Wedding Outfit Inspiration: Nia Long’s Wintery White

I am attending a wedding December 21, 2013 and was looking through my pattern stash trying to find a simple but elegant enough outfit to wear.  I wanted something that was simple enough to make that I could probably get a couple of wears out of.  Nothing too dressy, just comfortable, and not dressed down.  The wedding is not an extravagant affair but knowing this person (my Aunt), it will be a very nice affair.  

I was online looking through my emails and this magazine cover literally jumped out and slapped me smack in the head:

 

Picture courtesy of HeartandSoulMagazine.com

 

 

 I love this dress on Nia Long.  It is simple but elegant, and I want to wear that dress to the Wedding.  So I am mapping out my strategy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You All! A Happy Jacket - New Look 6231

First I would like to thank all of my Blogging Buddies for the well wishes, prayers and kind thoughts.  I am well past my kidney stone saga.  I hope and pray that experience fade from my memory very, very soon.   It has been sometime since I suffered through a kidney stone incident, so I thought it was well behind me.  My doctors have assured me that if I do the things they have suggested I should be able to live kidney stone free, or for a long while anyway. 

 I needed to brighten up my life, and so I decided I needed a happy jacket, something light and bright to wear with almost anything.  When I came across this pattern, I knew immediately that I wanted to make my happy jacket using this pattern.  I live in Florida so not much need for anything much heavier on most days.  We may dip into the 40’s every now and then, but that is far and few between. 

 

I really like how it came out.  I love the color, and of course I used my drug of choice, Ponte Roma Knit.  Yummy to my tummy, this fabric is awesome.   I didn’t line it, but chose to just serge and finish of the seams.  I am quite pleased with the finish product.  I hope you like it, and happy sewing.

The Saga Continues: My Kidney Stone Incident.

I spent half my weekend in the hospital passing a kidney stone.  Needless to say I did not get much sewing done.  This is not my first dance with a stone, in fact I passed one about 6 years ago.  So immediately when the pain starting hitting me, I tried to convince myself it was just gas, and that a little Gas X would do the trick.  Well not so much.  By Sunday in the middle of church service I was climbing over the pew trying to get some relief.  Finally I couldn’t take it any longer, and with a loud screech that jumped up out of my seat and ran out to my car.  I drove myself to the hospital and the rest is history. 

 

Even though the idiot emergency room Dr. claimed he couldn’t see a stone after having me go through a CT Scan and x-rays.  He claimed my pains where from a phantom illness or maybe muscle spasms since I’ve been working out.   I knew from experience exactly what I was feeling.  Not my first rodeo Doc.  I have a very high tolerance for pain and been through some pretty painful ordeals, and no medication.

 

The next day I went to a follow up with my urologist who confirmed that there was evidence of not only did I pass a stone the size of a grain of sand; I also have an umbilical hernia, and cysts on my Liver and Kidney (which are benign).  

 

Don't I look pitiful.  Poor Poor Me. Hah

 

 

 

So, the Saga continues, what is next?  I can handle anything.   God is my strength and redeemer!

 

 

 

Poncho

I did a little sewing this past weekend.  Not as much as I would have liked.  But I did get a Poncho finished for a dear friend.  She was the lovely woman who gave me the Steam Press, Babylock serger, and large box of Cone Thread.  She also had some vintage fabric that she had had for many years, and asked would I make her a poncho, after seeing the Poncho that I had worn to a funeral we both attended earlier this year.

I was a little nervous about making the poncho since the fabric was so delicate and beautiful, but I knew she wanted something simple and so I endeavored to make sure she had what she asked for after being so very kind and generous to me.  I am pleased at how it came out, and I hope she loves it as well.  The flower broach is made of felt.   Here she is:

 

 Now back to my earlier project.  Happy Sewing!

Snood/Cape/Poncho Love - Help!

I came across this lovely Snood/Cape/Poncho or whatever you want to call it on Pinterest, and immediately I fell in love.  

I decided I needed to try and recreate this for myself.  It looks easy enough right?  I did and I am pleased with my first attempt even though I look like I got on a too tight snuggy.  Hah.  I used a very thin knit, just some extra fabric I had laying around.  It didn't have the same structure, and its a little too tight but I think I have the basic pattern. I need to do some tweaking here and there. Here is my rendition:

 

 

 

 

If any of my wonderful Blogging Sisters have any suggestions, patterns, tutorials, advise, examples, to help me fine tune, please share, and I would be oh so appreciative.

 

I will be working on my finished product tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to rock this baby to a party I am attending next weekend.  It is not cold or even cool here in Orlando.  The nights are cooling off though, and we dip into the high sixty's, this should keep me nice and snuggly. 

Happy Sewing.

Its So Easy It's Simplicity 1743

My love hate relationship with Walmart reminds me why there is some LOVE there.   Though Walmart is my least favorite place, every now and then I score some big savings.  I will only get my prescription medications because of the $4.00 price.  So, yes I suffer through whatever my feelings are to get my prescriptions filled.  Actually, I usually have hubby pick them up, since it’s on his way home from work.

On occasion when I have no choice but to slide into my area dreaded Walmart, of course I have to visit our small and limited sewing section.  Just to see if there is fabric worth using as muslin, or the occasional pattern I that I missed.  I do grumble but every time I visit Walmart I do tend to leave with several patterns.   This particular pattern caught my attention immediately.  It’s So Easy It's Simplicity 1743 is a brand I like a lot.  They seem to be “SO EASY”. 

I found these cute shoes while perusing through Marshalls one day.  I am not a fan of Dr. Scholl’s shoes, but for some reason, these particular shoes caught my eyes.    I think it was the Chambray in the rear of the shoe that caught me.  I love anything Chambray.

I knew I would have to make something to wear with them and I wasn’t sure what, but when I came across this pattern, I thought hmmmmmmmmmm and Chambray skirt to go with my Chambray shows. Tada, here we are.

Happy Sewing!

McCalls 6497 - Hi-Low Empire Waist Top!

 This top originally started out as a muslin.  I love the top at first glance but was not sure how it would look on me.  So, I decided to use some cotton (very thin) fabric that I got from Walmart for $1.50 per yard.  I like the fabric when I saw it but I knew it would not be used for anything significant, and I couldn't snub my nose at $1.50 per yard of anything that was half way cute. 

 

Immediately upon completion I love it (still not hemmed), but again, me being overly happy to share.  I pulled out some pretty bright yellow Ponte Roma Knit, and I can't wait to make it in the knit. 

 

Of course my picture sucks.  Still working on that.  I bought a Canon Rebel yadda yadda yadda and a tripod, that I have no idea how to use. But that is another post all together. 

 

My version of M6497

 

Their version

 

 

 

Quick Pattern Review:

 

Pattern Sizing: xs-s-med-Lrg

 

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes.

 

Were the instructions easy to follow?  Yes, very easy.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?  I dislike nothing; I love the high-low back, and the Empire waist.  It is really slimming on me.

Fabric Used: Cotton (bought to use as muslin from Walmart at $1.50 per yard. 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I didn’t slipstitch the inside lining of midsection.  I used stitchery witchery to hold it in place.

Would you sew it again? Yes, I have another already cut and ready to go. 

Happy Sewing!