NEWS & CONFESSIONS...

First the News: I've been given the nicest prize from my friend Paco from Barcelona, Spain and here it is...
Paco's is one of the blogs that I frequent often. I think his work is the epitiamy of couture that I aspire to.

The rules for this award - prize are as follows:

1. Select 6 bloggers to whom you would like to give this award- prize (choosing only 6 is hard because there are so many wonder blogs that I learn from).

2. Put the award - prize on your blog and indicate who gave it to you by identifying her/his blog;

3. Paste these rules on your blog;

4. Write 6 of your most important values and 6 negative points you condemn,

5. Inform the 6 recipients by leaving a comment on their blog.

Values that are important to me:

1. Kindness
2. Honesty
3. Respect
4. Patience
5. Unconditional Love for family
6. Excitement

Some things I condemn:

1. Lying
2. Meanness
3. Deceit
4. Greed
5. Hate
6. Jealousy

These are some of the creative blogs that I frequent and from which I learn so much. (I cheated here by not adding links...but each one is listed on my sidebar).

1. Ebony at "A Needle for My Thoughts"
2. Angela at "Sew Much to Sew"
3. Amy at "I Might Sew"
4. Mirela at "Mirelap"
5. Trena at "The Slapdash Sewist"
6. Shawnta at "Divinerae"
   

NOW ON TO MY CONFESSIONS: I grow more and more in love with this everyday:

My gravity fed iron. When I was sewing on Saturday, my iron was very low on water and I didn't feel like going to the store to get more. Instead I switched back to my classic Black and Decker iron which really use to love because it was heaver than most of the irons that they sell now a days. Well, I've gotten so use to the weight of the gravity fed iron that I don't think I ever want to switch back. I think that this iron is my most important "MUST HAVE" sewing related tool I have other than my sewing machines. God forbid, but if something ever happened to it I would just have to get another one. When I first got it I was so scared of it because it is so unlike my regular irons, but now I handle it just fine. By the way I pick up 3 gallons of distilled water yesterday...don't want to run low again.

My second confession is: I might as well admit it to myself...I am also addicted to underlying. It just adds so much to the garments that I've been making lately. I started making McCall's 5764 out of a ponte knit like fabric this weekend and it was just not draping as I thought. So although I have said that I would stop taking patterns to yet another level, I started thinking about underlining this knit cape. First I needed to do some research as to what would be the best underlining for this fabric. I must say that the Pattern Review Site has helped me on more than one occasion. There I found that one of the better ways of underlining knits is to use a fusible tricot interfacing. So that is just what I did and now I'm much more satisfied with my fabric choice. Notice from my pictures I used white interfacing and the reason for this was the white was 60" wide and the black 22". The interfacing/underlining necesitates a lining (yet another step that the pattern didn't call for) and the fabric is so dark that I really don't think it matters.
These are pictures if the front and back of the cape so far. I'll also be making a matching straight skirt to go with this.

I'VE BEEN TAGGED...

I was recently tagged by AMY. It's nice to know that there are people who want to know more about me. I'm trying to think of 7 interesting facts about myself and though I'm stumped I will give it a try:

1. I'm the eldest of four. There's us three girls and then my baby brother. Being the eldest is such a job!

2. We were all born and raised in Georgia. We moved to upstate New York when I was 13, and I HATED IT, but after a while it became home as well. When we use to visit Georgia on vacations I always wanted to KISS the ground when we returned. I relocated back here in 1979.

3. When we moved north we were so homesick that my Mother had to take us for long drives in the countryside so we could see farmland, cows and pigs. You can take the girl out of the country, but...

4. When I was in high school I took EVERY Home Ec class that was available. Total of about 6 or more classes and my dream was to become either a Home Ec teacher or an airline stewardess as they were called at that time. If you frequent my blog you can tell that I am presently enjoying a revival of something I learned in Home Ec which is sewing.

5. Everyone in my family for at least 5 generations has had either one child or four children. I think this is an amazing fact. I have one, and my daughter has four.

6. I am blessed and highly favored, and God has always answered my prayers in due season, even ones that I had forgotten I prayed.

7. I am currently walking in one of my dreams of being a Cosmetology teacher. I always knew that I would teach somebody something...


Here are some of the ladies that I would like to learn more about, but if you've been approached with a similar tag before, I'll understand if you don't care to participate:


1. Toy @ http://trinilove.typepad.com/
2. Ebony @ http://www.ebbyj.blogspot.com/
3. Ann @ http://annsfashionstudio.blogspot.com/
4. Marita @ exploringpassions.blogspot.com/
5. Cathy @ http://hemminandhummin.blogspot.com/
6. Angelia @ http://sewmuchtosew.blohttp://
7. Sheila @ http://sheilazcrochetz.blogspot.com/
Rules:
1. Link to your Tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know that they are tagged by leaving a post on their blog

I WANT THIS THING....

I think this thing is too cute! And I want it... I don't want to buy it, I want to make it. A straight skirt AND McCall's new belted capelet pattern. This smashing Chadwick's outfit is made of wool and I love wool, but I think it would also be really nice in a Pointe Knit. I'm noticing that a lot of clothes in both Speigel's and Chadwicks are made of Pointe Knit.

Has anyone had any good experiences working with this knit...any tips?

FINISHED PROJECT OF THE WEEK...

I finished my Simplicity 3627 swing jacket, and yes I am also about finished making swing jackets. Not that I won't make another one, but I am ready to move on to something a little more fitted in the jacket arena for a change. The fabric I used for this jacket is some sort of lightweight linen blend that I fell in love with when I first saw it. After I started working with it I found that it wrinkled something terrible so I started having serious second thoughts about finishing it.

Discovering that the fabric wrinkled prompted me to put in an underlining which then necessitated putting in a lining. Even projects that I choose as easy just have a way of progressively becoming more labor intensive (ugggggh!). After seeing Lisa's jacket that she entered into the fair last week, I did learn to use a hong kong finish on the front facing at the hem edge. I had always struggled with a clean finish for this area. I continue to learn so much from Lisa that makes my work look so much more professional inside and out.

Like I mentioned before, I had seriously considered trashing this project because the fabric wrinkled so much...but kept looking at it and decided to finish it anyway. Adding the lining constituted so very much hand sewing because I didn't bag the lining. I will certainly have to do that the next time I make a jacket because it saves so much work. So, here's my finished project after a really good press. If I walk to work on the day I wear it maybe it won't be so wrinkled when I arrive (l0l).

And now I'm trying to decide what to make next. I always need tops so maybe that will be the direction I'll be heading because I do have some really gorgeous knits that I bought for tops. We will see.....

TOO GREAT NOT TO POST TONIGHT...

I know that it's late and I really should be in bed, but this is too great not to post tonight! I had talked to my Mother yesterday about CoCo Chanel and the beautiful suits that she designed. I also told her that I had been wanting to make a Chanel jacket for sometime now but that it was so hard to find boucle fabric locally. I've really had the Chanel designs heavy on my brain for the last couple of days. I didn't get home until around 9 tonight and was sitting here watching Chanel on Lifetime again when the phone rang around 10 pm. It was my neighbor who was saying she had picked up a delivery for me this afternoon. When I collected it from her it turned out to be a box from my Mother and just look what was inside....

3 1/2 yards of BLACK AND PINK BOUCLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't it wonderful! Talk about make my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are some other things that were in the box. An apron kit, two really pretty lining like materials, a gold linen like fabric, the cutest little ceramic duck pin cushion, and duck pin cushion, a sisters Christmas ornament that reminds me of just how important sisters are. See why I couldn't hold this until tomorrow?

COCO CHANEL - What Did You Think

I know a lot of sewists saw this movie. WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT IT? I loved it inspite of a few negative reviews I had read prior to seeing it. I was inspired and motivated to advance my sewing yet another knotch.

WHIRL WIND WEEKEND...

Talk about a whirl wind weekend! As usual my sewing weekend started on Friday afternoon with my sewing class. The sad thing about this week was this was the last session of the class. This week Lisa introduced us to some books from her sewing resource library and showed us her Inspiration Notebook which was very impressive. It showcased her method of keeping up with her dream projects and I will be copying it for myself.

After class I came home and sewed non-stop to get my projects finished the projects that I wanted to enter in the GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR SEWING EXHIBIT. A dream come true for me. I had not gone to fair in years, but visited it last fall. One of my favorite things to do at the fair is to visit all of the exhibit halls. The one of particular interest to me was of course the garment exhibits. It was then and there that I decided that I was going to enter in 2008. So I've actually been thinking about this for an entire year. I since met Lisa and Ebony and after mentioning it to them we decided that we would all be entering this year. Saturday was the deadline so we all finished projects on Friday night. I didn't get to bed until 2:00 a.m.; Lisa said she turned in at 2:30 and Ebony said she stayed up ALL NIGHT LONG! Needless to say we did not pull out of the driveway at 8:30 a.m. as we had planned.

This was such an exciting day for all three of us. We didn't get to do our photo session of us wearing the garments before submission as we had planned, but I did get a few pictures when we submitted our projects. Of course I tried to sneak a peek at the other entries while I was there (he he). We really wanted to do this, but we all had a hard time parting with our garments - after all they have to be there for an entire MONTH! So we all need to rush home to make more clothes!










(I added this ladies picture because we share the exact same good old fashioned southern double name - LINDA FAYE.)

After wards we had lunch at a local "Chicken Shack" and shopped at the Perry, GA Walmart to see what treasures we could find. I have to stop to reflect what a huge blessing it is to have made friends with these ladies. So many people want to do things but don't because they don't have anyone to do it with. I am so very blessed to have my sewing buddies! It is so good to have someone to bounce ideas off of and also learn from. After the Walmart trip we came back to Warner Robins and shopped the local Hancocks - and you know it was on with those 40% coupons. After all of that sewing we did to get ready for the exhibit - all we could talk about during the afternoon was "WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO SEW NEXT"! All I can say is...it's on! So with sparks flying from the sewing machine and steam irons on here is the project I finished last night and what's next on the cutting board...I started this shirt in last weeks sewing class but didn't get finished because I had to complete my fair entries. So in keeping with my goal of "NO UFO's" I had to get this finished.
This is what's cook next - Simplicity 3627 view c that is supposed to be an easy project. BUT, I'm already thinking of adding to the construction to do what I think would make this a better garment (underlining). Here I go again.....

MID WEEK POST

I wanted to show a picture of the top that I made a few weeks ago from Simplicity 4020. Not crazy about the print, but the fabric is very comfortable and the fit is really good. I'm really not a dolman or raglan sleeve fan, but this was not bad at all. I think I'll make this one again, maybe in a solid color with a shorter sleeve. It went together so quickly too.

Also wanted to show some of my first period babies. This is the last of three semesters that they will be with me and I will truly miss them when they are gone. They are all seniors and are taking my advanced nail tech class.


Meanwhile, I'm still plugging along on my ruffled collar blouse and still excited about finally taking on the challenge of using french seams in the construction. I've got the button loops on and now the side seams done. All that's left to do is the front/neck and armhole facings, the bottom hem and sewing on the buttons. I need this finished before Saturday.

WEEKEND PROGRESS....

Since my week is soooo very busy, I really try to get in as much sewing as possible over the weekend. Oh I do get a little sewing in here and there during the week, but not very much at all. I started the weekend at my Friday night sewing class; this week we worked on collars, and I again learned some of Lisa's nifty sewing tips that solved some problems that I keep having. The neat thing is how she explains why the problem happens and then shows exactly how to prevent it in the future. We have our examples to bring home for future reference as well as great handouts on the application. I finally remembered to take my camera and took a couple of snaps at the class.






I worked on the pants of my unofficial four piece capsule at the sewalong we had on Saturday night. Lisa and I visited Ebony and Keith again and saw their beautifully decorated new apartment and got to view her new sewing room first hand. The apartment really nice but her sewing room is off the chain, and that stash, man oh man. I finished the pants today now they just need a good press.

Also today I started working on the blouse to match the capsule. The suit is gray with a fine baby blue stripe running through it. I wanted to match the blouse to that stripe but could not find a solid baby blue fabric anywhere. I even asked Ebony to check her stash for it and she didn't have it. I finally went to Walmart to see if I could find something, but came up with nothing again. Finally I thought "what about curtains", so I checked the drapery department and found a sky blue crushed voile drapery panel that I thought would match and it did. So I'm knocking off Adrienne's double ruffled collar blouse that I thought was so cute. I'm thinking that the ruffled collar would give my suit just the right pop. I'm even copying her buttons that I think are rather snazzy.

The crushed voile is extremely light weight and sheer so I thought this would be just the occasion to practice "FRENCH SEAMS". Learning to do french seams is one of my 2008 Sewing Goals, but sewing fear had me still avoiding them. Well today, (reference book in hand) I've made five french seams on this blouse - hooray for me! It's funny how something can just sound complicated, but when you try it, it's really not hard at all. But still, I am really proud of my self for accomplishing this sewing goal.

Now, using that rolled hem foot is another thing. I tried using it several times on this blouse ruffle, but was unsatisfied with the results until I zigzagged the edge first and then tried the foot using a zigzagged stitch. It's probably supposed to be used with a zigzag stitch anyway. I need to read up on how to use different feet. IF ANY BODY KNOWS about the rolled hem foot, PLEASE TELL ME. Now that I did it that way I am actually pleased with the results.



Well on with my new week, but I'll certainly be slipping in a little sewing along the way....

MMMMMMMMMM IT'S SO GOOD!

Thought I'd share another TNT recipe. I made it last week and wanted it again today. It's a quick and easy one dish meal that I've made forever.

CALIFORNIA BEEF & RICE SKILLET

(I cook this in a cast iron skillet)

1 pound ground beef

1 medium green pepper, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

1 medium firm raw tomato, chopped

2 cups water

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

1 cup Uncle Ben's Rice

3 beef bouillon cubes, crushed

Brown ground beef and chopped onion until done. Drain beef. Add crushed bouillon cubes, rice and water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Cover and simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in green pepper and tomato. Top with cheese and cover for 3 to 5 minutes until peppers are softened and cheese is melted. ENJOY!

LONG WEEKEND SEWCATION

Well - I guess it's about time to bring this long weekend sewcation to a close. I really took advantage of it starting with coming home right after work on Friday to cut out my blouse pattern for my Friday night sewing class - I had been too tired during to week to get it done. On Friday after class I came home and worked on my swing jacket and finished it on Sunday. This morning I worked on my sewing class blouse and finished it this afternoon.

I need to find some baby blue fabric to make a blouse to go with this suit. I couldn't find any at Hancock's so I'll have to check at Walmart. The white blouse turned out nice and I really needed one. This pattern was quite easy, so I'm thinking about making another one soon. My next project will be a pair of slacks to match the swing jacket and skirt. So that's about it for the this short sewcation.