A Fabric Gift

Y'all know that I love fabric!  I love the possibilities and the journeys that fabric can take you on.  I like owning it.  Manipulating it. Taking it from it's one dimensional form and turning it into something three dimensional.

So when Susan, the proprietor of Smugglers Daughter, contacted me and asked if I would be willing to accept a piece from her new online fabric store, you know my answer was an immediate yes!

I'd heard of Susan's site via Margy, who authors the blog, A Fool For Fabric. She made these amazing "ink splatter" pants using Milly fabric from the site.

Photo courtesy of A Fool for Fabric

Her awesome pants, of course, made me surf on over and preview the wares. Susan has some very pretty pieces and I'd bookmarked the site to return to it later.  Well later occurred sooner than I thought. After going back and forth, because Susan really does have some wonderful pieces, I chose two panels of the Brave Little Parks Cotton Fabric...

Originally I was going to make a dress out of the fabric.  However, when it arrived yesterday, it told me that it wants to be a shirt.  Now I know some of you are thinking what?! But this is the "Year of Basics" for me and I've wanted to make a few button downs to be worn as shirt jackets over dresses and jeans.  This fabric will make a fantastic shirt because it has such interesting details and a wonderfully soft hand.

You can read all about how Susan named her fabric store and how it came to be on the website. It's a cool story so don't leave the site without reading it. And one more thing, if you find something you like...and how can you not?...Susan is offering a one time $10 discount off your order if you like her Facebook page. The code is on the Facebook page for your use. 

I hope you'll surf on over and check her out! We need to support not only our brick and mortar fabric stores but our internet ones too because how else will we fulfill our need to own beautiful fabrics!

...as always more later!

I have plans...loads of plans...

...and finally I have some time to work on them.  This weekend I will be making more basics using some pretty fabrics from the collection...

The lavender will become a TNT dress.  Can't decide if I want some seaming or a straight version of the dress. Once I start working with the fabric, I will know what to do. The gray knit will be a cardigan from Burda 8869.  Both pieces of fabric are from Fabric Mart acquired this year.  Of course, neither are still available on the website but pontes are currently 40% off, if you're interested!  

I will spend most of the weekend in the sewing cave which I'm very excited about. I feel like I've neglected the time that I need there to make me whole. Which makes me even happier about the five days of sewing, I'll enjoy next week...in the sewing cave. I don't think I've hit my creative stride this year so I'm wondering what garment(s) are just on the edge there, waiting to come out of my sewing machine. What will I make this year that will take my breathe away...because I can tell you that I haven't sewn it yet!

Photography Follow Up:
I haven't sewn much lately.  So I haven't had photography challenges although my youngest daughter has volunteered her services which has eased some of my concerns.  As you know, I was using the self timer on my camera because the remote I bought, just wouldn't work with the camera.  Recently, I found the actual Canon remote for my camera and after doing a little investigating purchased it.

I will be trying this out soon.  I really want to be able to take pics outside on the front lawn without having to do the run back and forth thing.  I don't feel silly in the house because no one can see me but my neighbors just might think I've lost it if I'm doing that out on the sidewalk!

Speaking of photography and pictures ~ I found this great blog post by another Carolyn, who authors the blog, Allspice Abounds.  It's called "5 Simple Photography Tips for Sewing Bloggers."  It's concise, to the point and understandable for me or someone like me who is never going to really be "into" photography but needs good quality pictures for their blog.

Digging back into the photo archives:
Here is another photo of me.  I'm 8 and in the 4th grade in this school picture. I'm wearing one of my favorite dresses...seriously loved this dress!  Hey back when I went to school, little girls wore dresses to school with white ankle socks and saddle shoes. I don't think I wore jeans to school until I was in high school. Anyway this is me...at 8!

I'll have more sewing updates soon!

...as always more later!

My AT Black Lace Ponte Dress

It has taken me way longer than usual to finish this dress.  I really wanted to finish it a couple of weekends ago but I had so many things happening that when I finally made it to the sewing cave, I ended up surfing the internet. This past weekend, I had to make sewing a priority, to get the dress finished.

Then I worried because it was so warm outside yesterday - temps in the 80s - it felt more like summer days than spring ones and even though the dress is made from a lightweight cotton ponte, it is lined.  However, I needed not to have concerned myself because temps came crashing back to normal. I'm very comfortable wearing the dress today.

Some stats:
Pattern ~
TNT dress pattern pieces last used in this dress.

Fabric ~
Sophia doubleknit in black from Fabric.com
Printed black lace ponte knit from Fabric Mart

Notions ~
22" black invisible zipper
nude bemberg rayon lining (no black in the stash)
nude 1" lace
black seam binding

Construction:
There are no new construction techniques in this dress. It's why I chose to make it because it was a cut and sew dress.  I wanted it to be all about the fabric.

• The dress is lined with a nude bemberg lining
• I added a 1" lace from the notions stash to the hem of the lining
• The hems on the sleeves and the dress are hemmed using a twin needle
• The dress is a little loose.
• Since I don't try TNT patterns on during construction, I realized that when I got to work today.
• Will go in and remove some of the excess.

These pictures are taken at my job. I rushed home last night hoping to get some pictures outside with the last spring blooms on the trees and instead it rained. After a day of glorious sunshine ~ rain!

I decided last night that I really wanted to wear the dress today since these will probably be some of the last 60ish degree days before fall.  I can handle only one wearing before then because who told me to make a warm spring dress anyway! Hahahaha!  

So here are a few more pictures of the dress taken at my job:

and a close up of my shoes and necklace ~

All photos were taken on my iPad because I got the great idea to take the pictures this morning at Starbucks with my friend from work.  I think they turned out okay.

The dress looks like the original but in my color and fabric choices.  It's comfortable to wear and once I remove just a little from the sides and maybe even peg the hem, I think it will be a perfect spring or fall dress!

This is my last full week at work until June.  I was able to salvage two vacation days from the week and 2 days I'd originally planned for vacation earlier this year. So I will have five days off to spend some quality time in the sewing cave during Memorial Day Weekend.  

I've got another lightweight lavender ponte TNT dress cut out and waiting. I definitely want to work on that this weekend, in between family commitments! What is it about warm weather that drives everyone outside to barbeque?! *LOL* So expect to see more finished garments around these parts soon!

...as always more later!

And The Book Goes To...

....Sew Great!

Would you kindly leave your email address in the comments section and I will contact you regarding your address. I will get the book out to you this week.

Even though I asked for quiet and peaceful, you know my daughters came through anyway.  They didn't stay long, just long enough to talk a little and leave Happy Mother's Day wishes.

I did manage to get my dress finished so here's a quick shot on Lulu...modeled shots later!

...as always more later!

A few updates...

I'm finally sewing that's why this post is appearing later in the evening.  My daughters asked what I wanted for Mother's Day and I said a quiet weekend. So we have no plans for tomorrow. I've spent time in the sewing cave, cleaning up and moving some things around and getting the lining cut out for the Black Lace and Ponte dress...that I hope to have finished and ready for pictures by tomorrow.

I had a few things I wanted follow up on...so here they are:

1.  Did you know that G Street Fabrics has opened their online store again? I didn't until I started to receive emails from them again!  They have a 30% off coupon on the site. You should surf on over and look at their wares...cause it's G Street, y'know!!!

2.  I drank the kool-aid.  I bought a Moneta pattern from Colette Patterns. I downloaded and printed out version 1 and 2, as well as, the collars and instructions. This is major because you know I hate taping those pieces of paper together. But I wanted the pattern now instead of waiting and if nothing else PDF patterns provide instant gratification.  I don't know if you followed along on the Curvy Collective's Blog Tour of the Moneta and the Mabel, but the Monetas made by Jenny, Mary and T are the reason I bought the pattern...especially after Jenny maximized one!

3.  There are more pictures of the "Project Fabricland" fashion show on their Facebook page here. The three young designers/sewists that I featured in the blog post all won in their categories. Definitely check out the Facebook page so you can see individual pictures of all of the winners...as well as get some information about Connie Crawford teaching at Fabricland on June 4th. Gotta support our local brick and mortar fabric stores!

All of the student participants

From left winners were: Lydia Seaman 18, Taylor Zucosky 15, celebrity guest & Project Runway winner Irina Shabayeva, Emily Ogura 17, Jayda Jones 16 and Kaylee Spiteri 14.

There was also a write up about the event in our local newspaper.  I am so thrilled and honored to have been a part of this event!

4. I had an absolute blast at The Workroom Social Manhattan Swap & Party last weekend.  Jennifer has added pictures from the event on her site. Head on over and check out all of the party participants!

5. I've finally made a sewing list for my spring/summer sewing. Hopefully this will give me some direction. I'm a little worried that my list is so small. It's usually a really long one that I have to pick and choose from...so a list with about ten pieces on it...is a little startling. 

6. Recently I realized that I'd stop carrying a sewing journal around with me. It was the place where I sketched (poorly) ideas, stuck in inspirational pics and wrote out ideas and directions I had for sewing garments. I've been carrying one forever, but stopped and started capturing ideas electronically. This current method wasn't as creatively satisfying to me, so I'm old schooling it again, and it feels good. BTW, that's where my new spring/summer sewing list is!

7. Usually there's something in the spring designer collections that make me want to run to my sewing machine to sew something.  Not so much this year. I feel like there are just a lot of similar themes moving through the last couple of seasons/collections that I've already sewn ~

• florals - check
• black and white - check
• lace - check, check
• brights - check

Again, I've sewn so much of this already that I'm just not that inspired.

8. I had a convo at lunch yesterday (thanks Gail!) about the number of pieces of clothing a sewist ends up making. She said that she had quite a bit and I know that I have an extraordinary amount. Most because of my day job and some because I'm a clothes and fabric piggy but mostly because I love sewing clothing. I do try to be conscious and do regular closet clean outs, donating things, because otherwise I wouldn't have space to contain the garments I make. I think this is another reason that I've gotten off to a slow start this spring season ~ an overabundance of wonderful handmades!

9. I really want to sew for the girl grandbabies this summer. I've been rooting around in the fabric collection and I've found a couple of cute pieces of fabric that will work for them. Now to get them made up and modeled here!

10. I haven't bought fabric in 30 days. This is unusual for me, because normally when I'm not sewing, I buy fabric.  I just don't want to add more to the collection right now.  This morning I opened all of the curtains and looked at the lusciousness that's abiding and decided that I really need to sew with what I've got. I also wallowed in the collection because I'm a sucker for a sale and Fabric Mart has linens 40% off and then they are offering an additional 15% off your order total for the weekend only.  Oh and Fabric Mart is shipping to Australia now!

11. I will announce the winner of the "Looking Good Every Day" book winner tomorrow!  So you still have time to enter the giveaway if you want a chance to win the book!

Finally, I don't usually make a big deal about my birthday...I mean everyone has one right?!  But this year I will be 55 so I've decided to celebrate by sharing some photos of me through the years in the next couple of posts, well until my birthday at the end of the month.  Here's the first...and I'm going in no particular order...just what moves me at the time...

Here I'm a Senior in High School with my friend Cheryl Hewlett.

I was the Senior Class Yearbook Editor and this is my yearbook photo for that.

BTW, that was a culotte jumpsuit that I made, alongwith the bow tie blouse.

I loved that outfit!!!!

...as always more later! 

Looking Good Every Day...

The author of the book is Nancy Nix-Rice,  who contacted me and asked me to review the book. I've known of Nancy for years and have a copy of the first version of this book. So I was thrilled to receive the new version of the book and to share my thoughts about it with you.

First can I say that when I pulled the book from the envelope I smiled! I was so happy to see my friend Cennetta on the book's cover! There is a two page spread featuring Cennetta detailing how she learned what colors worked for her.

To me this book is for the woman who is looking for information on how to sew her style, just like the title says, "Style Solutions for Real Women."  The book is organized into three sections:

Chapters 1-8 
Are all about training your eye to find points of connection between you and the clothes and accessories you choose.

Chapters 9-12 
Walk you through a step by step process of refining your wardrobe

Chapters 13-19
Highlight special reference information - makeup, fabric traits, clothing care, closet organization, custom sewing and alterations and more.

This is not a sewing book. However, this book will affect your sewing in a positive way.  If you're trying to develop your style. Figure out what colors work for you when using make-up and for your clothing. Determine what length is most flattering.  Need to understand how lines lengthen and slim you or cut you off or maybe square you off?  All of these questions and more will be answered in this book.

As we all know, sewing is about more than just stitching two pieces of fabric together.  There are so many decisions that you have to make to end up with a finished garment that you will love and wear often...so anything that helps you end up with a great new piece is worth adding to your sewing library.

Nancy sent me two copies of the book and it's only far to share.  So if you're interested in winning a copy, leave a comment here by Saturday, May 10th at midnight EST. I promise I will mail it out next week! 

However, if you want your own copy now, you can purchase one here on the Palmer & Pletsch site.  I hope you will look into owning this book. As I said before I have the original version and used it extensively when I first started sewing my work wardrobe. It is a wonderful resource!

...as always more later!

About Last Night

Saturday Night was the Workroom Social Manhattan Pop Up Swap Meet and Party ~ and what a party it was!  

It was a rainy Saturday evening in New York City and everyone must have been on the street or in a cab because it took me over 40 minutes to get there in a cab and *mumble mumble* dollars for the cab...but it was so worth it!

I have pictorial proof ~

Jennifer (Workroom Social) deep in conversation

Sonja (Gingermakes) making a point!

I was so pysched to meet Ojolly who knits the most amazing pieces!

Carol - who made her amazing dress, Wanett (Sown Brooklyn) 

and Suzanne (Beau Baby)

Amanda, Kelli (True Bias) and Devra (puu's door of time)

and a selfie of me and Fleur who kept telling me 

to look up - and NOW I understand what she means!

I met the most lovely woman, Carol from Chicago, who has a blog that of course she told me the name of and of course in a senior moment I've forgotten.  We were having the best conversation when I turned around to say something to someone else and ended up half the party away from you.  I turned around to find you again and you were gone!  So if you read this, please leave a comment in the notes section, I really want to meet up before you leave NYC!

As you can see the event was well attended! At times the noise level was blasting from so many awesome conversations taking place, that I had to lean in to hear the person I was talking to. It was also interesting to see the passerbys stop and look in to see what was going on!  Yes peoples sewing is alive and well in NYC!

I had an amazing time and if you want to see even more pics and have access to Instagram - try #workroomsocialpopup or @workroomsocial.

Afterwards I had dinner with some friends ~ we had such a good time! Hey fried chicken always makes things right, especially when you hadn't eaten all day!  Made it home to Jersey about 1:30am but was still in time to see the end of the LA Clippers/Golden State Warriors game!  Go Clippers!

I hope if you get an opportunity to attend a class at Workroom Social in Brooklyn or another Workroom Social event that you'll attend!  It will be soooo worth it!!!

...as always more later!

Seeing the future of sewing!

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by one of the Sewing Instructors at Fabricland in North Plainfield, NJ.  Every year they host a "Project Fabricland" contest for their students ages 12-18.  This is the 8th year of the program and they wanted to know if I was interested in being a judge for the competition.

Was I?!  I think I jumped up and down and screamed a little before saying yes! *LOL*  You know how much I love encouraging people to enjoy this obsession of mine.  The fact that I would be encouraging the future of our art form was an added bonus to me!

So hear are the deets...

• The students take either a 12 or 20 week course at Fabricland.
• They work on this garment during that time.
• They are given an inspiration idea - this year it was an animal.
• The garment made had to symbolize the inspirational animal.
• A mood/inspiration board had to be prepared to show the idea for the garment and include the cost of the garment as well as the patterns used.
• For some this was their first year participating.  For others they had been involved from the beginning and others were on there second or third time.
• There were 21 students involved.
• The judging was Wednesday, the fashion show is Sunday at 2pm at North Plainfield High.

First can I say that It.Was.Amazing!  I know that even though I loved to sew at that age, I wouldn't have had the confidence to enter a contest like this one. Most of the girls were a little shy but some were so confident, perky and amazing. The garments they made were so well thought out and quite a few of them awesomely constructed.

There were three judges, Tom - who is a costume designer who has designed and sewn for Broadway shows, as well local high school productions.  Jeanie - who runs her own sewing business doing anything from alterations to bridal and prom dresses and me.

We judged on the following criteria:

• Fit
• How well did the garment fit the inspiration
• How successful was the Mood Board
• How well the garment was sewn/constructed
• The design idea

The scoring was from 0 - 10 with 10 being the highest point you could give.

Each girl came out and discussed her garment, it's inspiration and the construction technique. Some were very eloquent...some needed the assistance of their teacher.  All had been sewing at least 2 years, most more than that!  

The garments ran the gamut from casual to prom like.  Most were made from patterns...but there was a self-drafted skirt...and a gown where the young lady had painted the fabric.  

Inspiration boards were diverse also...one with a hand painted background, ribbons added, raffia, loads of wonderful details. Most were as well thought out as the garments.

It was the perfect way to spend an evening. It was also a glimpse into the future of sewing! It reassured me that sewing is going to live on and as an sewist who loves this art form, it makes my heart skip a beat with joy!

I took loads of pics ~

                  Erika - her blog is: Erika Made It              Nancy and Chris the sewing instructors 
                                                                                      along with one of the contestants

Judging area

Pictures of previous contestants in "Project Fabricland" 

and students work...

Finally, there is a fashion show where all of the girls get to show their designs/creations to their friends and family.  It's tomorrow at 2pm at North Plainfield High School at 34 Wilson Avenue in North Plainfield.  The cost of the fashion show is $12 at the door and the fee is being donated to the Plainfield Area Humane Society.  All of the information regarding the fashion show can be found here.

I hope if you live in the area and have an opportunity to come by that you will. I plan on being there and hope to see you there too!

Finally ~ here are my three favorite pieces of the 21 that were presented. If you come tomorrow, please tell me what your three favorite pieces are...

Her inspiration was a butterfly!

Her inspiration was a lion!

Her inspiration was a salmon!

...as always more later!

Thoughts while hemming...

I don't know about you but my mind wanders when I have a lot of hand hemming to do to finish a garment. True Confession:  I use to hate the hemming and finishing bits of a garment because they took so long and I just wanted to wear the garment.  Now, I realize that a bad finishing can ruin a garment so I try to take as much care with it as I do the rest of a garment. So my hemming/finishing can take hours to complete before a garment is ready to be photographed and worn out in public.

Even though, I've learned to appreciate the hemming process and to respect it...it does take quite a bit of time, so here are some of my thoughts...

I've become addicted to Pinterest because I can find loads of boards showing the work clothes that I need in both designer and RTW.  Like this...

• Why aren't there more sewing blogs with women wearing a more professional wardrobe? Does anyone know?  Or am I just missing them?
• Recently I've changed the needles I use to hem with to a slimmer lighter model.  I don't think it's changed my hemming abilities much.
• A recent comment on a post about changing your serger thread made me wonder, don't other sewists buy sewing supplies in bulk and on sale?  Am I the only one that treats my sewing supplies like food stocks and purchase them in bulk?  To me eating is on the same level is sewing! *LOL*
• It's the time of the year I love...winter has finally left, spring is awakening and bringing loads of sunshine and warm breezes.  However, it always affects my sewing.  I'm either overstimulated with two many ideas to sew or I'm lethargic waiting for inspiration to strike.  This year I'm definitely lethargic!
• My social media imprint reads one sided ~ it's all about sewing and my grandchildren ~ like there's nothing more to me ~ but it is deliberate.
• Speaking of social media ~ I prefer Instagram to Facebook.  I think its cause I can flip through the pictures and see what I need to see but Facebook takes so much time, at least to me.  The only thing I check Facebook for is every Wednesday I go to the Scandal page to see the sneak peek for Thursday's show...yeah I'm religious about that! *LOL*
• True Confession:  The reason my fabric collection is so big is because I'm always worried the bottom is going to fall out.  In times of financial challenges in the past, my fabric collection and sewing machines kept me going.
• I hate having to leave my sewing room after the weekend.  Honestly, I'm happiest here.  The next logical question is what does that say about me?  Honestly, I don't care! *LOL*
• I will be 55 soon.  That means I've been sewing for 44 years.  I've owned a sewing machine since I was 11.  I even had one in my college dorm room and it's had a place of honor in every place I've lived.  I think I like to sew!

...as always more later!

Sunday in the sewing cave...

Four days on antibiotics and I still don't feel like myself.  I spent yesterday catching up on things around the house that culminated with a trip to Home Depot.  Taking care of a house is a lot of work.  I understand why I lived in an apartment for so long!  Somethings not working you call the Super. Something not working in the house, find someone to fix it...and a lot of trips to Home Depot or Lowes.  Thank goodness I live in a condo with an association so someone else handles all of the outside responsibilities!

That leads me to this...

The only sewing I've done in two weeks.  This is the pantry in the kitchen.  It use to have a folding door on it. It fell off.  We tried everything to get it back on.  It kept falling off.  The tension rod and curtain is the solution. 

...and of course since I've been sick I haven't felt much like sewing...even with spending some considerable time in the sewing cave yesterday.  Finally this morning, I decided that I should work on this dress. I pinned it to Pinterest 9 weeks ago.

Lace  Yoke Short Dress by Ann Taylor

In that time I've managed to collect a black 'n white lace ponte from Fabric Mart (which is of course sold out) and a Sophia black double knit from fabric.com.

I will use the pattern alterations that I made to my TNT dress pattern for the black pleather and ponte dress for this version. I'll just add short sleeves.

I love this black pleather and ponte dress.  It's easy to wear and I feel very professional in it.  I'm making a ponte dress now because while the temps are rising, there is still a very up and down feel to the weather, so a ponte dress will work for a few more months.

Like I said a post or two back - I have another idea for the Oona Fat Quarter Challenge but I need to get a win under my belt before I go there again.  I also need to get the Deer & Doe Plaintain tees made up for my coworkers. Actually I thought about working on them today but again, I need a win before working on something that could shut down my fledgling mojo.

So this is what I'm working on today, in the sewing cave, while the NBA Quarterfinals play on the TV.

...as always more later!

Workroom Social's Manhattan Pop-up Studio, May 2-4

I don't know if you've heard but Jennifer who runs Workroom Social is holding an amazing sewing workshop next weekend May 2-4th in Manhattan!

There will be classes by some of our favorite bloggers.

FASHION SEWING WORKSHOPS

sew your own leggings with fleur hoare

In our Sew Your Own Leggings workshop, learn the skills you need to sew a custom pair of leggings just for you! Patternmaker, seamstress, and sewing instructor Fleur Hoare will teach you about the basic shapes of leggings and the specific steps needed to create a well-made pair at home.

Saturday, May 3
12:30-2:30 p.m.
Only 6 seats available. Sign up now!

sew your own jersey skirt with sonja of ginger makes

In our Sew Your Own Jersey Skirt workshop, learn the skills you need to sew a custom stretchy knit skirt just for you! Sewing blogger Sonja of Ginger Makes will teach you how to make those comfy jersey skirts that every woman loves to wear. Maxi or mini, you can tailor your project to fit the way you want!

Saturday, May 3
3:00-5:00 p.m.
Only 6 seats available. Sign up now!

sew a slouchy dolman sleeve top with oona of oonaballoona from kalkatroona

In our Sew a Slouchy Dolman Sleeve Top workshop, learn the skills you need to sew a custom stretchy knit top just for you! Sewing blogger Oona of Oonaballoona from Kalkatroona will teach you how to make those comfy, slouchy tops that look great on every shape and size.

Saturday, May 3
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Only 6 seats available. Sign up now!

More information about the weekend can be found here!

Finally, there will be a Sewing Swap Meet & Party on Saturday, May 3rd at 8pm. Come meet and mingle with other sewing and fabric fanatics.  Bring fabric, sewing patterns, notions or other sewing items to swap with new friends. Proceeds from the party will go to Rational Animal, a non-profit that helps at risk animals in the NYC area by sewing and distributing animal beds to local shelters.  You can RSVP here.  Come out and join us, yes us, I will be there and looking forward to hanging out with like-minded sewing fanatics.

I really hope if you're in the NYC area that you'll come by and either take a class or attend the party.  It will be a fun time with other like minded sewists. See you there!

...as always more later!

OFQC: Pattern Alterations & Update

I started working on the first dress and I'm going to be frank and upfront, the dress front sucks.  Seriously sucks.  So much so that I'm doubting my ability to sew. This is part of the reason that I believe my sewing mojo has flown because I can't believe such fugliness came out of my sewing machine...*sigh*

First the pattern alterations ~
I copied a new full front dress pattern from my TNT pattern onto pattern paper. Then I decided where I wanted the inserts to go. I deviated from my sketch a bit when I chose to make a v-neckline insert.

Next I auditioned my fat quarter inserts...

After much deliberation, I decided upon this combination...

...and once I sewed the front together I just stopped.  It's fugly.  Even my daughter said it was fugly.  So now I'm left to wonder if...

+ + + + +

I wrote this post over a week ago and I couldn't bring myself to post it because I was so discouraged by my first attempt with my fat quarters. Honestly, I almost threw in the towel, and no I'm not sharing the fugliness with you.  Just don't want that picture floating about on the internet. However, in my internet travels this week, I found another idea so I will be trying that out this weekend.

The good thing is that the deadline has been moved to May 20th, I think?! Ladies please correct me if I'm wrong...so I have a few more weekends to get this made up...which is a very good thing!

It's the end of April and I've sewn one very easy skirt this month.  I usually have one month out of every year like this but I don't remember it occurring this early in the year before!  I've also had a very busy work month...caught the cold from hell...you know you're sick when your coworkers start telling you to go home...and it's been a big family month.  So I'm actually looking forward to a weekend of uninterrupted sewing time in the cave.

Usually the lost mojo freaks me out but this time I've actually been pretty calm about it.  Probably because I've crafted an amazing work wardrobe so I very rarely experience that "what am I going to wear moment" in front of the closet.  I hope I don't sound conceited when I say this but it actually makes me feel kinda proud that I've stayed the course, developed my own work style and sewed it.

Just wanted to give you an update.  I know I've been scarce around these parts lately...hopefully spending 48 hours in the sewing cave will bring new sewing adventures to share!

...as always more later!

Resurrection

I'm gonna be honest...there will be very little sewing in this post.  I think I'm writing it for me because it's the way I'm feeling right now.  It's just a bunch of thoughts that's been running through my mind this week...only some of it is sewing-related and I've gone back and forth over whether or not I would write this post but if I'm true to myself then here it is...

I love spring.  I love the rebirth and how everything is new again.  Which brings me to the fact that Easter or Resurrection Sunday is one of my favorite holidays. In my family, Resurrection Weekend (Good Friday to Easter Sunday) is all about Jesus and family.  Good Friday all of the grand kids and nieces and nephews gather at my home to dye Easter Eggs, eat pizza and hang out. Even my grown daughters show up since the Easter Egg dyeing has become a family tradition...so the kids are from 26 to our youngest Sammy who will be three months old at the end of the month. Loads of eggs were boiled, dyed, initialed and exclaimed over! Bags of chocolately goodness are made and distributed and the kids spend time with each other.

Gratuitous Grandbaby Picture!

The family then decamps to Good Friday service.  Saturday is a quiet reflective day before we all meet up again for Resurrection Sunday Service and the family dinner afterwards which will be at my Sister's house this year.  In the last couple of years, we've all been going to church with my Mother, the Matriarch of our family, to celebrate...so that's where I will be tomorrow with one of my daughters, my grandchildren, my Sister and nieces and nephews.

Okay a lot of you do this...so the thoughts I mentioned above?  Here goes...

One of my favorite women in the Bible is Dorcas or (Tabitha in the Hebrew). Have you ever heard of Dorcas?  As the Bible Gateway states it, she is the Woman whose Dressmaking made her famous.  See, Dorcas died and when she died, the widows in her hometown wept and showed the Apostle Peter the coats and garments that she'd made for them.  There is more to The Scriptures but what drew and continues to draw me to Dorcas is that she sewed for others and was well known for that talent/gift.

Now I don't sew for others but I truly hope that my love of sewing and my encouragement for others to learn and revel in their sewing talent is the gift that's taken away by anyone who reads my blog. 

With that I'm seguing into how thrilled I am by the young women who make up the Curvy Sewing Collective and how they're working with Sarai of Collette Patterns and having the first plus size blog tour of the new knit Collette Patterns.  I guess as humans sometimes our first question can be why wasn't I included in the blog tour? If you're honest, you know as a blogger you've asked yourself that question a time or two. 

But in this instance, that wasn't my question. And this may be conceited of me but my first thought was pride...pride like a mother hen that the ones coming behind me were taking blogging for the plus size woman who sews to the next level. I truly hope you will support all of these women...the tour begins on Jenny's blog, Cashmerette.  The rest of the tour with links are in this post.

I have NO sewing mojo...absolutely no mojo at all! I've spent this time off spoiling my grandchildren, giving my daughter a much deserved rest, three little kids five and under is a lot of work. And I've been watching television. ALOT of television...*LOL*!  The other thing about it being such a Christian weekend is that there are quite a few Christian themed movies on and as a child of the 60's these are some of my favorites.  Older movies, like "King of Kings," "The Greatest Story Ever Told," "The Robe," "Easter Parade" have all been watched...some as DVDs and some OnDemand.  Of course, we are popping popcorn and gathering around the television tonight to watch Cecil B. DeMille's classic, "The Ten Commandments" with the babies. I love when Moses parts the Red Seas!

There were some other Christian-themed movies like "The Fighting Temptations" (which I don't think a lot of people actually saw in the movie theater) but I love the Jesus songs in this movie. This song has been resonating in my soul so I'm leaving the YouTube video of it here...

One more thing...Mardel's post on Forgiveness, on her blog Restingmotion, also really resonated with me, so here is a link to it. I hope you'll surf over and read her thoughts on forgiveness, they are perfect for this season!

If you are a Christian who celebrates Resurrection Sunday/Easter...or Jewish and recently celebrated Passover...or spiritual and just believe in the rebirth of spring and the earth...I'm wishing you love, joy and peace during this time of spiritual rebirth.  

To quote Kirk Franklin..."I sing because I'm happy. I sing because I'm free. His eye is on the sparrow that's the reason why I sing! Glory Hallelujah!!! I give the Praises to you!  You're the reason why I sing!" 

Happy Resurrection Sunday!!!!

Don't know when I'll be back with sewing posts but I'm sure it will be sooner rather than later...cause that's my God given talent!

...as always more later!