Handworks Crochet and then Some!

Here is what I did last week.....First we have.... NL 6610! Not one of those fabulous cup size patterns I'm obsessed with but it didn't matter because I wasn't going to have any kind of closure on this any ways.... This is a lovely light weight green and white tweed given to me by my Great Aunt Mildred in Nashville. And its a great fit! I lined it with some floral cotton my Mom gave me last year while she was cleaning out her huge stash of cotton fabrics! I used 8mm iridescent sequins, 4mm pearls, 6mm pearls and a few 8mm silver sequins for the hand beaded cuffs I wanted to do. And here's the picture I got the ideal from... I made my jacket longer and didn't use the beading on the mandarin collar. I found a great pearl and silver chain belt at Goodwill I plan to make into a necklace and wear with it. This is a purchased long sleeve t-shirt (clearance at Hobby Lobby $3)... I did the screen printing using Simply Screen,, added some crystals.... lovely, stylish and ...

Here is my Corset top, made last week using S2440... Fabric was from Gail K's in ATL. The pattern is for a full formal dress but as you can see I only used the bodice... Its another one of those great cup size option patterns that makes my sewing life so easy! I added boning on all seams and straps. Changed the back zipper to a side zipper.Very easy to make. Ha! My new hand bag.... using another one of Ellen Medlock's patterns.... this is my 'Cheshire cat' handbag. Now this isn't really Cheshire cat fabric but thats what it reminds me of... you know when he disappears and alls left is his eyes and singing smiling mouth... Ofcourse the inside is lined with something silly... I love it! Its goofy and cute, with plenty of room! Here's the pants I made last week... they are finished now and like all the other pants I've made from this RTW copy the fit is right on. I got this fabric at Goodwill.... 5yrds for like $3! This week my sewing room is getting a bit of...

Saturday night is our night out and we both had new clothes to wear that I made last week!! Here is Vogue 1020.... I have made this dress before and I've also made the shirt version twice.. I love it... super easy and really flattering. I cut it out one day and made it in a couple of hours the next. I got this fabric at Gail K's in ATL... while doing my personal style look book projects I noticed alot of military and camo stuff for spring in the fashion magazines.... so I just had to find some pink camo! Here is The Bald Man's new shirt... I told y'all the more shirts I make him the more machines and fabric he'll buy!!! ;-) The is the Islander sewing pattern I always use for him....Made this in 2 days... I'm getting faster! The pattern says it can easily be made in 4 hours... not quite there yet.... haha. Ofcourse the embroidery adds time to it. This more machines I can point out that I used the better.... here's some embroidery.. he picked out this fabric...

So I finished my coat refashion embroidery project.. just in time for it to warm up! But that's ok.. I'm ready for spring!!! Anyways.. I can't decide... no flowers up top on the lapel or should I add 1.. or more.. what do you think???? Here's a close up of the embroidery.... love the 3d flower effect! And the extra large design was pretty easy thanks to the grand hoop my Pfaff 2170 uses! I added new buttons.. the old ones were tarnished gold... and ugly. I had so much fun re fashioning this coat! And I think it looks great...its exactly what my coat closet needed.... if I could just decide about the lapel.... Here's another pair of boots I embroidered... these were $3 at a thrift store... perfect for embroidery projects! The butterfly is 3d! I've got lots of compliments on these.... I also added a applique 3d embroidery flower to the recent purse I just made... I think it adds a little more style to it. Recent crochet projects finished.... A bolero... because ...

So after the ruthless closet cleaning... getting rid of styles I don't wear, don't fit right, are the wrong color, etc (yes it was painful since 90% of the clothes I have I made!!).... and going through shoes, accessories, make-up, purses I don't use (no pain no gain??)... I can put together an outfit I love in about 10 minutes.. head to toe... and do my make up in about 15min. This is all very amazing to me.... I have a great look book that I will be adding to every month as my favorite fashion mags come out... which will help me continue my ever evolving style happenings and help me plan what to make, which patterns to use, update ways to put together things I've already made so they keep looking fresh! It has also helped me really see what I need to add to my closet so much easier! I also went through my patterns... got rid of a ton !!! and got rid of fabric thats in the wrong color choices for me.... (here I come ebay!) This should help me so much in developing TNT...