BWOF 10-2008-114

Ok before you get all impressed that I made 2 garments in 2 days...remember that I started this top a couple of weeks ago. I have just really procrastinated the finish line on this one!

Before I bitch & moan about the trials I suffered while making this top, why don't I just show you a pretty picture of the finished product:


Actually, on viewing the finished product I have a lot less to B&M about. Still, since I love you so much and want to be entirely truthful, I'll come clean. Firstly you might have noted the DEEEEP V. I don't remember seeing this on other reviewers or bloggers' tops. This is most definitely a size or so too big. Or I made a massive tracing error somewhere along the way. I fixed most of the bad, and so now it's very wearable.

My fabric was only 48" wide, which wasn't wide enough to cut the back on the fold, or the fronts for that matter. I had to finagle the fabric to fit all the pieces, and ended up making a seam in the CF & CB lower bodices. You can't even tell, so it turned out fine. I also skipped the darts in back (not on purpose. I just forgot!)

I didn't bind the neckline, but rather turned under & topstitched with my twin needle. My twin needle hemmed everything in fact!

I started out not loving this top, because I wanted a closer fit in the top bodice, but ended up really appreciating it for what it is. And I've already removed the little tab in front. I machine stitched it and it just looks sloppy (and crooked in this pic, although it wasn't that crooked.) I'm going to hand stitch it and see if I get better results.

No more pics of the top (it's COLD and RAINY here!) but I do have pics of another gift! It's my sister's birthday this weekend, so I used the Criss Cross Coasters pattern from JennyB at Allsorts for some crafty goodness:


They were a fast & easy gift, especially considering I used Charm Packs rather than cutting my own fabrics for the squares! This Charm Pack is "Pampered Pooch" and I want to say it's by Moda, but I've already tossed the label. More pics below!

Coasters tied up with a pretty bow:


The coaster backs:


Close up of the fronts:


And that's it for me today! I had a "Me" day today, but it's back to school tomorrow. Big sigh.

Song for a Rainy Day

BWOF 09-07-121

This was a quick & relatively simple project from the September 2007 issue of BWOF. Here's the line drawing.
I like the pleats that are a bit asymmetrical and the tulip-y skirt. And that it's a knit pattern! I used the black poly/rayon doubleknit I picked up yesterday. Here's the finished jumper on the dressform with a red cami under it.

Note that the waistband in real life dips up rather than straight across like the line drawing. The pattern actually dips up a little, like a reverse shaped waistband. I still like it, although it is more pronounced on me since I'm a bit more well-endowed than Edith the dressform (ahem.)

I did a small FBA to the pattern and rotated most of the dart into the pleats in front, then eased the rest at the side seam. The front necklines are cut out on the fold, which is interesting. I ended up with a bit of gaposis too that I couldn't quite get rid of. It's not really noticeable, at least not more so than on the boobless model in the BWOF fashion spread. So I guess I'm Ok. Here's a close up of the front:


Speaking of well-endowed....my bum is much more pronounced than Edith's. As a result, these cute pleats in the back skirt don't look quite like this on me:


In fact, they look downright horrendous on me. Sort of like I need a gigantic swayback adjustment (an alteration I don't do as a rule). So I made the executive decision to baste them down and I like them a lot better that way, and I'll be stitching them permanently down in back.

I'll probably also be stitching down the outer pleats in front. The inner pleats lay fine, but the outer pleats are just wonky (for lack of a better word!) I don't take comfort in the fact they look just as wonky & out of control in the magazine...I want them to look nice & orderly like the line drawing! You can't really tell anything from this shot of the skirt, except that Edith has an amazingly flat stomach. Heifer.


Yellow Cat helped with the photoshoot in the backyard. Mostly she looked up my skirt. Naughty kitty.


And I didn't waste the day on just one project...I actually started Christmas sewing! Here's a freestanding lace dove ornament from Ace Points Embroidery. I'll add it to my stash of Teacher/Sunday School teacher/Other quickie gifts. I might bling it up with some hotfix crystals, although it is really pretty just like this.


Just a tidbit...I have a thing for birds. Painted, stuffed, applique, lace...I love them. And in what can only be described as a bit of fate, yesterday while shopping I picked up a framed print for $20 with one of my favorite quotes on it:

Hope is the thing with feathers,
that perches in the soul...

--Emily Dickinson

All righty, I'm off to apply more burn cream to the really nasty steam burn I gave myself this afternoon. My right ring finger is in sad shape!

Listening to THIS

goodies.

I ♥ you all.

Today, I had a little retail therapy. It's been a while since I hit the fabric stores & pattern sales. Although I started out looking for Christmas present-makings...I ended up buying stuff for me. ALL of its for me, in fact. Oops.

Buttericks & Vogues were on sale at Hancocks! I limited myself to two each, because really...I have PLENTY of patterns in stash! I am lacking some jackets though, so I chose Vogue 8547 because I love the cool retro-vibe of the jacket. The pants look like a keeper too, I'm interested in trying these!

I also picked up Vogue 8305, another wardrobe. I really want this wrap around, multi-wearable jacket/cardigan thing. Of course I couldn't find a decent grey interlock anywhere today. I did get some black, so maybe it will be black or a color would be nice too. Don't you want one of these for your next plane trip? I'm liking the tee in this package too.


There's enough 80's girl rocker in me to appreciate Butterick 5247. For 99 c (and 1 hour!) I couldn't resist.

Last pattern is Butterick 5104 , again for the jacket. I LOVE the cropped jacket length, the sleeves, the invisible closures. I'm all over this jacket. I even picked up some black & cream houndstooth check to recreate it. The coat is pretty nice too, and the package includes a raglan sleeve tee/dress.


What's a fabric shopping trip without fabric? I picked up these really great finds: A black & cream houndstooth, and a taupe/grey/cream/pink Burberry-esque plaid:


and a black with red windowpane check (this one is a nice doubleknit) & black interlock:


a fabulous shirting with 2% lycra, in dark red & white stripe, with a single navy thread. This is a really closeup view. The stripes are only about 1/16". Won't this be fabulous as a tailored shirt with white cuffs & collar??


And even though I talked all about the jackets and the fabrics for the jackets...I'm most interested in the black & red doubleknit, for this jumper in BWOF 9/2007:
And since I'm trying to strike while the iron is hot, I'm off to trace!

Listening to THIS while I trace

proportion.

Do you ever think about your heart in terms of how full it can get? Or how empty? There have been times when I thought my heart would overflow...like when I look upon this face...


or this one...


or when I watch a sunset like this...


or gaze up at a star filled night...


And then sometimes I wonder if my ticker is defective.


But it cares so much for people, people like:

Debbie, and her wonderful relationship with her boys, her adorable dogs, her yummy producing breadmaker.

Sherrill and her teacher stories that I can so relate to, her twin sister stories, her quest for the perfect pants.

Dawn, and her adorable, enviable relationship with her husband.

Shannon, her gorgeous retro wardrobe, and her scifi geeky ways (a kindred spirit!)

Amanda, her perfectly finished clothes and beautiful smile.

Heidi, her amazing creativity and her generous spirit.

The Lexinator, and how her mama always has a story of how she pee'd on the counter, or in a puddle in the kitchen.

And my other Shannon, and how she shares the princess, and the unfailing friendship & support she always gives freely.

But sometimes, sometimes. Sometimes a little empty spot opens up, and it gives me pause. And I wonder...do I care so much because my heart is not part of a matched set (thus otherwise uninvolved)?

Maybe I'm not normal. But then, maybe normal is overrated.

Not gonna lie. People disappoint me now and again. But I try to keep it all in perspective, and know that not everyone is going to care in quite the same fashion. Not everyone has time, or you know, maybe not everyone has room left. Maybe their ticker has a No Vacancy sign out.


And sometimes. Sometimes you wait five years for something, and when you get it...it isn't what you thought it would be at all. And then five weeks later you're here.

And if you're me...you still leave the light on.

a song for any day

voted.

Song of the Day