Finally, My First Finished Project of the Year or B5211

I apparently need to add balance to the list of things I pray for. After not sewing finishing anything all year, I have finally finished this dress. I actually had this 90% completed since Fall 2009 and got distracted and then it was Spring, then I was pregnant Fall 2010 so finally I was determined to finish this dress and wear it this year. Actually for weeks, night after night I kept saying "I just need to put the elastic in the sleeves and hem it and it's done, I can knock that out and wear it tomorrow." And then . . . Nothing. Imagine my surprise when I found myself up at 4am yesterday at my machine finishing the dress so I could wear it to work. I was again reminded that often for me it's all or nothing. I recently got a few new RTW pieces what with the birthday and all and that was nice, but there was no comparison to how good it felt to wear something I made again. I definitely have to make more time sew.

Pattern Description: Dresses A, B, C have back neck opening with button and thread loop closure, extended shoulders and topstitching detail. A: front upper and lower sections. B: self-belt. C: gathered sleeve with elastic casing, length 2" above mid-knee.

Pattern Sizing: F5(16-18-20-22-24)

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? The instructions were so easy I didn't even need to use them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?: I like the sleeve detail and that there are in seam pockets in the dress great detail for a work dress (I need a place to carry my keys).

Fabric Used: A cream and black double knit from Denver Fabrics that I fell in love with the minute I got my hands on it.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I made my standard FBA and omitted the key hole opening in the neckline in the back.

Would you sew it again?: Would you recommend it to others? When I originally chose this pattern I thought I would sew it just once, however after seeing how comfortable this is to wear, I will probably make at least one more. I would definitely recommend it, especially to beginners.

Conclusion: This is a really easy pattern and makes a really comfortable dress with pockets no less, a winner in my book. It is OOP but if you have it in your stash or can get your hands on it give it a try.

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Pocket love.

And because I don't want people saying about me the things I say about them when they don't provide shoe details, here is a close up of the booties (Steve Madden).

Steve Madden ankle booties (see more suede boots)

Now on to what to wear for Christmas.

Today is my Birthday!!!!!

. . . and I'm so excited. This has been a different kind of year for me, full of ups and downs but the things that have been constant include my health, the health of my husband and children, my fabulous friends and the undying, awe inspiring love that we share. For as many relationships that have disappeared under the high powered microscope of truth and integrity, more have flourished and have been amazing and fortifying. And then there's you,the wonderful members of the sewing community who have continued to follow and support me even though I haven't posted a single finished garment this year (I just realized that and it makes me a little sad). Special shouts out to Faye for graciously allowing me to be included in her sew-alongs this Summer when we both knew it was HIGHLY unlikely that I would actually produce a piece. To Adrienne for always keeping me laughing and inspired. To Carolyn for her prolific creativity and always keeping it real. To Knitmachinequeen for keeping it fabulous, fierce and fearless and Finally to Erica B. for motivating me to get off the "mommy couch" and actually think about Fall fashion rather than just something to cover up and stay warm. And to the rest of you who read and/or comment on my blog posts, a heartfelt thank you, you are truly appreciated.

Over to the dark side

As many of you know, I had a beautiful baby girl last November (I know, it's so hard to believe she's almost a year old).

(Gratuitous Baby Pictures)

We knew we needed to buy a larger car but I.DID.NOT.WANT.A.MINI-VAN. So over the past year or so, I have looked at every SUV or cross-over vehicle known to man to try to find something that will seat five, plus various configurations of car seats and boosters comfortably plus cargo on a regular basis but also accommodate our big girls when they are with us. This was no small task and I researched vehicles I hadn't even heard of. Finally last May when we travelled to Texas for our daughter's graduation, we rented a van. We travelled all over the greater Dallas area, all 5 children in tow, super comfortable, without complaint, while driving on one of the MANY toll roads, I looked over at my husband and uttered those words of surrender, "you know we have to get a van right?"

So without further adieu . . .

This is an image from the Internet.

And here she is in her new home

I.LOVE.HER. We didn't buy new, but almost, it's a 2010 and we got lots of bells and whistles. We bought it from the sales division of a national rental car company and service, pricing and selection were fantastic and if anyone is in the market for slightly used vehicle, I would absolutely recommend checking the rental sales lots in your area. This is my second time purchasing from a rental company and both times I received excellent service and the vehicles were just 1 year old. We will get lots of use and have many happy times in this van. So the next time you see the white mommy van with heads bobbing around in back, take a look it might be me and my crew.

McCall's Holiday Collection

I always get so excited when new pattern collections come out and this time was no exception, however my excitement was short lived. Of the 29 in the collection this was the only one that caught my eye, but it will make the list of options for my Christmas dress so I won't complain.

Did you see any that you like?

My latest obsessions

I saw this DVF dress while trolling on Pintrest

Tre Fab!

And found these at DSW.

I continue to find ways to spend money. Don't you just love the internet!

A Complement . . . I Think or We've Come a Long Way Baby

Today was unseasonably warm here so I was out doing my weekly errands wearing one of my versions of M5893 (I love this dress! If I have time, I should really make another).

As I was putting my groceries in the trunk I just felt like someone was approaching me. I turned around to see this big, burly, mustached, tattooed guy just a tad too close, who just blurtted out "where'd you get your dress". Now you know I talk for a living and through the years have heard just about everything, however, I kid you not my brain froze for just a second trying to synthesize what I was hearing with what I was seeing. He must have noticed because he went on to say that his "old lady" had seen me in the store and liked my dress and wanted to know where I got it, "no kidding, she really liked it and kept saying she wanted a dress like that, MAYBE IN A DIFFERENT PRINT but a dress just like that." (Musing to self: Did he just ask me to share information with him and say he doesn't like my fabric all in the same sentence? hmm . . .) I told him I made it -- now his turn for brain freeze induced silence. Apparently he thought he heard wrong because when he recovered he said "what! you made that?" shortly thereafter you could see his eyes practically glaze over and he went on his merry way.

I found the whole exchange pretty humorous but it also made me reflect, I remember when I first started sewing and back then I would NEVER tell people that I made a garment I was wearing because the moment you do they almost instinctively begin to look for the tell-tell signs that your garment is homemade, the worst were the people who actually flip the hems of your garment up to inspect how the garment was finished (forgive me, for I was very young then, that would never happen to me now). But these days, armed with more experience and better tools, when people ask about my clothes, I can't wait to tell them that I made it because I am confident in my abilites and proud of the pieces that I make. Just a little something I thought I'd share.

How HOT! is that ?

I am presently obsessed with animal print footwear and just wanted to share these beauties with you.

To Maxi or Not to Maxi

This has been an extremely s.l.o.w. to non-existent sewing year for me but I've been buying fabric like a mad woman! I have recently gotten a few deliveries of beautiful knit fabrics and am expecting about 50 yards (YIKES!!!) more. I love the feel and comfort of maxi dresses and have been living in them this summer, the styling is easy and effortless, just throw on a pair of sandals or any kind, and with the majority of my dresses being polyester knit, they are no iron which makes it just that much easier. What I've been thinking about is how to transition the look into Fall. Obviously I'll be adding sleeves but what shoes to wear? Here are a few of the shoe choices I've been thinking about:

Yes these are the same shoe but I love them both and will be getting at least one pair.

I have a couple of pair of black booties but just picked these for illustration.

A heeled loafer

And then there are these . . .

These lovely little Louboutin's are $695 so I will be admiring them from afar.

So those are a few of my choices, what are your thoughts? Will you be taking the maxi look into the Fall?

Dear Cynthia Rowley

Please, oh please make this lovely study of simple sophistication and subtle sexiness be the next addition to your Simplicity pattern line. I ADORE this dress and I must have it.

Don't you just love it!

There's nothing worse . . .

Than wanting desparately to sew but 1) not having the time and 2)not wanting to waste my fabric because I know that I will not be able to wear anything I make now even six months from now because I;ve been instructed by my doctors to lose a significant amount of weight for health reasons. So instead, I have become a voyuer looking at all of the beautiful things the rest of you are making. I do keep looking for a piece of fabric that I can part with that I won't mind wearing. Hopefully I'll find somehting by the end of Summer.

M6204 - In Progress

I've had this tunic cut out since early April in preparation for Faye's Spring Month of Tops 15 day challenge in April. When I missed that deadline, I thought I'd sew it up in time for my trip to Texas over Memorial Day weekend. Obviously, I didn't quite make that deadline either but I still wanted to make the top I just have been so super busy I haven't even wanted move off the couch when I find a moment of down time. But what do you know when I came into my sewing room/office tonight to send an e-mail, I thought, "hey, how about I just sew a stitch or two while waiting for the computer to start up" and look already an identifiable silhouette. I can definitely finish this tomorrow if I can figure out how to work my new narrow hem foot bought specifically for this top because I don't think my standard rolled hem for charmeuse will do this top justice.





It's starting to warm up here and I can't wait to wear this!

How cool is that!!!

No sewing going on just a whole lot of "if I had time" but how cool is it that my newphew got drafted in the first round to the Tampa Bay Rays (Major League Baseball) yesterday. His dream come true. I love him to pieces and I'm so proud of him!

M6329 - I heart you

McCall's early Summer offerings are out and this little number is my very favorite. Now I don't have anywhere to wear this dress but I like it so much I am inspired to revisit the search for a good strapless bra (no small feat). There are a couple of others that I like but this is the one that fills my dreams day and night.




Particularly View C.



Maybe I'll make this for Mother's Day.

Just a little shot of happiness

I don't have any sewing to show you but I thought I'd show you updated pictures of the baby.







Hanging out with my 4 year old. They look so much alike.

And the Winner Is . . .

Drumroll please . . . Big surprise Meli88a. It turns out I didn't need to use a random number generator after all. E-mail me your address to hortonpsyd so that I can send you your pattern. Congratulations!!! I can't wait to see this on you.

Bad for me but Great for you or the McCalls 6243 Giveaway!

First, the Bad for Me - I was getting ready to attempt to make a dress for my Valentines Day lunch with my hubby and after going through my patterns decided on McCalls 6243, imagine my horror when I discovered that in my haste during the BMV sale at Christmas time, I had purchased the wrong size !



Now to the Great for you:

I have decided to give the size AA (6,8,10,12) pattern to one of my lucky followers. All you need to do is leave a comment sharing a favorite sewing tip, trick or notion by 11:59 p.m. PST Sunday, February 27th. In case you need inspiration for entering, check out Kim's version here. I will use a random number generator to choose the winner on Monday, February 28th. Good Luck!

B5564 - What I'm working on

I've been trying to steal sewing time while taking care of a very hungry newborn and trying to rebuild my Fall wardrobe. I thought I'd add a few tunics that I can wear with leggings and boots to have a pulled together look that is baby friendly. First up is Butterick 5564.


It is a fast and easy pattern and one should be able to complete it in a day but at the rate I'm going, I may finish it by the end of the week. Here is what I have so far.

FRONT



BACK



I'll work on putting the sleeves in tomorrow.