One Lovely Blog Award...

Thanks to Ann @ Sew-Ann's Stitchin for passing on the "One Lovely Blog Award"

It's always a nice surprise to receive such an award from my sister bloggers. This time I would like to pass this "One Lovely Blog Award" on to any of the talented sewers out there that stop by my blog and take the time to share their sewing adventures with everyone through blogging. It's hard sometimes because I don't want to leave out anyone and each of you are talented in your own rite and have "One Lovely Blog". So, feel free to accept this award and display it on your own blog and share with others! ENJOY!

YA! I'm sewing...

I'm getting some sewing done today, YA! I feel like I've been revived. I'm working on a fitting/muslin for the blouse from the BRITT magazine Christy sent me. I wasn't sure how I'd like it but I'm really liking the fit, with just a few little fixes. I didn't have to make any major alterations. That's a real pleasure. Really the only thing that really bugged me was the pattern piece that they showed for the neckband...

This was to be cut x2 on the bias. I sewed this band on and took it off twice, that just didn't work, this fabric was too stiff and the stretch of the bias just wasn't enough for the neckline to lay smooth & flat. So I made facing pieces for the neckline...these worked much better,also the front darts will be sewn all the way to the hem. The material I used for this fitting/practice garment is a rather stiff broadcloth of some sort. It will look much better in the fabrics I'm using...The white, black & yellow is a polyester silkie from JoAnn Fabrics, the green, black & white is a semi-sheer crinkle fabric from G-Street Fabrics, the $2.97 table. I think this blouse will look nice in these fabrics, great for Summer.

BTW- many sewing bloggers have been showing notions that they enjoy using, here is what I use to cut out these patterns that are traced and need a seam allowance added...

This is an Olfa Rotary Cutter with an adjustable width arm screwed on. It's perfect since you can just put the arm where you want the seam allowance to be. No double tracing needed. This is among my favorite notions. I did a search to see it they still made them but I wasn't able to find one, but if you find one it's worth getting. I have the double tracing wheel also but this is my first preference.

MOJO In The Mail...

Lately I'd been so caught up with family, personal and work issues that I was totally distracted from sewing. I seriously needed a jump start of some sewing Mojo from somewhere. So, while browsing my favorite blogs I came across Christy's post at "Sew Much Fabric, Sew Little Time" about her new found treasure... the "BRITT" magazine. This magazine is similar to Burda, it shows photos of the styles featured in the magazine and has an insert pattern sheet to trace the pattern from. The instructions are in several foreign languages and includes English. It looked so interesting and I liked the styles shown so I just had to inquire of Christy where to find it online. I was having a heck of a time searching on my own. Christy shared the information on how to get the magazine and then a day or so later she informed me that she actually received a second one from the publisher, since they didn't want it back, she offered to send me the extra copy. It was so sweet of Christy to offer and of course I was more than delighted to have to opportunity to check it out. Within just a few days there it was in my mailbox, instant MOJO in the mail. It was like getting a refreshing drink of water in the desert. So, THANK-YOU Christy, it was so nice of you to send me the BRITT magazine and share your MOJO with me. Hopefully by this weekend I'll have one of the blouse patterns traced and ready to make up a muslin and will have some pictures to share.