Monday, January 28, 2013

"Blossom"ing skills

the front


side shot

the back

a shot of the interior
 
Good evening all!...of course I am up again messing around in my sewing room...I usually opt for quick projects because I like instant gratification when I sew....but this go 'round I wanted a "project"...My first sewing book was Amy Butler's Style Stitches and her Blossom bag has always been soooooo darling to me...but how cute I thought it was is just how intimidating the pattern was to me....there are plenty of steps and material when it comes to making one of her bags....now while they call for a buncha stuff the finished bag is just snazzy!!...when I first started sewing she was one of the first bag ladies I discovered....I am on the hunt for her Kalencom bag patterns here locally...my little vac and sew shop may stock them by Summer....at least I hope they do...I have been able to nab a couple of her individual patterns there before....it took me around four days to complete this bag and I my stitching skills are advancing...I am starting to understand more about sewing as a whole...basically, sewing is getting cooler by the minute!!...Glad to be on board!!...Rambling?..yep, like always.......
XOXOXOXOX
**MsKRS**

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Sewing LOVE Infinity & Muffins

Hey everybody!...with all the buzzard luck I had been having my sewing mojo had wavered...only a little though because I sleep right next to my sewing room!...full view of it at all times...I had my dress fabric and pattern pieces ready to go for almost three weeks...well of course if I'm not actually sewing I am almost always doing something sewing-related so that's what happened last night...I'm skimming my sewing magazines and the sewing bug takes a big, giant bite out of me and I of course obey by going right on in my sewing room...but it was 11 o'clock at night though!!!!!...but for me it doesn't matter as I will sew at any time of the day or night..but this dress thing had me up until 6 am this morning messing around with hems and sleeves....so blissful for me though because sewing really makes me feel better; it IS my therapy....In another post I included the pattern...I am starting to get along with them but I still will always love to whip up my own...it seems that I do that anyway because every single item I have ever made I have modified it to fit my own personality and skills set....my skills are improving....I installed my first hook and eye set on this dress as well as a few buttons....I love hand sewing too and I do it a lot because some things just cant be completed without it...I did a couple of repairs for my brother and my friend and my hand sewn stitches are must say are exquisite....that is what I have done the longest though...I surprised myself....;)
Now this isn't all that sewing related but I am crafty too and I do consider baking to be a craft....a cool one at that...I discovered a yummy muffin recipe within the last 2-3 weeks and my house has been a'buzz ever since...they are called Sugar Donut Muffins and they are GOOOOOOODDDD!!!!!...my daughter loves muffins ever since she was a little girl (she is 18 now) and this recipe did not fail her...my huny couldn't stay out of em either! LOL!...I found the recipe at stylishcuisine.com and I'm glad I did...the secret ingredient to these muffins is the nutmeg and they just would not be as good without it....check out that site for this recipe and plenty more...browse around when time permits; I will include the link to make it easier (http://stylishcuisine.com/?p=1242)  well you know I hate to ramble so I will share the photos of my new dress and those super tasty muffins....Love, Peace, and Sewing!
XOXOXOXOX
**MsKRS**
front shot...

shot of the back...you can barely see my hook and eye installation but it is there...lol

close up of the collar and button from my Mom's collection of buttons I inherited...


shot of the super cool Britex buttons I installed on the cuffs...I love buttons!...have I ever shared that? ;)

Sugar donut muffins....DELICIOUS.....

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Feeling DOWN

Evening all...How is everybody doing?...Me, I feel so scattered...I usually don't share too much personal stuff on my blog; while I vent I don't want to bring anyone down too much....But I don't know where else to share when I just don't feel like verbally saying anything except for here...I use this blog as my personal diary more and more it seems...
My daughter's father passed away....That is all I will say about that as there is really no need to elaborate....there just doesn't seem to be a need...My school situation is horrifying right now too and STILL no job....when it rains it pours.....All I can do is look forward to better days because there are always, always going to be ups and downs....always.....I have been keeping extra busy just trying to keep my sanity....and I did notice that the results have been quite nice...I guess pain really does beget treasure sometimes....
the services were bittersweet for him....my daughter's eyes seem to have lost some of the spark...it may or may not come back....
I will share the photos now....
Talk to everyone as soon as I can...
~~MsKRS~~

pickle jar turned utensil holder
 

pretty top (pattern used)


self-drafted pretty top

fabric paint love; all done free-hand
 















Wednesday, January 2, 2013

New year = New projects to whip up

Howdy everybody!..Happy holidays and new year to you all....I never make resolutions because I know there will be ups and downs and rounds and rounds as long as you are alive...I just hope to live healthy, love much, and be peaceful....Now with the shiny new year here comes many thoughts of sewing and new projects; well at least for me it does...(I cant seem to think of much else these days)....I have a new project in mind too...its a commercial pattern; ick because I don't really like patterns but the dresses were too pretty to pass up AND I need to expand my skills anyway so I opted for a 5 style dress pattern from Simplicity's New Look line....One of my sewing friends mentioned that I should try Burda patterns and she could not have been more right...they have some really cool patterns; I just hope I can maneuver through them...I also wanted to spruce up my home with some handmade jazz too...I have to make some window treatments this Spring; I hope I am able to find some breezy fabric that brightens up the areas I'll put them in...
I little birdie told me that there is another Sew It All coming out which makes this the 6th volume and I'm itching to get my hands on it....I may try and sew through it...
I was going to sew this evening but I decided I should drop a line or two instead...but not before I de-fuzzed and oiled my machine for tomorrow's projects...My visit to Hancock's today again proved very fruitful; I love that place....well any place where there is fabric, books, and friendly people....Well I have talked enough right!?  Of course I have a photo or two of my latest creations and ideas....Talk to you good folks soon!
XOXOXOXOX
**MsKRS**

My first garment project of 2013...I will show photos of the finished dress when its completed; I plan to sew it up later on....

Wrist warmers....an idea from one of my sewing mags...

A "just because" photo of two of my pincushions...the yellow one was made by my mother and the red one was made by me!...I sure wish she was here..but everything I have ever made was whipped up with her machine...Bittersweet....