HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Yes, this ol bird is 40 now LOL! I don't feel any different. I am the skinniest I have been in a few years and my skin is clearer and smooth too. Is my body confused on what it is suppose to be doing?? hahahahahahaha...I had a wonderful birthday. My mother, daughter and some other friends traveled to celebrate with me. I had a 3 day celebration so needless to say, I was exhausted but it was worth it. I did manage to sew me up a couple items to wear. Friday night was ladies night out so I made this cute Zebra jacket(Butterick 5142)with a fur collar and sleeves. I wasn't sure if it was going to work out well with the fur but it did. Saturday night I wanted all the ladies to wear red and I wanted to wear something elegant(Vogue 2879) and I found the perfect pattern for it.







This is my baby girl!!







I found THE perfect shoes!! The fabric on them was pretty much the same fabric I used for jacket.


Fabric used: Zebra printed rayon/poly and faux fur for collar and sleeve flounces.

Complexity of pattern: The pattern was simple. It called for lining the jacket and sleeves only and not the peplum but I lined everything. The fur collar didn't give me a problem but the sleeve flounces took some extra time. I also lined the back of each fur piece. It called for a frog clasp which I have never used before but it was a piece of cake.

How long did it take to complete: About 5 hours

Overall Review: The jacket is really nice. I was so tickled to find the shoes to match it:-) I like the peplum on it and how the sleeve flounces look.








Fabric used: Red knit. I ordered it from Fabric Mart and was very pleased. I very rarely order fabric off the internet but this fabric was perfect.

Complexity of pattern: Ok I must say that I did alot of talking to myself while I was sewing this hahahaha...I had to verbally speak some of the directions to help me figure out what to do. The bottom party of the dress was a bit of a doosie but I worked it out.

How long did it take to complete: Surprisingly it didn't take as long as I thought it would. There really aren't that many steps to the pattern and I think it took around 5 hours to complete. Cutting it out took extra long.

Overall Review: I absolutely love this dress. Everybody was in awe at the fact that I made it. I got a couple requests from friends to make them one hahaha..I don't think I want to rehash all of that though. A shorter version might be cute.

A few bday pics

Simplicity 2508

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope everyone had a great holiday and fabulous New Year. Mine was wonderful wonderful wonderful!! I managed to get some sewing done. A few hoodies for the kids and a couple things for myself. My latest project had me almost telling my husband to go buy me a pack of Newport cigarettes to calm my nerves!! hahaha..it dealt me a fit. And it wasn't the pattern, it was the fabric I was using but it paid off. I am IN LOVE with my new coat. I have been wearing everyday this week. Time for a break from it. I don't have any pictures with me actually wearing it though. My son is the fill in photographer and he is way shorter than me so the pics didn't come out to my liking.









Fabric used: Hounds tooth print that I think is some type of rayon blend but I am not sure. It unravels like crazy. It is almost like a yarn. It is really thick too. I had major issues sewing the buttonholes and some of the other areas because it is thick and in conjunction with having interfacing and lining, it was rough but I managed to work with it. I did not have enough of the fabric to use as facings so I used some black rayon fabric I had and it was a blessing in disguise because using the same material for the facing would of made this impossible to sew. I used purple flannel back satin for the lining and I am telling you this coat is so warm. We have had 20 degree temps here and it is barely bothering me at all.

Complexity of pattern: This is probably advanced beginner or intermediate. I had no issues what so ever it was mainly the fabric. I made the view that is shown in white on the envelope.

How long did it take to complete: TOO LONG!!! I can't really access this pattern because of all the issue I had with the fabric but I worked on it for 2 days pretty much all day and into the evening.

Overall Review: I love it!! The button detail and collar are my favorite. This has to be one of my favorite pieces that I have made if not the favorite.