a thankful confession

Am I thankful?

Not always, I confess.

Getting caught up in the day to day world of work and more work, wants and desires, keeping up with keeping up, and trying to find three more hours in a day can sometimes suck the thankfulness out of me and I have to hit pause, rewind, and begin a conscious recognition of all that I have and how little I really need.

While I long to have more meaningful relationships with family and friends, I pause to remember that I already have many of them that are covered in love, healing, honesty, forgiveness and joy…and I’m thankful for that.

When I feel lonely or forgotten, or sorry for myself, I pause to remember that I need to reach out to others and share what I have with those that are discouraged, alone or without hope.

I think on the blessings of grandbabies and the hope of their future.

I think on the moments of Life Sharing just in the last week….an idea, a tearful confession, a special found gift, an offering for a cause for which I may never witness the result, a song, a story, a book, a paintbrush. A phonecall, a text, a hug, silent moments. Vanilla from the pantry of a neighbor, God’s love, a surprise, the support of friends. A kind word and a full belly. A comfortable home.

Not a bad life for someone who can forget that from time to time.

I hope your week is filled with opportunities to remember blessings large and small

And, my finished jacket!

I am totally in love with this re-styled jacket!  I was also SO thrilled to get it done in time to enter it into the Pattern Review Refashion/Repurpose Contest!  What a fun batch of projects that have been entered!

    The voting starts on 11/17/2012, so please stop by the Pattern Review site and vote on your favorite!

I am CRAZY about this jacket. It's totally on trend with the mixed media look, but still classic in it's own way. I love the fit, and the fact that it only cost me:

jacket: $4.00 ( half off day!)
fur collar: $.99
sweater: $1.99
1/2 yard faux leather : $4.25 (Joann's $8.49 a yard on sale)
2 7" pocket zippers: $3.25 (Joann's 50% off)
1 18" separating zipper: $4.75 (Joann's 50% off)

And that is why I love to re-style/re-fashion!

                                Thanks for voting at the Pattern Review Contest site starting Saturday!

closing in on the finish...

Are you tired of seeing these jacket makeover details?  No worries, my next post will be the finished jacket!
I have been re-fashioning for quite awhile. In fact, I talk about that quite a bit in a chat with Lori in the Sew Forth Now Podcast  that you can listen to here:
 Return to Sewing 

I guess I like to share this whole process because so many people are intimidated by doing a re-fashion of an existing garment, when really, with sewing experience, you can do so much with the knowledge you have. It doesn't matter if you are a novice ( shorten or take in a thrift skirt, shirt or dress and add trims, change buttons)

(buttons changed, sides taken in)

(seams taken in, a complimentary store bought pin added to neckline)

 an intermediate seamstress (add sleeves to a sleeveless dress,  remove sleeves from a jacket to make a vest,  attach a skirt of your own fabric to an existing shirt)

 (elastic rows inserted in waist)

(thrifted blouse fused with seersucker fabric from stash)

(Sleeves removed from coat)

 or  more advanced ( remaking an entire jacket into a new design)....like I'm doing now!
With most of us being budget conscious, it's such a cool way to fashion a new garment for very little expense. Or to hone your tailoring skills, or to just let your imagination run wild. Add a zipper, change a seam, put in a pocket...you can do it!

In this edition of my Jacket Re-Fashion for the Pattern Review Contest,  I am doing some joushing details to complete my design. 

                 I have added faux leather binding to the front opening of the jacket...next I will add a zipper.

And at the last minute, I decided to insert some zippered pockets:

I marked the placement:

made the pocket zipper opening:

 attached a pocket bag and inserted the pockets into the jacket, welt style. Sort of. I really did wing it with this technique. I broke some of the welt-pocket rules in order to get them in, but hey, I get to put the pocket in any way that I want to, right?

When all of this was done, I hand stitched my lining back in place where it was needed. My fingers hurt...I forgot to wear a thimble and good grief, all that faux leather....

So, the last step is to finish that zipper front and add my removable fur collar...and show you the finished jacket tomorrow!

Have you ever tried your hand at re-design/re-fashion?

more jacket re-fashion details...it's like magic!

As the jacket re-fashion continues, I'm getting more and more excited about the outcome. And I need to get a move-on! Only three days left!  There are some really great contest entries, so I hope you all check them out and vote on your favorite.

 So, here are more construction details for my Pattern Review Re-Fashion Contest:

After the Great Jacket Deconstruction,  I added  faux leather inserts  into the side seams. Let me explain something. I started with a size 12 Ann Taylor Jacket. That size is too small for this body, so I needed to come up with a way to make it fit me and at the same time, have it be a design detail. Why not choose a jacket that was just my size, you may wonder?  Well, I like the fabric, and I like the front closure and collar...which will be perfect for what I intend to do later.

So, I started pinning the faux leather in place in the side seams, connecting front and back of the jacket. Then I tweaked the fit by  re-pinning until I was satisfied. 

After sewing the seams, I used my serger to finish them. Later, I'll re-attach the original lining to these newly created seams.

To continue this faux leather design element, I decided that I wanted to add a strip down the center back of my jacket. To do this,  I first opened the seam where the collar joins the jacket back.

(looking from the outside of the jacket)

(and from the inside)

I basically freed the collar from the body of the jacket, just enough to be able to insert a 1 1/2" strip of faux leather plus the seam allowances. Then the back seam was split open, leaving the lining intact.

Speaking of seam allowances, it's rather interesting what you find when you de-construct a ready to wear jacket.  One side of the center back seam was actually less than a 1/4"!

No lie! If I had worn this jacket and sneezed, the back seam would have split apart!

Anyway, that got corrected. 

Next, I trimmed the back pieces so that the new strip, when inserted, wouldn't change the width of the jacket back. I sewed the faux leather strip to each side of the back seam:

Perfect!  Then all I had to do is reattach the collar!

The sleeves were cut from  a ribbed turtleneck sweater. Easy peasy..I just cut them out, leaving myself about a 3/8" seam allowance, and then sewed the sleeves into the jacket:

I used my serger to finish these seams.

I'm really liking the results so far.... next step? Trimming out the front and adding a zipper, then attaching that cute little faux collar!

I can't wait to show you!

re-fashion contest at Pattern Review: my plan

Sometimes, I wonder where my head is. With holidays coming, and always a million and one things to do, I decided to take a job sewing six sets of matching girls’ and dolls’ nightgowns for a co-worker. But honestly, I’m a wee bit excited about it, because they are adorable, easy to sew and an opportunity for me to be creative and add some additional cuteness to each set. It also doesn't hurt that I’m getting paid well to do this job!

But first, I have yards and yards of draperies to alter for my girl….which is also, in a weird way, a very relaxing and fun thing for me to do.

And, as if I needed to put any more pressure of a deadline on myself: I have entered the Pattern Review Re-Fashion Contest.

I LOVE upcycling, re-designing, making something wonderful from something cast-off. While I haven’t done much of that lately, I have done several re-style projects in the last few years. So, my eyes have been pealed for the perfect parts to make a mixed media jacket. And earlier this week, I hit the jackpot of thrift finds:

A Jacket and fur collar,

a ribbed knit sweater,

and I will also be using a purchased piece of faux leather.

I’m really getting excited to see how it will all come together.

So a few nights ago,  I put my seam ripper to use and de-constructed that jacket, leaving as much of the lining intact as I could.

It's a mystery as to what will become of all this! It's like I had all the pieces, and I knew they would work together, but I just couldn't picture the final composition.  I really hadn't had the complete plan worked out until today while I was getting a massage....that's when it all came together in my noggin.

Of course, cleaning had to be put on hold. Painting projects got pushed aside. There were sandwiches for dinner instead of chicken and biscuits and homemade applesauce.

There was no reason to stress about my jacket....I knew I would formulate a strategy. I just needed  the right atmosphere and a relaxed mind...another  reason why massage is an important thing in life.

Stay tuned!

Jane Jetson called and wants her wardrobe back

Is anyone else glad it's Friday?  This has been an exceptionally long week.

So, yesterday, I was browsing at Kohl’s during my lunch break…mosting interested in seeing the new Narsisco Rodriquez line . I have to say, I was impressed. The quality seemed to be up a notch from some of the other brands that they carry. Most impressive were the ponte knit pieces. The ponte was that kind of ponte that we all try to find to sew with. The finishing was nicely done and the designs very current, colorful and classic in their own way.

With only 45 minutes to browse, I grabbed a selection  of several pieces to try.The ponte dresses?

 While very beautifully made, they were not for me or my body type. ( in fact, the white dress actually made me laugh out loud at myself...I was channeling Joan Jetson)

Oh, my word.

They just felt a little too techno/Devo for me. But that’s just me. And there were only two styles from which to choose, to be fair  But I do give the ponte fabric a two thumbs up.

The jacket?

A real winner…very nicely made, extra details and good design for the price ( especially if you get that extra 30% off coupon). I think I could have gone down a size, but this is still a little boxy for me.  (I think the online longer version is just too cute to pass up, though... in case anyone is interested)

The sweaters? Not so much…just as flimsy as all the other Kohl's sweaters,  in my opinion.

Some of the tops were very nice. I actually came home with a long sleeve tee/tunic that has orange contrast stripes down the side. The fit was nice, and well, it was a cute little upgrade on a basic tee/tunic

I did notice that there were several more pieces from this collection online than there were in the local store…many of which I would have been interested in trying.  Overall, even though it's not entirely my style,  it's a nice little collection for Kohl's.  The colors are incredible, the design is modern, the fabrics not so bad. I like the quality for the price, and  the constuction details.

And really, the only reason I  shop on my lunch hour is to study the details and then see what I can translate to my own sewing.

Now, I'm looking forward to an exceptionally long weekend.

my LBLTPD (little black lace two piece dress)

Seriously, I don't think I will tire of these two patterns any time soon. An employee dress-up event called for something special, but not so special that I couldn't wear the pieces again in other ways:

                                                   I used Vogue 8815 for the lace peplum top.

I scooped out the neckline a little, and made the top the same way I made this top in knits. No zipper. The seams were all serged to finish. I could not have made an outfit any more quickly. 

After serge finishing the neckline, I just rolled it under and handstitched the finish. I also finished the sleeves and hem the same way. I love that the look of this top can change with different color cami's underneath.

The skirt is Simplicity 2475, with modifications for knits as I have described in previous posts. 

It's pretty doggone cute...it's current and classic at the same time...what's not to love?

So, now my challenge will be to mix it up and wear the pieces in some unexpected ways...

any ideas?