Relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to go

To answer Julia's question about what was I going to make to go with the shirt, I made Butterick 4136, view C but they all look the same to me. I actually took the shirt with me to Hancock to try and find something to go with it, with this color green is would be easy to get it wrong.

When I first saw this, it didn't do anything for me but when I put the shirt up to it, it matched the color very well and I did want a print since the shirt is a solid color. I like the way it came out but I think I need some type of belt and nothing I had really worked with this so I'll keep looking but you know I wore it to church anyway.

Almost finished the light green satin that I cut out a couple of weeks ago. I think I'm going to use the glass beads for the embellishment.

I also cute out this top, view E in this happy yellow, doesn't it make you smile. I bought a pair of yellow sandles so that was the inspiration.

I was so happy to find this fabric again, I purchased some last year off the remnant table and was so disappointed, the pattern I used was for stretch knits only, not only did the top not fit but when I finished it I noticed it had small holes in the fabric. I went over this piece to make sure it didn't have any flaws and look forward to having a "do over" and making something that I can wear this time.

I purchased this pattern awhile ago because I have a lot of this plaid from my "Wal-Mart getting rid of their fabric dept. stash" of course I want to make the plaid jacket, I have a different color which has more of the hot pink so I may decide to use that instead but I really want to make this jacket. However I need to make up my mind and start on my Macy's Music Festival outfits, it will be here before you know it. I bought a pattern for a maxi dress but I need to decide on fabric and I'll need two outfits because I'm going both nights. I went both nights last year for the first time and it was so much fun, can't wait for this year.

And I'll leave you with the little princess, this is the get out the way when she has the bat sister, and it was her birthday, her Mom said she picked out her dress, the girl has good taste already.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I really enjoyed mine, I think I made the most of it and I'm ready for Monday.

He Did It

My son graduated on Wednesday and I'm very proud of him. I'm sure anyone who has had a child graduate can appreciate my struggle but it's over and he can focus on his future. Way to go Kendall.

His big sister and nephew, congratulating him. My DD will graduate in July with an associates degree, it's been a big year around here.

Me and my baby, I still can't believe it.

I finally finished something. Butterick 4659, view B but I didn't want 3/4 length sleeves so I made them long sleeve with the cuff. I like the way it came out now I need to make something to wear with it.

A little crocheting, a hat and booties for my DD co-worker. I have several things on my hooks and needles. I'll keep you posted on those projects.

I really, really need a weekend of carefree sewing, this has been a hellaious week at work. You've never heard me complain about my job, I really do have a great job and I love what I do but I have a very low tolerance for stupidity and there was a lot of that going around and it really pisses me off when people don't take responsibility for their actions or lack thereof, that combined with severe technical difficulties made this week pure hell and I need to make the most of this weekend. IttyBitty is here for the weekend so we'll probably get together tomorrow and then I have a baby shower to attend on Sunday but I'm determined to get in some quality sewing time. Wish me luck.

I am not the sh*t

I didn't get to finish my canopy and cushion for the patio swing, that project will take some time but it was still a really great weekend. Saturday night I went to a dance with friends from my second job.




We work hard and play hard, it was a good time. I just have to ask when did they come up with so many line dances, those old women were on the floor all night, half of them I've never seen. And of course there was a whole lot of GTFOH to quote Andrienne this lady had a light up had on, I took video but it doesn't really show up that well.



There was a lot of really good food for Memorial Day, my friend Gwen who is the reigning rib queen, fixed ribs, chicken, and fried corn, I fixed some ribs, chicken, burgers, pasta salad, baked beans and this.....

I think Adrienne's MaPhine would be proud, I made the cream cheese pound cake and it was so good. I forgot to take a picture before they cut it.



This didn't even get cut, it's a strawberry cheese cake, which is one of my favorite summer desserts and the people I work with wish Monday wasn't a holiday because I would have taken it to work but I will freeze some of it so I don't eat the entire thing.


Since I didn't have my Sunday breakfast I just made it a Memorial Day breakfast and it was so damn good.

The blouse still isn't done, I'm almost done with the sleeves I really hope to be done with it before next weekend so I can move on to something else. I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend I know I did.

Next week will be exciting and busy, my son's graduation is Wednesday, I can't believe my baby is graduating, time really does fly.

Things Change and I think I've been hacked

This is still not finished. All I have to do is put the sleeves/cuffs in, buttons and hem it, so why isn't it finished......




This is why, I got side tracked on a project I've been wanting to do since the weather warmed up and with it being the holiday weekend, I'm going to have some friends over so now it's crunch time. Why do I always do that.





What is it? It's a surprise and if it comes out the way I'm envisioning it I will be the sh*t!
Okay, I'll tell you, like my friends say I'm like an old refrigerator I can't keep nothing. I'm making a new canopy, cushion and pillows for my porch swing. So far so good on the pillow, I only have one almost finished, just have to put the ends on it. They're going to be oblong arm pillows. I have to have it finished before Sunday, wish me luck.

I'm using more gifted fabric from Sis. Julia which means I've had it for at least 10 years, do I need to say it again, never throw fabric out, you will use it one day.

How about a little T-Ball, they made up Saturday's rained out game at Tuesday's practice. LJ at bat.

How cute is he, he's 3 years old, the T is as low as it will go and it's still almost taller than he is.

I'll have to get a picture of his little sister, she's 2 and swings that bat like nobody's business, everybody gets out of the way when she has it.

Oh well, back to my last minute project. And I was hoping to use my 3-day's for fun summer clothes sewing. Oh well, I hope everybody has a great holiday weekend.

I almost forgot about the hacking, I went to leave a comment on Sheila's blog and was told that I was already logged in as SuperJerry33, don't know any SuperJerry and I have no idea why he would put forth the effort to hack into my blog. I know my pictures are cute but come on, get a life Jerry better yet get a job that will pay you for all that useless computer knowledge.

Tru-Fit Pattern Design Seminar Review

Of course I was running late for this mornings Tru-Fit Pattern design class and when I got there and received my handouts and realized these were my "patterns" I was like WTH but once the presenter started his presentation it all made beautiful sense.




I think the classes are priced so reasonably so you can spend your money on the tools needed to create the custom patterns.



I am not complaining I think everything was very reasonably priced. This is what I purchased just the rulers and pattern paper. But we were given an order sheet and I would like to order the two sewing attachments that were demonstrated. If you have the opportunity to attend one of these classes I HIGHLY recommend it. Carolyn had a post awhile ago where she said she had attended a 2 1/2 hour class years ago that forever changed the way she fit her patterns, I wonder if this is the same class because I know it has changed the way I will sew from now on, I wish I had gone 20 years ago. I'm going to try the make the pants pattern first, I'll let you know how it goes but I really think this was the best $7.00 I've ever spent. You can order the DVD and tools from the website I started watching the DVD, (it's the same guy but he's about 15 years younger) but didn't finish it, it looks like it's the seminar so you could just order the DVD and then decide what tools you want to purchase.

It was funny in the seminar the presenter asked when was the last time you had fun sewing and I answered last night because I stayed up late making this for my little protege. I wanted to make her, her own crochet bag to keep her hooks and projects.

This is the crochet hook case I made. The outside is more of that fake leather that I've had forever, I use to have leather furniture and I covered those cushions more times than I care to remember but I still have a lot of that fabric left. It's what I used to cover my sewing table. Initially I tried to use a snap for the closure but the fabric was too thick so I went with plan B and used velcro, and when closed the snap adds a little decoration.

Here's everything that I put in it, I made this hat and scarf last year and it's for a young girl, didn't give it away at Christmas so I'm going to give it to her, she was very concerned that she wouldn't have her's finished before Christmas. I just printed a copy of basic how to crochet instructions so she can practice at home and wouldn't you know the game was rained out so I will give it to her at Tuesday's practice.

I'm off to make my pants pattern, I might wait until tomorrow and just sew the blouses I have cut out, whatever I decide to do, you'll see it here soon after.

Almost forgot KnittingMachineQueen nominated me for the Attitude of Gratitude Award. Thank you so much, I will post the award and my nominations tomorrow, hopefully with some sewing pics.

I love Hobby Lobby

I stopped in Hobby Lobby on my way to work this evening to pick up some crochet hooks for my little protege that's been following me since day one of T-ball practice, she said she wants to learn to knit and crochet. We had our first lesson on Tuesday, knitting was a bit much for her but she did quite well with the crochet and wanted to take it home with her to practice. Luckily for me they were 40% off so I got her a 3 pack, she's 9 and cute as a button. I guess you can tell I love kids, how can you not.

And as soon as I walked in the store they ambushed me with these purses. Aren't they cute. I plan to use them for my knitting/crochet bag. I like the fact that they're huge and have pockets for things like markers, needles and other small items that get lost in the bag I'm currently using.

They'll also make great beach/park bags for the summer.

And they were on sale for 6.80, get out!

This one is just a cute summer handbag, couldn't resist it was 8.60.

I also picked this up, I have no intention of making the back pack but I couldn't pass up the deal on the yarn.

I'm sure these would have cost a lot more if purchased individually. I'll use them for something, I have a few things in mind......

Lastly this was included with the Camo back pack kit, and you have to admit the one I made is way better. I couldn't believe this won the contest.




How come I didn't know about it lol. I'm sure the book was

printed before I started crocheting again, oh well maybe next time.

Both tops are cut out and waiting and the weekend is so close I can taste it.

No Sewing but I want too

This is a sage green silk like fabric I don't remember where I got it or how much it cost. I had pulled this out before to copy a blouse that Adrienne made but I didn't do it so this is this fabric's latest opportunity, we'll see if it happens this time. Hancock had all their buttons half off and I picked up some that go well with this fabric.







This is a light green satin that was left over from last summer, remember when everything was embellished. I couldn't make up my mind between the glass beads or the ones with a design, still haven't made up my mind we'll see once the top is finished. Feel free to chime in on your preference. I know I was all set to cut out the khaki suit and I will cut it out but I'm going to indulge myself with some quick and easy sewing first.





My Mother's Day gift to myself, there are some awesome patterns in this book, way over my head but I bought the book anyway, it was at half price books, the only place besides Amazon that I will spend money for a book.

More Mother's Day gift's for myself, this is an avocado cotton yarn, also on sale at Hancock's. Not following a pattern, just winging it. As you can see I started with about a 4-5 inch ribbing and then I'm going to change to stockinette stitch after that I don't have a clue. I'll decide when I get there.

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. Mine was very nice, I do believe in treating myself well. My friend Gwen stopped by for dinner, which is why I didn't get any sewing done but I'll trade spending time with good friends over sewing (almost always) lol.

Saturday I'm attending a pattern design class at Hancock's. It was only $7.00, you get 6 free patterns and 2 DVD's. I've been sewing for 20+ years and I've never taken any type of class so I really hope to pick up a few useful tips. If anyone has attended this before I would love to hear your review.

That's it for me, I hope everyone has a great week and happy sewing, quilting, beading, scrapping, knitting, whatever it is that makes you smile make time to do it.

Gold, I'm glad you're back

Because I needed your inspiration. Remember this fabric , I wanted a top that would feature the border and when I saw Gold's version I knew I had it but hindsight is 20/20 and I wish I would have reversed the border and had the black part at the top.






I'm still happy with it, when I first looked at this view it looked like a maternity top and Lord knows that's not a look I want but when I saw it on Gold it was so cute I copied her and like her I really like the elastic at the shoulders. It's a cute top don't let the maternity look scare you.




And here's the dress inspired by her with the completed shrug. Whew, those are some made some baby hips lol.



I always say you never want the first of anything I make, this is the second shrug and it came out a lot better. The only change I made was adding 10 stitches when casting on and I think I knitted more rows that the pattern called for I just kept measuring as I went along until it was long enough.

And this is what's up next.

My cousin was going to buy this when we went shopping in Texas but was generous enough to let me have it so I have to do it justice. She was going to use it for a lining and that's what I'm going to do using McCalls 5817, of course I'm making the pants not the skirt. The khaki is from my Wal-Mart stash--when they discontinued their fabric dept. at my local Wal-Mart, it was .98/yd.

Well that's it for my mid-week post, hopefully there will be some sewing done this weekend.

Pretty in Pink

I finished Simplicity 3775. I really like the way it came out, Gold made this last year and that’s when I bought the pattern.

I think this fabric was a great choice for it but the material is really see through so I lined the bodice and skirt, the midriff is self lined with the overlay. I used the knit tricot I purchased in Texas. I think I should have purchased a lot more of that than I did, oh well, my cousin called today to tell me that she’s having them order a ton of $1.50 and $2.00/yd fabric for a big sale in June. She’s so wrong for that I will get on the bus in a minute; I don’t know if I can make another trip down there so soon but boy is it tempting. I think we may have to work on some virtual shopping, she can send me pictures and I can have her ship it to me.

Here’s a tip for eliminating the wavy hem line on knit skirts.

I serge a small piece of fusible tape when serging and press it in place and then sew, the fusible tape stabilizes the hem—no waves.

I started working on this shrug without knowing what I would wear it with and I was so pleased to see that it matches the dress so now I just have to get my needles clicking.

I'll leave you with a few pictures of today's game.

What good sportmanship.

My little catcher.

Since I finished the dress today that means I have another whole day to sew, yipee! But I do need to fix a good Sunday dinner I think my kids are beginning to think I don't love them lol. I'm thinking bar-b-que chicken, mac & cheese, green beans, I have some yeast rolls in the freezer and maybe a peach cobbler for dessert, yummy.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.