I go about it the right way. If you just stay professional and go about your job the right way, try not to get too low when things are going bad and not too high when things are going well, I think guys respect that. I'd like to think I'm supportive of my teammates, root for them. You just try to be a good teammate and respect the game, and hopefully that comes across. Are you into the rah-rah stuff?

Gomez: No, no. [laughs]. I don't think I've ever spoken up in a meeting -- ever. I'm a guy that leads by example, but it's nothing that I do consciously. It's the way I go about things and if guys think that's a leader and something they can feed off of, then great. I don't think leadership can be forced." You've kind of been an all-purpose guy since the start of the 2003 season. Has the utility role gotten any easier over the years, just in terms of knowing how to approach it mentally?

Gomez: I wouldn't say a whole lot easier. I think from Day 1, I embraced the fact that I was going to be a utility guy. That's the biggest thing, not having the ego and thinking, 'Oh I should be the everyday guy. This isn't right.' I never felt like it's a slap in the face or anything like that. Now I'm just getting more comfortable at all of the positions. There's obviously a politically correct answer here, but would you rather be a star -- or rather an everyday player -- on a team not doing all that well or a utility guy on a winning club?

Gomez: It's hard for me to say, because I've never been that star [laughs]. I've always been that complementary type guy. That's hard to say. Obviously, winning is the No. 1 goal. You can have good games and if the team loses, you can't sit there and throw a party and truly enjoy it. The goal is to go out there and help the team win. So having a nice game and helping your team win is the best feeling in this game. Winning has to be the common denominator there. This is your 15th year in the big leagues. Which pitcher, past or present, gave you the most trouble?

Gomez: I've always said Kevin Brown in his prime, which was pretty much his whole career. Just nasty, nasty, stuff. It made for an almost uncomfortable at-bat. He just had violent angry stuff and the ball's moving all over the place. He was the type of guy where your thumb's going to end up hurting because you're getting jammed or you're going to foul one off your ankle trying to save yourself. It was always an uncomfortable situation. What's been your greatest athletic achievement?

: : :   This Edition: Sept. 4, 2007   : : :

Gomez: Gosh, I don't know. It sounds corny, but probably making it to the big leagues. I've always dreamed of that. I remember thinking as a kid, 'What if I don't become a Major League player?' And I'd just be like panicking [laughs]. Like I couldn't believe there was anything else in this world. And for it to actually happen and to have as long a career as I have had, it's really been unbelievable." What are your hobbies/interests away from the game?

Gomez: I've got two small kids now, so it seems like they take up a majority of my time now. But I like all sports, playing them. Which sports?

Gomez: Oh, basketball, definitely. I love playing basketball, probably more than baseball. That's not prohibited in your contract? Yeah, I think it is. But I think that's for organized ball. You can just go shoot around and play a little. I've always said that I want to get in some basketball leagues when I'm done playing. You're always so nervous about getting hurt now. Yeah, I love playing. It's just that all my friends are getting older and are out of shape now, so it's hard to find people who can still play. What position do you play? Shooting guard?

Gomez: Yeah, being a baseball player, whenever I play, I just stay on the outside and shoot. So I think my game is kind of stuck in shooting mode. Are you a big reader?

Gomez: Yeah, I try to be, definitely. Mostly nonfiction. I'm reading all the time, whatever it might be, but mostly nonfiction. I like stuff that I can learn from. Stuff that's actually happened interests me more than any fiction out there. What's the last book you finished?

Gomez: Confessions of an Economic Hitman [John Perkins], actually. It's really good, a scary book.

David Briggs is an associate reporter for This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


text:
Local News

Last-Minute Insurance Shoppers Given Grace Period

Last-Minute Insurance Shoppers Given Grace Period

CHICAGO (AP) — Monday's deadline for signing up for insurance under the new health care law has effectively been extended through Tuesday in case of heavy demand on the government website.

Julie Bataille, a spokeswoman for the federal agency overseeing the Obama administration's health overhaul, says the grace period is being offered to accommodate people from different time zones and to deal with potential technical problems that could result from a last-minute rush of applicants.

Monday was the deadline for Americans who wanted coverage that started on Jan. 1.

The federal HealthCare.gov system serves 36 states. Some other states have also extended enrollment deadlines slightly.

More Articles


text:
Recent escapes show dilemmas of exotic pets

Published On: Aug 14 2013 02:20:37 PM CDT

Atchison County Sheriff's Office

They're not cuddly. And cute is in the eye of the beholder, of course.

But the very idea of keeping animals such as boa constrictors and alligators as pets brings confused reactions from most folks, who much prefer their dogs and cats. Maybe a hamster or an aquarium of small fish.

So the recent news that two big boas in Missouri and an alligator in Kansas were not in their enclosures but loosed on the populace brought understandable outcries, The Kansas City Star reports.

Should we be scared? Just last week, two boys in Canada were killed by an African rock python. The youngsters were on a sleepover at an apartment above a pet shop.

Two boa constrictors kept in a trailer home in Bourbon, Mo., have gone missing, possibly escaped from their enclosures. And an alligator was found in a creek near an Atchison County, Kan., lake last week with a bullet wound.

The alligator was taken to Dana Savorelli's Monkey Island sanctuary in Greenwood, Mo. The alligator had been shot through its snout.

The best way to help it was to leave it alone, Savorelli said.

"These guys are primitive," he said about alligators. "They can come back from anything."

Atchison County Sheriff Jack Laurie said the alligator's owner told the department he had kept alligators for 15 years or so and had hosted school trips to teach youngsters about them.

Savorelli said he expected the alligator owner, Waylon Saxton, to pick up the 3-foot animal this week.

Saxton has said that someone broke into his alligator tank several weeks ago and released the alligator. He planned to make the enclosure more secure.

That won't be enough for some people.

Adam Roberts of Born Free USA said the national nonprofit organization opposes keeping any wild animals as pets, including reptiles such as alligators and large snakes. It maintains a database of exotic animal escapes and related injuries and deaths.

"Missouri and Kansas are not immune to these kinds of incidents," Roberts said. "Really there is no excuse for keeping animals in captivity that way."

Venomous or not - boa constrictors and pythons aren't - they can still bite and inflict harm, Roberts said. Large animals can hurt children or other pets. In Florida, large constrictor snakes have colonized and compete with or devour native wildlife, he said.

"There's an animal welfare problem, a human health and safety problem, and an environmental problem," he said.

State and municipal laws vary about ownership of exotic animals, from bans of certain species to licensing programs to no rules at all. No laws apparently were broken in the keeping of the Atchison alligator or the Bourbon boas.

Roberts said it's unclear whether more people are keeping exotic pets in recent years, but there's no doubt they are much easier to obtain because of their availability on the Internet.

"People have an easier time acquiring these animals compared to 15 or 20 years ago," he said.

When news of the missing boas surfaced in Crawford County near Bourbon, Bill Fitzgerald, owner of Riverside Wildlife Center in nearby Stanton, got a call. The center keeps exotic animals from big cats to non-venomous snakes and little frogs and offers educational programs and tours.

Fitzgerald said the snakes would not have been 9 feet or longer, as had been reported, but probably closer to 6 or 7 feet and about as big around as an arm, judging by the skins that were found.

And while one of the boas was reported missing a few weeks ago and the other this week, he said, the owner is also gone, so it's still possible the owner has one or both of the snakes. The enclosures were proper for boa constrictors, Fitzgerald said, and it's legal to keep them privately.

"It's hard to imagine he would have abandoned them," Fitzgerald said. "For one thing, they're worth several hundred dollars apiece."

These boas are big snakes, he said, but it's a mistake to compare them to the 16-foot python that killed the Canadian boys. The boas can't be considered as dangerous, he said.

"It's a lot to do about nothing," Fitzgerald said about the missing reptiles. "I don't know how it became newsworthy."

If the boas did escape, they will likely head for cover and look for water and food, he said. They won't want to have anything to do with humans, he said.

"They won't chase you," he said. "They would probably crawl away. It's a pretty unwarranted fear."

In any event, one would not have to fear them long. The tropical snakes won't survive the winter here.

"In just a few months, those animals will be dead," Fitzgerald said. "The problem is going to solve itself."

Phil Dickens with the Kansas City Herpetological Society understands why people are drawn to snakes and other reptiles. His group advocates responsible reptile ownership and believes in the captive propagation of reptiles rather than their importation, which he said puts burdens on the wild population.

"I can't really explain what my fascination is with reptiles anymore than someone who likes to keep horses or parrots, which are two animals I have no desire to work with at all," Dickens said.

"From an early age I had an inclination to chase after reptiles as opposed to run away from them."

Dickens used to work with boas and pythons but now handles Mexican pine snakes, corn snakes and milk snakes, to name a few. He likes the breeding aspect, getting a lesser-known species of snake or lizard to breed, especially when only a few people have been successful at it.

Dickens said society members rescued nine alligators last year and took them to a wild animal park.

"People buy them when they're cute and little and they grow rapidly into something they can't handle," Dickens said.

Kansas City Zoo director Randy Wisthoff wishes people would focus on dogs and cats - domesticated animals that actually need homes - and leave other animals in the wild or to the care of professionals.

"There is a danger factor with some of these animals because of their disposition and what it takes to work with them," Wisthoff said. "Getting a crocodile or alligator to be handleable, to be safe to be around, especially when they get to be a certain size, is extremely difficult."

The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.
blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
Police ID Oklahoma City bicyclist killed in hit-and-run

Published On: Feb 06 2013 07:13:56 AM CST   Updated On: Feb 06 2013 11:24:55 AM CST

Oklahoma City police have identified a man they said was killed in an overnight hit-and-run accident.

Police said the body of Joseph Edward Helmka, 58, of Oklahoma City, was found near Northwest 10th Street and MacArthur Boulevard about 2:50 a.m. Helmka was riding a bike that was found crumpled in the middle of the intersection, according to officers.

Investigators believe Helmka may have been going home after being at a nearby bar. They said they have no information on the motorist.

It was extremely foggy in the area at the time of the death but police do not know if that played a role.

While you're here, peruse these breaking news photos from our U Local website. When YOU see breaking news happen, email your photos to ulocal@koco.com -- or post them (and your videos) to http://ulocal.koco.com.

The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.
blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
Spinal Fusion Complications – Pseudarthrosis

Questions? Call Toll-Free 1-

Contact us today. We're here for you seven days a week.

Contact Us By Phone 1-
Am I a Candidate for Surgery? Learn More
Request an MRI Review Submit Information

Spinal Fusion Complications – Pseudarthrosis

As with any surgery, complications with spinal fusion surgery are possible. As a general rule of thumb, the more invasive a surgery is, the higher the risk of complications. It is estimated that at least 20 percent of individuals who undergo spinal fusion surgery experience the most common complication, which is that the surgery is not effective and fails to relieve neck or back pain. This, and similar long-term issues that may arise after spine surgery, is referred to as failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).

FBSS can actually take many forms, ranging from increased pain after surgery to psychological manifestations like depression, insomnia and anxiety. In about five to 10 percent of patients, FBSS is caused by failure of the vertebrae to fully fuse after the surgery. This is a condition called pseudarthrosis.

Pseudarthrosis risk factors

There are a variety of reasons why vertebrae may not properly heal and fuse together following spinal fusion. Risk factors include:

  • Smoking – The chemicals in nicotine decrease circulation and retard bone growth. Studies show that the rate of pseudarthrosis in smokers is nearly twice as high as in non-smokers.
  • Pedicle screws – Small screws are implanted in adjacent vertebrae to hold them in place as the bones fuse, but these screws can break and prevent successful bone growth.
  • Graft migration – A bone graft is placed between the adjacent vertebrae to facilitate the growth of new bone and fusion; the graft is usually placed in a small titanium cage, which can shift over time.

Pseudarthrosis can be one of the more painful spinal fusion complications because it causes symptoms similar to a bone fracture and can lead to nerve compression. A second surgery may be necessary to correct the problem.

Other possible spinal fusion complications

Other possible spinal fusion complications include nerve damage, scar tissue formation, pain above or below the level of fusion and bone graft rejection, among others. To learn more about these risks and find out about minimally invasive alternatives to spinal fusion, contact Laser Spine Institute.

Need an immediate response?

Our live chat feature allows you to talk instantly with a representative.

  • - -

Download your info packet on
Minimally Invasive
Spine Surgery

& receive our e-newsletter.

También disponible en español

What is Laser Spine Surgery? Can Laser Spine Institute Help You?

You can get these answers by attending a medical seminar.

Back to Health

Be inspired, informed and connected.

Expert answers, informational videos and inspiring stories of patients who returned to life at its fullest with Laser Spine Institute.

Laser Spine Wellness

Patient Reviews and Stories

Natalie Gulbis shares her story about her road to recovery from back pain after minimally invasive surgery.

Learn about Natalie Gulbis' Recovery

Meet our Physicians and Surgeons

Our medical professionals know that you expect excellence in terms of medical attention. We strive to go Above and Beyond your expectations and deliver quality, patient-centered care at each of our surgery centers.

Learn about our physicians & medical staff


text:
Limiting mistakes vital to Marlins' success

Limiting mistakes vital to Marlins' success

WASHINGTON -- Executing the little things looms big for the Marlins in their hopes to building toward being a contender.

The team lacks the firepower offensively to overcome too many mistakes.

Miami's has got off to a fast start at the plate. But as the season settles in, the club will likely be involved in plenty of close games.

In the Marlins' two losses on their homestand, they committed more than one error.

"Those are things we need to work out," manager Mike Redmond said. "We've talked a lot about eliminating our mistakes, offensively, defensively, and pitching as well. Really, that's the key from an average year to a great year. We have to make the plays.

"We talked about that all spring, 27 outs. We're not going to be able to be good enough to give teams more than that. The nights that we do, we're probably going to be in trouble. We have to make the plays. That gives us the best chance."

The miscues are not just in the field. Already, a few pitchers have been unsuccessful dropping sacrifice bunts.

"Offensively, we have to situational hit," Redmond said. "We've got to be able to drive runs in. That's the key. That's something we've struggled with in the past."

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter


text:
Marlins 'turn the page' after controversial call

Marlins 'turn the page' after controversial call

MIAMI -- In the face of adversity, the Marlins repeatedly have shown resilience and character.

They've been tested again as they aim to put Thursday night's controversial 3-1 loss to the Reds behind them.

"The beauty of baseball is you turn the page and you move on," manager Mike Redmond said. "Sometimes that page is heavier than others to turn."

Thursday night's setback was especially tough because Miami felt it had worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth inning. But momentum changed after a six-minute, 10-second review overturned a plate at the plate.

"We've got to move on," Redmond said. "It's over. There is nothing we can do. We can't get that game back. We can sit here and not feel sorry for ourselves. It doesn't do us any good."

On Friday, MLB issued a statement regarding Rule 7.13, which involves blocking the lane to home plate. Upon review in that decisive eighth inning, catcher Jeff Mathis was ruled to be in violation of Rule 7/13.

"The Replay Official judged that the catcher did not provide a lane to the runner and hindered his path to the plate without possession of the ball," the statement read. "The throw also did not force the catcher into the runner's pathway. As a result, in accordance with Rule 7.13, the ruling on the field was overturned and the run was allowed to score.

"We realize that people may reasonably have different opinions regarding the application of Rule 7.13 in any particular instance because it is a judgment call. We are continuously evaluating the application of the new rule, and we anticipate a full review with all appropriate parties in the offseason in order to determine whether any changes should be made. We also recognize that the exorbitant length of last night's review, which was more than three times the season average, must be avoided in the future.

"That said, the most important goal of this rule has been to eliminate dangerous collisions at home plate, and it cannot be disputed that the rule has been very effective toward achieving this purpose."

Marlins outfielder Reed Johnson, 37, is a 12-year veteran who raised the question whether runners are manipulating the rule when they know they're clearly out.

"Teams are taking the road of, well, you've got a better shot when you're halfway down the third-base line, you start pointing and saying, 'I don't have a lane! I don't have a lane!' Johnson said. "If that's what it's coming to, it's kind of sad. I mean, what's next?"

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter