Off and running for the holidays...

The holidays are quickly approaching, and boy, do I have a lot to do. But, I have a lot done already. So much to post and so little time. I knitted and crocheted several scarves, which I love making.

I can't wait to post and to talk about the other items I have been sewing. Holler at ya later!

I'm a graduate, and I am off running...

Oh my goodness, graduation has come and gone, and I am still super busy.

Here is me ready to go to graduation. I loved how the altered dress came out. I felt so special that night. It was incredible to walk with my classmates and friends. It felt wonderful to have my family there to support me. What was the biggest surprise was having a video speech congratulations from Bill Cosby!

Now onto rhinestoning!
I rhinestoned this bridal gown that was originally her mother's dress. I love how the lace sparkled.

Today, I learned how to make a juliet cap. It is made on the bias with a stiffer buckram on the inside and a thinner buckram on the bias tape outside. I love learning to make new things, especially from an expert!!

my last week of school

One of my high school classmates said it best, it is a bitter sweet feeling. I am relieved and exhausted, so I want to graduate and reach my end goal. But on the other hand, I have so much more to learn and I don't feel I have had enough time with my friends. They inspire me and push me. I feel like the ride was way too short. But, then on the other hand, I think I have so much that lies ahead. I am excited for my future, wherever that takes me. I don't know where I am going to be next year or what I am going to be doing, but I know I can't go back now.

I love sewing. I have found my passion. You know, I use to be really into communications/marketing. But, it didn't last. I feel I was as successful as I allowed myself to be. It took me as far as it could. With sewing, I feel for once, in a very long time, that I have so many options. I feel my future and my potential is unlimited. It is hard to let go of the past and all the successes and failures I have experienced, but I know there is something new for me down the road. I really don't know what it is going to be, but the prospect of it is wonderful to dream about.

Before I went to college for journalism, all I wanted to do was dance. Quite honestly, I was a mediocre dancer. It's not to say that I didn't look great onstage, because I was all smiles. But, my technique was no where near what it could have been. Being a professional dancer at amusement parks and seeing other people's techniques and styles made me a much better performer/dancer. And, I was a wonderful dance teacher. It inspired me to see my students work toward something and achieve their goals. That was my satisfaction.

Then, I went onto college, and I thought, well, I will go full throttle, as I usually do, into my studies and then eventually my work. And, yes, I feel very proud of my career and what I accomplished. But, personally, I was not inspired nor satisfied at the end. It is not that I didn't work with incredibly gifted people or that the companies were not some of the most successful. I think I just saw something different for myself. I was the cog that needed to get off the wheel.

This year, I became myself again. Not just educationally, but personally, too. I laugh more. I tell jokes more. I don't fret about everything I say because of how it may look professionally. I am myself again, a better, more creative self. And, I have found that people like me more, and I like myself more. If nothing else ever happens out of this experience, I will always have that. But, I pray my future is bright and full of opportunities even I couldn't have dreamed of.

This little lady is graduating.

I am so stoked I am graduating Tuesday. I really feel like I have earned it. I have put my heart and soul into this year. It has been an incredible year. This year has been a gift that I was given. My hubby was so supportive. My teacher promoted a creative environment. My family made sure I was awake going from school to work, to school to work....My classmates inspired and pushed me. I wouldn't take this whole experience back for anything. I will always remember this year in a positive life.

Next, I hope I am onto something new that challenges me and continues to educate me...Onward.

Graduation dress complete

Okay, I have to agree with my classmates now, adding a little bling really completes a garment. I added on this rhinestone applique that my girlfriends/coworkers helped me pick out at work. I think it looks stunning. I am just so excited to graduate. I am so proud of myself.

As Tia would say, bedazzle it girl!

So I decided to listen to Tia today and get some finishing details for my graduation dress. I bought this beautiful rhinestone applique to put on the front. I have this placed on some red fabric to visualize it, but it is going on the front of my black silk dress where the velvet trim is located. Doesn't it just pop? I think my girlfriend is going to be proud.

Then, to add a nice elegant look to my hair, I bought this bow/clip on clearance. I have wanted this since it came into the store months ago. I love our bridal notions.

I am truly excited for graduation. I feel so daggone proud of myself and all of my accomplishments this year.

Graduation dress alterations

So, I think I mentioned that I bought my graduation dress at a thrift store for $3.93. It is 100% silk, and I love it. Well, I had to make a couple of darts in the back, take up the hems of the silk outer layer with a rolled hem and the polyester chiffon lining with a narrow hem. Since I had approximately 5+ inches of leftover width in silk and chiffon, I decided to use it to make a nice scarf accented with a velvet trim. I love not wasting beautiful fabric. Every alteration allows for scraps to be made into something new.

I love upcycling!

Graduation is acoming!

I can't believe I am 2 weeks away from graduation. I am so stoked. My family is coming down to see me, and I can't wait. I have the cap and gown, my technical honor society tassel and the tickets. Today, I even altered a silk BR dress I found in a thrift store for $3.93 for the event!

Back to important catch-up items. First fashion show at school, a success! I loved being onstage with my hubby. He is such a great sport and an even better hubby. Okay, I went to Skills and won silver. You probably saw that post with me sitting in the audience with my medal. I'm such a dork. Then, we had our Fashion Square mall fashion show. Oh, it was absolutely the most exhilarating thing I have done in years. I felt so creative in getting my garments completed. I mean, I just felt like a million bucks. Look at the footage here, thanks to my girlfriend Julie. (FYI, she has the cutest and most well-behaved baby ever. I pray when we have a little nugget, he is that awesome!)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E47QALWD3LQ&feature=youtu.be

We had students from Westside Tech come and do our hair and make-up. They were wonderful.

At Fashion Square, we got to set up Designer rooms. Here is my room!

That was cool to have my own area. The whole fashion show experience was a ton of work, but totally worth it. I am just so proud of myself. I haven't been able to say that for years.

Next was my big induction into the Technical Honor Society. WHEWWWWHOOOOO!

My parents would be so proud!

Then, it culminated with my BIG 35th BIRTHDAY!

My girlfriend Toye let me borrow her birthday hat. I felt so cool wearing that all day at school and then at work. Life is truly blessing me right now.

This past year has truly changed my life for the better. You know you think your life is headed one way, and then you go the complete opposite way. I am so glad I went down the road less traveled. It is going to add years to my life and happiness.

Back from Skills, on my way to Fashion Square Mall!!

Okay, let me just say this, I was hesitant to go to the state Skills competition. I didn't know if it would appeal to an older crowd. I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It was well planned. The events were organized to the T. My competitors in my division were extremely creative. It was a wonderful challenge for me, and....

That's right. I won the silver medal. Let me just say there were tough competitors. The gentleman who won, did an awesome presentation of hair and fashion. The very nice lady who placed bronze did a CPR demonstration. I feel proud to be among these winners. Next time though, maybe I won't talk so much and go over the time limit! Of course if anyone knows me, I am sure they wouldn't be shocked to know that I couldn't be quiet!!!

Now, I am off to Fashion Square mall for our fashion show this evening. I couldn't be more excited. I mean, life is good. Hectic, but good.

On my way to Skills

I leave Monday morning for Skills. I am making some changes to my job skills demonstration. Shouldn't take me long to get that completed.

Today, I am finishing up Bub's linen/denim cargo pants to wear in the next fashion show Friday. I can't wait for him to get home to try them on. I think he will look awesome in them.

I am actually looking forward to the bus ride for Skills. I plan to crochet, read and sleep!

On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again....

First fashion show a success!

I had a blast tonight. I think the show went really well. It was a wonderful feeling hearing people clap for the garments that my models were wearing. I mean, I just feel like a million bucks right now!

These are my wonderful friends and fellow designers, Yariz and Hector. They are awesome people. I admire them both. Hector is incredible at fitting garments on people of all sizes. He has been given that gift. Yariz is very meticulous in her sewing. She makes me want to be a better seamstress. I am blessed to have spent the past year with them.

On to state Skills competition in Pensacola and another fashion show at Fashion Square mall next week...

1 day until the fashion show

I can't believe it. It is one day until the fashion show, and I am exhausted and exhilarated. I finished Bri's jacket. This was a miracle. It is my final sewing project for school. I feel so accomplished. I am also so proud of myself for not procrastinating as much on this project. I feel like there is hope for me to not be a procrastinator forever. I am relieved. I know the show will go as well as it can. And my hubby can wear his jacket in the fashion show. Life is good.

4 days until the first fashion show

Oh my goodness, I am totally exhausted, but I am running on adrenaline. It is so exciting and a bit overwhelming at the same time. I doubt I will get my tailored jacket done, but I am going to have my hubby wear a dress shirt, tie and jeans I made(making him). I can always get it done for the second show at Fashion Square mall. Onto to work and more hand-stitching tonight. I told him when I get this jacket done for him, that he can never change in size, ha!

Video being completed for the fashion show

My assignment is to work with the video team to get videos completed for all of the students with a spotlight in the fashion show next week. Well, it has been quite a bit of work, but I think it has been so worth it. The video students at school are amazing. I lucked out with the best editor, and I saw a preview of my video today. I was blown away. Ian is a gifted artist. He made me look good! I can't wait for the fashion show next week. I wish it was happening today.....only if someone could help me get all this daggone hand-stitching done for my hubby's jacket!

1 week away from our first fashion show...

It is a race to the finish line. This weekend I spent 28 hours sewing, and I worked all day Saturday. I really want to do whatever I can to make my fashion line look good for the show. I care so much about the garments I am putting in. I just pray I get them done.

Tomorrow I have another fitting for a stretch skirt and tank to go with my owl jacket. I'm sewing the rolled hem tonight (fingers crossed) on my serger for the tank. I am going to try it this time with the woolly nylon. I think it should look much better.

Also tonight, I have to hand-stitch the felt in my hubby's jacket. That is my goal for this evening after work. Wish my luck!

Working away on items for the fashion shows

Oh wow, I am trying so hard to work every free evening on sewing for the fashion show. Today, I finished a skirt. It was a total dud. I mean, it looked horrible on. I should have made it 2 sizes smaller. Well, I threw it aside and decided to make something totally different. I whipped up a stretch skirt with a ruffle. Well, that was a big stresser, too because I didn't really have enough fabric. I had to stretch it to make it work. It looks fine. Then, I made a halter top to go underneath of the reversible owl jacket I made previously. I think it will be a nice outfit for the fashion show.
Lesson learned, sometimes you have to let go of a failure and move on. Don't hang onto the disappointment of the item. Make something different and ultimately better.

Oh my goodness...way too long to not be on the blog!

A ton has happened in the past couple of months, so blogging had to come to a standstill. Let me just summarize what has transpired...

• Lost our first internet connection
• Gained a new connection for 2 weeks
• Lost our new connection....a month passed
• Got our new internet connection....now we are on our own and trucking away at using the net.

As for sewing,

• Won gold at Skills USA...going to Pensacola at the end of this month to compete in the state competition
• Won four ribbons and money at the fair for my sewing garments
• Also rode a camel at the fair....just as impressive
• Went to the driving range, hit a few good balls, but many bad balls
• Went to Daytona Beach with some friends and got to hang out in a million dollar condo on the beach, (not mine of course, but one can always dream)
• Our apartment rental company went out of business and fell off the face of the earth. We just got a new rental company and extended our lease through April. What a relief. I thought we were going to have to move while I was competing at the state Skills event. 
• Taking a couple of Lycra classes from a master at work. She is by far the queen of stretch. Because of this, I fell in love with my serger. I mean, I am all about the stretch garments now. Check out this dress I made in class.

• My hubby and I took pictures and designed a portfolio for my sewing work. 

• I painted a picture that we attached to the portfolio binder for the front of the portfolio.

• We went to Myrtle Beach to visit my dad who was sick and is getting better. Bobs got a new bed out of the deal.

• I took a bindings class at work and learned a very valuable lesson. Make sure to stitch the front along with the batting to the back of your wall hangings, ha!
• Oh, and I have 2 fashion shows quickly approaching. I have to get a skirt made, t-shirt, tailored men's jacket, redo the sleeves with plackets on a men's dress shirt, make cargo pants and shorten Brian's tie for the first show April 23...yikes...time flies by when you are sewing.

So much going on, so little time

It has been one busy week, and I am not going to lie to you. I am exhausted. I am getting ready for the Skills competition, and I finished my tulle underskirt.

It is removable, so I will be able to use it under other skirts.

Also for the community service project for a pregnant battered women's room at a local hospital, I made this unisex baby blanket.

I ruffled the edges and used a variegated yarn. I double-crocheted it.

I used the pattern of single, double, and then on the opposite side, I double-crocheted in the single and single-crocheted in the double. I used pima cotton and bamboo. Should be super soft for the babies-to-be!

This week, we celebrated friendship Valentine's Day at school. My girlfriend Simone made an incredible spread for us.

She is a gifted cook. She is from Haiti, and I am blessed to get to taste all of her nummy food.

That night I had to work, so we planned to go to a local BBQ restaurant that has the best friend pickles. Well, it wasn't open past 8 p.m., and since I don't get home from work until 9 p.m. that was out of the question. We tried to go to a steakhouse, but the wait was 55 minutes, and I was starving! We lucked out into the best Italian restaurant I have eaten at, since I left Clarksburg.

Let me just say that after being spooled by my girlfriend's mom Frankie growing up, I can be kind of picky with Italian food. But, this by far, is incredible Italian food. I had a creamy tomato penne with homemade Italian bread. My hubby had veal parmigiana and loved it, as well. Highly recommend this ristorante!!

Who's getting ready for Skills USA?

This gal. I am competing in the Action Skills category as a sewing presenter. I am going to demonstrate how to make a woman's skirt out of a men's dress shirt. I wrote the script Friday and am going to start rehearsing after I finish up shorts for Bub this week. My competition is Thursday, March 1. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

And, I am crocheting a baby blanket for the Skills USA school community service project. We are redoing a room in a hospital for a battered woman and her new baby. I hope the blanket may add some comfort for the baby and mama bear.

Get ur swimsuit done!

Yes, I got my sexy swimsuit completed, and I love it.

I sewed the elastic on with my own serger, and now I can do the swimsuit on my own.

I think it is a beautiful swimsuit.

The side cut out was not difficult to do. I think I got the elastic perfect on this.

I double-lined the crotch area and fully lined the whole suit. It came out so nicely.

...and onto the swimsuit

I finished up another top and panties. I LOVE THEM. The material is so silky smooth. I love it.

The top is a tube top. Super stretchy comfortable.

The underwear are super cute with the black, stretch, scalloped elastic.
And, I finally started my swimsuit.

My teacher taught me how to put the free-floating cups in the lining.

In order to better understand how to make adjustments on the serger, I brought mine into class. And, my littler serger man icon that sits on the tension wheel watched over me while I sewed. Can't wait to post the finished product.

More lingerie....

I am feeling like a million bucks today. I completed more lingerie and love working on it. They came up with a new nickname for me at school today. Pantie Princess. I LOVE IT!

I love the delicate pink lace I used in this.

I made this top and bottom out of blue velvet spandex. I accented it with a pink, single-scallop elastic, polka-dotted ribbon and a glitter heart button in the center. More importantly, I used glitter letters on the back...

Yes, I ironed on MRS. CHAPMAN. I love being married to Brian. He is the best man I know. I thanked God for him yesterday. He is the best gift I have ever been given.

Cat party at the Chapman's today! WHEWWW

So, Bub sent me this picture of Bobs with his "friends" that came over to "hang out" with him today while I was at work.

First notice the stationery position of Bobbers, always watching safely from the window. Well, today, the window was open, and the cats took notice. We have our usual friend on top of the garbage collection tub who weighs 1/3 of Bobs size and is always around now. By the way, even though this cat weighs much, much less than my fat nugget, Bobs still growls at him. Then, you can see another calico cat that looks like my old cat Bosstudsic. I have never seen this guy before. Then, back in the distance, take note of the orange cat that I just met today. I mean these cats all came together to chat/taunt my cat. Either way, it makes me feel like our cat is popular.

more underwear

Man, I love the instant gratification of making underwear. And more importantly, I love using the four-thread serger.

I love them, because they are made using a double-scalloped lace. It is so simple and easy to sew. The hardest part, if you can call it that, is putting in the lining with a zigzag. I plan to make many more.

My Valentine's Day lingerie is complete.

I love working on lingerie, but it can be tricky. I think mine turned out nicely with the added trims and appliques.

I love the velvet spandex.

The double fold elastic decorative trim was extremely tough to work with on the velvet. But, I think it added a soft touch to the garment.

I made the elastic straps cross in the back. I like the look and wear of that.

I put the heart appliques on the back corner and on the top. I think they are so cute. I just hope I keep getting better and better at working with spandex.

I will never buy store-bought underwear again.

Lingerie is the best instant gratification in sewing. Today, I made two pairs of panties and will finish a nightie tomorrow. I am looking forward to working with the lingerie elastic tomorrow. I love Lycra. I hope I continue to increase my knowledge base on it. Also, I am in love with the rolled hem machine and woolly nylon thread. It is pretty much the coolest finish ever. I used variegated thread on this pair.

...and the gown is finished.

I can finally say I am done with the gown. It was a long journey, but it was one that I needed to take. There are so many imperfections I cannot even count them. But, I am just realizing that it is going to take time. I have to be patient with myself.

I love the dye job I gave it. I really enjoy dyeing fabric and trims. I think if I did it again, I would make the center piece separate as my teacher discussed with me today. It is just so daggone thick. I like it. It is a cool, totally different gown.

A tribute to Linda...

Tonight was my girlfriend Linda's last night at the store. I can honestly say I am going to miss her. We have had many good laughs together. She is a blessing to all. As a tribute to her, I rocked the dress she gave me. Everyone loved it.

Every time I use the Oreck XL I will think of Linda. 

So happy today for sew many reasons

Okay, I am not completely done with my gown, but I am pertinear there. Check out my cool, totally different, gown.

I still have to finish with the zipper and do the rolled hem, but it is looking sweet. And let me say this, it is really looking sweet on my new vintage dress form!!!! I mean, I haven't been this happy/excited for a long time. I earned that money with the big ALF costume win and was saving it. Bub said go for it and buy this vintage dress form online, and I am totally stoked. Life just gets better each and every day.

Next week, I start my second semester at school. In honor of it, I wore my family's headband to school today.

My favorite grandpa's great grandmother was Native American. I don't have much details about this part of my ancestry, but I loved him with my whole heart. He gave me my sense of humor. And, I like a good headband!

Oh man, I have got to get this gown finished!

Listen, I like this project, but it is time for me to be done with this flimsy silky polyester gown I am constructing. I love the way it looks, but I want something firm to sew. I am going to put an orange and brown rolled hem on the bottom of the gown. I think that will look awesome with my dye job. I need to put in the invisible zipper. Finish the lining. And, finally rip out the millions of basting stitches!
Velvet lycra, here I come....

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Shalley is soooooooooo sleepy today. I mean, at one point, I put my top half of my body across the cutting board and just collapsed. It felt so good.

Thank God Simone made me some lunch to perk me up before I go in on my night shift. I love chicken and rice!
I just have to remember that I have Friday off as a teacher work day. And, I am meeting my hubby and girlfriend for Thai food. What a great way to spend the day!