Lightened Schedule=Productivity

I do not work outside the home,
and many assume that I have all kinds of time.
Sometimes I do, but often I don't.
I stay quite busy with volunteer work,
taking care of things around the house,
and taking care of my 2 kids.

 I've had some time to just play

and create the past few weeks because
my schedule has not been so hectic.  I've enjoyed
sharing my current projects with you,
and here are a few more...
  

This is a piece of velvet that I bought in Paris earlier
this year. (Wow! I sound so sophisticated and well
traveled when I say that.  HA!)  This fabric feels so luxurious.  It's another piece I've been fretting over all summer...what to make...what to make!  But I decided to make a layering camisole.  I saw something like it in a catalog and knew right away that was what I needed.

I used the bodice from a dress as my guide.  I added a bit of width because I wanted it to be a bit gathered, and for the length, I simply measured how long I needed to make it.  This bodice piece shows a dart, but that was just ignored.

Velvet can be a bit squirrely to cut and sew.  I took my time getting the fabric lined up before I cut it out.

I used a walking foot to sew this together.  The fabric still wants to slip and slide, but it's much easier to keep it on track with the walking foot.

I also decided to use a decorative elastic around the top edge and for the straps.  I've not used this before, but I thought it out and determined how it could work...AND IT DID!

This is the end product.  The fabric is SO pretty and SO soft.
I still have 2 yards left too.....

Then there is this project:

This was inspired by Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin.

I saw a simple straight skirt in her showroom

this past summer when I went to visit her

café/factory.

I bought 2 XXL men's t-shirts and made a skirt like the one I had seen.

I had a vision in my head how I wanted the top to look, but

my first try was not a success...at all.

I was so disappointed.

BUT!  After a couple of weeks, I picked it up again and THIS is what

happened.  I LOVE this top and I will wear it to rags.

I bought some Tina Givens patterns recently because she was having a sale.  

I have never used her patterns before, but had heard they may be an awkward fit.

I had a project in mind that I wanted to make, but thought I'd better make a muslin first.

I AM SO GLAD I DID!

The pattern was very narrow in the shoulders and I would have been SO disappointed

if I had cut into my fabric and it not fit!

Once I adjusted the pattern, I was still nervous to cut my fabric so I dug around in my 

stash and found a piece I liked, but I wasn't crazy about it. (Impulse buy.) 

If it didn't turn out, I wouldn't be crushed.

Let me tell you...it turned out

ADORABLE!

SEE...

 Part of what I like about Tina Givens' designs are the unfinished edges and the little collage touches.

 Don't you love how these 2 fabrics look together?  I used it on the cuff area too.

There is a long pocket on the sleeve too.

I completed another top from that pattern.  I tweaked it a little to change the front.

I added tucks to the front and the sleeves, and I didn't have it open in the front.  As I mentioned,

I LOVE doing the little fabric collage thing so I put that on there as well.  The colors don't show up

as nice on the computer screen as they are in real life.  You'll just have to trust me

when I say it's so pretty.  he he  

This fabric is also some I found in Paris.

It is a cotton lawn.  It's very light weight and soft.

I left the edge on the ruffle raw.  I like that deconstructed look.

And before I go....

 I'd like to share a couple of pictures of my grandmother.

She loved to quilt.  She passed away several years ago at the age of 93.

I have many fond memories of my time with Grandma Carr.

I remember asking my mom to take some pictures of her quilting.

This is what she took.  I think they are precious.

Thanks for stopping by.

I'll be back very soon with more goodies.