So tired...

I went to class and sewed all day today and worked this evening. I should finish one full garment tomorrow. I would love to stay up and finish it tonight, but I need some time with my hubby. Plus, no one had their garments finished today, so I don't feel bad. I will post a picture when I have one outfit done.

I think I may do these cool linen pants next. Don't you just love linen?

A whole lot of sewing this week...

This first week of school has been insane!!! I am learning so much in a short period of time. Let me tell you why. Our teacher told us about a contest she would like us to enter with three separate looks by Monday, August 29. I have no idea if I will even be able to get the entries done, but I am busting my behind to do so. So far this week, I have only worked 25 hours, but I have been at school and at home sewing for 55 hours. I went to bed last night/this morning at 3:30 a.m. I work another 15 hours this weekend, and I am guessing I have about 35+ hours of work left on the garments. I am thinking I probably won't make the deadline, but it is worth a shot. I love a good challenge, but my fingertips are wishing I didn't.

Back to it...

Second day back, and it is all about the measuring tape.

We did all the front body measuring today in class, and I am super stoked that my waist measures 29!!! I know that is right by 30, but somehow, it just makes me feel good to see a 2 in the measurement. Later this week, we are going to be making the duck tape dress forms (will post a picture). I hope seeing mine will make me feel even better about my measurements and not worse, he he.

To note on Sunday when we went to visit our four-wheeler at the storage unit, I noticed that someone had placed a heads up penny on my stepboard on the jeepers. How nice is that? I feel like someone was wishing me luck in my school endeavors.

Back to school

Today, was my first day back after summer break, and I can't tell you how super stoked I am with the new instructor and new curriculum. We are going to get to make most anything we want to specialize in after we complete the course requirements. Also, I am being put in charge of the committee for researching and bringing in a fashion drawing artist. I can't wait! I am just so excited this school year has begun. I feel totally blessed to be given this second (or third or fourth if you consider all my other careers) chance in life to study something I am extremely passionate about.

Whew, whoooo, last weekend before I start school back.

I am so stoked to go back to school. I can't believe summer is almost over. I am really loving Orlando. So much to do and so little time!
Today, I wore this cool buck headband I made to work. Yeah, it really does have a buck on it. I have got to keep my West Virginia heritage alive. Pretty groovy.

I made this pretty ribbon scarf for a Christmas gift. I love the look of it. When you insert the ribbon, it gathers the scarf nicely. Used a simple single crochet on this with a super large hook. I love that hook. You can churn items out so quickly!

This is the first knitted purse I have ever made. I lined it and stitched on some handles. I think it is super cute. Also, I wanted the lining to peek out of the top, and I am thinking that looks cool.

So, we got these AWESOME African prints in the store. I adore them. I am not sure what I am going to make with them yet, but I will keep you all posted.

It's all about the accessories.

I have had so many great ideas, reading magazines and books, about making jewelry and headbands. Well, finally today, I put that knowledge to the test. I crafted for hours and hours on my day off, and it was glorious.
I made these first couple of bracelets out of items leftover from making my wedding dress.

This piece was leftover from the belt I made for my dress. I used vintage green velvet ribbon to tie it together.

This scallop is actually quite beautiful leftover from my train. The lace I used was the last bolt from the designer. It was so wonderful to work with and very forgiving.

This headband was wrapped in another belt I tried to use to add to my wedding dress that ended up failing. So, I wrapped it around the headband and hot-glued on a brown feather and applique. Can't wait to wear this one to school this year.

In case you missed it, or really, I just want to show it off again, along with my hubby, here is my wedding dress.

That's right. We are flexing our muscles outside of the wedding chapel AFTER we got married. It takes a lot of strength to take the leap, and I am thankful every day I did it with Bri.

Oh yeah, this is the back of my dress and the only shot we got of it. Actually, my mother-in-law, B.J. took this picture, thank goodness. See the beautiful scallops on the dress.

One more, so you can see the puddling of the train. Loved it. Oh yeah, that is my brother-(Adam) and sister-(Miranda)in-laws. They are sweet, and by the way, have the cutest kids ever.

I would wear that dress around cleaning my apartment, if I could!

Back to the accessories.

This is a sleeve from a black dress shirt that I decorated to make a cool wristband. These buttons were given to me when my Grandma Sally passed away. She had some pretty cool pieces.

This was made from the other sleeve of the black dress shirt, and tulle leftover from the underskirt of my wedding dress was used to highlight it.

I wanted you to see that on the bottom inside of my dress, Bri picked out a trim that looks like coins, since we were going to Vegas.
Bet 1 for bad.
Bet 2 for good.

Just finished working 9 days in a row, and I am so stoked for my day off tomorrow of endless possibilities.

When I was back in Savannah, I drew a picture of this jacket, and then with Emily's direction, I flat patterned it, made it out of muslin, patterned it again and created this jacket that I love!

I made bound buttonholes for this jacket. They take some time, but they look pretty darn cool. Here is a close up for ya.


My friend Renee from knitting talked to me about making a scarf out of her scraps. Well, I had more than enough to make a scarf, so I decided to make a runner for my sewing table. Well actually, I wanted to put it in our new apartment in the bathroom, but Bub was not so sure about that material for a bathroom, and I have to agree with him. So, the rug picks up all my thread scraps for me in my sewing area, ha!

I love this shirt of mine that I got at Goodwill, but it had belt loops on it, and I didn't necessarily want to use them. But, I didn't want to waste that cute material either. So, I decided awhile back to take the belt loops off and cover barrettes with them.And of course, it took me more than a year to do it, he he.

So whatcha, whatcha, whatcha want?

I have this Beastie Boys t-shirt I love, but of course, I outgrew it. So, I found this pattern in a book, man I wish I could remember what book it was, and I remember reading about a cool way to increase the size of too tight t-shirts.I took one of my hubby's dress shirts he doesn't wear anymore and expanded the use of my favorite t-shirt. Pretty sweet, eh?

Also, I made these awhile back, but I wanted to share with you the idea of making quick pillows out of placemats and napkins you can get on sale with just a few of them. For like $3.00 you can have sweet new pillows!

I love the different textures, and really, if the seams are finished well, you could have brand new spanking pillows in your place in 15 minutes.

Quick curtains. I love, love, love this material we got in the store. It feels like heaven.

It must be some kind of pima cotton. It has old world maps, Spanish writing and gods and goddesse on it. It was amazing to sew. So soft.

More to come down the road. I am still trying to get my unfinished projects done before school Monday. Wish me luck!

Cutting off all day long!

I love being able to go to stores, usually thrift stores, and buy items that I now know how to change and make my own. This first skirt I bought at a local Goodwill that I really enjoy visiting is a mary-kateandashley piece, ha! It was an extremely long denim skirt. Not my style. But, I liked the top embroidery waistband, and I knew I could cut it off and make it look more stylish for me.

What a great design they had, that I just made a little more me. Also, I wanted to let it peel away on the bottom some more, but I needed to stop it at a certain point. So, I used my Husqvarna to add a maroon flower stitch along the bottom.

I need to play around with my very nice Husqvarna gift that Lindsey gave me, because I want to make my embroidery stitches more even. But, I also wanted to give an edge to the skirt, so I seam-ripped and washed it to fray more. I think it looks cool now for an older lady like me.

I have enough leftover and found a pattern to make a purse out of the leftover denim of the skirt someday down the road!

On this skirt, I bought it at a vintage clothing store in Savannah. It was wayyyy too long. So I chopped it off! I added a rolled hem at the bottom, and now it looks super chic. Whomever made this before, did a wonderful job sewing it. And what an awesome vintage pattern on the fabric.

There is so much fabric leftover I may have enough to make my mom a skirt.

Whew...more unfinished projects to come. School starts back full-time next week. So pumped to sew my heart out every day. I know I made the right decision changing my path in life. I have no regrets...although it would be nice to have money leftover for cable someday, he he! But, I have enough old DVDs to play while I sew away!

New knitting and crocheting techniques. I just love learning something NEW!

I have learned a new crocheting technique. Check out this wave pattern Tanya taught me last weekend.

Pretty sweet, huh? I am doing another WVU baby blanket, so the next large wave will be in blue. I don't know if anyone else if having this problem, but my favorite cheap blue yarn from Wal-Mart by Peaches & Cream is no longer available. That just stinks. Well, I got a denim to replace it, so I am sure the baby won't care about what blue he/she will be puking on.

On a side note about West By God Virginia. I was at a local Goodwill here. Yes, I am still a committed Goodwill shopper and donator. I mean, what an incredible organization. Anyway, I saw a woman with a WVU sticker on her vehicle, four-wheel drive of course. If you are from the foothills of WV, you know you need four-wheel drive. Anyways, she was from Charleston, and we were talking about how beautiful it is there in the fall. Oh, how I miss the beautiful changing leaves of WV. She was so pleasant, like all other West Virginians. What a wonderful state.

So, this incredible graphic artist my hubby has the privilege to work with recreated a logo for the sewing store. She did such a nice job that I decided to knit her a Gryffindor scarf. She loves HP like I do. I researched online, and it suggested to use a double knit. Well, I have never done that one, and I love that people take time to do these instructional videos online. www.knitwitch.com I found today guided me right through the process. I LOVE IT!

I know it doesn't look like much now, but the cool thing is that it will look the same on both sides!
On my way to Baltimore to see friends from grade school and junior high. I couldn't be any more excited.