Bad pictures and bad light

I finally wore the blue corduroy skirt today. It was technically the last day of fall for me because starting December 1st all I wear is red and green or Christmas sweaters to work, since I work with children I like to dress festive. So I decided to wear it to church instead of wearing it to work because it is very short. I thought it looked beautiful and got a lot of compliments, but it was a pain to get a good picture of me wearing it. I mean without flaws.

One thing I am not liking lately about taking fall pictures is the bulk that some sweaters create around the belly or just anywhere. I found out that the best turtlenecks are the ones that are skin tight or fitted, which believe it or not I purchased at Walmart. Other expensive brands may be made of better material but does not favor my shape. For example the yellow top I am wearing with my blue skirt was purchased at Talbots and I had problems with it.

Also the light at my living room is awful. During the day pictures turn to be darker and at night the light is not enough either. I will have to find a way to correct this problem. So I took the picture by the door and there is also a light reflection right there on my yellow turtleneck sweater. Anyway, I love my skirt but not loving the Talbot's turtleneck that much. Now I need to go on the quest of a flattering yellow turtleneck.

When there is not a sewing machine around

I am not a good knitter but I love making scarfs and hats for the winter. I only know like two basic stitches, but that is all I need to make an easy scarf and I also use the Knifty Knitter which is a great device for people like me who may not like to knit that much but still want to do it. I know... like it or not? Here I am posting some of the things I knitted. I like the results.

Just some Ideas for your pets

Woof! I am today's contributor...Dogs also have style and deserve nice presents for Christmas! (This is my dog Buddy).




While browsing the sewing patterns most popular websites I found some really cute coats and accesories for our furry friends. These coats are easy to make and my suggestion is to use fleece and match with other furry materials. Also, these are the perfect present for a friend who has a pet. They are just so cute!


Isn't this adorable?


What a cutie!

These dogs look so stylish!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This weekend I started to sew this.

It will be fabulous!

Thanksgiving Holiday is finally here. This means the year is ending and it is time to put on Christmas decorations and do some Christmas shopping. To be sincere, lately I have spent more time at the mall than sewing. A good thing was that I went to Kohl's and found the blue stockings I was looking for. I also found green tights, sparkling leggings, black leggings, brown leggings, sweater legging, socks, trousers, gold socks... What a deal! All the leggings, socks and pantyhoses were marked down at 60%. So, yes I will probably wear my new blue corduroy skirt this week. Yeah!

I have been very lazy the last month. I did not go shopping for fabrics or new patterns, I did not cut any fabrics or patterns from my stash at home. I have been busy doing other things and was also waiting to feel better from my bronchitis. I am feeling a lot better now so I will take advantage of my Thanksgiving break to finish at least one project.

The only progress I did this weekend was starting the handbags. Hopefully it will be finish next weekend.

Not another failed project

Finally a project that was easy to do with great results! I used Simplicity Pattern 5304. I don't think this pattern is available for sale anymore at the stores. The date printed on the envelope is 2003. This is one of those patterns I got at 1.99 when they went on sale and after a couple of years after I realized it still there waiting.

This skirt only required about three hours or less to finish it. As usually, I cut the fabric while watching TV and wait about a week to start sewing it. I spent 30 minutes last Thursday and finished it yesterday. I am very happy with the final result. I went to Target to see if I could find a pair of blue stockings but they were gone. I plan to wear this skirt with the yellow turtle neck from the picture with blue stockings if I get them and brown boots.



While the skirt is on the dress form, the pockets stick out but on my hips the pockets look perfectly fine. I promise to take a picture and post it when I wear it in the future.

Going back to my roots

This picture was taken on July 2007 at El Casco Viejo in Panama City, Panama


It all started at one of those websites where people are able to find friends and get in touch with people from high school, college or just anybody around the world. I am not going to reveal which website it is, but I do spend a lot of time there and I am sure some of my readers may enjoy spending time there too. Well, I got in touch with a friend who used to ride the school bus with me and after exchanging long e-mails, I sent her the link to my blog and I was so pleased to hear that she actually read my blog and was not just checking the pictures as some of my friends do all the time.

This particular friend thinks it is interested how I enjoyed so much sewing but have never talk about molas or polleras. But when Violeta mentioned that I am not talking about my roots, I started giving it a thought. And she didn't mean my hair roots which I am very careful to retouch every month, she was talking about my heritage.

I am Panamanian and I moved from Panama twelve years ago. I own a few molas that I had professionally frame to display on my living room. Last year when I went to Panama I purchased a Mola handbag and a mola headband. Molas are made in Panama by Kuna Indians and most tourists purchase these beautiful quilts when they visit my country. They use a method called reversed aplique. Molas are totally handmade, no sewing machines are used. Some mola accesories like handbags are sewn using a sewing machine to attach the mola to the fabric.

I am posting some links for you to check if you are interested on reading more about this Panamanian Art.

I you are interesting in wearing "Mola Fashions" here is a link where you can purchase handbags and other accesories.


http://www.wearmolas.com/

TO SEW OR NOT TO SEW THAT IS THE QUESTION

Some of the jewelry I made recently.

This is the dress I bought at GROUP USA.





This is the dress that I decided not to wear.

As I mentioned on my last post, I have been sick. Last Tuesday I had to go to ER because my coughing was unstoppable. The diagnoses was bronchitis. Since I am taking a little vacation retreat at home, I took my time to update my blog. I have not been sewing that much lately either. I have not finish the blue skirt from my last post because I need to buy a blue zipper. I also spent my free time doing some jewelry. Yes, this can be call procrastinating.

Two weeks ago, me and my husband went to an Army Ball and I did not wear the dress that me and my mom spent time working at. The dress turned out to be to simple for my taste and I took a picture of me wearing the dress and there was a flash reflection on my belly that was not very flattering. So the day before the ball I had to go on a mission to the mall and I ended up buying a black dress at Group USA. I think it was a better choice for me to buy the dress than to wear the pink dress we made. So, after another failed project I have been asking myself if I should continue sewing difficult projects or just stick to the easy ones like fashion shirts, handbags and aprons. LOL! TO SEW OR NOT TO SEW THAT IS THE QUESTION!

I will continue sewing and posting my projects. Sewing is to me not just a passion but my scape, so I won't stop. I think that we all learn from our mistakes and practice is crucial to achieve success. Also, Christmas is coming so I will be posting some projects that I will be sewing for Christmas presents.

I am going to make two handbags with this Simplicity Pattern. One for me and one for my best friend.

Skirt in progress

I have been sick with the cold for the last three weeks. I am really tired of this illness that is just not going away. I am blaming work because being around children all the time means being around germs all the time. Yes, it is! That is why I have not been sewing that much lately or posting, or working out. Anyway, today I am posting my last work in progress. It is a fall skirt. I am using a vintage pattern. Actually it is not a really old pattern, but since it is not in stock anymore lets call it vintage.