FO - McCall's 6559 version 7

Oh my stars and stripes, I've made another McCall's Maxi. Well, just the stripes, I guess. I didn't like how the large start looked on me, so I removed it.

This is a very comfy jersey knit that I picked up a few months back at the National City swap meet.

On a different note, the dress I was making for my HS reunion turned out to be a bust so I will need to cut a new dress pattern and fabric to sew up an alternative before I head out on Friday. Wish me luck....

Two FOs - McCall's 5845 and Vogue 8815

I have two FOs to share -an African-inspired peplum top and my three years in the making graffiti dress. I made my peplum top using the summer Vogue pattern line. I have seen some fabulous tops using Vogue 8815 and mine is no exception. My only issues were with not having the right zipper for the back. I improvised by cutting the back on the fold and putting an invisible zipper on the side. After hemming and hawing and moving the zipper to the side, I actually realized that I didn't need a zipper at all. It slides right over my head. LOL. Oh, well. The top still looks fabulous. I'm pairing it with my Colette Pattern Clover pants, which are just a tad too large now. I felt pretty and wild all day and got compliments from everyone, including strangers. Can't beat that. I will be making this one again, just in a smaller size.

So I started making my McCall's dress over three years ago, but came across too many fitting issues. I folded it up and put it into one of my fabric bins and forgot about it. Well, while looking for some fabric, I saw it and decided to try it on. Low and behold, it mostly fit. So with a zipper, hem, and shoulder seam to go, I finished it on Saturday evening. This dress is in a fabric that I fell in love with at Discount Fabrics in North Park. I really wanted to make it work, so it is so amazing to finally have it on and to have already worn it TWICE since Saturday.

FO - Vogue 8805

I finished this dress on Wednesday and wore it to work on Friday. It is a nice, work appropriate piece that should get descent wear. It came together fairly quickly, although I did fiddle with the neckline a bit. All of the fabric was purchased for one or two bucks at the National City Swap meet a few month back. The fabric on the top portion was used to make my McCall's two-toned polka-dotted dress. I hope I have enough fabric to use it for one more color-block project. We will see.

So I have yet to finish working on my body double. It has cured enough where I can start reinforcing it, but I have just sat it aside instead. I am going to have to get a jump on this since I am doing the sewing competition with three other women for ETA Sewing Expo with Peggy Sagers. I hope I'll stop procrastinating by tomorrow. LOL. We will see.

What's on my sewing table now? Another McCall's maxi-dress of course. I hope to wear this to work tomorrow, so I better get off of this computer and start sewing. Ahhh, procrastination is no good.

FO - Salme Pleated Dress

So this was a quickie that I did last while watching t.v. at home. Sorry about the wrinkles. I don't think cotton and I get along too well. This was stash fabric that I pulled from my storage unit. Yes, I have so much fabric and patterns that I have a storage unit. I'm working on changing this!

I think this is a nice pattern that sews up fairly quickly. It is appropriate for a beginner, although I think pleats can be a bit intimidating for real newbies.

In other news, I started making my body double mannequin this weekend with some friends from my sewing class. It was made using Jan Bone's tape and book. Let's just say I blacked out for a bit due to the heat, lack of food, and 1 1/2 workout in the morning. Yikes! This was not my best weekend. It was worth it in the end, though. I will let it cure for a week and start the reinforcements.

I wanted a good mannequin to use for my 20-year HS reunion dress and for the eTAC challenge I'm doing in October. It's crazy to compare the store bought version and the one that we made.

Stay tuned....

McCall's 6559 - version six

I promise I'll stop counting these maxi dresses, after I make version number ten. I just love the ease of this pattern, so I won't stop making them. LOL.

I bought this material with a girlfriend of mine at one of our trips to the National City Swap Meet. This bad boy cost me all of $4.00 including the additional cost of the fold-over-elastic (FOE) I used at the neckline and armhole edges.

A few of you have already commented, but yes I have been losing weight. I am exactly ONE POUND AWAY from my pre-pregnancy weight. Many family members and friends have suggested that I look even smaller than that, but it is probably due to the fact that my current weight loss regimen included EXERCISE in addition to food restriction. Shocking, I know. LOL. Let's see - Jenny Craig and smoothies for food and an extensive workout plan: During the workweek I will either walk with my co-worker wearing a 20-pound weighted vest for 1/2 hour or go to Curves and do the circuit for 30 minutes. In addition to this four-day program, I make it to 24-hour fitness twice a week for 1-1/2 hour class workouts. Nilah just turned 19 months old a few days ago, so it took longer than my goal of 1 year, but has been very successful either way. Slow and steady wins the race after all, right?

Stay tuned as I start working on my bombshell dress for my 20th year high school reunion that takes place early August. Now that I'm down to the size I want, I have to get to it and fast.