Impatience

There is a Jeans Sew Along happening on PR. Cabinbaby started it when the new Jalie jeans pattern came out(2908) I joined the Sew Along, I ordered the pattern, I bought the some beautiful black stretch denim from JoAnns.... I washed and dryed the material, I waited. I washed and dryed the material again... I waited..... I read all of the progress others were making on the Sew Along... I waited... I bought more material, a stretch metro Indigo from Fabric.com.... I washed and dryed the material.....I waited. Still no Jalie Pattern! I got so impatient, I decided what I needed was to keep busy while waiting.


I have (had) a pair of 1969 jeans from the GAP. They were so.... well fitting, that I ripped out the rear and one knee. (-: I took them apart yesterday and decided they would make the perfect stretch jeans pattern, while I patiently await my Jalie pattern.
((-:

You can see the lovely patch job I attempted on the rear. I loved these jeans. So, I cut one side apart and used it as a pattern on my lovely metro indigo from Fabric.com


I think they turned out quite nice. I love working with stretch denim! It is just what my body needs!

I had to install this zipper THREE times. Completely, I am talking top stitching, bar tacking, fly extension inside.. the works.

1st time.... made fly way to loonnng. Extended down into my crotch! Not a good look.
2nd time... did a beautiful job! except the damn zipper was inserted backwards! Had to stick my hand in my pants to zip and unzip. (-: That won't do.
3rd time... was the charm. Good thing, I think if I had to pick out that topstitching anymore, I would have worn a hole in the fabric!



I think the pockets turned out nice as well, I think I am getting the hang of topstitching with heavy thread. Now I just need to work on placement.... I unfortunately went against my better judgement and added the back pockets prior to construction.... and now they are a tad off. But oh well, I can live with it!


For the inside, I used a vintage pillow ticking that I picked up at St Vincent De Paul. I just love it!



So now that I have that out of my system, I think I will be able to patiently await my new Jalie stretch denim jeans pattern, so that I can participate in the Jeans Sew Along!

96.8 down!
703.2 to go!
Rock On!

Cure for a headache

I woke up with a headache today and it was still aching when I got off work today. I decide to take a run instead of tylenol. (-: Runs usually cure my headaches. The weather cooperates today, still in the low 50's when I got home. Slight breeze. I started out running through the surrounding neighborhoods and then down an urban trail that runs through the woods and along a canyon. There are ducks swimming on the small pond above the dam. A little girl, balancing carefully on one foot, is intently studying them from the wooden bridge. She smiles at me and then at the ducks. I run past her brother, with a small rock in his hand, also watching the ducks intently. He drops the rock and smiles. Another 1/4 mile through the woods and then back out along the road and into neighborhoods again. Just over 3 miles and ...smile.. my headache is gone.

88.4 miles down
711.6 to go!
Rock On!

Weekends

My husband works a rotating night shift, so it ends up that every other weekend he is working nights, sleeping days. I call these my Sew til you Drop weekends. (-: I am working on squeezing some 'home chores' in when I come up for air from my machines.... Not working out very well though.

Up first on the menu for this weekend was another M5590 high waisted pencil skirt. This time View A, out of a chocolate twill, with belt loops and side pockets. I wish it were about 1 1/2" longer, but oh well. I did not have a cute little belt, so this is just a piece of a jelly roll I had.




For my second course, I felt compelled to make a shirt to pair up with my first M5590. My DD2 suggested something with ruffles. I found Simplicity 2697 and thought it would be perfect! I made view F for the ruffles, and added view B's puffed sleeve with sleeve band.

Aren't the ruffles and puffed sleeve so ... feminine? I do not usually do puffed sleeves, but I think that this turned out very well. My only complaint is that the shoulders slip a bit and then the dreaded bra strap flash happens. Here is a better shot of the sleeves, and the ruffles that are just attached to the front of the shirt!



And then..... here it is with this my second M5590..........

So now.... it is only Sunday morning..... Awaiting in the side lines are.... grocery shopping, laundry, living room 'uncluttering', a short run .... and yet, all I can think about is this plum linen that I bought and Simplicity 2651.........

77.3 down

722.7 miles to go!

Rock On!

Spring!! I am ready!

I am so excited for spring to hurry up and be here! Gardening, flowers, green grass, fresh tomatos, fresh herbs.... shorts! sandals! ..... Today the sky was spitting frozen tiny snow and the wind was cruel. Maybe if I make some skirts, the weather will come around.

This is McCalls 5590 high waisted pencil skirt, view B.

Not sure if this is the best shirt to wear with it... I always have the hardest time putting things together. Luckily for me, my daughters both love to 'help' me!

I love the tabs on this skirt, I think it breaks up the width of the waist and adds a little fun.

You can see from the back, that not only am I a newbie to invisible zippers, but I didn't even use the right color! Live and learn.

73.3 down

726.7 miles to go

Rock On!

Birthdays!! Got to love them!!

My Baby boy just turned 20. Isn't he handsome!

Ever since he was little, his favorite dinner was... Hamburger Helper. Ok, so that may say something about my cooking abilities when he was small, but oh well.



So for dinner, my handsome husband made him Elk Stroganoff (grown up HHelper)








and I made him a chocolate, white swirled cake with raspberry filling and cream cheese frosting... mmmm mmm













My DD's made me the most delicious carrot cake (my fave)

Grandma and Grandpa R came to party....

DD Britt

DD Ashley and her sweetie Al

and the Birthday boy with his sweetheart..

73.3 miles down

726.7 to go

Rock On!

Burda World of Fashion Magazine

I read so much about the BWOF patterns that Pattern Reviewers try, and I love the idea of patterns that are diff than the big 4 that I inquired into a subscription.....$80.00 here in the US for this German fashion mag. It comes out monthly and CONTAINS patterns that you trace and go. For inquiring they sent me the Spring 3/2009 for free! This issue contains 10 coat/jacket, 8 blouse/top, 8 dresses, 3 pants, 5 mens and childrens patterns. As well as photos of all of these pattens made and their fabric suggestions. That is alot of patterns!! albeit, that I won't want to try them all, in this issue there are two so far that are intriguing - #114 the trenchcoat and 106 the blouse and 107 the dress...ok, so there are 3 SO FAR that are intriguing. But looking at the pattern sheet that you trace from looks very intimidating!! I am trying to decide if the investment is worth it.....if any one passing by subscribes to BWOF, please leave me your thoughts on the patterns / magazine and ease (or not) of the patterns.

Happy March!

I did it again!!

Ok, so it seems as if when I hit on something that works for me, I just do it to death. I made another 'My Flirt' pair of jeans, this time in faded blue denim from JoAnns. They are a copy of my fave RTW, Flirt by Old Navy.

I envisioned a faded comfy looking pair of jeans to knock about in. Now I remember why dark jeans are more flattering than light jeans, but oh well, these are going to be my weekend jeans.

I did some embroidery on the smaller front pockets and the belt loops. I think it gives it a warm hippy feel. I don't mind looking like a warm hippy. (-:

62.2 miles down!

737.8 miles to go!

Rock On!

Joanie's Jammies!!!

My sister has officially jumped on the sewing bandwagon. Her fabric is a beautiful flannel, great colors.

Here is her first creation. Flannel jammies with casing waistband with drawstrings and buttonholes! Not sure which pattern she used, will have to update later.

Butterick 4914 Maggy London Dress

My daughter saw this material on clearance at JoAnns.

She said, Mom! These colors would look great on you. It is a knit, black and dark olive green fronds. You should make a dress out of it!, she declares.

I said, Are you kidding? That doesn't look like me at all! We debated, she won and I bought the fabric.


This morning I started another B4914 Maggy London dress.

As the morning passed and I could see it coming together, I started to get more enthusiastic. I started wondering what shoes I could wear it with.... (black leather Borns in the pics)

Needless to say, she was right. I love this dress. I am afraid it looks very fallish and here it is mid February! I am NEVER in season!! Here it is front and back.

And a close up of the front, the wrap and pleats give even me a little cleavage!

A Little Black Dress!

I have been wanting to make this Maggy London dress for awhile. I got the perfect fabric, a lovely slinky knit from Gorgeous Fabrics that just demanded to be this dress. I made a sleeveless version, keeping in line with the idea of a little black dress, that and I ran out of fabric before I got to the sleeves! I love the shirred waistline, its' bumps and gathers hide mine!
Other than the gathering for the shirring, I sewed this completely on my new CoverPro 1000. I love that machine!


Of course, now that it is finished, I realize I do NOT have shoes to go with it!!!

Happy Birthday Britt!!!!

My DD2 wanted a Chocolate Motherlode Cake like they make at Claim Jumpers. 6 layers of chocolate deliciousness surrounded by a to die for fudgy frosting. It tooks me hours to bake, then again to assemble and frost! It was Sooooooo Good!

A good time was had by all!!! I made her take the leftover cake home....didn't want that sitting around MY house!

Vogue 1086

I bought this beautiful dress pattern the last time JoAnns had a Vogue pattern sale..... I keep checking PR to see if anyone has reviewed it yet! I love being able to read about others experiences, and suggestions before I dive into a new untried pattern. Does anyone else out there have this pattern in the wings?

Happy Valentine's Day!!

For Valentines Day, my husband and I spent the entire day together, planned our menu and then went shopping to make our dinner. We had King Crab, Rib Eye steak, fresh aspargus, baked new potatoes. Drawn butter with garlic & lemon for the crab. He roasted red bell peppers and pine nuts and made a wonderful sauce for our steaks. It was divine! For dessert, fresh strawberries and blueberries on fresh baked shortcakes with fresh made whipped cream. Mmmm mmmm. I love that man!

My Flirt jeans are done!

My fave jeans, The Flirt by Old Navy are shall we say... shrinking.

I decided to attempt to copy them and make my own Flirt jeans.
Here are My Flirt jeans !!


I think they turned out pretty good! The amount of topstitching on a pair of jeans is unbelievable! I love how the pocket details turned out.


To celebrate... I made cupcakes!!!! This one is for my sister. She just recently started sewing and all sewers need a cupcake! Shh.... don't tell her, it is a surprise!




On a side note..... It still hasn't quit snowing!! Hey Grandma, recognize that adorable hat?