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