2011 Resolutions

Peace People!


I have some resolutions for this blog…

The main one is to be more ‘bout it ‘bout it regarding posting. It’s going to get better.

I am not really all that great with pic posting. I know this. And since I’m always in elevation mode I need to get my intentions and actions in line with my philosophy.

I am going to just blog more of my work. There are things I have been working on that I just haven’t posted.

I’m going to post more “What I Wore Today”s. I want people to see that even when you have a personal philosophy of modesty, you can and SHOULD still be fly.

I have updated my profile Paternreview.com. I listed this address as my website so I gotta handle my business.

I am going to enter one of their (PR) contests.

I am going to do give aways as soon as I have a decent following.

I am going to represent better for my beloved Nation. Not in a ridiculously obvious fashion. But in a normal presentation. I don’t need to be the female poster-Earth. But I want to make knowledge born on my own level. This is what I do… 14:14!

I think that’s enough for now. I’m certain I will be adding and deleting later.


Happy Gregorian New Year



Peace

Not much going on outside my head.....

Peace

For some reason, I have been frantically planning my spring 2011 collection. I have no idea why. I’m not done with my fall 2010 stuff yet. I’m not going to look a gift mojo in the mouth.

As it stands now, I will craft a neutral collection featuring white and beige. I like that. I have no idea where and why such strong inspiration comes from, but I’m going with it. With such a neutral wardrobe, one can pop it here and there with colorful additions. Also, I have beige and white purses and shoes. So that leaves me needing accessories like… belts and maybe jewelry. That frees me up too. I can focus on the clothes and maybe start my acquisition of rose gold.

Damn! 2011 is GOING to be my year!

I have decided on the date of March 1st to begin spring/summer sewing. Here in Atlanta, it that’s when it will start to get warm. So that gives me time for find everything I need to be completely fabulous. One of my favorite fabric stores closed down. Phoey! But to be perfectly honest, I could never depend on them anyway. They were mostly upholstery fabrics and occasional cotton. It’s good they are gone. I can’t use them as a crutch anymore….. Time to branch out and look for another one. Maybe do the online thing. Maybe not.

I have been making crowns for the God. I want him to start wearing them on a regular basis. There is no reason why he shouldn’t. And I am going to make sure he has enough to match everything he could possibly wear. There is another reason for my newfound crown creating… I want to vend them. But not in an overt Nation way. I want to make them so that Gods feel comfortable wearing them daily. That’s my underlying determined idea. We shall see. Gods here don’t have direct access to crowns. They either have to wait until Show and Prove or order them online. Atlanta Gods can now have me custom make them crowns to match any ensemble. $15 a pop! Come and get them!

What is currently going on in my sewing room? I’m working on an EASY Vogue skirt. You can make this skirt in 1 maybe 2 hour sitting. But it’s taken me 2 weeks. The holidays have been busy for this Earth who doesn’t even celebrate. Oh well. I am still planning my denim shirt. And that’s really it.

What’s going on in my closet is I am getting more and more aggressive about moving towards my seasonless wardrobe. I have a lot of isht and it needs to go. I can’t stand looking at it. And I want to get a sofa and some mirrors in there. Things have to get tidier for that to happen. I find it ironic that I used to never have enough clothes and now I have too many. What a difference a decade can make.

TTFN!



Peace!!!!!

This Present History or Koran

Peace People,

I was building with this dude who came into the office today. He and I have history. Not romantic, but platonic. Last year he was a vegetarian for 3 months. You have to start somewhere. But he is a single man and it was hard for him to maintain, being a single and working all the time. Now he is back on his meat grind complete with the swine. He asked me how I managed to maintain so long and I had to laugh. If all I was a vegetarian then maybe I could see me having difficulty. I thought I should blog about it.

But then... Which blog to post it? The healthy blog? The righteous blog? The sewing blog? The socially responsible blog? All my blogs have different readers. So..... I'll hit y'all all up!

This is Serenity.... At this present history or Koran.

(1) I am a decade long vegetarian. I go in and out with veganism and raw food. I really don't think for me raw food is sustainable for long term consumption. I think it's better in the summer months than in the cooler ones. For one reason, I can't eat cold food in cold weather and vice versa. The way around that is in heated environments. I think I would like to be more raw and vegan, but cheese is a tricky dicky temptation. We shall see

(2) I don't wear pants. I stopped wearing pants 5 years ago. I felt like my feminine energy was being suppressed. I force myself to be more lady like by wearing skirts and dresses. And by George, it works. I am very lady like now. It has affected the way I walk and sit. That has in turn affected my mannerisms which in turn has affected my speech

(3) I rarely buy clothes new. I completed a year-long shopping fast, now I turn to the thrift store or better yet, my sewing machine for new clothes needs.

(4) I don't take medicine unless I see no other way, like I'd die without it. that extends to most vitamins. I rather get the nutrients through food or teas.

(5) I do most of my shopping for food at health food stores, farmers markets and specialty stores. Other stuff I need, I get from cheapo stores like Big lot or Maxway

(6) I recycle, re-use, and repurpose. So that means I don't buy plastic that I cannot reuse over and over and over and over.... I'm trying to do my part to save the planet. Not because I think the planet is incapable of saving herself, but people need to live in harmony with their surroundings and acknowledge that we have a responsibility to be good stewards of nature.

(7) I like to ball and have a balling cee on things. I can be that fabulous fly assed hippy Earth.

(8) No children. And I'm okay with that. If they come fine, if they don't that's fine too.

(9) I do yoga. Not as much as I'd like to because it's cold and I hate leaving the house when it's cold, but I'm going to get back there.

(10) I try not to wear anything but natural fibers. Everything else irritates my eczema. Unfortunately I have never seen a cotton bra. And I draw the line at making or thrifting lingerie. That gets store bought.

(11) I study all forms of spirituality. I really have a true affection for Hoodoo/Rootwork/Conjure. Since I'm righteous and don't fear retribution of a mystery god, I will do stuff just for fun. It's a hobby, I have been at if for years, months and days. You scared?

(12) My hair is loced. It took a minute for me to like it , but now I'm hooked and recommend it. Since I always wear a headwrap, I don't style it. I still love it though

(13) I really go all out with the 3/4ths thing. I rarely leave the house with out my head wrapped. If I do, it's by accident. Some chicks have asked to see my hair..... Why? Doesn't matter to me if your righteous or not, if your male or female.... I just don't show it. Eventually, my hair might be too long to keep from being wrapped fully. Wait on that day.

(14) I have a real bad temper. The dangerous part in that, is people think I'm a punk bitch. SMH. They usually try me and get more than they bargained for. I have no boundaries when fighting. I have been trying to reign it in since my father died. Daddy would never leave his baby girl to rot in jail. My mother, on the other hand, would.

(15) I used to smoke and drink. Not anymore. I stopped smoking because my father died from lung cancer. I stopped drinking because I didn't want to be drunk again. And I don't see the purpose of drinking if your not going to get your head smashed.

(16) I really get annoyed with people who say "I could be a vegetarian" or "I could be righteous." If you could be, and don't, clearly you can't. Stop claiming it.

(17) I'm a big girl and I'm not ashamed or apologetic. I'm big, Yes. But I bet I look better than the average thin chick on ANY given day.

(18) I suppose I'm conceited too. I don't care.

(19) I got this thing for vintage. Vintage clothes. Vintage recipes. Vintage activities. i have NO idea where this interest comes from and I'm just as shocked as folks around me.

(20) I won't buy a foreign car. New or old. I just can't bring myself to do it. I have had 4 cars in my adult life (1 in my adolescent life) and all of them were American made cars. It's just how I get down. And I have never had the drama folks put on American cars. Ain't like people who drive foreign cars never have problems with them. You have to car for them properly.

(21) I love my Nation so much! But I'm not a revolutionary. My cee on this Nation is it's a personal journey for each individual. I don't have to put myself out there and force folks to my side of the street. But I allow myself to be just visible enough for people to build with me if they choose. But I ain't running out to save the world.


I am a completely different person than I was 10 years ago. I expect to be a completely different person in 10 years so I'll be in the constant state of build and destroy. I'm actually looking forward to the new developments.



Peace

Not Every Day

Peace.

I have come to realize that a lot of pressure I put on myself when having to do with sewing comes from the flawed idea that I need to be sewing all the time. I don't. It's not paying any bills for me... yet.

While sharing Thanksgiving with my god sister, someone in attendance asked me if I had made my dress. I said yes. She then asked me if I made all of my own clothes. I thoughtfully replied, pretty much. And that's true. Before I move to purchase something, I seek to make it 1st. But even with that bit of truth on board, I don't see the need to be constantly sewing. I don't shop every day, consequently I don't sew every day. I don't need to.

When I read the blogs, these people seem tied to their sewing machines. They have excessive guilt if a day passes and they haven't sewn a stitch or bought a pattern or some fabric. And these folk aren't professional seamstresses. I don't sew like that. I didn't buy clothes like that. I bought what I needed when I needed it. Now I sew what I need when I need it. Seriously. The Thanksgiving dress got sewn the Wednesday before AFTER I got home from work. Apparently I do well under pressure. Because it's not like I could have run out and bought something to wear on the day if the dress didn't turn out well.

I do like to have something new to wear to the rallies each month. Simply because the 14:14 degree mentions sewing as a MGT function. That way I can show an prove in a public setting that I am living out this culture. But that's really it. That's 12 new outfits a year. Is that not enough? If I feel I need something that is when I get going. Otherwise, not so much.

So Now that the light is receding, I always focus on something new to learn in my down time. I'm thinking I'm going to only be posting projects like once a month. Since I'll only be sewing here and there. There is the skirt that I cut the pattern for last night, but that won't take long. It's only 2 pieces. There is the wrap jacket that I haven't figured out yet and there are still the denim dress that I haven't bought fabric for yet and the denim blouse. Those projects should hold me. I'm planning to wear the skirt to the December rally and the denim blouse to the January rally. Then my focus will be on spring. For some reason.... I have been contemplating my spring collection like I'm a designer. But that post will have to wait until then.

So ta ta for now.....



Plan
Each
Activity
Carefully
Everyone

Simplicity 2497

Peace Y'all!

Here is my thanksgiving frock. I cut it on Tuesday and sewed it up on Wednesday. A very easy dress to make and I love it. I Wore it on Thanksgiving and then I wore it again to the rally. I'm going to wash it and wear it again sometime this week.

Did it look like the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!

Fabric: 100% cotton with a bold assed floral print

Lining:
None

Were the instructions easy to follow?Yes and no. Once I understood the directions they were easy, but I didn't understand what I was supposed to be doing for like the 1st hour. But after that things went quick.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love this dress. the one thing I didn't like was, as a short, modest lady, the long version was too long and the shorter versions were too short. Easy to remedy though.

Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made:I cut the biggest size (20) but it still wasn't big enough. So I added 2 inches everywhere. And by everywhere I mean 2 on each shoulder, and 4 on the skirt. I lengthened the midriff band too.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?Yes and yes.

Simplicity 2497

Peace.

this was supposed to be a Bornday frock. But.... I didn't end up going anywhere or doing anything. So I changed my plans a bit. Where I was going to do version D in aubergine for my Bornday, I am working version C for "Should have let them starve" day, more commonly known as Thanksgiving. Not sure where I'm spending the day but I also plan to where to the rally on Sunday. so it will get worn, and probably to work next week.

Sons of Anarchy was on and I didn't want to fall asleep before it finished or came on. So, your girl started cutting the pattern. I had already cut version D. The only thing that's consistent across all the versions was the skirt and belt. I had only expected to finish the pattern but I cut the fabric as well. so whats left is putting everything together. I did add 4 inches in total to everything. All the pattern reviews say that the bodice is big. We'll see. I also cut out pockets. I never add pockets. I'm growing.

Here is what the fabric looks like. I know it looks like a 70's sofa or a tablecloth but I love it. and it was dirt cheap. If I spend the holiday with my people, I'll be cute, though probably not happy.



Peace!

Frum

Peace.

When I 1st came back to this Nation, I came by myself (2:36). I had been exposed to it in the 80's but it took 20 years to accept. You would think that during that 20 years of consideration, I would have given thought to how I was gonna display my Understanding of the Culture (3/4) but I never gave it any thought. 2008 found me righteous but no clue with the whats and hows to cover my body.

The ironic part about the whole situation was, I knew how I DIDN'T want to rock 3/4ths. I didn't want to look too out there and I didn't want to look like a Mormon. So logic would have me observe Muslim women. And to some degree I liked how they displayed modesty. They were often very stylish in their dress, and it is frequently expensive, but it wasn't right for me. The head coverings are too much, they wear make up and pants. I don't. So it wasn't a perfect fit. What I took from them was the pride that they how they dressed and the desire to be chic. I want people to 1 and 3 that I do this because I want to, not because someone is forcing me.

Next I observed Rastafarian women. Their style was too ethnic for me. Not saying there is nothing wrong with ethnic. I am not self employed. I work in a business environment and I need to reflect that. Not that I don't do ethnic, just not at work. And face it, I'm either at work or I'm at home in bed. There is only the weekend for ethnic and clothes to relax in. The best part taken from Rastas is theres nothing wrong with comfort and ethnicity, but there is a time and a place for it.

But.... I never thought about Jewish women. Hmmmmm....

I am from northern NJ. A Jewish Mecca. There was a Hebrew school around the corner form where I grew up. I went to dental school (a very Jewish vocation) and have worked in the dental industry since I have been grown. I am familiar with their customs and observations. I can even speak a little Yiddish. I know Jews. Not to take anything away from Jewish culture. I'm just saying. I knew they had a dress code for their ladies. But some of it is very surprisingly familiar.

Tznius.... that is the name for the women's dress code. Literally it means "modest." Orthodox Jewish women cover themselves from collar to elbow to knee. After marriage they cover their heads. There are 3 ways I've seen this done.... (1) Scarf or snood, (2) hat or (3) wig. Sounds familiar does it not? The goal is to be attractive but not attracting. I can dig this. This had me reaching out to my FB friends from the old days asking them to explain some of the particulars. Sounds very close to our philosophy. A lot of Jewish women had been observant around me without me even knowing. Bingo!

The God... or should I say The G-D.... just kidding.... said that 2:14 and 4:14 says that Musa went to the devil and brought them laws in which to civilize and govern themselves accordingly. And since Musa was a 1/2 Original man, who was taught by Original people that their laws could be similar to ours. So it's not me imitating them but me reclaiming what's mine. I'm going to take the best part.

One funny thing is it is making me reach in the depth of my hind parts to recall all the Yiddish I used to know. Without it, it is hard to follow the sources of my information. I used to work with this one Jewish dentist who patient pool was nearly all Jewish and they spoke mainly Yiddish in the office. This was in Teaneck, NJ so of course they spoke English... for me. I was completely lost at first and they found this highly entertaining. But I'm a smart girl and picked it right on up. I just never used it quite right. So it was still entertaining. It's always good to learn the language and customs of the people around you. It lets you know when an ambush is being planned. That's all I have to say about them people.



Peace.

FBA

Peace Y'all

I just learned something that will change my sewing for the better.... Full Bust Adjustments or FBAs

The reason I started sewing in the 1st place was because my mother had given up on trying to fit my small body with big assed titties. I got womanly hard and early. I wear a 40J cup currently at 5'3". It was a 34DDD at age 13 and under 5'. It's a wonder I can stand erect without falling over. I knew that if I wanted to be cute (and I do/did), I had to do something drastic. The sewing machine was my drastic.

I still had the problem with patterns. I hated spending all this time and energy on something that didn't fit. That's why I learned to sew by eye. And I'm good and creative with alterations. I was making it work before Tim Gunn made it popular. But I never new anything about a FBA of a pattern. I'm encouraged. I have been Googling these techniques all morning.

My next project if I can ever get going is going to be awesome!



Peace

Looking Back to go Forward...

I looked Back at 8/23/10 post of my planned additions to the wardrobe... and yeah... I don't want that any more. Well not all of it. I'm making the denim dress and denim shirt, but the rest of that stuff... No. I don't want it.

I plan on starting the search for the denim dress parts once I fininsh Simplicity 2497. I'm a refashion it out of thrift store clothes. Denim is hella expensive. I'm expecting to pay no more that $10 for it total.

Let's see what happens.....

Simplicity 2497

Peace.

I scored this pattern at a Hancock's sale for $1.99. I don't really understand why folks pay full price for patterns when they will go on sale like that. The pattern originally cost $16.95. I don't get it.

Originally, I bought said pattern to be my 9day birthday frock. Well.... that didn't happen. I did nothing special to mark my entry in to the 40's. And I'm not sure how I feel about that. I was planning to do the sleeveless version with the fringe at the neckline. That's what I bought the pattern for. But now I think I am going to do the "B" version of the dress, with this bold burgundy floral print I have for Thanks-Taking. Again another day I have no real reason to mark specially. I have issues....

The thing that is really bothering me is... I don't get where to put the zipper. The directions suck and I am having trouble finding a suitable location. Push come to shove, I'll put it in the back. But from all the pics I find, it doesn't go there.

Wish me luck.....



Peace

Mojo.... BACK

Peace

I don't know how and I don't know why, but my sewing mojo has returned and returned with a vengeance!

Wednesday is my physical degree born day. I will be Culture Cipher. Yeesh. Doesn't even sound right. But one of my own personal traditions is that I treat myself to a new outfit for that day. Normally I store buy something, But this year, I believe I will wear one of the new skirts, if I don't complete my party dress. And the likelihood that I will complete my party dress is low... very low; but you never know....

Yesterday I made 2 skirts! And not from patterns that I had already cut out. Nope. I made them from scratch. (Cut pattern, cut fabric sewed them up) And I didn't start until 3 pm and broke to cook and eat dinner and watch the Real Housewives of Atlanta.

One skirt was just a refashion from a pair of pants. I stopped wearing pants 5 years ago. Not for religious reasons. I have this aggressive tomboy streak that gets me confused for a lesbian. Though there is nothing wrong with lesbians, I am NOT one. I noticed that I behave decidedly more feminine when I wear skirts/dresses rather than pants. So I stopped wearing them. Hoping my inner girly-girl would take over. And she did!

The pants came from a box of my late husbands clothes. I have no idea how they got mixed in with his clothes. In the box I found a gold sweater suit that I remember loving! But of course, it was a pantsuit; and it had the nerve to be unwashed! Well not anymore. The suit got washed and the pants got converted to a below the knee (3/4ths) skirt that I am currently wearing as I type this. This quick project reminded me of why I don't like to fool around with sweater material. Still looks nice though. The God said I looked like his professional Earth this morning.

Aside....***PET PEEVE ALERT*** I do not work in a corporate environment. I dress 'business casual.' I hate when people see me in the occasional suit and say, "You look professional today." that's some bull. I look professional EVERY day. I just don't wear a suit every day. Suits aren't the only career-wear available. And I resent people insisting that women should dress like men to be taken seriously. That's that inner girly-girl bitching. Back to the build....

The second of my projects was a Simplicity skirt whose pattern I scored at a $1.99 Hancock's sale. While scouring all my blogs, I found 2 sistas/sisters who sew and one of their projects inspired me. It was of a Black and white printed skirt with a green blouse. The skirt was so plain, I didn't think I needed a pattern for it. And I might not have needed it, but since I had it I used it. I actually bought the pattern for the blouse. I am bad with blouses and jackets but not dresses. Go figure.

The thing that had me worried was I knew I only had 2 yards of the black and white fabric (I was also concerned that the fabric might be a lining fabric, but the store didn't give me guidance and the fabric is very heavy, though silky/slimy). The store in which I purchased it has closed it's doors. I suspect they've moved. This store does that... A lot. Anywho... The back of the pattern called for 3 yards for the skirt. And I knew I would have to grade it up 2 sizes. I was worried that 2 yards wasn't going to be enough. BUT... The fabric was deep. Meaning, the length and not the measured part was deep. I ain't crazy I checked before I cut it; and it worked out. The only thing I screwed up was the band. It came short about 3 inches. I graded the skirt, but forgot to grade the band. SWS. Sewing while sleepy. And I didn't have enough fabric and interfacing to do it over. So I improvised. I added a tie with french seams so it looks deliberate. I showed it to the God and he doesn't even see where I boo booed. Cool. He says it looks like me, whatever that means.

I did not begin work on born day party dress yet. The pattern is cut and the fabric is on the bedroom sofa. That's how I start. I will need to have it done by Wednesday evening and the only thing I will do on Wednesday other than chill, is the deposition at 9am. We shall see how things progress. I'm not forcing my self to rush it. When I rush I make mistakes.

So my new garment to wear probably will be my new black and white printed skirt! I'm thinking, I'll wear it with a black turtleneck and some boots. I can also wear it with a hot pink turtle neck and a black sweater cardigan I got from a previous born day. But the deposition paperwork says to dress conservatively.

On another note, The robe I made for the God is a big hit! Not just with my God but with the righteous community as well. Who knew? God posted it on Facebook and now a lot of men want one. Y'all know I don't like sewing for others but I will make righteous apparel for others. Not for any other reason but I want to see our Nation grow. And if I can be a vehicle for that, I will suck up personal discomfort to see that happen. The God even set up a PayPal account and we are flirting with getting an Etsy account.

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this in this blog before, or even out loud... But... I want to start a clothing line for modest urban women. I know I struggled the first year with how I dressed when I got KOS. I wanted to reflect, but I didn't want to look different than myself. I have finally figured it out, but since I sew I would like to assist other women and make some money at the same time. I used to date a dude who put out a short lived clothing line. I wish we were on better terms so that I could ask him how he did it. I am currently clueless. I have the business plan, clothes, designs even a logo, but no ideas how to progress from that point.

So... If you want a righteous robe... it's $50 from scratch, $20 for me to put a flag on a pre-existing robe and $35 if you supply me the material. Also, I can add a flag to anything that you have that you want a flag added to for the same $20. Remember I was going to add a flag to a denim jacket, but the jacket shrunk. Yeah, it's the jacket's fault.

I need to hit the lottery!



Peace

Here She Comes.... shoulda been posted before today

Peace

After all the hullaballo about me losing my mojo and finishing up all these unfinished projects laying around my sewing room. After all of that... I have the nerve and unmitigated gall to be at a complete loss with where to go next. Insanity.

My born day is on Wednesday. Yes I will be Culture Cipher years old. Yeesh. I had a nice day planned with the God. Culminating in a nice dinner and movie to celebrate. And guess what? I have to go sit for a deposition! Damn!

I was hit from behind. My car was 6 days old. I was sitting at a stop light waiting to turn left when a car full of people hit me from behind. My car was 6 days old. It was an open and shut case. My car was 6 days old. I had to go to traffic court (and miss a 1/2 day at work in addition to missing work the day it happened). He hit me from behind. I didn't do anything wrong. My car was 6 days old. The insurance company needs to anty up for my damages. My car was 6 days old. But they are fighting me every step of the way. Just settle already! My car was 6 days old!

Guess when the deposition is scheduled for? You guessed it. Next Wednesday. Crap! I was off that day. I was planning to make a party dress for my outing. Now I think I should ammend that to make a cute outfit to wear to the deposition. I know I can still go out after ward, but it is the principle of the whole thing. And I'm not wearing a party dress to a deposition. But what does one wear? I want to look honest. I have been planning to sew a black and white printed skirt and a green blouse. That might be deposition cute. But I still need my party dress for the evening. Decisons decisions.

I will figure this out. Stay tuned



Peace

UFOs? What UFOs?

Peace Y'all!

I had an epiphany! Yeah that's what I am going to call it.

I finished the God's robe. He loves it. I want to complain, but I can't. It looks better than I thought it would and the addition of the Universal wasn't that hard. he's thrilled, so I am thrilled.






I decided to not do the jacket for me. Well the jacket decided. I bought that jacket maybe 4 months ago... And for some reason, it's too small. 4 months. I'm disgusted. So that project completed itself.

As far as the quilt goes, there is no rush. I'll finish that when I finish it. It will probably end up as a keep busy project.

So now that I'm finished with the robe, I can move on to my fall sewing. The 1st thing being a party dress for me. My 40th born day will be here next Wednesday. The God is taking me to dinner. I'm a be cute in Simplicity 2497 in an aubergine color. I will wear that with some intensely high patent leather heels and my mother in laws mink stole. I'm a look 40. Funny thing is I have to work and work hard up until that day. That particular day I'm taking off. So I won't have a lot of time to get it done. But I will and I will be cute!

A little bit each day, and it all gets done.



Peace

You Know What They Say About Women With Big Feet ...

I have big feet. I hit a size 10 when i was 10. I wasn't even 5 feet then. People called me a duck. Yet another reason for me to learn to fight.

My feet are pretty much the same size. I fluctuate between 9.5 and 11, depending on how the shoe is made. I also made it up to 5'4".

I went shopping today for some 5-finger shoes. I tried a woman's 10... too tight. A woman's 11... to tight. A man's 42.... fit. Damn.

While in the store, I saw a bunch of shoes that I kind of liked. Mind you it was not a department store. This was more of an eclectic shop with Crocs and Birkenstocks. I am truly thinking about getting a pair of these ugly shoes. Y'all don't know how much my feet hurt. They hurt a lot all the time. Department store shoes have failed me. Maybe the time has come for me to accept my lot in life and begin acquiring a couple of few of these ugly beasts.

I'll keep you posted.



Peace

More on the Mojo

The reason I'm updating this so soon is because I won't be at work again until November 1st. It's unlikely I'll update over the weekend. Especially this one. It's a rally weekend.

I did 2 things last night that I hoped would restore my mojo. I cleaned and rearranged my sewing room (I'm counting that as 1 thing). And I put in a stereo. It really helped. Maybe I changed the feng shui.

My dream for my sewing room is to one day become a nursery. A lot of the items in there currently, will be used for a nursey should that ever happen. The cabinet where I keep my stash will hopefully one day be painted white and decoupaged for use as a baby's wardrobe. The location of my notions, will with luck one day be a dedicated changing table. And the table that is currently supporting the stereo and patterns will become a side table to go next to the rocking chair I don't own yet because I am not yet pregnant.

Ever since I bought the house with my late 1st husband that was the plan for that room. It became a sewing room by default. He didn't care for the messiness of sewing so close to the front door. The plan was put on hold when he returned to the essence, and ressurected with my current God. We shall see. If and when I need to move all my sewing stuff out, the downstairs office will receive a new door (messiness again) and a new desk for my passion. I have already begun tricking the closet out to support my stash. I don't want to completey finish it because I don't want to start loading it up or have to de-assemble it should the bundle never arrive. I will be 40, 2 weeks from yesterday.

I forced myself to work on the God's robe. I pulled out the ugly contrasting trim. The fabric doesn't even match the fabric of the robe. It's jersey knit! Only to find that there isn't enough fabric for a contrasting belt! I ain't buying no more. I pulled some remnants from the making of the robe and cut up an old black t-shirt. Between the remnents and the shirt, the belt will get finished. I'm not even sure the belt will be looped on the outside. I'm putting a large Universal flag on the back of the robe that shouldn't be disturbed by a belt. I might put the loops on the inside of the robe and have them emerge from the sides. We'll see.

I cut out the shapes for the Universal for both the robe and the jacket. I did not cut the rays for the jacket or the star for either. Stars are hard and I started working late. Once the room became more user friendly, I went in there and began the process of piecing parts together. All the rays for the robe are together and the sun has it's crescent moon and 7-pointed 7. So far so good, although I am not crazy about the color of the gold thread. It didn't match exactly. When I do my jacket, I will try clear thread and see what that looks like. Another thing I noticed was that the cream fabric is relatively sheer. The rays are gold and black. If I don't do something, they will be seen through the Universal. Now you may say, "Big deal, it's a robe." I said the same thing, but I wouldn't want any thing I was wearing to look half assed. So I will line it with something. Initially I thought white, but now I'm thinking something darker, like black or brown. That will totally hide the base of the rays, give the cream more warmth and make the crescent moon pop a little more. Again, we'll see.

See why I said the addition of the stereo helped? I stayed in that room longer than I would have normally. I worked until midnight and I have to get up at 5:30 am. Yeah I'm tired, but it's a good tired. One laced with accomplishments. I have a small TV that would be nice in there, but it's an old TV and I'd have to bust out my coverter box to get infomercials. Cable and satellite has us by the balls, do they not? TV is supposed to be free. I usually watch videos on my laptop, but I have seen all the ones I have and The God's movies are scary. Plus, since he can 'acquire' movies, there is no need to continue my relationship with my bootlegger. So there is just the music. And so far so good.

Hopefully tonight I will finish the robe and the jacket before Sunday. Project Runway finale come on this evening. Making me wish there was a TV in the sewing room. (Go Andy or Mondo!) There may be sewing before and/or after. And I am off tomorrow....

When I finish (notice I didn't say, If I finish) I will take a pic of both garments and post them. I probably could do that before the weekend is out... maybe. I'm not saying I found my mojo. I'm just saying I think I know where it migh be hiding.




Peace

Lost Mojo Reward

Peace Folks....

Have y'all seen my mojo? I swear I had it a minute ago.

I have so many unfinished items on the table. Remeber I said that I wanted to finish everything in August so that I could focus on fall sewing? Well that was a dream. It kills me to not live up to the 11:14. B.U.T. I rather just not finish projects than do a shitty job on them and then have no usefulness for me.

I have the God's bathrobe hanging on the bedroom door, taunting me. All it needs is a collar and the flag. I allowed the God to choose his own contrasting color for said robe and he choose.... Black. I hate it. A royal blue robe with black collar, belt and cuffs. I know it's not my robe, but it's still an ugly combo in my estimation. But I must push on.

I still have the flag to add to my denim jacket. You would think I would jump on it since that is what I need to do with the robe. But the flag for my jacket is way smaller than the flag for his robe. I actually had an inspiration. Ideas but no desire to work them. I plan to bedazzle aspects of the flag. My thoughts were to bedazzle all the golden aspects. The moon and the half rays. Then bedazzle my name at the bottom. Mad cool right? I found someone with a bedazzler. All I have to do is find the dazzles.

And then there is the baby quilt.... 2 years ago I began the painful process of making a quilt for a former friend. I let her pick out her colors. I never do that. I hate quilting. But folks ask me to make quilts like I love to. I will NOT make big items for other people, but I will teach them to do it for themselves. When they see how much work is involved they usually back off. There is a reason why it took several grown women to make 1 quilt. Should I agree to make something, I usually take complete creative control. If I gotta be trapped in the sewing room doing piddly, and slow sewing, I ought to enjoy the colors, right? But no.... I broke my own rules (11:14) and let her pick colors I never would. I designed the quilt, though. Lavender, blue and camoflage. Really? I purchased all the stuff (fabric, batting, special thread) out of my own pocket and proceeded to cut it all out. The design calls for 4 big squares... 24", but each square is very intriquite. I took me 3 hours to sew one completed square. That doesn't include the decorated trim or the back of the quilt. After I had completed about 1/3 the damn thing, the FF called and said she didn't want anymore blankets. WTF! She KNEW I was making a custom quilt. See why she is former and not current? The God kept me from slapping the taste out of her mouth by suggesting we use it for our own children or sell it for money. He likes it, but I would never use it for my children because I will be putting bad energy into it. But I started it, and it's all cut out. What else can I do with the pieces other than finish it?

These projects feel like a sword over my head. They are keeping me from starting the new stuff I want to do. Remember I have a list of fall projects. I just swapped out my winter clothes and I always take that time to discard things I don't intend to wear. Also, you rarely see me plan for casual/weekend sewing. That's because when my work clothes wear down, they get shifted to casual/weekend wear. I tend to be more dressed than other people in general in the casual cipher (I got that from my 1st husband who only owned 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of sneakers that he bought at a gas station. He used both to do yardwork and that's it). I'm running low on nice clothes!

My bornday is coming up and I always wear something new on that day. I wanted to make something, but I don't think I have the time. If I did, it would be a lovely gray dress that I could wear my pearls with..... Looks like I may have to buy something. Last weekend I had 4 days off and did nothing!!! NOTHING Damnit!!!! I'm sick about it. I could have finished everything. I slept. This weekend has rally Sunday in it and I like to do a big dinner on the rally days for my Universe. The rally is usually about 4-5 hours , a half hour away from the kingdom. Prearing for the event itself and making a proper vegetarian dinner takes time away from sewing. And I KNOW the God will not be cool with going out to dinner. Crap!

I never feel like sewing when I get home from work. No surprise when it takes me 90 minutes to get home then I have to cook dinner. I have nothing after that. And this week, I have the moon to greet me, and her campanion... cramps. There is nothing in the tank.

This stuff has to get finished. Folks be like, just start and the mojo will come back. Not really. My workmanship is crappy when I do it like that. And I never really learned how to bypass the "I don't give a fucks". I really don't know what to do. I suppose I will take a bit of my late mother in law's advice... "If you do a little bit everyday, it all gets done." I will try to give it 30 minutes a day the rest of the working week. We shall see.....



Peace

V1202: My Cherry is Gone!

I did it! I busted my cherry! I sewed a vogue pattern!!!!!

I'm not saying I sewed it well. But I did complete it very close to the pattern directions. I am very excited!!!!

OK.... to the details.... It is Vogue 1202, the wrap shirt. It is amazing on the envelope. And the pattern itself was $30! But you know me... I got it on sale for $3.99. The fabric is a brown or burgundy (I can't tell) knit. Very similar to the color on the envelope. It has an open back, and since I wear a J-cup, I have NO business looking at anything that is supposed to be worn without a bra. I will wear a shirt underneath it. I don't care.


Pattern Description:
A crazy modern open backed turtle neck

Pattern Sizing:
12-18. I cut 18 I should have cut a 16. When you wear it for a minute, it loosens up.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Hell no!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
This is my kind of top. Not vintage but very stylish

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I made a bunch. I couldn't figure out how to do the back. I spent weeks sewing and pulling out the stitches. Finally, I put a band on the back, took out the ruffles on the front piece, finish the edges and use it as a tie.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes. Definitely to an experienced sewist. Not saying I am a professional, but I can do a little something something.

Conclusion:
I love this shirt. Not in my wickedest nightmares will I ever attempt to make the skirt. I looked at the pattern and got chills. Besides, my hips are too big to concern myself with that.



Positive Education Corrects All Errors!

Just because your Granny sewed doesn't mean you know how

Peace,

Lately I have been feeling rather pussy-ish. Meaning, I have been bitching more than a little bit. Everything is hurting my feelings now a days. I watch a lot of I Didn't Know I was Pregnant, and often wonder if I'm pregnant and don't know it. I have been VERY emotional, my baby cab has all this movement going on inside, I'm tired, hungry, gaining weight and have been having a LOT of unprotected sex with the God. I have everything but 2 lines on the test and cessation of my cycle. Although my cycle has diminished significantly. I am almost 40. I would LOVE to be pregnant (today, could change tomorrow) but I would like to know. Anyhoo.... My feelings have been getting hurt and it's sewing related.

I don't like sewing for other people. Since I don't have a business, the only people who ask me to sew for them,are people I share social equality with. I hate sewing for friends. They ask to much of you. Whatever they want, they want it immediately and they bitch and moan about it while insulting me in the process.

Example....
A preacher friend of mine asked me to make him a cassock robe. Initially I balked, but then agreed. Since we are friends I only asked him to pay for the stuff, I would kick my labor in as a donation to his ministry. He wholeheartedly agreed. I told him where to get the stuff and that's the last I heard of it. Why he let it slip yesterday that he paid someone $200 to make the same robe? My feelings are hurt.

Another example....
A work friend of mine was starting a new career as a Realtor. Her work wardrobe had been rather casual, and since she wants to sell high end property she needs to fake the funk until she can afford it. She bought a cute suit at a consignment shop but it needed to be altered. She knows I do not like sewing for others but she asked me to alter it for her anyway. The day she asked me to do it was the day before she had to show her 1st property. the tears floating in her eyes convinced me to do it. I had something planned for the same evening that I had to blow off to get the job done. Oh yeah and I had to go out and find matching thread and notions. did I mention she didn't pay me anything? the next day I return it to her and she had all these changes she wanted me to make. Now mind you, I altered it to her exact specifications. Changes? turns out she didn't need it done the next day. She lied to me to get me to do it.

Yet another example...
A friend of mine had just purchased a home. I know from experience that when you purchase a home you tend to be money challenged for a minute until you get your bearings. As a house warming present, I offered to make drapes for her den. she had been telling me that she wanted them. I made the drapes in my living room. She knows this. I never get anything but compliments on them from her and others. she told me that she doesn't want homemade curtains. WTF! But guess what? 2 months later she comes to me when she realizes how much custom made drapes where gonna cost her. I said "Hell to the NO!!!!" and "Kiss my ass Bitch!"

I can squeeze this example in....
My sister bought a sewing machine. She's crafty and I can buy her interest in sewing. I have been suggesting she buy a machine for years, but it took her maid to convince her to do it. Her maid promised to teach her to sew. she didn't let that jewel out when she first told me about her acquisition. turns out the maid just wanted to use a machine to sew on and had not intention on teaching my sister to sew. Now the maid no longer is in her employ. she still has her machine, but it's missing pieces. Hmmmm.... A new machine is missing big pieces and now it cant run? She wants me to buy the machine from her. My machine works fine. She said I need a spare. She's knocking $20 dollars off the price she paid for it since it's less than 6 months old. But the acquire the pieces to complete it will cost more. No thank you.

Last Example I Promise....
One of the Cipher chicks (I refuse to call her Earth. She ain't) here in Allah's Garden who knows I sew. I sew more and more and everyday I have on something I made. She makes a loud statement in front of people that she is gonna come to the crib (uninvited) for a few hours and let me teach her how to sew. Really? this is insulting on so many levels. First of all it took me years to learn to sew. I took many classes and had many mentors. There are still things that I want to learn. The implication that you can learn to do everything that I can do in an afternoon is insulting. She made this declaration in front of an audience. So my options were to smile, nod and go along letting people think that my addiction is all light and fluffy. Or... Put her on blast. I did the former.

I really hate sewing for people. It's gotten tot the point that I hate talking about sewing to people. I don't want to doe your repairs. That's not sewing. I don't want to make costumes for your kids. This is not novelty with me. It's how I do.

Unless someone has a business, don't ask them to sew for you. And if they offer, say no!


Peace

Simplicity 5898

I made the above dress. Yes I know its a maternity dress. No I'm not pregnant. I assumed that a maternity dress would fit my boobs. Even so I graded it up 2 sizes and added 6 inches to the bottom. The pattern was from 1965 and that was the mini skirt era. Turns out I didn't need to, and I ended up cutting 6 inches off the bottom. Its all good. I'll make it again when I get pregnant. So here we go. My 1st pattern review.....

Pattern Description
A-line short sleeved or sleeveless maternity dress.

Pattern Sizing
16

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes it did


Were the instructions easy to follow?
I suppose. I didn't follow them... much. I saw at the end that I could have made it a lot easier than I did.


What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I should have followed the instructions

Fabric Used:
Dark brown suiting. I found out after wearing it it was too heavy for the dress.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I graded it up 2 sizes but didn't need to. Since it is heavy, I will probably convert it to a jacket and skirt. It's just that much heavy fabric

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes. I plan to sew this a lot since I now know it will fit and come together so lovely. I will use it for maternity dresses. and I will use only light weight fabric for it.

Conclusion:
Very easy and very cute. My 1st official vintage dress from start to finish. It is very good.



Peace

Economizing

Peace to my 1 only reader!!!!

I don't just blog to be popular, I blog because it's cathartic. Also in this particular blog it's good because I have a platform to display my Understanding (3) of my chosen Culture(4).

One of the things that pisses me off is how expensive sewing has become. I can only blame the economy in this capitalist society. As the economy has soured, more folks have turned to home sewing. Now all the home sewing stuff has gotten off the chain expensive. It is NOT cheaper to make your own clothes. There used to be fabric stores in every neighborhood when I lived in NJ. Here in GA, there are fabric stores are few and far between, and they mostly sell upholstery fabrics and not clothing fabric. The ones where you can find a little something something, are Joann's, Hancocks, and Gayle's... you know the corporate companies. And they are expensive. I mean why would I pay $8/yard for fabric, $30 for a pattern and $10 for notions? I wouldn't. And it's not even like the fabric in those stores are the hotness.

There is a ghetto fabric shop in my neighborhood. What makes it ghetto is, (a) it's in the hood, (b) they have fabric at rock bottom prices $1-2 and the people working in there are tres' ghetto! They might have 20 teeth between all of them working there and they give you their asses to kiss. Our people... What are you gonna do. We also have an Asian shop that carries fabric, but their stuff is mostly synthetic. I don't like synthetic, but their notions cannot be beat!!!! So that's how I roll when I want to get my sew on.

But like I have been saying, it's not really cost efficient to really delve into making my own clothes if these were my only options..... But Ghetto Refined Princess that I am I have found a solution.... Thrift stores!

Thrift stores are wonderful for so many things. Depending on what you need to create you can find most everything at the thrift stores for the low low. But you have to approach it form a different perspective. You probably aren't going to find a bolt of fabric, you might (I have before) but probably not. So you have to look at the clothing hanging there for inspiration.

Example....
I needed a fancy black dress to sing in a Christmas concert. I like to sing so much that I will sing in church concerts. Shoot me! But my life isn't such that I have great need for fancy holiday dresses. Off to Value Village I went. Now, I'm a big girl. It's the reality of my life. I have made my peace with it. It's not like there is going to be a fabulous dress hanging there is a standard size 16 with the boobage extended to a 20. My determined idea was black velvet (black velvet tends to be the same color and blends well with other fabrics and colors) dress. I found 3. They were having a 3 for 1 sale. BOOM! I took them jokers home, niggarigged a ball gown complete with jacket and headwrap in one evening. I got more compliments than a little.

When you do this type of shopping you have to keep your eye open for buttons, zippers, and stray pieces. A long skirt in a size 12 may fit a size 16 if you cut it low off the waist. It will be shorter but it will work. You can take pre-made clohtes apart and use them as pattern muslins. You can use adult clothes as fabric for children's clothes. And it will be way cheaper than fabric stores.

Another example....
I am making a season-less denim dress. Technically it's a sundress but it is completely cute worn with a turtle neck and boots. Thin denim is hella expensive. So..... You know what I did, I went to the thrift store and purchased several denim dresses and I will rig them into the dress I want. The caveat in this situation is I can use the back of one of the dresses as the back of the dress I'm rigging it into! Saves me some work and the stitching on the back is cute, and probably not a detail I would do if I was making this dress from scratch. Denim fabric in Hancocks... $7.99/yard (I'd need 5 yards). 3 thrift store denim dresses total....$8. Saving a grip of money and time... priceless!



Peace

Sew comes before Cook and Act

Peace.

This is a righteous sewing build. If you aren't righteous you will be lost. This is my disclaimer. Carry on.

The Knowledge Culture degree of the 1:14 asks,
"What is the meaning of M.G.T. and G.C.C.?
Ans. MUSLIM GIRLS TRAINING AND GENERAL CIVILIZATION CLASS. This is the name given to the Women and Girls thay belong to the Nation of Islam in North America, teaching them:
HOW TO KEEP A HOME
HOW TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN
HOW TO KEEP A HUSBAND
Sew, Cook and in general how to act at home and abroad. These training units were named and given by our Prophet W.D. Fard."

For most Earths this is the blueprint on how to be a proper Earth.

I'm an Earth and I know a few Earths here and there. One of the things I have noticed is Earths take a LOT of interest in cooking, natural health, homeschooling, revolutioning, and such. I'm not saying that they shouldn't, yet don't take the same interest in sewing. Hmmm.....

I'm not trying to say that sewing is more important than other things. It's not. But its not less important either. Sewing is just as important as any thing esle on the list.

Folks really behave like creation of righteous clothing is an after thought or a superficial frill that Earths should not possess. We should be humble and boring looking. Ummm.... Emphatically Now Cipher. Why can't we be supa dupa fly? And why would be judge each other for making our appearances a priority? I'll wait....

There are plenty of reasons to educate oneself on the politics of the garment industry. Did you know most of the ready to wear clothing that is purchased in this country is made somewhere other than the US? That means by purchasing RTW garments you are taking money out of this country and supporting China, Indonesia, India, etc. Less than 5% of clothing is made in the US. It is a crippled industry for Americans. Also the people making said clothes work in extreme conditions for little money. They are sweat shops. But it's legal because it's abroad. So by purchasing RTW garments you are supporting this.

Did you know that sythetic fibers choke the skin? You skin can only breathe in natural fibers. Cotton, Rayon, Silk, etc. And these Franken-fabrics may be composed of chemical wastes and debris. I have excema and have noticed that when I wear natural fabrics mys kin does way better than when I don't. Hmmm.... Does sewing sound less important now?

I am a decade long vegetarian, I am currently walking the God through the vegetarian transition. I recycle, I am gainfully employed. I Knowledged 120 in December 2009. I add on as much as I feel comfortable to do. All my ducks are in a row for the judgmental folks. I take care of myslef and the God. I know and control the ins and outs of our cipher. So I'm thinking I've hit all the pillars that are applicable. Can you say the same thing?



Peace

Vintage

Peace,

I like vintage sewing. I do. I realize the best option for me is to make my own vintage inspired clothing. Because (a) I WILL NOT pay an exorbitant amount for the garments, (b) it's unlikely that I will find garments in my size and (c) they will be old and musty. I like to have a certain amount of control over things and you have little control over ready to wear clothing. So I guess it's a good thing that I can sew by eye. All I need is a picture of said garment and I can re-create it. Just like my grandmother did.

Okay... That being said... All my love gushing out.... I follow a lot of vintage blogs. A lot. And I have some questions......

Question 1...
What kinds of jobs do these people have? Clearly they aren't performers and lots of them have tattoos. A lot of tattoos. Do they wear these clothes to work? My boss already has issues with the evolution of my wardrobe. If I suddenly started coming in here dressed like Lois Lane, I'm thinking I won't have a job anymore.

Question 2....
Why do the vintage sewists get off on sewing on vintage machines? I mean it's nice to inherit something from a family member, but why go out of your way to get a machine that has maybe 2 stitches and is essentially antiquated when you can have a brand new razzley dazzley machine with ALL the bells and whistles. And old machine is going to require all kinds of work. You just know that going in. And I'd slap someone if they tried to give me a treadle.

Question 3.....
Do these people have a whole wardrobe of vintage clothes? Why? My vintage inspirations serve a practical purpose. Prior to the 1960's most of the clothes were fairly modest. 3/4ths is easily observed with these clothes. That's how I fell into vintage in the 1st place. But from the blogs and forums, it seems these people have whole wardrobes of vintage or vintage inspired clothing. That seems wasteful and begs me to re-visit question 1 again.


I don't get a lot traffic to these blogs of mine and I can be cool with that. I didn't start these blogs to be popular. I was loading up my main blog with clothing issues and I didn't want to alienate my male readers. So I probably won't get answers to my questions, because I don't have the readers. But I can ask.



Peace

Pattern Stories

Peace,

I have made my peace with patterns. I don't love them. I don't hate them. I realized as I tried (unsuccessfully) to clean my sewing room that I have managed to acquire quite a few. There is this fabric store that was selling patterns for $.25 a piece. You can't beat that with a stick. Unfortunately most of them were too small. BUT.... I have learned to grade patterns. So Maybe it's not all bad.

Also, I have come to realize that the free handed way I had been sewing was moderately inefficient. I mean it's God Cipher Cipher Divine that I am not dependant on patterns for my creations, but should I ever want to make a garment again, I would have to reinvent the wheel, and I hate doing that shit. It gives me comfort to know that for some things I already have 1/2 the work done.

Another thing I have noticed, is the fear that I had that sewing with a pattern would zap my creativity was wrong. It has had no effect. I actually have a new way to create. I can take the already perfected bodice from one the collar form another, the skirt from yet another and "Frankenstein" an outfit together. A cute on at that! Yeah patterns aren't grafted.

But just because I have warmed to patterns and realize that the size doesn't necessarily correspond to your ready to wear size doesn't mean that I will always use them.

This is an aside.... I am developing a fabric stash. I read that this can happen. You buy but don't use it. I don't think I like the direction this is taking so I'm going to have to do some house keeping soon. I'm certain it will require a blog.

Until then.....



Peace

I'm Cheating....

I've got so much to do.... And I'm online just fooling around. I will pay for it later by being up late all night. I still need to make a lasagna. But what brings me to blogging is this.... It's still kind of hot, yet autumnal equinox has passed. I wear a lot of white clothes when the weather is warm, yet I don't want to wear them anymore. Since moving to hot-assed-Atlanta, I moved my cessation of white to the equinox. I go from spring to autumn in white.

I am now folding up the clear summer clothes. But its not a delineating moment, meaning I'm not putting up all my summer clothes. The clothes in the trunk are cold weather clothes, yet I need to pack up the summery things in exchange for fall.

I have been intending to collect a season-less wardrobe, but have been vastly unsuccessful in that endeavor. I think the reason why that is, is because I have REALLY stopped acquiring new clothes I the last couple of years. Really since I made that decision. I suppose sooner or later it will come to pass.

Another thing is I normally stash unwearable clothes in the spare room. But since the God has moved to the Garden, that has become his space. Not that I'm bitching, but it has limited my space. I have no idea where I'm going to store this stuff.

Alright. Rant over.

What are y'alls policy with wearing white clothes and accessories into the fall?

Back to Work!


Peace

UFOs aka Comcast Sucks!

Peace.

This weekend I worked on some unfinished projects that are laying around in my sewing room. I didn't get to everything, because Comcast sucks.

There was a lightening storm on Friday night and it fried our cable box. We were at the Comcast office when the opened at 9 am. They told us they didn't have the box we needed replaced and that they weren't going to get them. So we would have to take whatever they had. I had to ask them if other locations had them. They begrudgingly said another location had them. I asked them to call and reserve it for us. They claimed to do so. I took their names and the address of the location. After a 30 minute drive to the new location, they tell me they don't have the same box, but that a shipment of boxes was coming in and they were certain one was on it. They also told me the shipment would be there within an hour and that they would call me. They never called. We went back and the woman that was handling our case was at lunch. Sigh. We wait for her and she says they didn't get the box. When I asked her if a person from the previous location called and reserved a box for me, she had no idea what I was talking about. ***sigh*** So Comcast chick gave us a dinosaur of a box and said whenever they got new boxes she would call us. Whatever. I ain't holding my breath on that. We take the box home, hook it up and it doesn't work. We call CS and trouble shoot, still nothing. We take that box back too. The give us another box that works a little but not completely. We call back. Now they are sending someone out to check it. The claim that it will be a free service visit, but I am skeptical.

All that being said, I didn't get anything accomplished on Saturday that I wanted, which just left Sunday to clean, sew and cook. Cooking suffered, which means I will suffer for the rest of the week trying to make up for it.

I cleaned downstairs and insisted that the God put his stuff away so that I/we can reclaim the den. I have been avoiding allowing people to come to the house because his shit was every where. Now it's put away. The garage is still a work in progress. It looks nice and neat. God sweeps it out regularly and has drawn a big Universal on one of the walls.

Any who, I started on the God's robe. He wants a bathrobe with an Universal on it. The Universals colors are black, cream and gold... All colors I would have used as the robe material. And the God is very heat sensitive. It was Love, Hell or Right finding a color and a fabric that the Universal would show up on. I found heavy Royal blue sheeting. I cut the robe out of that. It is my determined idea to trim the robe out in an orange plaid (orange and blue is one of his favorite color combinations) and make the belt out of the same material. I will sew the front back and the sleeves up tonight. It will look like a robe but still unfinished. ***sigh*** It's a work in progress.

The reason, I started on the robe is because it is related to my Universal jacket. When I make the Universal for the robe, I will make another one for the denim jack that I bought for me at the Goodwill. It will be hot once it's all finished. And I will be the only Earth rocking a Universal jacket. Peace!

I also completed my dress form. The God was supposed to make one for me, and he started out strong. But he has been so distracted with the move, finding a home for all his stuff, fixing things in the house and looking for a job, that my dress form has been put on the back burner. Humph! Well, I finished it. Not in the way he would have (it's kind of nigg-a-rigged), but in a way so that I can finally use it. Should he decide to make it all jazzy and such, then he is welcome to. But I need it for my upcoming sewing projects. The fact that it took 3 pillows to stuff it is not lost on me. Yeesh!

Okay. That's it for now. I hope to have more and more and more and more updates for you.

Toodles!



Peace

September Vogue 2010

Peace,

I finally got hold of the September 2010 issue of Vogue. And let me tell you this... I'm a little underwhelmed. The clothes that I saw where better in the other mags. Vogue had a lot of advertisements, but nothing truly awe inspiring in their fashion layouts. I did see a suit that I want to make, retro inspired. But I have seen this suit in various places. I didn't need Vogue for it.

There was an article about Halle Berry that explained a lot, at least to me, about why she can't keep a man. I mean if beautiful Halle Berry can't keep a man, then other ordinary-looking women should have no expectations. But she has deeper issues. Good luck Ms. Berry with the rest of your life!

I went shopping at a sewing store and came up on some new feet! One is for binding off edges and the other is for gathering/shirring. I'm a little more excited than I should be.

So I guess my 5 creations will be...
1. Blue denim wrap dress
2. Blue denim blouse with pussy bow (teehee)
3. Asymmetric skirt
4. retro inspired suit in plum suiting
5. 70's inspired camel coat
6. Leopard bustier
7. A black/printed cotton swing blouse that looks slightly maternity, but isn't, sort of

I guess that's it. 7 is a good number.

Screw you Vogue!



Peace

Ideas Updated

Okay.

It is Wednesday, September 18, 2010.... I have been stalking the stores, and I have yet to spy a September 2010 issue of Vogue magazine. PHOOEY!!!!! Where is it? I've seen Elle, Bazaar, Cosmo, Glamour, Marie Clare and Instyle. No Vogue. I think I'm going to have to go to a book store to get it. There is a magazine depot across the street from the bus stop. The charge more than the magazine retails. I just might have to get one there. I'm sick because I have spent nearly $12 on stop gap mags to quell my thirst for the vogue. Bastards!

Breathe.....

So far, I have decided on 3 garments already. A leopard bustier, a fancy denim blouse with puffed sleaves, a high collar and a pussy bow. (Teehee @ pussy bow!) and a sleeveless wrap denim dress. I have decided sleeveless because then I can wear it with a turtleneck or without, and it will be seasonless. And what makes it completely spicy is I already have the fabric for the blouse (an old wrap skirt) and the bustier. That's three. Although not complete outfits.

I have decided that I want to make a nice suit that suits me and my culture. When I go out to various places. I don't want folks pegging me for a hippy. I have seen some nice patterns for 40's styles suits. I aint buying the patterns though. I'm a sew them just like my paternal grandmother did... by eye. And maybe a beret. Maybe a few.

I want to make a coat too. Since it doesn't get truly cold here until January, I need something stylish to carry me through the fall and then again through the spring. I'm getting too old for the hoodies. I have a black trench, but I don't love how that looks on me. Since I have these big boobs (40J), coats that fit across the chest tend to swallow me. I have decided to accept the boobage and look for a maternity coat. Yes I said it. Maternity. No embarassment. They are cut fuller and more flattering in the front. I'm going with it.

Another coat issue is that coats should be lined. I would choose silk, but silk is hot. I only do the natural fabrics so then I would be forced to endure cotton which isn't often pretty. ***Sigh*** Decisions, decisions, decisions.....

I need to re-clarify my determined idea to whether I mean 5 articles or 5 outfits. The way the denim blouse was styled was with a camel long skirt. I already have one of those. The bustier would go under a jacket or sweater. I just don't see me all out in public with such a sexy top on when I have a God. B.U.T. it's not like I plan to stop sewing after all the articles are finished. So I shall and wait to see what develops In the mean time I'm going to get my dress form in shape and finish the God's robe.

Toodles.



Peace

August Slump

It is almost September y'all!

This is the time of the year where I get all geeked about my fall wardrobe. Now I am not a rich woman. But I can afford to acquire pieces here and there to update my wardrobe. I love clothes. I do, I do, I do! I'm very girly about this. And I have a determined idea about what I add on the hangers.....

I did my recon work last weekend. I went to an upscale mall and looked around and made a few determinations about the trends and what I had already vs. what I needed, and how I was going to rock them.

So far I have noticed that there is a lot of leopard coming out. I already have a bag, shoes, 1 all weather skirt and a fall/winter/spring top. Sweet! I am good on the leopard thing. If I acquire something, it will be a belt.

There is a lot of wine in the stores and patent leather. Hmmm.....? I have a wine bag. But could do some wine shoes, and a wine asymmetric skirt in a suiting fabric. Hot pink is out there too. I love hot pink and already have a ton of it. Hot pink looks good on my skin tone. Hot pink is a definitely will/must do.

I need a pair of black boots. A wedge pair is what I want. I'm hoping to be pregnant before boot season arrives and I need something that will offer me some stability. Additionally all my heeled black boots had to go to the Goodwill. They were all jacked. I'm not sure they can even be saved.

I saw that long flowy brown skirts are the stores. I have an all weather one that I will be rocking. I bought a denim jacket from the Goodwill that I will be putting a universal on the back of. I am very excited about that project, though you wouldn't be able to tell from my Wisdom. I have a bunch of unfinished projects (UFO's) lingering that I'm not even sure I will ever get to. But that is the life of a home sewist. Ain't like I'll be naked if I don't finish them.

I am still waiting with baited breath for the September 2010 issue of Vogue to hit the stands. I have been stalking it. I save all the September and March issues. I used to have issues that went back through the 90's, but my 1st husband didn't realize that it was a collection and threw them out in a cleaning frenzy. I ripped him such a knew asshole that he had to carry a colostomy bag for a few years. He tried to order those magazines but couldn't get them. I hope the current God realizes that it will not be good for better homes and gardens if he should toss my lovelies. He has noticed the collection, though....

I cheated a bit and bought Glamour. I hate when I lose it and start pre-buying. I have little self-control when it comes to this. I like to be dazzled by Vogue first. I have rationalized my purchase by saying I'll tear pictures out of Glamour that I won't out of Vogue!!!!! I'm a make a look wall in my sewing room.

I'm blessed to have a room dedicated to sewing. When the baby comes it will be the baby's room. I'll have to find another room to sew. I had planned on the downstairs office, but the God has already commandeered that room to be an office with no room for sewing. We will have to talk about that. But I will wait until the need is there.

What my determined idea is.... I will choose 5 outfits from the Vogue magazine and create it for myself in my sewing room. 5 outfits. Since I don't usually do a bunch of dresses, I should be able to mix and match them with what I already have. Follow my reasoning for why I will make them myself rather than purchase them.... 1st... It's too damn expensive. I have gotten to the point where I can see light at the end of the tunnel with my bills. I ain't tossing all that for flyness. 2nd... I want to elevate my sewing skills. I'm not a bad sewist now, but I want to be a boom-banging sewist. With patterns and without. And 3rd.... The clothes I wear need to reflect my Culture. Store bought clothes reflect Yacub's World Manifest not Allah's. And just because I'm righteous doesn't mean I need to look like a Mormon or an African.

5 is the minimum.

You know what kills me? (And this has little to do with the main topic.) I have noticed that the sewists in Australia post all winter long their summer clothes. It is their summer during our winter. But don't post what they have made for themselves and are wearing in their winter. Oh well.... I have plans for me and the God.

So far, for the God, I have planned a pant suit. Teehee. Not like the kind that women wear but separates made of the same fabric. I'm thinking of a tweed blend. And I'm thinking of something in gray. We shall see if he wears it out. If he does then I will make him some more things. If not I'll stick to the indoor sewing I do for him now. Speaking of which, I still have to make him a bath robe with the Universal. This is a UFO, that I will strive to finish before I begin my fall sewing in September. I have time. This is GA and it will be hot, not cool, hot here until mid October.

Alright. That's it for now. I'll keep updating on my progress. If there is any progress.....



Peace

PSA: Slips

I am not a big fan of stockings. I dislike wearing them. I' allergic to the inexpensive ones. Since I stopped wearing pants 5 years ago I warm my legs in the winter with tall boots. That is my undergarment confession.

What a lot of women have gotten away from.... and shouldn't have.... are slips!

Slips and cami's serve a purpose. They don't let the world see your business. Girdles too, but that's another build. I remember hearing Oprah say that she no longer wears slips. She says if someone sees her legs what's the big deal. Well.... Oprah doesn't wear cheap clothes. Her clothes are of the highest quaility and not see through unless she wants it to be. And expensive clothes tend to be lined. Oprah doesn't need to wear slips.

If you wearing Oprah quality clothing then you need to put one on. I was on the bus the other day and this woman had on a very sheer skirt, with no slip. and granted it was hot as hell that day. I could see the outline of her legs, thighs, behind and bush. She wasn't wearing any panties. Nasty. She seemed lke a nice church going lady, she was holding a Bible. I guess she didn't read the scripture of "thou shalt cover your ass." All she needed to be presentable was a slip. But in the sunlight she was showing the world all her goodies.

Maxidresses are all the rage now. But women put them on without looking in a full length mirror some women think because it's long they don't have to do any follow up. No. Them dresses can be uber clingy. A slip would make those dresses slide off the body.

Slips are not opression from men. Those are contro top pantyhose. They are a way to maintain your refinement.



Peace

Patterns Again....

I know that I have bitched and moaned about using patterns for my sewing projects. And it was warranted because I have had a lot of misses from using patterns. Pattern sizes don't necessarily match up to you dress size. They may be too long or too short. You have to have a lot of toys if you want to easily make adjustments. Patterns are expensive. And there is no real way to tell if the garment will come out exactly like it looks on the envelope. If a pattern is not successful you have wasted time, money and fabric. And sometimes a finished garment just looks terrible regardless of who or what.

But I have been following a lot of blogs of sewists that use patterns. Mostly retro patterns. So I have been giving patterns a second chance. I have come to some moderate decisions regarding my use of them. I'm straddling the fence.

I have noticed that some parts of patterns, I tend to go to a lot. I have a pattern for a top of a bodice that I generally use for most dresses. But I don't like the bottom part of the same pattern. I don't like it to the point that I won't even cut it out! But the top is extraordinarily useful.

I have learned a lot from patterns too. I am no longer afraid of zippers or princess seams. And I get now the need for facings, interfacing and linings. They really do help the finished garment to lay better on the body and give it a professional vs. homemade look. So patterns are a plus there.

I have learned a lot from the blogs too. I have downloaded a manual for my machine that was lost in the 80's. I have learned the reasoning behind all the stitching's and tensions on my machine. I have learned that I must have my machine maintained and serviced just like my car. I have learned where to acquire supplies at reasonable rates. Folks are making things I never considered making like undergarments and bathing suits. I have learned how to use the zipper foot and learned that there are other feet out there that will enhance my sewing. I have learned so much online. I'm open to taking some classes.

Born Universal Truth..... I have noticed that my creativity has waned since working with patterns. I used to be able to conceive a garment in my head, draw it up on paper (or not) and create it. Or see a picture in a magazine and recreate it. That's how my grandmother sewed. Completely by eye. I compare this to organists who play by ear, who fear if they learned how to play traditionally, they would lose their spice. But on the flip, they cannot communicate to others how to play their music or even retain ownership of music they create. It's a catch 22.

I guess the bottom line is I will probably use both methods in my sewing. Not be completely dependant on patterns but use pieces here and there. And I'm going to go back to my eye-sewing techniques too. I'm a eat the chicken and spit out the bones.



Peace

MMM - The Finale

Okay....

I don't want y'all to think that I haven't been MMM'ing it. I have. I just haven't been taking pics. I don't have a good spot to take picture of myself and rely on others to take the pics for me.

I have worn my own creations the entire month. Even on days where I wore store bought clothes, I wore a headwrap or a bag I made or repurposed.

I have come to the realization that I have a lot of dresses. I have skirts that I've made (I don't wear pants, though I am considering harem pants), but I don't have tops. Tops are the reason I started sewing. I'm top heavy and I started sewing sew that I could have clothes to wear that fit me. But I like dresses because it's one piece and I'm done. Since that realization, I am going to focus on sewing more and more tops vs. dresses and/or skirts.

I did my thing. I just didn't photograph it.

I was reading a fellow sewist's blog and she was building on the fact that she made 21 dresses in the last year. Her mom said that was excessive, she wouldn't buy 21 dresses. I agree. There is no reason to make a ridiculous amount of clothes just because you can. She showed her closets and they were bursting. Sewing may be cheaper than purchasing ready made clothes, but its not free. You have to buy fabric and notions then our time. From the stuff she posts each of those dresses have to have cost at least $50 if not more to make. She posted the site where she buys fabric from online and that place ain't cheap. I wouldn't order from there at those prices without feeling it first. You cannot return fabric.


I'm sewing today now. There will be pictures.... eventually.




Peace

This is what I wore today....

Good Morning Good People!

Here is another shot of what I am wearing today. I neglected to mention that I am observing to a very mild degree "Me-Made-May." What is that? Let me explain it to you....

I am following a LOT of sewing blogs. Y'all already know that sewing is a passion for me. I enjoy it. I am a bit selfish and protective with what and how I sew, but all and all I do a lot of it. Me-Made-May is a challenge to wear the clothes that we make. A lot of sewist spend a lot of time on their garments, and consequently want to only wear them on special occasions. OR... Feel self conscious wearing the clothes they made because they feel that since they were novices, something must be wrong with the garments.

I have felt both ways. If I spend a lot of money on fabric and notions and then it takes me forever to make a garment, I ain't just gonna wear it anywhere. Even if its a casual look. Sewing your own clothes creates and emotional investment. I would hate to spill something on them or have them soiled. Even though I only really sew with natural fibers like cotton and I know them to be very washer-friendly, still I don't want anything to happen to them. they are my babies, and babies are the greatest!

For the longest I felt like people could tell my clothes were "homemade" Like homemade was a bad thing. I was very self conscious and stopped sewing completely for years. What I didn't realize is that there was a lot of haters spreading their bile around. If they can't do something, they don't want you to do it either.

So, Me-Made-May sounds like a good idea. After perusing the blogs of folks wardrobes, I don't think I have enough Serenity-made clothes to wear every day for a month. I have quit a bit, but not like I would like. Perhaps that will will be a goal for next May. To make enough clothing this summer to have a summer wardrobe for next year. Or maybe begin to prepare for "Me-Made-November" if such a thing exists. Anywho....

This outfit I am wearing, I did not make the maxi dress. I did make the jacket... sort of. That's why I'm wearing it. I never said I don't ever buy store bought clothes. I do. Especially when it a good deal. I got this dress last fall on sale with another dress for $8 for the two of them. I couldn't buy fabric and notions for 2 dresses for $8. So I do purchase clothing. But the jacket.... I rigged that.

It gets good and hot in GA but it's always really cool indoors. So I needed a jacket, that went with everything, that wasn't real hot and that I could ball up and put in my purse or throw over my shoulders when I go out of doors. Also I didn't want to spend much money. At the time I rigged the jacket I was on my clothing restriction and couldn't buy anything brand new.

The jackets started out as a thrift store t-shirt. I bought a zipper that matched, cut the front of the shirt in half and reattached it with said zipper. I get more compliments on it than a little. It is the perfect lite jacket. When I'm feeling preppy it looks nice over my shoulders.

So that's how I'm doing this month's challenge. I may not have made the entire garment, but I at least made some of the ensemble. And pay close attention, because it might be rigged!



Peace

Dress 3

Peace!

Over this weekend I made this Butterick pattern from 1996. Not exactly vintage, lets say reto. I cut it at 16. I had some orange linen that I got on sale last year at Joanns. I had a car accident last year and the chiropracter's office was across the street from Joanns. I don't normally shop there for fabric. I don't like it for fabric. It is really a craft store. And I have never been in one where the employees where kind and helpful. It has been my experience that sewing is a community activity. At least when you are buying the fabric. A lot of newbie sewists go into the frabric shops and need assistance. Not just for fabric choices but guidance and advie on how to make the garment they are planning. When they don't get it, they make big mistakes. That's why I shop at either local fabric stores where the owners are very familiar with their stock and can give good insight or Hancocks. Folks are always uber-friendly in Hancocks. And that's at every Hancocks I have ever been in. Back to my dress....

I changed this pattern so much that I feel bad referencing it. But the dress turned out lovely. So much in fact that I have all kinds of plans for wearing this dress. Firstly, the pattern called for it to be a completely button down dress. I don't have the patience for all that. thinking about the facings, interfacings, buttons with their holes.....! Emphatically No! Also, the pattern had princess seaming. I have never done that before, yet it came out lovely. I'm scratching off princess seams off my to-learn list.

Scrapping the buttions means I had to change the entire idea of the dress. And I had to figure a plan for getting in the dress. I initially planned to put a zipper in the back, and rearranged the pattern to accomodate that. But.... The zipper was too short. I bought the zipper last year when I still was slightly scared of zippers. My mother taught me to fear zippers and for most of my sewing career I avoided them using buttons and drawstrings. But I made a denim skirt a 2 years ago that had to have a zipper, and it came out with no problems. After that I have been putting zippers in more and more garments. I have gotten over my zipper-phobia. I put the zipper on the left side

The front I made 1 panel rather than the two it initally called for. The only big problem I had was the collar. Since I was planning to put a zipper in the back, I cut the collar in half to open for it. So when I changed that, the collar came up short. I had some fabric that I am reserving for a headwrap and I decided to NOT cut that up. So I made do with the collar I cut. I did add a bow to camouflage the short coming. I like it. The bow makes it look nautical. And I was planning to add just 1 nautical outftit to my wardrobe this summer. Killed two birds with one stone.

The skirt is longer than I thought it was gonna be. It is a real floor duster. But with the arms out, I'm okay with that. I actually really like that.

The only thing that gives me pause is it is very low cut. But I'm not sure if its the dress' fault or the bra I'm wearing. This bra does make the girls perky. I will try the subsequent wearings with different bras, and if it is still too racy, I will add some fabric to cover it. I really love this dress.


Peace

WhaT I WorE ToDay....

Peace Family,

Yesterday I was on a bus and a Garden God was on it too. He smiled and gave me a Peace Earth. I recognize the compliment. Some Earths do 3/4th when they are amongst the righteous people, but when they are just doing their thing they does it how they wants to. Not me. I take this Culture to heart. I'm all Earth all the time.

This is what I look like today....



This is how I dress in the warm weather on the weekend. I got the fabric from of all places.... Walmart! Something light and flowy that doesn't cling to me. That's not really a requirement of the Culture that everything be loose and you see not a hil of Mountain. No. It is my personal preference for how I want to appear. All my weekend clothes tend to look like this. I look more traditional and professional when I go to work. I'm gonna get some work clothes posted. Be patient! Yeah who!


Peace

The Earth is Covered by Water (Approximately 3/4ths of its Surface)

No one that I know of reads this blog. That's cool. I will still post.

Should someone start reading this blog, I want to explain part of my Culture..... One of the privileges of this Culture for women is 3/4ths. The planet Earth is covered 3/4ths by water. We Earths (womwn of this Culture) reflect this phenomenon by covering 3/4ths of our bodies with clothing. That is why you will see some Earths with their heads covered and some who don't. Some Earths with halter dresses on. As long as you maintain the proportion you are right and exact. I see it as a privilege because I willingly accept it. Since adopting this aspect of the Culture, I see positive differences with the way people interact with me. Especially men. they are more respectful. Women on the other hand are different.

Last week at the rally/Parliament a God Built that he brought an 85% woman to a party that we had. The woman was looking at the observant Earths and said that she would NEVER dress like us. That it was demeaning to women. He said he wanted that woman to Build with one of the Earths present so that we could give our perspective. He didn't ask, but I would have been happy to.

I have been perusing modest blogs; mostly hijabi, and I noticed that they post what they wear on a regular basis. But I have not been able to find any righteous information on how the Earths do what we does. So.... I have decided to fill the void. Another reason is that there is so much mis-information out there regarding our Culture, I want... no need... to do my part to make Knowledge Born.

Either way, here is yesterday.....


Notice how I match the headwrap with my dress. John Witherspoon's CO-OOORDINATED!!!!


Peace

Dress 2

This dress is a long time coming. The God and I bought this fabric on one of his 2009 visits to the Garden. He liked this fabric a lot. I liked it too, but I was impressed that he liked a fabric. The God is not a frequent fabric store shopper. After he picked out this fabric and I announced that I would make a dress to wear to Show and Prove with it. Yeah right?

I always keep my word. And I did in fact make a dress to wear. But for some damn reason I made it too small. I mean really too small to wear. I have no idea what I was thinking. And I got so busy with other foolishness that I never went back to fix it. Now that spring has sprung, I have decided to get on the good foot and fix this dress.

I found a picture of the Vogue pattern 2902 and thought that would be the perfect inspiration for the remix. I mostly sew by eye. I'm not ashamed of it either. My body has 'interferences' that make me hard to fit. So sewing with patterns won't guarantee that the garment will fit as promised. I have been down that road more times than I care to admit.

So... I separated the bodice from the bottom. I originally made the skirt flared and modestly long (3/4ths). And remember, it was way too tight for me to wear. So I cut about 6 inches off the top of the skirt. Now instead of the skirt dusting the floor, it now hits me mid calf. That's still okay. I like floor dusting skirts but will accept mid calf but no shorter. Now the skirt fits.

I took out all the seems of the bodice until it was in it's original cut pieces. Me and the seem ripper have been handling our business. Although I cannot find my regular seem ripper. That's my justice for ripping seems all over the house. I've had that seem ripper since I got the machine so you know I'm sending out a search party to find it but let me get back to business...

I did use a part of a pattern. I use this pattern for plain bodices and sleeves. I have never made the bottom part. Never even cut it out. It has shown and proven itself to be tried and true. This dress was always planned to be sleeveless. So what I originally had planned for the front of this dress became the back. I pulled a zipper out of a dress that was originally going to Goodwill. It's now on the quilt pile. The zipper went in the back of the remixed dress. I cut the front of the bodice out of a remnant. I really have to learn how to resize patterns to fit my interferences. It is not just a matter of making more room; but making my breasts look like I made the bodice intentionally for them.... which I did. I ended up making 4 freehanded darts (2 side, 2bottom). I have to start considering princess seems. But princess seems scare me.

I actually almost finished it last night, but I didn't sew the bodice and skirt together. That is unlike me. I was maybe 5 minutes from the finish line and I laid the garment down on the bed and decided to watch TV instead. VERY unlike me. But now I understand. As I have been traversing through the internet today, I became inspired to change said dress. Let me explain how...

Even though I have opened up the waist, it will still be difficult for me to put the dress on. I will have to put the dress on over my head and breasts. My breast will get caught in the waist. Having large breasts isn't all it's cracked up to be. I knew it was going to happen but I felt powerless to fix it. It is one of those things you deal with. I'm quite sure people with true handicaps don't complain, they just handle their business. But as I was perusing Veronicadarling.blogspot.com I noticed that she put in her zippers on the sides of garments. >>Light bulb!<< If I put the zipper on the side it will open up the waist and my boobs won't get caught when I put the dress on! Yea!!!! But I already put the zipper in the back (and it is one of the best zipper jobs I've done in a minute too) But that is alright. I will take that mammerjammer out and put it on my left side.

How can you not like this dress? I already have a head wrap, beige sandals and a beige bag to wear with it. All I need now is some gloves and this is the perfect date dress. Though I don't know why I need a date dress when I don't go on dates anymore.

Show and Prove 2010?. Here I come!!!!

Peace