New Post - still sewing

Wow it’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. I got a little burned out on blogging - NOT sewing . 

I so appreciate all those who blog as I love reading blogs. IG has taken over so much of blogging , but I decided to give it another shot .

I have been sewing ALOT. 

My lace blouse from Helen Haughey’s lace class in New Orleans in January is almost finished . I’m working really hard to finish UFOs . I love the fabric & lace on this top . The hand sewing is very relaxing , but I am anxious to finish & move on .

I also snuck in another Blackwood Cardigan during our recent cold weather snap. 

Of course there is always time to sew for a very special GD💗💗

Promenade Fabrics & Fancy Tiger Crafts Fen Dress

Promenade Fabrics is a great Indpependent fabric store in New Orleans . I met one of the family who owns this store last year a Susan Khalje’s Couture class . He drove a truck of fabric to Houston . This year Susan Khalje’s class was in New Orleans so we got to visit the store in person . It was heaven .

They have a wonderful website & I have ordered from it . 

www.promenadefabric.com 

They have the best customer service .

Another fabric store shout out to Roz at Sewmuchfabric. She also has great selections & customer service .

This casual dress is Fen from Fancy Tiger crafts in Denver . 

It’s a boxy ,casual dress. I like the overall look but wanted it a bit more fitted so I added more darts in the waist area. 

The fabric is very drapey so I could dress this up very easily ! 

Also I wrote my first review for Pattern Review ! Very easy to do & im no longer just a stalker 👀 

Happy Sewing 

Susan Khalje Couture Class

Another Susan Khalje class 

I was privileged to attend my second Susan Khalje Couture class the first week of August is New Orleans . 

There were many of the same wonderful ladies in class from last year as well as some new faces. All the ladies are so helpful & encouraging. Susan is of course the most encouraging & patient teacher .

I made Susan couture skirt pattern & guess what I was 90 % finished when I left NOLA. 

I bought all my fabric at the fabulous Promenade Fabrics in NOLA. 

If you haven’t checked out this wonderful store check out their website - they have amazing fabric & I was thrilled to go there in person .

www.promenadefabrics.com 

It was my first time using Guipere lace . I was very intimidated to buy & sew on this gorgeous lace . Susan & fellow class mates made it easy to start . 

Funny thing - 3 of us made navy lac skirts . One friend came with her fabric & 2 of us blatantly copied her😘😘.

But I am hooked - I love this pattern & also bought lace for the next skirt while at Promenade . 

Susan Khalje is starting a Facebook club membership which will have lots of info, freebies & fun 

www.susankhaljecouture.com 

Happy Sewing 

Now to clean the sewing room 

Charity quilt finished - now back to our regularly scheduled sewing

Good morning 

This blog has been sorely neglected . I know I don’t have many followers, but it has always been a way to record what I make. So I would like to make an attempt to get back to blogging . Plus I love reading sewing blogs !! 

I decided in May to take a break from charity sewing for the summer. I was & still am very burned out . I belong to a group that makes baby items for the hospitals . It’s a wonderful group but I have been co chair for the last 3 years . Most of my personal sewing has at times had to taken a back seat. 

I alternate between knowing there is a great need for these baby items & wanting to sew things I’d like to sew . 

But I did finish a charity quilt for a group very near & dear to my heart. The National MPS Society is a support group which promotes research & family support for those affected by this devastating disease. My niece died of this disease at age 17. 

This quilt is a labor of love . The squares were made & designed by adults affected by MPS . 

I recently was able to save this printed voile ! It was originally another pattern but just wasn’t working for me. So I re made into this Simplicity top. I had to remake this after wearying &took out about 4 inches from the back. 

This success has spurred me to access & finish more sewing for ME

Happy Sewing 

Vacation Sewing Not finished

Vacation Sewing plans not finished 😂

I had many plans for garments to finish before leaving town , but didn’t get them all done . 

I was feeling blue & disappointed in myself earlier . As with most of us I had too many irons in the fire. But I have cleaned up my sewing room and finished a few embroidery projects . 

I don’t feel I’m as productive as I think I should be , but have to remember Sewing is a fun,relaxing hobby that I am very privledged to enjoy .

A new skirt & a new top will be fun to wear !! 

Happy Sewing 

Meeting Rhonda Buss !!!Haute Couture Club of Chicago

The Haute Couture Club of Chicago held it’s annual luncheon & fashion show this past Sunday .

It was truly a highlight for me to attend . There was so much nspiration in the 60 plus garments made by the members . The top left picture shows a 97 yr old member who made the coat she’s wearing !!!

I attended with a friend Andrea Birkan  . I met Andrea last year at Susan Khalje’s class in Houston. 

Andrea took the day on Thursday to take me to her favorite Chicago fabric stores .

Andrea modeled several of her amazing Couture garments ! She is such a generous friend !!

Cenetta Burrell was also in the show with numerous garments . I follow her on IG as well as her blog -They Mahogany Stylist . 

She made many wonderful garment for herself & her family .

The highlight for me was meeting Rhonda Buss . I have followed Rhonda’s blog -Rhonda’s Creative life since I first returned to garment sewing about 8 years ago. She has such great style & her blog is always so positive & full of helpful sewing tips & inspiration .

I was also able to visit my sister ,her kids , cousins & 2 -90 yr old aunts .

It was a memorable weekend !! 

Time to Sew 

The Tunic Bible & Blackwood Cardigan - Stylemaker Fabrics

Lots of sewing , just not much blogging ! 

My second Tunic Bible is a 2sided knit from Stylemaker Fabrics . It’s a cotton /poly & sewed up like a dream . It has an eyelet look to it . I’m glad I was able to incorporate both sides in this dress . I’m looking forward to dressing it up & down . I love the tunics from Tunic Bible & love the fact that this pattern is now my TNT . Once you fit it , endless options open up ! 

A while back I finished my first Blackwood Cardigan . I also loved this pattern . My fabric was mostly poly so  topstitching was a major challenge . I love the length . I didn’t love that DH called it a lab coat.  But what do men know about fashion . It’s a wonderful sweater ! 

I have fabric ready to cut out for both of these patterns - they are keepers ! 

Happy Sewing