Nothing to do with sewing!

It's been a little over 2 years  since my cancer diagnosis and treatment.  Went for my every 4 months testing last week and found out this morning that the tests were negative.  Yea!!  I am truly blessed!   

I really am doing some sewing and hope to have pictures this weekend.

Blessings!

Cleaning the Sewing Room

Well, I did a little sewing on Thursday and Friday.  I made a Burda  06-2009-109 batwing top  that I had seen on another blog.  But what was I thinking!  I made it at least 2 sizes too big and I had taken a lot out of the "wings."  I know I could take in the side seams and take more out of the "wings" but the neck was soooooo big.  It reminded me of the Flash Dance sweatshirts of the 80's.  Good enough to wear to wash the car I guess and it was an experiment!  I actually like the look of the pattern so I will re-trace it in a smaller size and tweak it somemore.

Also made myself some pajamas.  I used  McCall's 2476 for the pj bottoms.  I have used that pattern to make them at least a dozen times.  I like them because they sit at the waist and the legs are full and comfy.  I used the top view A from McCall's 4979 and it was huge in the neck.  I see why they show it open like a jacket on the model. In spite of the fit of the top, they are cute.  I used some Tinkerbell purple flannel from Fabric.com.  Sorry no picture!

I decided it might be time to remeasure myself and sure enough, I should be using a size 14 through the neck and shoulders based on my high bust instead of the 16 I've been using.  Of course the rest of my post-menopausal body still needs a bigger size.  And I will need to do a bigger FBA.

Oh well...live and learn.

Plus, I have been finding it hard to want to sew because my sewing room (the house out back) looks like something from the TV show Hoarders.  So today I spent about 4 hours trying to get it workable.  (It was sad when I wanted to use my coverstich machine on Thursday and couldn't get to it.)  I will still need to spend more time getting notions organized and to file some patterns in the bankers boxes I use to store them in numerical order by company.  I need to rethink this system because it's not really working for me.  But that will have to wait.  I do think I need a bookcase for my sewing books that are currently in the main house but don't know where it would go until I make some changes.  Do I really need a mini-refrigerator in my sewing room? 

Maybe there will be pictures in my next post!!

More soon!

Blessings!

New Year, New Beginning

Last year was crazy! I didn't blog. I didn't do much sewing.  It seemed like all I did was work.  So...I decided that it was time to retire from the business world and do the things I enjoy. After all I'm not young anymore.  Once I retired it took several months to get my energy level back.  Now, I still go in and help out a few days a month but I am really happy with my decision .

I will be sewing more and blogging more.  It's time to do some stash busting.  I need to get busy making clothes for my new lifestyle.  My business wardrobe just doesn't work anymore.  So expect to see more t-shirts and cardigans in the future.

I'm looking forward to this new life phase.

In closing, we have had some cold weather the past few days (cold for Louisiana) so I will leave you with this cartoon that is pretty accurate when there is any winter weather here!!!

     

                  

 

I will be back soon.

 

Blessings!

It's been a long time!

 I realize I haven't posted anything for 10 months! Wow!  I have done a little sewing recently but mostly utilitarian, boring clothes to wear to work. But, that's about to change!  I have made a commitment to myself not to buy any RTW clothes for the rest of the year.

 I feel the  need to be more creative and to use some of the fabric I have been collecting for the past few years. Since 2010 I have been  keeping a list of all the fabric I buy in a notebook.  I am up to number 208 on the list.  Now, I have used some of the fabric but that number doesn't include the fabric I already had when I started the list!    I'm in my 60s so I may never get all this fabric sewn in my lifetime!  I have to admit that some of  it doesn't really appeal to me anymore so it may be time to do some purging.

Now that House is over forever and Mad Men is finished for the season (I'm really mad at DISH network - but that's another story) I hope to start spending my time in a more productive manner...like sewing. I tend to  waste way too much time in front of the TV and on the computer.

 I have to drive to Dallas on Monday for a doctor's appointment (6 hour round trip) and I want something new and comfortable to wear on the drive.  So, I should have something to post this weekend.

Happy sewing!

Sewcation!

One more day at work and then I have 10 days off! Yes...10!!  It was a case of "use them or lose them" and I didn't want to lose them.  It's still so miserably hot here that I am not planning to go anywhere except the house out back.  Hope to make some progress on some fall wardrobe pieces.

It's Back!

I think my sewing mojo is back!  It's been gone a long, long time!  I actually made a black knit skirt and a matching  3/4 sleeve top last Sunday.  Granted, these are very simple but it's a start!  I even wore them to work this week.  Today, I made a tank top out of some fun fabric from Gorgeous Fabrics.  I also made a black knit tank top from the fabric left over from the black skirt and top fabric.  And, I even cut out a dress.  Hope to get it made tomorrow.  Hope to post pictures soon.

Cancer Update

My cancer surgery went well.  The pathology reports show that the margins and lymphnodes are clear...no CANCER!  I am beginning to feel better.  Plan to return to work on Feb 16th.  During my time off I will have my mammogram and bone density tests.  I am truly blessed to have caught the cancer so early. 

January is Cervical Cancer Awarness Month.  Ladies, please go for your routine pap test.  It could save your life.

The big "C"

 It’s just a word but it causes such fear when you hear it.  The doctor calls and says “you have CANCER.”  It’s the news that none of us ever wants to hear.  My journey with the “C” word has begun and I will battle it with all the strength I have.   What I know at this point is that I have Stage 1 cervical cancer so a radical hysterectomy is the next step.  I am grateful that I didn’t ignore the voice in my head that made me go for a routine pap. 

I am on my way to the hospital for blood work today.  A CT scan is scheduled on Monday and on Thursday I see the oncologist. 

It’s Christmas and I am having a hard time getting with the holiday spirit but I know that God will see me through this journey. 

I know this is supposed to be a sewing blog but for now sewing is taking a backseat in my life.

 More to come…

What I did this weekend

I didn't do any sewing this weekend. But I did go to the movie. As you might guess from the picture above, I went to see Secretariat. I loved it! It it a movie that the whole family can go to without hesitation. I loved that it opened and ended with a Biblical passage from the Book of Job. Now, I have to admit...I am a tad biased about this movie. My neice's husband, Otto, plays the part of the jockey Ron Turcott in the movie. Otto is a jockey in real life and he did a great job in the movie. If you have the opportunity to see Secretariat, you won't be disappointed. It is a "feel good" movie, for sure.

I did start (several times!) a new knitting project that is a real stretch for my novice knitting ability. When I get further along, I will try to post a picture. It is an adorable shawl collared cowl.

Have a great week!

No Sewing!

My sewing mojo is missing. Has anyone seen it?

It's True! 60 is the new 40!

Who says you have to get old? This 60 something is not giving in to the date on her birth certificate. Take a look at what I wore to work today..."stolen" from my younger sister's closet when I visited her last weekend. I think I said..."I'll break them in for you"...maybe!

They are solid black. They don 't have any yellow streaks like it looks like in the picture. I couldn't get a good picture of them on my feet with my cell phone camera that showed the bottom and the heel. But I am wearing them! Aren't they cute! Maybe she will forget I have them!

Oh, and one of the guys at work noticed them and took a picture to email to his wife. He said that she is going to want a pair!

My Sewing Room

I've been trying to make my sewing studio in the house out back a place that is more inviting in hopes of spending more time there. Like...doing some sewing, maybe! After all, Christmas is only 4 months away! Yikes!

I have stored most of my fabric stash in clear, plastic bins in the "avalanche" room. More about that in a later post. There is still some clutter to organize but it looks so much better. I have made covers for all my sewing machines to protect them from dust and light. I made matching valances, a chair pad and a matching ironging board cover. I am pleased with the look. The fabric is home dec fabric I got earlier this year when Fabric.com had a big $1.95 per yard sale. I really like it. It coordinates with the table skirts.








Inside the 1950s era sewing cabinet is the Pfaff 130 I learned to sew on. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a motor anymore. It was my mom's machine and years ago the motor died. Maybe someday I will be able to find someone to install a new one and rewire it. It holds a special place in my heart.

I am taking a couple of PTO days this week along with the 3 day holiday weekend. That's a 5 day sewcation. Can't wait...

What's in the mailbox?

Today was my lucky day! This is what was in my mailbox when I got home from work!

Three sewing magazines in one day!

Too Hot to Sew!

Here in NW Louisiana it's been so hot for the past month that it's just too hot to sew. It's almost 8 PM and the temperature is still 102.2 degrees. That means the heat index is between 105 and 110.

I have a new camera!

I had given up on taking picture of the things I have sewn because the point and shoot camera I had took such awful pictures.

A couple of weeks ago we had a special event at work and I used my camera to take pictures. They were such poor quality that I was embarassed to use them. So...I decided it was time to take the plunge and buy a "real" camera. This is what I bought.

It's a navy Pentax Kx and I love it. The picture quality is great. I really need to learn to use some of the features it has.

Now that I have a good camera I hope to be a better blogger and show some of the things I have made.

Laissez les bon temps rouler

There is joy in the Big Easy and all of the Bayou State tonight! The Saints win the Super Bowl and it's Mardi Gras! Let the party begin!

The Quote of the Day

This was too good not to pass along.

"If you want to forget all your other troubles, wear too tight shoes."

From The Houghton Line, November 1965

Vintage Patterns

One of the men I work with goes to a lot of auctions with his wife. They sell a lot of things on Ebay.

Today he came back from a trip to St Louis and brought me a big box of patterns from the 70s and 80s that his wife had gotten for me at an auction.

There are 27 Stretch and Sew patterns, some of them unopened. Others are Woman's World patterns. I was not familiar with that brand. They are very 80s with the awful linebacker shoulders. I can't believe that I actually wore those back in the day but I did.

What do you think of this pattern? Sorry the picture is blurry. I just hope those shoulders never come back in fashion.

Some of the Stretch and Sew patterns can definitely still be sewn today. They are really
classics and with minor tweaking will be very 2009.

I also like this Women's World dress. I think it would be a great work dress in a bold print worn with a cute jacket and fun fashion jewelry.

I will post more of the patterns soon.

I found a great magazine!

Wow! It's been a long time since I posted. I think I've been spending too much time reading sewing blogs and not enough time sewing or posting on my blog. I am going to try and do better!

I have been sewing since I was 8 years old and, believe me, that is a long time! My sister has always been the cook in the family and I was the sewist. She has recently found the joy of sewing. Most of the things she has made so far are for her grandchildren and I have to say, she is doing a great job. She has made some adorable baby and toddler items.

She got a serger last week and we got together and played with it. My goal was to show her that threading can seem complicated but it's not impossible. She bought a Brother 1034D and for the $200 she paid for it, it is a great little machine. If I needed a new serger, I would definitely buy one.

I am on my third serger in 25 years. My first one, that I bought in the mid 80s, was a basic 3 thread White that after about 5 years I killed when I hit some pins and not only ruined the knife but bent the loopers. It would have cost more to fix than I had paid for it. So then I bought a Pfaff that used awful industrial needles and you could spend hours trying to get it threaded. You almost needed to stand on your head to thread the loopers. It made a beautiful stitch if you were patient enough to thread it. I used it alot but a couple of years ago I just couldn't get the tension right. I still have it in a box in my sewing room but it is SICK (probably more like DEAD) and the local Pfaff dealer won't even look at it. He just wants to sell me a $2000 Baby Lock. Oh, no! About 18 months ago I bought a Janome 644D when they were discontinuing that model. I really like it. It's a good basic 3, 4 thread machine. I also have a Janome Coverpro 900CP that I just don't use as much as I thought I would. (I'm thinking I would if I did more sewing knits.)

Back to the title subject. On a recent trip to the local Joanns, I bought the Spring 2009 issue of Sew Stylish. It is a magazine aimed at 20 somethings from the publishers of Threads magazine. It has some really good, simple tutorials. It has articles on inserting zippers, how to read a pattern, how to sew in a sleeve, how to put in a hem by hand, how to fit a sundress top and more. It has so many good instructions that I have ordered 2 more copies of this issue...one for my sister and one for her daughter who got her first sewing machine for her birthday in May and is excited about learning how to sew. If you happen to see this magazine I would highly recommend getting it.

Not Much Sewing Going On

There hasn't been much sewing going on in the house out back lately. Spring is my least favorite season because here in Louisiana it brings out the worst in my allergies.

After my rant about the April Burda I wasn't sure about renewing my subscription but I liked a number of things in the May issue so I will be renewing for another year.

I am currently going to Weight Watchers with my sister. She and I have the exact same amount of weight to lose...that would be about 35 pounds. So I can't get too excited about sewing for my current figure in hopes of some significant changes in the upcoming months. We are both off to good starts.

Last night I did cut out a couple of summer gowns for my friend Sandy who lives about a hundred miles from me. She is having back surgery in June and I will be taking some vacation time to be with her when she first comes home from the hospital. I thought that Simplicity 9505 (view E) would be something she could wear after the surgery because it would be easy to get in and out of. I will post pictures when I get them done. Here is the picture of the pattern. View E is the gown with the drawstring at the shoulders in the upper right corner of the picture.

Hopefully, I can get the two that I have cut out finished this week.