Long Days

It's amazing how life has a way of throwing some huge side balls at you.  I have been so busy with some new projects (sewing) to share with you, but for some reason my iphone is not sending my pics to my email, so I can upload them.

I have accomplished some great new things I have been wanting to try, and I am sure like all of you, it has such a huge impact on your moral.  It sure has for me, wanting to make me advance more & more.  I love when I have had this fear of something that actually turns out to be quite simple.  But the fear lies in the possiblility of failure.  Or at least not turning out to the level of perfection that you want.

So please be patient, as I will at least have them available to upload later today.  I refashioned a sweater from scraps of material, which I think turned out so chic & shabby, but my husband thinks it looks like a bag lady.  So once I get it uploaded, I will let all of you be the judge.

Another accomplishment was some material I scored at my local Goodwill, but also I really really scored at my local Joann's with a super sale I ran into.  I have some really cool projects I am putting together for my grandson and daughter.  So we all know what that means to get them accomplished.  Yes I have been busy with cutting out patterns and material.

Now another accomplishment NOT of myself, but my best friend of all, who lives clear across the country from me, just began her first blog.  She is on the top of my list of people I admire, as she works thru whatever is thrown at her, never giving up.  We support each other, even with such a huge distance.  I am so very proud of her and thankful for the real "chance" meeting we had to begin our friendship.

So off I go to get those pics uploaded so I can share with the rest of you my new projects.

Great giveaway

Here's a great giveaway to enter over at needles&lemons.com. Here's the link
http://www.needlesandlemons.com/2011/05/stash-note-no-13-and-giveaway.html?showComment=1304895555948#c1464408051570637563

Let me know you entered...

Alterations ?????

I'm almost done with my next project to post but in the meantime I wanted to share reasons why alterations play such an important role in our appearance.

Alterations you say, YES, alterations....

I grew up with a figure that dosn't match, nor that fits into sizes designer's say we should.  So first hand I have lived the many reasons that alterations are so very important.

 People think of alterations only to hem pants, or alter the sleeves on coats.  But garments have so many areas that can be altered to make you feel fantastic.  Since everything I buy has to be altered to fit right, I can usually find higher end bargains from designer's at a smaller size and adjust the inside seams just a small amount.  Lots of times all it takes is 1/8 of inch on two side seams to fit just perfect.

But if you do not sew, it's important to take your items to a seamstress to let her analyze the fit and see where she can make the adjusment.  I had a customer who was quite petite, and she had a difficult time just finding pants that not only fit her lenght wise, but also her frame was so small the crotch and the legs of the pants were just swimming on her.  So when she came over, all I had to do was adjust the crotch, and the backside of the pant legs to make a perfect fit for her.  She was so elated, and that made all the difference for me in what I do.

That's why I chose the saying "Make your style stand out", as what we wear does not have to be something special and unique, but the fit makes all the difference in how we look to other's.  If we really care about how our clothes fit, it shows other's we really care about our appearance but most of all that we care how we feel inside our clothes, and not just wanting to throw anything on without a care in the wind.

And using a seamstress to alter our styles is very important, as she can see areas of adjustment that we cannot, making the real difference of how our garments really fit us.  I guess that's why I enjoy being a dressmaker, and not just a seamstress, as I can make a garment from the beginning fit perfectly.  I also do tailoring, which is also a very unique quality, in that it allows you to customize a fit to the person, using all angles, and that's not just for men.  Women need tailoring as well, as a Tailor customizes the fit of a garment to the wearer of the garment.  A Seamstress is one that just sews garments from a pattern.

I guess I consider myself both, as I will utilize a pattern to sew my garment's for the most part, but also a Tailor, since I can customize the garment a client already has to their particular figure from all angles.  And the more I learn about the terminology of both, the more it encourages me to be the best at what I do.  That is just making garments scream at the person looking at me or the wearer that "I stand out", because my garment fits "ME!!!"

Designer Appeal

  I am so very pleased with the results of my new finished creation...


 Besides the retro styles, I really have a passion for fine designer styles.  They have such a destinquished & polished look.  But most of all they make me just feel so put together.  And it's amazing how other's look at you.

I almost forgot about this particular dress, when I came across it looking through all my pieces.  Remember I had so many things stored in boxes since I did not have proper storage.  Now that everything is in proper storage, I am able to go through everything easily, and you will be seeing alot more styles coming out at you.

What I really love is that I can share with you not only how a pattern came out, but hopefully inspire others to make some of the pattern styles in their own material. 
 Here's the designer pattern I used for this dress, and I'm sorry I am not the svelte looking model that's pictured but I fell in love with this pattern as soon as I saw it. 

Like all of you, I am known as the Thrift Queen, so here's the breakdown on this one.  I caruse the internet on the pattern sites, and wait until they go on sale for ridiculous prices.  This one is a Vogue pattern, which by the way I have a passion for, and I was not quite sure if it would fit right.  I am two different sizes, the top smaller than the bottom, OH is that you also?

Well the dress fit perfectly, so I am very very happy.  By the way I am sorry the picture really does not give it justice, it's so much prettier up close, but hopefully it gives you an idea.  My husband is very happy with the fit and style, he thinks it is slimming, what do you think?  Anytime a dress makes my husband/boyfriend say that is a favorite of mine.  I can't believe it fit so well, so I am a happy camper.  It will be a new favorite to wear.  

The best part of this entire designer dress is the pattern was $3.99 on sale from the regular $30. price.  The material I found on clearance for $2.00 a yard.  It took 3 yards, as the material was 60 inch width.  I already had the zipper, so the dress total cost was $10, what a deal.   But the best part is that it actually was material labeled for drapes, but I just loved the texture and feel. 

Let me know what you think,  does it look like it was meant to hang for drapes, or do you think I can get away with it as a designer look dress?