neeexxxt....

I've been digging around, trying to find a project. I'm out of sorts this week. I have the blahs...


So I'm thinking an easy, comfy (yet stylish, snap!) garment is due for a run. Like this Hotpattterns, the Classic Nouveau Uptown/Downtown Knit Dress.


I have a soft, soft green beefy knit, a gift from the fabulous Julia, that will be perfect! I think a little mindless tracing is just what the sewing doctor ordered to brighten my week.

And a song on my playlist right now...

Brandi Carlile - The Story

link via youtube

homeskillet.

So, I'm a non-existent blogger this week, huh? That's because I've been on tour.

Just doing some rapping, yo.

(Oh, didn't you know? That's what I teach in high school. Appropriate hat tilt.)

Just kidding! This past week was our senior's last, so it was a bit of an emotional roller coaster (it always is. They make me NUTS the last month, but on the last day I just want to smoosh them all together and cry like a baby.)

To recover, me & my posse went to see this last night:


Soooo cute. I love me some RomCom. (And as StickGirl put it, I do have a thing for the British guys.)

Sure, it's a fairly predictable romantic storyline, with beautiful people and amazing scenery (AMAZING scenery). I really enjoyed the unexpected dry humor sprinkled throughout. I laughed out loud several times.

Amanda Seyfried is beyond adorable and the amazing Vanessa Redgrave is gorgeous!

(Oh, and Christopher Egan is a hottie. )

Perfect rainy weekend movie outing with the girls!

I might actually get something done this week to blog about... I need some new late spring/early summer clothes, that's for sure! I'm sick of everything in my closet. Maybe I'll drag out some BWOF/BS and peruse.

Happy Sunday!

glee squee.

Last night's episode was awesome! And if you aren't watching...WHY???

And can I just say I'm most definitely Team Puck? Boy needs more air time.


Last night we had covers of Brandy, Sinatra, Rick Springfield, Gypsy...and that's just what I can remember off the top of my head! (You gotta appreciate the no holds barred, nothing's off limits variety of the music choices!)

I keep thinking they can't get any better. And then I find out next week's episode is directed by Joss Whedon. JOSS WHEDON!!! Woot!!

Whedonesque Glee. I'm fairly glee-ful right now.

Simplicity 3849 - Jr's

A project for Lu this weekend, a pair of capri's from this Simplicity Jr. Trend pattern:


I made view B without the cuff/tab in a stretch denim. The denim has a woven stripe, and is pretty darn stretchy. I'm afraid they'll outgrow Lu after she wears them an hour or two! Excuse the wrinkly legs...I should have pressed them again before taking pictures!


Lu got to pick out a fabric for the pocket tab facings, waist facings, and fly. She chose a cute lime Sis Boom quilting cotton. I'm sadly almost out of this now. I've been hoarding it! The fly & waist:


And the faux pocket flaps are also lined in the green print:


I used a denim button/nail for the closing, and I skipped any extra topstitching. Mainly because Lu isn't a fan of wearing handmade items just now, and I'm not positive she'll wear these (even though she asked for them and helped pick out fabrics). No sense in spending valuable sewing time topstitching a garment that will never see the light of day!


They are somewhat looser fitting than the cover photo would have you believe. The legs are quite wide. I cut the size that matched her hip measurement, and ended up taking them in about 1/2" at the side seams, but they're still somewhat loose. They're also meant to be worn 1-1/2" below the waist, which if you have a booty (Lu does) doesn't leave a lot of room in back. I should have raised the back waist a bit, and will if I make them again. We'll just wait and see if these get worn first!

While I was in the back yard photographing the peach tree again, I snapped a shot of Lu's little garden. She has tomato plants and lettuce (and squash, but no sign of that yet):


And I was very excited today to discover my wisteria is blooming!! It didn't last year and I was afraid the ice storms had killed it. It's so high up in a tree right now, I almost missed it! There were a few branches low enough I could snip some blooms and bring them in the house though. It smells SOOO good. (Unfortunately I'm allergic, so I suffer for having it in a vase. I keep it in another room, haha.)


And my red roses are blooming. A few of these were snipped and joined the wisteria in the vase.



The sun went down while I was out with the camera, making a pretty spectacle of my field...


I didn't get out much this weekend, I've been under the weather (and still feel a little crappy to tell you the truth.) But it was a good Mom's Day, and I enjoyed the pretty (if cool) weather. I hope all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day too!

Colette Sencha pt 3 - finished!

My Sencha blouse is finally finished! I made the keyhole neck version.


The fit is wonderful in the front, with nearly no alterations. I cut out the 14 through the neck & shoulders and the 18 at the side seams. I don't know if I mentioned in the previous post that the armhole was a little snug, but I had to drop that about 1/2". I love the cut-on cap sleeves though!

Here's headless me:


I like how the darts make it more fitted through the torso. There are lots of opportunities to customize the fit through there too.

Here's a closer view of the keyhole. I also edgestitched the neckline. The pattern calls for understitching, but the keyhole makes that a real mess to try & do neatly. I went with a good pressing & an edgestitch instead.


The back facing & placket have a boo-boo in the pattern. The instructions are correct, they say to turn back 1/4" and stitch, but the diagram/illustration that is paired with that instruction show the neck & hem seam allowances pressed under (so that they are caught under this line of stitching). But in the next direction, you are to turn back the placket on itself (RST) to stitch along the seam line and create a neat finish at the hem & neck. But to do that you need those seam allowances free! I don't remember reading this particular glitch anywhere, and perhaps this is an errata that is on their website. I honestly didn't think to check.

In any case, it was a simple bit of seam ripping and re-stitching and the back turned out perfectly. I used shell buttons on the back.


And one more shot of moi, no head. Sorry, haven't fixed my hair!


Here's my friend the peach tree, where I take nearly all my close up shots! Look! Itty bitty peaches!