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.