Yup - another FO....for a family member. lol. I had planned on making a top for myself, using some of my gorgeous $1 FIDM fabric from my LA trip. I cut the pieces and brought them to my sewing class. When I got to class, I discovered that my instructor had worked on the same pattern during the weekend. She advised me that it came out a bit short for her and she had to do a narrow hem. Well, I have a long waist to begin with, so I was a bit nervous. True to her word, it was coming out too short for me. My Sister is 2 or so inches shorter than me, with a a shorter waist than I. I serged the heck out of the sides and the shoulders and voila, a successful FO for HER! lol. That's what Sisters are for I guess. Here she is rockin' it in her cell phone "photo-shoot". 
I could just beat my skinny Minnie, older Sister down....if it wasn't for the fact that she packs a really hard punch for such a little thing. lol. What can I say? Our older brother really taught her how to fight when he came back from the Army!
I have done a lot of traveling the last few weeks. I went to Vegas to see the Dave Mathew’s Band on the 9th and then went back to Vegas for Memorial Day weekend. Add my North Dakota business trip and I’m exhausted. I feel like I’ve been given a bunch of citrus (of the lemon variety) and am trying to cope by making lemonade. Ugggghhhh. In any case, I have finished my Burda Tunic...which doesn’t fit me well. Ugggghhhhh. It looks great on Sookie, but should have been altered with a FBA for me. This one will go with me to Vermont next month for my Mother. Fine, except for the fact that I now have NOTHING completed for the PatternReview mini-contest. I better get a jump start this evening or I’m in big trouble. I started the McCall 5430 1-hour wrap skirt last night (1-hour me eye!). I opted to make it reversible and will be putting a D-ring and snap to close it, instead of regular waist ties this evening. I used fold-over-elastic (FOE) for the trim around the hem and sides. Here’s a progress pic: 
I am also going to work on finishing this dress that I started ions ago...with the Butterick 5188 pattern. I am so close to being finished, it is ridiculous. I think I’ll try to wear this puppy before week’s end. This won’t help me with the contest, but at least I’ll feel good about a successful FO. Here’s a sneak peak:
I went to Yardage Town during my lunch break and picked up two coordinating SOLID fabrics to go with my wrap skirt. I plan on making New Look 6780 & New Look 6807, which have both received great reviews. They are easy, quick tops, that will be a good addition to my wardrobe. This will leave me with one more item to make – either pants or a cardigan.
In other sewing news, I received the July Burda issue. I wasn’t dazzled online when I saw the previews, but really am lovin’ the magazine pics after all. I can see quite a few of these pieces in my closet, including Skirt 103, Tunic 113, Shirt-Blouse 109A, Dress 101, Dress 110, Corset Belt 151 & 153, Skirt 126, Vest 132, & Dress 116. Yup – I know I won’t make most of these, but down the road….you never know. They really are marvelous. Here's to hoping my Nina and Serge can whip up clothes as fast as I can in my mind. lol
I am happy to have this long weekend. I was in North Dakota earlier this week on business and I need to re-coop. I have been sewing a bit here and there. I have two BWOF tunic tops almost finished. I have a silk version and a brocade, thicker version. Not sure which won will win out for the Pattern Review contest yet. I also have a dress that just needs hemming for another FO. This has been in my UFO pile now for months, which is ridiculous, since it's so cute. Pics by Tuesday, I PROMISE!
I am ready to roll for the PatternReview.com mini-wardrobe contest. I have all of my picked items and coordinating material. While I am in absolute love with the current BWOF (Burda World of Fashion) issue, I have yet to make something from a pre-subscription purchase, the July-2008 issue. Since the 108 Tunic from that issue is close in style to the 115 top from the current issue, I’ve opted to make the tunic first….not to mention that this one has POCKETS!
I cut out my hot pink silk fabric during my sewing class last night. This was one of my recent LA finds. I will sew it up tonight and try to have this puppy on for work tomorrow.
I also made several fabric purchases at Yardage Town yesterday. I purchased 2 different pieces of linen for drawstring trousers (7-2008-117B),
along with a silk printed fabric for the blouse jacket (7-2008-103B).
I then zoomed over to Joann Fabrics for material to make either a reversible wrap skirt (using a combination of the new free online Burda circle wrap skirt pattern and the ½ circle skirt pattern from “Sew What Skirt” book).
If my reversible plan doesn’t work, I’ll switch up the pattern to Amy Butler’s Barcelona Skirt pattern with the apron overlay. 
I’m really trying hard to get as many varying outfits from the 4 + 1 pieces that are stipulated in the contest rules. Since I’m going out of town on Sunday for business, I’m going to push to have the top and skirt completed in the next few days. This will give me a god week and a half to make the pants and blouse jacket. I can’t wait to have some progress pics and FO pics to share.
I have managed to complete Kim's "potential" prom dress. She gave me the treat of making her a dress. I am not positive if it will suit her taste or not, but tried to stick to the style, color, and length parameters that she gave me. This was my first attempt at a dress like this and I feel pretty pleased. I am sending it off to her today. I already mentioned to her that it is her dress and she may do as she pleases...once she's sent me a picture wearing it! lol. Of course, if it's not a winner, I could always make it into a rockin' skirt. lol. The material is a crepe back satin that I purchased from Fabric.com. I also used a China silk lining from them, for the midriff lining. I opted for another crepe back satin piece from Yardage Town for the bodice lining. The skirt is unlined. After three late nights putting this together, I'm looking forward to some BWOF (Burda World of Fashion) projects for myself. I'm thinking of signing up for Pattern Reviews "Mini-Wardrobe Contest". I'm just trying to work out which pieces to make to get maximum wardrobe combinations.
I'm off to see the Dave Mathews Band in Vegas this weekend, so my sewing won't be picked up until Monday. With a three-day trade show at the end of the month, I'll only have about 2 1/2 weeks to put complete the 4 pieces for the contest, but it's still worth trying. I haven't been great with making pieces that will coordinate with others. This will be a good project.
Have a great weekend everyone!
I am still here and thriving...well I'm very sore, but that's a positive thing, since I've started working out. I joined 24-hour fitness gym. They had a 2-year special at Costco. My Sister and I got to work out with a trainer while she was here.....
Speaking of my Sister - she had a great time! I'm hoping she'll send me pics of the new top I made her soon, so I'll have something to post. lol. Here we are at the Barona Casino in Santee. The Sicilian and I took her there to enjoy their amazing buffet (which is why I needed to play tennis and then go to the gym first). We just kept going for seconds, and thirds, and....you get the picture. Not one for gambling away hard-earned-money, my Sister almost doubled her money! This gave her a total of $1.60. Niiiiccceeee!!!!! lol.
In sewing news, I still have to start my niece's prom dress. That is this weekend's project. The only thing I'm slated to do this entire weekend is her dress. Once that's completed I have a lot of plans that include the latest BWOF magazine. Here are the "absolute musts-make" items from this issue. (What are your favorites?) 
The Sicilian and I went to LA on Sunday and I was able to pick up some really great woven fabric for these projects, as well as another back-up for Kim's prom dress, should I mess up with what I have. It's going to be a dark blue satin with silver midriff. I just have to "git to work".
Anywho, I'll stop rambling and start to prepare to do some sewing. I really want to add some more to my wardrobe and that'll only happen with Kim's dress completed....wish me well.
