Stash of fabric

Well, some time ago, I went fabric shopping as I love to do and I found some lovely shades of stretch knit. I don't know what I will make with them just yet, however I do have some ideas floating around in my head. I would love to make things to wear right now, but the weather is getting just a bit too cool here in the Bahamas. We still experience sunny days but the nights are a bit nippy.

I will sew a dress using this one!

I made a blouse with this one and I have to post the pictures!

I will make a blouse with this one too!

I made a lovely cowl necked cap-sleeve blouse with this one!

Im very excited about using the unsewn fabrics and creating wonderful clothing for myself!

Happy sewing!

I'm Hurt!

Well, time is just whizzing my rather fast that I haven't had the time to do all the things I had set out to do! I love to sew, and it's great therapy for me; however, when I'm unable to sew, its frustrating!

My camera went bad and I have not had the time to put it in the shop for repairs. Additionally, I havent had the chance to purchase a new one. This has really taken a toll on me as I love to post pictures of things I discuss. I have been on a sewing break and it is hurting me!! I went to the fabric store on the weekend and I purchased knitting needles and yarn! I'm taking it "old school!" I have not held a knitting needle in my hand since high school. I am presently making a baby blue scarf and I'm making steady progress on it. I hope to be finished within a week the most.

Additionally, I have my church fair coming up this weekend and I'm very excited about that! I will be attending with my sons. The fair is a time for the church family to come together and spend time having fun with each other. This should be great.

Well I will keep you posted on all that is taking place and hopefully before long, I should have some pictures to show of what I'm doing as I go along!

Happy Sewing!

Missing in action

So I have been missing in action from my blog for the past few weeks and it's not by choice. I mentioned that my camera went on the blitz and I haven't had the time to get it repaired or to purchase a new one. I had borrowed my cousin Shelly's own but of course, I had to return it immediately as she is just as obsessed as me with taking pictures. In fact, I still have several shots on her camera that I took of some more fabric I bought.

Halloween is coming up this weekend and my sons want me to make costumes for them. This should be quite interesting and I'm up for the challenge! I will do my best to get some sewing in this weekend and also to post some pictures!

Happy Sewing!

Pink cowl neck blouse

After being so successful in making my orange shade cowl neck blouse, I decided to try my hand at making another one. I know some people do not like to make too many of the same design however, when something is comfortable and it works for me, I stick with it. I have a light pink cowl neck blouse in the pipelines right now. I have already hemmed the neckline and the arm holes and the only thing I have left to do is to hem it. I started to hem it however, the thread tension has to be adjusted so I started to rip out the hem and I will try my best to complete it tonight, if I have time. Below are the pictures of my work in progress.

Front view

Back view

Thats all for now folks so stay tuned and happy sewing!

What I've been up to.

So I havent posted anything for just a little over a week and a great deal of thing have occured in my life. Well my local fabric store, Home Fabrics had a 50% off sale all just about all of their fabrics and it was phenomenal! I went there on two occasions and bought fabric as well as a friend bought some more fabric for me. I was so excited about this as I got some really nice pieces. In fact, I went to the fabric store again yesterday when I got off from work but the sale had ended on Saturday. I didnt mind as I only needed a half yard of the jersey fabric in two different shades of pink [dark pink below] and that cost me $6.00 then I also bought two small spools of matching thread which was $1.00; so altogether, I spent $7.00. Not bad and I will have two blouses as a product of this purchase.

                                                        Dark pink jersey with thread

Light green

Orange blend

Purple multi

The other three fabrics shown were purchased by a male friend of mine. He said he liked them for me so he bought them. I was very appreciative of this kind gesture on his part. I will make great use of them.

In other news, I have been busy sewing up a lil frenzy and loving it! On Monday of this week, I wore a salmon sheath dress with no sleeves that I made. Below is what I wore yesterday, made by me!

Rosette proudly made by me!

My co-worker Ms. Cleola Mackey also wore clothing made by her. She made a gorgeous wrap dress with a ruffled neckline to work. I couldnt resist taking her picture and posting it to my blog. She is an amazing seamstress and a great inspiration to me! Below are pics of her in the dress [I will be at that level real soon with her help of course!]

Front view

Ruffled detailing at the neck

Side profile

Back view

I have another dress that I started that I have yet to complete. I need to hurry up with that as I would like to wear that to work sometime next week. I also have three skirts that I was working on and I need to finish them up. My cousin joked at me yesterday saying she knows I wont purchase too much clothing anymore as she knows I will try to make everything I want. For me, sewing gives me a liberating feeling. I feel free! There is so much I want to create and sew but I must take it one day one step at a time until I get to that point!

Ms. Mackey just loaned me a pattern for a jacket! I dont know if I will cut it out tonight but I am up for the challenge. This accomplishment will be a great one for me! Until then...happy sewing!



Weekend Review

Well, I had a most productive weekend and I accomplished much sewing! I was excited about this!

Bright and early on Saturday morning, my sons and I went to my cousin Dimples' house. She loves to cook and bake and she is excellent at this. Well, Dimples does catering in her spare time and she had two baby showers to cater for on Saturday. We hit the road and did some shopping for the items to prepare then we came home and began with the menu. For the first baby shower, they ordered more finger type foods. They had conch fitters, cheese spread, tuna salad, cupcakes and sliced cake, vegetable platter and dip, chicken wings and meatballs. We only did two huge bowls of tri color pasta with veggies for the second shower.

After we got all cleaned up from the catering, we hit the road to visit my good friend Norma so we could decide the best type material for our dresses for the Red Ribbon Ball.  The Ball is being held on Saturday, 20th November, 2010 in one of the Ballrooms of Atlantis. One of the committee members informed me that they have an exciting evening planned and it should be a night to remember.  I have finally selected the style that I want and I will be going to the fabric store this coming weekend to purchase my material and notions.

My darling cousin Dimples has dubbed me "The Traveling Seamstress." The reason for this is due to the fact that when I go to her house if I have any sewing to do, I take my machine with me. Her children [all of whom are adults] are aware of this so whenever I come around, they always need something mended. Yesterday I made a fully lined straight skirt with back split for myself. Even though I took my measurements, I still cut it slightly bigger and now I have to alter it so it can fit me properly. All my cousins said that I did a wonderful job with it.

When I finished the skirt, I made a pair of shorts for my baby niece, Da'Shanti. They are mint green and it is out of the left over fabric from the sheath dress that I had made for myself. My lil cousin Tenneil is a student at the School of Tourism and Hospitality Studies at The College of the Bahamas doing her Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. Well she brought her chef pants to be hemmed. Next in line was her big brother, Raynaldo. He is a Defence Force Officer with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. He also plays on their softball team. Well, he came with his pants for me to put a green stripe down the side of each leg. By this time, it was 10pm and I was very tired. I was only able to complete one side and I told him I will complete the other side before Friday as this is when his next game is. I felt proud knowing that I was able to help my family through something that I love doing...Sewing!

Floating in a whirlwind

Have your ever had the feeling that you were spinning in many directions and not getting anywhere? That is how I feel most days. I am new to the sewing world and I am very excited about it! I know that I must creep before I walk but sometimes, I want to just get up and run. Reading has always been a hobby of mine and over the years, I have read lots of novels and fashion magazines. I usually keep all of my magazines for reference purposes.

When I open a magazine and see all of the beautiful clothing [simple styles] and I look at the prices, I usually say to myself, "I can make that!" Then I would tell myself that it would cost a lot less to purchase the cloth and sew the garments. This fueled me to stack up so much more magazines and the thing is, fashion is revolving. Pieces that were worn 30 years ago are coming back now! I am getting better and I am paying close attention to details. I guess you can say that I am more confident in my sewing.

I have a co-worker, Ms. C. V. Mackey, she is an amazing seamstress! She choses the most beautiful fabrics and she makes excellent pieces. I always tell her that If I had half the talent that she has, I would make everything! I told her that it is a shame that she purchases clothing knowing that she can make them. Her work is phenomenal! I told her that my mom would have been impressed with her work as she finishes her work neatly. Here is a picture of Ms. Mackey in a suit that she made.

                                                    Ms. Mackey in the red suit she made.

Ms. Mackey did a wonderful job with the suit. The jacket is fully lined. The skirt is a simple straight skirt however, she did not line it as the material is a bit thick. It looks like something that came straight from the rack of a clothing store. It is my aspiration to one day [soon] be just as great!

Now I will go back to all these wonderful ideas floating around in my head. All the lovely designs I would love to see on my body! All the beautiful lush fabrics to choose from! I will now go back to torturing myself with thoughts of sewing items at a level I am not quite at as yet. Such is life!