" I will not make my Mother of the Bride dress this time. The last experience was entirely too stressful." Dear Readers, I took time off from book writing to fulfill a dream on the bucket list. Hubby and I met a large group (stemming from my childhood friends) in Tuscany where we rented two villas. The entire trip was heavenly and filled with memorable adventures, great food and beautiful scenery at every juncture...
Dear Wonderful Readers, Like I said last week, I've probably missed you more than you've missed me...
Dear Readers, Susan Khalje's generous giveaway offer brought in a whopping 532 entries! I was truly moved to read your kind comments, and please know I read each and every one. I wish all of you could win the fabulous French Jacket Class. To the 531 readers who did not win the giveaway prize, I emphatically state that investing in a Susan Khalje class - in person or by video, is money well spent if feasible. My package arrived yesterday and I plan to make a jacket this fall - maybe a suit to wear to one of Mimi's upcoming wedding events in January Susan Khalje, more...
Are you still there? I hope so because I have a fabulous giveaway to announce - Susan Khalje is generously donating her newly released French Jacket Video class to one lucky winner! It's true! Susan brings her lifetime of experience in to this video course, offering advice that you cannot get anywhere else. Included in the package are: A Custom Jacket Pattern Designed by Susan Khalje Sent Directly to Your Doorstep Instant Access to Full Length Step-by-Step Instructions High Definition Streaming Video on Multiple Platforms and Devices Instructions are provided for a patterned and a solid jacket in two different courses providing thorough and careful instruction to learn at your own...
"Why don't you wear something you made?" Was Hub's comment a compliment or criticism? "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" "It's just so drab." "We're going to a funeral visitation...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA! You survived another year, and I made a new dress to celebrate! One of the things I look for when shopping online are fabrics that will work well together, and I had no doubts about these off-white and navy Celtic inspired stretch cotton poplins. from Mood Fabrics. Cotton poplin with the addition of spandex is a dream come true for casual Summer sewing! Crisp, lightweight and minimal wrinkling - what more can I want? Using my own pattern I sewed the bodice with the navy background poplin saving the reverse fabric for the collar, placket and lower band. I generally make lower bands similar...
Blogging has expanded my life unlike any other undertaking due to the many connections I've made - real life and virtual. Goodbye Valentino links to nearly two hundred sewing blogs through the Mood Sewing Network, the RTW Fasters' Page, the BurdaStyle 2014 Bloggers, and now my new Blogroll located at the top of the page. In addition to filling in the gaps with a new Blogroll, I'm writing today to introduce you to two bloggers - one very new, and one new to me ;) Maybe you already read Featherstitch Avenue. If not, read it. The blog was created in February 2015 by Tracey Hogan, one of my...
During the last ten days I've been on a learning curve, the crux being: Like it or not PDF patterns are here to stay, and I better get on board before I'm left behind! No, I haven't lost weight. I downloaded Grainline Studio's Maritime's Shorts pattern and this was my result. I've sewn four different PDF patterns with mediocre to moderately acceptable success. Being inept disturbs me, so instead of moving on I committed myself to addressing my ongoing PDF issues. I knew it was me not the PDFs ;) Fortunately, my commitment eventually led to a successful result. To date I've learned: It is absolutely...
Do you know that the one color you should never wear for a job interview is...
Maybe you read Pamela Druckerman's New York Times Op Ed on Sunday. It's a synopsis of the commencement speech she gave to students graduating from the Paris College of Art, an American art and design school in France. By the time I reached the end of the column I felt it was written just for sewists and sewing bloggers - especially the paragraph that states it's ok to be obsessive. Druckerman quotes comedian Louis C.K. who says "Anything you do should be better than anything you did before." That statement might have been a joke, but ...