Rambling on!

Ramblings. . .

1. My 1 year blogaversary was last month - can't quite remember the day when I started. (Hmmmm.)
2. I was laid off of my seamstress job.  Good thing I don't have to stop being a seamstress.
3. I love sewing all night and watching Jerry Springer @ 4AM
4. My husband is a hardworking guy who takes great care of us. He's addicted to eBay. Another package just arrived.
5. I revamped my sewing space to take on more business at home (again? I never stopped.)
6. I just cleaned the house and cooked dinner (before noon!)
7. I went fabric shopping with my best friend of 37 years this weekend! She has already finished projects. I just washed my fabric today.
8. I haven't blogged in over a month but I've been reading everyone Else's! To my reader's (I'm sorry!)
9. I'm afraid of Pinterest - I have an addictive personality and no more time!
10. I like Chictopia.com but my "last" job certainly was NOT a "What I'm wearing" type of thang!
11. I just made the coolest dress. It's hanging on the door waiting for it's blog turn.
12. I have two pair's of slacks - cut and ready to sew. They have been there for almost two years now.
13. My husband wants me to stay home. (how long will that last?) I better not get to comfy and hurry up and sew that suit! (LOL!)
14. I've been asked to give dance lessons. Not once did they mention money. (WTF! LOL!)
15. My stylist wants to color my hair. I'm chicken. (bak, bak, bucaaaaaah!!)
16. The Mission Maxi is in the mail!
17. I made panties for myself. Bra's next!! (next what. . .)
18. I just found a hook for my gravity feed iron. I don't want to put it up. (snarl)
19. My camera has it's own personality.

I'M SEWING ALL EVENING!!!!!!!!!! (maybe I'll get those pants done.)

My Dinner for tonight! I'm hungry!

Here's my 8'x10' improved workspace in video!  Tell me wutcha think?

Talk Soon Carol

Poppyeeeeezz. . .(Wicked Witch of the East)

My Winter Maxi in Poppy!

This dress was supposed to have been worn yesterday but, things didn't go quite as planned (bummer!) so here it lands on my dummy lady.  (At least she gets to be fashionable).  Anywoooooo, this is another version of Simplicity 2580.  My first attempt at this dress was the leprechaun dress I made last March. 

This dress was so successful for my body type that I used it again in a "I need a dress crunch"!  This is view D which is a sleeveless maxi with a drape neck.  This dress took about two hours to make (with interruptions of course) and was ready to go. This fabric is a heavier ribbed cotton jersey an almost "sweater" knit.  I added a ribbon belt and loops in the same color.  The ribbon package says "Poppy" and I thought well if it don't match, I'll take it back.  Low and behold it's a Poppy match!


Drape detail.  I got this fabric to match this scarf 7 yrs ago!



Matching Satin Ribbon Tie Belt



So once again I post an outfit with me not in it. (Sigh)  I made only two adjustments, I added 1.25" to the bodice and cut 6.5" off the bottom.  I think I'm shrinking!

This a great project for any level sewer and again I'll mention a great style for "busty" women! LOL!! I will, more than likely, make another version of this dress in a crunch. 

OH! But of course - last but not least my shoes!


These boots hurt but beauty is painful! So I'm told!


Talk Soon Carol

To Animal Print or Not?!

I was trying to look like him! LOL!

Fashion is Animalistic! 

Hello Everyone and Welcome to a New Year! 

As you can see I'm starting off slow and this is my first "fashion" post of the year.  Let me tell you what I've been into!!  My sister in law and I and a few of her friends (now mine!) have been hitting the town on a regular basis!  I LOOOOOVE this because I just want to dance whenever I get a chance!  Anywhooooo. . .  this means I can sew outfits for myself errrrrr week!! Well, that's what I have been doing.  No fancy thought up resolutions, time wasters etc. - just SEWIN!! -  Friday is a comin and I'll be a sewin! LOL!

OK This post is about last Friday's outfit. Here's the line drawing.

I like my clothes original, classic and chic - sometimes very loud! LOL!  Well, this pattern has been in my stash for about 8 years (uncut!).  It's no longer in print so I can't evern call it OOP! (Wait I just checked. You can buy it on PR!) Anyway, I had some fabric set aside for it and when I got it out it was "fo real" summer fabric.  Here in Chicago you can't mess with that or you'll FREEZE!  So, I thought - use something else?!  WHAT?!  Now there's a thought.  All you sewers out there know that when you find a fabric and pattern to match there's no breaking up that relationship!  I took the risk and did it. . .


I used a pattern with fabric it was not intended for!
(Psycho screech in the background) 



ZEBRA! 

I loved my result!

The zebra fabric was in my stash about 3 years - I was supposed to make a coat.  The fabric feels like faux something? It's a mystery fabric from JoAnn and was a "costume" fabric. Nice and wintery.
Here are the detail pictures:


Jacket close up



Collar Detail w/piping



3/4 Sleeve with slit @ cuff



Double vent on front and skirt back. Stops right above the knee.



Skirt waistband (matches the collar) :-)

I won't have a pic of me in this as I already wore it. Maybe if I'm bored or something I'll put it on and take a pic. (yea right) but I promise to take pics in the clothes from now on. Last but not least the shoes. It's all about the shoes!

Today is Thursday - It's my night to pull an all niter for my Friday outfit .
I promise to get a picture this time! (cheese)

Talk Soon Carol

Happy New Year!

Graphics for Happy New Year Comments 

As this year has come to a close - for which I was asleep - I have to reflect on the past year:  I've sewn lots of things, broke another serger, cooked decent meals for my family, baked, laughed, cried, partied, danced, blogged and I'm almost over my grocery store phobia.  It was a lot like last year except I hadn't included blogged in 2010.  So with that said - thanks for reading and I enjoy the silent company!

Talk Soon Carol

Happy Holidays!!

Next Week Is A New Year!!




Twitter Layouts

Here's wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday season!  I'll be back real soon with my outfit for New Year's Eve!!! (If I go out!) Thanks for reading!

Talk Soon Carol

I'm on the Fence. Hmmmm!

To Wear or Not to Wear?

Hello Everyone and welcome to December.  X-mas is right around the corner - that's for another posting soon to come.  (LOL!)  Anywooooo,

I'm on the fence about this outfit. I'm sure you have been in this predicament.  When you make (or buy) something and then you're not quite excited about it when it's all said and done.  Well, here it is for me.  I originally made this outfit to wear out "steppin". The color theme was Grey. (Yes, I said it "color theme".) It's actually kinda cool.  The color is advertised for the party and all the "regular steppers" and "club members" show up in the color for the night.  You have not lived until you have seen a ballroom full of African American men dressed in Yellow or Lavender suits/outfits that look quite masculine and all different! (with shoes to match!)  LOL! 

Anyway steppin is a partner dance we do here in Chicago - ton's of fun and part of the fun is dressing up in "custom" clothes.  Well this outfit looks "made".  I like my clothing to look RTW but this has the "I had this made for the grey party" look.  I'm not real thrilled.  Now, as separates - I'm sold but I think together it may be to much.  Although "To Much" is what steppers do.

Simplicity 2478

I chose to review the jacket as it has not been done on Pattern Review.  This is a little Bolero Jacket with neckline and sleeve variations.  I thought this would be a nice jacket as I thought the outfit needed something more.  I have added a photo of the outfit with the turtle neck and skirt only.  Please pardon the bad photos.  My camera is broken and you are looking at cell phone quality! LOL! I don't think this bolero is for a beginner per say.  Adding the band takes a little more experience.  Advanced Beginner would be able to tackle this.



Jacket front and side. Sleeve detail.



 

Turtle and skirt up close.

The fabric is pearl grey dry weave knit and the camouflage print is jersey. It's grey, black, pink and white.  The pink is vibrant like bubble gum. (smile).  The fit is good on all the pieces but I need shoes.  (Since I'm thinking shoes, I may just save it and wear it to the next "grey" party. I won't do "separates" because then it will be "old" LOL!  I like new clothes.


UPDATE
I ended up wearing black suede boots so here I am in the outfit!  It worked out after all!




  


  Talk Soon Carol

Just in case you were wondering about steppin?

Here's a stepper's video for you to enjoy!!   If you hadn't guessed it's a "White Party"!

Talk Soon Carol