Colors....I Do Wear Colors!

About a year after a long absence from the health club (nice word for gym) I returned and met a lovely woman of a certain age (lol) in the water aerobics class.  She was originally from Los Angeles and had been living in Mississippi for the past five years.  We hit it off and became friends.  After knowing her for a few months one day she said to me in the dressing room, "Lillie, why is everything you wear such DARK colors?  You know I'm from California and we wear bright colors".  I was a little offended and replied, "What are you talking about I do wear colors, my gym clothes may be dark but I wear color most of the time".  A few days later as I went into my closet which is walk in and L shaped, my eyes scanned the closet and much to my horror the color scheme was black, navy, dark brown, gray, dark gray, more black with just a few pops of color.  I couldn't believe that somehow my wardrobe had turned dark.  I began to try to figure out how this happened.  The last five years of my employment I worked from home and work related travel, consequently, I had the usual business uniform dark suits and dresses with small splashes of color.  Additionally, when my hair turned silvery white, the dark colors and silver jewelry really made the silver hair pop.  So I figured I might as well use the lemon-aid theory and make the best of it.  So what about casual wear I thought.  Apparently the same thing applied.

I took the high road and related the story to my friend and apologized for being miffed by her on target observation.  We had a good laugh and I promised I would do better with my wardrobe.

So I am making a real effort this spring to only make colorful garments for myself.  I've made a good start and most of my recent purchases have been colorful turquoise, melon, and fushia.   I want to make more large prints even if I am not a thin person.  I'll just pretend that I just don't know that big bold prints are not good for my full mature figure. lol.  I will also make something i.e. shrugs, jackets, scarves in coordinating solid colors to go with the large, bright and bold prints.  lol

SPRING SEWING FRENZY

I have been on a real sewing frenzy inspired by my recent bargain purchases of 2 yard remnants of current fabrics from my local Hancock Fabrics store located just a block and a half from my home. Over the winter months I've been practicing various fitting techniques and decided to try them out on my bargains.  My first item was a little of my ocd as described in previous posts.  So I made the top again from a piece of cotton sateen purchased a couple of years ago.  Thought I would try a print for an interesting lining.  I liked it so well, I decided to make a simple dress to go under it.  Here's the top.

I loved the print fabric so well as I decided to use the print for the dress but didn't have enough to finish the lining so I got a little creative and pieced the back.  

So now I'm enjoying sewing prints so much that I decided to make my 11 year old granddaughter, Trinity a print dress for Sunday.  This fabric is a polished cotton and has to be at least 10 years old.  I had planned to make the older granddaughter, Bree, who is now 17 a dress many many years ago and never got around to it.  I used a Simplicity pattern as shown in the next photo.  I had to use a size 6 adult pattern as Trin is so tall for eleven, the children sizes are too short, shoulders too narrow and just doesn't look right.  I guess this is what is ment by the word "tween".  I had to add a little to the waist and shorten the bodice.  Hopefully,  I'll get a chance to get a picture of her wearing the dress.

Now comes the linen pieces:

The top is a very lightweight linen and cotton made from my pattern copied from an Eileen Fisher $158 tank I purchased on a drastic clearance sale last year at Dillards.  The pants are made from a lightweight cross hatch dark and light gray linen.

 This pant is made from a heavy weight linen all from the remnant stash.  Because I'm short 2 yards will make almost anything for me.

I'm still excited and plan to continue this frenzy until burn-out!

SOMETIMES YOU JUST MEET REALLY NICE PEOPLE

Last week I ordered interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply and  it arrived in only a few days.  I was so impressed with the quality of the Pro-Weft Supreme Lightweight Fusible Interfacing, 60" wide @7.59 per yard, I called to order more after my first use.  In this day of press 1 for this and press 2  for that and so on, it was a very nice to just leave your name and number and within a few minutes you get the return call.  I spoke with Pat and she and I really hit it off and ended up laughing and talking about various things for at least 15 minutes more or less. Not that she told me, but I believe she is the owner based on our discussion.  I am always amazed how people discover a niche market and do really well.  Who knew one could earn a living selling interfacing?  Hopefully I'll discover a distinctive niche and develop a business as well.  lol  (I'm the ultimate consumer).

I would like to commend this business for doing a very good job while maintaining a wonderful rapport with the public.  They are also on facebook as well as online, so if you haven't used them check them out. I can imagine it takes special people to do this.

HOW COULD I PASS THIS UP?

I went into Hancock Fabrics today just to browse as I live just around the corner from the store.  What luck, they were making remnants of bolts with only a few yards left to make room for a new shipment.  The remnants were priced at only $2 per yard and it was the really good stuff my favorite linen, batiks and a few sheers.  The original prices were $10-$20 per yard.  I ended up with 28 yards at $2. per yd.  Here is a picture of my good fortune.

I guess I should stop browsing at fabric shops, but this is the best part of sewing. lol  Just as I was starting to whittle down my stash this happens.  I think it was just about a year ago when I pigged out on fabric at the Atlanta Creative Sewing Festival.  Somewhere in this blog I have a photo of that spree as well.

Today I worked on the OCD Fushia top like the green one I made Saturday.  I should finish tomorrow and will probably put photos up late tomorrow.

Thanks for reading!

Spring Sewing

We have had the warmest winter I can remember.  This week the temp went up to 78 degrees.  This warm pre-spring caused me to consider sewing in advance for a season probably for the first time ever in all my years of sewing.  After looking at my most current patterns, I decided to make this one because I had exactly the same fabric in my fabric stash and thought it would be fun to make it just as shown on the pattern envelope.

I used a medium weight green linen and lined it with a light weight green linen very close to the same color...maybe just a half shade difference.  I've had the fabric so long that I felt no guilt in using the relatively expensive handkerchief linen as lining.  Normally I would have thought "Not my good stuff for lining".  Additionally, I had a heavier weight white linen for the pants.  I really enjoyed making this one.  I'm glad I took time to think about this before I rushed in to do it.  I carefully took my measurements and compared them to the finished measurements by actually measuring seamline to seamline and factoring in comfort ease.  Since I spent all of my sewing time this winter on various knit projects, I was sure I needed to consider using this new pattern for the pants.  This rapidly changing figure is becoming a real challenge.  However, taking the time to measure and prepare muslins for new patterns is really worth the effort.  This was a hard lesson for me to learn as I was always, always in a hurry before I retired and discovered slow leisurely sewing and the success and satisfaction it brings.  I even marked "for woven fabric only" on the muslin, so not to get it confused with others. Well here is the finished product:

 This pattern actually called for snaps instead of buttons.  I thought I might want to wear it open someday and I hate they way metal snaps detract from the looks of clothing when open; sooooooo... my OCD (that I often discuss these days) set in and I remembered that I had some green spray paint left from my sewing room decorating foray last year so I just spray painted them.  It took about 2 seconds.  I don't believe I would have gone out to purchase spray paint if I didn't already have it.  I suppose I could have covered them with fabric but I really don't like tedious hand sewing if i just don't have to do it.  I'll probably never wear it open but I'll be ready if the opportunity presents itself.  lol

Since this was a very successful project, you know I'll more than likely do it a couple of more times, or until I mess it up.  That usually gets me to go on to another project.

OCD part deux

You can always tell when I really like something, whether it is a pair of shoes, a pattern, a type of fabric.....etc....  This means that I get started and make a second, a third, a fourth......you get the idea!  On my last post I shared with you that I liked the pattern and fabrics that I had purchased recently on sale at Hancock fabric which is located just two short blocks from my house.  Welllllllllllllllllll:

I used this McCalls pattern 6288 view D for the color blocked tee.

and Burda 1234 for the fly away jacket

As you can see these photos were taken in my kitchen.  My only complaint about my home is that the lighting is not as good as I would like so I have to take shots where I can.

There was some movie I saw years ago where one of the male characters and his wife, I think, had on really funny outfits that matched and when questioned about his clothing he kept saying as he pointed to the clothing "co-ordrrrr-di-nate.  I'll have to ask my daughter what was the name of that movie.  Oh, I digress; I just loved the pattern, the thin knit fabric, how the colors seemed to go together, how comfortable and they looked nice so, I made many.  I got tired of it before I could make the gray jacket and tank.....maybe later or next year.  Who knows?

Now I'm off to see what else I can find to engage me in my pattern and fabric stash without going to Hancock's.

Semi-formal vs. Bad Weather

Here's something new for me.  A long time friend invites me every year to her sorority's annual semi-formal affair in North West Florida, about a three hour drive from Biloxi.  Since I did not attend last year, I was determined to go this year especially since I attend with her friend.  I guess you could say its my annual date.  LOL

This is what I made to wear this year:

I added some sequin trim for the knot and finally used this piece of lace that I've had for at least 15 years.  It was so beautiful I couldn't decide what to do with it and I'm so happy that I didn't get rid of it.  Its hard to see but the lace actually has the same color of jeweled plum in it.  The lighting in my house is really bad sometimes, however I've tried to give you some idea of it in the next photo.

And now for the rest of the story.

 I am such a wuss when it comes to driving.  Understand now, I've never been an expert driver but I always did what I had to do and it didn't seem like I really had a problem.  However, it seems that getting older has caused much more stress about driving in thunder storms, crossing bridges, driving through tunnels and driving at night on unfamiliar roads all of which would be required to get to my friend's house in Niceville, FL.  I drive under these conditions,  but I feel like I have taken additional months off my life expectancy when I do.  

The weatherman said that there would be rain all day with thunderstorms.  Well he was right:  It absolutely stormed as I got out on the Interstate.  I was determined to go because I didn't go last year and the gentleman had purchased my ticket.  As I was muttering under my breath about how idiotic it was to be driving in a thunderstorm to go to an affair, my phone rang and it was the gentleman that I was to go to the party with.  He said that he knew the weather was really bad and was moving in their direction, he knew how stressed I get driving in stormy weather and he would understand if I didn't come.  I was so relieved that he was nice enough to call me.  I drove about 30 minutes more and then the bottom fell out.  I pulled over and waited until that strong downpour was over, turned my car around and came back home.

I called my daughter to tell her she didn't need to pick up my boys, PJ, Toby and Petey (the dogs).  I'm so glad I came back, Petey is so afraid of bad weather.  It took me a little while to get him to calm down.  After the thunder and lightening subsided some, I decided that today would be a good day to start on my spring stuff.  In a short while I had completed this little set:

I used the pattern I copied from my Eileen Fisher tee that I got on extreme clearance last spring  (I still wonder who pays $158. for a tee). I also used this Burda pattern for the little jacket.

The fabric is the thinnest knit I have ever sewn.  You know those real expensive silky thin knits that are always more expensive than most; well this is basically the same only I got it at Hancock's special purchase bargain section for about $2. per yard.  I didn't wash it so I pray that it holds up.

Sewing this knit was not really a breeze.  It rolled an slipped a little.  Thank goodness for the serger.

Everything considered, I've had a good day and I am so grateful to be in my home dry and safe with my sewing toys and my boys.  Oh yeah, its still raining at 11:02 p.m.