NEW FALL FABRICS

My family shipped my fabric purchases from New York on Monday, and they were here by Thursday. Snail mail is getting quicker I think.


These are the six knits I picked out at Metro Textiles. They all feel luxurious and soft. I love them, and even more because each was just $5.00 per yard.

Down below is a picture of two pieces of polyester gabardine, one in black and the other in winter white. I use to make pants out of this type of gabardine a long time ago and it always sewed up really good and wore well. The black is for a pair of pants and I got enough of the the winter white to make a jacket and pants suit. The second picture is English wool suiting one in black and the other in a taupe pinstripe. Both pieces are for suits.




























The cheetah print (I think its cheetah, I tend to get my animals a little mixed up)is a light weight polyester knit I think. The other piece is a really nice satiny feeling fabric for a blouse.










These are silky prints that I got at Joann's and WalMart while on vacation.
















Here's a picture of the project I worked on this week. Another town gown made from McCalls 5893. The first one was gifted to my mother. I wore this on an outing with my sewing friends today and it was nice, comfy, and breezy.




















I really thank God for being able to make the trip to visit my family once again. This is something that I don't take lightly. I thank Him for making it possible for me to shop in the garment district. I'm also thankful to Him for all of this fabric. I have just enough for a many creative hours of sewing. I'm just in a very thankful mood today - sometimes you just have to let it out. I know from whom my blessings flow....

I HOPE SEWING CONTINUES AS A FAMILY TRAIT....

Well, I finished up my summer vacation this afternoon after arriving back in H-O-Tgeorgia! But I must say that it was an extreme blessing to be able to spend 11 gorgeous days with my family in upstate New York where the living is easy - mainly because you don't have to crack a sweat! Every minute of my trip was GREAT, and although I didn't take a sewing machine with me much of my trip was still sewing related. I did pack a sewing kit with things I knew I'd need if I did sew - so I was ready when the occasion did arise.

My 16 year old niece Auriel was more than ready to participate. We did a Walmart and Joann's run and ended up with three pieces of fabric each from that trip. Arrie had taken her first design and sewing class during the school year and was ready to go with a new Hillary Duff McCall's pattern that she picked out. I'll tell you this kid was really gong ho. We started cutting and sewing on Friday afternoon and sewed well into the night. The end results that night were two completely finished dresses.

I shared a room with her during my visit, and when I woke up on Saturday morning to find her already up and gone, I dashed downstairs to find that she had already laid the pattern out for her third TNT dress. I was shocked because it's rare that you find today's teenagers so enthusiastic about sewing. She listened and followed directions so well. So within a 24 hour period she had constructed three dresses from this pattern, and was well into new detailing by adding contrasting fabric. I really think she has mastered the use of bias tape as well along with understanding laying patterns following grain lines. We are all so proud of her - and look forward to continuing to encourage her with her sewing. Here's pictures of her hard at work, and also of her dressed in one of her designs ready for Church on Sunday.




This time part of my vacation included a day trip to NYC. Can imagine how long I had longed to get to that garment district. Me and my two (none fabric or sewing) sisters took on Manhattan, and as you can probably guess, soon had to go our separate ways; with them going off to shop for their shoes and me on my fabric quest. So with list in hand I was able to find Mood Fabrics, Ebad Fabrics, Spandex House, Metro Textiles and several others that I can't remember names of. I picked up about 7 really nice knits from Metro Textiles at an extremely nice price. At Ebad Fabrics I picked up some really nice light weight English Wools, gabardines and several rayon pieces for blouses. All of the fabrics selected were geared toward my fall and winter sewing projects. I was also able to pick up a few sewing notions and some foldover elastic that I had heard about but was unable to get locally.

All and all I had a successful shopping trip that ended abruptly when it started raining cats and dogs. I do look forward to being able to shop in the garment district again soon...and think I will now that I know it's a doable trip.

The first store I saw was Ebads, so I made a mad dash to get in. This man was soooo nice and the store was soooo small as a lot of them were. I can't remember his name, but this salesman gave me some super deals on woolens. My sister Pat just barely had time to snap this for me as she was backing out the door (lol) thus the dazed look on my face - didn't have time to pose for the picture(hehehe).

No picture of Spandex House (which was highly organized by the way). I was a little dazed when I went in there (kept remembering my first and last spandex experience which was surprizing and a little less spectacular than expected). So I didn't make a purchase there.

This was a project runway bulletin board posted at Mood where I think the fabric was beautiful but the prices gian- orous. I tho ught, "how can project runway contestants shop here on the $40.00 budget that they sometimes get". (lol) So I had to leave all of the wonderful fabric of Mood right there in New York. (Afterall, New York or not, or like it or not, I was still on a budget and had to go there with some sence)

It was sort of hard getting pictures taken because I was traveling alone so I didn't get very many while there. And pictures of buildings - no way, I really wasn't there for the architure - but instead had a one tracked fabric mind. I found Metro Textile just as the big, bad, dark rain storm came up, so this was the last store I could visit. Naive, as I thought those kinds of thunder boomers only happened in Georgia. But I couldn't go to New York without getting my picture taken with Kashi at Metro Textiles (wouldn't have been a good trip without it).
I was so suprised that a lot of the stores were so small an narrow. It's not hard for a Georgia Peach to be overwhelmed (lol), but I think I did a good job and used good financial sense because I still need to get the fabric home. Next time I'm only taking one outfit so I can pack all my fabric. I don't have any pictures of it as it's being shipped to me later this week. Good trip, Good experience!

FRANKIE & JOHNNIE KNOCKOFFS, AND FABRIC SHOPPING AT HOME

My weekend project was a pair of PJ's that included two bottoms. I look in on the Frankie & Johnnie PJ site sometimes, and love the different styles that they offer. But look is all I do because I knew that when ever I found the time I would get around to making some up for myself. This is a lively Walmart table cotton print with lavender butterflies and green flowers. I wanted to add just a little something so I inserted purple piping on the color armholes and capri legs. I've never worked with piping, as I can remember, so I wanted to experiment with it a little. The generic piping foot that I bought at Hancock's a while ago fit my machine and worked like a charm. I think I'll investigate more of those feet. I still need to add buttons to my shirt.

My sewing friends Ebony and Lisa paid me a short visit on Saturday evening. Ebony had taken a trip to Texas several weeks ago and made some purchases for her new ESTY Fabric Shop. First we had a show and tell session; where we showed our recently sewn garments. Then we set up my cutting table and played fabric store in the middle of my living room. She had some really gorgeous knits and wovens. I had a really hard time choosing. We just spread everything out, made our choices, and Ebony cut out the yardage we requested. Talk about convenient! There was plenty of talk about her new Esty Shop, and some upcoming Fabric Trunk shows. I can't remember the name of her shop right now, but as soon as I find out I'll post it here on my site.

....Ebony's Fabric shop

Here are my fabric purchases from the night.

Aren't these prints beautimust????

TOWN GOWN

Here's my new "Town Gown" as Old Navy calls them. I rarely ever wear a long dress, but I did want one of the new styles for the summer. I had a dickens of a time trying to decide what pattern to go with and finally made a choice when I saw Gold's version of the same pattern. I wanted something really cheerful and bright for summer so I used this slightly polished cotton for the dress. I bought it spring '08 so it was in my stash for over a year.

I increased the size of the dress in the bodice area a little too much so had to gather to take up the slack in the front. Rather than hemming the neck and arm areas, I self lined the bodice pieces. I also added a braided self tie at the bodice area for just a little something different. I like the dress, but have to get used to wearing all that fabric over my legs. I think I'll be taking this one on vacation with me.

ONE MORE TOP FROM THIS WEEKEND

I finished the other top that I had cut out earlier this seek. It's from the New Look pattern that I used several weeks ago. I had enough fabric left over from the Vouge top to make another top so I decided to make this one even though I already had one of this fabric.

It's finished, but the yoke on this thing gave me a fit this time. Don't know why it gave me such a problem because it went on really easy the last time. I think a dress will be coming up next...................

EASY SUMMER DRESSING.....

Here my new project for this weekend. I've been wanting a comfy traditional tunic for a while, and though this Butterick pattern is a little different than the one I had envisioned, I sort of liked it - so I just went with it. I used a fabric that I bought about 2 years ago on a vacation to New York. I had initially planned on using it for a skirt, but never made a decision on what type. I made the capris from the pattern also. They are from - you know- Hancock's regular gabardine that I've also had for at least 2 years.

I wanted something quick and easy - although nothing really ever is - quick that is. I wanted to add a little something else to the top so I choose a beaded trim that I added to the neckline and front yoke of the tunic; however, I'm still not sure that I really like it. I guess I'll think about it for a while and if it doesn't grow on me I can always take it off.

I plan on wearing an ocean blue tank under the tunic because it is sheer. Old Navy should have one that matches, they usually do. Got to go now, I think I feel at least two more finished pieces for this weekend.....Got to clean up the "Bat Cave" again so I can get on with the next project.

FOR THE LOVE OF TOPS....

I do love myself some tops! I like plain ones, classic ones, but I especially like ones that have just a little something different. Doesn't have to be much, a different sleeve, neckline, back - just a little something different.

I was attracted to this pattern (Vogue 8495) because the sleeveline was just a little different. I made view A which doesn't actually have a real sleeve, but rather the back and front yokes extend just a little giving an illusion of a sleeve. I love this top! I started it this weekend after I finished my Mother's jacket and finished it last night....sooooo you know I wore it to work today.

With the weather being H-O-T I really thought that this fabric would be sticky, but it wasn't at all. It wore nicely as the temperature escalated today. I really think that I'd like to make another one of these this summer - maybe in a jewel tone solid next time.


Well, I finished my spring quarter class tonight (you know I'm only taking one, I say one class at a time). That I means I've got the rest of this week and all of next week that I get to come home and really concentrate on my sewing. I'll be on vacation for 8 WHOLE days after that, so I want to get some vacation pieces made up for my trip.

I really think I want to make a tunic next. Don't know how I'll look in one, but we will see. They just look so nice and airy and cool. I've got just the right pattern so I think I'll work on getting it cut out tonight. I've still got one more top that is already cut out, so I'll need to work on that as well.

So it's on with THE BEFORE VACATION SEWING MARATHON....who knows what I'll come up with!!!!!!!!!!!