Getting Back To Blogging

I can't believe how quickly the time has past.  The entire summer gone just like that.  I hate that I haven't gotten better with posting my adventures on a consistent basis.  These days, many 2000 bloggers are moving towards creating videos on YouTube or TikTok.  It's another way to entertain, teach, and inspire.  I'm not there yet.  So for now I'll keep trying to post on blogger.  

It been a great summer.  I have lots of posts and sewing projects to share.  This weekend I'll probably start with a few of my simpler projects and a few tutorials.

Happy Sewing!

C

I'm Still Here!

This month has been super busy for me.  On the first day, I was able to make two knit tops.  In my mind, I was off to a great start and hoped to post on my blog.  But someway, somehow, I didn't post anything.  I guess I can kinda blame IG for my lack of communication on the ole blog.  I seem to be spending more time on IG and watching YouTube than writing blog posts.

On the June 9th, the Haute Couture Club of Chicago was celebrating another year.  Our June banquet was at the Fortnightly, again.  I love this place and wish we could have it there every year.  At the June banquet we honor the current board of directors and install the new one board.  With the closing of the year, the current President (Rhonda Buss) inspired us with a Dior presentation.  It was wonderful. The imagines from the Dior exhibit were exquisite.  Rhonda's review of the of the exhibit was outstanding.  By the end of her talk, I was thinking about how to incorporate some "Dior" elements into my own creations.  So I'm hoping to do just that in this coming year.
    

Lowering the Bust Dart

Lowering the Bust Dart 2

Past two weeks, I've spent a lot of my time organizing projects, developing a few tutorials, and making pattern adjustments.  So I have about three "Notes on a Pattern" to post.  In the mist of all of this "sewing preparation" I was also preparing for Sew Camp.

I didn't forget about my own personal challenge of incorporating more neutrals in my wardrobe.  Along with the neutrals, I want I'm adding more greens and reds to my wardrobe.  These colors will soon splash across my blog and IG soon.

Let me not for forget that some of my absenteeism is due to no time to do photography.  Either the lighting in bad, it's raining, or too late in the day to take pictures.  These days I trying to improve upon the display of imagines on my blog and IG. 

Anyway, this concludes my little update.

Later,
C 

Highlights - My How Times Flies

Hello June!

The months of April and May went by so fast.  It's a blur to me because both months were jam packed with events and activities.  There were a few moments, actually a lot of moments were I did sew.  But that is as far as it goes.  Many projects to share.  I just need to take photos.

So, let me give the highlights of my many events and activities:

House

Starting from early March, I had some pre-estimates done for water seepage in my basement.  I couldn't believe it.  I've only lived here about 2.5 years.  So you can imagine my frustration with the entire situation.  Of course, I will spare you all the details.  Anyway, Everdry will start working on resolving the problem early Monday morning.  I hate having work done.  It's such an inconvenience.  But it's necessary.  The affected area are the crawl space, sewing studio, and laundry room. This entire situation has occupied too much of my thinking time and has kept me up at night trying to figure out how to best tackle the situation.  Today, I am at the point of, "let's get it done."  On the positive, after it's done I will finally start to organize my sewing studio.  Okay enough on that.

Haute Couture Club

The HCC fashion show was on May 5th.   I had twelve outfits modeled.  That's a record for me.  My daughter, sister and I each modeled four outfits.  This should never happen again. ;-) 

The hard work and effort made by the club members help make the show a success.  It always makes me happy to see all the ladies lined up back stage awaiting their turn to strut the runway in the custom made clothes.  It is certainly a proud moment for everyone that participates.  Now that it is over, I can calm down and start to think about what I might want to put in the show next year.

The HCC June banquet is tomorrow at the Yacht Club of Chicago.  This will be the final event for the 2017-2018 year.  Currently, I serve on the Board of Directors as the Nominating Committee.  This post is supposed to be for two years.  I served for three.  The installation of the 2018-2019 board is part of the activities planned for the day. We will have a guest speaker,  Professor Sandra Henderson-Williams, who has worked in the fashion industry for over three decades. I'm looking forward to attending.

We welcome new members.  Please go to our website On the homepage you can click the link under "join or renew your membership today!"

Mood Sewing Network

I'm playing catch up.  Several garments made with Mood Fabric, but no posting in awhile.  So, hopefully this weekend I'll get the pictures I need to complete the posts.

Sewing Projects

In summary, I made:  1 coat for my daughter (fashion show); 1 blouse for my daughter; 1 dress for me, 4 pairs of pants for me; 2 tops for me; and 1 jumpsuit for me.  These are the garments I hoped to blog about this month.

Fabric

OMG!  I have amassed a huge amount of fabric over the past two months.  I need to sew like the wind!  There are many, many ideas in my head for summer and fall.  Starting with some summertime sewing.  I purchased several yardages of green textiles.  Most of it I want to have sewn before September.   Take a look.  Pretty, right?  Anyway, I love them all.

Other Fun Events

Spring Spa Weekend at the Fontana Avani Spa at beautiful Lake Geneva.  I love this place.  My sister, cousin, and bestie also made the track up to Wisconsin for a fabulous spa weekend.  Here is the link if you are interested:  Fontana Avani Spa Resort

Doc's patient and staff appreciation cook out in Pottawattomie, Indiana.  Great food, location, music, and great time.

Part of the band

Carriage Corner Sew Camp - March 2018

I’m way behind on posting to my blog.  There is so much going on right now.  Today, I wanted to tell you a little bit about my Carriage Corner Sew Camp in Pennsylvania.  I met Gaylen for the first time January, 2017 in New York.  There we talked about having a quarterly Sew Camp at her Bed and Breakfast.  Great idea, right?  The first Sew Camp was two months later, but I couldn't make that one.   So, I decided to wait until after my trip to Greece before deciding when to come.

Then in January, Ms. Carolyn posted on her blog that she would go in March.  So Andrea and I immediately decided to come as well.  For me, it’s an opportunity for me to sew and hang out with some of my sewing friends. 

I came with no fabric.  My intentions were to buy from FabricMart Fabrics and use some of it to start new projects.  So our first full day of camp was shopping at FabricMart Fabrics and then lunch at a local café.  Needless to say, I bought a huge amount of fabric.  In many instances, I just purchased whatever was left on the bolt.  Besides, Julie gave us such a fantastic discount.  I mean it was GREAT!

A lot of what I bought is black and white.  Several striped pieces fell in my arms too.  But I couldn’t leave without something floral and bright colored knit.  See..,

I started on four projects while I was there:  two tops, one dress and a pair of pants.  I’ll post a full review on each later.  

Shirtings

Coatings

More Knits

While waiting for my flight to return home, I thought about how much fun I had during the sewing camp weekend.  I saw some old friends and made some new ones.  It was a very good time all the way around.  I also reflected on my many friendships born out social media.  I’ve been blogging for almost eleven years.  I first met all of the ladies through blogging or Instagram (directly or indirectly).  It’s amazing when you think of it.  How small the world has become and how social media has changed the way we make new friends.  On the last days, everyone shared their delight in all the activities that occurred in what seemed like only a few hours.  We all agreed to come back for another Sew Camp.  Some of the ladies are registered for the September, 2018 session.  I’m coming back in June, 2018 for the extended session. 

Sew Camp is a winner!  Gaylen and her husband were the best.  The bed and breakfast, two snaps up!  Sew Camp is a great way to meet sewing buddies and spend some time with friends doing what we love to do, SEW!

More on the Sew Camp on Carolyn's Blog.

Happy Sewing!
C

It's Been So Long Since...

My, my, my how time does fly. This is the longest span of non-blogging I've done since I started blogging back in 2007.  I can hear Maria Curciarello, "When are you going to update your blog?  I keep checking for new content." 

Well, it's been with good reason. A lot is happening in my small world these days.

• I'm working part-time (they think I want to work full time)
• Lack of routine
• Family matters
• Looking for a new place to live
• Vacation
•  Sometimes I'm just to tired to do anything

This is unusual for me.  Long ago, when I was working at the University of Illinois, driving up and down I-57 among other things, I was three times as busy, but I was still able to sew and blog quite a lot.  Strange...

Anyway, I'm trying to get back on track.  I miss sewing and blogging.  When things settle down, I hope to do more sewing as planned in the new phase of my life.

So that being said, I hope to post some inspiration and a few recent projects this week.

Happy Sewing!
C

Thank You!

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your words of encouragement.  I really appreciate your visits and comments on my blog.  This weekend was extra long for me.  I took two floating holidays to help me jump start the sewing mojo and to write a few reviews. 

Yes.  I'm finally getting back into the swing of things.  This week I'll review a few things sewn over the past week or so.  Also, I will be publishing a series called, "Notes on a Pattern".  In this series, I will share my thoughts on patterns in my collection. 

This week, expect to see my first entry to the "Notes on a Pattern" series and at least two pattern reviews.

Happy Sewing!
Cennetta