Stepping Outside the Box

The Good thing about designing anything is the freedom. Everybody's mind has the freedom to explore what they want to explore.Some people interpret what they see very differently than others. That is why we have a different view of fashions. I see some apparel that I wouldn't dare attempt to put on that same outfit may be a beauty to someone else. This brings me to the outfits that I am going to post. My sister loves strips, polka dots, my mother loves everything, I am the Plain Jane. I decided to step outside the box on these designs. I hope you like them if you are not so sure that is perfectly understandable

Suede Skirt Decontruction

This is pictures of a deconstruction that i did on a skirt that i have had for over 10 years or more. As a mater of fact i have 2 of these skirts just different color. I decided to figure out what can i make that will be wearable for another 10 plus years. This is what i came up with. Not the best construction but OK enough to wear.

Sewing In September

Sew as you know by know we are having a sewing challenge
@  https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewwhatchaknow/. We started out with 8 potential members but end up actually the first week only myself and Lori Hilburn doing the challenge. The gift card give away is going to be really easy if she finishes out the challenge. For those that did not get a chance to do it there will be other chances.

Here is what Lori made for Week 1 she decided to use 2 different patterns

make a top in to a dress was the challenge. she did a fantastic job

change or add something on the top she tried and attempt to but still very cute

This was what I made for week 1

I decided to use 1 pattern for both my garments

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My Beautiful Sewing Table

Ok Ok OK Soo 
I saw this sewing table on my facebook  group (Sew Whatch Know) site which lead me to this blog How I Organized my sewing Room and I decided about a month ago that I wanted to make this table even if I had to buy 1 table at a time.
Well I came across a little change(money) and decided to start buying them. What a sweet hubby I have he decided that I should buy all 12 tables @7.99 apiece.(IKEA) I actually wanted to get the pink or turquoise table.(but beggers can't be choosy lol),  The color and high gloss tables are 12.99.

So I got my table home could not wait to get started. Took them out of the packaging, The Instruction were very easy but give you a hand and arm work out. By the time I was finished putting the tables together I wanted to go to bed but I was too excited.

Got them all put together, The instructions called for holes to be drilled on the 4 legs of the tables and on top of the corner edge of the tables, and dowel inserted in the whole to keep the tables together. My husband did the first one it came out ok BUT the top table did not  go all the way flat together.  The second set he stated to drill the drill went down to far in the leg, Guess what? the legs are hollow. So when putting the dowels in the fell threw the hole.

The Big Bright Idea
So I had thought about gluing them together but for some reason I did not think that it would take. Hubby said " well I think you are gonna have to glue it together" My instant thought was glue will insure that the tables will be even . Went to Wal-Mart to get the infamous Gorilla Glue. Now we are talking the big dog of glues, Let me tell you this is some bad stuff it only takes a little dab and that will do it,
I glue them 2 together let them dry 24 hours, the put them together. I use zip ties (industrial) to tie them together see the pictures



 

 I love my table thanks to Brooke on Custom Style

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September Sewing Challenge Video

Join the September Sewing Challenge on

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewwhatchaknow/

September Sewing Challenge

 I have tried to make the challenges not too hard so that u can do the other challenges if you choose to do so.

Choose any pattern you want. Post your pattern each week. You have the whole week to finish your project. Small tokens of appreciation will be sent to random participants. At the end of the month a gift card will be sent to a random participant.

Week 1 1st - 7th

Choose 2 pattern tops ( the same or different)

a). create a dress from 1 pattern 

b)  with the other pattern add something or enhance something

Example (short to long sleeves, collar to no collar, add ruffles ot flounces, different typs of sleeve collars or shapes i think you get it. The garment should look different fron the pattern

Week 2 8th - 14th

Choose Pant pattern

a) add pocket to the pants if it does not have pocket

b) pockets have to be embellished. When adding pocket design be creative.   You can add pocket to back, front, side where ever you want but the pockets have to have some type of design to it. 

Hint (check out your stitch patterns) Sew different material on add ribbon. what ever you decided

Week 3  15th -21st

Freestyle  make any garment you want  

a). make anything you like with a base pattern for the beginners

    for seasoned sewers no pattern or you can drape

　

Week 4  22cd - 28th

Choose a pattern for your cover all  

The fall is near a nice cover all will do the body good. No challenges here just plain ole sewing. A jacket can be challenging within it self sometimes

a) cover all can include  (jacket, bolero, sweater, shawl) no heavy coats that is for another time.

Final Day

On the 29th gift card. For the people who participated names will be drawn for the gift card

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewwhatchaknow/

September The Month For Fun, Sewing and Fashion

September brings so many wonderful things. This month is so full of wonderful colors. Orange, browns, and greens mostly. The month of September color is the Sapphire and the flowers are Asters

September is also the time when the parents get back into a routine because the kids go back to school. Some parent are sending their kids off to college which can be a happy but sad time. It is the harvest month for farmers or for just the people who have little gardens. It is the month for festivals. It is also the month for a lot of discounted items so make sure u search for the sales.

One of the main reasons I love September is that It kinda puts me back on track with my sewing.

September is National Sewing Month

The observance of National Sewing Month began in 1982 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan declaring September as National Sewing Month "In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation."





September is Fashion Week Around the World

 National Sewing Month and  Fashions Week they do go hand in hand. Anyone can think of a design but not anyone can sew. Sewing is a life long skill without it we have no clothes.
London, Milan and Paris kicks off the Fashion Week in September so does many other cities here in the USA.  I love looking at all the fashion trends and the fashion recycles.


This month of September 2013 will be Sew Whatcha Know first sewing challenge. I thought that this would be a good month to start. We all are so smart and talented i think we are going to be as creative as our minds will let us be. I believe that sewing is an art I want Sew Whatcha Know Sewing Diva's to push their creativity to their limit. You all have some deigning skill if you can sew. Do the challenges you will see for your self.  I know you can it will be fun. Remember the only way to get to where you want to be in your sewing skills is to try new things.
I know all the Sewing Diva's have their own challenges & other sew alongs that they are doing so i don't expect everyone to do it.

Let me know who is up for this challenge

I promise it will not be too challenging especially because some of us Sewing Diva's work and have specific time that we sew and I don't want to put too much on anybody.

So the biggest part of the challenge is to use part of your fabric stash. (if you have a stash). I am trying to get mine down so that I can buy up more fabric which will create another stash but at least it will be a different stash :). So I thought that this will make a good part of the challenge. But of course if you don't have a stash purchasing will be fine. I will randomly be sending little gift items nothing fancy but any Sewing Diva can make use of it.

Stay Tuned in to Sew Whatcha Know 1st Challenge $25 dollar Gift card will be given away at the end of the challenge.

Do you wanna give it a shot?   https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewwhatchaknow/ 



Sew......Ers Block

I have been in a funk for a few weeks now. My brain has been on stand by for what reason I have no idea. No matter what I do I just could not think of any creative items I wanted to sew. Usually my mind runs over time with ideas. I even see ideas in my sleep. Sometimes when I awake out of my sleep with some idea. I have to get up quickly to write it down by this time I can't go back to sleep.  I lay there in the bed staring at the ceiling, the window and thinking about the idea so much that I really did not have to write it down.

I guess my brain just wanted a break from all of the creative ideas it had. I just went with the flow. 

I believe that sometimes we don't know how to shut ourselves off so that other things in our lives can function so our creative selves shut off automatically so that we can balance.

So these are the creation that I did now that the block has been lifted

Elizabeth McKay look a like

2 Maxie dresses



Let's see what else I can come up with

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Also join my Network@

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My Bobbin Mess

OK I hate to see my bobbins with those little strings hanging everywhere and all tangled up here and there and every where. Two of my machines use different size bobbins so I have them separated and stored into different containers. But I still have some organizing to do.

Sometimes I cannot sew until sewing room is cleaned and organized. Depending on my mood It irritates me if I have to fix something or wind bobbin when I am on the roll and pressed for time.
So I try and keep my bobbins organized so that I can just pick them up without strings hanging everywhere. what I use are those pony tail holders

It is very simple and self explanatory. Just hand wind  the thread around the bobbin

and put the pony tail holder on

I hate winding bobbins. Why? I have no idea.  It's not like it is hard to do and I do it so quickly. So I ask myself again WHY?  I bought me a bobbin winder  to prewind my bobbins so I can just casually grab one when I need it. I wind about 4 each of black and white.  Then I get all the other colors that I have available.

                                                      Just a tip on Bobbin...Bobbins and Bobbins

June Accessory Month ( I challenge you)

This month of June will be the challenge month for making accessories for the clothes you already have in your closet or the clothes you have already created. Go to http://facebook.com/pattycasandra  I challenge you. There will be an  surprise accessory sent to a lucky winner at the end of the month. Go join in and make your self something nice

These are what I made so far. I think I will make a belt next.

Peplum Style Apparel

I love peplum style apparel.. The history of the peplum dates back to Ancient Greek Fashion. The last 2 years people have been adding more of this style to their wardrobe. The style has been circulating a little more this year 2013. Here i have found pictures of some peplum apparel.

Clutch Purse (placemat)

 2 pace mats

inside lining placemate (cut)

smaller placemat made for inside pockets

sewn onto outside placemat

folded over and sewn like and envelope

Ribbon and button added

The Making of the Sweater Handbag

Hi fellow bloggers.  I finally have gotten around to making a video.  I decided to do one on handbags. I hope you enjoy.
Making a Sweater Handbag

Fall 2012 Fashion Style

From Marie Claire

Calvin Klein

For day, wear with camisole, and for night, let the cleavage out to play (safely encased in chiffon, of course)

I have noticed a lot of block styles and retro in the last 2 years.  This is classy, modest to edgy and a little retro. 

I like it.

Ralph Lauren

If The Legend of Bagger Vance, Downton Abbey, and Boardwalk Empire had a baby, it would dress like this and it would be AWESOME

This retro style 70's is what is in but it is gonna take a little more time to get some people on board. Me i will never be on board like the picture to the left. But i do like the retro 70's

Peter Som

According to Peter Som, we'll be wearing white well past labor day — and we can't wait!

I love white One of my favorite colors.  I love everything about this outfit

For Your Fashion Information

This is the forecast  for the future. I actually see some of these fashions now.