No pictures in this post.....

Peace,

Just wanted to give you a heads up....

I have plenty of mojo these days. I've needed to redirect it. I have begun a diet that promises me I will lose goo-gobs of weight. In the 1st week I lost 11lbs. Not bad. But I don't want to make clothes that will need to be altered. Because I prefer creation over alteration any day. So where does that leave me? Sewing crafts and for others...

I made my honeydo a nice pullover in a corduroys stretch fabric. He picked the fabric out himself. Go figure. I haven't showed it to you because he wants to put some Universal flags on it before he He said he was going to a bunch of fabric stores to get some camouflage. Well alright then! yesterday he asked me if I wanted to go to Hancocks before we went to the rally. I looked him clear in his eyes and said, "Sweetie... I ALWAYS want to go to fabric/craft stores!" Also I picked up some vintage men's patterns. I'm gonna experiment with them for him. Older patterns have more options for men than current ones.

This break for me will give me an opportunity to tackle my fear of men's clothes. A male friend of mine asked me to replace a zipper in his dress pants. I was slapped with fear upside my head. But he encouraged me to try. Well, they were his pants... Did y'all realize in order to replace a zipper you have to remove an excessive amount of stitching? I was completely dumbfounded. I ended up with a strip of fabric that I didn't know where it came from. Thank white Jesus I have a man in the house. I had to study his pants to see what was needed. I was able to replace the zipper... and rather neatly might I add... By half machine sewing and half hand sewing. Hand sewing kept me from having to completely disassemble front of the pants. He was happy and I was relieved. So now I can add that on to my list of abilities!!!! Yay for me! I love to learn new skills.

Another project I have, is a sweater coat I want to crochet for my mother for Christmas/Solstice. I'm not a Christian but she is. And I won't accept gifts from her. But I want to make sure she has gifts from me because she is my mother and I love her when I'm not hating her. Also, she doesn't like "homemade" items. But at her age, she has EVERYTHING and doesn't need things. Gadgets confuse and embarrass her. She has been wearing the same bracelet for 10 years, because she can't figure how to take it off. I offer to remove it but she says she won't be able to get it back on when I'm not there. You cannot argue with the logic of the elderly. Clothes are best. I've made things for her before and she has begun to come around. As long as folks don't recognize that's it's homemade she is cool. And if it's unique, even better. I picked up an old crochet book with a patter fro the sweater. Her favorite color is orange (again, go figure...). So my ambition is to make this unique sweater in her favorite color and show her how to style it. All I need is for 1 stranger to admire it and it will be a keeper. My issue is it takes 12 skeins of yarn. DAMN! and that soft yarn ain't cheap. So I'm stalking a sale.

There is also a quilted table runner for my kitchen table that needs to get made. I have the block pieces all cut out and the fabric ready. So it's just a matter of sewing it up.

And there is my coat for the fall. The patter is out and cut. That's all I've done. I think I will work on that project while I'm dieting. My boobs never go anywhere and I'm not going to shrink. This is enough to keep me busy and the mojo pumping. If I get lazy, I'll want to eat. Gotta keep it pushing!!!!

Peace Y'all!!!!!

M6287

Peace Y'all,

It has been a minute has it not? I had a festival that I vended for. It took a lot of my sewing time. I broke even for the supplies I purchased but I don't feel compensated for my time and energy. A lesson well learned. And I still have product to vend at the next opportunity. I plan to blog on the items I sewed for the festival, but I have a LOT of catch up work to do for some 'clients'. (I take on clients, but not everyone. I don't particularly like sewing for others and am really, Really, REALLY discriminate who I take on.)


I got this pattern at a 99 cent sale at Hobby Lobby. The picture looked cool and funky. It was hot when I bought it so it is truly a summer garment. I’m not supper crazy about how it turned out. But every failure is a learning experience, right? It will probably end up in the donation pile.

First of all, this pattern was deceptively easy. I made the B view. It had 2 pattern pieces. That sounds really easy does it not? Once I got everything sewn as the directions said, it looked very unfinished. That may have been the look it was going for, but I didn’t care for it.

Now I did make a mistake. The fabric has these subtle stripes on it. Instead of paying attention to how the fabric should have been oriented, I oriented it how I want to. That resulted in a top that stretches up and down but not out. So it’s hard to get in and out of. I don’t really like that the way this garment is designed, you cannot wear a bra with it unless you are wearing a jacket.

This just isn’t the pattern for me. I’m going to give this pattern away. I teach a Home Ec course to girls in the local cipher of my Nation. I will use it for them and all the other flat chested newbies I teach. That last sentence was not meant to be offensive, but I can’t think of another way to put it.

Pattern: M6287b

Description: A tunic

Size: XLRG

Did it look like the pattern envelope when you were done sewing it?
Yes?

Fabric: stretch cotton

Were the instructions easy to follow?
Yes and no. See the next answer

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I followed the directions exactly as they were given… That resulted in a crazy unfinished look to the top. I had to make some bias tape to finish the collar and they never discussed how the sleeves were to be made. I eventually had to just freestyle it.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made?
I added a (homemade) bias tape finish to the collar, I closed off the end of the arm and hemmed it. I finished the open parts of the sleeves

Would you sew it again?
Maybe. A very slight maybe. I will always try anything twice; just to make sure. The pattern has only a few pieces, so it’s good for teaching others how to sew and I do a home ec class for girls in my Nation so it’s good for that, but for me, probably not.

Would you recommend it to others?
It’s an easy project for a newbie, but you have to have a more experienced person showing you the ropes



Peace

Synthetics

Peace.

I am really giving y'all blog this week.

I didn’t finish anything last night. I did like I thought I’d do. I went home and was in a deep coma-like sleep (brownie points if you know what movie that phrase was from) from 7:30 until 4 am this morning. I’m all rested up. And the DVR caught my shows. Yeah baby!

But yesterday’s post brought something to the fore front of my mind…. My inability to wear synthetic fibers. When I say I can’t wear them, I mean I can’t wear 100% of them. I had on a polyester blouse… one that I love and cannot discard…. for 5 minutes on Monday evening. (Had I worn it to the party I would have had to leave earlier) before the itchies set in. It felt like ants running up and down my arms, back and chest. That was 100%. If I wear say… 50% I feel better but not super. I can tolerate it for a short time. Enough for me to go to an event. 20% synthetic can get me through my work day. I can NOT sleep in polyester. At all; any percentage. So those silky nightgowns and teddys hurt. That was a reason I was looking to make my own lingerie. The more the fabric becomes something natural the longer I can wear said garment.

All this is a real pisser. I’m assuming that the combo of me having eczema and being a vegetarian has something to do with it. I have had eczema all my life, but I used to be able to wear what I wanted. But let’s be real, synthetics and all these mystery fabrics have changed through the years. I look at clothing labels like I/folks look at food labels. Some of this fabric I can’t even pronounce! When I was a kid, kids wore cotton. So maybe that had a lot to do with things. Even as an adult, I didn’t have a true problem wearing synthetics. And my eczema would only flare every few years. When I stopped eating flesh, I saw many changes. One was the synthetic thing. I have had to purge my wardrobe of most non-natural garments. Otherwise you can see instant inflammation on my skin. It is quick and nasty. I can’t even wear polyester headwraps.

I have noticed that the more natural and cleaner I eat, the greater the reaction to synthetics. Don’t assume all vegetarians are eating super healthy. We aren’t. McDonald’s fries are vegetarian, and BK makes a veggie Whopper. Coca Cola is vegetarian and I believe was in my baby bottle because I have an unhealthy affection for it. Bring a Pepsi in my house and I’m liable to shank you. So when I eat well, I become itchier not just to my clothes but to other environmental factors. Jewelry other than gold can only be worn is shifts. It’s just that the clothes are more intimate.

So that leaves me with pretty much cotton and rayon. Wool, some silks, and cashmere (oh the agony) cause me to itch as well. Sucks to be me. I can wear leather and other furs. My mother will buy me garments that have to be returned. She refuses to understand this. I won’t be tormented to make her happy. This combined with my control issues makes me the perfect candidate to sew my own clothes. What are you gonna do? I tried wearing undergarments to protect me from the synthetics. And that works from the inside. But what happens when my skin touches the outside of the garment? I will still itch. I don’t like to touch people because I can have reactions to the synthetics they wear. I swear I’m a canary!

The funny, no hilarious thing is…. My bras are polyester! When have you seen ones that aren’t? But I don’t have a reaction to bras. This has me thinking it’s partially mental. Because I’m a J-cup and I HAVE to wear a bra. There aren’t any other options. Hell I’m happy when I find a black bra that fits with no leakage! Yes I have deep crevices in my shoulders but no other rashes. I do get really bad eczema on my back during winter. Looks like those sores Tom Hanks had in Philadelphia. But don’t worry about Serenity. I’m good! So when you see me reviewing patterns, now you know why it’s all cotton!



Peace

S2696

Peace.

I said yesterday that my mojo was back; well it’s all about maintenance to keep it! I meant to sew last night but…. Well…. See… what had happened was…. I went out. One of the Gods was celebrating his bornday. I NEVER hang out (I’m too old for that. Hell so is he!). And I let an Earth convince me to just go and show my face for a few minutes. That turned into 3 hours and more drinks than I was planning. I crawled home buzzed and now am operating on only 6 hours of sleep. For some that’s cool, but anything less than 8 leaves me drained and cranky. Who parties like that on a big Monday? Luckily McDonalds was giving away (literally) coffee. Anywho…. I didn’t sew last night and I probably won’t sew this evening because I will go home, cook and pass out! Maybe the last few patients of the day will cancel… A girl can hope right?

Today I’m wearing the 2nd garment I made this weekend. I was super relieved this morning. Knowing what I was going to wear allowed me to sleep a little longer this morning. And y’all know I needed it. The God said I slept like a corpse. I was happy and excited because I really like how the tunic came out. Funny observation…. When I first cut out the pattern, I was planning a sleeveless tunic. But because I waited so long to make it, I had to add sleeves to it. Hell, if I’d waited any longer, I’d have to add long sleeves to it! All in all I’m happy with how it came out. BUT…. I used cotton and now I fear it looks like a scrub top. I’m going to have to think about that. But here goes….

S2696

Description: Ladies Tunic

Size: 20

Did it look like the pattern envelope when you were done sewing it? Yes it did

Fabric: Cotton

Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn’t need them

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? It was very easy to whip up. From cut to complete took 2 hours. I dislike that it looks a little like a scrub top. But that may be my choice of fabric. Maybe if the sleeves were different….

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made? I lengthened it by 4 inches. Not because I’m tall but because I knew that I would belt it and I wanted a good showing from under the belt. Next time I make this, if I make the same sleeves, I will use a contrasting color on the inside of the sleeve.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I would. Both counts


Peace!

B5464

Peace.

You what you need to get your mojo back? Finished projects! Yes I accomplished a LOT this weekend. A lot. I finished B5464 and S2696. I found the denim for B5569 on the super low low ($20 for 5 yards!). And I found other discounted fabric for other projects.

I forgot that next month is the Allah’s Garden Chapter of Allah’s 5% Nation of Gods and Earths (I know a long name, from now on AG:NGE) and I plan on doing some vending. Which means I need to make some time to tighten up my inventory. I usually vend crowns and headwraps. I’m going to add on bags too. That’s new. Always trying to improve. I have some crowns made but they are yarn. Yarn is a bit warm. I’m going to get some pre-made beanies and add on to them. 5 Black, 5 gold and 5 white. That will be new for me. Lets see how they sell… I say all this to say my sewing this month will be abbreviated. But still here.

I’m wearing B5464 so lets get that blogged shall we?

Pattern: B5464

Description: Ladies Blouse

Size: I cut a 20

Did it look like the pattern envelope when you were done sewing it? Yes

Fabric: Cotton – Pink, on sale at Hobby Lobby for $2.75

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
My issues with the pattern were totally my own fault. I didn’t do a FBA. That was pure laziness on my part. But it does close… It just pulls. I love the buttons I chose. But I made the button holes too big. That can be fixed. I adore pink and I adore ruffles. And the ruffles are so big they hide the problems. So, other than those 2 snafus, I’d say I love it.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made? None. But I should have done a FBA. I know the next time.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I would. I’m keeping this. I already want one in yellow for next summer.


Tomorrow I plan on wearing S2696. And I will blog it then. Simply because I don’t have a picture of it yet. I also have a Vogue blouse cut. I am really moving forward on all this. And I’m geeked!


Peace!

Collette Challenge: Week 1

Define Challenge....

color palate

Skirts vs. Blouses by serenityearth featuring an asymmetrical skirt

Antik Batik shirts blouse
$135 - net-a-porter.com

Labour of Love cotton shirt
$109 - farfetch.com

LUISA BECCARIA organza blouse
£290 - theoutnet.com

Kaliko knee length pencil skirt
£55 - johnlewis.com

Flared skirt
atelier-mayer.com

Clemens en August asymmetrical skirt
£96 - theoutnet.com

Old People Style

Peace Good People!

I see y’all… With your fall mojo running. And mine is running too. Just in neutral. I can’t seem to want to do anything when I get home from work other than cook dinner (that man needs to learn) and sit on the sofa. ***sigh***

Ok.

This morning found me opening the trunk. Yes, I have a new fangled house with a walk-in closet… But I still do the old school of moving my summer/winter clothes back and forth. I wasn’t prepared for fall to be here so quickly. I thought I still had at least a month to ease into season swapping. Apparently not. I drove to work with the heat on this morning. I need to be cute in an adult way. I keep saying that. I need to MAKE it happen rather than just keep talking about it. I am a big proponent of age-appropriateness. My wardrobe is not so bad, but I notice when I go somewhere, I don’t have that easy sophisticatedness. I look like I’m trying or that I’m wearing someone else’s clothes. And I truly need to get it together. And I’m going to. At my age hoodies look like I’m trying to be young. I will myself to figure out my own personal old people style and rock it hardcore. Yes, I’m old people.

I have come up with what I hope will be a S.W.A.P. for me. Still using my pattern plans from a previous post. Follow me now…. My plan is to fill the gaps of my current wardrobe to reflect my new old person style. So here are my haves and needs in various categories….
SKIRTS
Have
Black (2)
Beige
Gray
Blue
Need
Brown
Red
Purple

BLAZERS/CARDIGANS
Have
Black B&C
Brown C
Mustard C
Red C*
Need
Brown B*
Red B
Blue?*

BLOUSES (seasonless)
Have
Green
Need
Blue/purple
Black/white
Beige
Red*
Pink*


SHOES
Need
Black Flats
Brown Flats
Black riding boots (Bornday Gift from Mommie!!!!)

At my age, I need to come down off the stilettos. It’s tearing up my uterus. And I ain’t done with it yet. And I need to take some shoes to the shop to be polished and repaired.

In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t wear pants. Long story. And it’s here somewhere… I think. Let me know if it isn’t. I tell y’all all my business. There are still dresses that will be made. I just don’t have a clear thought of what I need outside a LBD. And I have a pattern that I want to use already.

The asterisk means I do not have the fabric for these garments. This past weekend, I took advantage of Hancock’s sale and hooked myself up! I have patterns for days. I’m at the point where I don’t buy nearly as many as I used to. I finally have a good pattern stash. As you can see, I’m good for most things on the list. I do need to get some denim for my fall coat. But $12.99/yard and needing 5 yards… is holding me back. They had this really nice denim but it was light. Like a blouse. I wanted that denim, but I don’t want to line my jacket. Me and linings aren’t good friends yet. I’m waiting on Sheila to give a tutorial…. They had heavier denim but it wasn’t classy enough. I envision my old people style to be classy. I have a hood back up store. I’m a stalk them and see what they have. Their prices are usually very low, but so is their quality. And they have mystery fabrics…. But denim is denim…. right? And I haven’t decided what color the coat stitching should be…. I’m leaning on pink and green, but I should be over that. I don’t want to be an old sorror, still wearing too much para. Haven't quite figured how that fits into my old people style.

Now I need to figure out how to post the color palates for the Collete challenge. Shawnta?

Please help!!!!



Peace