But I Needed a Pick-Me-Up!!

It's been a long time since my last post. I've since graduated from college, and run completely behind in my sewing plans. I failed to complete my McCalls floral dress in time for my graduation ceremony, but I found a replacement dress at Ann Taylor, so it all worked out. I've been completely unproductive in the past month since I've been spending all my time with my boyfriend, but now that he's deployed for the next four months I have no excuse for not getting any sewing done. In the past I used my mother's Pfaff to sew, but she's recently gotten back into one of her quilting fixes, so her machine is now off limits. And so, instead I took out the cheap Martha Stewart Singer machine that I bought on a whim about a year ago. After sewing one straight seam with it, I knew I didn't have the patience to actually use the machine. Evidently, the reason Singer machines are such a bargain is because they are absolutely crap pieces of machinery. One short trip to the local quilting shop later and I came home with this beauty!

It's so pretty sitting on my table! I can't wait to get started on the multitude of projects I have planned for the next few months.

Yearning to Sew

I've been dying to get some sewing time in for weeks, but between going to class, writing at least two academic papers a week, planning my graduation party, and setting things up for myself as a college grad, I just haven't had time. Fortunately, I  finally got some time to work on my graduation dress this weekend. Of course to do so I had to push off completing a paper proposal for a 20-page memoir that's due in the next two weeks, some much needed extra-credit, and another paper analyzing the historical and social significance of second line dancing among African American communities in New Orleans. But what's college without having to pull a few all-nighters?! I decided to use the McCalls 6114 pattern for the dress.

Originally I was going to make the dress in the shortest length, but when I looked at the actual pattern pieces I realized it would have been indecently short. Instead, I'll be making the view C/D length. I'm not adding any type of trim to the neckband however. It's just not my style. I really didn't like the way the dresses were styled on the pattern, but I found a really cute floral fabric from Joanns that seemed right for the project.

I could have finished it this weekend, but when it came to the time to insert the elastic I realized I had forgotten to buy the bias tape needed to encase it! I didn't feel like making the tape, so after I buy that I'll just have to complete the elastic and the hem.

I was supposed to show pictures of the second version of the Simplicity 2286 pattern I made for Easter, but somehow I completely forgot to get a good picture of it. I'll have to post that later, as well as a few other projects I completed awhile ago. I also have a pretty big sewing plan I'll discuss soon that's very exciting! Big things are coming!

Look Mama...I'm Sewing!!

I have ALWAYS wanted to learn how to sew, but in the past I would get frustrated during the first stages of the process and give up. You know your extremely impatient when you refuse to finish cutting out a pattern. However, my inability in the last few years to find clothing in stores that A) was appealing to me and B) fit my body shape, really pushed me to get my act together and delve into sewing. And so, in November I decided to tackle View A of the Simplicity 2286 Learn To Sew pattern in a quilting fabric I found at Joanns. My original goal was to finish the skirt to wear during my family's Christmas Eve gathering, but due to a few mishaps with some pinking shears I didn't finish in time. I did finish eventually, however, and wore the skirt last night to see the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater perform. It was my second time seeing the dance company, and I was just as blown away as the first time by how amazing the dancers are. But anyways...here's a picture of the finished skirt. I would definitely recommend the pattern to a beginner sewer, and have already completed View B of the pattern as well (which I'll post pictures of after I wear it for Easter).

And it Begins...

Hey!
This will just be a quick post to detail the purpose of this blog. I'll be graduating from college in the next 8 weeks, and with the completion of that stage of my life I have a new awareness of the fact that I want to live my life in the most honest and rewarding way I can. This blog will follow my journey as a recent graduate, and my quest to discover the things that make me happy. Wish me luck!!!