Quick Update

It's pretty sad that I've now got to start any blog post with "Yes, I'm alive" but when 6+ months go by, I guess it's to be expected. (Yes, I'm alive.)

Sewing has taken a back burner for a while. I've had limited sewing time and when I did manage to eek out something, I ended up with wadders. Very frustrating. And the "best" way to instantly kill the sewjo. I'm still dreaming/thinking about sewing and will get back to it, but I'm also having trouble finding inspirational fabric. In other words, I'm not seeing very much lately that is ME. I keep looking, but I keep deciding that what's in the cart isn't really doing it for me and just close the check-out window. I'm pretty sure it's not my sewing ennui that is creating my "problem." I'm just not loving what's available at the moment (this "moment has been going on for months!). And while I still have a substantial stash, even it is pretty depleted of favorites (what I want to sew/wear), so that's not much of a help either. Ahh. First-world problems. If you'd like to share any online fabric stores with great prints I may have missed, please feel free to enable me in the comments. :-)

So, if not sewing, what have I been doing? Well for starters, I've been working at my job during the weekdays. I've been here 3 years now . On weekends, I've been 50% of the "rehab crew" for Alex's real estate investment adventures. He's just finished fixing-up and renting out his third property. It's been a lot of fun to work with him and I'm beaming with pride at his success but I'm definitely too old and out of shape to do this more than part-time! A couple of months just on weekends kicks my butt.

Here are the Before/During/After pics of the kitchen we just completed.

Last month, my stepson Michael got married. Here he is below with his beautiful bride Hannah. (Do you see the peacock behind them?)

The goofball groomsmen brothers. For any of you long-time readers, can you believe Alex is my "baby" and he's already 25. The years just fly!

Tyler is still in the Marine Corps (a Sergeant now) … for about 4 more months. Then he will leave the Corps, marry his fiancée Angela (below) in October, and start new adventures. 

Overall, life is good. There just hasn't been much sewing going on and my intentions to check in are on that infamous road. Hopefully, I'll be revving up the machines soon. I need things!

Back

No, not me. I'm still an absent blogger.

But I did want to mention that the missing tutorials, etc. are back. I think I've fixed everything but if you find a missing image, link, whatever, please do let me know so I can fix it.

I really haven't been sewing much. OK, at all. Although I did start a project this past Sunday. We'll see how that goes. I also may have signed up for Netflix and binge-watched Orange Is the New Black and House of Cards. I'm hoping now that the seasons have changed my sewjo will come back around.

In the meantime, the biggest “news” is that while on my way back from my visit to see the Marine in SC two weekends ago, I hit a really big something on the Interstate (I'm thinking piece of semi truck tire but it was dark and rainy so who really knows) and wrecked my car. The wreck wasn't too bad, as far as direct front-end collisions go. No one was hurt at all, and I was still close enough to Tyler that I got two more days' visit out of it while my car made its way to the body shop and adjuster. But it had to stay in SC for repairs and I had to get back to Florida to work.

My car is fixed (yay! I miss it very much and while it's good I have a rental, said rental is craptastic) so I'm heading back to SC after work tomorrow for a post-midnight arrival. Tyler and I will meet up again for a Thursday-Friday visit and then I'll head home sometime Friday afternoon. I kind of want to drive back in daylight this time, just in case. There's a Blue Angels airshow at his base this weekend, which would be fun to see, but it means there are no hotel rooms to be had so staying through the weekend isn't an option. Plus, we may be kind of sick of each other by this point. Hahaha. Just kidding. I love you Tyler.

Up until the wreck, the visit to SC was fun. We went to Charleston, stayed in a fancy hotel, ate lots, drank more, and shopped a little. I did my first Uber trips around Charleston.

We visited boot camp at Parris Island which is just 10 minutes away from Tyler's base. That was fun for both of us. If you're a long-time reader, you may remember that I was sick as a dog when Tyler graduated boot camp 4+ years ago so my memory of that first visit was very fuzzy. And now that he's a sergeant, most of the Drill Instructors don't even outrank him so he strutted around this time like ... well.  a sergeant. Hah. Perspective is everything.

We even got to see the Marine Corps Band and Silent Drill Platoon back in Beaufort (Tyler's base). We still don't know why they were there, but they were and we had seats. OoRah!

Hopping on the Hop

I bet Manju thought I was never going to respond to her nomination! Hah. I'm just a procrastinator. But thank you for nominating me. I'd like to thank the Academy .... er ... oops.

I'm probably now one of the last stops on this Blog Hop of Why I Write, and I don't do a lot of hops/memes/awards for various reasons (all lazy and selfish of course!), but I have to say I've really been enjoying reading everyone else's so I figured what the heck. And it's a slow day at work (yes, WORK!!!) so I can look busy while typing this and have the added bonus of not using up sewing time this weekend, because I have BIG plans for weekend sewing starting TONIGHT, after coming back from a mad-dash lunch hour stop into Hancock's for the Simplicity sale and to put a small dent into rebuilding my stash. (Run-on sentence much?)

Sidenote: I never realized how many brown/white/ivory prints I have/had until that's about all that was left in the knit prints section of the stash. Yes, I like brown and prints and even brown prints, but good lord ... was I holding a self-contest these past years to see if I could binge buy all the browns? I'm SO happy to now have a few different colors to choose from, and enough to keep me busy over the next few weeks at least.

OK, enough blabber ... let's get to the task at hand.

1. Why do I write?

Well, that's easy. Part of me likes to show off share what I've made with others who Just Get It. I've lived with only males for the last 30 years (yikes!) and while they have all enjoyed the my sewing when it came to their own special request projects, I would inevitably get the glazed eyes/deer in the headlights treatment for most everything else. Part of me wants to keep some sort of journal/diary of my sewing projects. Part of me wants to share the love of the craft with hints and helps that I have picked up along the way.

2. How is my blog different from others of the same genre?

It's not really. It's just me being me with some sewing. And  sometimes my sons and the dogs. (Speaking of which ... the Marine is being promoted to SERGEANT in two weeks!! Can I get an OORAH!!) And some life stuff. And definitely shoes.

3. What am I working on right now? 

Um, this blog post. Oh, I guess that wasn't meant LITERALLY. Hah. It's Friday and I'm a goofball. I must be on a fabric high since lunch.

I have a few things I want to work on right away now that I have NEW FABRIC burning a hole .... er ... where am I going with this metaphor?? ... starting with the Muse Jenna cardi I bought and downloaded today and will tape together tonight. It will be interesting to compare it to my Jalie hack. I also have a HotPatterns dress pattern bought eons ago I'd like to make from the new print I bought today. But first, I'm going to shorten the hem length of the newly made Muse Gillian wrap dress an inch or two. I haven't worn it to work yet because I decided I do want it a little shorter, and the energy isn't always there after working, making dinner, and dog walks. So, I'm hoping to get that done tonight so that Saturday and Sunday are free to SEW, SEW, SEW all the new things!

4. What is my writing process?

Blue moon? When the iron's hot? Hell has frozen over? Pigs are flying? I don't really have a process. I just write what comes to mind, usually after a sewing project but sometimes completely unrelated to sewing, and I write when I feel like it. Well, more like when I have the spare time. I always *want* to write more than I actually do, but there's only so many hours in the day and often the blog has to come last. But I usually manage to get something on it fairly regularly just so the comment 'ho in me (Hi Carolyn) gets her fix. :-) I never schedule a post. When you see a new post it means I have just clicked the Publish button. I'm just not that organized and I don't really see the point. If a post is ready, it's ready. For sewing projects, the post will start to percolate as I'm making the whatever. I take pics along the way so I don't forget what I want to say about a particular detail and then when I'm ready to write, I load up all the photos, edit them, and upload them to Blogger. THEN I begin on the words. And inevitably I've missed a typo or three after I click Publish so I go back and read/re-read and try to find and correct them.

I think that about covers it. I'm home now, having emailed myself the draft so I could finish and post it. I think I'm supposed to nominate two bloggers for the next stops on the tour. I didn't ask in advance so I will understand if you choose to bow out. First is Carolyn of Diary of a Sewing Fanatic. Did I miss her already hopping, because I don't think so and I can't believe no one has nominated her yet. I think she needs no introduction but I REALLY think she needs to send half of her ponte stash to Florida. ;-) Next is Dawn of Two On Two Off. I love her wit, her love of prints, and the Alaskiana she occasionally shares. Alaska is definitely on my Bucket List of places to visit.

I'm off to tape together a pattern and re-hem that dress while the brown thread is still in the machine. Hopefully I'll be back Sunday with something newly made.

Bring on the new shoes

If you look good, you feel good, and if you feel good, you get the job!!

A Selfish Plea

I'm doing most of my blog reading these days on my (Android) phone, with Bloglovin'. It has a great little app just for that. So, my selfish plea is that if you haven't already "claimed" your blog on Bloglovin', please do and then add a button to your blog so I can add it to my read feed and keep up with what you're doing.

I hope to squeeze in some sewing this weekend ... stay tuned.

Boxed In But Alive

The bad news? This is what every room looks like right now. Guess which one this is?

The good news? This is the view out my front door ... the river is one block away.

The move was horrible. It took three days because two of Alex's "friends" backed out (long story, but suffice it to say neither Alex nor I want to see those creeps ever again). Thankfully, Tyler came down to help and one of Alex's real friends (we've known him since they were both 4 years old) busted his rear end for us. Plus, the truck broke down on the last trip while we were all in separate locations and we didn't have A/C here at the "new" place until this past Thursday. Luckily the temps had dropped after our second day here and we didn't really need A/C until this weekend.

But the real kicker? I found out the Friday before our move (2 weeks ago) that I didn't have a job to come back to. Yep, unemployed again. I'm not heartbroken. I don't want to go into detail online but nothing ever made sense there and this is no big shock either. Whatever. I've made up my mind to be more zen about the whole no-job thing this time around and believe that everything happens for a reason. I need this time off anyway to unpack. ;-)

I did end up in the house I showed last post. Alex and I both really like the location. The house has warts, but we'll get used to them and/or get them fixed eventually. I can't really bombard my landlord all at once or I may end up on the street and I can't afford any more major life changes at the moment. ;-)

The neighborhood is a mix of old bungalows, many of them renovated beautifully, multi-million dollar mansions on the water a block away, and everything in between.Once I'm employed again, I'm going to have fun exploring the area. There's a lot to see and do.

Yet Another Drive By

Life is a bit busy right now and I haven't been sewing (and my wardrobe is getting sad, sad, sad). Plus this week I have a chest cold coming on so all I want to do is sleep. Pffft that work and life gets in the way of naps. ;-) But at least I can still watch the Olympics every night. Is anyone else addicted to them? I think it's a holdover from my little-girl-ness, when watching the Olympics and wanting to be Peggy Fleming or Dorothy Hammil or Kathy Rigby or Olga Korbut was every girl's dream. (Please forgive any misspellings on names ... the Dayquil has taken over!)

But I just wanted to dash in and say all is well. I'm here. And the missing Mr. Mojo will be getting a kick in the keister soon because ... OMG ... I won BeaJay's Plus Size Pattern Pyramid!! Thank you SO MUCH Beverley. I will now be checking the mailbox every day for the next few weeks. OK, maybe not tonight because that would have to be a pattern MIRACLE, but starting next week. I'll let you all know when they land and soon after I'll be hosting the next PSPP here, open worldwide.

Stay tuned ...

My Top Fives

Hard to believe that during all these years blogging, I've never done a recap (it's true!). But because I've been enjoying everyone else's 2013 recaps popping up this week, I decided to spend way too much time gathering photos jump on Gillian's Top 5 bandwagaon too. Thanks Gillian and my sewing blogger friends for giving me the needed kick in the @ss push. If you've got a few hours you want to kill, click the link to Gillian's blog because it's the page where all the recappers have been posting links to their lists. I've already found a few new-to-me blogs. Fun!

So, first up is a composite of I think everything I've made this year. I've had some ups and downs during 2013 which definitely directly affected the mojo, but after seeing it all and counting around 40-ish pieces, I was pleasantly surprised. Of course there were many, MANY more projects in my mind that haven't yet become reality, but that's what 2014 is for, right? (That's probably all of the "Reflection" you're going to get as I tend to not look backward.)

Top 5 Hits - in no particular order

1. Simplicity 2474. This simple top, which takes a mere 28" of fabric, became a true wardrobe workhorse. It pairs with both my purple and black Magic Pencils. Even from Joann's Polly and Esther, it works all year round, by itself on the hottest days and under a cardi on the coldest. I'm definitely going to have to add one or two more of these during 2014.

2. Frankenpattern top, using KS2694 to copy a fav RTW top. This, and the original RTW, are in regular rotation all the time. I have to fight the urge to wear them both to work each week. If I could have a uniform, this top in different prints and a coordinating Magic Pencil would be it. Another one I need to make again.

3. Self-drafted (term used loosely) skirt which was created from the ashes of a wadder dress and a Jalie 2806 top. This outfit had lots of wear during the summer. Bright and comfortable, and cheap!

4. I think this is my favorite make of 2013. It's a 2-piece dress using Butterick 5429 for the top and Simplicity 2185 for the skirt. I love the colors, the slinky fabric, the border print used at the waist hem to break it up, and the swish factor. I get compliments every time I wear this.

5. Last, but not least, my latest project ... the Skinny Bitch Curvy Chick Mimosa. I've worn this once and already know it's going into high rotation status. I'm planning to start (and maybe finish?) another one Wednesday. Great "sleeper" pattern!

Top 5 Misses - in no particular order

1. McCall's 6397. Cute, right? Never worn. Not because I don't like it. But because first I needed something to wear under it. The blouse shown isn't comfortable. Now, alas, I've gained a few and the dress is too snug. It's still in my closet waiting for me to drop 10 (15?) and find an underlayer. As is the first summer version, which I wore ALL the time ... those 10-ish pounds ago.

2. Vogue 8825. I tried this on and hated it on me. I dubbed it the tree trunk and thus it has never been worn. I swore I was trashing it that day. But I still want to love it somehow so it's been in a wadder ball in my sewing room for almost a year now. If nothing else, I'm going to rescue the fabric for something. I still love the style/pattern and am hoping it's just a bad fabric pairing. But fearing another weeping willow, I haven't yet tried it again.

3. Right after the tree trunk, came this never worn, never even finished, wadder. Vogue 8805. Debbie, just step away from the shapeless shifts. But then Lara of Thornberry just made another, slightly redesigned and in a woven and now I'm tempted again ... for a summer weekend dress. Someone slap me. I also just realized this dress is still hanging (unfinished) in my laundry room. Come tomorrow, it will be GONE.

4. Butterick 5749. Never worn because it started out short and snug. Now it's longer after adding a hem band but snugger after adding some pounds. It kills me that I "wasted" this fabric. It's still hanging in my closet, waiting. Sigh. Because the dress is made from so may pieces, I can't even rescue the fabric. Bigger sigh.

5. Butterick 5489. UFO, so never worn. I just kind of fell out of love with it before it was done. I may finish it. Or I may be distracted yet again but the next bright and shiny pattern. Who wants to place a bet?

Honorable Mentions - in no particular order

1. Another Butterick 5429/Simplicity 2185 combo. This gets worn a lot. It's comfortable and I like the print. I need a color pop cardi so it can be added to the "winter" rotation.

2. Simplicity 3768. I've had this pattern for YEARS and finally decided to make the shorts and top from it. Both are winners. I LIVE in these shorts on the weekend. And the linen version gets worn often too.

3. I started this Hot Patterns 1138 Metropolitan Verano right before I lost that job and it sat, haunting me. Once I picked myself up and finally finished it, it became a summer wardrobe staple. It's bright, comfortable, cute, and so easy to just slip on with sandals and run out the door. Perfect for Florida.

4. The top from Simplicity 3768 also gets worn a lot. It's a rayon knit so it's comfortable and it's flattering even with the extra tummy I've got right now.

5. The SBCC Tonic tee. While I still love my Ottobre TNT tee and won't be giving it up anytime soon, it was really nice to find this indie company and have succeess both with their patterns and with my email interactions with the owner/designer. I'm sure this tee will be added to the weekend rotation as soon as I do my laundry. One thing I've realized, I'm definitely lacking in new me-made casual items.

Goals - in no particular order

1. Keep blogging. This won't be hard. :-) Sometimes I'm light on the posts, but that's just the normal ebb and flow of life. I really enjoy this medium, sharing, and ... of course, the comments. You all are a GREAT group of people and I enjoy each and every one of you. Thank you sincerely for reading, for giving support and prayer when needed, and for having my back.

2. Speaking of comments ... one of my goals for the blog is to look into making it easier to reply to comments in order and actually do that. I know a lot of questions go unanswered and I do regret it. OK, sometimes the answers are more "work" than I feel like putting into an answer, but usually the questions are things I want to answer and can do so quickly. I want to get better at this.

3. I'd really like to meet each of you, so if you're ever in the Tampa, Florida area and I'm available, let's do it! Renee, Barbara, Laura, Karen, Ronda, Andrea ... I'm looking at YOU.

4.  Get into the sewing room during the week. This is directly related to the fact that I don't have a cable hook-up in there right now, as I hobbled it to the living room instead. It's been like this for a year now and I'm about out of excuses for not calling the cable company to come add an outlet. I really need background noise/dialog when I'm sewing. It helps now that I've re-upped my Amazon Prime subscription and can stream video and radio to my Kindle, but I would still like the big TV to be available so I can catch up on my shows while I sew. I'm just a multi-tasker at heart.

5. Make a dent in the pattern stash. I'm so easily distracted by new patterns but I've got an amazing collection of "old" patterns that really deserve a chance too. I'm sure I'll keep buying, but I'm going to try really hard to make it a priority to hit the stash on a regular basis.

Inspirations - again, in no particular order

Carolyn and Barbara had really good posts about keeping it real in the sewing blogger stratosphere and I'm down with that at heart. I mean all you need to do is look at my blog to believe that. Tripod and mirror shots reign supreme. While I'd actually love to have better, more "artsy" photos (the graphic artist in me cringes regularly at my own photos), the truth is it probably ain't gonna happen. It already takes a lot of time for the crappy pics and (hopefully not so crappy) content. At this point, I don't think I'm willing to put in even more time to step it up.

That said, I love pretty much ALL sewing blogs. The shiny ones, the basic ones, the ones in between. As long as I get a feel for the writer, I'm in. My sidebar blogroll grows weekly, and I look at and enjoy them all. Truly.

I don't intentionally want to leave anyone out but since this is a post of Fives, I'm going to close with 5 of my favorites. Five of the blogs I click on as soon as I see a new post. Know that there are many more than 5, but I'll leave it at 5 for now. 

Oh, scratch that! I just couldn't do it. I could NOT narrow it down to 5. I don't think I could narrow it down to even 25.

So instead, I will say that every blog in my sidebar inspires me in many ways. From patterns and fabric, to giggles and warped senses of humor, family vacations, pickling fresh veggies, pet antics, new notions, vintage machines, Chelsea flea market finds, moose meat in Alaska, posing with strangers in London, fabric collections neatly folded on shelves in New Jersey, bike riding in Baltimore, grandkids, weddings, new sons and daughters, Me Made Mays, sewing dares, sew-alongs, hand-picked zips, Kasha linings, studded dresses, refashions, remodels, meet ups, husband comments, TNTs, What WAS I thinkings, prints, solids, faux leather, new shoes (especially new shoes), nailpolishes, new haircuts, Mood, Minerva, Chihuahuas on treadmills, designer knock-offs, Project Runway recaps, the pointing finger of the Pressanatrix, recipes, tutorials, honest opinions, velvet chef jackets, and EVERYTHING else in between. You all are The Best!

Happy New Year! May the sewing gods and goddesses shine brightly on you in 2014!

Sunday Ramblings

1. Rainbows and unicorns - much better.
2. There IS sewing going on today, so hopefully even the unicorn will be replaced soon.
3. Good news - Tyler called yesterday and says he's headed back down to Florida on Wednesday.
4. I asked if there was anything special he wanted on the Thanksgiving menu.
5. His answer: Beer. :-)
6. Bad news - Alex wrecked his car Friday night.
7. Good news - he's fine.
8. The car is repairable and is at the shop right now.
9. He'll be without it about 3 weeks, though, due to the holidays, insurance adjuster scheduling, and parts ordering.
10. Nothing mechanical, just body (fender and bumper) damage.
11. He didn't get a ticket, even though it was technically his fault.
12. Thank you Mr. Hillsborough County Deputy.
13. Bad news - I CANNOT find the pattern I really wanted to sew, and since it's an $18 indie, I'm still debating re-ordering it.
14. I've made it before (C. Jonson Shirred Princess Wrap) and know it's a good one, but still.
15. Good news - CJ's patterns are on sale until 11/29, so I have until then to either find my original or re-order at a discount.
16. Good and bad news - I went to a shoe store yesterday and bought ... nothing. ??
17. Because we were shopping for Alex, who is picky for himself and never would've stood waiting around while I looked. And I didn't even do that.
18. No, I don't have a fever.
19. I don't have new shoes either.
20. Sob!
21. The sewing room calls ...

Two cents

While I'm not 20-something, I have NOT been sewing for decades. I have been sewing for just over 10 years.

I grew up with a mom who sewed her whole life but she didn't teach me specifically or give me lessons. I didn't want to learn back then. A few things naturally rubbed off by sheer virtue of being around it and probably from my one 7th grade Home Ec class but by and large, I am self-taught, through books, videos, and interacting with others on the internet ... and by just jumping in and doing it. I bought a cheap Sears machine to sew the straight seams for living room curtains I didn't want to pay hundreds of dollars for. And then the spark was lit. (My mother was shocked as she had long given up.)

I'm not out to discourage anyone from sewing, from buying a specific pattern line, or from creating a pattern line. I've been giving my opinions about one pattern. You know what they say about opinions, and you are free to take mine ... or leave them. But when reviewing a product, I don't believe in saying only nice or popular things. I prefer to be thorough and truthful. In the end, though, it's still only my opinion.

I've sewn a number of indie patterns, such as Hot Patterns, Pamela's Patterns, and Colette's freebie Sorbetto, and my own created with Pattern Master Boutique. I've been honest about those experiences too, and two of my favorite patterns are HP's Sunshine and Pamela's Magic Pencil. I've also sewn Ottobres, Jalies, and probably a few others I'm forgetting at the moment. I'd love to try them all. Alas, I'm not rich. But when I do get my next one, whatever it may be, you can count on another honest opinion.

I don't mind PDF patterns and taping together 65 sheets one little bit. I can tape those sheets together in roughly the same time as it takes me to unfold and press tissue and then find the pieces I need.

I'm not really sure where I stand on feeling a responsibility, obligation, or opportunity (or whatever word you want to use) to contact an owner of a company whose product I'm talking about but part of me thinks that if you put something out there for sale at a high price point, it should pass muster. I'm fairly sure I don't want to pay the pattern price to be part of a "community" to give feedback that IMO should have been part of a testing process before release.

On the flip side, they could always contact me to test prior to release. ;-)

You have a call on Line 1 ...

Just a drive-by post, but I had to share this funny thing that happened today ...

I was at work, doing my thing. Still neck-deep in catch-up and still learning all our cases and procedures. (It's going very well, but there has definitely been a steep learning curve some days. But I really do like the challenge.)

Our receptionist buzzed me to let me know I had a phone call from an opposing counsel's office. I pick up on the line and start talking with the woman on the other end. We're both trying to figure out some things about a particular case that we're both new to, when I think I hear a question that just didn't compute with the subject matter. I heard .... "Do you have the Stitches and Seams blog?" It took what seemed like a full minute for me to comprehend that that was REALLY what I heard.

How amazing is that?

R ... if you're reading, you made my day! And I apologize for being such a dweeb. I was just so surprised. And I'd be happy to help you with that darn FBA whenever you're ready ...

Questions

Mine, not yours. Hah. :-)

There's a message board thread on PR at the moment which is discussing the "right" way to place a pattern and cut fabric. So I thought I'd ask ...

1. Do you cut with your fabric RS out or WS out? 

Me, RS out ... always. I want to see motif placement most of all. I do use me a lot of prints after all. It's just The Way I Do It. Always have. But I think what's most important is consistency. Since I also have the tissue next to the RS, it's easy for me to know what the RS is (or what I've chosen as the RS) after everything is cut and the tissue may have slipped.

2. How do you make your pattern markings?

Me, water soluble pen the most for interior marks, chalkoliner next. Notches and fold/center markings by snipping into the seam allowance. Sometimes I'll use a sticker if a mark isn't going to show with a pen/chalk.

3. Do you follow the cutting layout in patterns?

Me, never. I don't even look at them. Even as a newbie sewer, I didn't bother with them. But I think that's because I have really good spatial skills and can just look at something to know how/where it fits best. I was always the one who packed the luggage in the car for family trips too. :-)

4. Are you obsessed with re-folding your pattern tissue on or very close to the original fold lines?

Hahaha, I am. Call it OCD. And I don't even store patterns inside their original envelopes so it's not like they have to fit back inside. Everything goes into a bigger ziplock with a pocket on the outside where I put the envelope and instructions.

5. I thought of one more ... Do you make all the markings? 

Me, no. I don't mark notches that indicate general match-ups, like sideseams, shoulder seams, etc. ... unless it's an usually shaped pattern piece.

That's all. Heading into the sewing room now ...

Preview

You would think because I'm modeling this outfit that I wore it today, but ... you would be wrong. ;-)

I'm actually trying on the two pieces together for the first time tonight after work to see how I like them and if they're contenders for tomorrow. I believe they pass. I'm thinking of leaving off a belt for sheer comfort. I've been walking at lunchtime and I think I'll prefer the floaty-ness of the unbelted top. Plus, I can tell already that I'd be fiddling with the front ruffle and side vents getting caught up and I definitely will not enjoy that. Sounds like I've made up my mind.

Speaking of lunchtime walks, I passed by this little guy today. I've lived here 23 years and I'm still enchanted by the tropical birds that are as common here as crows and sparrows up north.

And a couple of shots of the views from my office. Ironically, I can clearly see my old office from the new one. I hope they can see me back in the saddle and smiling.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Watch out fabric and patterns, here I come! (Yes, it means what you think it means. I start Monday.)

Un-Venting

First, thank you everyone for your support on my vent post. I've now removed that post, its comments, and any other comments in the previous post directed at one commenter. I didn't mean for my vent to be an attack on anyone in particular, which is why I didn't single out someone and direct my words toward them. I apologize to that person who ended up being a target. Some comments on my vent post reminded us all that what can come across as scolding or negative probably started out as good intentions. I agree. I still don't like undeserved scolding, but I do recognize the intention. Always have.

But I will say again, keep in mind this is my blog. I'm not stupid, and I've been public on the internet for close to 20 years. In other words, I know what I'm doing as it relates to ME. You don't have to like it or agree with me. And most importantly, IN THIS SPACE, vice versa. :-)

Carry on.

Drive by

I had the interview today that I mentioned last week. It went very well. There are pluses and minuses for me. More pluses, though. And they want me back for a second interview on Thursday.

Thank you sincerely for your good wishes and prayers. They've definitely been helping.

Question for the day

Why is it that the no-thought projects become favs?

Sorry no pics of the remake outfit on me after wearing it today. I came home and quickly changed into my dog-walking clothes to hit the sidewalk with the pooches before the evening t-storms.

So, back to the topic ... I think the skirt and top took me 3 hours tops to make. Granted, I didn't have to do much for the skirt but even if from scratch that would've added maybe another hour. And after wearing them today, I know I'll be arguing with myself NOT to wear this combo every week. It's comfortable. It's pretty. It's flattering. I want to dig it out of the laundry basket and wear it again tomorrow. And I might even be tempted if a bright purple and yellow outfit wasn't just a little bit memorable. ;-)

A 3-hour outfit, comprised of pretty much scraps and basics. I think there's a lesson here.

Prayers Still Needed

I'm sorry that I haven't been updating but I just haven't been able to crawl out of my anger and depression. I still don't have a real job. I did start a temp job 3 weeks ago that will go another month or so, but it doesn't pay what I need for the bills so while it's better than crappy Florida unemployment, it's not something I'm really happy about and I am constantly worried about money, which SUCKS.

So that's it for an update.

Thanks for all of your comments, notes, and concern. I really do appreciate it. Hopefully, things will turn my way soon.

Keep Me in Your Prayers

Remember the best job ever? Yeah, me too. Except it ended unexpectedly April 4, two days after returning from my staycation. I'm in severe emotional distress. And, if I don't find a new job in the next month, I'll be in severe financial distress too. And homeless. I'm genuinely clueless on this so there really aren't any more details either on-blog or off. I'm only posting this depressing news because I'm selfishly hoping for tons of cheer-me-up comments. At this point, I still want to throw up about every 5 minutes.

Frankenpattern: KS2694-Otto0207-Walmart

So, first things first. Here is the result of too many weekends spent car shopping. And the worst part? We both ended up buying from the first dealer we went to. lol Alex's is on the left - a blue/gray 2011 Mercury Milan. Mine is the other, a metallic gray 2013 Ford Focus hatchback.

This is the official Ford photo. It looks better than mine. (One would hope.) I like it. I don't love it yet. It wasn't my first choice but I needed to go with the Focus with the bigger rebate so I could pay off my previous car and not be upside down in it. I miss my old car. But it was time to let her go, since it was pushing 100K miles and I could "feel" things were starting to go. Don't misunderstand, it's definitely nice to have a new car and I do love the techno-geeky stuff inside. And I'm sure I will love the much-improved gas mileage.

So, on to sewing. Yes, there HAS been some sewing going on here. Not much, so this isn't really gonna be a true sewcation, but any sewing is more than I've done lately.

No, I did not make this top. I bought this one at Walmart a few weeks ago for $5. And I would wear it every stinkin' day if I could. I love it that much. So, all previous sewing plans went by the wayside (yes, I still have that humungous stack of Hot Patterns gathering dust now) as I decided I *had* to recreate it so I could have another one since Walmart only had this one print.

It's a crossover with an all-around empire seam. The front has fold-over facings. There is gathering on the crossovers below the bust and slight gathering center front on both top and bottom. Not so much that it screams maternity. Just enough that it flows over the middle-aged lumps nicely.

The back neckline has a self-fabric turned-down binding as a facing.

So I started digging through the pattern stash for an exact replica. Yeah, I didn't find one. Why is it with hundreds of patterns, we NEVER have the exact thing we want?

Kwik Sew 2694 was the closest.

I last made this almost TEN YEARS AGO. OMG time flies.(Speaking of which, Tuesday was the 1st anniversary of The Day Which Shall Not Be Mentioned. How can I be a year even older now? But it was a good day, spent in St. Augustine with my 3 sons. Yes, 3. My stepson is the one who lives in St. A. Tyler drove down for a long weekend with him. Alex went over Saturday and I joined them all on Tuesday.)

This is the photo from my 2004 review, in which I noted that the armholes were too low/wide. But the underbust seam was hitting at the right place so I thought this would be a good start for a morph. And guess what? I still have the tee so I could actually try it on again. I really don't know why I still have it since I don't think I've worn it since 2004. But sometimes the universe works these things out for you.

So I took out the KS pieces and laid them on my Ottobre TNT pieces and came up with new pieces. Mainly, it was using the Otto armholes/sleeves on the general shape of the KS front. Which I then slash/spread to create the underbust gathers like the Walmart top. I added a fold-on facing to the top section and some additional CF width to the bottom piece. None of this was scientific. I just eyeballed it all. I also decided the empire seam on the back did nothing and wouldn't show in a print anyway, so I just used the Otto back piece as-is, except for widening the shoulders inward toward the neck to match the front of the KS/Otto morph, which meant I re-traced that piece too.

And the finished result? Perfect! It fits JUST LIKE the Walmart top, which in this case, is a really good thing.

Here's a close-up of the gathering.

And the insides. Where, if you're paying attention, you can see that I "fixed" the wrap to be right over left, as it should be. The Walmart top actually crosses left over right. But I never even noticed that until today. Proving that we're a lot less picky about RTW than our own makes. Remember that!

Here's the back, sans empire seam. Which will never be missed, and saved a few steps in pattern morphing and construction.

I still need to coverstitch the hems. The bottom "hem" you see here is merely glued up and waiting for me to change threads on the CS machine, which I'll do after I post this so I can finish the top.

Next up, another morph. A skirt from a mix of the Magic Pencil and Neue Mode. I wear the black Neue Mode skirt ALL the time and it's time for YABS (yet another brown skirt). I won't count them if you won't. ;-)