Not my fault... but I’ll still take it

Peace!

I know it’s been awhile since I posted. I think all bloggers go through dry spells. And since this blog isn’t monetized, you get what you get. Lol!!! I’m not trying to be cheeky, but it is what it is. Plus since I’m not working at an office anymore, I don’t find myself sitting regularly st a computer. But let’s get to the meet. Shall we?

My mother died last January. And with all the condolences I received, I also have received a lot of foolishness from folks. I had no idea how many people resented not so much me as an individual, but what my parents gave me.

My parents were very successful... and very hard working. They met in college, got married and had children. My father owned his own insurance agency and was s broker. No one gave him anything to start his own business. He worked a bunch of jobs and saved his money. He started with a small storefront and it grew. My mother was a teacher. She was always at the top of her pay grade because (a) she had an advanced degree and (b) she took every certification offered. Mommie earned her masters while recuperating from having me! My parents came up in a time that if you had a college degree that guaranteed you a good life. My dad earned his degree with GI Bill money and my mom got academic scholarships because she was batshit smart. She was her high school valedictorian. She got skipped twice and was so young when she showed up on campus, she wasn’t allowed to stay in the dorm until she was 17... her junior year! So I say all of this to say.... my parents had money. Not Carter or Cosby money but they could buy what’re they wanted. Be it a house, new cars, good clothes or private schools for their children. And this is the reason I’ve been getting hate.


I’m not one to claim that everyone is jealous of me. I know they aren’t. But jealousy is real in some instances.
Apparently people resent how my parents raised me. Like literally someone got in my face about it at my mother’s repass. I thought that was a one time occurrence but more and more people have been coming out of the woodwork.

I had nothing to do with how my parents raised me. I did what I was told. As any obedient child would. I recognized that we had more than others. I never held that over anyone’s head. My parents friends were like them so their children had lives like I did. I thought that was normal. And I won’t accept that it isn’t. But my mom worked in a public school and she thought I needed to learn how to exist amongst people from different socioeconomic levels. Also she wanted me to learn how to actually fight. Since she was always working, I was put in after school programs with children that lived mostly in the projects. I learned to fight... talk shit... basically how to code switch amongst my own people. Because people really don’t want to see you living well. You can blend, not care or a mixture of both. I learned that some people were simply interested in my life. Others wanted me to fail and wanted their hands in it. Some folks wanted to hustle me out of what was mine. I took the best part. I really appreciated my mother’s vision with that.

So my mom left me her home. I already have a home in a different state. I rented it to a childhood friend. Do you know what? She says she doesn’t have to pay me because my mom didn’t like her. Ummmm no. My mom didn’t like that she had a baby at 14. Therefore I wasn’t allowed to play with her anymore. Really? You moved in my mother’s house to spite me? Too bad I evicted her. Another former friend is mad that she is paying off student loans and my parents paid for my undergrad. Why am I supposed to care? My god sister is mad that she grew up in the projects and I grew up in a house. What???? That whole line of conversation confused me, my husband, and her husband. And then she blamed me for it. All kinds of people have told me that my wedding was too big, my mother’s funeral was too grand, that my fathers cars were too flashy. Blaming me and my brother for our parents success. One chick even went as far to say that my brothers death was payback for all my parents had as if they were results of organized crime or a pact with the mystery devil. I punched dead in the mouth. I just can’t anymore

You show yourself to me in this foolish current, we are done for life. I can take anyone but immediate family off my planet and sleep very well at night.

And I’m posting this mostly as a cent but also a cautionary tale. Don’t be a fucking hater. It’s not a good look.



Peace

Missing Mojo

Peace,

I've been swing a lot. But not for me. For clients. The last garment I made for myself was Easter... and I don't like it really. I wasn't inspired and I only made it because it's a tradition. I'm still dieting and my body hasn't worked out it's kinks yet. Even for my class reunion, I couldn't muster up the mojo to make something. I just bought a dress. I know... Shameful!

And sewing for clients is a bit joyless. In my community... there is a need for seamstresses. A lot of the garments that folks require for their spiritual work, you're not going to find it in the stores. So I will always have a client base. But the clients.... They never know what they want and some of their expectations are unreasonable. And the alterations.... I HATE alterations. I altered a garment for a young man that took me 3 hours!!!! I could have made that entire garment in an hour. People don't get that. What I don't understand is why you would have a garment made in Africa to be worn here and you aren't in Africa. I guess it's a status thing. They bring me these ill fitting garments with no extra fabric (the Africans didn't send the remnants) but want me to fix it? Why not just let me have the fabric from the start? That feels a bit insulting. And when I do get a client that wants me to create their garment... They insist on the remnants back. I don't mind, but the way they demand them is ill.

I don't know what this is. I think I've evened out over my mom's death. I'm not stressed out over relationships or money. I feel strong. IDK whats going on. Bloggers make me feel so guilty because y'all cranking out dresses all day every day!

I'm hoping this passes. After I finish up a few more client jobs, I'm taking my baby to be serviced.

Baby Shower

Peace!

Have you ever made a dress for a client that you didn't like? I'm a woman of a certain age.... and I'm a 5%er. I have clothing restrictions! I've been a 5%er (among other things) for so long... 3/4ths is ingrained in me! But I had a client come to me to make her a dress for her baby shower. I whipped out the patterns I had for maternity dresses and she poopooed all of them! She wanted a TIGHT dress with sequins... It just didn't seem appropriate to me. But this isn't about me. It's what SHE wanted. She's 25... This was one of my gifts to her for her shower.



If this was Project Runway, I would have definitely gone home on this dress.

The dress is cotton jersey with sequins at the top and bottom. It's tight too.... (She's 8 months pregnant in the pic) The dress wasn't hard to make but the sequins.... were a nightmare. I broke 10 needles on this dress!!! And I've sewn sequins before. So I'm pissed. I eventually gave up trying to machine sew it and just hand sewed the bottom. So a dress that should have taken an afternoon, took 3 days. Not 3 consistent days... I have a part time job.

But.... she was very happy. I guess at the end of the day that's all that matters. She was so pleased... She's referred me to a bunch of people.

Have you guys ever sewn for other people a garment that you didn't agree with? Would you? If a white supremeist came at you with some confederate fabric and asked you to make a KKK robe would you for money? At some point, I have to decide where my boundaries lie....


Peace

New Look 6226

I lost weight.

I did according to the scale. 50 lbs. My issue is that I don’t feel like I lost weight. Yes my clothes are so loose, I have to take them all in. And everyone is telling me how small I’m getting. I just don’t believe them.

I went shopping with my trainer, and after the 2nd store, she asked me why I kept going to the plus sized section. That’s the size I feel like I wear. But, to humor her, I tried in a large in a standard size.... and it fit! Like really fit. I really don’t know what to do with that information.

When I cut patterns, I cut the largest size. Even with the weight loss... and I’m not done... I still have at least 30 more pounds to go before I’ll be satisfied.... I’m still top heavy. So when I cut patterns, I still cut the largest size in the envelope. I think maybe... if I get small enough, I’ll stop buying plus sized patterns and buy the regular size ones and cut the biggest size on them.

I made this bomber jacket the first time in 2014. It came out too small and I gave it away. I didn’t blog it either. I don’t blog wadders. Maybe I should. But I really wanted this in an African print fabric. I plan on making my husband something to match but I haven't gotten that far yet.

Shall we?




New Look 6226: Misses Baseball jacket

Patterns sizing: 16

Did it look like the photo?: Yes

What did you like or dislike about the pattern?: I don't like that the pockets open in the side seam. You have to put your hands way to far behind you to use them

Fabric: I used an Ankara fabric. I love Ankara. As you can tell a lot of the clothes I make is African fabric. I love that isht.

Pattern alterations: I added 2 inches all around and lengthened the garment. I didn't really need to add 2 inches all around. I could have gotten away with 1 inch all around. But I really needed the 2 extra inches of length.

Would I sew it again? Nope. I really don't like the pocket placement. And whereas I could make welt pocket further in the front.... I don't want to.

Would I recommend this pattern?: Yes I would. Its a good pattern, but its not for me.



Peace

PS: I made my Easter dress too big. It's gonna take awhile.....

Simplicity 8556

Hey y'all!!!

I've been sewing.... kind of. If been doing a ton of a lot of isht. I got a ptj. I needed it. I was losing my mind as a stay-at-home housewife. I still don't work a ton of hours, but it gives me a reason to get dressed and leave the house. I appreciate that. I got an initiation. Very excited about that. I've been really working on the exterior of the house. Its a lot. You'd be surprised.... And I have a side hustle that has been keeping me busy. And.... I'm on a 21 day juice cleanse, superimposed on a diet I've been on since the beginning of the year. I've lost 30 lbs even before my fast. But you didn't pop in for that.

There is something in my life that has impacted my sewing a great deal. I have come to the realization that I am done with regular gigs. Like.... I don't think... nor am I planning to ever have another job perse'. I am working, but it's sooooo casual and plays into my side hustle. Also, I can wear what I want. So I can wear jeans or a ball gown. I no longer need to cultivate "work" attire. And since I really haven't worked n 2 years.... I need to figure out what I wear now. I don't want to be hella casual, nor do I want to be hella dressed. And on the days I'm home or traveling I want to be cute AND comfortable.

I normally HATE Simplicity patterns. But I liked this one. I really like it. I paid full price for it. But that's the new normal since Hancock's is gone. Oh well...... What I like most about this pattern is that it's a transitional garment. It's only cold here (GA) for about 3 months. Doesn't really pay to have a full wardrobe of winter clothes. So I make summer clothes and clothes that can transition.

Simplicity 8556....


Pattern Description: It's a top, jacket, coat and pants.... I made the top

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Yes, it looked exactly like in the picture down to the color which I'm obsessed with

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yup. Only 5 pieces

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
Everything. I love all the pieces

How long did to take from cut to finish?:
About 2 hours

Fabric Used:
Medium weight stretch fabric.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
Nope

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, I would totally make it again

Did y'all notice the pants I have on in the pic? I haven't been able to wear them in years. The only reason I kept them was because I paid a ton of money for them. I will never throw them away. Feels good to be able to wear them again.

I'm glad I got the pics..... Because after I washed it.... It shrunk to the point that I can no longer wear it. No I didn't wash it in hot water. No I didn't prewash it. I never prewash. Judge me.

Question.....

Peace Y'all,

Its been awhile since I posted.... And I have been sewing.... mostly for other people.... I'm grateful for these people (I have to say that over and over again) because I haven't found a job yet. We aren't struggling since the hubs got a promotion! But.... I feel like I should contribute financially, even though I do all the housework and a lot of the yard work... which I swore I wouldn't do once I secured a husband....

Oh well....

Here is my question..... I have been sewing. B.U.T.... Since Hancock's closing, I haven't been buying a ton of new patterns. The clothes I'm sewing are clothes I've already made and blogged. So are y'all interested in seeing repeats?

Egungun Suit

Peace!

Its been awhile since I posted. So much life has been happening to me.

I quit my day job My boss was a HUGE liar. Just lied and lied about everything. Even stupid stuff that he didn't need to be lying about. There came a point where I lost all trust and confidence in him. I'm good surprisingly. My mother left me 2 homes that are currently being rented out. and I still have my side hustles... one of which is sewing.
Osunfest recently passed in Atlanta. I'm not going in on the whats and hows. If you know you know and if you don't.... ask. I love being involved in this community especially for sewing. You just can't buy hotep clothes at Macy's, so these clothes have to be made.... and since seamstresses are few and far between, especially Black seamstresses.... BOOM! I made a ton of money during Osunfest. But it does mark the end of festival season. It'll be back come spring.

One of the things I made... which was on my sewing bucket list... was and Egungun suit.

Whats that Serenity?

I'm glad you asked!



Egun in Yoruba refers to ancestors. Egungun Suit is a masquerade garment used to commemorate and honor all ancestors of a given community. Technically it's supposed to made of strips from garments that were worn by folks ancestors. That's not how I made this one...

I never made one before. I never saw one in person. When tasked with this task, I was all over the internet to no avail. I'm a smart girl. I figured it out. First make a tunic. You'll need the tunic to attach the strips of fabric. Don't sew the tunic up though. I made that mistake. But the wearer would have to try it on so..... this is wear it kind of went left.... I had help from ile members who cut the strips. They don't sew and I wasn't there when they got to cutting. They cut most of the strips 1 inch thick. I couldn't use those strips because of the seam allowance. But they didn't have a ton of extra fabric because they cut all the fabric they had wrong. Well.... my remnant scraps to the rescue! I had a bunch of scrap, but not a lot of hotep scrap. Either way... I made it work. Big note.... DON'T USE SATIN! Frays like a motherfucker....



That cutiepie model is my husband. He wasn't the one to wear the suit. The suit has a basket woven headpiece and a breastplate made with crystal and leather. I didn't get a pic of the wearer dancing in the suit. Other obligations kept me from that part of the festival. It looks crazy, but the Babalawo was mad satisfied with the result and has offered me a job running his new clothing line. Do I have experience? No. But neither does he. We will fly or sink. But I will enjoy it!


Peace!