Life happens Be Positive

How garment planning saved my shopping trip

In a nutshell, it has been rough but I'm doing a lot better. I will spare you the details. Its back to doing what I love to do best- writing about what inspiring me right now.

So, lets get to it.

The day before Thanksgiving, when every other sane person in America was shopping for their turkey, cleaning up their homes, greeting family members etc. I was in Manhattan, NY shopping for fabric.

It was not as fabulous as you may think either.

It was a little chilly, drizzled most of the morning and I was sick like a dog - no exaggeration.

I looked like Death on the prowl but I had to go fabric shopping, it was now or next year, on one of the busiest days of the year, in one of the busiest cities in the world and I only just thought about that-WOW!

So, how planning saved my trip?

I knew this would be the last opportunity for me to be go to the city for 2011 but when I tell you, I was so out of it, high on meds with a fever, I'm sure you can only imagine.

You know when you are shopping, its a whole experience, you want to look at everything, feel everything and be fully involved when interacting with the sales clerks, this was not what was going on.

Thank goodness I took Mom and my vision boards I made for my blog posts on my ipod touch.

I could just show the store clerk what I am going to use the fabric for and the inspiration and they would just bring me the fabric or take me to the fabric.

I would say if I liked it, mom would inspect it, ask the questions that you usually ask when you are on full bars, like, what fabric is this, yada yada.

I had the yardage of my fabrics on there too, so I handed that over to the store clerks and that was how it went.

Ironically, it was the most efficient, most productive, most rewarding and fastest shopping trip I've ever had.

I love everything I got.

Remember this

Well, I was super lucky to find the exact fabric I wanted for this dress, a heathered Taupe, a mix of cream and brown thread. This jersey knit feels like a double knit and you can use either side.

I smiled when I scored this.

For this look

I got a beautiful, beautiful teal and orange crepe de chine for the blouse

Its fall 2011 with the teal and spring 2012 with the tangerine.

For the skirt, I was brought this cotton, the photos doesn't do it justice, it looks like its a suede but its not. Its 100% cotton in a taupe-ish grey, Driftwood maybe, lol, I'll go with that, love it.

 

For this dress, I didn't see anything that had the color and the quality all in one, it was either, get the right color but the fabric was to light or get the right weight of fabric but the color was more orange. So I was shown this and the color was so fantastic. Cabaret is one of the colors for spring 2012 according to Pantone and this reminded me of it. The color is a little off in the photo.

Its gorgoeous, I can't stop looking at it.

After I saw the Holiday 2011 Vogue collection, I added V8772 to my line up and I got this amazing chiffon for it.

Its packed full of those Spring 2012 Pantone Colors such as Sodalite blue, Driftwood, Starfish, Tangerine Tango and Solar power. I just had to grab it.

For this dress, I happily accepted this teal wool. Its amazing, feels like silk wool but it not, the back is black and those threads intertwined to make a beautiful suiting that was my vision when I saw this look months ago.

and a wild card. I am going to make V1250 with this because its going to really showcase this fabric which is just beautiful to me.

I think I'm going to make this for my Christmas lucheon at work in a couple of weeks.

So there it is. A preview of what I'm going to be working on in the upcoming months.

I hope you are well, your thanksgiving was wonderful and next time we link up, I will show you my new silky knits, I've been knitting up while I was gone.

 

 

B5249: Pockets that work on curvy girls

well, at least for me.

I am not a big fan of pockets on a skirt but I thought I'm willing to try out a different spin on it to see if it works

 

it needs a good press but maybe later.

Anyway, its not the view I wanted.

I wanted View D but I had some conflicts of interest when I added the ruffle to the skirt.

1. It was way to long and I mean, it was a long skirt as in mid calf long on me, even after I cut out 3 inches before adding the ruffle.

2. I think this fabric was to heavy for the ruffle anyway, it just looked horrible, like hanging rags.

3. I could have made it work, truly, but I really didn't want to take it apart and modify it.

So, I chopped off the excess length and went with View B, problem solved.

Do I recommend this?

Yes, the fit is really good, IMO, and it would have been a quick sew if I didn't line it and did the whole ruffle thing. It doesn't come with a lining pattern or instructions so you know,,,, that is all on you.

More Photos

 

 

 

   

so it seems like its all about the skirts around here,,,, yes it is. I think this pattern is so chic but maybe its not being considered because the design detail on the hip. It really is worth a try.

I will check in with my next project soon, I should it traced and cut out by tomorrow..... oops, it must be BWOF huh?

Lots of Boobage and Medical Update

So.... my thoughts of Mrs Beckham's collection.

Well IMO her collection is not AMAZING, not in the category of Mr De La Renta or Mr Lagerfeld. Its not innovative, she didn't push the envelope or reinvented the wheel. That being said, I sum up the line to be very marketable and "safe", I think a lot of women who are willing to spend 1500-3000 dollars for one of her dresses should have the figure to pull it off, or at least afford the necessary plastic surgery or personal trainer it will take to get her to look great in one of these dresses.

I think her choice for her new collection was smart and it will do well, its a no brainer, classic=  longevity and that is a winning combo. We will keep an eye on Mrs Beckham to see if she truly brings the drama next season. I think there is a lot of inspiration for a sewist because you can mimick the look, I'm sure the knock off manufacturers will have a field day with this one.

Now for my medical Update.

So... I'm going to tell you the results of the Biopsy just like how I got it. It revealed that I may have papillary carcinoma, or in more understandable terms, Thyroid Cancer. Now I say may have because they need to get the actual Tissue of the mass to make the official diagnosis.

 

My Doctor, Dr. Galib is going to perform the surgery next week Tuesday which is the 16th. He is going to take out the thyroid and the mass that is on my neck which will be sent to the lab for further diagnosis but I pretty much know that it is what it is and taking out the whole Thyroid is going to be the best option instead of going back in to take it out later.

 

So, how I'm I taking this?

 

Well, truthfully the first day was the hardest but I am doing great. I cried about it and now I'm focused on getting rid of the problem. I feel like I have to live my philosophy now more than ever in that, Life Happens, and there is nothing.. NOTHING. I can do to change the stuff that is meant to happen to me and around me, but I can choose how to deal with it when it happens, staying positive and enjoying my life as long as it last..... literally, lol

 

I am greatful for your prayers and support and remember me on the 16th, its scary but its necessary.

 

The game plan for updating everyone who reads my blog is my husband is going to call Adrienne after the surgery and she is going to post whatever the outcome is on her blog because I won't be able to for a while and I don't want to leave you guys hanging regardless of what happens. So there you go, bother Adrienne she agreed to it, lol.

 

Okay back to the positive side of things.... as if you can focus on anything else now that you got the sad news, lol

 

My B5242

 

Lots of boobage, lol

 

The wrap front is not discreet and so I am wearing a cami with it. I took this photo out around lunch time, as you can see the stress on my face, from a morning of preliminary test seeing that its a week before the surgery at the hospital.

I love this dress, hmmmmm, it think the pink one had more ease because the fabric had more stretch but I love both of them all the same.

and look what else I got

 

 

 

Remember this post, well I got this jersey from Fashionfabricsclub.com in the exact color I was craving and for this I will be making B5251 View A with some brown pants for work, hmmm, yeap, most definitely, which reminds me I need to go belt shopping,,, brown preferably.

 

more on this later!

My 1 hour 6 dollar dress and more

 

Tee hee, I have pics!

and lots of flash burn but oh well, I have pics!!!!

What a deal, I got this fabric when fashionfabricsclub.com had there sale and all their knits was around 3.95 a yd and I was kinda iffy about it, but when I got it I was so happy, so happy with it. I knew it had to be something simple for maximum effect.

Initially, I thought maybe one those those boatneck, 3/4 inch sleeves, with the same silhouette would have been nice but I couldn't find the pattern, then I saw the pucci dress, then butterick release there patterns and the rest is history.

love it okay, you can't beat a couple hours, or in my case 1 hours from cut to finish.

and I am quite motivated, seeing that this worked out so well.

In other news, I love the new instyle magazine, I usually don't subscribe to it, but while I was at the grocery shopping I picked it up because the line was taking forever, you know that's how they get you when you have to do something or else you will go out of you mind, so you grab a magazine, get sucked in and toss it on the conveyor belt with all the things that was not on your grocery list but you got it anyway.

Anyway,,, love this because the only time you can bear to wear this sort of thing is fall or early spring

 

it immediately had me rummaging through my closet trying to get the look, then I thought about what patterns I would use to make the look, because you know that is how people who sew think

 

and there my friends is how you persuade yourself into making a garment from a pattern you can't wait to get into your hands, I will make that cardigan, I will do it.

and for the yellow lovers

 

why does this remind me of a Motions ad. Those are some nice pumps though.

and this

 

kinda reminds me of this which I have to make but I don't know what color to choose, it won't be yellow. I have to stick this page somewhere to remind me it.

Yellow always grabs my attention but it doesn't look good on me, unless its a more earthy yellow.

Last but not least

 

yes another B5242, and yes, I will get a pic of me in it on Wednesday, I have to go to the hospital to visit my ENT doctor and we have to do some X-rays and stuff like that, so I figure something to slip over the head with no wrinkles will be great,,, NO?

more later

B5247 & B5242: A little colorblock and lot of brainless sewing

Some progress.....

B5247 View B

 

B5242 View A

So what's going on?

Its such a beautiful day on the outskirts of Philly and here I sit with my coffee in hand, comtemplating the next move.

I was passionate about making B5247 because of the Pucci dresses posted here and I was so happy that this fit is exponentially more pleasing. I love how it tapers at the knees, very sexy.

My inspiration for this week is laying heavily on Aquascutum Fall collection for some reason. Maybe because I've had color blocking on my mind and I have been revisiting older post I've written on the subject.

The mean reason for adding a subtle touch on B5242.

It is lined with the colored jersey that is the front and back midriff, not that anyone would see it but you know how that goes.

Aquascutum did a lot of fall color combos, like fuschia/orange, brown, green, lots of neutrals which I like, traditional and clean. Plus it gets me out of the black and white combo which is becoming more like a uniform for me.....

and here I thought I was a creative person!

I definitely need some COLOR in my life.

I am contemplating

In a chocolate brown, with a smige of orange at the neckline. I will do version B.

Oh!

This trench is fantastic

as for the dresses,,, ehhh,, not much to say, beginners should rejoice in butterick's latest knit collection and the sizing is on point.

More later.

B5206 continued

This morning, I looked out the window and was shocked to see the sun was just starting to come up around 6:13, there was  just a smigen of light.... hmmm, that is not good for my early morning photos, another reason why I love summer, light and lots of it.

Anyway, here is the dress

so even though I still have luke warm feeling towards the dress, it got a lot of attention today. Someone even asked me if I got it from White House Black Market.... ahhh no! but thanks for the compliment.

Which is a reminder that I need to go snoop shopping in there pretty soon.

SO,, how do I look?

B5206: The endless bias binding dress

Never again!

I totally underestimated the simplicity of the pattern, not that it was hard to make but definitely time consuming.

I am not in love with this dress, I am hoping once I step out in it I will learn to love it..... one can only hope.

So... where do I begin

First I tapered the sleeves a little, I used the sleeves of Jalie 2794 to taper the bottoms because I like how they fit on that top I made.

One thing I found with this dress is that when I used the patterns positioning for the wrap, it drooped on me, very badly I didn't like it at all. so I fit it to where I like it and sewed it down the wrap to the bodice front.

Now, I really don't know if its the weight of the bias-binding that made it droop like that one me for some reason but it looked horrible.

I didn't attach the tie band to the dress because as a black and white dress, I would like to accessorize it with other color belts instead of being commited to this look.

The bias binding is a lesson in patience, I put it down a few times until it was done. I guess in my mind a simple knit dress like this should never take that much time,, mind over matter right.

I wrapped the dress the other way than the pattern suggested because their is a part of the front fold where you can see exactly where the bias binding seam is and I was kinda self conscious of it.. yea I know, I have issues but oh well. It was either that or rip the whole bias binding out and do it all over again, which was not happening.

However the instructions were easy to follow.

Now, some photos

 

Tomorrow I am going to wear it so I will get a photo of me in it,,,, the scary part, lol.

and in the spirit of keeping on the positive side

Peach cobbler with instant gratification, bets endless bias binding any day.

Breaking up the Monotony....

of sewing my M5661

 

everyone!

Look what I got

I picked up some red cotton/spandex with matching buttons for the Encore presentation of my BFJ.

I think I want to use the triangle buttonholes for it this time. This will be my vacation project. My mom is coming next week Friday from Trinidad for a month. She will be in NY most of the time, but I'm going down on the first week of August to do some final merchandise shopping with her, a little sightseeing and of course, Fabric shopping.

On the subject of Fabric shopping,

You won't believe I haven't thought about what I will sew during the fall to winter season. I was looking at some of the collections on style.com, but the only thing that spoke to me what the colors. So, hopefully, went we hit the streets of NYC I will get inspired by something.

As for now, at Joann's Mccall/vogue sale yesterday I picked up 2 jacket patterns from their Latest Line.

M5715 should not come as a surprise to you,, for me. It looks like the fall version of B5223 just with a 3/4 sleeves and more back details like the yoke and pleats. As of right now, I am leaning towards A and thinking of doing the skirt too.

M5711... OMG, I froze, eyes locked to the screen when I saw this jacket,,, Goodness help me, I have to have one, and I promise you if I don't make it, I will find one that looks just like it for Fall.... Oh, I need this in my life,,, I mean closet, lol.

Other considerations in M5701 because even though it is a sack, the lines of View A is giving the illusion of shaping and I love the back detail and I'm liking that a lot.

M5718, Gosh, I will love to see sewn up but it's not for me, because, it will give me a turtle effect,, no neck, my round face just sitting on top of that collar and the way all the fabric sets on the shoulders,, that bulk will not do at all.. woo hoo, not going there.

Okay enough of that

Progress report....

As I said, I am working on my M5661 right now, adjustments has been made, and once it is done, I will try to get some photos of me in it, hopefully by next weekend. I had a lot of bias binding work for the inner seams, I made them myself, 

finally broke down and got a 1/2 inch bias binder maker to experiment with.

I can't say I am loving the process, its kind of tedious.... honestly and hopefully I will get into it as my skill improves.

I plan to have it done my tomorrow for the latest and go straight into my BWOF 05-2008-121. I know once my mom gets here, the sewing will come to a crashing halt so I am planning ahead of the game. Plus once this is done, I can go ahead and post Phase 3..... And the photos will just flow as I wear the clothes.

Oh,, always more ladies, always more.

EOM Jet set: B5223 White Pique Cropped Jacket

Finally....

My new BFJ,,, ever!

I wanted to get photos of me wearing this jacket for work and play which was the intention of making it. I will keep this in point form to keep it short and sweet!

1. So I needed a cropped jacket and I needed to use the pique I got for this.
2. I saw this review and fell in love with it, I emailed her and she told me if was easy and to make my normal size that I used for butterick patterns
3. I loved it because it reminded me of this dress,,,, which I also haven't worn but I am going to when the right occasion comes along,,,lol
4. I started about 9 am on a sunday morning and by 3pm I was done, watching a movie, everything cleaned and packed up.
5. No alterations.....
6. Except for the bound buttonhole which I used this tutorial for.
7. Its unlined, so I guess it will take you longer if you planned on lining it.
8. I wore it with this top, and a pencil skirt for work and the simplicity 2892 in the casual pics
9. I love it, love it, love it, the collar is so flattering expecially for my round face and I love the swing style and the pleats in the back, lol
10. This is a collaboration of view A and B.

Okay,,,, pics

front

back

 

bound button hole and buttons

Front/dressed for work

and another one

and front casual

one smiling,, one not smiling, lol

so if you are looking for a quick cropped jacket, maybe you should try this one, and now,, back to my icecream.

wow, we are almost done, next post will be the knit tops!

B5173: A dress for Guinevere

SHE SAID. "I feel like to be completely honest, I should start all my pattern reviews with the acronym, IMHO.
As in, IMHO this pattern gave me so much trouble to decipher or the fabric was so hard to manipulate, or for the love of all things good, it just won't fit right and I'm about to tell you how it didn't work until it finally worked... out for me.
I should note, that this is just my experience and a lot of it can be due to inexperience or maybe stress and other external factors,,,, this may not be your experience and if you are ready to except that and forgive me, read on.....but what I do instead is just write about my experience,,,,, and then take as much photos displaying, what you can have, if you are willing to try, to take the good and leave the bad and prevail, just as I did, and just as more will do."

Something about this neckline reminds me of medieval clothing, maybe the neckline and the gathers,,, something.

Anyway....

It was an easy sew,, up to the part of putting on the neck facing.

I made View B

Mods:

I went up a size (14 bust 36) actual bust size is 37.5. I cut out a size 12 for the muslin, I usually cut out that size because butterick patterns measurements are not true to size on me. But this was to small, not at the shoulder and neckline but the bust area.

Using the french curve, I scooped in to give the waistline shaping and back out to meet the hips, I also added a few inches for the hip line. with the extra fabric added, I didn't have to lower the armsyc after all, it just needed more ease to lay where it needed too.

I cut the muslin back pieces in half and used it as my pattern to make the sway back and center back adjustments. As you can see, I use light color fabric for my muslins so I can use the marker to write instructions on it, just in case I want to come back to the muslin much later I can see all the adjustments right on the pattern.

The neckline was a little challenging, I already knew it would be so, I had already thought about how it would protrude away from the body if I didn't figure out a way to do it right.

So even though the pattern said to gather the neckline all the away from the bottom to the last point at the top, I smooth out the gathers of the lower portion always to non existence,, very loose so the bulk will not be focus on there, and I made the gathers at the upper area more intense,,, does that makes sense.

I wished the pattern had recommended that,, because it would have saved me some time trying to figure out what to do with it, the back facing I had to hand stitched down at the back of the peak.

Oh,, almost forgot

The major mod. was to change the back neckline from a V and to round neck. I love a V neck for the front but I really didn't like it for both, so I used my back pattern from my S3775 dress and just tweaked it a little so it will match up with the front neckline. I used a bias strip to finish the neckline of the back piece in the same color of the main dress so the contrast color of the neckline will stand out more.

 

I should have added another inch of length to the dress overall.

I also made to bands to spice it up a bit, they will not be pulled tight for shaping but just loosely hanging on the side with a knot to secure it.

I think it came out great

back view

Conclusion: Love it, but the pattern is in the trash, no need to make another one,, well...except for the sleeve, i always keep my sleeves.

be well!