OTHER PEOPLE'S STUFF...

...continues to be a  source of inspiration to me.  That's a good thing, right?  Yes it is!  Other People's Stuff causes me to have an ever growing "List of things I want to make or try".  Seeing the creativity of others causes me to s-t-r-e-t-c-h or challenge myself to greater heights.  It's exciting!, and I always thrive on excitement.  When I'm really excited about a project I seem to do my best work - and that makes the time spent in my sewing room a sheer joy.

I've spent all my sewing time during the last two weeks working on SCARVES, since I committed myself to an upcoming craft fair (December 8th) a school fundraiser.   I've been going a little bonkers.  I'm thankful for the constant stream of  inspiration provided by other sewing and crafting bloggers (and of course Pinterest)  Other than this I wouldn't have had much excitement lately.

I've wanted to learn how to create a blog collage for a long time and finally got around to it today.  So I'll  share my weekly source of inspiration here in my very first college.  

1. Virginia's Sew Blessed Daughter's Working Girl Cargos
2.  Cotton and Curl's Week of Leather
3.  Erica B's Team Spirited Houndstooth coat
4.  Kojo Design's J-Crewy wool tweed skirt

Happy rest of the week ya'll...

HAVE YA'LL MET RHONDA BUSS...

... if not, you simply must drop in to peruse her blog.  It's ALWAYS filled with such wonderful things and I'm sure you will think so too.  She has two blog features in particular that I look forward to each and every week:

•   Fabulous Free Pattern Friday and,
•   Sleeves on Saturday

I just visited her blog this afternoon and found this Fall Gem posted:

So fashionably cute, and reversible too!

I've got far too much plaid in the fabric closet to pass this one up; just need some fur, and I know exactly where to get it from.  Thank you Rhonda...

BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING...

...would you believe  - Today I shopped on Black Friday for the first time ever.   I've always managed steered clear of all the madness.  But today, for the very first time I ventured out because the Vogue Pattern sale FINALLY started at Hancock's.  Seems like I waited FOREVER for this pattern sale.  But does this really constitute Black Friday Shopping.  I did think that there would be a crowd of people at the pattern cabinets, but that wasn't the case at all.  I didn't have to fight for patterns, but rather shopped at my leisure.

What were my choices???  All of the new ones of course, but these were the ones that came home with me...

V8845 - had to have this Claire Shaeffer beauty

V1327 - and this darling Anne Klein dress

V1329 - love my self some Kay Unger, she designs such classy dresses

V8865 - hope my butt can handle this bustle peplum

V8859 - I need skinny pants pretty badly, got to try some soon.  These look easy, but I'm not too sure about Tilton girl patterns.  We'll see.

V8849 - Who can resist this interesting design?  When I first saw it, it so reminded me of a dinosaur or some sort or reptile with that elongaged ruffle peplum sewn down the back.  Don't know exactly what I'll do with this pattern, but it was so darned cute.  

V8861 - Thought this coat was very interesting, especially worn with those elbow length gloves.

I didn't get this one - it can only be obtained on line.  But I just want to ask - "What is this?", or better yet, Why is it?"  Am I missing something here or what????  I'm just saying...

TO ALL MY BLOG READERS...

OH SHEILA!!!!

Who in blogland has not virtually met Sheila?  Well if you haven't happened upon her blog you should really make it a point to do so - you can find her here.  I've been reading her fabulous blog for a number of years now, and find her to be so multi-talented in that she sews, knits, and crochets just like a pro.  There's another thing about Sheila; she ALWAYS thinks enough of my humble sew-a-longs to join up and submit some of her beautiful designs.

For example, here's a picture of a design she submitted on the recent (and still ongoing) Carnival of Skirts Sew-a-long.

Her skirt made from the most interesting embossed faux leather using her favorite TNT (and also mine) pattern - McCalls 3830

When I saw her completed project weeks ago - of course I had to comment, but also made note that her fabric put me on the hunt for it in my local fabric stores to no avail.  To my surprise I received an envelope from Sheila last Thursday that contained 1 1/2 beautiful yards of this same fabric.

Can you hear me shout YAHOO!!!  So I have to send a shout out and a big THANK YOU to Sheila for her generosity! Needless to say, you will soon see me posting Sheila's skirt twin on my blog - so be on the lookout!

Guess what NEW PROJECT SUNDAY finds me working on?  Not a garment, but rather a bunch of infinity scarves for a craft fair called the Reindeer Market Place to be held at my school on December 8th.  I could KICK myself!  And you know that I've been procrastinating on getting them started.

Making one or two of the scarves for wardrobe enhancement is nothing at all.  Try making 25 or 30 of them.  Can you tell that boredom has slowly set in???  I'd much rather be working on Sheila's skirt twin.

I just noticed that today is November 18th - exactly one month from my birthday.  God willing I'll be at another milestone, and I really need to start planning a special outfit for that day.  Any suggestions???

NEW PROJECT SUNDAY EVEN THOUGH IT'S MONDAY ...

This Sunday's project, although not as planned, found me working with Vogue 8815 yet again.  I know, I know.  How many of these do I need?  I love this top and love wearing them - so there might be even more.  I was so intrigued with Erica's and Rachelle's knit versions that I felt I needed one for myself.   I was a bit timid even though I've made 3 of this pattern with woven fabric.  I toyed with going down a size, but after talking with Rachelle about it, went with my regular size.  I did not use a zipper and things work out just fine - HURRAY for that!  I finished the top this afternoon, which by the way feels a lot like Sunday even though I know it's not.  Been wondering all day long if I should have gone to work  - I know, sad right?

Black Ponte de Roma from Hancock's 30% off  - because I am a bit obsessed with this fabric.       Added 2" to the peplum back and front.

Increased the width of the front peplum to add a set of four pleats on the left side.

Used a self Single-Fold Binding technique from "The Dressmaker's Handbook of Couture Sewing Techniques (Linda Maynard) because I needed to try something new.  Title can be found here.

Now I'm feeling the need of some off-white (I'm still not free yet, but I am working on it ) skinny leg pants.  Boy oh boy, inspiration will sure keep you working... 

Happy...

TO ALL THE BRAVE WOMEN AND MEN WHO SO BRAVELY SERVE OUR COUNTRY...

CARNIVAL OF SKIRTS ADDITION (IS THIS THE YEAR OF THE SKIRT OR THE PEPLUM)...

...I have been sewing; however, slowly.  I guess I can call myself a slow and deliberate sewer.  All of my projects seem to take forever.  My slow production could be attributed to my watching so much television while sewing.  But I really don't see that changing anytime soon - it's habit and I really do enjoy it.  Last weekend I I started a project that had been floating around in my head for a while.  A  novelty suede animal print peplum (Vogue 8815), paired with a faux suede pencil skirt (McCall's 3830).  I finished the top during my Friday night sew-in, but only worked on the skirt a little bit on Saturday because I sacrificed sewing time to give my house some semblance of order.  Can you believe that?  The skirt was finished on Sunday night.  It's underlined as well as lined because it gives the faux suede more weight  - which is more to my liking.

Somehow or another there are vertical wrinkles radiating from the neckline of my top when worn by Lady Faye.

  But they don't show up nearly as much when worn by the real Faye.

 

 
I lowered the neckline about 3/4" from the center front - tapering to nothing at the shoulder seams (advice taken from Smoking Needles) because I was hesitate to do so.  After making this pattern twice before I did know that the neckline is just a little bit too high (almost a bit of a choke factor if you know what I mean).  I added thread belt loops at the side seams because I might want to wear the top with a thin black or brown belt.  I also took designer's liberty and lengthened the back part of peplum 1 inch.  I like this top and couldn't wait to make it in this animal print.  Now I want to make a long sleeved knit version.

My closet is sort of smooshed up  - guess I need to do a bit of a purge.  That closet will just have to make some room for my new suede outfit, and all those yet to come...