SEWING BLOG CHASERS...

...Sewing Blog Chaser  [chey-ser] a person enjoys chasing after or pursuing great sewing blogs, (very similar to storm chasers I think).  That's me folks.  I love reading sewing blogs.  I get very excited when I link on to or just happen upon a new to me blog, and into my blog dashboard it goes.  

I was so happy when I discovered my blog's dashboard - it keeps me from checking X-number of blogs per day for updates.  There is only one thing wrong with the dashboard - IT WILL ONLY ALLOW 300 LISTING/SUBSCRIPTIONS.

How do you keep up with your blog readership???
Do you use your blog's dashboard???
Or, do you use Google Reader???

I really don't know very much about Google Reader.  I think it allows you to follow (subscribe to) 1000 blogs???  Am I right?

I think I need a little more blog reader information.  
Are there other Sewing Blog Chasers like me???

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

...to my Mommie, Daughter, Sisters, and all my Blogging Friends

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!   FOR ALL YOU DO AND HAVE DONE

BLOGGING FRIENDS...

...I am so behind!  At times I have so much on my plate that I think I need to trade it in for a platter.  One of the first things I need to do in an effort to catch up is thank Clio for the Liebster Blog Award that she presented to me a month ago. It is such an honor.

I found Clio's blog in the midst her quest to find the perfect mac and cheese recipe; but also discovered that she is an excellent seamstress.  I so enjoy seeing her exquisite apparel designs (especially her dresses) and the nice jackets she makes.  She wears them well!

 

The spirit of the award is to recognize and promote other blogs.  And since I'm such an avid (sewing) blog reader that won't be hard for me to do.  

 

Marjie The Modern Day Ozzie and Harriet type of girl.  She has the happiest family who all come to visit on holidays when she prepares food that always makes this blogger drool.  Marjie's  dream sewing machine arrived just in time for her to participate in my last "Tops" sew-a-long. 

 

Myra's 1sewsimple blog always inspires me to jump on my sewing machine and make some dreams come true.  Myra has a knack of making sewing seem so effortless.  She whipped up the perfect cruise wardrobe year that kept me on the edge of my seat.

 

Positively Necie Now what's not to like about her name? Necie whipped up so many tops back in April that it made my head swim - each more positively beautiful than the last.

 

Alethia creates the most beautiful designs.  Lately she's had me swooning over the wonderful colors she's been adding to her wardrobe.

 

Far also a "Top" challenge participant must have a great fabric source, because I like every fabric she chooses for her designs.

 

Ladies, if you decide to accept this award this is what you need to do: 

*Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.

*Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.

*Copy/paste the blog award on your blog.

*Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs (with 200 followers or less). 

*Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment.

Happy blog reading to one and all....

RUFFILICIOUS...

...I've been sewing fellow bloggers, just not my normal love - fashion apparel.  I decided that it was finally time to get my bathroom curtains done up.  It was a big decision as well as a big job to accomplish.   You know me, no matter what the project is, I always have to add more to the design than called for which always adds to the work and the time it takes to get it done.

About a week ago I found this picture of a shower curtain and it was love at first sight.

Source:  Pottery Barn

Plain, with just the right touch of femininity - I knew this curtain was for me.  Simple, yes; but by the time I got what seemed like a thousand miles of ruffles completed I was wishing I had shelled out the $69.00 cost of the Pottery Barn curtain.   But, you know me - I want the satisfaction of having pretty things that I make with my own little hands.  It just goes along with my (ha ha) "I can make anything!" philosophy.

The Pottery Barn curtain had just four simple rows of ruffles, of course mine ended up with six rows.  One of the draw backs I find with a purchased shower curtain is that I can never ever find a matching window curtain or valance.   Making my own allowed me to have that extra.  The PB curtain was made from ticking, my version was constructed from a full size set of sheets purchased on sale for $18.00.   I also lined my curtains and added a chain weight in the bottom hem to assist with the drape.

Window Valance

The only bad thing is I couldn't get a full sized picture in my tiny bathroom.  This was a real labor of love and I really like it a lot.  But, alas I am in desperate need of new clothing - so it back to garment sewing for a while.  I do have several other rather large home deco projects planned that I'll fill you in on later.


How about you???  Any home deco projects brewing at your house????

I HATE IT WHEN I STRESS OVER PATTERNS...

...when I first saw this top on Pinterest I had to have it!

 After putting out an APB blog post for help, several readers suggested Butterick 5495 as a reasonable similarity.  I went on a wild pattern stash search only to find I didn't have it.  Can we say disappointment?  I was even more disappointed when it wasn't to be found in local stores either -  I hate stressing over patterns.  So of course I had to break down and order via Club BMV.  I didn't get a chance to make this top during the top challenge - but did get it finished today.


Here's my version.  I love the print, but the knit was a bit flimsy to work with.  I think I'll have to make this one more time from a different quality fabric as I don't think this choice tells the whole story.

Now there's another Pinterest obsession top.

This will be my first color blocking attempt if I can figure out just the right slightly oversized top pattern.  I already purchased the fabric - peachskin in black and in white.  Can anybody offer a pattern suggestion???

69 NEW TOPS BIRTHED INTO THE WORLD...

...to each and every one of you ladies!  Taking time from your busy schedules to participate in this challenge was a big, big deal to me.  Thank you so much for joining up and posting your new designs.  The challenge was such an inspiration to me,  and hope it was for you too.  If my count is correct,  69 tops were created in 15 days - Wow, what an accomplishment!  You ladies made this a such a success!

Although the Challenge officially ended on Sunday;  participants may continue to post.  I'll be checking back over the next two weeks for new entries and will add them to the slide show.

Here's to a great rest of the sewing year  - after all, we all STARTED AT THE TOP!!!

EXTRA, EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT.... NEW TOPS BIRTHED INTO THE WORLD!!!

The day is still young!!!

There's no telling just how many people will post photos for the challenge by the end of the day.

An early morning count revealed that 55 new tops have been birthed into the world since April 1st.  Isn't that wonderful!!!
  (and just to think, 7 of them are mine, yeahhhh!)

I've even got one more top on the drawing board as I type.

The Challenge officially ends at the end of the day; HOWEVER, things do happen and we can't always meet deadlines.  If this is your case, feel free to post your finished projects on the Starting At The Top Blog anyway.  I'll be checking for new entries periodically over the next two weeks to add to the slide show.
  So keep those photos coming!!!!

  

...I've finished my 7th top, a white handkerchief linen tunic made with this Louise Cutting pattern

The pattern is called Ebb & Flow.  In my last post I think I mentioned in error making the view with the pleated collar (Flow), but I actually meant the other view (Ebb). 

I was attracted to the side vent and notched sleeve cuff details, and think it adds to the tops easy breezy styling.  I hope that I'm able to get one more top completed - there is only one more day left in the Starting At The Top Challenge.  It's been a nice run that yielded some nice additions to my wardrobe...

EBB OR FLOW - THAT IS THE QUESTION....

...nothing new to show today - I'm right in the middle of prepping my pattern for top number 6 - which is by the way yelling that a muslin needs to be made primarily because I think it's going to be made from the white handkerchief linen that it took me so long to find... (have you ever read such a long sentence?)

This is what I'm working on...

It's call Ebb and Flow by Louise Cutting - Cutting Line Designs

 

Flow has the unique collar and Ebb is collarless - I'll be working on Flow.   I bought this pattern at the 2011 Sewing Expo.  I was able to make it out this year without purchasing an independent pattern.  I'm shooting for something easy, breezy and of course cute that I'll love to wear almost any place I go.  Is that a lot of demand to put on a top or what?  

I feel the need to make a muslin because venturing out from the Big 4 is not usually my norm and sizing can be such a tricky thing sometimes.

*************
I wanted to also mention that there are 

more STARTING AT THE TOP CHALLENGE DAYS left.  If you are a challenge participant who hasn't submitted a finished project as of yet, there's still time...there are lots of tops that don't take very long to whip up....

STARTING AT THE TOP - #5 & #6...

...seems like it took me far too long to finish these two tops.  The preparation stages of a new project takes a considerable amount of time.  For top five I used New Look 6648, View D.  An attempt with this same view last year proved unsuccessful because the cowl neckline was much too deep for my taste.   I had to  consult one of my sewing mentors for information to remedy that problem.  Raising the cowl neckline mandated altering the
armscye  which was a bit scary to me.  But I took a deep breath - then performed alteration surgery on my pattern using her advice.

I removed 1 1/2 inch from the cowl.  Not wanting to spend time on a muslin, I just went with it. 

 I took it for a test drive today and was very pleased with the results.

I had enough fabric left to make up Simplicity 1916 - View F.  I'll have to admit that I eliminated three pieces (should have eliminated four pieces) of this pattern that I felt unnecessary.  Picked that up from Sheila and a top pattern she made recently.

I love the fit of this top and really love the fabric I used.  It's a jersey knit that I purchased on my 2010 visit to Metro Textiles - hope I can get back there this summer.  I have only one regret in using this fabric - after it was too late, I got the idea that this would have made a really cute maxi dress.  Oh well, what's done is done....

BLESS THE LORD....

Oh my soul, and all that is within me.  Bless His Holy Name.

HE IS RISEN!!!

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!!!