Confessions of a Blogaholic

My love for blogging started a couple of years ago. I stumbled upon a page of a picture of beautiful pictures of re-purposed furniture, a cute stories about family  and a mom's Love of for all things vintage. I believe I was looking for pictures to get  ideas  to decorate my daughters room. The found a blog post about a door being re-purposed into a daybed on perfectlyimperfectshauna.blog.  And this was my introduction to blogging. I must Confess my Love for Blogging Started as a Reader.

I have found many blogs that I love and as I have grown and evolved in my life, my business and as a person in general my blog love evolved. I have a variety of blogs that I follow, the majority are related to my passion which is sewing. Even with that in mind I have grown from blogs that have tutorials, favorite patterns to specific blogs that teach. I love to learn and grow in my craft but I also love to find blogs that are multifaceted that include content relative to all the roles a play in my life mom, wife, entrepreneur and someone who loves to learn.

#BlogLikeCrazy

First Attempt: DIY Highwaisted Pants

I did it!!!! Yay me I conquered the journey of pants. I completed and wore my first pair of pants, and yes I am so proud of them. Thanks to Jenese Johnson with Needlesandfashion.blogspot and her Awesome Tutorial on her Youtube channel she rocks...

 

Pattern used was Mccalls 6756 drafted into pants. The tutorial teaches to draft a wide leg pant, I was a little nervous and ended up not making the leg wide enough. The pattern itself was pretty good fit, however I did make a few adjustments in the inseam I removed 5/8" from the inseam of both front and back pattern and tapered in the side seam...I am still learning to fit and figuring which changes to make. I have a few kinks to work out but I am extremely excited to completed this pair. Ready to get started on my next pair...

It's been Too Long

Well I realized it has been almost a year since my last post. I have been working really hard on all sorts of things but with my day to day it can be hard to get on my blog, but over the last year a lot has taken place and I dare not miss out on anymore time without keeping up with the fun, growth and not so good times. Journaling has truly become a part of me and with sewing being my first passion to combine them would be great so here I go again. Over the last couple of weeks I have been monitoring my sewing time, skills and thinking alot about where I am in my sewing. So that is what I will share on this blog. Where am I now, what have I learned,  what I completed and what I want to do. So I am looking forward to sharing and working on my sewing!!! More to come, Stay tuned!!!!

Sequin: Found, Studied and Conquered

It's homecoming time once again, the dress has been picked and it is now time for the vest and bow tie to be made. So, my little brother has decided that since his sister can sew he will only wear custom made gear to all important events. (Sigh)

 

Well, at first sight I thought this is beautiful, second thought oh no I have never sewn with sequin and third where do I find this fabric. I start my online search and find some but this fabrics starting price is forty $$$ a yard. I was nervous to buy this particular fabric offline without knowing for sure it is the right color and kind of fabric. Working at Joann Fabrics I know that there are many varieties of sequin fabrics and at this price I can't make the wrong purchase. With time winding down I have got to get started. So I  decided to check around locally and see what options were here for me. My store didn't have any color close to the dress but I was able to get the material for the bow tie to match the shoes. I remembered one of the local stores had been know for there formal fabrics and lace and thought I would give them a chance. Stopped by and I could not believe they had my fabric Yayy....

The store owner informed me it was actually located and ordered for a wedding and the person never returned for the fabric, Great news for me....This picture does not do it justice it matched perfectly. So excited for my find, but now the second thought comes back, I have never  sewed with sequin. I am always up for a challenge but this is a very important garment so I have to do my homework of course. I was able to find some really great tutorials and blogs using and explaining their knowledge of sequin. Also, over the last couple of months I have been taking online classes on craftsy.com and the skills learned well they were definitely helpful during this journey. I am always looking for new and tried and true wisdom to help improve my sewing skills, I believe you never stop learning and it is always good to invest in yourself and your talent.

 

Alright I have done my research and studying and my pattern is picked and it is time to get to work. Homecoming dance is fast approaching

 

I realized once I started cutting out the pattern this fabric was not to be handled like any other fabric. The single sequins are attached indiviually to a piece of knit tulle type material so I would need to not only line this fabric but also back it directly with a lining to help give it stability and a help is not look flimsy.   Because it is not a solid piece of fabric backing it with a lining really came in handy when sewing the actually garment together. I was able to put my marking lines and symbols on the lining.

 

 

 

It's a good thing one of the classes I have recently bought and started on at Craftsy.com was The Classic Tailored Shirt, several of the skills and techniques she used is helping me in the garment construction. She reviewed the classic tailors tack which was definitely my saving grace because there is no way to mark on the fabric for buttons and buttonholes so I used the technique with the bright orange thread to mark the buttons and buttonholes.

 

Well, after getting to know this fabric very well I can say with great Pride I found and conquered my first Sequin Garment...This finished look!!!!

 

 

And a Happy Lil Brother!!!

 

Great Big Brava to Ann GBSB

Great British Sewing Bee Winner



                                                 Congratulations Ann the Beauty of Sewing!!!!

 

My Beginnings: Starting point

I have truly enjoyed this series, it has encouraged me to sew even more and appreciate the art of stitching. I have been sewing on and off since I was in the sixth grade, and not until 2007 did it become such a huge part of my life. As a single mother I wanted more for my family needed extra revenue. I started working a part time job and it still didn't seem to be coming together I was still over extended in my finances because I was still having to pay a babysitter. So I decided to stop working and began to pray for direction concerning being able to take care of the needs of myself and growing children.

 

 

I began listening to a local ministry series titled Breaking Free from Debt. Many topics were discussed and prayer suggestions, the one that stuck out the most for me was asking for direction in prayer for my gifts and talents to be revealed to me in order to bring in extra revenue into my household. One night after praying the pray for several weeks, listening to the series,  writing notes and just rehearsing the information, I was reading a Virtuous Woman's Article focusing on the proverbs 31 scripture, it was as though a light bulb lit up in my head and heart. (You Can Sew) I hadn't sewed or thought about sewing since I was a Junior in high school and actually I lost my mother the summer before going into my Junior year, which that year I was suppose to get  a sewing machine since she saw after I had taken a couple of home economics classes that I was relatively good and enjoyed sewing. But with everything going on in my life at the time I was not as passionate about sewing to me it was something we shared and after losing her it was not as important to me. But finding myself yet again at a crossroad in my life once again it found its way back into my life and heart with even greater purpose. And here I am 8 years later, 1 sewing machine, a serger, blind hemmer, a Cricut, Yudu and 2 Embroidery/Sewing combo machines. It has been a great journey and I still feel it is just the beginning. I continue to encourage and push myself to move further and grow in that same talent that has been truly a Blessing since it was revealed. And like Ann I pray I get as many years to enjoy this Art.

Just a few things I have done!!!

Threads Has Done it Again

Roaming the Magazine rack at my local Joann's and see that Threads has published another must have. The resource of all resource focusing on the topic that all seamstress face from the beginner to the seasoned seamstress dare I say it, "Fitting". Yes they have dedicated an entire issue to this topic!!! Yay Threads!!!!    

 

It covers so much from correct measuring, grading, muslins and it has some many resources from DVD sets, new books and much more.

Sorry for the sideways picture, I am working on fulfilling my goal to stay more consistent with my blogging I posting from my phone and can't rotate pic.♥

Having Fun with a Future BAMA Boy!!

My friends son is an extreme BAMA fan, she asked me to make a surprise for her son when he came home. I put together this little Outfit for the future BAMA ALLStar...