Simplicity 3535

Happy Monday! So I went ahead and knocked this out this weekend. Simplicity 3535. Simply put this top was easy to do in just a few hours. Although the Project Runway Line is not fashion forward, they are filled with options to keep you from getting bored with a pattern. I loved the way this came out. I cut it one size to small (usually I cut a 12.. I cut a 10) and I am glad I did. These boxy shirts are running large I've noticed. Something new and cool for me.. instead of hand stitching the underside of the yoke I used my serger to bind it down. Boy did it save time.

Overall I am very pleased with the way this came out and there isn't much I would change other than slimming down the bodice so it's not so "I just ate a really big meal-ish" and cutting out the pattern one size smaller than normal.

Vogue 8468

So here is how I sported Vogue 8468. At work is is hard to wear dresses because there is really no where to place the microphone battery pack. So, with a jacket and belt it was news desk worthy. The dress looked great on air and very vibrant. Once again, though, the shapeless dresses aren't figure flattering if you don't put a belt on!


I got this fabric from JoAnns for the "low-low" price.. I thought it would be a great cotton fabric to practice a lining on. I can now say that I have made a dress with a lining! Yay! Go me! Overall I am pleased with the outcome. I don't know if this will become a "favorite" dress or just another member of the wardrobe. It might be cuter with strappy sandals and clutch.. we'll see.

Guess What I Did This Weekend??

*this is a long picture heavy post.
*sorry for the late post -- I fell asleep when I got home!

I got to meet Adrienne of Adrienne's Little World! She was in Nashville for a mega scrap booking convention. We had SO MUCH FUN!! I had heard about this fabulous independent fabric shop called Textile Fabrics.

Okay -- this is for me the south's version of Cidell's G Street Fabrics and Miss Dish's Metro Textile Corp.


We walked in the store and they had us at HELLO and at this pattern paper dress! We were like school girls running around yelling back and forth "Girl look at this!," "Come here!" and a series of ohhs and ahhs!

They had all of the fabrics that you dream about but can never find! There were the most gorgeous knits..

..and fabulous wovens.


The store's manager or owner, Jason, was SO much fun -- playing into all of our giddiness.
Don't you LOVE great customer service. Their prices on average, for what I was looking at, was about $15 a yard. Way more than I usually pay. LOL

Here is the thing -- great fabric will make you shell out your money! I bought four great pieces!

Here is the best part they have a huge sale twice a year where the whole store is 50% off and some fabrics are 75% off. Who can take it??

Also if you know what you are looking for they will send you a swatch so that you can phone order it.

We had so much fun playing with way out of our budget notions like this band of sparkly rhinestones!!

Check out the price! I might have to put in some overtime in order to purchase this. LOL

*what do you know about $300 a yard sparkles?

Now check out the $450 tiara they had in the store! I am so the queen in this!

So here is the fabric that I bought! Yay, fun, yay!

I have already made a fun A-line skirt out of one of them! This will be a cute casual skirt that I will wear with a knit purple tank top.

..and after an exhaustive day of shopping..


Adrienne and I hit up Calypso Cafe for lunch! Talk about good eats!

*Adrienne's salad

*my baked chicken

Yay for sewing sisters!

So on the way back to Knoxville I stopped at Hancock Fabrics, which we don't have, and the JoAnn's in Mt. Juliet.

I think it is safe to say I have enough fabric to get through the summer!

Can you wait until this afternoon?

I have the bestest, juiciest post ever -- and I left my camera at home! So kittens you will have to wait a few hours for the most fun pictures ever. Until then check out Adrienne's blog for a preview!

What Not to Wear: Style Verses Age

So I was at home watching "What Not to Wear." I usually like what the show's hosts put together for their style challenged victims but this episode made me do a lot of thinking. The young lady they were making over was a young (25 years old), white, goth/ punk style woman who now works in the interior design industry -- to give you a visual. She was very cute and petite and while she took her style to extremes she just needed to learn how to work her fashion and not let her fashion work her. BOY did they try to dress her like a 40 year old. It made NO sense.

So with this show.. I couldn't help but do a lot of thinking.. You see when I was in high school I marched to my own drum when it came to fashion. I was not easily swayed by the latest trends, I was no Denise Huxtable, but I had fun with clothes. By college I was into trends and wore them well. I have always had a small frame and wasn't afraid to show it off. LOL

So fast forward to 2008 -- I am a 30 year old married African-American woman with a slender build, I would say my style is like a chameleon. I love 60s & 70s era clothes but can work a sporty chic outfit. With that said the body sure does change with each decade. There is NO way I would rock a cut off shirt the way I would have 10 years ago. *cries*

With all that said -- everyday I am trying to define and perfect my personal style. I have found that sewing has helped immensely. My biggest fear is that I make something that is homely and no one tells me. LOL

So what's your personal style? When did you notice that you couldn't "do all the trends." Or how has your age modified your fashion?

Just rambling...

A little work during the week!

So here is the blouse I have been working on this week. It is Simplicity 2925. I LOVE IT! I still need to hem the bottom and then it will be ready to debut in a full outfit! I love spring, don't you? Hopefully I get to really do some good sewing this weekend.

Fashion Watch Tuesday!

As you all know I love to find RTW dress that I can make.. Lately I have seen some that look like they were inspired by the Big 4 pattern companies! The first one is so similar it is scary!!


Sara Berman Dress $504



Nine West Dress $129



Kim Kardashian wore this on the red carpet recently and I immediately thought of this Butterick jacket!



ABS Dress $188


Donna Ricco $158



JS Charmeuse Dress $206 -- Just a few modifications to this McCall's dress are needed!


Now these last too I love but I can't find a patter to match them.. What do you think??

Weekend in the Smoky Mountains

Mr. Right and I had a fabulous weekend in Gatlinburg, TN. We spent our tome in a log cabin, built a fireplace and explored the smoky mountains.. Okay we didn't hike or anything but we did a lot of driving and animal watching. It rained all of Friday and Saturday but that just made the weekend more romantic.

At a waterfall... under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh...

Wild turkey.. and not the drink..

Mr. Right and I near rushing water.. (he's got the best dimples)

Okay so here is a wide shot of that rushing water passing under a bridge.. notice anything wrong?

It took everything in me to not turn into my mother and start fussing as to why these children were *allowed* to play in this dangerous area while their parents watched! WATCHED! There were several signs talking about how dangerous is was and to keep out of the water! Okay I am off my soapbox but man, oh man!

SO no sewing was done at all this weekend. It made me sad LOL but we had such a good time it didn't matter. This week I will debut the yellow shift dress!

So Spring is here and I will need to sideline some of my sewing projects to do some spring cleaning and gardening. Last season I redid out flower beds so this season I would like to do the same. Here goes nothing!

Happy Friday!

You all know the weekend is always filled with a little sewing for me!! What do you have planned?



See ya Monday!