Wardrobe Building - More Work Attire

I can never have enough work clothes.   It seems as though I wear the same thing over and over.  So I made a conscious decision to make more work attire.  I really like how this blouse came out.  I can see it with a cute pair of white pants and or a long black skirt.

Simplicity 2594

Quick Pattern Review:

Pattern:  S2594 (I chose View "A")

Sizing: Various 2-16, (I cut a 12)
Fabric Used: Rayon Challis
Complexity: Very easy from cut to finish.
Changes Made: None at all
Will I redo:  Yes, I think I may make it in red but use a Knit because I do not sewing Challis at all.

Happy creating!

Felt Better Today. This Flu Can't Hold Me Back-Baby Shoes

A quick sewing project to get me back on the horse.  I feel so much better today after being down for 5 days.  I just wanted to sew anything, so I decided a couple of pair of baby shoes would do it for me, and it did.

 



Sewing Again.

M6034 view "B".  This is what I love about sewing.  I need a white blouse for church tomorrow to usher in, but no worries, I sew:

 

 

 

 

Quick Pattern Review:

 

Pattern:  M6034 (I chose View "B")

 

Sizing:  Various, S-M-L-XL (I cut a large, but could have gone with a medium)

 

Recommended Fabric:  Knit only (I used a silky rayon knit)

 

Complexity:  Very easy from cut to finish. 

 

Changes Made:  None at all

 

Will I redo:  As as many as my closet can stand. 

 

Happy creating!

 

 



I Was Nomited for the Liebster Award!

Good morning. 

I am thrilled.  I was nominated for the Liebster Award by the wonderful Regina Gee.  She is one of my many SEWING SHERO'S.  I follow her blog diligently and love her creations.  She is also a cutie pie. 

The Liebster Award is awarded to blogs with less than 200 readers to bring them into the limelight and hopefully increase their readership. 

 The Rules:

Nominate up to 5 other blogs and ask them 11 questions of your own.
Post 11 facts about yourself
Answer the 11 questions posed by your nominator

My Nominee:
 
Candice of Sewmytime:

She does beautiful work, and is a military wife who gets to travel.  I love to see her creations, and hopefully if time permits she will sew more and grace us with her beautiful garments.

11 questions to my Nominee Candice:

1. Why did you start your blog?
2. At what level in your sewing do you consider yourself?
3. Do you have any other craft related hobbies?
4. Do you sew for others?
5. What do you the most about sewing?
6. What do you like the least about sewing?
7. What is your favorite fabric?
8. Who is your favorite designer? 
9. What sewing skill would you like to master?  1
10. What sewing task do you dislike? 1
11. How many patterns to you own?

My 11 facts:

1.      I am a U.S. Army Veteran, I served 8 years.
2.      My only biological son, is a Sophomore in College training to become an Air Traffic Manager and Commercial Pilot.
3.      I am a Commercial Litigation Paralegal.
4.      I was born and raised in Orlando, FL.
5.      I love to sew, knit and cross-stitch.
6.      I still consider myself a modest sewer.
7.      I spend way too much looking at others blogs instead of blogging on my own blog.
8.      I have over 20 garments cut out and ready to sew but find little time for sewing.
9.      I do a fall craft fair every year in Orlando and I wait to the last possible minute to prepare myself.
10.  I love couture
11.  My life's dream is to own a small storefront boutique where I sell my items and others.

11 questions from my Nominator:

1. Why did you start a blog? To chronicle my sewing journey and to hold myself accountable.
2. What age did you start sewing? Around 7 or 8, sewing doll clothes and quilting with my Great Aunt.
3. What is your favorite sewing project? Handbags and purses.
4. What is your favorite fabric? Ponte Roma Knit, YUM!
5. Do you own a serger? Yes, a Brother 1043D
6. Do you have a craft library? No, not really.
7. Who is your favorite designer? It changes almost daily I think, but right now, I would say Tory Burch.
8. Do you sew for others? Yes, minimally.
9. What sewing skill would you like to master? Everything there is to know, but mostly lining garments, I find lining garment tedious, and so I try hard not too.
10. What sewing task do you dislike? Linings, and cutting patterns.
11. How many patterns do you own? Very few actually, I would say less than 50.

1/5 Point and I Am Not Sewing!

Why do I brother planning out anything.  Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh.   It is the middle of January and I have gotten no sewing done for me.  I have several items cut, and ready to go but I have not had the opportunity to sew them up as of yet.  So much has happened in the last couple of weeks, I could just scream.

 

Our A.C. unit went out and of course we are trying to do a patch job until we can afford to buy a brand new unit which we have been told will be a nice little junk of change. So needless to say, living in sunny Florida with no A.C. is not cute, but thanks to almighty God the last few days have been warm but cool enough at night to keep the house cool.

 

My dad is in the hospital, and the hospital he is in is about 40 miles from where I stay one way.  Not to mention my son has had games 3 basketball games a week, and with my new running schedule (working on a healthier me), I have totally isolated sewing.  Cooking, cleaning, children, and my dear spouse has suffered.  But really the suffrage starts here, at my feet. 

 

I want to sew badly, I think about sewing, I dream about sewing, and I want to sew. 

 

Happy Creating.

I'm on CRACK! My Love for Ponte Knit!

This stuff is like crack to me.  I have to have it, all of it, all the time. I have a nice stash, but I want more. I want Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, etc., you get the picture.  Its so durable and easy to use.    No matter what my pattern describes as the appropriate fabric, I see it in Ponte Knit.

 

Though in my mind I know it is not appropriate for every garment, actually it may not be appropriate on most projects I do, but I love it.  I can't get enough of it.  So with my Christmas funds, I dived in.  Yes, Joann's had an online sale, along with my coupon, I saved a bundle. 

I promise I will not covet this fabric but make meaningful use of it. I will not stash it away and stare at it daily, like I do the many yards of it I have at home now.  I'm thinking some really cute red Ponte Roma Knit wide legged pants would be cute.  Or maybe a nice Royal Blue dress with side pleats and a side split, hmmmmmmm yum.   Or even a cute chocolate brown cape, and black peplum.  Oh how my minds travels when it comes to Ponte. 

I think I will now call my son Ponte, because I love this stuff, just as much as I love him. What do you think?

 

 Happy Creating!

 

Reading, Understanding and Following Patterns!

I have sewn on and off for years.  Usually out of necessity at one time or another.  I would see a pillow that I liked and convince myself that I could make that instead of paying the outrage price it was listed for.  So, I would break out my handy dandy sewing machine and supplies and get to sewing.  After I had accomplished that goal, my sewing machine would sit idle for another spell until the next inspiration and or challenge hit me. 

 

Sewing from patterns always intimidated me so I would use the trace a garment I owned to make a blouse or pair of pants.  I did very little garment sewing at all if any.  But since I have thrown myself into sewing clothing for myself, I have learned so much. 

 

One of my biggest issues with patterns is choosing the correct size.  I would always end up with a finished garment that was 2 sizes almost to large.   I would read the back of the pattern and choose a size that I thought corresponded with my measurements.  But still, time after time, I would end up with a garment that was huge.  Especially pants. 

 

 

There is so much information on most patterns, and I would just get frustrated pick what I thought would be the closest to my size, and pray it turned out ok.

 

Mimi Godwin has a post on her blog and after reading it a light bulb went off in my head and I was like ah ha.  Her tip on using a garment that already fit you well was like magic to my reading eye. Here is the post:  Using What You Have to Make Patterns Work!

 

Then I found this wonderful link:  Dealing with Pattern Ease on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing from May 2012. 

 

My next biggest issue is lining a garment.  I never line anything and its only out of fear.  I have practiced but I don't feel comfortable.  I have come across several articles and tutorials with great pictures but I still get stumped when a zipper is involved.  Any advice anyone has to share, I am all eyes, and ears.

 

Happy Creating!

Starting 2013 with a Plan and a Bang! Operation Get Organized?

I have been sewing in our bedroom the last couple of months.  My sewing room has been in no condition for sewing.  I pretty much trashed it a few weeks before Thanksgiving looking for my misplaced zipper foot (that has yet to be found).

 

Before then, I was sewing in our upstairs loft area which is generally our boys video game hang out area.  While one son was in college and the other in the military and our youngest locked in his room all the time it was the perfect place to spread out and sew (make a mess).   Once the boys got home for the holidays I was kicked out of the loft.  

 

So last night began Operation Get Organized.  I completely tore up my sewing room from top to bottom.  I then began organizing my fabrics by type and color.

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, those are my classes on the floor, actually under the couch, that I couldn't find.  LOL.   I am so very motivated, and excited about this year.  My head is filled with so many ideas that I feel its going to explode.  So, stay tuned.

 

 



 

It's 2013 and I Am Ready To Embrace My Destiny!

2012 was a whirlwind year for me.  I learned a little bit about myself.  I learned that I have something inside of me, a driving force that I have not cultivated, embraced and or used to its fullest.  I have always been my own worst enemy, doubting and second guessing my next move.  Always wondering if I am up to par.   Sometimes you just don't give yourself enough credit. 

 

Well all that changes for me today.  Starting today, I will not look back and think about what if, and say things like "man, I should have, yadda yadda".  I will only look forward, think forward, and make strategic calculating moves toward my future and where I want my endeavors to take me.  This year and actually next month, I will turn 45 years young.  I am so looking forward to 45, I think I will claim that number itself as my lucky number.  Mind you this is not a resolution but merely a change of lifes direction for me.   I left resolutions alone a long time ago, not very good with follow through, but I am a different me now, a more determined, more focused, more ready me.

 

So look out world, here I come, blazing and amazing.

No New Years Resolution for Me. Thankful for Everything.

I welcome 2013 with great zeal and fervor (in other words, I am glad to be alive).   As usual, I will not make a New Year’s resolution.  I will not confess to the world what I am going to do, or  this or that in 2013, or declare who I am going to lose, or represent that I will do much different from what I did last year.  What I will do, is pray that I continue to be blessed, and try to be a better Person, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Niece, Cousin, Friend, and above all Christian. 

 

 

 

 

 

Please be safe and try to be happy in 2013.  Life is so short, time is precious, and nothing last forever.  Happy New Years to all. 

Now I'll get back to creating a beautiful 2013.