Life in Pictures & A Love Notions Pheasant Rhapsody Blouse

 Girl M. started LPN school in August.  She has just started clinicals and was looking very professional in her whites!

First day of clinicals

Dear Hubby & Boy T went out on the airboat.  Dear Hubby is enjoying his retirement.  I look forward to "me" time when he's gone!

Guys on the airboat

Boy F. is in school learning to climb these big things. (Not sure what they are called!) But they are 65-90 feet tall!

Boy F at the top!

I think I'll stay on the ground!, Girl M braided my hair the other day.  It hurt!  I can't believe it's long enough to braid.  I miss my short, easy to fix hair!

Braided!

I hurt my wrist pulling out my 2lb office chair!  I wish I had some great story to tell about my injury!  I put ice on it right away and hoped it was just a muscle pull but it's been a week and hasn't got much better.  I'll give it one more week, then call the Doctor.

Old age injury?

Dear Hubby felt bad for me and picked up a wrist stabilizer for me.  It has helped but I am still unable to bend my wrist away from me or pick up anything with weight.  Hmmmm, not sounding good!

Dear Hubby Doctoring me!

I have had this beautiful 100% polyester pheasant print fabric for a few years and new I wanted to make a blouse with it.  After cutting out the pieces, I realized the print was directional.  Uggggh!

Directional print mishap!

Luckily I hand enough fabric left to re-cut the pattern!  That was a close one!

I used the Love Notion's Rhapsody blouse with 3/4 length sleeves with elastic and curved shirt tail hem.  I really enjoyed sewing up this pattern again.  It's easy for a one handed, very slow sewer and I took my sweet time.  Only took me 4 days! LOL!

Love Notion's Rhapsody blouse 

Back view

I did finish the upside down print version as a sleeveless blouse.  Now I have two!  

We are having washer issues.  It doesn't want to drain or spin.  Not all the time though.  I can was 5 pair of underwear just fine but not 6!  I'm exaggerating but any load with weight won't finish.  It's still under warranty so I do hope they'll fix or replace it soon.  

Washing machine drama

Sewing may be slow and sporadic with my "boxing" injury and also it's hunting season.  

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

Bonnie

Designer Stitch Brenda Dress Tryout

 After having such success with the Designer Stitch Ariana Dress I wanted to give the Brenda Dress a shot.  I LOVE the petal sleeves the Brenda dress offers. Making a muslin was a must and it did not disappoint at all!  I made the round neck, petal sleeve, long straight skirt version.

Desgner Stitch Brenda Dress

I used a textured double knit fabric from my favorite Fabric Mart Fabrics.  The color is purple but looks more royal blue in the pictures.  The fabric was pretty sturdy, thick (whatever you call that) and It sewed up beautifully.  The pattern was a quick sew and the darts all matched up perfect.  

Brenda Dress

Back view

Petal sleeve

Designer Stitch Brenda Dress

I see lots of Brenda dresses in the future.  All the sleeve and skirt variations make this a true TNT pattern.  

I'm planning on sewing a formal gown for an upcoming wedding and I think that the Brenda dress petal sleeves are a contender.  I do prefer the Ariana dress bodice and waistband but we'll see what else inspires me.

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

Bonnie

Love Notions Breckenridge Henley

 Could this be a new favorite pattern? Possibly! I purchased this on the release sale way back when but there was a nagging pet peeve that bothered me with the pattern.  The buttons!  Specifically the two above the overlap.  They are on the wrong side!  I know when you sew, you can do whatever you want.  but it just bugged me!

Love Notions Breckenridge Henley

I had 1 yard of this light weight waffle weave knit fabric in my stash I purchased from Boho Fabrics.  It's not easy finding a pattern that will only use 1 yard of fabric.  I did have to shorted the sleeve length but I made it work!

Waffle knit Breckenridge Henley

Back view

The waffle weave fabric was so thin and light I thought that tiny buttons were the best choice.  None above the overlap since I had to sew on so many already.

Little Buttons

Overall this is a great pattern, I hope to make a long sleeve version eventually.  But it's still HOT here in Florida so maybe in the next few weeks.

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

Bonnie

Love Notions Ballad Dress

 I just had to make the Love Notions Ballad blouse into a dress!  I lengthened the blouse by 14" to make a knee length dress., added a self fabric belt, changed up the sleeve and used the gathered shoulder version.

Love Notions Ballad Blouse/Dress

I had this red & white check fabric in my stash for years and thought that it would make a nice end of summer dress.  My Brother CE7070PRW machine makes great buttonholes.........All 11 of them!  

Buttonholes

I also used the Brother CE7070PRW for sewing on all the buttons.  Easy & quick!

Buttons

The sleeves ended up being huge on me and Girl M. said bows on the sleeves and the belt was just too much.  The fit was good, the style good, just too frilly with so many bows.

Love Notions Ballad "End of Summer" Dress

I removed the sleeves, made bias tape from the check fabric and made the dress sleeveless.

Sleeveless

I made the gathered shoulder version.

Gathered Shoulders

I'm not sure what's next on the sewing machine..........my neighbor asked me to hem some jeans......6 pair!  Uggggh!  I hate hemming and alterations.  

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

Bonnie

McCall's 7912 Hacked with Silhouette Patterns #915 Hugo's Favorite Cardigan

 I had the McCall's 7912 on my sewing radar for the past few years because I had a fabric similar to what the model was wearing.  Finally, with Fall season coming I decided to sew it up.  But........I didn't have the McCall's 7912 pattern!  800+ patterns and I didn't have this exact one!  So I decided to make do.  After thinking about it, I could have used any robe pattern!  LOL!

McCall 7912 Inspiration

My Fabric stash from how long ago?  It looks pretty similar to me!

The Silhouette Patterns #915 Hugo's Favorite Cardigan was my choice.  I sewed up two sizes larger since I was using a woven fabric and I wanted enough ease to wear either a sweater or thicker shirt underneath.  

Silhouette Patterns #915 Hugo's Favorite Cardigan

My hacked version

Back View

Now all I need is cooler weather and someplace to wear my new jacket to!

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

Bonnie

Love Notions Ballad Blouse

 I finally printed out and sewed up the Love Notions Ballad Blouse with the shirring.  Love Notions did not disappoint in this blouse pattern at all!

Love Notions Ballad Blouse

The shirring took a little practice but in the end it worked out better than I expected.  A little YouTube video tutorial and I realized that my elastic thread in the bobbin was not threaded thru my machine tight enough.  A little stretching and pulling and it came out perfect!  

Shirring

My wearable muslin fabric choice wasn't my favorite.  It reminds me of the 80's!  But it's wearable and finished so I might as well get use out of it.

1980's blouse??

Shoulder shirring

Back View

Love Notions Ballad Blouse

I hope that sewing this blouse up will get my sewing mojo going again.  I would love to sew up Fall style clothing but it's still hot nd humid here in Florida.  No use in sewing something that you can't wear for a few more months.

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

Bonnie