Too much going on + still there's Butterick

Howdy good folks, good evening to you all!.....Ive been through a bit much in the week or so and it has left me feeling a little "off"....First "off", me and my huny were on our way to the outlets in Gilroy and then on to San Francisco to his Mom's place....While we are on our way a drunk driver slams in the back of our car really, really, hard...His ignorant arse even tried to take off after he did it....Needless to say we chased him down and MADE him pull over...Get this though, an off-duty police officer saw the entire thing and pulled over with us when we made the drunk guy pull over...Other officers got there and arrested the guy and that was it...I didn't even want to look at our car but when I did I was surprised that it wasn't bashed in...there was actually very minimal damage to our car although it felt like we were hit pretty good...Our insurance is going to take care of the damage and all is well...except I have felt shaken up ever since (it was three days ago).....I'm just glad that's over...*shaking my head is disbelief and irritation*
A few other little things have been going too like my iron going out in the middle of making a dress but lucky for my dress is knit so it was fine...I'll be iron shopping tomorrow... But these issues aren't life-threatening like a drunk driver so I wont talk about 'em too much...Just know that I'm feeling drained...But not drained enough that I don't want to sew...Although I had hardly any energy I "managed" to get to Hancock's the other day while their patterns were on sale (smile)...I got 6 new ones and I believe I may even have found my "go-to" shirt pattern....
Out of that pile I decided on Butterick pattern # B5815 View C to start out with...I had a whole other top pattern I had been working on before I got the new patterns but I put it up for later and whipped up one of my new ones...This is my kind pattern too...it only had 4 pattern pieces!!!!!....It came together fast too....I know I will be making this dress again...even during the cooler months....
I whipped it up out of some fabric I bought from JoAnn's....Now I don't care for JoAnn's; like at all...its just not personable enough for me but I got an email from them that had a 50% off coupon that I could have used for one cut of fabric...Notice the words "could have"...The fabric was supposedly already on sale so that made my coupon unusable for that sale...THAT is just one more reason why I don't like going to JoAnn's....If I was at Hancock's I could use any discount they have except for the one reserved for the more mature ladies...but anyway, my dress came out just lovely and I'm grateful for that...I really do like the fabric too...
Well I'll share the photos now...
~~MsKRS~~

Front shot of my new dress

I tried to show the sleeve...its so pretty; it will show better when I wear it which is soon...

Pretty pattern : Butterick's B2515...I don't care for View B (the pink tunic shirt) for some reason...I'm sure I'll be making View A though...its just so pretty...I have a similar skirt pattern too...I may just recreate that outfit....

Thrifty finds = Pretties

Good evening good people!....I, of course have been sewing and along with a little craftiness...The other day I was thinking about how much I love the off-the-shoulder tops so I decided to look them up online to get some ideas on how to whip one up...when I typed in "off-the-shoulder top" the world "dolman" came up...now any and every time I see and/or hear something that I've never heard before I must educate myself on what that something is...so I set out to find out what a dolman shirt was....Come to find out it was just a fancy name for an "off-the-shoulder" top or kimono sleeve type top...Another useless fact?  Maybe, but at least I know what that word is now...further research on the name itself may or may not manifest later...lol!...
So anyway, I went into my sewing room and got to work...I had tie-dye on the brain too so I decided to combine my want for a new top with my need to dye something...I tie-dyed one of the endless t-shirts my huny so generously donates to me after only a couple wears and measured it up...I used my fashion design ruler again; I swear every time I use it I feel like I really know what I'm doing...hell, maybe I do because it came out super cute...I got compliments on it the entire day I wore it....I love your top!, That's a cool shirt!, Did you make it or buy it?, were some of the comments I received while proudly styling my newly refashioned tee....
I also took a recent trip to the thrift store and of course scored some super cool sewing stuff...I got 4 patterns for only a dollar!!!!!...and with me being on a "top" marathon lately I decided to make a top that pair with a maxi skirt I whipped up a few weeks ago...I went to my trusty stash and grabbed a bright and beautiful Cobalt blue pique fabric I just bought recently from Hancock's....I made view C but I modified it quite a bit....I didn't AT ALL want the loop embellishment that the pattern called for so I made mine with a center seam down the middle of the front...the back has a cool pleat that is just so darling IMO...I also used Red thread for contrast...I know I will be making this top again, its just one of those tops that will look cute with so many fabrics and prints.....andddddddddd my snazzy new shirt cost me less than $3 dollars to make!...Another thrift store score!!!!!...Well I will show the photos now....brace yourselves; they are cayute!...(wink-wink)
~~MsKRS~~

Tie-dyed Dolman shirt...who knew a plain White tee had this much potential?

I tried to show the center seam down the middle...Pink Cookie is such a skinny arse things just hang on her...LOL

 Super cool neckline and contrast thread huh?....;)

Side view...so scallop-y....hehehehe

 Tried to show the back pleat a little...its nicer than this picture...maybe it'll come out better when I wear it...

My "new" top pattern!...see it marked for 25 cents?  I loves and loves me a thrift store, I promise you I do.....McCall's patterns have been cool for quite some time and constantly getting cooler; they come together so easily...now did you see those unattractive loops?...yeah, ummmm no, just no...but the back pleat is just do darned cute....I initially  thought it was 4 views...the back of View C is what made me want to whip it up in the first place...but when I looked for the front of View C I noticed it was the one with the loops...smh...thank the heavens for sewing skills to modify because those loops are too loopy for me! ;)

Another reason why I keep sewing to myself

Hey everybody!...I'm over here checking out the Fantastic Four movie right now for the first time and I must say I didn't know it was this cool!!...I may have to add it to my collection and watch it on my own because I caught it already on and that's a no-no....From the movie information (I have Comcast) some kinda cosmic reaction caused them to change....very cool...;)
Now to get around to yet another reason why I keep my sewing to myself....I have been sewing for a short time...Literally only since October 2011; well besides my sewing class I took in high school as an elective....So when I got into sewing I found of couple of favorites who are already BIG WIGS so I didn't expect that much interaction from them because they are into so many things; they are really BUSY.....and when I read their blogs and other posts a lot of their happenings aren't even sewing related; people often forget that folks do have families and a NORMAL life....and then the other ladies that I like to read about are either more my senior or just generally different...(I read about quilters (and I don't even quilt), bag ladies, candle makers, soapers, and some mo')....but every single time I try and reach out to those that are similar its the same as its always been; not so good....I don't understand the itchiness between people and why they feel the need to form some kind of invisible, uninvited competition between each other; but I cant and wont ignore that I feel it, see it, and know its going on...and it hurts my feelings....People always act as if they would like to see someone else doing something good but I have to admit that not everybody is true when they say that; it just generally sounds "good"....and that fact is most annoying to me; that they think no one can see what they are doing.....its like don't even try to play with my intelligence...don't even try it......okay rant over....
Now remember when I posted about my patternless halter top and maxi skirt?...I just used my measurements and sewed em up...well I participated in a focus group the other day and I decided to wear my outfit....this is the second time I wore this ensemble but I believe my camera was on the fritz and I didn't get photos....although I did get a little girl's attention and she said "I like your outfit"...now you know I had to hold her attention for a minute and inform her that she could have some cool outfits too if she sews.....She told me she didn't know if she could sew with a intrigued, pretty smile (to me that meant she never tried but she could if she did) and of course I told her she should give it a go...we parted ways and I hope she picks up sewing one of these days or at least keeps it on her mind....Gosh I love sewing and any opportunity to talk about it (smile)....I felt kinda weird in the focus group because of the dreaded double sided window where they can see us but we cant see them...that was the first focus group I had ever participated in.....I actually didn't know it was that kind of meeting but no matter...the lady that hosted the group even recorded the meeting....spun me out I tell you what...but in the end we were rewarded with a super cool tie-dye kit in Tropical colors and a gift card for Target; and anybody that is close to me knows I LOVE TARGET....Okay well let me share my photos because I can always ramble on and on! LOL!...I'll talk to you good people in a short while!
~~MsKRS~~

Sewing + "friends"?

Good afternoon y'all!...I'm just in my sewing room patiently waiting for my Judge Judy to come on (she comes on at 4 over here)....Okay I know I keep talking about my Fashion Star top but I really love it...I had to meet with a couple friends yesterday and I decided I should wear it...the meeting was with a new girlfriend of mine I met a while ago...I also met her cousin Joy...lovely ladies, lovely ladies indeed...I may be writing for a new blog if all goes well.....doors with super cool things behind it are opening...so I picked my little camera lady up from work and headed over there.... She tagged along with me to my meeting and afterwards took some pictures for me...I got those for you good folks at the end of the post...
Now for the personal part...I have been feeling some kinda way about the word "friend" nowadays...now I have never purposely had many friends because I simply don't accept people into my life easily...I am friendly but I don't claim many people as friends...and its not a negative thing, its just that most people aren't your friend anyway so why say they are?....Now don't get me wrong, I AM a peoples' person; I love being in good company and having debates that are worth talking about...but this afternoon I'm feeling melancholy because the people that I called a friend I cannot ignore anymore that they aren't....the actual situations I don't care to mention because these people have yet to come to the "straight up" conclusions about what happened, and some others are still playing the blame game...however, these people I thought were the closest to me are now the most distant....what's even more tripped out is that there are other folks that I am getting closer to...and I have to mention just how very grateful and excited to chill with them and get closer I am, like beyond excited....but on the flip side I guess you really do outgrow relationships with folks...that old saying that some people only stay in your life for a season is proving true on a daily basis (shrugs shoulders)....and you know what?  I'm fine with that...
Remember my shirt I designed and whipped up out of the comic book fabric?...I finally figured out how I wanna rock it...at first I wanted to wear it with a pair of White skinnies but for some reason I just never got around to Old Navy to cop some...but I have had that shirt heavy on my mind, trying to figure out what to pair it with...well, I'm going to make a sunny Yellow maxi skirt to wear with it!...Ive been on the maxi skirt love lately and as soon as I remembered that sunny knit fabric I have in my stash I knew that was the fabric that would soon be a skirt...Pictures soon of my outfit when I debut it!...Okay I'm rambling so I will talk to you after I wear my new outfit...Now pictures!
~~MsKRS~~

one of the most comfortable tops I have ever made...and that fabric is sooo soft...Hancock's Fabrics is the best....

I love that fishtail thing this pattern has going on...and my shoes complimented perfectly...(I love, love, love shoes!)

a box of SUPER COOL stuff from my fellow HBG...

 

A Simplicity pattern + a Fashion Star pattern + no pattern at all

Howdy folks!...I'm up of course watching Frasier and winding down for the night...My kittens are getting big, they are 4 months old...We went to get food for them today and inquired about their upcoming surgeries (spay and neuter)....Well needless to say we are going to have to shop around more because the pet hospital inside the pet store said it would be over $400 dollars!...ummmm no...just no...I had called the SPCA before but I kinda didn't want them to have their surgeries there....but they were waaaayyyy cheaper than the pet hospital.....I have to get on it though, I wanted it done before they were 6 months....I hope they wont be in too much pain; I'm kinda sad to have to put them through that but its necessary...*le sigh*....
Now onto my 25 cents pattern....remember the tank maxi dress I made for my friend a while back?...well I made myself one...I like how it turned out and I almost, almost matched the stripes perfectly...yeah they are big stripes but I did still did good though LOL!...just kidding, but I am getting better....Now that I sew I am always looking at someone elses dress and noticing that the stripes don't match...I cringe at that now...sewing girl issues I guess....I also made a Fashion Star pattern too the other day....(I believe I talked about this one last post; I love it so much....it came out so nice!)
I wore one of my two of my creations last night to hang out with some friends and I felt lovely, just lovely...I always feel extra happy when my entire outfit was created entirely by me...no patterns, just my sewing mojo and my machine....Another reason sewing is just so darned cool...the possibilities are literally endless...I don't even get excited about ready made clothing anymore, I would rather sew my own clothes....I LOVE SEWING

Well let me share the photos now...
~~MsKRS~~

 

 

This skirt doubles as a dress and I've worn it as a dress before...you can take a look by clicking this link:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.401530779954045.1073741842.117668338340292&type=1&l=965a3ab3d6

 

McCall's "calls" and I ALWAYS answer

Good afternoon everybody!...I was up til' 4:30 this morning sewing up McCall's Fashion Star pattern # M6556 View A just because....its a dress with a fishtail kinda thing happening on the right side...I serged all the edges instead of doing the narrow hem the pattern called for; on the pattern envelope I didn't like the hemmed look....knit fabric always looks cool to me when its serged too...I was able to practice pattern matching with the knit fabric I used...I did pretty good ;).....it looks kinda funky on Pink Cookie though; I think its because of the extra fabric on the fishtail side...but when I tried it on it was cool.....there is another dress pattern included with this one; its a close fitting dress that I have thee perfect fabric for, I may whip it up next.....and I don't know if I told you but I had already finished McCall's pattern #M6083 View C a little while ago too...its a jumpsuit with matching sash...it was kinda easy to whip up although I had trouble with the pockets and ended up omitting them...now I don't know why I got tripped up with the pockets though, I have done them before (shrugs shoulders)...maybe I was feeling "some kinda way" that day I was sewing and it just didn't work out...I still got a jumpsuit out of the deal!...I wore it today; and my little camera lady (my babygirl) was home from her jobs today so I grabbed her up to take a few photos...I initially had some wedges on with my jumpsuit but I had to drive my babygirl to an orientation earlier and in some of my wedges driving feels funny....so by the time I took the photos I had already changed into some flats....the jumpsuit is sooo comfy; I think its the wide leg feel....I may try and start something this afternoon but right now I'm going to share these photos with y'all and watch Judge Judy! lol  (I love that lady) ;)
~~MsKRS~~

the front

a shot of the back

the fishtail side

tried to show the serged edges.....