MMM'20: Lockdown Loungewear

~ yes, here I am in my jersey knit ensemble ~

Made decades ago from who knows what pattern.  But the top was recently scaled up to size by adding two triangular scraps of similar fabric into the side seams.  

~ ooo, it's still cold out ~

Now, of course, everything is a bit baggy due to the weight loss from this and last year's exercise/nutrition regime I've been on.  And that is okay by me.

~ ahh, that's better ~

The red canvas coat is made from the Tina Givens Elena pattern, last seen here.

Here's the obligatory shoe shot:

~ clogs from ebay ~

And the Lockdown Look must-have:

~ a me made mask ~

Hope to see you tomorrow...

Happy New Year & Hence Forth...

~ Sewcialists Goals ~

Yes, on to 2020 and so on (in no particular order).  

I'm gonna:

• spend a minimum of 15 minutes a day in the sewing room.  I know it will all add up to something.  Even if it's sewing-related and not sewing itself.  Like organizing the space, or cutting out a pattern, or choosing the fabric for it, cleaning up, etc.

• I've resumed my intensive exercise and nutritional regime for the next 3 months (as I did in the beginning of last year).  So I need to...

• spend time reassessing what I've made and what I can/want to wear now that I've lost weight and inches over the last year and kept it off.  Since I'm continuing that program, I'll probably be losing more weight throughout this year, so I want to keep on top of things.

• spend time remodeling the clothes I want to keep so they fit the newer me.

• make some everyday, normal things I've always wanted.  Like stretch mesh t-shirts.

• use that amazing fabric, at least for one project.

• oh yeah, stop buying patterns and fabric, oh my.

• and here's a big one, be more creative in my sewing.  Actually this relates directly to stop buying more stuff.  I've always felt, less stuff = more creativity.   Remind myself to think of sewing as I thought of my art-making and the creative process.  

I do believe that should be enough already.

The only thing I'm already feeling some resistance toward is using the precious fabric.  Probably because it causes me to step back.  It doesn't free me up like all the other points do.  Think I'll just cross that one off the list for now.  Yep.



I'll leave you with this post I wrote for the New Year several years ago which sounds pretty familiar.

~ Buddha with mudra of greeting, prayer & respect ~

And we simply must bring in the New Year with Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style.  Come on by.

I've Got Highlights for 2019!

Wow!

~ Sewcialists Top Highlights ~

Yeah, at first I thought "huh?"  But upon further consideration, I came up with some really good ones.

I officially retired this year, 
signing up for social security, medicare, etc.  And I also retired all my licensures, registrations, certifications, memberships and insurance for practicing as an Art Therapist and Clinical Counselor.  (phew is right)

Although I am still teaching a painting class at the local college (30+ years).

~ end of year class photo ~

That's me in the dress.

I finally organized some stuff this year, finally!  

And they're still organized!  That would be the junk room which I've completely cleared out.  Now all my gloves and scarves are organized by color in those clear hanging pouch-like things in the hall closet. Purses, bags and totes are arranged by size on shelves in the same hall closet.  Winter coats in there too, with light coats/ jackets in the spare room closet.  

I could go on and on here, but you get the idea.

Someone made me a quilt! 

It was completely unexpected and quite a thrill to receive.  Made out of fabric scraps from clothes I had made...and I still had no idea that it was going to happen.

~ Thanks Jackie, it's a nightly affair ~

I upped my exercise regime and monitored my nutrition intake in January 2019 for 3 months.  

And have kept off the weight and inches all year!  I've continued my regular exercise and eating program after the 3-month intensive and I'm at my lowest weight/inches in decades, decades, people.  Thanks to all the support from my coach, sister exercisers, friends and especially, my True Love.

~ I feel great! ~

And writing all this down has made me feel even better.  What a great idea Sewcialists!

I'll be linking up to Patti @ Not Dead Yet Style and Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like when they go live.  Come on by.

 

Day 31 MMM'19: And So It's Time...

~ to say goodbye ~

I made the jacket long ago from a big 4 pattern, but I no longer have it to share with you. 

~ to all our family ~

Pants are made from New Look 6533.   Stretch mesh top you've seen before, here.

~ I'll be seeing you ~

But not every day.  At least not until next May.

~ leaving you with my embroidered velvet shoes from ebay ~

I'll be stopping by Spy Girl's last day for May Florals. sniff.  Come on over.

Day 8 MMM'19: Layered Views

Yes, it was quite chilly out, so I put on layers.

~ wide open ~

~ and wide shut ~

Raincoat seen previously here.

~ kimono minus the raincoat ~

Kimono seen previously here.

~ underneath, side view ~

Stretch mesh top was adapted from Vogue 8450 pattern.

~ yep, looking down ~

Worn with stretch knit pants adapted from Sandra Betzina's Vogue 1355 pattern.

~ and that's about it ~

Well, except for the grand finale:

~ yeah, bay-bee, matching satin dotted Docs from ebay ~

Until tomorrow...

Oh, I do believe I spot a bit of floral on the ole kimono.  Must join Spy Girl's May Floral link-up!

Spring Time Checked In

at least for one day in April... (today it's raining, and tomorrow, well, all week).

~ Can you tell I've lost weight? ~

It's been two years now that I've been on my exercise regime and I've lost a total of 26 pounds!  yea.  I kicked it up a notch over the last 3 months with an added food regime that helped me drop 8 of the 26 during that time.  Mostly it's healthy eating on a regular basis.  What a concept!

~ meanwhile, I dug this raincoat out of the archives ~

Finding 20 to 30 year old pieces that I haven't worn since then.  Such a flashback is in store for MeMadeMay'19, let me tell ya.  Well, maybe not, some of them go back far enough to be store bought!

~ ta for now ~

Beside the raincoat I brought home from a swap 30 years or so ago, and the navy Mary Jane Doc Martins from ebay, I'm wearing a dress I made you can see here, my hand sewn hat here, and my hand made fingerless gloves here.

See you over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like, Cheri's Shoe & Tell when they all go live, and Judith's Hat Attack! for April.

And I'll be seeing you every darn day in May.

Exercise That!

~ And I did. ~

~ Yeah, I finally got off my tush ~

... and started an exercise regime a year ago on April 1.  No kidding.

~ In fact, this is one of my exercise ensembles ~

Except for the shoes, of course.  Then I wear my silver, flat soled, slip-on, Trippens. 


This is all old stuff, just never worn together before.  A Tina Givens Olivia Tunic Pattern made out of really stretchy thin jersey knit and a Tina Givens Phoebe Pants Pattern made out of embellished corduroy.

But here's the really good news:  After one year of exercising regularly, with no change in my diet, I lost 11 lbs.  Otherwise I'm sure I would have gain weight.  Which is one of the things I've been doing each year as I get older.  

(Tell me about it.)  

But even cooler are all the inches I've lost.  In comparing the measurements taken a year ago, to today's --- I've lost .5" from biceps, 2" from bust, 2" from waist, 2.5" from hips, 2.5" from thighs and a whopping 7.5" from abdomen!

Of course, no one notices because of the way I dress.  But that's not the point.  I am committed.  So what's your story?

 
 

~ Oh, and here's my shoes from ebay ~

 

I'll be off to Patti's and the Visibles and Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell, when they go live.  See you there!

~ the end ~

 
 

Wearing the Green and Gray

for my workout today.

~ yep. ~

When I walked in, two women seated there said they were reviewing.  

"Reviewing what?" I said.  

"You," was their reply.  

"She makes everything she wears."  

"I know and look, everything is matching."  

"This doesn't really match," I said.  

"Yes, but, it reaallly goes together well," was the response.

~  awww ~

While I was standing on the front porch getting my photo taken, the mail lady came up the stairs and said:

"ah, so there's some of the shoes I'm always delivering."

"yes, yes, they are.  Used, but looking brand new."

"Regardless, new to you."  And it's so nice to put a face to all those packages."

~ awwww ~

(Hey, I've got dialogue in my post.) Meanwhile, I made both of these things awhile ago and hadn't had them photographed.  The dress is a light-weight cotton knit from New Look 6525 that's a breeze to make.  The pants are from the Sewing Workshop Trio pattern that I changed up a little bit.  They're made from cotton sateen.   It's the second make for both of these patterns. 

~ and the ebay shoes via our friendly mail lady ~

With that, I'm off to Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell.  Hope to see you all there!

Sewing In, Sewing Out

~ and a rough day at the sewing cave ~

But it's not always like that.

Some times it's just like this.

~ le sigh ~

Then there's the fun and games...

~ like hiding behind sheer silver-gray organza ~

I hear that's good for disguising wrinkles.

~ but first you must iron it! ~

hehe

~ another trick is to keep moving ~

 That way you are a blur, which keeps any old, aging parts at bay.

~  double points if you keep on moving and have your back to the camera ~

But what I was really going to post about was the trials and tribulations of the new coat I'm making:  Pamela Roland's Vogue 1332.  

~ this one ~

Has anyone done this one before?  oh my.  

That's my coat fabric on the right and my lining on the left (hand quilted, by the way).  It has so many layers of fabric!  Plus batting, the organza as interlining and sew-in interfacing.  And each layer is hand-basted around the perimeter of each pattern piece.  All the pattern markings and stitching construction  are marked with tailor tacks (thread) on each layer or each piece.  Something like that.  

It is taking me forevah!  I guess that's okay.  I only hope it fits/looks good after all.

p.s.  I'm wearing my workout clothes in the pix.  yeah.  oh, the top is a translation of Tina Givens Juliana top pattern and the pants are from her Phoebe pattern.  

Clothes that Work Out

Yep, that's me showing off my work-out wear. 

~  you know, like for exercising ~

I haven't mentioned my routine?

~ hmm, let me show you my moves ~

But first, you have to know I've made whatever I'm wearing, right?  yeah. 

Well, the sweatshirt that says SEW was an XL men's that I cut up, added a collar from the hem and a jacket zipper from my stash.  The pants I made awhile ago from a vintage, heavy linen tablecloth.  And here's the stretch mesh top...

~ stretch mesh with Parisian graffiti  ~

~ Trippen shoes from ebay function as my "gym" shoes ~

~ hey man, are you messing with me? ~

~ the photographer caught in the act of disappearing ~

~ after mimicking my "poses" ~

ha!

State of Project Minima: Summer of Year 2

Starting from scratch with Year 2, I've completed a total of 14 refashions during this first quarter of summer.    

~ painting by Marieloes Reek ~

~I notice a new trend with my posts where I'm including more of my everyday life, thoughts and opinions.  Like in the posts: Memory Lane, DIY Shelving, I Don't Donate/Thrift, Graceland Sketch Club, and giving out my art website.

~I bought something, the first thing in 1 year & 3 months:  a pair of shoes!  Sandals to be exact, on sale at Marshall's - for my 60th b'day.

~Then I got pneumonia.

~I've often been a nervous wreck about health insurance and work.  The Reader has been decimated and sold to The Sun Times and my true

Art About Town

Lately I've been such the fashion photo model (!) that I haven't had time to sew.  drat and drat.  I even received two new Japanese sewing books for my soon-to-be birthday from the True Love.  I have had fun with the background-finding for the photos and playing around with that.

Aline Smithson, photographer

But I truly can't wait to get back to my daily sewing routine along with the exercise.  I skipped a bit last week.  But I'm back on track now.  There's been some visiting too which is not something we really do and a road trip scheduled to Mom's for tomorrow.  Maybe I can figure out some hand sewing I can do in the car...

You can see all the latest photo extravaganzas on my clothes collage page