Fortune Cookie!

Is this a message from above or what?

See you around

Maria

Being stood up...

    I had this date with a friend and she was running late. I hate it when people don't have the sense of time. Ok ok it can happen to any of us, especially if you have to deal with traffic, but if it happens too often... urg. To cut a long story short, I really had to kill time, so I entered this cheap jewellery store, with really bad looking faux jewellery, but you never know where you will find sewing supplies.

    Yes you read right! Sewing supplies! I found this odd, bad tasted bracelet, which is made of toggle buttons! Wooden toggle buttons! 16 of them! 

Hate it as a bracelet. I would never wear it.

But hey 16 wooden toggle buttons for 1 Euro is a good deal right?

See you around

Maria

Burda Style 11/2011 full preview

    This issue has some unique designs. Look at this jacket. A basic design jacket, with nothing too impressive about it, except the red colour! But...

 

The back will impress you

Can I call it a cape jacket? I guess I cant' cause it has sleeves attached to the shoulder!

I'm really curious about how the back pieces are attached to the sleeves.

Would you sew it? I know I wouldn't ... sorry

I really like this dress. The description calls it a little black dress and it is.

You can also find a similar design here, with princess seams instead of darts.

This one... Oh I adore it! 

I want it right now! I have no occasion I could wear it to, but I want it!

I need to have some friend married to give me a good excuse!!!

I'm telling you, this is the only reason I'm buying this issue! I love it! 

Ok I take it back... I want this one too!

The model in the issue if full busted...

I know some of you ladies will be very happy about it, but I'm not...

Let's see!

It's also available as a gown.

        It comes in sizes 38-46. I usually need a 36 on the top and 38 at bottom. But there is a trick for cutting a smaller size with the less possible effort. Trace and cut a 38 (or whatever you are given) and don't add seam allowances! The excess fabric will be used as seam allowance and you will end up with a size 36 (or a size smaller any way). But be carefull. In order to do that, you have to study your pattern and determine how many centimeters is the difference between sizes as the pattern grows bigger. That's how much you should use as as seam allowance. If that's not enough then add half of what you would normaly add as seam allowance. Got it?

Another interesting design

Look at the details

This design would attract attention to the shoulders, which is ideal for a pear shape.

Look at this one too.

I like this jacket a lot.

Look at the lines.

If you are a jumpsuit fan, you can sew this... but please don't make me sew it!

See you around

Maria

Do you want to sew famous?

      Apparently there is a new book to help you do that! It's called "Famous Frocks: Patterns and Instructions for 20 Fabulous Iconic Dresses".

 

     According to the Intoduction of the book, the writters (Sarah Alm and Hannah McDevitt) felt the need to remake the patterns of 20 iconic styles. In this book you will find styles of Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn (my favorite), Jackie O', Twiggy, Dianna Ross, Farrah Fawcett, Stivie Nicks, Rita Heyworth and Madonna. Nice collection right?

     By observing the contents, which contain chapters like Read All Pattern Instructions, Trace Off Your Pattern, Cut Your Fabric, Terms Techniques and Tools and a page with pattern's common symbols explanation, I get that this book addresses to all level sewers. From beginners that will learn the techniques from scratch and advanced sewers that were just dying for a famous style. Read the Introduction your self on http://www.amazon.com/, to get a hint.

    Would you buy it? I prefer trying to replicate the style my self, as I did with my Breakfast at Tiffany's dress, but that's just me! So go ahead and sew famous!

See you around

Maria

 PS:  Audrey Hepburn is on the cover as Holy Golightly, of course she is!

  

    

Burda 11/2011 early preview

    Let's get a small taste of November's issue. These are the models I liked the most and of course I'm expecting the full preview and the technical drawings to get a full image.

I think I would be thrilled if I knew how to make such a beautiful vest. It's a children's vest. I'm curious about the technique and I really hope there's something more to it, than just a fabric that has that puffy effect on it's own...

Lovely blouse. If I altered the sleeves I could make a really elegant shirt.

I love the ruffles around the button placket.

I'm really curious about this one... let's see...

Another cape ladies! 

Ok now I feel even more better for having a cape in my To Do list. 

This jacket looks lovely.

Shaped waistline and unique front.

I think I'm going to love this dress!

Let's wait for the technical drawing.

The model looks curvy and that's an even more interesting aspect.

I'm not posting about this fur coat because I like it, but to let you know

that in the Fall 2011 issue of SewStylish magazine, there are

instructions about sewing with fur,

for those of you who are interested in making such a coat.

See you around

Maria

Make up crafting!

    I never thought there would be a day that I would be able to say I make-up crafted! But you know how it works. Once you get into the crafting world, you think everything can be fixed and done! Well most things can! 

    I guess we all have a broken compact eye shadow or powder of any kind, right? Isn't it very annoying? Even if you manage to salvage most of the product, you can never use it as you would if it hadn't turn into million of pieces... 

    Being lazy the other day and pinning things on www.pinterest.com, I came across this article, where Sheila tells us how to fix a broken compact powder product. I'm telling you I couldn't stand still until I tried it out my self!

Yes! I managed to fix my favourite compact powder!

I liked the result so much I did it again!

Before

And after

I have no more broken products, but imagine all the possibilities you have.

You could even merge colours into a new one!

Or create a big palette, that would contain more than one colours!

You can be really artistic about the finish, use textures or your monogram! 

I'm guessing using alcohol is alright since it evaporates, while it sanitizes everything it touches.

Happy make up crafting!

See you around

Maria

Couture Sewing Techniques!

by Claire Shaeffer

    You might say I'm getting obsessed with building a library. See you can find almost anything online, but if I need help from a tutorial while I'm sewing and I have to turn on my computer and wait until it's ready to run and find the right wed page or downloaded book (yes you can find some of these too).... pffff I'm so bored, I want everything on my hand. I can spent hours and hours on line visiting blogs and absorbing information, but if I want information now, I want it now!
   I've read so many things about how this book is a treasure and I really thing it is, especially now that it is a part of my sewing library. I'm so proud for this buy! I got it in the mail yesterday, perfectly packed. I'm so excited I want to read it right away... but I can't... I have to study for these exams... And also I can't sew for a while, until I take these exams anyway...

See you around

Maria