Stenciling is My New Thing!!

Okay, I know I'm suppose to be sewing, and yes my fabric did arrive from Fabric.com minus the Navy Boucle fabric and the Steel Chiffon(You know I wasn't happy about that). They were sold out of the boucle and sent the wrong item for the chiffon. Oh, well, what's a girl to do? I order the cotton faille in dark navy blue and a couple of other pieces of which I then receive an email today, and they tell me that the designer woven jacquard circles in green is also now not available. I am not even going to touch this subject right now. Especially since they are now not allowing you to make substitutions. You have to place a new order.

I cut the pattern pieces out to do the muslin of my skirt, but I haven't worked on it.

Today's another day and hopefully I'll feel motivated to do something tonight.

Now, I wasn't all that lazy last night. Recently I've been interested in trying my hand at fabric painting. I purchased some fabric paint cans to try spray painting, I have some puff paint to do the 3-D stuff, and I also picked up some regular old fashion fabric paint. I decided to try that first. Since I didn't know what I was doing, I purchased a cheap long sleeve t-shirt, a couple of stencils, and I had a few stamps on hand and this is what I came up with. Except for a couple of very light smudges, it didn't turned out too bad. I think there will be more painting in my future, plus I want to make my own stencils. My husband saw this, and he already told me he's got plans for me and a few of his shirts.

Have any of you tried something new, and/or want to try something new in the crafting department? Let me hear it?

I've Been A Bad Girl!!!!

and I owe it all to Rachel. I put myself on a fabric diet until May, and I couldn't resist buying fabric from the Vera Wang Collection over at Fabric.com. I mean come on, $1.95 a yard? That was temptation at it's best. I did give myself a limit, and I couldn't go over $40. I just made it, as my order came to $37.98. I got a total of 17 yards from the collection and another 2.5 yards of a Stretch Matte Jersey Knit in Tomatoe which cost $1.93 per yard. This top I think will be for another Vogue 8597, but my version. I checked out the sweater material I had this past weekend, and found that it wasn't enough fabric to make the sweater, so right now I have another piece in my stash in mind, but I have to check the yardage. This one here, might be a present, not sure yet. Here's what I purchased from the collection:

5 yards of Polyester Boucle Suiting in Navy. Sorry this picture is so small, but the bigger picture of this fabric was taken off the fabric.com sight before I could capture it. Anyway, I have this designated for a Suit. I'm just not sure which one yet.


3 yards of Printed Brocade Floral Lavender/Black. This will be for a dress, I think.


2 yards of Printed Brocade Floral Amber. I have this in mind for a cute knee length skirt.


3 yards of Satin Twill Chartreuse. I'm thinking of making that popular tunic/dress from Burda 1-2010-128. I figure if it doesn't work out, or I don't like it, I can turn it into a nice blouse.

2 yards of Polyester Chiffon Steel. I'm interested in making some ruffled flowers and maybe a layered scarf for the Spring. Something with Cream Chiffon, Tulle and pearl beading. We'll see.



2 yards of Techno Taffeta Navy. This piece will be for a matching blouse for the Polyester Boucle.


I didn't get any sewing done this weekend, but I did manage to do some crocheting for a friend. She's trying to raise some money for the drama group that she's involved with, so I told her that I would donate a few items for them to raffle off the night of their fundraiser. I'll blog about that later as it's coming up early next month.

Did anyone catch the Golden Globes last night? I didn't watch it, but I did make sure I checked out what the girls were wearing today. Here are a few of my favorites.

I'm trying to decide what my next sewing project is going to be. Right now I'm thinking about replicating this baby. I figure I can accomplish that with Butterick 5421and a few minor adjustment/alterations. I also might try my hand at Vogue 1053, but I'm not sure yet. I'm afraid I think.

Vogue 8597 #1

One down, one more to go. Please excuse the hair!!!

Hanging with the Cowls

Last weekend I was blog surfing and saw Meli88a's cowl neck sweater and thought to myself, I like that and want one. She made her's using a pattern from 2005 Burda issue. I started searching the Big 4s and found Vogue 8597. I figured with a few minor adjustments to the cowl part, it could work. Vogue and McCall patterns were on sale two weekends ago at JoAnns. So you know I drove over there and picked up the pattern right away. I decided to try View A. In drawing out the pattern pieces Sunday night I lengthened the cowl part by about 15 inches, and gradually widened the cowl by about 3 to 3 1/2 inches. I'm hoping this will give me the the depth and length that I'm hoping for. In checking out PR for the pattern, I came across Violet's version and her inspiration. I was hoping to get more done this past weekend, but, as we all know, life sometimes gets in the way of our crafting, plus, I've been having a hard time with my sinuses the past 2 weeks. I'm using a matte t-shirt jersey I picked up at JoAnn's for my muslin, and for the actual sweater I'm going to use this lovely sweater fabric that I picked up at Jomar's last month on my little excursion with Karen. I cut the fabric out this morning for the muslin before getting ready for work this morning. I'm hoping to sew tonight, if I'm not too tired when I get home.

Back in the beginning of November Knit Picks had asked me to so some knitting for them, and I received my new Jan/Feb catalog yesterday. I was flipping through the pages and a big grin came across my face when I saw the Stained Glass Hat and Mittens I knit for them. It's from the book All New Homespun Handknits by Amy Clarke Moore. I loved making this hat set, but of course I had to give them to their rightful owner. Now I have to put this pattern on my list, to make a set for myself .

Yesterday I finished up the final hat that I needed to make for my bass player. I gave it to him last night at practice. Let's just say he was a happy camper. He requested the Jamaican colors for his hat.

I have to send a big shout out and THANK YOU to Adrienne. Back in June she posted about the Suave Giveaway and I went over to Suave and signed up. Last night when I got home from work, this was in the mail. I can't wait to try this out. It smells wonderful.

Hopefully, I'll have pics of my cowl neck blouse tomorrow, but for now here I am last Thursday night at the yarn shop wearing my Deep V-Neck Sweater With Collar.

First FO of the Year !!!!

So, I hope you all had a wonderful and uneventful but crafty weekend. It is so cold here. Let me tell you, layering right now is a must. Right now it's 31 degrees and it's suppose to go down to 23 tonight.

Last weekend I was browsing through JoAnn's and I came across this awesome crochet book Contemporary Crochet: 37 European Designs, by Sys Fredens. I had to have it. I don't think there is one design in this book that I don't like, and everything is pretty basic. On Monday, I started my first crochet sweater ever(I have done a tank top before), and finished it yesterday. I guess you can call it my rollover sweater. It's the Deep V-Neck Sweater With Collar. I love how this sweater turned out, and I love the colorway of this yarn. I also love that I got it done in a week. The yarn is Jo-Ann Sensations Rainbow Boucle. I purchased it on sale for a whopping $5.99 on sale last weekend. Now I just need to weave in the ends and find a cute matching tank top to wear with it. If you are new to crochet, this book is definitely a winner if you want to get your feet wet. Here are a few of the other designs.The Lovely and talented Ms. Faye awarded me To accept the award, I need to list 10 things about myself and then award it to 7 other bloggers.

1. I grew up an only child.

2. My parents divorced when I was 25 after 29 years of marriage.

3. Most people automatically think that I'm spoiled, but my parents always made sure that I worked for everything that I received. They also taught me that as long as I had money, I could purchase whatever I wanted.

4. I love doing outdoor activities like hiking/trail walking, biking, swimming, etc.

5. I have a dream of one day having a wardrobe of my own handmade creations.

6. I need to be more goal oriented. I start things, but I don't always finish them.

7. I would like to travel more.

8. I would love to read at least 50 books this year.

9. I would like to sew/knit/crochet mainly from my stash this year. I have entirely too much fabric, and yarn.

10. I'm outgoing, but a real home body at heart.

The 7 women I'm going to nominate are:

Sheila
Rachelle
Rachel
Elaina
Karen
Robin
Marissa

Holiday Highlights and My Year in Review

I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful holiday season. I know I am. I didn't get a chance to finish all my sewing projects, but I'm still working on them. I was able to finish 8 turn-a-square hats, and they were well received by my band mates and my BIL. I also got two of the bathrobes done.

My girlfriend loved hers, and so did my mom. Here's a picture of my mom's.Sorry I was rushing out the door for work, and this is pre-iron/steaming. I didn't get the night gowns done for my MIL, but I did make a handbag for her. Sorry, no pics on this one. I forgot. I gave Mr. D his boxer shorts and he loved them. I plan on cutting out the Hefner robe hopefully by next weekend.

I didn't ask for much this Christmas, but on the craftier side, Mr. D gave me an organizer with trays to either hold buttons, beads, etc.. My mom gave me the rolling tote that I previously blogged about, so that I can travel with at least one of my sewing machines. Have bag, will travel.

I had a chance to sit down this week and reflect on this past year and review the goals that I had set for myself. Overall the year was good. We had a few scary moments in the past few months, but we were able to get through them, and so far, everyone is doing very well. My MIL's aneurysm is shrinking so the doctors are waiting to shoot the coils in. My mother is now home, she had one last test a couple of weeks ago, and she does not have to get a defibrillator installed for her heart.

In reviewing my goals for 2009 , I found that I didn't do too bad:

1. Organize and catalog my knitting stash. I didn't do this, but everything is in containers.
2. Organize and catalog my sewing stash. I started this, but it's not done.

3. Design more with a structured purpose. I want to see if I can come up with a collection and in a timely manner according to the seasons. I did start a few new knitting designs (3 in fact. I finished one, but haven't written a pattern for it yet) during the course of the year, but they are not finished yet. I also started working on a crochet collection about a month ago and so far, I am loving the creative process, and I love what I am seeing. I want to design something every month or every other month, experiment with yarn more. I guess I've experimented, but I sure didn't do it every month.
4. Sew more. I did do this. Challenge myself by making a whole wardrobe. I have not done this YET, but I'm working on it. Learn new techniques. I learned french seams and buttonholes, I also started working with leather (stay tuned). I purchased a Serger this past year, and love it. I also designed my first garment, even though I used pattern pieces from different patterns to accomplish the design. I don't want to be afraid of trying something new. I want to try a BWOF pattern. I only have like 4 of the magazines. I actually have a subscription now. I made 2 BWOF patterns. I plan on doing more.

I never posted this picture, but I did try my hand at draping and shirring even though the project was simple. This baby got a lot of wear during the summer.



5. Educate myself more in knitting and sewing. Go on design excursions, maybe take a class in sewing. Visit NY. Read more again.There weren't any local classes for me to take, unless I actually signed up for some college courses. I have purchased quite a few new books which I plan on getting into in the next year. There are so many techniques that I have to learn. I did go to NY for PR Day, and got to hang with an amazing group of people.
6. Workout. Drop 1 more dress size. YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH, this did not happen. I did workout a little.

7. Start spinning again. I did start this, but I still would like to do this more.

8. Cook more. Have fun in the kitchen. The early part of the year was a bust on this one, but in the last month, I've been in the kitchen, and enjoying it. I cook for my mom now, and my husband are experimenting on the vegetarian thing so, food had been very interesting in our house.

For 2010, I want to keep it a little simple and easy.

1. With the scares that we've had in our family, My #1 focus I think will be family. They have to be cherished, there just isn't enough hours in the day.

2. I need to carve out some free time for me, and then everyone else.

3. Create, Create, Create

4. Educate, Educate, and then Create some more.

5. Get my sewing, knitting, and crochet on. Sew a little more for my family. I think I did pretty good this year.

6. In General Read More. I did pretty good this past year, but I know I can do better.

On an end note, I just received this picture

in the mail from Mr. D's cousin. Back in March, I made this outfit for Baby S. Isn't she beautiful.

I want to thank all of you for stopping by this past year. You have given me inspiration and friendships that I never dreamed of, and your advice has been very helpful. Thank you.

I wish all of you a Wonderful, Happy and Prosperous New Year. May it be filled with love, family and many days, nights and weekends of crafting. Walk on Motivate and Creative!!

Weekend Plans and a New Book!!

First of all, I want to thank all of you for all the lovely comments you left me about my gown. I had fun making it. I'm just glad it turned out nicely. There's always that feeling of nerves when I make something for the first time, and there are a few unknown issues involved. Like, never working with this type of fabric before, no info on the pattern, and I wasn't too clear on the pattern sizing.

So, the holiday season is definitely in full swing and Christmas is only like what, 6 days away? I'm almost ready. I have quite a bit more sewing to do. I'm hoping that I can accomplish quite a bit between tomorrow afternoon and Sunday. We're suppose to get a snow storm this weekend. They're calling for 8 to 12 inches. I'm planning to take advantage of that if I can. I figure I can get the errands out of the way first (if I can get out), and then put myself on lock down for the duration of the weekend. I finished my girlfriend's robe last night. I just have to tack the collar down. I almost had a crisis, with the collar, but I was able to salvage everything without a problem. The original robe only went to the knee and I knew that she would want it longer so I added 3 inches to the length of the robe. This robe doesn't have a collar just a band that goes around the robe. Well, when I cut the band out, I forgot to add the 3 inches to it. Hence, the robe was longer than the band.

I went to sleep Wednesday night thinking I'd have to make another stop at JoAnn's since I didn't have enough material to cut another band. Yesterday I woke up with the light bulb turned on. The original band for the pattern has a seam at the back of the neck, but the back of the robe is seamless. I cut the original band open cutting off the seam I had sewn and added another piece of material making it long enough matching the 2 new seams at the shoulder seams where the sleeves were sewn in. Sorry, I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I can tell you that I think it's really pretty and I like it much better than what the pattern had me doing. Next up is my mother's robe, then I have to cut my MIL night gowns out and put them together. Mr. D will be last because he's in the house and I have time. He already knows he's getting it.

Last week I purchased Design It Yourself Clothes, Patternmaking Simplified. I just started reading it, and all I can tell you is that this book is fantastic. I've only read a few pages but it's got me hooked. After the new year, I have plans with this book, another book of mine, paper, pencil and a few rulers. I can't wait. If you'd like a more in depth review, check out Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S Patterns review.

Have a great weekend, and please, stay warm. It's 28 degrees here right now.

Channeling my inner Diva!!

Last night my band had to work a country club holiday party. Man was it a partying crowd. I know I'm suppose to be working on some bathrobes right night and the patterns are cut out, I just have to cut the fabric. Anyway, I couldn't find anything in the store that I really liked so I made a pit stop at JoAnns Friday night and picked up some velour fabric. I already had a few patterns in my stash so I decided to go from there. I went with Vogue 8358. I was able to cut and sew the gown up yesterday before the party. This pattern is pretty straight forward and works up pretty fast. This was my first time working with velour and it won't be my last. It is a very forgiving fabric and it is so comfortable and warm fabric to wear. I made a shrug to wear with it to cover up my back as it's only about 30 degrees here, and I've been freezing my butt off. Also, I need to work out. But the back does look like the photo. All in all, I would definitely make this dress again. Well, gotta go for now, I have some sewing, laundry and cooking to do. By the way, does anyone watch Glee. I love that show.

Butterick 5035 and NL 6922

Over the weekend I got a little bit of sewing done. I have now completed all my tops for MOT. I originally said that I would make 4 tops, but I did complete a 5th one. These 2 patterns were not the original patterns I had picked out, but hey, we're entitled to change our minds right? First up is #4. I had a club gig over the weekend and literally decided to make a top to wear that night an hour before I had to get ready. I chose Butterick 5035 as the pattern said you could make it in an hour. They weren't lying. It took me an hour and a half but that included cutting the pattern out so I thought that was pretty good. I did View A. The fabric was actually from my very first purchase from Fabric.com about a year ago. I remember when I bought it, I wasn't crazy about it, but thought I'd hang on to it. You never know when you might find a use for it. I'm glad I did. I love the top.

Top #5 is from NL6922, View D. This baby I worked on last night, and it also came together pretty quickly. I didn't follow the pattern directions. I lengthened the sleeves as I didn't want 3/4 sleeves. I also attached the neckline flat. Faye, who got the idea from Karen did this for one of her tops during the sew-a-long and I decided to also try it. If you've never tried this technique before, give it a try, you will not be disappointed.

That's pretty much it for me today as I have a lot of work to go and do. Before I go, I would like to thank Faye and all the lovely ladies who participated in this sew-a-long. I now have 5 new blouses which have added to my wardrobe, and I feel motivated in the sewing department. Now, to get to that holiday sewing.