Little extras

I found this nifty tutorial sheet when I dug into my new french curve ruler:

Is this standard with all rulers? What a golden nugget of info! I feel like this is the kind of little extra that just brightens my day :) This is the Project Runway edition 4 in 1 ruler that BigBox sells- regular $19.99, black Friday price: $7.99.

And perhaps you'll recall the PR lined jacket un-contestant? I added a little extra buttonage.

(notice that little guy in the corner of the pic? He's waiting for me to turn my back so he can run to my sewing machine and play with dangerous things...)

I'm showing on Lizzie, because Beth is currently having a little extra stress on the side seams- much like her real life counterpart.

I'm going to cover the whole thing in masking tape. It doesn't give like the duct tape. She's already expanded like an inch and a half everywhere.

Speaking of PR contests, I was thinking that my wardrobe could use a little extra oompf in the coordinates department. I also notice that there is an "endless combinations" contest running right now, and there's nothing like a PR contest to get that little extra motivation.

So to do all this sewing, and get all these presents done, all I need is a little extra time :)

Black Friday at BigBox

I'm almost ashamed to admit it. The bottom of the receipt actually said "You saved $171.32". Let's just say I went with a C note and came home with enough for 2 pairs of shoes (yes, new ones).
And it must be told that this was the most pleasant shopping experience I've ever had at a certain Mt. Laurel JoAnn's. Everyone was super friendly, the red tags were neat and organizedish, and they had most everything in stock. I even got brave and went in the quilting section.

Let the giftmaking commence.

Out of this world

The GalaxE Dress

aka Vogue 8280. I had the fabric cut by Sunday night and wore it to Thanksgiving dinner :)

I have to say that Vogue left much to be desired with these instructions... check out number 7 here- they didn't even finish their sentence.

The lace was scalloped on both edges and had beautiful body- not stiff at all. Just a bit of stretch.

It was a Jomar $1/yard special. The underlining is a cotton linenish blend with a beautiful sheen on the finished side. It was on the "designer" table at Jomar, a 4 yard remnant for $2/yd. I'm so glad I thought to use it under something, because it wrinkles like a bee otch. I cut my own belt and recycled a used buckle I had on hand.

It's everything I dreamed it would be :)

************ ***********

Ah, family holidays... loving reminders of why we are the way we are. Take this for example :

me on my grandmother's sofa, circa 1977

That beautiful blend of bodacious prints was the calling card of my grandmother's style, and heavily influenced my sense of fashion. Oh, I know what you're thinking. You have no idea.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours :)

lovE

MYmar is Jomar

This is my "get me out of these winter blues" winter wardrobe fabric. I hope I can get it all done before winter ends :) This is all from Jomar, and with the exception of the metallic, all $2/yard or less. The metallic was $4.00. I was so good.

Hidden in that fabric is the Galaxy dress, a sleeveless patrones top (Karen we need to talk), at least 2 skirts, a sassy little skirt suit (with lining!), and possibly a capelet.

I originally planned to make this sweet forest green suede into a betty shopper.

When I showed it to my husband , he said, "You gonna make a skirt? :)"

Sure sweetie.

So I'm thinking of the 117 skirt from the recent November Burda.

I need that sheer "lipstick" blouse, you know it.

Good Times

And when I awoke

... this is what I did:

I taught a Summer Dog some Winter tricks.

Simplicity 3750

This looks sneakily like the end result of the upside-down sweater post over at the slapdash sewist. Purely coincidence, but it's nice to know I can use this pattern to reincarnate some thrift shop finds.

I crocheted a cute hat. I am basically creating crochet patterns from scratch these days because every pattern I find lately is way off for me. WAY. And I was so hopeful after those stockings...

I finally started on the ladybird muslin :) I can't wait to silk paint the final version :) This gorgeous print was my very first fabric purchase in NYC, from my trip with Karen. I've got plans for this baby.

And let's all give a warm welcome to Beth the dominatrix dressform:

Again, purely coincidence.

Check out how awesome she looks compared to good ol' Lizzie.

As my husband said, "Oh, yeah. Beth is the hottie." I'm just hoping the girl can fit a pair of pants and a swimsuit. I'm also geeked that her boobies didn't fall :) Well worth the blood spilt during removal. That's right folks. Let's just say I have side seams now.

And last, but certainly not least:

I swear I watched all of season 1 in one sitting. I am now teaching myself how to drape. Darn netflix.

Yeah, I missed you, too :)