Handworks Crochet and then Some!

I made these a few weeks ago... but forgot to take pics and post... 2 more interchangeable handbags from the Ellen Medlock pattern.... this first one is made from some really soft leather that used to be the Bald Man's jacket. Its cuter as my purse! The polka dot fabric is from my mom. The second bag is made from some table cloth/straw like fabric... for some reason it was in my fabric stash... which worked out perfect because Chanel did alot of handbags this spring with a basket straw look that I wanted to add to my handbag collection. I embroidered the flower appliques with my Pfaff, added a hot fix pearl to the center... the lace is from an old dressy skirt outfit my mom had. Love the lace!! I'm glad I could find something to do with it! I think it gives the purse a slight vintage look. I have lots of lace left over for future projects too! This is a pair of dress pants I bought from Burlington Coat factory for $10. The waist band of the pants actually already had sashiko ...

Here is Burda 7550 and S 3684.... now the shorts (7550) fit perfect, as all Burda young pants patterns do! I haven't wore shorts in a really long time. Due to not having shapely legs cause I was to lazy to work out.... that has changed since Dec.09 I have been working out 5 days a week and now have shape back in my legs!!! Hello shorts and mini skirts! I already have the fabric laid out to make more of these simple dressy shorts... they only took a few hours to make. The shirt, another cup size option pattern, didn't fit as well as the other button up I made. Thinking it would I didn't add any extra seam allowance.... the result was it being a tiny bit to tight across the bust... so I put buttons up to the 'stretch point' then added buttons on both sides all the way up to the collar... so it looks like it was meant to be a deep v-neck and I'm not just unbuttoning it! This all means I can't wear it to the super market but its great for a late night dinner in ...

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 ...

My son, Brian turned 15 Monday! He loves his music (and he's quite talented at it!) so I bought him a new Gibson guitar, The Bald Man bought him a banjo and his Dad brought him this really cool drum back from Africa! My mom cooked up his favorite foods and I made him a chocolate chip cheesecake... yup, I think he had a good one! Now for some sewing... which I really have been doing alot of lately... just been lazy with the posting! Below is an OOP Vogue #2540. It was very easy to make (made this in a day!!)and I plan to make the other view soon. The bolero is copied from rtw. The necklace is a knitted rope with swavorski stones covering it... and I'm not sure I like it with the outfit. The fabric is a stretch black knit jersey with silver glitter throughout that I bought at Hobby Lobby last year on clearance ($2 a yd) The contrast fabric at the bottom of the skirt is another treasure from our trip last year to Panama. This skirt has SO much movement! Love that! This is NL 660...

Below is a Belly Dance costume I'm designing and sewing for a friend turned client, Nancy. At 9:00 am yesterday morning this was a dress that she brought me to turn into a costume.... by 11:00am... this is what I had.... After I cut the dress in half (the bottom half to be the skirt of course, excuse the wrinkles I didn't steam it yet) I took the top half of the dress, manipulated it, sewed it onto a bra... I left the halter beaded strap but cut out a criss cross strap on the back.. to be used for accessories. The gold part on the bra is tiny sequin flower appliques I added one by one... time consuming!!! I've got even more done on it today but I'm at a stopping point until she gets over here so I can fit it! I have completed a choker, gauntlets, and arm band to go with it and added some beaded fringe to the bra. By buying a clearanced out dress with so much fabric to use she's really going to save a lot of money on this costume! In the world of Crochet... (my new...