Are you REALLY using your Creative License? Part I

 Photo courtesy of PDUB productions)

All creative work is made by many small steps. 

The steps themselves are rarely great leaps. 

It is the faith to begin that we must cultivate.  

~ Julia Cameron

I've been so inspired by Julia Cameron, author of quote above and the books, "The Vein of Gold" and "The Artist's Way", etc. I've never read her books but just following her on FB has been inspiring. 

Anyhow, with all of this encouragement I've felt compelled to delve into the arena of Fashion Design sketching. I think to a degree most home sewers are designers. We take established patterns and make them our own. We often tweak & morph designs to create something to our liking.  Earlier this year I began sketching designs, not because I'm so good at it but because I want to capture the ideas floating around in my head. I know I've got to do more to cultivate those ideas. Hence my draping training that I'm about to embark on. I desperately want to bring my own ideas to life.

But this newfound desire to explore my creative side hasn't been an easy process. It seems I need to train my brain to think creatively--I mean push it past it's current barriers. We all know that everyone has 2 sides of their brain that controls different functions. The left side is the more "logical & objective side" and the right is more "intuitive & subjective". There are a few debates about the function of each side so I'll steer clear of all that. I only mention it to say that it seems that out of the two I'm more left-brain dominant (there's some fun online quizzes that can help you establish which you are).This fact is true and evidenced by how I've been sewing for the last few years. In the past I've been so concerned with the technical skill that I hadn't really allow myself to be immersed by the creative possibilites. I'm becoming more and more comfortable with my sewing ability so it's time to shift focus. This shift requires a more intense use of my right brain. So I'm devising ways to tap into my creative side more and to stimulate right-brain thinking. This is REALLY exciting for me!!!  There's all kind of ways/methods to encourage creative thinking.

Here's some interesting articles I've run across on the subject.....

Creativity Boost: How to Tap into Right-Brain Thinking

By Martha Beck

 How to tap into your Creative side

Success Magazine

I'm really excited about all of this!!! I look forward to making steps to
cultivate my creativity. In Part II of this post I'll talk
 about the measures/ routines I plan to take to do so.

Anyhow, where do you stand on the subject? Do you feel you're 
adequately using your creative license? Are you highly creative
 by nature? Need more creativity? I'd love to know your thoughts!!!

I met April from Project Runway!!!!!

I had the most surreal experience yesterday. I was running into my local Jo-Ann's today to pick up a few patterns and notions on sale. Before I grabbed those items I had to run to my favorite section of the store----the knits. I looked through them and didn't find anything I liked or didn't already have so I left. As I was leaving I turned around and I glimpsed a familiar face. Upon further inspection I realized it was April from this season's Project Runway. I knew she was from Savannah, but I never thought I'd ever run into her. I have old college classmates that live in Savannah that I've never even run into. But then maybe I'm a Project-Runway-contestant-from-my-city-magnet, especially since I ran into Mitchell Hall  from Season 6 on River Street (our downtown area) about 2 years ago.

Well I need to finish my story..... as soon as I recognized it was April I slowly and discreetly moseyed my way over to her and called her name sorta low so I wouldn't alert the whole store to her presence. She turned around and smiled. I then became a babbling fool--telling her I was just watching her on TV the night before and how much I admire her work. I even asked for a hug and she sweetly obliged (hugging is a southern thing). I then walked off because I didn't want to be a nuisance. As soon as I walked off it hit me that I could have taken a picture with her. How could I forget such a thing? I mean I could tell everyone I met her but that wouldn't quite as convincing.

So as soon as I worked up the nerves to go and ask for a picture with her  she started a conversation with a friend. So I waited, and waited, and waited until she was finished and humbly approached her for a picture. I explained I had a blog and would love to have a picture to post. She graciously took one with me (her friend volunteered to take the pic) and I was ecstatic. Her friend mentioned that April was starting her own line. I'm pretty proud that someone so young worked hard and had such an opportunity as appearing on Project Runway. Now she's starting her own line and who knows where she'll go from there. You know, this could be anyone of use one day (with or without the Project Runway Gig) but my point is sometimes you never know where you'll end up. You know the old saying.....Success always comes when PREPARATION  meets OPPORTUNITY!  If we develop our skills and work hard you never know what opportunities will open up to you. I'm feeling pretty inspired......it's time to go sew:) Happy sewing to you all:)

Keeping my Sewing Mojo Under House Arrest!!!

Maintaining one's sewing mojo can be a tricky undertaking. Quite naturally when you're obsessed with sewing as much as we are (I say We, because I know you feel the same way) you want to do it ALL of the TIME!!!  It's true, we think about it all of the time and can't wait to move from one project to the next. You know, I'd love to devote all of my time to sewing but there's a small thing called LIFE and then there are RESPONSIBLIITES (which are a component of Life) that get in the way of me fulfilling that strong desire. LOL! As a result, life's requirements can oftentimes kick my sewing mojo to the curve making it feel overlooked and unwanted.

But as you know I'm trying to complete a sewing challenge and ultimately rack up 10,000 sewing hours.  So despite all that's going on in life I still have to keep the sewing mojo steady if I'm going to reach my goals of becoming an Expert Seamstress. So I have implemented a few sewing Rules (or as I like to mischievously refer to as tricks) to keep my sewing mojo "under house arrest" and to work to counteract those things that can steal and drain my mojo.

My "rules/tricks" may seem a bit stringent to the sewing hobbyist and that's understandable. But again, I'm super serious about my sewing goals and know that the only way to achieve them I have to be dilligent, disciplined, focused, and committed.

So here are my Rules/Tricks:

1.I HAVE to sew weekly: This is part of my 10,000Hr Sewing challenge rules posted in my blog side bar. I absolutely have to sew. It doesn't matter if I feel like it or not. To be disciplined, I have to sew even when I don't feel like it. Even if I don't get to finish, I still have to sew. Obviously the exceptions are when I'm out of town, on vacation, etc.

2.Push Pause: It's Ok to push pause on a project:  I can start a project, but if my sewing mojo wanes, I can abandon that project but have to pick up another one that peaks my interest and finish it. You know us seamstresses are always changing our minds.

3.Keep Moving: Whatever I do, I MUST keep MOVING!  If I'm sewing and I get stuck on a step, I need to either move on to another step if possible or just sleep on it for the night. I suffer from I like to call "Paralysis of Analysis" (it's a true disease LOL!!!) and I could spend all day analyzing and overthinking a problem and get nothing accomplished in the process. I've learned to turn the brain off and work so I don't lose my momentum. And if I'm really stuck, just to walk away. I try to keep in mind that it's just one project and and as soon as it's done I'll be moving on to the next one. So I try not to sweat every detail--but sometimes I can't help it.

4. Take a BREAK: If I get tired of sewing I should take some time to rest or even better, go and do some housework. Usually doing housework always will snap me back to reality (hey who wouldn't rahter be sewing than doing housework). But taking breaks is a Must!

5. NO TV while Sewing: I wrote a post about that HERE. Now occasionally I'll cheat but I've found that I'm more accurate and make less mistakes without the .....

6. Organize, Organize, Organize: I have to organize my time and don't obsess. I usually plan how I will complete a project within a week.  If things don't go as planned and I don't get to spend as much time sewing, then I'll try to make up for it the next time.

7. Sew Guilt-FREE: It's hard to sew when you feel like the worst Wife or Mother in the world. Family has to come first. I'm fortunate that my family respect my love for sewing but I try my best to keep things balanced. I schedule sewing days where they least interfere with "family time". And of course I make sure that the family stays fed, happy, and healthy. Again, I'm not perfect but I try to keep things balanced. On days I have big sewing deadlines, I allow my daughter to hang out with me in my sewing room where she can color and we can talk while I sew.

8. Keep it Challenging: You guys help me with this. I gain alot of inspiration from your blogs and work. I'll try sewing anything at least once. And I love the thought of being to sew garments from tailored jackets to swimsuits. I love the things I'm good at sewing but I definitely want to branch out and try new things.

9. Use My Resources: I'm definitely still learning and often forget the things I've learned. Hey I am only human. So if I have a brain fart, I don't hesitate a second to find an answer to a sewing question. I have a ton of sewing book and other seamstresses I can chat with. So I usually end up solving alot of my sewing issues.

Last but NOT least.......

10.Have FUN: I refuse to take sewing SO serious (sometimes I do though and have to snap back to reality). We learn from Triumphs and Failures. I'm learning to accept the bitter with the sweet because in the end it all equates to LEARNING. One of my favorite quotes is by Mother Theresa and it hangs on a plaque on my Sewing Room door.........it says......

So "Trying" is definitely what I will keep doing!!!

So these are some of the rule/tricks I use to try to keep my Sewing Mojo around. The more I sew, the more new rules I come up with and add to this list. I know you've got some tricks of your own. How do you keep your Sewing Mojo under house arrest?

Boycotting the RTW (Ready to Wear) JEAN!!!!

As of late, I've felt an occasional chill in the air that reflects the changing of the seasons. The official first day of autumn was a couple of days ago and of course I've had to face the reality that Summer's coming to the end and like you all go through the task of choosing my Fall/Winter wardrobe. I've already highlighted some of my sewing projects for the next couple of months HERE. But as usual around this time I get that same knot in my stomach. It's at this time I know I have to answer that AGE OLD question of  "What jeans and I going to wear"? Usually at this time every year I'd be lucky to have 2 pair of nice, well fitting jeans. This year I have NONE since I just wore out my last pair of jeans---the pair of Gap jeans I got from a fancy consignment shop for only $4 (that was an awesome deal!). I have ALWAYS had the hardest time finding jeans that fit and weren't Super expensive.

The reason I have so much trouble is due to the length of my lower half. I have some long legs!!!! Now I don't say that to brag or anything---- I'm simply just stating a fact. I am 5'8", short-waisted, and have a 34" in seam which makes it EXTREMELY difficult to find jeans that I like. You know, jeans with all of the right characteristics --- great fit, color, stretch in addition to them being long enough. I can usually survive the Spring and Summer without problem thanks to capris! Where would I be without them. I even buy pants too short for me and convert them into capris. But I have no way of getting around the issue during the cold weather. And since I know that's impending, I'm determined to break the cycle of panic and head this problem off early.

I've elected to do things differently this year and every year hereafter. I've made a new decision when it comes to finding jeans. I will no longer look for them and spend countless of hours searching for the perfect fit and length. It's OFFICIAL and I'm calling it QUITS!!!!  I've decided to "Boycott the RTW jean ALTOGETHER!!! I'll be making my own from now on.  I love being a Seamstress!!! As most of you know the arrival of such great jean patterns such as Jalie 2908 (which like most of you I also own) have made that a possibility. I've  I also have a couple of other jean patterns as well. In addition to that I've already got jean fabric and corduroy fabric as well.

 Sigh.......(exhales)...you don't know how liberated I feel! I'd always planned to sew my own jeans but for some reason kept holding on to the hope that I would find the jeans I was looking for. But I've gotten tired of even hoping. The last straw was when I bought a pair of "Long" jeans from Old Navy (during their $15 jean sale last month) and they still ended up short!!!! What's the world coming to when a "Long" Jean doesn't fit  long legs!!!!LOL!!! To Old Navy's defense, upon visiting their website, I realized they have "Tall" and "Long" lengths--but I'm still unsure on how they differ.  I guess I should stop complaining though, I could be Daryl Hannah (the actress from the movie Splash--pictured below) who is rumored to have a 40" in seam.

Legs that long pretty require some custom tailored pants for certain!!!

So I wrote this post to EXCLAIM that I'm joining the ranks of all you jean-sewers out there. I will probably be a Jean-Sewer-for-Life, that is until Express begins selling their $50+ jeans for $5. I know, not likely to happen but a Girl can dream right---LOL!!!! Jokes aside, I'll only buy jeans if I find everything I want for a decent price. If not, I'll no longer stress about it, especially since I can sew my own. In boycotting the RTW jean I'm finally ending the years of struggle of finding the right jeans. Now I know I'm not the only one out there. Since You've been sewing, what's the one RTW garment that you've Boycotted (or came close to Boycotting) and Why?

Don't Sweat the Technique......BUT by all means refresh your knowledge of it!!!!

What does making macaroni and cheese and sewing a sleeve have in common? Well I'm about to tell ya! I was downstairs cooking this morning (trying to prepare dinner ahead of time) when something happened that made me think of  an occurrence last night when I was sewing my clients dress. I was preparing my "famous" macaroni & cheese for my family and a friend.  It's a recipe I spotted on a soul food website and it's been a popular one amongst my family and friends since. Well, I've used this recipe countless of times and can pretty much do so from memory. But it's been a little while since I've made it so I had to skim over the recipe to refresh myself. Well I made it very carefully and got to the last step but went ahead and topped it with cheese before putting it into the oven. At the last minute I realized I rushed the step of adding the cheese and should bake it first for 45min covered and do that as the last step. Somehow I managed to jump the gun, but thankfully realized it in time and was able to correct my mistake.  Ok, hang in here with me, I'm acutally getting to a point..

Last night I was sewing the sleeves on my Clients dress. Sewing in the sleeves, zipper and some handstitching are all that's left. This project seems like it's been taking me forever--mainly because I've been so anal about it. But to my point---- I eased and sewed the sleeve in and  noticed it had way too many puckers. Now some sleeves are designed to have the gathers at the top but at a glance the sleeve's cap, which isn't as tall, so I know that shouldn't be the case. Anywho, I knew I must've done something wrong and after consulting a couple of books and Amanda's sleeve-easing post (thanks Amanda, this is such a great post), I realized I stupidly was sewing my sleeve, gathered side down instead of up--where I could work out the puckers. I mean I KNEW this and used to do it all of the time. But for some reason , since I hadn't in a while (I hadn't sewn sleeves for the last 6 or so months due to warm weather)  I needed to refresh my memory.

And that's simply the point I'm trying to make. All too many times it's so easy to get in the habit of doing things and to stray away from the proper techniques. Whether it's making mac & cheese, setting in sleeves, and _______________ (you feel in the blank), this occasionally happens. I think the smartest thing to do is to go back to the basics and refresh your memory. So many seamstresses beat themselves up over what they forget, don't know or just plain aren't good at. Well as the old school rap song by Eric B and Rakim goes, "Don't Sweat the technique". In the world of sewing, for me, this saying means you shouldn't go and get all stressed out over the situation--- what you've forgotten and don't know. Instead go and "refresh" what you know. Read a book, look at a video, read someone else's blog---get the information from somewhere. You may even find a better technique in the process.

It doesn't matter how long or little you've sewn, there's always room for learning and in some cases re-learning. I think this holds true in life in general. The longer you do anything the more you run the risks of things going stale or becoming monotonous if you're not careful--- this can be true in a marriage, in parenting, your relationships with people, etc. I'm not saying you should distrust and second guess everything you do. But I am suggesting that if something seems like it's wrong or amiss, to step aside and try to figure out why. It's better to do that then to live in a state of denial. Who knows, you may re-learn something or even discover something new.

 Well enough with my mental ramblings---I'm off to sew in some sleeves (wink)!

When the Shoes Cost More than the Dress!

I was delighted to read an article on Yahoo.com where the Actress Drew Barrymore wore a stunning $25 dress and paired it with $760 Yves Saint Laurent "Tribute" pumps (you can read the article HERE).  I chuckled when I read the article because I was reminded of something that most of us seamstresses know. This scenario is the "norm" for most of us. How many of us rack up on discount fabric and end up sewing gorgeous dresses, pants, etc for super low prices. One such "inexpensive dress" that immediately come's to my mind  is the $14 Prom dress I sewed for a friend, a few years back.  We found her fabric on clearance at Hancock fabrics for $1.99/yd.   It was a metallic gold satin with velvet embossed flowers. It was so luxurious and gorgeous!!! That fabric was such a steal. All I needed was 6 yards and an invisible zipper.  I loved the fabric so much that I kept a swatch. Here's the dress....

 And lets not even talk about the designer dresses we can sew for a fraction of the price. I love to do it and I see you Guys do it all the time!!! As seamstresses, we have the freedom to control the price of what we sew. If we want to sew an expensive dress we can but we don't have to. That's one of the things I love about sewing especially since I'm SUPER frugal. So although I probably won't ever spend $760 dollars on a pair of shoes, I take much joy in knowing that I save so much money in sewing my own clothes. In my world, the "inexpensive dress" will always be the norm.

Are you a LONG or SHORT Distance Sewer?

Ok, so I've been downstairs in my sewing studio working on  Simplicity top 3867. I've been working on it off and on this week to have it ready to wear to church on tomorrow (I'll review it tomorrow). I've had the usual interruptions this morning (the little one needed juice, preparing breakfast for the family, etc) but after being in my sewing room for the last 3 hours, I've realized that I've lost some steam and have to get out and try to accomplish some of the other things on my to do list (steam clean the carpet, relax my hair, do laundry, etc) before I return to finishing up my top.

It's not that I'm exactly all that excited to do my "chores" but in the last few years I've noticed something about my sewing (or the way that I accomplish tasks in general). I'm truly a Short Distance sewer!!! It's funny, because in a way it sounds sorta bad but trust me I always (for the most part) finish my tasks but only in short spurts instead of long stretches of time. I'm no good working on the same task for 8 hours at a time. My brain is too busy and I get mentally distracted too easily. Then I run the risk of "over-thinking" what I'm doing, making costly mistakes, and ultimately suffering burn-out.  I work better and more efficiently within shorter blocks of time. It's kinda similar to the concept of "circuit training" in workouts--multiple movements in shorter periods of times. That's probably the worst analogy and I don't think I'm thoroughly explaining it but you'd have to be kinda like me to understand.

 I've learned in life that the best thing is not to always change things about yourself but to make them work for you. We've all got our idiosyncrasies!!! So since I know how I am, I try not to push myself beyond my concentration limits---even with something I love as much as sewing. And since I'm a pretty time conscious person, when I know I plan to spend only 2-3 hours sewing I'm more focused on accomplishing certain goals.  This is part of the reason why my 10,000 Hours of Sewing challenge goals of 3 hours of sewing or sewing related activity a day actually works well for me. But I have to admit that I admire all of you Sista's and Guys who can sew an entire garment in one night--I mean 5-8 hours of straight sewing.  Trust me, I know people like this!!! What endurance. That's indeed a unique gift!

So here's my question to you. What kind of sewer are you? Are you a Long or Short Distance Sewer and Why? How are you able to make it work for you?

Wadder Alert: What NOT to do when making the Cynthia Rowley dress #2406

Let me just say this is an awesome pattern if you sew it with the correct fabric (and fit it appropriately of course). I however did not.  For starters do not use 4 way stretch knit for this dress. You know I kinda had the feeling when I embarked on this project that a stretchy knit might be problematic but I decided to give it a go anyway. So to be quite honest I'm not that suprised that this pattern didn't work for me since I picked the wrong fabric. I just didn't expect it to turn out looking like a muumuu LOL! And no, I will not post a pic because it seriously looks just like a muumuu!!!LOL! And unfortunately sewing deeper side seams wouldn't fix this since it's the fabric that's really the issue. But I don't feel like it was too much of a waste. I learned my gut instinct about my wrong fabric choice was right in addition to a few other things.

As they say hindsight is 20/20 so thinking back here are a few things I should have done:

1. Picked a lighter fabric.
This dress would have been perfect in the recommended fabrics of linen, cotton, etc--you know lighter fabrics that hold the shape of this garment well.  The 4-way knit I had stretched to fit my body and stretched this dress out of it's proper shape. A 2 way stretch knit (stretch crosswise and not lengthwise) would have been suitable as well.

2. Made a muslin.
 You know I RARELY make a muslin when sewing a knit dress. But with a design as unique as this (with the draped shoulder and open back slit) I should have.  I cut this dress in a size 12 and due to the ease of the pattern and weight and stretch of my fabric it ended up being just way too BIG. I had a feeling it would stretch somewhat but had no idea that the weight would really pull the dress down. So this "dragging" in turn distorted the shape of the sleeves and every part of the dress.

3. Shortened the back length.
I've mentioned so many times before that I have a really small back (14"L, 14"W). Why in the world I didn't think to check the back lenght before sewing this dress is beyond me. By the time this dress was nearly finished I discovered that the back opening was well beyond my back to the top of my rear! That was noooooo good indeed! Talk about scandalous.........LOL!

4. My greatest lesson learned from this project was that I need to give up watching TV while sewing. You might recall me devoting an entire post to the subject HERE.  Believe it or not this is the BEST lesson that has come from this situation and I've already noticed an increase in my productivity. So I'm not all too crushed about the loss of this project.

I plan to give this pattern a rest for now and pick up something else. I probably will revisit in the future in a nice linen or cotton fabric.  It's a great pattern and is pretty easy to sew if you don't get turned around with the sleeve directions. To be quite honest some of their directions for that were written a little confusing. But beyond that I recommend it wholeheartedly.

TV- vs- SEWING

I have established a TV Ban.........in the sewing room that is! I've been teetering with this idea for a while but it's about time I do it.


Yesterday was the last straw! I was sewing my Cynthia Rowley dress (almost done by the way) but I wasted so much time doing that and trying to watch a movie. Then I got turned around on a step (a simple one) and got sooooo frustrated and just stopped for the night. I mean I wasted a good bit of time on something so simple. I know if I had just limited my distraction I would've finished my dress last night and saved myself the added frustration.

As with anything in life, sometimes you have to sacrifice a little for the sake of the greater good. And in my case that would be faster sewn garments (wink)!

With this said I take the following pledge:

 In an effort to maximize my sewing productivity,

I, Victoria, pledge not to watch TV while

actively sewing on a project.

Instead, I will listen to classical music or audio books

and reserve my TV use for helpful sewing DVD's

or to watch when I'm doing menial sewing tasks, such as hand sewing.

Whew, I feel so much better! Nothing like a good purge! I'm curious, what things have you had to give up (or rules you've had to implement) to increase your sewing productivity?

Survival Sewing.......

Ok, so I'm throwing in the towel so to speak.  It was my desire to get some more spring wardrobe sewing in before my research trip to Alaska but it's not looking like that's going to happen. With my trip less than a week away, a pile of client alterations to get done, and on top of that trying to recover from a nasty stomach virus that's left me bedridden for 2 days--- it's time for a slight change of plans. Remember, when one plan fails, you just make a new one, right.....

So because the mere thought of being unable to sew while I'm in Alaska for a week is overwhelming, I know I've just got to squeeze some in before I leave on next Tuesday. Well since I'm headed to a place that's way colder (today was 2F with windchill) then the 85F weather I'm currently experiencing. So I thought I'd do some "justifiable" sewing. Why not make warm and cozy pajama pants!!!! Heck, it's about time I finally sew up some of that $0.99/yd Warm and Cozy Flannel fabric I collected over the years from Jo-Ann Fabrics Black Friday sales. I could definitely use the warm sleep pants for those cold nights. Here are the 3 fabrics I plan to use........... Aren't they just adorable?

So that's just what I'll do...........

My Sewing Kryptonite!

Out of all the sewing notions I've worked with over the course of my years of sewing, there is just one that very thought of having to use gets under my skin. I should be embarrassed for revealing this but hey if "kryptonite" can stop Superman dead in his tracks, it's obvious that I would have my own hindrances, even in my beloved hobby of sewing.


It's weird but I  can never seem to sew a hook and eye in correctly.  What did you expect me to say? Zippers? Bias tape? Buttons?  I bet you didn't think it would be the smallest sewing notion did you? LOL!

 Well here lies the problem. I'll either sew the hook in correctly and will be off a bit with the eye. I finally started ditching them in my garments but I really want my clothes to have a RTW feel so I know I must include them. Besides they're the best little insurance policy to prevent zipper tab slippage.

I practically can sew in an invisible zipper blindfolded (they're my favorite notion)  but can't properly sew in a hook and eye. Doesn't that seem a little backward--- LOL!!!! It just goes to show that no one can do everything perfectly. Seriously, I've finally decided that it's time to get over this handicap and finally take a look at how RTW and consult one of my sewing books for specific instructions that insure success. Problem solved! But to some degree they still probably will always make me cower! LOL! Out of curiosity, might I ask, "What's your sewing kryptonite"? Which notion really gets under your skin?

Warning: Watching Kell On Earth may cause Heartburn!!!!!

 Why does it always seem like I need to take an antacid after I watch an episode of "Kell on Earth". Ok so I really don't suffer from heartburn after watching this show, I'm just overexaggerating. But I  have to admit, I was pretty shock and wound up after watching the first couple of episodes. They don't call it "Kell on Earth" for no reason. The situations and people on this show are just so "high strung" and "extremely intense"--but still strangely fascinating--the line of work that is. Have any of you seen this show? It's a pretty interesting reality show and give you a look into the inner workings of the People's Revolution Fashion PR firm. If you haven't seen it, here's what Bravo TV says about it on their website:

According to Bravo TV.com this show is about.......

......a behind the scenes look at the high-powered and fast-paced world of fashion PR when Bravo debuts its newest series "Kell on Earth," featuring public relations guru Kelly Cutrone.
Cutrone has been called one of the "coolest, most intimidating persons ever," and, judging from her frank demeanor and fashion world credibility, it's easy to see why. Bravo takes a no holds barred look into the life of one of America's most legitimate tastemakers as she balances running her wildly successful fashion PR company, People's Revolution, juggling Fashion Weeks in New York and London, with being a single mother and one of New York's most notable women about town.

Well from my opinion, when it comes to describing Kelly Cultrone, the word intimidating is the right one.  I'm not one to usually pick apart people, because we are who we are and everyone isn't "little miss nicey". But based on observations, Kelly is quite the tough cookie. She's a "no hold's barred-take it-shut up-and like it kinda chick". I think it's a combination of the type of work and her gritty personality.

Her hardcore personality is a tad bit humorous and over the top. Her book title (on the right) is pretty interesting too and reveals her personality. I do respect her definitely as a business woman and for the reputation she's established in the fashion world. Hey you can't have a great fashion show without a great PR group. But I have to admit that at times I feel so sorry for her employees because they're always so stressed and overworked and they're always being cursed at and sometimes berated. But maybe it's the nature of the beast and the price to pay for working in that part of the fashion world. Not my cup of tea by any means. I am of the strange notion that one can run a great business while at the same time treat others respectfully and with dignity.

After watching a couple of episodes I really didn't have an interest to check anymore out. Well today I took in another episode and I'm beginning to get used to the brutality LOL!!! It's becoming less shocking especially since I know what to expect now. Hey this was my first glimpse into the world of fashion PR and it's an eye opener--but in a good way. Maybe I expected everything to be a little more "cookie cutter" and that everyone would unite for the sake of fashion and work harmoniously together.  I didn't know what I was thinking. But it's definitely a different world that I imagined and I appreciate the reality check, no pun intended (smile). 

Anywho, if you've got the time to check it out please do. If you have, what's your opinion of this feisty show???

Which came first: The Pattern or The Fabric???

This is kind of a silly question to ponder when it comes to sewing. It's like the the age old question "Which came first, the Chicken or the Egg"?
You arrive at a great end result but ponder at where it all began. No philosophical answers are needed since I'm only being facetious (smile). Well over the years I've noticed a pattern at which I usually arrive at a sewn garment. Majority of the time I manage to find the fabric first and then end up finding the pattern. Finding fabric for me is more of an instinctive sort of thing. I always usually trust my instincts and I have to admit they're pretty good and at times a little daring. This may make it a little difficult sometimes to find an appropriate pattern. But I usually do in the end and the result is usually a great finished garment. I don't know what it is really, but fabric really inspires me and get my creative juices to flowing.

For example I picked this fabric up the other day and just fell in love with it. It's actually the fabric for my Easter dress and the sash for my daughter's dress (we have to match a little).

It's spectacular and has somewhat of a shantung weave (sorry the pic is a little blurry). The colors are so rich and bold. I love it, I love it, I love it!!! I have a few ideas for patterns and am narrowing it down, hoping to have a solid pick by weeks end.


So tell me, what's your method of ending up with a beautifully sewn garment. Do you usually find the fabric first or do you like to find the pattern and then shop for fabric????

Furlough Day Ends Sewing Withdrawal!!!!

You know you've got a busy work week when it takes a furlough day to help give you some sewing time. Such has been the case with me. I mean I haven't sewn one stitch since Sunday--NOT ONE!!!  Do you know how DIFFICULT that's been for me. There are no words. I feel like a "Sewing Junkie" going through withdrawal symptoms. Ok, so it's not that serious but when you're stressed it sorta feels like it sometime, huh? But thank goodness for my furlough day!!!  Tomorrow I'm going to sew like there's no tomorrow (wink)!!!!

But all my excessive work has been for a good reason. My research group is going to ALASKA--yah!!!!! I work at an Oceanographic institute and I specifically work with a scientist who studies bacteria in the marine environment. Well we're headed to the Arctic circle (you know where the North pole is)

to check out the bacteria there and see what they're doing up there. We'll be going off and on for the next 2 years. This year I'll be going in a couple of weeks or in August--we haven't decided just yet.  I'll spare you the details but I've been swamped with packing supplies and cold weather gear----because it's a "cool" -30F there--and yes I said "negative 30 degrees F" there right now. But there's one major question I have yet to answer, "Is there a fabric store in Barrows, Alaska"?


Well I've desperately missed sewing and posting as frequently and I need to make up for lost time. Because you know I've got some 10,000 hour challenge goals to fulfill for the month. So with a few days left in this week,  I thought this would be a great time to revisit a beloved pattern I made for the first time in January. Remember this look.....

Vogue 8593

Well I'm feeling a little daring--maybe because of my serious withdrawal but what do you think about it in this....hmmmmmm. I'm loving it!

Gotta get to work on this one to have it ready by church on Sunday.  Hopefully all that pent up sewing frustration from the last few days will work to my advantage and I'll be able to churn this one out quickly.

Who's the Scaredy Cat???

I'll be the first to say I definitely am------------especially when it comes to how I use my Serger.

I came to this realization the other day when  my machine was in "the shop" and I needed to finish the New Look 6922 knit top I was working on. Then the thought dawned on me, "hey, you could just use your serger to finish the entire knit top".  Man you would've thought I was being asked to give up my first born. There was no way that I would consider such a thing so I quickly dismissed the thought.

I know it may seem a little extreme but for me there's just something so uncomfortable about the notion of solely using a Serger to construct a garment---such as a knit---which is seen in RTW clothes sewn in factories. I have a computerized Husqvarna Viking Huskylock with all the bells and whistles (it even has a safety stitch), but I only use it for finishing a garment or to coverstitch. I love my machine and feel as though I use it like a pro but the thought of accidentally cutting off too much fabric or  screwing up a curve would just devastate me. You know once it's cut, it's cut. It's just a risk I don't want to take. It's so sad--I know! LOL!!!

So my question to you is are you a "Scaredy cat" like me (nothing wrong with that of course) or do you use your Serger to courageously and completely sew certain garment? If you do, what gives you such courage?

Current Sewing status, Challenge review, Upcoming plans, DVD Review...

  It seems like things have been sooooooooo crazy lately. At the tail end of last week my sewing machine began giving me some issues so I dropped it off for repairs and/or tune-up (details in my last post). Well the good news is that all it needed was a little cleaning. It's hard to believe that 7 months of hardcore sewing would produce enough lent to cause the thread cutters to malfunction and as a result cause all that jamming---come to think of it, it's not that hard to believe! It's time for me to stock up on canned air and to do more frequent cleanings since I use my machine practically non-stop---just like you Guys of course!!! Whew, well that's a load off. All it cost me was a $60 cleaning fee from the wonderful Mr. Smiley--the only other person that I trust with my Baby!!!!

Well that delay (and being too lazy to pull out the back up machine) means I've got alot of catching up to do. Sew much to do....... and Sew little time (and yes "so" is swapped out  intentionally). I'm getting antsy because the end of the month is quickly approaching, and I have to wrap up my January and February sewing goals detailed in this Post .  Well I made a few of the items but swapped out some in order to make others (you know we Girls are always changing our sewing plans). I plan on doing a January/February wrap up no later than Monday to evalute my 10,000 Hour Sewing Challenge Progress---remember I'm taking this challenge very seriously and am trying to stay disciplined as best I can! I have one item I'll be reviewing on tomorrow and I hope to get a couple of items done no later than next week. I hope I don't have to spill a little over into the first week of March to complete these items. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I will also be posting my March/April sewing goals by Monday. I'm sooooooooooo very excited to being sewing Spring clothes. You might recall this Post in which I showcased some really nice Spring fabrics I purchase and of course all of the New Vogue Spring patterns  that I can't wait to give a try. I probably should stop talking about this now because I feel myself beginning to drool.

Before I forget, I managed to squeeze in a sewing movie. I didn't realize that another movie about Coco Chanel was being released until a couple of weeks ago.

 So I checked it out. I had already seen the Lifetime movie "Coco Chanel" and have done a little reading up on her. Although I already knew a little bit about her life it was good to watch a more current film that focused on  her before she became famous. I just want to warn you that the movie is in French and has English subtitles, so unless you're fluent in French it will be a wee bit difficult for you to sew and watch this film. I have to admit that at times I forgot this film was about the designer since it focused on her love life (actor Allesandro Nivola wasn't too bad on the eyes) and some of the dilemmas and challenges she faced that pushed her toward becoming a designer. That's not a bad thing. It's always neat to see how Great people got their start. I believe that same greatness exists in all of us from one degree to another. I applaud her for following her "unconventional" vision even in the face of adversity. As we all know she has an empire that still remains today and is synonymous with true elegance and grace. If you have the time check this one out. I give it 3 out of 4 Stars!


Well, I've got to hop back to sewing and everything else. Although it's Tuesday, due to some weekend meetings, I have very limited time to sew, so I'm going back to the grind. I hope to maximize the little time I do have. How are your upcoming Spring sewing plans coming along??? You know I can't wait to see the fabulous clothes you make (wink)!!!

A Swift (yet gentle) Kick in the Butt

 To myself I say, "Man up, Victoria" or "Woman-up, Victoria" (which is probably more politically correct) "it's time to finish sewing your first pair of pants".


I am just a few scissor cuts and basting stitches short of having what I believe will be my final and more correctly fitted rendition of the Jalie 2909 Trouser pattern (I've done 2 muslin fittings thus far--see a few post back for details). But for some reason, I've hovered around my cutting table, laid out test fabric and pattern but I can't bring myself to begin cutting. I'm just frozen in my tracks. Kinda like a deer in headlights.

Well I know myself rather well and I've definitely been here time and time before. This is the part in my sewing, specifically with something new, where I have to jump over the mental hurdles that cause me to second guess myself and prevent me from finishing my garment. You see I'm an over-analyzer by nature; one of the left brained people who methodically plans there steps and studies meticulously to solve problems. I'm no way far left with this--you know OCD or anything like that. For me I think I spend so much time investing in a sewing project, especially the difficult one's, that it's hard for me to sometimes just throw my hands up and just finish without second-guessing myself. Weird, huh?  Do you ever go through this?  Do you experience simultaneous elation and apprehension about finishing a sewing project?

In order to override this "issue" I find I  just have to turn my brain OFF and as the Nike slogan says, "Just Do It"!!! You know, "Take the Plunge", "Grab the Bull by the Horns", and all of those wonderfully colorful metaphors out there that encourage progress. I have to just finish this! No more over-thinking from this moment on!  It's as easy as that! Just cut out the pants and sew them. No need to make this task harder then it has to be!

Whew--I'm glad that I got that out.   I feel I needed a swift kick in the seat of my pants. I feel somewhat better already. I figure putting myself "out there" would make me stop stalling, face my apprehension, and move forward. Ok--I'm ready to move ahead. The brain is turned off and scissors are in hand---it's time to go cut out and sew some pants.........

Hi, my name is Victoria, and I’m Addicted to Knits

I'll say it again. Hi, my name is Victoria, and I’m Addicted to Knits.

It’s true and it’s about time that I actually admit it. I didn’t realize that my addiction was so bad until this morning. On my way to work I found myself fantasizing about this  dress and the perfect knit fabric I had in my stash to go with it. It then dawned on me I didn’t have enough of the fabric and I would need to go back to Joann’s to pick up some more.  The possibility of there not being any fabric left to buy slowly began to bring a sense of panic to my mind. Before it went any further (sweaty palms, nausea, uncontrollable crying, etc---LOL!), I caught myself and snapped out of it. Then I did what most people in denial do. I began to talk myself out of my “newly realized” addiction. But then my mind became bombarded by all of the facts which quickly dissolved my counter -argument.

The FACTS are…………

My wardrobe is comprised of at least 80% knits (this includes T-shirts, cute tops, pants, dresses etc) .

I wear some form of knit at least 5 days out of the week.

At least 65% of my fabric stash consists of knits or woven fabrics with some percentage of stretch (cotton sateen, stretch poplin, etc.).

I love the comfort and fit that knits and stretch fabrics provide.

Nothing makes me happier then to find a knit and stretch fabric with a gorgeous print.

Knits and stretch fabrics are my favorite fabrics to shop for!!!

I feel it is my DUTY to try out  any new knit pattern I can get my hands on.

This  realized "addiction"  has indeed been a long time coming. But it sure does feel good to finally recognize it and admit it. I guess we all like what we like and have some sort of fabric “addiction”.  Maybe in the world of sewing these addictions aren’t such a bad thing. Maybe our addictions help to unlock our creative minds.  What are your thoughts?

Since I know I'm not the only addict out there (please don't tell me I am) ---it's your turn to introduce yourself. What fabric are you addicted to and why? Don't forget to say your name:)

Crazy Busy Weekend........

Wow, this is turning out to be a pretty busy weekend! Well I finally found my Vogue 1020 guidesheet so I can finish up my dress this weekend (if you recall I misplaced it a couple of days ago)!!!! Yay to that!!!! In addition to that I decided to whip my little one up Simplicity 2483 in time for church on Sunday. I made the dress on the left in a cute corduroy print. I'll post pics Sunday. It was so easy that I should've whipped up 3 more while I was at it. I know you're laughing at me but you know I'm "Queen of the Remakes". Hey if I like a pattern you know I'm going to "overuse" it.  You know you do the same thing (wink)!!!!

(I do like the vest and skirt on the right so I definitely have to make that in the future!!!)

In addition to that I've got a few alterations for clients and friends to get done. And on top of all that I'm sitting under a weight of housework. Plus with Christmas next week there's still so much more to do!!! Don't tell anyone, but I haven't even put up my tree yet---what a shame, I know!!! But, I'm not going to get overwhelmed. No sir, I wont! Breathing in and exhaling slowly. Hey I get to spend a good deal of this weekend sewing. That alone brings some calm to all of the chaos. Hope you're able to squeeze some sewing into your weekend.

Missing Guidesheet?????

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

I finally diverted some of my sewing time toward finishing up the Vogue 1020 dress (in this fabric) and suddenly I can't find my guidesheet. Boo-hiss, I hate when that happens!!! Ok, now I've got more than enough motivation to clean my sewing room !!!!!!! Hey it was on my Before-Year-End-To- Do List anyway.

I really hate when my motivation is interrupted.........Grrrrrrrrrrrr................