Verdict: The Red Dress

So remember when I was trying to decide if I should follow this McCall pattern to the letter.. and gather the sleeves in the view at the lower right side?


Thanks for all of your suggestions -- here is my verdict!

I wore the belled version to a Lady's Tea where i was the guest speaker. It was all the rage.. especially when the older women found out I was a sewer! Talk about uhs and ahs!! It was lovely! I really like the dress as is. I will say you do have to be careful when eating because the sleeves can get in the way. (It's worth it though!)

Here is a little something I whipped up for one of my sorority sister's toddler's day care raffle. It only took a few hours and it is made of gorgeous Waverly fabric. IT'S AN APRON -- NOT A DRESS!



Okay here is a dress that I need to hem.. Love the style.. however my sleeves look to be a little of 80s glory! LOL I will have to try it on and check it out. LOL

New Spring Patterns Are Here!

So before we get into new patterns.. there is a post that all of you HAVE to check out.. It is from one of my favorite sewing divas, Cidell! She asks the question all of us want to know -- when do you tell others that you sew? At last check 80 sewing divas have responded!!! It is all the rage! I think it's because we all can relate to telling someone about your LUV of sewing only to be met with ridiculous comebacks like, "Oh.. really?" or "I don't have the patience" etc..

I thought I would answer this question with my own post because it is something that really resonated with me...

I have always had a problem following through with projects. I am dreamer not a planner. LOL Sort of the life of the party.. not the planner of the party. I have always had a hard time sticking with hobbies but I have always been searching out one that will really keep my interest.. and then I decided to pick up my mom's hobby of sewing.. BAM! It hit me like a ton of bricks. I LUV sewing.. I tell anyone who will listen.. I couldn't care less if I am not met with the response I want because I know how live I am. I take pride in it because I know that I am continuing a legacy.. My mother, grandmother, aunts, great aunts, great grandmother (and many others) all were sewers. I never really realized it until my mother told me how proud she was that I was sewing and that it was in our genes. So for me I don't care if someone thinks I am making happy hands at home projects.. the best reaction is when someone complements my work before knowing that I made it myself.

Check out Cidell's post on this and READ THE RESPONSES! You will walk away with renewed pride on just how awesome we are!!

Okay on to the business! Patterns!
Don't you just LUV when new patterns come out? I do! here are some of my favorites...

*Threads Patter -- maybe a short view of the dress on the left, and the dress at the bottom right.. That's it. The other dress are for a more mature woman.

Too Live Tuesday!

Nothing makes you feel better or maybe even work harder than when you feel like you look FABULOUS! My tan knit wrap dress was a hit at work. I love the feel, comfort and look of this dress originated by the uber fab Diane von Furstenberg! I will do a full write up on Pattern Review later today!

I decided to jazz up my dress with a large black floral pin and black boots... (I posted to pictures.. well because I like the way they both came out! HA!)


Sp what's next?? You know I can't sit still for long... I am working on my FIRST LINED SUIT. Lawd help me now! It is a deep purple linen. Wish me well.. updates to come. I am going to take my time on this one.. I won't rush it like I normally do.. I like to get my sweat shop (minus the children laborers) on and churn out the pieces!

Knit dress heaven

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend. I did! I was able to finish my tan knit wrap dress. It was a learning lesson to say the least. I took a picture of it on the dress form to give you a preview.. I am wearing it to work tomorrow so more accessorised pictures tomorrow -- of the suspense. LOL


GO BIG ORANGE!
Are any of you all into college basketball? Well know that I am not an athletic person but I am rooting HARD for the Tennessee Vols to go all the way!!! I nearly died from a heart attack watching the men's game but they did it! I knew the lady Vols would sweep up!! Here we go for the next round!!

Here are some shots of me and some of my favorite players from this summer!

Wayne Chism and Lady Vol Alexis Hornbuckle


Chris Lofton

Duke Crews and Tyler Smith
Anywho.. If I had 2 more feet I could take them... and that's what matters.


My co-favorite player Shannnon Bobbitt!! This girl is 2" shorter then me!!! SHE CAN BAAALLLL!! The only picture I am missing is Candace Parker -- she is my other favorite!

Nothing new but..

You can check out this weekend's fab blouse in the morning web news update online! Go to the home page before 11am today (that's when the next update takes place wiping out the 7am one) and check me out!

It looked great this morning with my red suit!

Have a great day!

The Knit Dress and other musings

Happy St. Patty's day sewers -- from Tearsa O'Smith! LOL

So this is what I worked on this weekend.. the knit wrap dress.
It is a Vogue Pattern that is pretty easy to maneuver. I am still working out some kinks but overall I really like the dress.

So have you ever seen those basic blouse patterns in the catalogs.. you know the ones that have no pizazz like the latest patterns that just came out.. Don't brush them aside! Here is a pullover silky blouse I made from a very basic pattern (I think it is McCalls) It can be worn with a suit.. or with jeans and a big belt and handbag!

For all of my beginner sewers.. Isn't it funny how you can read a pattern and totally be lost while looking at the picture.. I was lost on something called a placket.. the drawing was smaller than my pinky nail! I worked it out! It is a little janky but has it's own since of style so I let it be. (see below for how I worked it out)

I totally fell in love with this fabric.. but when I bought it I was totally new to sewing and only bought a yard! Had I known I would have gotten 2.5. Oh well .. we live and learn!



So the placket thing threw me off.. but I have finally found a book that I LOVE!!! I got it at McKay's Used Books with has the best used sewing books. It was $9 and it has ALL PHOTOS!! I just don't do well with drawing and this has helped explain a lot.

Now go have some green beer and get to sewing!

Thread Banger

Has anyone ever checked out Thread Banger on iTunes (it's free)? I actually kind of like it. Rob and Corinne are the hosts and they are pretty much about anything DIY.

In this episode:
Patterns, Burda Style, Compai Book Release Party, Thread Heads

The pattern. Both beautiful and complicated. This week were taking the cue from CurleQ94 and hangin with the ladies of Burda Style for a helpful pattern lesson, plus were celebrating with the ladies of Compai at their new book opening in Brooklyn.

* Burda Style
* Compai




Happy Friday!

Serger Showdown and other fun!

FIRST THE RANDOM...

First up -- blogger is not "the business" right now! I am so aggravated.. but anyway!

This weekend I served as the Honorary Ring Master of the Ringling Brothers Circus! That's me and Mr. Right before the show.. and the next is a well taken out of focus photo of me welcoming the crowd! Love that husband and his camera skills!




THE SERGER...
I would like to thank God, my husband, the Brother 1034D instruction DVD and a lot of patience for me jumping in full steam on my new serger. You all were right -- threading was SPECIAL... I got it though and I was able to even serge a little this weekend. It is definitely a great investment!!

Boy does this thing sew fast!!



*Peep my 2 serger large thread cones and then two random small spools of white thread! Why I bought just 2 cones I have no idea! LOL


WHAT MAKES ME LOVE WHAT I DO
Last Saturday I met this little girl at the hair salon that was totally in awe that her local news lady was getting her hair done at her salon. She was ADORABLE. You guys she couldn't stop smiling! I was SO impressed with the fact this 2nd grader watched the news -- and obviously had good taste in picking her favorite anchor -- that I wanted to send her an autograph card because I didn't have any on me at the time.

But then when her mother emailed me to say thanks for talking with Jasmine she also said that Jasmine is her special child. She was born weighing 1 pound 7 ounces. If you saw this little girl you would never know the fight she had as a baby.. I was so smitten I wanted her to have something more permanent to hold on to -- SO I made her a very girly little bag from scratch!



Inside is her very on news hat, sparkly headband (since we met at the salon and she had fabulous bangs like someone else I know LOL) and a pocket hair brush. I even put my label in it so she can prove we are friends. Projects like this just make you feel better and sew with love. That little girl stole my heart!



ROOM TO EAT A BIG MEAL...
So I wanted to make a pair of elastic waist pants. This is only because I (1) don't have one and (2) I skipped that step in beginner sewing.. I went right to the harder stuff. LOL

So when you see them you can't tell...



But take a look at the waist line.. Not bad (I didn't suck in - LOL) Not that I plan on making elastic pants apart of my wardrobe staple but they will do for the project at hand!

Blogger is acting extra bootleg...

Blogger is acting extra funky.. I have lots to post BUT I can't upload any photos.. I will give it an hour and try again! Make sure you check back!!

Happy Friday!

Yay it's Friday! This weekend I will finally get to play with my new serger! Hopefully I will have something to show off...

I leave you with two things.. Check out this 1972 Simplicity book on sewing. She's excited about sewing, hunh? LOL

*be advised that it is clearly dangerous to munch on a rotary blade..

And here is a little something for all of you sewers! (This some makes me think of Carolyn for some reason!)

ENJOY!!! It made me laugh!!


**BTW For those who won't be able to take part in the big JoAnn sale on patterns coming up.. McCall's online has pattern on sale for $5.99 today and tomorrow only! Enjoy!

Happy Anniversary to me and Mr. Right

This year Mr. Right and will celebrate our second year of marriage. Isn't God good?! Okay here is the thing.. that anniversary isn't until June BUT we are big kids and have already gotten our gifts. LOL His Playstation 2 broke down so I said babe please splurge and get a PS3. He refused (he's very tight on the money which means we should always be financially okay - hahaha) Then I put my footdown and said you only enjoy life one trip around get what you want not just what you need.. anyway I told him it was a gift from me. He broke down and got it (excitedly).


With that said he told me to pick up a big ticket item for myself too! After one heck of a grin I said, "What about a serger?" He was like don't you have a dozen sewing machines at home? Haha After a little explaining he bit and I have a Brother 1034D on the way via UPS tomorrow!!! Oh the excitement!!! I had my eye on this machine for a while.. and then after checking with Erica Bunker and finding she had the same one, I was sold!

So here is what is funny.. I am scared of using the thing. Overlock machines look scary to me. LOL This should be interesting! I guess that is how some people view sewing machines.

She who has the most fabric wins...

I have started buying my Spring/ Summer fabrics! Yay! Yesterday I went to Joann's and found some GREAT linen and linen look fabrics..

I was inspired by the latest J.Crew catalog. There are lots of tribal/whimsically patterned tops and bottoms!

This yellow, black, gray and white linen is SO gorgeous in person. I am thinking of making a tunic out of it.. and making some long and lean belled bottomed slacks to go with it!

For this.. I am thinking of a tunic as well for the patterned fabric and a pair of solid blue linen shorts to anchor all of the business.. I also got enough to make a pair of shorts out of the fabric on the left.


This blue gauze fabric is for the sun dress I am making for the cruise Mr. Right and I are taking this summer for the big 2 year anniversary!


I haven't decided what to make out of this royal blue jersey fabric.. lord knows I have the patterns to choose from at home!



Bonus buy --- So I am hanging out at my local Dollar Tree (you know the place you run into your local news anchor LOL) when low and behold I find these! $1 per pack! This is going to make a great decorative neck trim on one of my linen looks (maybe I will pick up some cream linen!)

INSPIRED BY:




COMING UP: Trends I am looking for this spring summer -- lots of tribal African print inspired fabrics, bold colors anchored by solid pieces, safari inspired pieces, florals (although I don't know how to wear them without feeling 7 years old! haha) and plaid!!!

I HEART my laptop

You don't know what you have until it's gone.. With that said...

I'VE GOT MY LAPTOP BACK!!!!!!

*imagine angels singing and the clouds opening up and the heavens smiling down on me*

Okay, I never realized how dependant I was on my lappy!! I sent it to tech support on Thursday afternoon and they sent it back Friday!!! It arrived today and I couldn't be happier. I was afraid they would have to reset my operating system thus wiping out my iTunes!! I have hundreds of dollars worth of songs on there!! Okay granted the best of Bell Biv Devoe isn't something to cry over but do you really want to buy all of your late 80s early 90s CDs all over again?

So please know that I am back on my regular postings!!!

EVERY GIRL SHOULD HAVE A GREAT BAG

I love making little tote bags. I find the upholstery fabric the best in terms of durability and style. I would love to share one site that I found that I am seriously coveting what they have in their selection.. Oh and the prices as always are quite reasonable!



Tonic Living
I am loving their retro meets mod fabrics!!

Little Red Dress and the Project That Was Not

I am a buster.. I am a big ole buster. I did not finish my RTW project for the PatternReview.com contest. Here was my inspiration.. this Spring 2008 Derek Lam dress...

Here is the deal.. I tried to merge two patterns together..

The bottom line is I got a little bored and then the procrastination set in. This challenge was something I totally should have kicked butt in but my schedule and my attention span got the best of me...

So on to the positive.. I fell in love with this little dress when I saw the pattern illustration.

I decided to make it in a red linen like. I LOVE THIS dress.. Here is my dilemma and I would love your opinions.. I am stuck on if I should gather the bottom of the sleeves or not. I kind of like the bell shape at the bottom. It fits my personal chic style.

What do you think? For those who normally don't post -- come on!! Leave me your comment in the comments box!