Through my camera lens…

Chaos

My first TNT (aka My Big Skirt Project)

After reading lots of blogs about having a TNT (Tried And True) pattern,

I decided to find one for myself.

I chose the easiest garment to make—A Skirt!

The idea was simple: find a pattern I liked, make it fit,

then add (or subtract) design details to create the skirts I wanted.

So, I started with the essential, flattering-to-everyone A-line skirt.

I started with McCalls 3341:

I measured my hips and traced that size onto freezer paper.

Then, I measured my hips, waist, waist-to-hip, and high hip.

I compared these to the actual measurement of the paper pattern (plus ease),

I added a little here and there and cut out my adjusted pattern.

Since my first skirt was to be a muslin

(a trial run for you non-sewists out there),

I hated to use any fabric from my stash.

So, I snitched the plaid from the skirt of this dress

that was handed to me “in case you can use the fabric”.

I made this skirt, just as the pattern instructed.

For a review of the pattern, please see my review on PR.

It fit beautifully and made a great wardrobe addition for the winter.

The easiest way to tweak a skirt is to take it from

fitted to an elastic-waist gathered skirt.

So, I traced my new TNT pattern onto freezer paper

leaving out the darts and

placing the center back on the edge of the paper

eliminating the center back seam.

I also added a little extra at the top so I could make a

casing for my elastic waist. Here’s skirt #2:

(sorry about the crooked picture)

Remember my spring wish list?

Well, skirt #3 is my knock-off.

This one was fun to create on paper.

You can get the details in my PR review.

One other exciting bit about this skirt:

I installed my first invisible zipper.

Y’all never told me how easy it was!!!

And it looks so pretty.

Much nicer than:

Moving on…

Skirt # 4: My Spring Fun Skirt

This one was made like Skirt #2.

I did add a little extra fabric by placing the

“PLACE ON FOLD” mark about 1 inch from the fold.

And then there’s the Dolce & Gabanna skirt

I saw on their site earlier this year.

You can read the process for Skirt #5

on the PR review if you are interested.

And yes, it has an invisible zipper.

Last, but not least, there’s skirt #6.

I’ve been drooling over all the cotton lawn in

the Liberty of London line that’s out at Target.

So, I hiked into Hancock’s to see what

I could find in a cotton lawn.

Not much. Anyway…

I loved the way the fabric draped, and

that inspired me to make the ruffle.

This skirt is lined with a rayon lining and

has an elastic, gathered waist.

So, there you have it,

my crazy skirt project.

Proof that I’ve been sewing.

I have more ideas and more fabric ready to go.

If you live in the Shreveport/Bossier Area

and would learn how to take a skirt pattern

and tweak it like I’ve done,

check out this class at LSUS.

Shop Update

  Check out the new goodies I added to my etsy.com shop today:

Little Boys

Through my camera lens…

Fishing on DeGray

For the Perfect Camping Trip

For the perfect camping trip, you need:

hot dogs

 

marshmallows

a little nature

and some more nature

 

and maybe even a little more nature

but not that much nature

a beach (At least that’s we called it at OBU!)

 

some fish (can you see it?)

 

some Doritos

and a cousin!

Think we’re hooked yet?

The wisdom of Julia Sugarbaker

I’m from the South. 

If you aren’t, there are a few things you should know, courtesy of Julia Sugarbaker:

You must pass down the important moments in history.

Never keep another woman waiting, and then flirt with her delivery man—

it makes you appear rude…and dumb!

Southern Football is a religion.

There is NO excuse for missing dinner with a dignitary. 

You find a way to make it happen.

And be proud of your CRAZY.  I am. 

Thank you Dixie Carter for these wonderfully funny reminders of the

intelligence, wit, grit, sophistication, class and grace of a Southern woman!

A Market, of sorts

This is what I did last Saturday.

Yes, it was fun.

No, I don’t know if I’ll do it again.

Yes, it was totally worth my time.

I spy something green and purple and brown…

How often do you stop to notice the world around you? 

Not often enough in my case.

For some reason, I’ve been more aware this week.

And—colors have been catching my attention.

Take these pictures, for example. 

These were all shot from the car on our recent trip home for Easter.

How many shades of green do you see?  And the purples and the browns.

Absolutely amazing, isn’t it.  I think I need to go make something green.

PS.  I apologize for the crummy nature of some of these photos. 

When you are moving 65 mph down the highway with the windows up, you don’t always get the best shots. 

But—you can still see the amazing colors of nature.

Easter Ruffles

The Big Girl wanted Ruffles.

She got Ruffles.

The Big Girl wanted Aqua and Lime.

She got Aqua and Lime.

The Big Girl wanted Flowers.

She got Flowers.

The Big Girl loved her Easter Dress.

With Aunt Sarah.

Let’s Celebrate!

It’s my birthday! 

Let’s have a party!

 

We’ll need a cake (or two or three or twelve…)

  

 

   

 

 

And we’ll need presents. 

Here’s my gift to you:

15% off everything in my etsy.com shop. 

Just enter 29AGAIN in the message to seller box to get your discount.

For more info about using a coupon code in my shop, visit the FAQs in my Shop Policies.

And, don’t forget, the code ends when my birthday ends,

so you only have until 11:59 PM Central Time on April 7!