Tuesday, January 15, 2013

I Have Been a Busy Bee (Butterick B5603, Butterick B5557, and McCall's M5094)

Why hello there!
I have been glued to my sewing chair for this last week! Well, not only stuck to my sewing chair haha. When I wasn't sewing I was hanging on the couch watching Season 1 and 2 of Lost Girl, playing catch up before Season 3 premiered last night. I don't know how I missed the first 2 seasons! I am so addicted to the show now! But at least I am caught up and can get back to regular life activities.

School starts next Tuesday and I am not sure how many weeks in before I know my clinicals schedule. It is driving me crazy and I have gone through every possible scenario in my head. But I have no control until I figure out which hospital I will be assigned to and discuss it with the boss. I can't stand not having control  to plan my semester proper. This will be my first semester that clinicals are a part of so we shall wait and see how it all works itself out. I will be an absolute nutcase until I have my schedule settled on my spreadsheet like it should be hahahah.

So I have 3 outfits sewn up since my last post to show you all.
I will start with the FUSCHIA FOXY FLANNEL dress I made in Butterick B5603 view B (same as my Christmas dress) minus the 2 bows.

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(I love how there is ALWAYS a pup running or jumping around me in my pictures lol)
I love the way this dress came out and since it's flannel it is great for winter
 
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I wanted to show you the inside seams of my Christmas dress versus my foxy dress.
I hate slipstitching... loathe it! despise it!
But finally followed the rules and slipstitched the seam here where the bodice meets the skirt and wow!
I mean
WOWWIE!!
Sure, I totally see the difference now.
And as much as my fingers hated, loathed, and despised me for it I love how much cleaner it looks and figure a callus will be in order soon and I will be over the pain.
I know nobody really sees the inside but I can be much more proud if it looks closer to professional than beginner.
 
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Next in line is my blue cheetah outfit in Butterick B5557 View A
It is made to be worn as an outfit but I kind of like it as separates. In this cheetah print at least. I have put it on as an outfit but it would have to be the right occasion for me to bust out in full cheetah mode hahaha.
So here is the skirt which is worn at the true waist (again... takes some getting used to for little-miss-hiphugger). It zips on the side and is fully lined.

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  And here I am in the skirt dressed down with a black tshirt and can be worn this way with some chucks (or in my cheap case, airwalk kicks from payless haha)
I am holding the side because I still need to sew on the hook and eye for the waistband to sit right. 
 
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Here I am in the blouse, dressed down with some clam digging jeans.
I adore the look of it but have to admit, the kimono sleeves will take some getting used to... I am  not accustomed to "webbed" armpits hahaha.
It is fully lined and zips in the lower back.
 
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 I loved the way it hugs my waistline and think the square neckline is pretty cool.
About the square neckline... the instructions confused me so i put it on in my own way. Looks good though, right? Remind me to take a picture of how it looks inside hahaha
I will have to put the outfit on skirt and shirt together and take a pic of that for you as well.
I wish I had a hat that matched in color and style!
 
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And last, but not least, I made this adorable watermelon dress in McCall's M5094 view F
  
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I can almost taste summer when I wear it! I did not need to sew on the bottom band of contrast fabric because I am too short and was fine without it.
In fact, I think it would have been too much with it and I am more than happy with how it turned out.
 
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The bodice and midriff are lined and it zips in the back.
 
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When I made the watermelon dress I was planning on using i to test the pattern so I can make a flannel dress out of  my hot rod fabric. Seemed like a great idea until i realized my hot rods only run in one direction and I only have 2 yards... I guess it will have to be used for a skirt or top alone.
So I decided to try out Simplicity 2343 view C to see the fit with this spiderweb material. 
 
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If I like the fit I will more than likely make a hot rod skirt from the same pattern but view F.
 
I finally sent out one of my Christmas gifts to a friend. I knit her this round scarf with my small circle loom. She received it today and now I can share it here...
Hey! It's is still winter and plenty cold so I'm not too late
 
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That about wraps up my recent craftings. I missed blogging but could not tear myself from sewing and Lost Girl. I should be winding down now that school is around the corner. We will see what I can accomplish in these next 6 days until my first class next Tuesday.
Hopefully my 57 Chevy tattoo will be worked into one of those days.
 
XOXOXO!
Lily Bean

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Fabric Stash Inventory


Hey there!
Here I am with most of my fabric.

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This is what the closet looked like when I opened it...

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And that's not the only place I have fabric stuffed in haha
I also have a large rubbermaid drawer and keep some on my sewing table... and then there's in a laundry basket near my sewing table... and in my room... and waiting to be washed...
 
I went through almost all my fabric... I left out a few pieces here and there that I know I won't be doing anything with any time soon. Once I had it all sorted by type and yardage I snapped some pictures.
 
So ready or not... here is my stash

less than 1 yard:
 
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1 to 1 1/2 yards:
  
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2 to 2 1/2 yards
 
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3 to 3 1/2 yards 
 
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 4 yards
 
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 And I have already used a good amount of the blue leopard in my next project.
Next on my sewing table is Butterick B5557. It is a blouse and fitted skirt.
 
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I will admit, I am a bit nervous about the skirt. This will be my first commercial pattern that is a fitted skirt and not using stretch material. Let's hope my back side doesn't give me too much trouble. I ran out of black fabric for lining so I will probably head out for some more tomorrow and then start back to working on this outfit.
I finished my fuschia foxy flannel dress and will snap some pix for you tomorrow.
 
XOXOXOX
Lily Bean
 
p.s.
Penelope was in need of some love and attention and decided to lay across the fabric as I was ironing it tonight. Silly girl. How can you say no to this face?!?
 
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Friday, January 4, 2013

Pink Zebra - Simplicity A1738 Sew Simple Jacket

Howdy!
I woke up feeling so blah today. I had a sore throat and sinus congestion... Too much snow time? Maybe... If so, it was worth it. I took a very long nap and yet here I am still sleepy. I guess my body needs rest. I have been popping Vit C like it's candy. Thankfully I feel better, just not 100% yet.

I wanted to show you the fleece jacket I mentioned a few posts ago. I finished it over the weekend.
The pattern is Simplicity A1738, sew simple jacket.

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I bought it on a whim when I passed it in WalMart the other day. I figured since the pattern cost 99cents and it was simple I shouldn't have any trouble. Plus it would be good practice for tops. I was suprised how confused I was with some of the "simple" steps. It could have been that I always work on things late so maybe my mind was mush when I was struggling. Or it could just have been not "sew simple". Anyone else tried this pattern before?
It came out fine in the end and when I make it again I won't have any struggles, I'm sure. I guess I just expected it to be a super fast and easy project and it took a bit more thinking than I planned.
I love the jacket. I had the pink zebra fleece in my stash from a bargain bin some time ago. I bought some black fleece and really like how it all came together.

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I want to add a few large buttons or snaps to be able to cozy it up a bit more on the days when it's too cold to just throw it on. I am holding it closed in the bottom right picture to show how I want that to happen. We will see if and when I actually get to doing that...

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I did stash inventory last night and was sure to snap pics to share here for two reasons: 1) so you can call TLC and tell them to send over the production crew from hoarders along with a therapist and 2) so i can refer to the post when I want to make something and can't remember what I actually have in my fabric closet hahaha. I was suprised at how much I had forgotten I had and how much I didn't realize I had so much of.
 
It's off to be now for me! Hoping to rest up and wake up feeling tip top.
XOXOXOX
Lily Bean

Thursday, January 3, 2013

17 months, McCall's M6654 View A, and SNOW DAY!!

Hellllo!!!
Again, a few days late on this post but I am playing catch up here. It was time to tear another link off my countdown chain. That means only 17 months left until graduation.
 
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Awesome!!!
3 16 week semesters, 1 10 week semester, 2 spring breaks, 1 1/2 winter breaks, 1 summer break... Almost there! Before I start worrying about all that, I will enjoy the last 2 weeks of this winter break.

When the McCall's patterns went on sale at Joanns last weekend I bought 20. (I think I need an intervention haha)

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I got 2 pillows, 3 hats, 1 skirt, 1 bathing suit, 1 pants, 2 shirts, 1 raincoat, 2 capes, 6 dresses, and 1 jacket

This ought to keep me busy for a while haha
Well I was so excited when I got home that I immediately made McCall's M6654 in view A

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It was very simple. The only thing is I would like it a bit more fitted. I am trying to lean away from "painted on clothes" but I still prefer a decent hug. So next time I use this pattern I will go a size or 2 down from my measurements suggestion. I think it is only because it is made with jersey knit that it feels too loose. I also need to get used to wearing things at my true waist... I have always been a low-rise-hip-hugger kind of girl so it feels odd to wear clothes proper haha.

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Overall I am pleased. I will just take all that into consideration on round two. This pattern is great for beginners though. It was so simple and fast to whip up! Talk about instant gratification. And I had everything I needed already. Hooray for destashing: 1 yard of fabric and some elastic. better than nothing haha.
 
Today is the first snow day in my town. Finally! Jack Frost isn't messing around this time. It started snowing at 0730 and is expected to continue on and off until tomorrow morning... looks like I will not be getting that tattoo tomorrow. It's okay though. It worked out because I did not get the money on this check. So 2 more weeks... the waiting is the hardest part

A few snow day shots of me and my pooches...

You can see how playful Thea was (right). She was prancing like a parade horse and playing in the snow all over the yard. Penny (left) was running like a fool enjoying her overgrown-puppy self as well.

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Thea loves the cold. She has always run hot because, in the words of my Bempa "She has a big fur" hahah! (everything Bempa says is so cute). This is not her first snow storm and every time we get any she lays down in it to cool off. Crazy girl. And Penny was licking the snow off Thea's head haha

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She became quite the puddle as she dried.

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Penny is sticking her bitty littl tongue out haha. Catching snowflakes? maybe...

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I love the snow covered palm trees

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When I tried to take blog countdown pix earlier in the day Thea could hardly contain her excitement...

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She was chasing my paper chain and jumping all around. Silly girl

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XOXOXO
Lily Bean
Snow Princess
 
p.s.
For those of you laughing at my excitement at 2 inches of snow... remember I am a Southen California girl who never left the beach areas so this is super cool to me haha.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

HAPPY (belated) NEW YEAR!! a look back and future dreams

Hello and Happy New Year!!
I am so sorry that I am late in wishing you a wonderful 2013. Since it's only the end of the second day that leaves 363 left for me to wish you love, joy, and success.
 
Taking a small look back to 2012...
 
sewing:
In the beginning I had big plans to destash... well... that didn't work out quite as I had planned. I destashed plenty but added 2 yards of fabric for every yard i used. I was still terrified of commercial patterns and sewing clothes from simple shapes or tracing store bought things. I started my first commercial pattern in March and didn't finish it until October.
In the last 3 months of the year I ended up sewing 7 items from commercial patterns:
 
cooking:
I had started to take baby steps in the kitchen and have been building my confidence from ground zero. I have since made quite a few dishes and plenty of desserts.
( I seriously need to take some time to update my recipe page)
 
yarn:
I still have not made much progress in knitting or crocheting. I do just fine with my knitting loom but am pretty limited.
 
school:
At this time last year I was barely starting on my prereqs and thought it would be forever until I was accepted into the RHIT program. I am now done with my first program semester and have completeld  more than half of my credit hours needed to graduate (in 2014!!) And I have managed to keep my straight A's and keep my 4.0
 
ink: 
I got 3 tattoos in 2012

 
 
Dreaming of what 2013 may bring...
 
sewing:
I plan to actually destash more this year. I can't promise I won't but any more but I can promise I won't buy anything unless it's on sale, with a coupon, or needed to complete a project.
I have a serious pattern and fabric stash (inventory post coming soon) and I need to work off what I have for 2 reasons: 1) it's out of control and 2) why else did I buy all this stuff?? haha
this year I will not make a projects list because... well let's face it: I stink at keeping to a project list and when I do work off of it I stink at updating it.
 
cooking:
I want to keep trying out recipes and learning to become more creative with making meals. I don't have any set goals in the kitchen, just to keep at it for now and keep pushing myself to learn more and try new things.
 
yarn:
I seriously want to concentrate on learning crochet. I figrue if I keep trying to learn to knit and crochet at the same time I will stay stuck. I will focus on crochet even if I only learn a few simple stiches and make a few things. I want to make progress and have to learn to take small bites.
(Any one have any patterns or tutorials you recommend for a crochet beginner?)
 
school:
By this time next year I will be getting ready to start my last semester and preparing for graduation. In this next year I will continue to concentrate on keeping my GPA at 4.0. This means sometimes I fall off the blogosphere radar and have weeks upon weeks where I cannot fit in any of my projects. But I will be graduated in no time and then I can have a lot more fun. I have 4 semesters left... I can do this!
 
ink:
I will be getting my next tattoo on Friday (assuming that we don't get the snow predicted... if it snows I won't be driving anywhere on the streets with these crazies)
I will be getting a '57 Bel Air on my left lower arm near my elbow
and when I have more dough saved up I will tell you what I am planning next
 
So I have thought long and hard about a New Year's Resolution and decided that 2013 is all about exercising and accessorizing.
"I will exercise at least 5 days a week and I will make an effort to accessorize more often."
The 2 may seem odd together but they are both my goals for 2013 nonetheless.
Why exercise: it is the next step for me to get healthier. I have started a hula hoop routine already and even though I hate exercising in general I feel awesome when I have finished my short routine.
Why accessorize: I realized how many accessories I constantly buy and hardly wear. I seriously need to start wearing accessories more often or stop buying them.
 
Well, sorry it was my longest post ever! Thanks if you stuck with me to the end.
XOXOXOX
Lily Bean
 
p.s.
This is what I am currently working on: a flannel dress in Butterick  B5603
(same pattern as my Christmas dress)
 
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