Let the Music Play

I'll be honest I was worried that I wouldn't finish this in time and it's not my best work but am I going to wear it like it is, you bet.

I'm not sure how I will wear the cardi-wrap.

I really like it without the wrap and this Forever 21 belt. (Please don't tell anyone I shop there but you can't beat a $5.00 belt). I omitted the elastic because for one I hate elastic in anything and the belt does the same thing.

I purchased 6 1/2 yards of this fabric because I was going to self line it but I changed my mind and used the rest of the black lining, so you'll be seeing this fabric again and at 2.37/yd I'm not sorry.

For the concert their will be make-up and jewelry but for now I just wanted to grab a pic while I had a photographer. Not sure if I will make the Maxi dress for Saturday night, we'll see.

Pixie Dust Cardi-Wrap

I think everyone who sews has made this cardi-wrap, except me. This was part of my inspiration for my Friday night Macy's Music Festival outfit. I named it the Pixie dust cardi-wrap because the stuff that makes it so shiny also made a big mess.

I've had this fabric for 10+ years, it was initially purchased for a prom dress that never was, I thought it would be the perfect compliment to the eggplant jumpsuit I plan to make. Thanks to Mimi for that inspiration.

Remember this dress I made a couple of weeks ago, I never wore it because it just wasn't working for me, even after I took all that time to make the stupid fabric rose, I just couldn't bring myself to wear it and once again I can thank a fellow blogger for inspiration. The straps she used on her muslin dress made me remember that I had some crocheted lace in my stash that just might be what this dress needed. I think I will wear it now.

Saturday night everyone usually wears white as a salute to Frankie Beverly and Maze, thankfully they will be performing this year but I can't do plain white. Hopefully I will get this finished before Friday. One day I will learn but today is not that day.

I have say Happy Birthday to my girl Mo. The Birthday club didn't disappoint, we take good care of each other. Enjoy.

Last but not least I met one of my followers Saturday morning at Hancock, I apologize I didn't get her name but it was so nice to meet her and her daughter, who is a budding seamstress. I was a little jealous since it appears I've lost the battle trying to get my DD interested in sewing. It was really cool to meet someone who enjoys reading my escapades.

Thanks for the inspiration and keep on blogging, I need the help.

Red Hot

Not me, I'm not that vain anymore lol. The dress is red and it's been hot as Hades for what seems like a very long time. This is Simplicity 3773, the fabric is from Hancock I didn't know it when I purchased it but it's some type of stretch poplin and a little stretch is always good.

This is a terrible picture but I finished it late last night and made my son take a picture because I knew he wouldn't be home today. I actually worn it to work without a belt, it was just to hot to have anything touch me.

This weekend I will be frantically sewing my Macy's Music Festival outfit, wish me luck.

How My Garden Grows

Today I picked my first batch of zucchini and a few more banana peppers. I was beginning to get discouraged because all I could see were the blooms, all I needed to do was look a little closer.


In case you forgot this is how it looked when I first planted everything.

And this is how it looks now. WOW! The zucchini plants are gianormous, I'm still waiting for my tomatoes to turn red.



This is my first attempt at a garden and I'm very thankful that God has blessed it with an abundance.

Now I'm off to make zucchini bread.

Geometic Tunic

That's a really lame title but it's the best I could come up with. This is Simplicity 4190, simple tunic and elastic waist capri's. The fabric was purchased Saturday at Hancock's 40% off sale.

The capri's are black twill that I purchased at JoAnn's months ago.

I didn't have any black seam binding so I cut two bias strips.

This is up next, also purchased this weekend from Hancock's. Initially I was going to make another tunic to wear with the white capri's I made last year but since I've been wearing those out I think I'll make a dress instead.

Perhaps this pattern, I made the top last year, it was super easy.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. We went to see "Despicable Me" as always Pixar never disappoints very cute movie.

Yep, Snaps would be my thing

If I were to ever be in any type of sewing competition, I would probably try to put snaps on everything and be eliminated in the first round.

I just love me some snaps. Love the way this came out. The pattern only called for the jacket to be lined but of course I lined the skirt as well. In case you forgot it's McCalls 5817

This goofy pic is to show how well the skirt fits, which it doesn't really do but you'll just have to trust me it fits great.
I'm really happy that I was able to finish this Friday evening because that leaves two whole days to do something else.

BTW, I decided not to frog my sweater because once I looked at the yarn requirements I realized I didn't have enough for the Bernat pattern.

They've Found a Home

Remember all those silver snaps I just had to have for the seersucker shirt dress and then I ended up using the white snaps, they've found a home on McCalls 5817. They look great against the black.

It's rare that I get to sew during the week but I've been taking Nancy Zieman's advice, sewing for an hour or two and I'm making great progress on this jacket. The pattern called for top stitching but the seams were laying so beautifully I couldn't bear to top stitch.

I knew I saw the inspiration for my cable sweater somewhere, this is from a free Bernat booklet for participating in an online survey. I was supposed to only get two booklets but the link didn't work so they gave everybody all 4. I'm really tempted to frog what I have and make this instead.

Decisions, decisions to frog or not to frog that is the question.

A Little Knit, A Little Sew, A Lotta Snooze

I read on someones blog that cable sweaters will be all the rage this Fall/Winter so I started on my own version. I couldn't find a pattern that I liked so I'm winging it, the general idea is nice fat cable at the bottom, seed stitch front band and that's about as far as I've gotten. The yarn is Lion Brand Jiffy. I read that knitter's hate to have to pick up stitches, I found it to be quite easy by using a crochet hook and then sliding them onto my circular needle.

It's the same yarn I used to make this self drafted v-neck pullover, this was crocheted before I learned to knit. I love this sweater, I used double-ended crochet hooks for the ribbing to get that knitted look. It's very warm without being suffocating.

I'm almost finished with the McCalls 5817 skirt, I really like the two back vents and contoured waistband.

My son will be 19 tomorrow, I can't believe it. Happy Birthday Kendall. The pic on the left is him in probably the only outfit I made for him when he was small. Black velvet knickers and a bow tie that matched his sister's Christmas dress. They grow up much to fast.

Light Sabers and SlipNSlide

He looks like the big fight scene in The Last Airbender, which BTW I don't recommend it was a bit of a snoozer. We went out to Kings Island to see fireworks, Grandma caved but this picture is totally worth the $7.00.

If there wasn't a slip n slide during your wonder years I feel a little sad for you.

Didn't get any more sewing done and since I'm waffling terribly on what to do with the pique I just moved on to another project. This fabric is black linen-look from Hancocks, love linen hate the wrinkles.

I'm doing view B/C shirt/jacket.

Speaking of the valley of indecision pique fabric this was my latest maybe, I was considering (red/black view) use white for the top, print with black piping for the waist inset and the black for the skirt, what do you think, it's definitely an 80's pattern but I kinda like it. I did make this during the 80's and wasn't crazy about it but I think it was poor fabric choice and not the pattern.

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend, from what I've seen on other blogs it looks like there was a lot of sewing going on.

Too Much Knit to Quit

This is Simplicity 3536 as a dress. I've made almost every view of this pattern and after wearing the top today I decided to make a dress using one of the first knits I purchased this summer.

I know it's July, it took that long for me to decide what to do with this fabric, I knew I wanted a dress but couldn't decide on a pattern. Of course I lined it, with a very thin knit from Hancock 1.95/yd.

I felt it was a little plain so I made the fabric flower, it probably took me as long as it did to finish the dress to get it right.

Nothing says summer like a new bike, last Sunday I got my GS a new huffy, he was thrilled. Yep, I'm definitely in the running for Grandma of the year.

I know I was supposed to be working on the Sandra Betzina pattern but I think I may do something different with that fabric, every woman knows it's our prerogative to change our mind and that's certainly true with sewing.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th of July weekend.