Cold, windy days need a "New Look" (Pic heavy)

Good evening everybody!...Remember in my last post I was talking a little bit about the drought that's been going on around these parts?...well today we finally got some rain...I believe its still raining out there right now; and its supposed to last for a few days....I hope the farmers are collecting it because the new water allowances are kinda strict and not in a good way....When I left the house earlier it wasn't raining but I knew it would be by the time I got to the house....I ended up going to my friends house for a couple hours; her Mom came in town this morning....
Who remembers my complete obsession with Mad Men?...well its STILL going strong and I on the lookout for the seasons on DVD or Blu-ray....I love the old school fashion and how its still so "me" now....I decided to rock a dress I made a few months ago with my Mad Men in mind....this is New Look's pattern # 0110 View D....I know I blogged about it a while back when I finished it but I've never worn it until today....I was going to belt it but when I put it on it I felt it was cool how it was....I absolutely LOVE this dress...its so comfortable and the neckline is just awesome; I mean just friggin' awesome....it came out so well...the zipper, along with the hook and eye also installed damn good...I'm getting so much better at those things....I always put my own spin on stuff and the sleeves show my style a little bit...I have serger stitches on my machine and I finished the sleeves that way....I used a printed knit fabric from Hancock's (of course) and the drape and feel are just right....this pattern has 4 or 5 views and I'm pretty sure I'll get around to whipping em all up sooner or later....Since it was kinda brisk and rainy I couldn't rock my heels so I threw on my trusty boots....This dress was inspired by the lovely red-head named Joan from the show...and anybody that watches the show knows she can rock a dress honey!!!!!....Well since there are quite a few pictures I wanna share I'll shut up now and show em....talk to you good folks soon!
~~MsKRS~~

Meeeeee!

a shot of the back...neckline, zipper, front and back darts, and vent split?....piece a' cake.....

 Neckline is FIERCE......check my sleeves though....this is "my dress is sooo HOT" face...LOL

vintage button from my Mama's stash.....that neckline though.....

tried to get a shot of the hook and eye...they are pretty hard to photograph....well the small ones are....

crazy, jacked up picture my friend took....*le sigh* I miss my babygirl taking my pictures....others don't understand how I need them.....LOL

 See Joan's dress?...I had to have one similar....I just had to....

I made view D.....

All BLACK Err'thang; Naturally

Hey y'all hey!...its a good Sunday around here with the temps still a little too high for this time of year but nonetheless enjoyable....I decided to take advantage of my huny being home for a while and get him to snap a few photos so I can write a new post...Now remember when I said I had something totally HOT to show?...well here it is.....
Its McCall's M6083 again; this time in BLACK....now this is the 3rd time I've made this jumpsuit and this is by far my favorite...(Can y'all tell I love this pattern)...I usually don't wear all Black but today just seemed like I should just do that....so I did...and I like it...A LOT...I added a couple of waist darts and tuxedo stripes but the pictures don't hardly show those details...one day I'll get to know my camera better or I'll get a new one that does stuff for me.....but for now I love my little Nikon....I whipped this one up at least a month ago but as I said before I just didn't feel like taking pictures of myself...and since Pink Cookie (my dressform) doesn't have legs I cant take photos of pants until I wear 'em....I still have pants that I've made and haven't shown because I wasn't in the mood to flick it up when I wore 'em....I'll get around to it though...its no biggie LOL....but this jumpsuit though, I love it.....Did I ever say how much I LOVE heels?....Well, my love for heels is running neck and neck with my sewing....yeah, THAT much.....
Did anybody notice my "wild" hair?...I've been on a mission to have natural hair and this is the result of my first twist-out....ummmm, it didn't turn out so well but I rocked it anyway...the relaxed ends are getting in the way....I snipped 'em after I twisted them up (about a 1/2 inch to 1 inch on all the twists) but the straight ends still remain...I've been snipping on the ends ever since I told myself that I was going back to my nappy roots....not complaining though, I'm only 6 months into my transition so it was something I expected.....I just wanted to try it anyway.....in July I'll be at my year mark and the "twist-out" should be much, much better...my curl pattern is peeking through though and I cant get enough of it....Okay y'all let me share the photos now, Cheaters just came on....LOLOL (another one of my guilty trash TV pleasures)....I included links to the other times I whipped it up for y'all to see....
Talk to you good folks soon!
~~MsKRS~~

1st time I whipped it up: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.447885711985218.1073741863.117668338340292&type=3

2nd time I whipped it up: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.521622247944897.1073741895.117668338340292&type=3

 

HEELS!...my FAVE....

 

Hi-Low AND a re-fashion though!

Howdy folks!...If you missed me I want to say that I've been all right...Just living on the outside more versus the cyber world...the weather has been real nice too...maybe a little too nice because we are supposedly having a drought...the other side of the map is having severe cold and storms and we aren't having anything...we need rain; we are Ag country where I live and its a little too dry for farmers...the water rations aren't working out; the POTUS even visited our town and a few surrounding the other day to check things out!....but we have at least two more months of "rain time" so we'll hopefully get some sprinkles around here soon...
This blog post is one of a few that I've written but I just didn't feel like taking pictures for 'em....I haven't felt like taking pictures of myself or of the stuff I've been making for my own Cancerian reasons; and I'll leave it at that....I have definitely still be sewing and those blog posts will surface in due time I guess....
Now since last night the sewing bug has been biting; I really don't know if I even slept...but I got up on the early side and went straight to my sewing room this morning...Yesterday evening I cut out a hi-low skirt pattern; Simplicity 1695 and sewed up View A.....it turned out very pretty too....I used a silky fabric that got on my damn nerves when I was using it though....but in the fabric's defense slippery fabrics always get on my nerves....they move around waaaaayyyyy too much but they make for such pretty, pretty garments....so us folks that sew just fight and tussle with them until we get something we like....and that's exactly what I did....I love it and I may even wear it tomorrow.....my selection of cool clothes is constantly growing....
I also did a refashion...I was about to make sew up some kind of top to wear with my new skirt but an old sweater (that also gets on my nerves because of the turtleneck feature) caught my eye....I politely cut that damn turtleneck off and neatened up the edge....now I can stand it again....I really liked the sweater when I first copped it; but the turtleneck was so "choke-y" all the time...Singer scissors and my machine = problem solved....
Anybody been refashioning anything lately?...give me a link to it if you have.....I've been teaching myself draping principles too....I got something totally HOT to show off too....but it has to warm up wayyy more for that one....stay with me good people and I'll talk to you soon!...Photos now....
~~MsKRS~~

 

Pancakes from overseas

Howdy folks!...this evening's post isn't about sewing; y'all know sometimes I throw a recipe in every now and then....as you all probably know I follow a ton of blogs and they aren't always sewing related...in doing so, I learn so many things that I may not have ran across had I not....Yesterday was no exception...I was reading a blog called Pretty Providence which is written by two lovely young ladies...the main theme to their blog is living well within a budget....they post all kinds of good stuff....Well one of the ladies was reading one of her favorite blogs and ran across a recipe for GERMAN PANCAKES....Now I know the kitchen and recipes like the back of my hand but I had never heard of "German pancakes" until yesterday.....I wasn't even going to write another blog post until I sewed something else but since I made the recipe today AND it was so cool I decided to share....
Now the recipe is very simple; super similar to homemade pancakes but with less ingredients....even mixing it up was easy-peasy because I put everything in my blender (as suggested); which made the eggs in the recipe soooo fluffy!....I baked it up and y'all it was good!!!...my guinea pig  Huny liked it too....I was supposed to be trying it for breakfast but I actually forgot about the recipe...I had written it down from the ladies' blog post yesterday....Around here we eat breakfast for dinner often so this was right on time...I should have made some smothered potatoes with it; Lawd that would have hit the spot...but I didn't even know if I would like the pancake so I didn't....Next time I definitely will....its really easy for those with a few kiddos and not a lot of time...the dish whips up so fast and its filling too...it looked so crazy when it was cooking too...the eggs (recipe calls for 6) contributed to the cool shape when it was done....the kiddos would be excited to see and eat something like this....and we were too!...okay let me share the photos of it....try it and tell me what you think....oh and if you need the recipe you can find the lovely Pretty Providence blog or let me know and I'll give it to you! Talk to you good people soon!
**MsKRS**

 reminds me of a popover a little bit....

 space aged huh?....but I'm sure its plenty retro....

 its like an inch thick all around....and of course the edges are the best.....

 the underside of the pancake...it looks a little like drop dough but its totally liquid before its baked....awesome sauce; am I right?....

yummmmm....but I NEED potatoes....the plate doesn't even look right....looks like something's missing....next time my friends, next time....

 

Chain Reaction

Good evening yall!...I said I was going to try and blog a little more; I always wear my fabulous creations but I'm hardly in the mood to take photos....I also said I was going to start a new journal for my sewing...it will probably just end up being a scrapbook full of little notes to myself and measurements though....that'll be a good thing because at this point my scribbles can be found all over the place....I was at Target one day and found something called "Wall Pops" which are stick to the wall (but peel off easy cause there's no adhesive) with the dry erase surface....I've had a skirt idea written on one of 'em since I made my first good pencil skirt...however, my huny and my babygirl always have a good time writing on them too...they literally inspect everything I put in my sewing room...and I don't mind...and I'm sure I'll get around to using my idea I wrote on the top one of these days....
Now this post involves a purty little dress I just finished whipping up this evening....the dress is a pattern I've made before but the fabric steals the show this time....I used a chain print cotton fabric that I grabbed from none other than my favorite little fabric shop: Hancock's Fabrics....I've had it in my stash for quite some time and its one of those fabrics that just feels so nice....you just have to pet it and its always a real dream to sew with....I try to keep the selvage of the fabrics that feel this way so I can track 'em down later if I want to....the pattern I used is Butterick B5815 View C....there are actually three views but view B is a tunic; I'm not all that fond of the "tunic".....I've made the top view and of course this is the second go 'round for View C.....
these are the links for the top and the first dress from this pattern (I used a cool printed knit from JoAnn's for the dress and a cool cotton fabric from Hancock's for the top):
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.493788600728262.1073741887.117668338340292&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.460035797436876.1073741872.117668338340292&type=3
I really love this pattern, I think its the sleeves....it got some pretty bad reviews too, obviously I didn't agree with the opinions I read though....bad reviews happen because I've seen some patterns that weren't my fancy at all but others raved about them....that's why sewing for me is so personal....its really all up to YOU....I put some vintage seam binding on the sleeves which made it that much more pretty; the seam binding was from 1979 I believe....I love that old stuff....the garments I add my "back in the day" stuff to always turn out nice....photo sharing time...I've been trying to learn how to take better pictures too....its all coming along nicely....(I'll try and share photos of when I wear it too; I need to improve on that)....I'll talk to you good people soon.....
~~MsKRS~~

                             my Wall Pops that my family seems to always have to write on :)....

shot of my new dress with no belt...I believe this is how I'll wear it....

Side shot....you can see the seam lace a little bit...I had to add it; I just had to....

 another shot of the pretty seam lace....I love that stuff....both the arms used it except for about 4 inches of it....I need to get some more but I want it to be vintage too....sewing girl issues I guess....

belted this time...I think it needs a snazzier belt...

Butterick Beauty.....

 

"Ugly" fabric again??!!

Good evening everybody!...I for one am glad as ever that this holiday mess is over!  (even if you don't celebrate for your own reasons) and I hope all is well....I had to cook of course; every year because it's simply tradition in my family...It would have been some LOOOOONNNNGGGGG faces around here if I didn't and they made sure their opinions were stated and also duly noted.....For all the history buffs: We've already had discussions, some of them quite heated about the who, what, how, and when of the holidays but we still get together and eat, a lot...I, personally like the "together" part.....sometimes the family accommodates for those that dine differently but usually we just have the regulars....My Mama used to be the one we would wait on to cook us up something soooo good around this time; now the responsibility is mine....and I accept....but I prefer New Year's Eve over Christmas ANYDAY.....QUE SERA SERA...and this is my first post of 2014!
Now on to my new jumpsuit....I made McCall's M6083 again, buuuuuut in some TABLECLOTH fabric???!!!.....
Click this link to see the first jumpsuit I made: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.447885711985218.1073741863.117668338340292&type=3
I will learn to stop buying fabric online without a swatch one day ....The fabric looked totally different when I was shopping and I guess me making sure exactly what it was didn't happen...and when it came in the mail it looked "tablecloth-y"; at first I was pissed with that....I even checked the receipt to see exactly what kind of fabric it really was and it said: TABLECLOTH; POLY, CHAMPAGNE...Omggggg REALLY?????!!!!!....but of course my addiction to fabric as a whole took over and I started looking at it; you know, laying it out seeing what it can actually form BESIDES a damn tablecloth....(I don't make those and at this time I'm not interested in making one either)....After checking it out and noticing that it had two equally pretty sides I started to feel a different way about the tablecloth fabric....I was going to start another dress but my jumpsuit pattern just kept calling me....I decided to use the "ugly" fabric....I'm glad I did because: My new jumpsuit is the prettiest!!!!!(IMO).... the fabric has a nice metallic sheen on both sides and I used the slightly darker side...one side was tan and the other was a couple shades darker brown...I added the pockets but omitted the sash (when I made it before I omitted the pockets and added the sash)....this time around my jumpsuit needs no sash, trust me....
Now folks still might think "so tablecloth" when they see it or maybe because I said it and helped 'em make up their minds but I just love it anyway!....I made a shirt with some "ugly" fabric a while ago but I just love that shirt too nowadays; wore it the other day with some Gray skinnies....
click this link to see my shirt: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.461821550591634.1073741874.117668338340292&type=3
and who remembers my first bolero of my sewing happiness?...well that's what's covering my shoulders in the pictures!....do you want a link to that one?...let me know....
I guess the moral of this story is that fabric you hate can end up being something you love.....Let me share the photos now because y'all know I'll start rambling! LOL talk to you guys soon....
~~MsKRS~~

Via my Vogue Sewing Book

Howdy everybody!...How's everybody doing?...Are you feeling this holiday madness or are you more on the Grinchy side like me?...Either way, I hope you feeling all right.....now I should have some photos of myself since I wore the pants I've been talking about for the second or maybe the third time yesterday (I didn't feel like having my picture taken) but instead this post is about draping principles....I love, love, love sewing so much but I've barely scratched the surface of the art although I've been sewing for almost 4 years....I started with bags and pouches, eventually graduating to sewing garments...I had sewn a couple gowns for myself and pajama pants for my babygirl too...I even made some color-blocked (I wasn't aware of that term when I made them 4 years ago) pajama pants which I refer to as one of my first huge sewing mistakes....Little did I know that they can be fashionably referred to as "harem pants"; but I instantly thought of M.C. Hammer when I finished 'em! hahahahahahahapahahahahaa.....
But mistakes and all I still LOVE SEWING with my whole self and I sew or do something sewing and/or crafty everyday....
now ever since got my Vogue Sewing Book I've looked at it every single day....I read and review the sewing techniques and terms over and over...it helps me so much when I'm sewing because I know exactly what to do when I have any sort of issue when sewing....hardly anything stumps me nowadays when I sew....the solution to any issue immediately pops into my head....Its friggin' cool man!...(super happy sewing face)
okay now one of the cooler sewing principles I've meant to teach myself for at least two years now is draping....Draping is essentially the manipulation of fabric on a dressform without cutting the fabric....the fabric looks like something wearable even before its sewn....When I watch Fashion Star, Project Runway, and other sewing and fashion shows the designers do such awesome stuff with fabric even before the scissors action....I always call myself draping something but the results aren't at all what I have in my mind...But this afternoon I actually draped something I might be able to wear!....It tripped me out too!....you know sometimes stuff just works and sometimes it so does not....
Since I was just messing around I grabbed some sparkly, stretchy fabric out of my stash and started hanging it on Pink Cookie....its almost like it made itself because the fabric has such pretty, flowy style.....If I decide to sew it up I'll have to cut armholes and finish the neckline and hem...its basically a super easy, stylish throw and I kinda like it; a lot....
Have you been teaching yourself any new sewing techniques?...What sewing references do you go to when you're sewing?....I have a few pictures to show off my skills....hehehehehe...talk to you good people soon....
~~MsKRS~~

a shot of the front.....the neckline and front is being held together by only two pins!...

awesome sauce!!!!!

a shot of the back...the picture is kinda funky but the hem is straight across in the back, not uneven like the photo shows....I wonder why photos do that sometimes...hmmmmm

a shot of the side....I kinda like this crazy fabric too....I'll refer to my Vogue girl when I do the armholes....I have a buncha ideas for this little cover...

After I finished the neck and hem lines.....

Arm holes are finished too!...cool learning project...it can only get better from here...well at least I hope so....lol

 

A refashion + a bolero

Howdy folks!...I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was good and the food even more so....Mine was just the way I like it; with no invasions of anything or anyone unpleasant....I've been sewing plenty but like I've said before, I just cant take photos of myself every doggone day....I just cant....but I'll show yall stuff when the mood hits; like always and like today!
I've been having a slight headache for a couple days and I've noticed that every time I feel like that I need to sew...(yes, sewing has damn near taken over my life completely)...and you know the sewing bug associated with me always, always bites its hardest at night....in the middle of the night...I started these projects at almost one in the morning!....I've had a refashion for quite some time that I had been wanting to transform....but its been hanging on Pink Cookie for the last week or two, staring at me while I stare at it....I had been playing with the fabric (its 100% polyester with a beautiful print and slinky drape) and trying to learn draping at the same time....I kinda learned something I guess and I got a super cute new dress out of it....I originally got the dress from one of my long time friend's (we've been friends since the 7th grade) store here locally at least a year or two ago....I loved it hanging up but when I got ready to wear it, for some reason I looked hideous.....both shoulders were out with the dress being held up by a pretty purple sash that was threaded through a silver ring....the bow hung down the back, which was also out very low and close, too close IMO to my butt....I don't do all that showing of my goodies....in other words the dress was S E X Y as eva'!...maybe a little too sexy......now while I don't have a problem looking fly there was no way to wear a bra with the dress the way it was and in my book that is a no-no (unless there is a shelf bra sewn in)....and showing bra straps, even if they're clear is even more of a no-no if you ask me....so basically I never got around to wearing it....now that I sew, refashion, and craft my arse off I finally decided to hang the fabric on Pink Cookie and work with it....I came up with a super cute and "so now" uneven hem line and an off the shoulder design that's popular too....and now it definitely leaves some stuff to the imagination; very different from the before dress and I love it....to even think about wearing now though (since its so damned cold around here) I would have to make a fitted dress to wear under it to create layers....that may or may not be my next project....
I also whipped up a jumpsuit a few weeks ago too (blog post coming soon) and its strapless.....to keep Jack Frost from completely freezing my shoulder blades all the way off I decided to make my first bolero to pair with it (I paired it with my new refashion for this post to show how it looks with a garment)....I used Simplicity pattern #2886 View D; I forgot to take a photo of the pattern envelope this go' round though....the other views are pretty, pretty dresses....I lined it with a Red lace and put a beautiful, elephant-adorned button from Britex for closure.....My huny's Mama lives in the cool city of San Francisco and she grabbed some buttons for me....(I love that little lady)....
I tried it on and it fits perfectly....I never do muslins so its always lovely when things fit right from the sewing machine....I hate alterations *raspberries*.....Well let me share the photos now, Judge Judy just came on...;)
~~MsKRS~~

the front...the hem is just so pretty and drapey....(made up a word lol)

the off the shoulder side....

the back....

this is the side with the armhole....it fits well too but I had to do some fixing up to make it comfortable....blahhhh alterations irritate me...

My new bolero baby!!!!!

                            tried to show the elephant button....

Lace lining...

this picture came out weird huh?...

DIY and Refashion everything

Good afternoon folks!...I'm sitting here being majorly stagnated by my huny because I was supposed to have been gone to the stores to get my Thanksgiving food...I was on MY way out at noon but yet I still sit here waiting on him to get it together....I should have just went by myself; but he wants to go...Come on babe, geez....mehhhh....
Anyway, I am dressed and ready to go (been) so I decided to share my outfit today...Its a sewing and refashion mash-up that is really comfy enough to walk around the stores all day lugging turkeys....The first thing I want to mention is my scarf that also doubles as an Obi-style belt....I've worn it as both but today its keeping my neck warm....and the print is just awesome and is so cool for mixing prints like I'm doing today....the next thing I have to mention is my shirt....this used to be my huny's shirt but his style has since changed and he hadn't worn this particular shirt since we've been together (almost 5 years)...He ended up giving it to me and I refashioned it up by slimming the sleeves and the sides to make it fit me....its pretty cool and I love how it turned out and I love wearing it even more....and last but not least my skinnies....I dyed these Teal a while ago with some Tulip fabric dye and its like I have a new pair of jeans...I've worn these often too and the dye has faded some...they were a bit more vibrant than now but no less cool....I may dip 'em again before I finally let 'em go...I always have some kinda dye on hand....
Sooooo, don't chunk old clothes away if they can be changed up to be all CUTE again...
This outfit is the epitome of DIY...everything I have on has been altered to be MY style....This sewing and crafty thing has got me for life....its just THAT cool.....
My huny had better hurry up because if Judge Judy comes on I ain't budgin'! LOL
Talk to you guys soon!
~~MsKRS~~

 I don't know what's up with the crazy pulling in the front but I guess...LOL...