SERIOUSLY WRAPPED UP IN MY LOVE...

...I wanted to make something nice for my Baby Doll Alondra, not a Christmas present per se, but rather something to wrap her up in a little bit in her Mama's love on chilly days.  As mentioned before, I made McCall's 6209     

poncho/wrap/coat (or whatever you want to call it) for myself  twice last winter and seriously LOVE both of them to pieces.  I remember asking my daughter if she's like a poncho. She answered, "no, not really" because she just didn't think she'd wear it.  But again this year these things are trending and she is seeing more and more of them being worn.  Besides, I sort of insisted she have one and purchased this loose weave wool blend from Hancock's in the summer while it was DIRT CHEAP with this pattern and her in mind.  (Mama always knows best!.)

Really, I love this one just as much as two that I made for myself.  If it wasn't earmarked for my daughter I'd change my mind and keep it for my selfish self (haha).  Here's the trio that I mailed to her earlier this week.

I hope she knows that she is ALWAYS seriously wrapped up in my love...

#WORKWEAR WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY...

...a couple of days ago on Facebook someone pulled up a picture of a cape I made last winter - since a lot of people really "liked" it  I decided to wear it today this week:  first because there was a little chill factor going on  at 37 degrees, and secondly because I LOVE IT! Both pieces of today's WORKWEAR are throwbacks from last winter. Here's the pattern combination that was worn on Wednesday:

McCall's 6209 & 7014

My falling madly in love with the designs that two other bloggers (Tasha & Michelle) made prompted me making the pieces.  I just knew the cape was ME when I first laid eyes on Tasha's, and it was such a good thing that I was able to find some wool herringbone tweed in my stash to make a jumper similar to the the one Michelle made for her daughter - I think I would have had a complete come-a-part if I hadn't.  I JUST HAD-TO-HAVE that dress!  When I first wore it the thing that made me feel so good was when a co-worker said, "I saw a dress just like that at the Ralph Lauren store this weekend, did you get it there?"  JACKPOT! for me as far as I was concerned!

Wednesday was a very good work wear day, so on Thursday I decided the cape deserved a replay.

McCall's 5978 & McCall's 6654

 

This time paired with my "snow flake" knit pencil skirt and a racer cut cowl neck racer cut top (which was frankenpatterned because I was HIGHLY obsessed with having at the time- need to make more for sure) cardi twin set I made way back in the day.

I just love a comfortable, non-restricted work wear day, since I'm moving non-stop interacting with 69 students during the course of the day...

REPEAT WORTHY...

...sometimes you run across an easy pattern, make it up and then simply fall in love with the garment.  Such was the case with the McCall's 6209 brown tweedy wool poncho that I made last month (view A blogged about here). Love it, and have probably worn it six times already.  Every time I'd put it on I'd think "I really need to make a black one".  I am sure I'll get to wear it some even though our winters are so short.  Well, this weekend I finally got around to making it and got repeat love results.  Wore it yesterday and again today.  It brought lots of complements, and one lady asked if she could feel it.  I had to let her - and had to laugh because I can't count the number of times I've asked to feel the fabric of somebody's garment hoping they didn't think I was crazy.  What can I say - I'm a fabric feeler!

It's soft and cuddly and not too heavy.  Some type of nubby textured wool blend with a slight nap that doesn't feel like it has any wool content at all - so it worked well for my unlined poncho.

Now this former confessed non-poncho lover has two of them hanging in her closet.  Goes to show you, you can never say never, but I think that's enough ponchos for a while...

GET OUT OF MY HEAD...

...ohm-goodness!  Is it just me, or do you too find it hard to coral all the sewing ideas in your head?   I have had so much fun over Christmas break; glorious days off - but it resulted in way too many ideas floating in my head - I need air traffic control!  In an effort to remedy of the situation, I acted out of my norm and broke my #1 Sewing Rule:  Finish a project before starting another.  Truthfully, I am really good about upholding this self inflicted rule.  But I set my 2014 Winter Coat Project aside (for just a minute) to give myself some relief from flying objects ideas.  Can't ever remember even wanting a poncho, but after being inspired by TheTellTaleTasha's Olivia Pope-ish rendition I just had to have one to GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD and into reality.

I'm calling this my Rustic Poncho, it's from McCall's 6209 - I made View A.

A quick make, most of it completed while I enjoyed a nice talk with my Brother last night.  I'm in love!  Can't wait to wear it with my cowgirl boots and jeans as my first day back at work outfit next week...