Use Your Words: Pattern Stories #4

Today’s post is a writing challenge created by Karen @ Baking in A Tornado. This is how it works: 12 participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, but there's a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who received their words or in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featured in this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they were given and how they used them. 

My words are: 

hold off ~ particular ~ learning ~ incredible ~ object ~ unable

They were submitted by: the lovely and talented Karen@ Baking in a Tornado 

Pattern Stories #4

                                     Photo Property of Butterick Pattern Service, 1972

"I knew I loved Jeanie the first time I laid eyes on her.  She was working behind a Woolworth's soda fountain, serving at least 12 people at once without missing a beat. I remember the shop being packed, because everyone was celebrating our school's basketball championship win. I would love to say I was part of the celebration, but I'm unable to. It simply wasn't true. I was instead alone, trying to hide in a corner. 

While everyone was adorned in our school's colors, I was dressed head-to-toe in a ridiculous denim outfit. My mother, who sewed for a living, begged me to wear the clothing she made for a sewing expo that had come to our town. She was learning all kinds of new embroidery patterns and wanted to try them out; all at once. I felt ridiculous. I was trying to hold-off from being seen by hiding behind a plastic menu. That's when I first felt Jeanie's hand on my shoulder. I'm not sure if she wanted to laugh at me for the way I looked among the room of "cool-kids", but she didn't. She simply smiled. It was the most incredible smile I'd ever seen. 

I'd come to see her everyday after that; wearing my normal clothes, of course. I'd constantly order food so she wouldn't get into trouble. We'd talk about everything and nothing in particular on her breaks. She'd smile at me like I was the only one in the place. One night as she was getting off of work, she had asked me if I'd wait for her. I recall that it seemed like she was in the back for a really long time. Just as I was about to see if she was okay, Jeanie emerged from the room wearing a long raincoat and her infamous smile. 

Now, I know what today's kids would think was under that raincoat. My mind never went there. Still, when she unbuttoned it and revealed what was underneath, I couldn't believe it. My Jeanie stood there, an object of perfection, wearing a matching denim outfit to the one I was wearing when we first met. I can't tell you the laugh we had over it. And, yes. I call her "My Jeanie" because that's what she was from that day forward.

If I close my eyes now and stay very still, I can smell the sweet honeysuckle from her golden hair. The scent always hung in the air each time she'd move. I still try to take it all in; the sight of her, the smell... The way she'd hold her small hands over her mouth if she thought she was laughing too hard. I never tire thinking about her...about us."

-Jeff Gunderson, CEO of Embroidery Empires, speaking about his wife of 40 years.

Love- even when you look silly doing it, friends. :)

-Michele

Check out all the cool kids participating this week:

Baking in a Tornado                             

Spatulas on Parade                          

Stacy Sews and Schools                      

Follow Me Home                   

Battered Hope                            

Someone Else's Genius                   

The Bergham's Life Chronicles              

Eileen's Perpetually Busy         

Confessions of a part-time working mom             

Evil Joy Speaks              

Crumpets and Bollocks                        

Sparkly Poetic Weirdo                                                                                                       

Use Your Words!

Hello, friends!

Today’s post is a writing challenge created by Karen @ Baking in A Tornado. This is how it works: 12 participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, but there's a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who received their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featured in this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them. 

My words are: 

tiny ~ gigantic ~ beautiful ~ disaster ~ court

They were submitted by: Baking In A Tornado  

"Pattern Stories #2"

"Can you dig it?" 1972

In the early Seventies, the Cascade brothers were all the rage in the modeling circuits. Sears, J.C. Penney and Montgomery Ward offered the three boys GIGANTIC contracts for posing together in their catalogs. Their BEAUTIFUL faces graced the covers of 16 Magazine and Teen Beat. Young girls everywhere would wait hours outside of photo shoots for a peek or (if they were lucky,) an autograph. These boys were destined for greatness. Andy, Sam and Mickey were ready to rule the world runway.

                                    "White Slacks are Okay after Labor Day" campaign, 1987

Super model stardom for the trio, however, was not meant to be. Fifteen years later, Andy, Sam and Mickey sat down to "tell all" on an episode of Phil Donahue. It seems that the brothers had moved on to different things after the modeling gigs thinned out.  There were plenty of new boys (some who could sing, some who could act, some who could do both) who were ready to take the places of the former teenage crushes. 
After posing for their last cover together, the three talked about what they'd been up to.

Andy (now Drew) 29, dropped out of modeling at the age of 17, when his hair prematurely turned grey. A ghost writer for more than a dozen "Charlie's Angels" novels, Drew splits his days between professional jogging in Connecticut and representing himself in COURT. He's currently fighting an AARP magazine that used his grey-hair image without consent.

Sam, 31, was the brother most likely to succeed in the modeling world. After dropping out of school at the ripe age of 10, Sam was unable to read the contracts he was signing. His illiteracy and constant need for frosted highlights left him broke. He is married to Angelica, age 89, whom he says, "gets him." She is the only living heir to the Maxwell House Coffee dynasty.

Mickey, (now Michael) 25, was often labeled the "cutest of the bunch." His coy looks and TINY man-body mesmerized crowds everywhere. At the awkward age of 13, people were no longer interested in the not-so-little boy. Depressed, Michael found himself at the bottom of many bottles of Scotch. When a family secret finally came out that his father was not his real dad, Michael turned his DISASTER-of-a-life around and got clean. He searched for years looking for his alleged half-brother and dad. When David (the brother) was found, he was ecstatic about the family news and introduced Michael to their father, Edward Hasselhoff. Michael keeps contact with both of his families.  He's currently living out his true passion, doing stunt work on his brother's new show, "Knight Rider". 

Check out the other participants in today's Use Your Words Challenge!

Baking In A Tornado                   

Juicebox Confessions        

Confessions of a Part-time Working Mom          

Battered Hope           

Spatulas on Parade          

Evil Joy Speaks               

Stacy Sews and Schools          

Searching for Sanity            

Just A Little Nutty                         

The Bergham's Life Chronicles               

Follow Me Home                   

Dates 2 Diapers 2   

Photos:

1. Simplicity Pattern Co. #5160 1972

2.Kwik Sew Pattern Co. #997  197?                    

Happy Friday, friends :)

-Michele  

Six Word Wednesday

Step off, ladies. He's all mine. :)

Can men have it all?

Why, yes.

Yes they can.

Pattern Stories #1

Look out boys. You are going places!

Happy Wednesday, friends.

-Michele

Secret Subject Swap #2 Stripper heels can't be worn everywhere.

Hey friends! Well here we are again. Swapping secret topics with other writers across the blogosphere. The first swap was supposed to be a one time deal. It ended up becoming a regular thing because well, it was so much fun!  Not only did we swap subjects/questions/sentence starters, we did not know who was given who's topic or how they would blog about it.  From this, we ended up meeting new bloggers and by chance, made a few new friends.

My Secret Subject was given to me by, well what do you know? My sweet friend Karen@ Baking in a Tornado. Woo Hoo!  Her topic was : "I'd like the opportunity to explain..." Here goes nothing!

*

*

*

I'd like the opportunity to explain why I wore heels to do the laundry last week.

Yeah, I said it. Heels. High, strappy, patent leather heels. To wash dirty clothes. At home.

You see, I'm a stay at home mom now. Actually, I've been one for a few years. Not to seem stereotypical, but SAHMs need to dress comfortably for, um...staying at home. Or going to the grocery, or making that run up to the school for the occasionally forgotten backpack/homework/instrument/lunch. Most of the time though, we're tending to things inside of the house.

I also work from home running my little bag shop. Still. If I'm not lying on the floor drafting patterns, I'm contorting myself like a kid playing Twister to cut fabric. Even sitting up to the old Singer sewing machine does not involve dressing in wool slacks or blazers or ahem, stripper-height shoes.

It was an epiphany (brought on by a much needed swiffer-fest of my closet.) -The "aha" moment when I looked around and realized that I live in holey jeans, tank tops and cardigans. They are the uniform of my life. Usually topped off with a pair of flip flops. The colors of tanks or sweaters may change. I might venture into the occasional yoga outfit or ballet flats, but in reality this is who I had become.

I decided that night (mid-pout) that I didn't have to look "comfortable". There are always the moms with the bejeweled jeans and heels hanging out at the elementary school. (Don't ask.) There are ladies with perfectly coiffed hair buying up the healthy cereal at the market. Why couldn't I try a little harder?

The next morning, I made it happen. I brushed ALL-the-WAY through my hair. I brushed and flossed the BACK teeth. I put on my nice wool pants that had a dust line from where they had laid on the hanger so long. I buttoned up my blouse and slipped on those gorgeous shoes. Stopping at the mirror, I clasped on my metal bracelet and fastened a tiny pair of pearl earrings. I was set.

I carefully walked down the stairs. I was standing a little taller (both figuratively and literally). I walked over to the laundry room clicking on the tile floor as proper ladies do, and opened the laundry chute. Jeans first. Little boy jeans with a pocket full of sand and a package of half-eaten gummy bears. The sand fell and left a trail down my nice pants. I tried to throw the gummies onto the counter. I wasn't even close. They scattered across the floor. Breathing harder, I pulled a fully soaked towel out that was connected to 37 other towels and assorted socks. The socks were sandy too. As I reached over the side of the dryer for the "sock that got away", my rock-star shoes slipped on the sandy tile and I landed on my fancy-looking butt atop the soaking wet pile of towels.

A few words not worth repeating. A deep breath realizing how ridiculous I looked. A weak moment when I dusted off one of those gummies and ate it. Who was I kidding?

I undressed right there, down to my skivvies. I pulled open a drawer and grabbed a rubber band. The jewelry went in the drawer and my hair went in a bun. I finished the laundry that day. Looking just like that. The heels sat there in the laundry room for a few days to remind me how foolish I had been.

There may have been tears. There may have been shocked neighbors watching a 42 year old women folding towels in her underwear. There may have even been a few less gummy bears. Who can tell?

I've learned my lessons.
1. No more playing dress up.
2. Kids MUST empty their pockets before throwing their clothes down the chute.
3. Kids must notify mom before throwing down soaking wet towels.
4. Gummy bears, in a crisis, can surpass the five second rule.

Happy "Be-yourself-all-of-the-time" day, friends!

Pattern Review- McCalls 2401

Hey-O friends.

Here is a review of a new dress I made. If you sew, pick up this pattern. It is a very simple dress that came together in an afternoon. I think I will be able to wear it forever; it is that versatile. Plus, it cost about 5 bucks to make. Yeah, I kind of of LOVE that. :) I hope you are all staying cool and enjoying that sunshine!

Pattern Description: This is a pattern for a simple semi-fitted sheath dress. The dresses have darts in the front and back. There are three different necklines to choose from: high-rounded, square and v-neck. There are also different sleeve lengths: sleeveless, short, elbow and long. I chose View F. (Sleeveless, round-neck)

Pattern Sizing: This pattern (B) is sized 8-10-12. I wear a 4/6 RTW, so made the 10. It fits very well..

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
The dress looks exactly like the photo on the front (View F,) Even the length..(below the knee)

Were the instructions easy to follow?
The dress went together pretty well. This is the first time I've worked with one long piece to double dart. Usually I have a bodice/skirt combo. I was pleased to see the flower pattern I was working with actually line up!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?I loved that the pattern had minimal pieces and that the dress came together so well. I get excited when the dots and darts all match up! Can you tell I'm still new at this? Facings confused me a bit, but once I figured them out, I was really happy with how "finished" everything looked.

Fabric Used: I used a cute floral cotton blend I bought on clearance from Sew Mama Sew. After the first washing, the fabric had a soft-vintage feel. So comfortable for this hot weather. 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: As usual, I had to hem more of the dress than I wanted. I have shorter legs and the dress was designed to come below the knee. I always worry that it will compromise the shape, not to mention the back vent, but it was fine.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?I would absolutely sew this again. It works well under cardigans for Spring/Summer. I think I could even make it in a heavier fabric to wear for fall. It is flattering without being too showy. I would recommend it to anyone looking to add an easy piece to their collection. It has both a simple and classic shape.

Conclusion: I love how many choices come with this pattern. I think that the sleeveless sheath alone is a great addition to a wardrobe. I can add a belt or sweater to it and create different looks. Woo Hoo to that!

Side View (Darts)

Back view (Darts and invisible zipper)

View with ribbon belt

Yeah, I know. Another cardigan. Cute though, right?

Happy Tuesday, friends :)

Pattern Review- New Look 6873

Here is a review I wrote for "Pattern Review" of a cute (but very short) skirt.  I love the style, but will have to pass it down to my equally-cute daughter, you know, because she's 18. And well, I am not.

I'm going to try to make another, in a longer version. Till then, here it is.
Yeah, I'm old. No judging.

New Look 6873
View C

Pattern Description: 
This pattern includes 3 different kinds of short skirts, shorts in two lengths and a pair of wide-leg pants.

Pattern Sizing:
I bought the Size A 8-18. I'm a RTW 2-4 on the bottom, so I made the 8

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Very much so.

Were the instructions easy to follow?
There were only 6 pattern pieces total for the skirt I made. (view C). The skirt came together quickly and easily. The steps (drawings) were easy to follow along with..

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love the pockets in the skirt, the wide yoke and the way the skirt flows. I also like having the zipper on the side- It blends in very well with the shape of the skirt. The only dislike I have is that the skirt is a wee bit short. I knew that from the picture; I'm just not a spring chick any more. For a younger woman, this is adorable.

Fabric Used:
I used a cute grey cotton with yellow flowers. I got it at Walmart last year for 2.97/yard. Can't beat that!

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I made the pattern without any alterations. I did zig-zag the hem.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I would love to sew this skirt again. For my daughter, the length is perfect. For her mama, I'd have to add a few inches. I would definitely recommend making the skirt- keeping the length in mind. I think I will, however give the skirt a try in a Lycra to fit over my yoga shorts. 

Conclusion: 
This was a very easy skirt that is perfect for spring. The pockets are wonderfully deep and the yoke is thick enough to lie nicely on your hips without rolling. It comes together pretty quickly. Keep the shorter length in mind. 

cute skirt...

that is really short!!

but I love the pockets!!!

and that it doesn't "ride up" in the back.

Here's the back view where you can see the yoke and side pocket.

There it is. Fit for this lady's 18 year old :)

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Day Six of Forty: "Zippy-di-do-da!"

Hey-o, friends!

I've been overwhelmed this winter with a ton of fabric scraps. There's not enough of one kind of material to make a whole bag, but there is too much to warrant throwing any of it out.

Either way, it was causing one of those piles that you store in a corner...
then realize you're looking for a certain piece of fabric...
but that piece is on the bottom of the pile.
You  decide to pull it out magician-style,
and it all falls over.
So finally you remember fifty other things you'd rather be doing
than folding uneven pieces of fabric into a pile; color-coded, no less.
That happens to everyone, right?

I promised myself (and the man) that I would try to use up some of the fabric I already own before bringing any more into the house. Trust me, that WAS the plan. But this afternoon, Fabriclovers.com dropped off a few yards of some incredibly gorgeous new spring cottons. I'm not going to lie to you, they are bee-you-tee-full!! Thank you, Springtime and thank you adorable UPS man! I call fair on the delivery though, because the fabric is for custom orders.

The husband was home sick today.. so when the delivery truck stopped in front of our home, I ran to intercept "whatever" was being delivered. Ahem. Me trying to sneak that package into the house, looked like nothing short of a drug deal...Yes. Yards of Kona cotton is my drug of choice and my dealer drives a brown box truck and wears shorts in the winter.

Back to the leftover fabrics. What to do, what to do? About a week ago, I decided that I wasn't going to let the scraps go to waste,  so I made a bunch of little Zippys. Do you remember the Zippys?

Zippy pouch prizes


They are little wallet-sized zipper pouches that are made with cute fabrics and lined with sometimes, even CUTER fabrics. They are small enough to throw in your bag, but just big enough to hold the important things, like a phone, tissues or credit cards. If you're me, they hold lipstick, business cards and emergency chocolate. What more does a girl need?

The pouches are adorable and will be up in the store throughout this week. Go give them a peek and help out a girl who is trying to get her hands on that new fabric...Mmmm. Ya know, I don't REALLY have a problem. I CAN stop any time. Just one more yard of new fabric; that's all I need...

Seriously, look out for those cute little Zippys. A few of you already have one, but you might need another and you can always give one away as a gift. They're a great deal at between five and seven bucks each plus shipping. Be patient. They take a while to load in the shop. I just want to give you a heads-up that they are coming...Any questions? Any testimonials? What do/would you keep in yours? You know where to leave your comments.

These are the Zippys going into the shop this week :)

Every girl needs at least one, right?

I went to take a pic to show you how big a Zippy was and realized I needed my phone for that (duh!), so that Blackberry belongs to the man. If I threw in the chocolate, I MIGHT be able to sell him a Zippy. Silly Rabbit. There isn't any more chocolate.

Have a beautiful Monday, friends.

New Bags in the shop..Go! Go! Go!

Hey friends!

I've finished the latest sweet batch of bags. They are in the Artfire shop and range from 25-30 dollars. If you live in delivering range, please contact me before buying anything to save yourself the shipping fees. As always, thanks for your business and never-ending support. Even if you're not purchasing, drop me a comment telling me your thoughts; either here or on Facebook :)

I'm off to make something else that's sweet...and a little more caloric!! More on that tomorrow..

Have a beautiful Friday night, friends :)

#1- Apples and Denim

#2 grey suiting and swirls

#3- green/rust mushrooms

#4- rose and burgundy (faux leather)

#5 Hot pink and green (canvas and quilted polyester)

#6 Blue plaid and canvas

#7 brown plaid and canvas

#8 light green/blue cotton and canvas

#9 light aqua and tan canvas

#10 cream and black cotton, black canvas

#11 Black skulls, black and tan canvas

*photos courtesy of the eldest child, who would rather be identified as "Goddess"...Hmm. 

Pattern Review- New Look 6799

Here's a dress I made a while back. I posted it on Pattern Review....Thanks for looking. Until I figure out how to load the pictures on that particular site, I'm posting them here.

I made it from a full size sheet I found at a vintage store for a buck!

Here is the "pretend you-can-still-fill-the top-out" view :(

A pic from the back to show the zipper and cute pearl buttons :)

One smiley pic for the man who tried really hard to take the photos on an unfamiliar camera...

Happy Thursday, friends :)

Pattern Review- New Look 6493

Hello friends :)

Well, I've found my sewing groove once again. There are a few new bags in the shop and I've been working on some custom orders as well. Sewing has been very therapeutic for me;  I had forgotten how much I missed it. It's been a little difficult getting down to the craft room with the weather being so nice... I find that I can never get enough of the sunlight these days.  As grateful as I am for my studio, I'm thinking of relocating the room somewhere with a little more natural light.

I've recently joined a site called "Pattern Review". It is a resource site for sewists/seamstresses who are interested in sewing from purchased patterns. Although I love to design and make my own bags and other simple items, I'm nowhere near qualified to make my own clothing patterns. (yet). So I found Pattern Review. I can type in a purchased pattern, and find a review from people who have already sewn it. They list problems or tips on making the best piece(s) possible. This way, I can save a step or two, or avoid a project disaster altogether. I've learned so much just from reading the processes others at all sewing levels go through.. My favorite though, is seeing the way people interpret the patterns. You may have a skirt pattern that has been altered 20 different ways; each one amazing...So much creativity, so many ideas..

By joining, I'm going to give the review thing a shot. It is so obvious that I have a lot to learn, but maybe my beginner skills may be of some assistance to another girl in search of some fabric therapy :)

Because sewing is an important part of who I am, I will probably link the review to this blog. If you see a blog title with the words "Pattern Review," stop and take a look at what I "tried" to make. If you sew and would like to look at the fantastic site for your own pattern search, simply click on the yellow box on the right side of this blog, or type in www.patternreview.com. You can join for free or pay a yearly fee for sewing deals....

If you're over there and want to say hello, I'm under the name "teachutah".

Not into sewing? That's okay. Still, let me know what you think. How fun will it be for you to comment and say, "Dear Heavens, shellybean. That is the ugliest use of a tablecloth that I've ever seen!" Sure, I'll roll on the floor in tears for a while, but we both may feel better afterwords....

I'm pretty lame with fashion fads; I usually fall back on sewing/wearing classic styles..What's your favorite trend in clothing these days? Leave a comment, I'd love to know your thoughts.

Happy Thursday, friends

Here are the pictures to my first pattern review. You can read about if you want to by clicking on the "pattern review" button.

New Look 6493- Long Dress

Model- A. A. is about to embark on second grade. She loves Star Wars, dancing, swimming and rocking fabulous nail polish. Thank you, A. for being an amazing helper :)

                                 Long Summer dress, with a little bit of growing room :)

              Perfect dress to wear for catching fireflies and running barefoot around the yard..

                             Or for having tea... pic shows matching covered buttons.

     
     Back view/ Another matching button and fabric closure.

New Fall Bags...

...are in the shop right now! 30 dollars plus shipping. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the new stacy-beans :)

#1.   Nubby brown wool with chocolate brown cotton lining

#2. Brown/Aqua polka dot. Quilter's weight cotton.  Lining is exactly the opposite.

#3. Red, brown and green flannel wool.  Lining is Chocolate brown quilter's cotton.

#4. Yellow and Grey Interior weight cotton. Lining is soft grey ticking.

#5 Green with raspberry, black and white flowers..Interior weight. Lining is matching psychedelic pattern in same colors.

#6 Beige wool plaid. Lining is 100 percent natural linen.

Happy Tuesday, Friends.

New Spring Bags 2011

Hello!

I thought I'd post some pictures of the new bags going into the shop this week. I hope you like them :) Leave a comment and let me know what you think...

The bags will range in cost from $22.50 to $30, depending on fabrics.

Happy Monday, friends :)

1. Aqua Flowers

2. Periwinkle/Aqua

3. Yellow/Gray

4. Lime and Hot Pink

5. Hot pink/Yellow Daisies

6. Orange Floral/Aqua

7. Light Green/Seafoam

8. Lavender Houses

9. Navy/Gray Artsy-bag

10. Lime/Navy Batik