Graduations, Memorial Day & Summer

Our middle child has GRADUATED from High School!  We survived his High School years!  We are proud that he graduated 51st in his class with Honors and a 3.55 GPA and 1/2 way done with his AA.  He will be working full time as a mechanic/tow truck driver during the summer until he decides what he wants to do.

We are so proud!

High School Graduate

Proud Parents

We also had a little graduation party with our Church.  Our Church's school had one graduate and one homeschool graduate.  So the Church had a little something for the three seniors.

Memorial Day is a sweet holiday for our family.  Both Dear Hubby and I have Fathers buried at the National Cemetery so we run by to see all the flags flying and give a little "thank you" for their service.

Girl M is stuck at home with us for the summer!  I'm so happy to have here during the next two months.  She is so easy going.  I asked her what she wanted to do this summer and she really didn't have an answer.  Water activities are out since Dad is in a cast.  We can't do much walking, so theme parks are out.  Maybe I can think of something creative to do this summer so she doesn't think we're too boring.

Happy Memorial Day!

Until next time.................

Bonnie

Simplicity E1848 Jacket 9 Months in the Making

This post was started August 2016!

I've been looking for a jacket pattern that was unlined and suitable for either a suede or a stretch leather fabric.

After searching on Ebay I found the Simplicity E1848.  I'm not sure what the E is for but I can not find this pattern anywhere.  I think that this pattern is packaged for Wal-Mart.  But I can't find anyone who has sewn this jacket up anywhere on the World Wide Web!

Simplicity E1848

Simplicity E1848 Jacket

Simplicity E1848 

I loved that this pattern is princess seams and doesn't have a separate collar piece.  The waterfall collar is perfect for a soft leather or suede fabric.

I had to make my usual adjustments.  +.166" at bust, .25" at waist and 1.52" at hip seam allowances.  I used my knit armhole template that I keep handy so I don't have to use the sleeve pattern, I can use my sleeve template that fits me.  I'm going to make 3/4 length sleeves for this jacket.

The jacket length is only 23.25" and for my proportion fitting I need it to be 24", I lengthened the pattern pieces by .75".

I'm excited to sew this up and see how this jacket turns out.

Faux Leather Knits

2yds used: $10 Jacket

9 months later I finished this jacket.

I know I stopped sewing this in August because I was frustrated with attaching the collar to the bodice.  I almost threw it down AGAIN!

After two days of sewing and seam ripping and sewing and seam ripping again I officially HATE this pattern!  I don't know if it's the fabric or the pattern itself.  I had a tough time with the collar/waterfall.  The hem was 1-1/2".  This is way too much to ease in.  I should have just wadded it up and put it in the garbage can but the completer in me HAD to finish it.

Simplicity E1848 Faux Leather Knit Jacket

 The jacket is a little wrinkled from sitting in a basket for the past 9 months.  I lightly ironed the pieces with a press cloth over it but I was afraid I would melt it.  I may try to put in in the dryer with a damp cloth to see if I can get the wrinkles out.

Simplicity E1848-Back View

Dear hubby tried to be nice but he agreed that it looks like a garbage bag.  He said I have other patterns that look nicer.

Donate pile!

On the sentimental brighter side...........................

I bought Dear Daughter her first pair of heels.

Girl M's first High Heels

She's growing up.

She's sweet.

She'll be out of here before we know it.

She's a good girl.

She looks 7 foot tall!  Dear Hubby & I are officially the shortest ones in the family.


Until next time.................

Bonnie

Pink & Gray

I get many inspiration ideas from Pinterest.  While looking for an idea for a dress for an upcoming wedding I found this photo.

In my stash I found these fabrics that were very similar.  So off the sewing machine I went.

ITY Knit Fabric Inspiration

A simple tank style maxi dress was first in order.  Nothing too exciting, just a simple dress to let the fabric print shine.

TNT Tank Dress

Side Slit

Side View

Neck line

ITY Knit Tank Dress

$9.00 Tank Dress

Next was a cardigan.  I chose the McCall 6444 with a little modification.  A little shorter so as not to swallow the dress.  I made this cardigan back in November 2015, I like it but it is a lot of fabric.

McCall 6444 Cardigan

Rolled hem finish

Rolled hem 

$7.20 Cardigan

I hope I can keep my sewing mojo going.  I have been on a roll!

Until next time..................

Bonnie

Simplicity 7243 Dress for Graduation & Hubby Update

Only being able to sew a few minutes each day is very discouraging from a dedicated sewist point of view.  Taking care of Dear Hubby is a full time + over time job!  I miss being able to go into my sewing room for a few hours everyday uninterrupted.

Since sewing time is so limited I just sewed up my TNT Simplicity 7243 Princess seam sheath dress for son's graduation the end of the month.  School colors are red and black and I thought that this ponte knit fabric would be a great color choice.  Nothing too fancy, just simple and comfortable.

Simplicity 7243 Graduation Dress

Ponte Knit Dress

Side view

$7.20 Dress

I've purchased Young Living Essential Oils with a home diffuser to help go a little more "natural" in both home and health.  I thought that I would "LOVE" the oils.............well............... I will have to work on getting use to them.  I am very sensitive  to scents.  Dear Daughter loves them all and helps me with mixing them into the diffusser.  My favorite so far is peppermint and lemon for focus & energy.  I would have never mixed the two scents together but it's nice and refreshing.  Everyone raves about Purification.  Daughter LOVES it.  It's YUCKY!  Maybe if I give it a few weeks and try it again.

Essential Oils

Since the beginning of the year Dear Hubby and I have changed our way of eating to a Keto diet.  Low Carb style with high fat, med protein and low carb.  We've done really well and after 5 months I have lost 22lbs.  It's a slow loss, but I feel better and for the first time in my whole life, I am not hungry ALL the time.  No cravings, no cheating, I'm impressed!

Dear Hubby is 4 weeks post surgery now.  His foot is in pain daily.  He is not a complainer but I see his body jerk while sitting in the recliner.  The pain is sometimes so bad he has to take a pain pill.  He is so against taking pain meds since he sees daily what addiction does.  I try to tell him to take the meds so he's not in pain but he's so afraid of becoming addicted to them.

New Hard Cast

He had the staples removed and a hard cast put on.  He says it's uncomfortable.  His foot is in a different position than before and I think It will just take time.  His foot swells in the evenings and it pinches his little toe and his toes turn blue.  He does good during the day to keep it elevated but he's almost 5 weeks in and he's tired of resting.

I'm going to try to sneak some time this week in the sewing room.  I am not sure what's next on the cutting table.  Something easy.  But maybe I'll try a new pattern................maybe!

Until next time..................

Bonnie

Growing Out My Gray- 5 Months & Update on Hubby

Well, it's been 5 months now since my last hair color.  I can't wait to get all the yucky color cut from my hair.  I'm almost there, maybe one or two more cuts.

I am lucky that my hair grows pretty fast but I am very impatient with the transition.

Before my haircut:

5 Month Growing Out

Back View

Before hair cut

After haircut this week:

After Hair Cut

 I'm thinking that one more hair cut and all the coloring will be gone.  The cut is pretty short, it's will be perfect in about 2 weeks.

Side View

Back View

Dear Hubby went to the Orthopedic surgeon this past Friday hoping to get staples removed and a hard cast on his foot but nope another 10 days to heal since his incision is still very tender.  We did get to have a look at it.  I hope you don't have a sensitive stomach...............

Dear Hubby's Foot

X-Ray of screws & staples

First Look at Franken-foot

7 more days to heal

Dear Son went to Prom this past weekend.  He looked so handsome!  And his girlfriend is just beautiful.

2017 Prom

2017 Honor Graduate Award

He graduates with honors the end of this month.  I can't believe two kids down and one more to go!  I'm excited to see what he decides to do next.  He currently works as a mechanic/tow truck driver and goes to college and high school.  He's a busy young man.

I did get a little sewing in while caring for Dear Hubby.  Nothing too exciting, just a TNT T-shirt.  It felt good to accomplish some sewing this week.

Gray Stripe Jersey Knit TNT T-Shirt

Neckband

Cap Sleeve

TNT T-Shirt 

Until next time.......................

Bonnie

McCall 6844 White Eyelet ITY Knit Cardigan

I have been in need of more solid colored cardigans.  A white one was on the top of my list for Summer.  The McCall 6844 cardigan is one of my TNT patterns.  I made a short sleeve version for summer.

Sorry for not putting an undershirt on the mannequin but I was in a hurry today.

McCall 6844 White Eyelet Cardigan

 Dear daughter said it reminds her of swiss cheese!

McCall 6844

McCall 6844 Summer cardigan

$7.98 Cardigan

This was an easy project to get my sewing mojo going again.  I've been trying to sew up a item every few days to keep me from going crazy since Dear Hubby has the TV on ALLLLL day.  His last Doctor visit was uneventful, just an x-ray of his foot with the screws.  They want to see him again on Friday to remove the dressing from the surgery and put on a cast.  Update again after visit.

I am in need of a few new summer tops so maybe that will be next on my list.

Until next time...................

Bonnie