Show And Tell

Hello there,

I haven't put as much work into my sewing this week as I usually do and I feel bad about it.
*sigh*
I hope to make that up this weekend.

Last week was very busy though - I finished and delivered 2 new dresses, alterations to 5 skirts and a new skirt. There was also an iro and buba set that was a freebie; I need to make some alterations but it was done in time to be tried on last week.
I'm thankful for all the referrals; keep them coming ...

This weekend's to-finish list:
- Tutu skirt
- Shorts
- Bow-tie
- Black, Brown and Green pants alterations
- Buba alteration

To-start:
- Jumpsuit for PGS Challenge

I got some pictures from my clients who the dresses were for so it's Show and Tell time.

:)

Ms. M's 1st Order

Ms. M's 2nd Order

Ms. M's 3rd Order (1 of the 2 dresses referenced above)

Ms. O's 2nd Order (see the dresses from her 1st order here)

Family Affair

Hello there,

In December, I talked with a lovely lady who wanted me to make a skirt for her and matching skirts for her little princesses. She said there was no hurry so we took some time going back and forth online until she found the fabric she wanted. In January, when I went to get the measurements, it turned into the skirts plus vests and bow-ties for her king and prince and a pair of shorts for the prince.
I'm really grateful for the opportunity.

Enjoy the pictures below.
** I pressed the clothes before delivery; please excuse the creases below. **

All Together

King - Vest & Bow Tie

 

Queen - Gathered Skirt

Prince - Vest, Bow-Tie and Shorts

Princesses - 2-Tier Circle Skirts with Netting

Father & Son Set

Some Smooth Jazz

Always Learning ...

Hello there,

Back in SS1 (10th grade equivalent?), we were a handed a sheet of paper that listed occupations and what subjects you should be good at to succeed in them. Based on my teen-self's academic prowess, I had a lot of options (a lot) but I was drawn to engineering. The one thing I like about being an engineer today is the ability to assess a problem and design a solution. For my ZCD work, I usually break down the item to its basic shapes in my head and them build it up from there (unless I'm using a prepared pattern).

Today's post is a bit of a show-and-tell. I have added 4 more items to my 'I-know-how-make-this' list and I wanted to share them with you. If you've browsed the Etsy store (here), you know that besides clothing, I can make accessories. Until now, accessories = bowties, purses and earrings. After today, I can add wristlets, lapel flowers custom bias tape and peplum belts.

These new items were custom orders and I did some research, reviewed tutorials and figured out how to make them. Yay for learning!!!

Lapel Flowers

These are rectangular pleated strips with one zig-zag edge, can you tell?

This one is a folded over rectangular gathered strip. 

Wristlet 

(Zippered Pouch with Wrist Strap)

Had to rip and re-do a couple seams but I got it!

DIY Bias Tape

Peplum Belt

(hi-low style)

Start with a hi-low circle skirt, cut a line down the center, add a long waistband.

 

K.I.S.S.

Hello there,

Have you ever been told to KISS?
Here's the nice translation: KISS = Keep It Simple Sweetheart.
It's something that has been passed down from one engineer to another at my 'other' job. The underlying advice is that while you can make things very complicated and fancy, you really should consider that keeping it simple may just be the way to go.

Why am I telling you this?
The feature piece in this week's blog post is about keeping it simple. I watch as many fashion design competition shows as I can and I often hear the judges criticize the designers for creating something that has already been done. That used to make me think that a fashion designer must always create something  new and different. There are many ideas that have I have tossed out because a Google search revealed that someone else had done it ... that was until my discussion with my aunt who owns her own design company: Osuare. She explained that sometimes, to make an impact, you just have to look for the simple things and do them your own way.

So here's my simple double peplum top; my way.
If you like it, you can place an order and I'll make one for you too. :)

Seeing Spots

Hi there,

Have you ever had an idea come out of nowhere and get stuck in your head?
Well, that's where this skirt came from.

I was watching Family Feud this past weekend and one of the contestants had on a lovely black and white stripped 2-tier skirt. On the 1st tier, the stripes were diagonal and on the 2nd, they were horizontal. It looked really cute and it inspired me to sketch a similar skirt. Instead of 2 tiers of stripes, I was going to have the 1st tier be polka dots (spots) and the 2nd tier be stripes.

I had to go to Jo-Ann's on Tuesday to buy a walking foot for my sewing machine (having issues sewing ponte knit ... story for another day) and I had a couple of coupons that would expire on Wednesday. While I was there, I thought I should get the black and white fabrics for my skirt. I found several options for the polka dots but no black and white stripes *gasp*. Sure, they had chevron and I considered it but nah, I didn't want to get that. I was gonna go home and try another day/another store but I couldn't shake the idea so I re-designed the skirt based on the fabric I could see and ended up with  the 3-tier polka dot skirt you see here: under $6.50 and in about 3-4 hours.

Enjoy the pictures!!! :)

The 3 Polka Dot Fabric Pieces

  

Close-Up Indoors

Outdoor "Photo-shoot" :)

Bold Stripes

Hi there!!

I hope you are having a lovely December so far.

To be honest, I've been feeling out of sorts recently; a bit grumpy and tired. I know things are not good when I 'm beginning to be impatient with myself and with others (including Boss. gasp!!!).
I'm now trying to get more sleep and take better care of myself so here's to things looking up soon (very soon, I hope).

Today's post is on this green butterfly sleeve top and stripy midi pencil skirt I made a while ago. I feel good when I wear items I made but unless it's a dress, those items are usually paired with something else. Don't get me wrong, I do like that also - the fact that I make pieces that complement others in my closet - but wearing a complete "me-made" outfit has it's own special warmth.

A few Sundays ago, the uniform for my choir (LA Voice at RCCG Love Assembly) was "wear something green". I wanted to step out of my comfort zone (which would have been green top with black pants/skirt) and I sent a picture to Zi of this top and skirt and asked what she thought (she's the fashionista in this duo). She approved!!!!

Enjoy the pictures below.
I really wanted to wear a brown belt but I couldn't find it in time. Sure enough, I found it as soon as I walked back into my apartment after church. Next time ...