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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Do you PR?

I can't believe I haven't posted in almost a week but it's because I've started a new medication to help combat future cancer and it make me feel horrible. It was a major setback and while I haven't felt much like "girling" myself up like I had the previous week, I am sewing. I've just finished my Mini Wardrobe for the PR contest. What do you think?


I'd appreciate your vote when the voting starts. Click here to go to review. It's the first contest I've entered and I like working under a deadline. It gets my creative juices flowing! If I sew today it'll be a no-brainer project. I've got a Butterick pattern that I'm just chomping at the bit to try. Fabric has already been washed and dried and is ready to go.

The amount of sewing I'm doing in this amazing weather is unheard of. While I never usually make many worthwhile garments in summer, this year is different because of the cancer. Usually I'm out from dawn to dusk playing golf or rolling down the highway on my Harley Davidson Fatboy. Yes, I ride a Harley. It's how I got the nickname Diva. I know I don't look the type but it's my alter ego. Now that I'm getting my strength back, I'm thinking of going and picking the Harley up from Calvin's (fiance'). I think golf is still a ways off. Here's a picture of me on my Harley a few years ago. I was riding to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (about 13 hours)! I know I don't look very "girlie" but the two duffle bags have my girlie stuff in them! They don't call me Diva for nothing.


Bye for now and don't forget to vote for me in the PR contest

Saturday, May 23, 2009

What's your favorite thing(s) to sew?

I know that Carolyn at Diary of a Sewing Fanatic loves to make dresses. For me it's twinsets and jackets. I love them because working in the male dominated automotive business, a jacket is the most powerful garment a woman can wear and I was, and still am, all about being taken seriously. In my opinion a twinset offers a more casual option while still being a jacket. What is it that you love to sew and why? For the fourth day in a row, I'm in a twinset--McCall's 5671!

Friday, May 22, 2009

There are no words

There are no words to describe how great I feel. The song that comes to mind is the theme from Aladdin--A Whole New World. "A new fantastic point of view, unbelieve sky, indescrible feeling, soaring, tumbling, free-wheeling etc." best describes where I am now. I don't think I truly knew how blessed I was and probably took too many things for granted. Having cancer was not the death sentence I thought it would be but was more a journey into darkness that now has made me more appreciative of the light! God is good to me!

Is there a reason I didn't know until after 9 pm last night that it was the holiday weekend! And I was preparing to get on the highway today. Well a call to my sister confirmed that she too, didn't realize it was the holiday weekend. Neither one of us wanted me stuck in traffic for hours and hours so we have postponed our sewing weekend to the first weekend in June. Now I have time to work on my PR Mini Wardrobe.

This is what I'm wearing today. I absolutely love wearing twinsets, especially when I make them myself!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Pattern Review...What I'm wearing today

I know I'm getting back to normal because I've been getting up, showering and getting dressed and going no where but at least I know I look good! I'm going back to work on Wednesday so I may as well start getting in the groove now! Tomorrow I leave for Mansfield, OH where my sister lives and we are going to have a sewing weekend. Yippeee! I do have an appointment with my chemo doctor tomorrow and I hope he has good news. In the meantime, I'm off to my sewing room.

Simplicity 3634
Pattern Description:
Misses'/Women's pants, skirt and knit cardigan in two lengths and tops. I only made the cardigan and the sleeveless top. The skirt is just the left over fabric that I added a side seam to and elastic at the waist.
Pattern Sizing:
10-28W
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
It would have if I hadn't made changes
Were the instructions easy to follow?
This is the second time I've made the cardigan and top and this time I did follow the directions so there were no mishaps like last time.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I didn't dislike anything about this pattern but do check the finished measurements. There is very little ease allowed!
Fabric Used:
Slinky is one of my favorite fabrics to work with and wear. Can you believe I found it at Walmart for $2.44 a yard?
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:
I added bust darts to both the cardigan and the top. I also did a FBA as well as wide and high-round back measurement to both pieces as well. I have also noticed that with Slinky I pin fit the garment after cutting the fabric and almost always have to raise the bust dart or it will be way too low. I wanted to make a traditional looking twin-set so I shortened both the jacket and the top 3 inches. I always use Steam A Seam 2 in my hems to make sure that don't wind up wavy.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I will certainly sew this again and would recommend it to others but be sure to sew in the order the instructions say!
Because I wanted to match the stripes on the bands and the jacket fronts, doing so caused the fronts to pull up. Necessity being the mother of intention and all, I added a slit to underside of the botton of the band and inserted some washers from my tool drawer to weigh the center front down some. When I get ready to wash it I'll remover the washers so that they don't beat up the inside of my washer and dryer. Aren't we sewers creative souls?

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

I've been busy sewing

I'm getting my strength back and have been busy sewing. I'm working on a mini wardrobe for a PR contest the ends May 31. I should have been finished by now but as usual I got sidetracked with some other sewing projects. Today I worked on lining a jacket. I also decided to review a pattern that I've made four times because I absolutely love it. Did anybody notice my new hairdo? Straight and blond! It's a first for me but Calvin absolutely loves it.


McCall's 5671
Pattern Description:
Misses' jacket, belt, top, dress and pants (jacket and pants in 2 lengths)
Pattern Sizing:
8-24
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Exactly
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Extremely. As always with Palmer and Pletsch patterns, instructions for alterations are included with cutting lines and indepth explanations
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I liked that the pattern was super easy and still stylish
Fabric Used:Slinky as it is one of my favorite fabrics to wear
Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:I didn't do my usual FBA. I simply added an armhole dart in the top. On the cardigan I added a 2" wedge at the center front only to allow for full bust. It worked out perfectly.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I've made the top and jacket four times. I love the look of a twinset but with an updated look. I'm sure I'll make it again and would highly recommend it to others. It can be dressed down with jeans or dressed up with a skirt and heels.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Blogger Buddy Award

I don't know how I overlooked the Blogger Buddy Award that Julia at Julia's Sweet and Special sent me. I love awards both giving and receiving. So like her, I'm paying it forward by sending to:
Gwen at All My Seams
Omega at Sewhooked
Tanya at Sew Sassy
Faye at Faye's Sewing Adventure
Cindy at Learn 2 Sew Florida
Towanda at Life is Sew Sew Good

Friday, May 15, 2009

Attitude of Gratitude Award

Omega over at Sewhooked nominated me for the Attitude of Gratitude Award. Thanks sister!

The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award
1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate a few blogger's that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award.
6. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

I would like to nominate:

Opal at Opal's Passions because she knows first hand what I've been through.

Julia at Julia's Sweet and Special because she was always encouraging.

Faye at Faye's Sewing Adventure because I'm trying to keep up with her.

Gwen at All My Seams because not only was she encouraging but she makes the greatest stuff.

Susan at Knitters Delight because she always had a kind word.

Carolyn at Diary of a Sewing Fanatic because I aspire to be able to hold my tongue like she does instead of telling people where they need to go!

Tanya at Sew Sassy because she is such a wonderful and caring person.

I think I have always had an attitude of gratitude because in my lifetime...I've been through some things. I know that no matter how bad something is that I might be going through...there are many that have it worse and would love to be in the position that I am in. I have a wonderful life filled with a man that loves me dearly, family and good friends which I consider you all to be. My most recent test, breast cancer, had me feeling a little under the weather but through my sewing, you sharing your sewing, and most importantly, God, I know I am truly blessed and grateful for everything I have. Each morning that I awaken and draw a breath is truly a wonderful day and for that I am always grateful.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

What was I thinking?

Thursday night I planned what I was going to sew Friday morning. I planned on whipping up a twin-set made out of some Slinky I found at Walmart for only $2.44 a yard. I cut the pattern before going to bed. First thing this morning I was up and at the sewing machine. What in the hell was I thinking?


There is absolutely not way I can just "whip up" a garment out of fabric that has to be matched at the side seams, center back (which I omitted), front bands and armholes. It got on my nerves so badly I just had to put it down and walk away. As I refuse to have any UFO's around, I'll be back at it again tomorrow!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Do you use tracing paper?


Years ago I religiously used tracing paper, but like Julia I'd gotten away from it. Recently I've rediscovered it and and can't remember for the life of me why I'd stopped using it. From the price on the pack you can tell this has been around my sewing room for years. I also rediscovered this little beauty called the "Tack-It."


To use, you just slide the base of the Tack-It beneath the lower leaf of the transfer paper--bring the marking stem directly over the pattern mark that is to be transferred--give the button a light sharp rap.



This will transfer the pattern mark to both layers of fabric.


I love it, it works like a charm.

In other news...

I'm still a little under the weather from the radiation but getting stronger everyday. A couple of days ago I decided to at least get up and put on makeup. I thought I was looking pretty darn cute until I saw this picture...what in the hell is wrong with my foundation? Notice how the lower part of my face looks ashen? Guess I shouldn't try to put on makeup and watch television at the same time and I need to make a trip to the MAC counter...LOL.

Yesterday I went to my bowling banquet and got a chance to wear my TNT jacket made with Walmart fabric. I've paired it with what I like to call my school girl skirt. Obviously my sweetie is not a photographer but I do look cute if I have to say so myself!

Finally, the Set-In sleeve class on PR view is fantastic so far.