Me Made May Day 13

Monday.  Only a few weeks left of school.  Usually I am counting the days til the end, but not this year.  It's been a long, tough year, but I really appreciate the class I have.  Today, one of my girls brought me flowers.  She is probably one of the lowest income families in my class, but she is the sweetest, hardest working, and helpful students I have ever had.  I think her dad sells fruit and flowers from a cart.  I'm sure these were left over from Mother's day, but I am so thankful that she brought them to me and they look lovely in my room.  Today was a good day.

And, I managed to wear another "me-made" today.  These pants are from the book Simple Modern Sewing.  I made them last summer. I used a mid-weight linen in the color "Aluminum" from Fabrics-Store.   They are very comfortable, and surprisingly flattering for such baggy pants.
The blouse is an old favorite from Banana Republic.  I think I've worn this thing to death. I need to copy it and make some more of these!!

Me Made May Day 8

Pants

:  Silhouette Patterns Sally pant in a wool blend.  Blouse:  Loes Hinse cap sleeve top in a poly charmeuse.

Today was a crazy day.  The kids must be ready to explode because of all the testing.  I couldn't get my class to be quiet today and they are usually pretty good.  Then, at bus duty I broke up a fist fight between a third and fourth grader, and then caught another boy climbing over the fence, stealing a ball, and then hiding it in his friends back pack.  Fortunately, the two boys came over when I called them.  If they had run away, I would not have known who they were.  Good thing they don't know how bad my vision is LOL!!

MMM13 day 12 - Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's day.  It was also my turn to sing at church (Our worship teams rotate out every 4 weeks.)  Unfortunately, I've had a headache all day, so now I'm getting ready to rest a bit and see if I can't get rid of it!
Wore one of my favorite knit dresses today, Vogue 8553.  I was surprised when I looked it up that I made it over 2 years ago.  I was thinking that I made it last year!  I guess it really is time to make some new clothes.  I will have to make this one again, because it is super comfortable, easy to wear, and flattering I think.
I've made it almost half the month wearing something Me-Made every day!

Me Made May 13 Days 10 & 11

I did't get my picture taken yesterday, but I wore this shirt with jeans.  It was a field trip day and we were outside most of the afternoon and had to walk back to school about a mile in 90 degree weather.  After that, a couple of teachers and I drove back over to the other school and cleaned everything up.  So, it was a hot and messy day, but fun and worth it.













Today was also a fun day.  Andy and I have been wanting to move to Three Rivers.  We have property there, but the amount of work involved in cleaning up, tearing down, and rebuilding may not be worth the effort or money.  We actually already have house plans drawn up (but not blueprints) but now we are wondering if we might be better off buying another property.  The location is great, but the house is not even livable right now.  Our property is on the river, so we would definitely want something that had river access.  Today we went up there and looked at a couple of possibilities.  Of course, we'll have to dicker the price a bit, but we're saying a lot of prayers right now do know what the right move would be.  Also, the house we live in now (in town) is pretty nice, so we're a bit spoiled and don't want to move into a hovel.  There are a lot of things to consider, and it is a lot more work to live out in the country, but I think it would be so worth it.  Since Andy is blind, a lot of that work will fall on me, so we want to be realistic about what we take on.  Here are a couple of things we looked at today.

Our favorite place is gorgeous - you can see more pix here:  Our favorite so far   It is right on the river, and you can see the river from the kitchen, living room, dining room, master bedroom, and all the upstairs rooms (which are 2 tiny bedrooms and another even tinier room)  But, the downstairs is perfect.

We also looked at another place on the South Fork.  It needed more work (i.e. small closets, some of the wood work was crappy) but over all, it was pretty good and the location was gorgeous.  About 4 miles off the main road, but a couple of other houses within walking distance so you're not completely isolated.  This location was more "forest-like" and probably has better river access (the other location's river was running too swiftly to be safe to get in I think) and has lots of drip irrigation already set up and a number of gardens.  The main fork location was a little drier and more of a "scrub" climate, but right ON the river.  The south fork home was much smaller, but the price was also much better.  The property would require more upkeep, and again the inside would require some work.  I think it also needs a new heating system.  This is the South Fork location.

Oh, and I just wore shorts and a linen top today.  Both me-
made.  I'll have to look up pattern numbers later.

Me Made May Day 9

This is a terrible picture, but the dress is V8319.  There is also a matching jacket, but I chose to wear a RTW cardigan today.  The dress is OK, but it has princess seams and I think I need to lower the curve of the bust dart.  The fabric is a rayon/ linen blend, but since the lining is poly, it gets a little warm  Poly always makes me perspire.  Other than that, the fit of the dress is fine, but this picture is taken from a weird angle.

Me Made May day 7

This morning I took the dog for a walk.  Now that's a feat in itself, but that's another story.  Anyway, it was raining by the time I got back.  We desperately need rain here.  So, I wore my "rain boots" today.  I had one of my students snap my picture since I didn't have time before I left the house.  This is my "me-made" for today.

The sweater is crocheted.  The Galena top from Every Day Crochet by Doris Chan.  The pants are my favorite knit pull ons from Sandra Betzina - Vogue 1197.  I'm sure you'll be seeing these black pants many times over in this challenge!

Me Made May day 6 - and some new patterns

Me Made May Day 6

Today it is cooling down a little bit, so I got to wear a sweater.  It is day 6 in the Me Made May Challenge.  I'm wearing the Colette Clover pants and the shirt is from the Built By Wendy book.  I really do like this shirt.  It was made back in 2007, which seems to have been a good year for sewing since I have so many things still from that year.  I remember that I bought this Japanese cotton lawn from Fabric-mart fabrics.  I should have bought it in every print and color because it is super fabulous.  It has held up well over years of washing and abuse.  I have worn this shirt many many times and the fabric shows little signs of wear.  The interfacing, on the other hand, has shrunk some, so the collar is a little wrinkly.  Also, I think my sewing skills are better now, so I'm a little more picky about how things look.  I should probably pull that pattern out and make it again.
The pants are from Colette and they are the Clovers.  I actually just bought some fabric at PR weekend to make another pair, and I found a great red stretch cotton sateeen with sort of an animal "print" jacquard on it at JoAnn's today that I just couldn't resist.

























I got a great package in the mail today with patterns that I had ordered through the Club BMV sale.  Here they are:
V8881  
I like the asymetrical look of this top.  Stripes are really big this year, yet striped fabric isn't that easy to find - well, at least striped fabric that I like isn't that easy to find :-).  I'm always way more about what the fabric feels like rather than what it looks like.




                                                                         

                                                                            V1234 - This is a Sandra Betzina pattern.  I didn't try this on at her workshop, but I did like it.  I would love to find a bold knit to make this out of.
















V 1292 - this is another Sandra Betzina pattern.  I never liked this in the pattern book, but I saw this worn at the PR weekend, and it looked fantastic.  Now, I am having a hard time finding the right striped knit to make it in.  I did see something at Gorgeous fabrics that I think would be good.  The skirt is lined, so I would need to find the right knit lining too.






This is V8817.  It is a Katherine Tilton pattern.  It has a lot of different views, but I really like this one. I found a great black and white rayon that I'd like to use for this one.


















This is McCalls 6752.  I love all the views of this pattern.  There are 2 tops and two dresses, all very different looking.  I hope to get on this one soon.

As you can see, I'm off and running with knits this season.  First of all, I love knits because they are easy to sew and work up quickly.  They are also very comfortable to wear, great for travel, and easy to launder.  I also have a stash of knits that I need to start working on.

I also can tell that I've been trying new shapes that I never considered before.  I'm sure that some will work (like the last purple dress that I made) and some may not.  Either way, I haven't lost.  A dress that doesn't work is still better than fabric that's been sitting in my cabinet for years.  Where's the fun in that?  I'm also starting to refashion some things a little bit more.  I've never really liked altering or ripping things out, but it is pretty nice to be able to just fix a thing or two and have something wearable from it.

There are two other patterns that I still want to get.   I'm not sure why I did not pick up the that purple dress pattern the first time

, but the second one, they did not have available in my size.  Vogue patterns are going on sale this coming weekend at my local JoAnn's, so I will try there.

Me Made May 13 day 5

Today is Sunday.  We are getting ready for church, and right now I am eating my oatmeal with slivered almonds and blueberries.  I made this dress back in 07, but I still wear it.  It's a classic wrap around style.  I haven't made a lot of Kwik Sew patterns, but they are easy and "kwik"!  this one is 3408.  I bought the fabric from Emma One Sock back in the day when they were selling "buttermilk".  I have to say, the fabric still looks great.

Me Made May 13 Day 4 and Brewfest

Today was the Brewfest in the town that I work in.  It is a big event and fundraiser for the local Lions Club.  We haven't gone in a few years, and although we had fun, I'm not sure that we will go again next year.  It was pretty hot too, but nice in the shade.  What did I wear?  Well I made this skirt S2609 last summer and it's a great throw-on for warm weather.  Elastic waist and nice and cool.  I just finished the top this morning and it is NL6569.  There were some problems with this top.  I made this a few years ago and had already cut out the pattern.  It seemed too big to me because I think I had cut a 14.  Normally I cut a 10 in the shoulders and do a FBA.  On the pattern tissue it was printed that a size 10 had a 37-1/2" finished bust measurement, so although I did an alteration for length, I did not think I needed to add to the circumference.  WRONG!  This top was VERY snug across the bust.  I thought about just scrapping it, but decided to put in a little gusset on both sides under the arm hoping to correct the problem.  Well, there is a little more ease now, but it is still snug and has lots of drag lines.  Also, the neckline is too wide and seems to need a dart.  I also need to take it up in the shoulders.  I really do like the shape of this top and the front, so I may go ahead and make these changes on the tissue and try it again.

Me Made May day 3

Today was wear purple Friday.  Our school is going all out for Relay For Life (fundraising for the American Cancer Society) so everyone wears purple on Friday.  I have now realized that I don't have any purple tops.  Purple dresses - yes.  Purple sweaters - yes.  Purple shawl - yes.  Skirts with purple - yes.  But no purple tops.  Well, I have one.  But it had long sleeves and it was in the 90s today.  So, a little help from my Ginghers  and now I have a short sleeved purple top!  OK, so the top isn't completely made by me, but I did refashion it!  And... the skirt is.  I bought this fabric on one of my trips to Uganda.  It was absolutely gorgeous in the flat fold.  They treat all of the fabrics with something that makes them sort of shiny and hard as a board.  After I washed it, it was more like card stock that had gotten wet and dried again.  Ironing helps, but it just doesn't have any drape at all and is pretty stiff.  Wrong style for this fabric.  Probably the wrong style for me too.

  It doesn't look that bad in the above photo - but I'm afraid that THIS is what I really look like in it.  So, this one is probably going to go in the give away pile.  I've always liked the idea of a dirndle skirt - and I always think they look great on others, but this just makes me look short and fat.  Oh well.  I'll be wearing a different skirt tomorrow.  Keep an eye out for MMM13 day four!

Me Made May day 2

Today I wore my new purple dress - actually the last sewing project I have completed.  It is Vogue DKNY 1250, made from a beautiful purple double knit.  Tonight was Open House, so I dressed up a little more than usual for work today.

Me Made May - Day one

Thanks to Amity, I am participating in Me Made May.  What is it?  Pretty simple - for each day in May, wear something you've made!  Well, it would be simple if I had been sewing for the last year!  Most of the things that I've sewn I've gotten rid of because they no longer fit.  That's a good thing, but I don't have that many things that I've made anymore.  That's good because that means I've got to get off my butt and get some sewing done!  Last weekend was PR weekend in San Francisco (my favorite city) so I definitely am not lacking in motivation, fabric or patterns to make this happen.  I am so wanting to sew this weekend but already have 3 commitments on Saturday and Sunday is usually taken up by church, going out to lunch, and a few other things.  Of course, sometime this weekend I will have to go to the grocery store too.  Darn this eating is always getting in the way - LOL!

So, since I did not find out about MMM until today, I did not plan on wearing things I've made.  However, I did wear my shawl today, and I made that!  In fact, I just finished this the night before I left for San Francisco.  I love this shawl and I wore it all weekend.  It's the "All Shawl" pattern by Doris Chan for crochet.

Right now, Sandra Betzina's fit pants are on my cutting table.

 This pattern is not available unless you take her Craftsy class (either one.)  Fortunately for me, Carrie gifted me this one at PR weekend (By the way, if you're reading this and I got your name wrong, PLEASE correct me.)  And BY THE WAY, PR weekend was great!  I almost didn't go, but I'm so glad I did.  Had a great time with my roomie and new friend, Kossiwa and lots of other familiar faces and new friends.  I've always admired Sandra Betzina, so getting to meet her, hear her in person, and have personal fit advice from her was invaluable.  The only downfall of the weekend (besides the fact that Kossiwa and I both ate something that made us sick) was that we didn't have the opportunity to get to talk to everyone.  There were some familiar PRers that I really wanted to get together with and just didn't get to.
Anyway, about these pants.  Sandra had a pair of these made up in every size and we got to try them on and have her critique the fit.  They don't look like much on the envelope, but they really did look good on.  The funny thing was that Kossiwa and I both wear exactly the same size, yet we have very different body shapes.  The fit looked great on both of us.  The only difference was that I will need to take in the waist a bit, and she will need to lengthen the legs.