Updates and partial review of M5468

Sadly, no update on the sewing lessons just yet...I was laid up with the flu last week and missed the fitting class and I simply haven't had time to type up the tutorial completely for the skirt sloper. It's a work in progress and will be coming (hopefully) in the next week.

But, change is afoot at Chez Rosanne. New job (two!), new dress (umm, not quite one), new red leather bag (of course!), and lots and lots of fantasies brought on by fashion week reports. Onward with the updates:

Over the past two weeks, I have been slowly constructing McCall's 5468. Sadly, my draft was not what I would consider "successful" in the fullest meaning of the word. Was it a dress? Yes. Could I wear it without fear of exposing bits and pieces? Yes. Did it flatter? In a word: no. Part of this can be attributed to user error. I believe I managed to cut the bodice pieces while there was tension on the fabric so they were about 3/4" shy of comfortable. Even though I realized my error while marking my pattern pieces, I decided to forge ahead and see what happened. However, both the front and back skirts are gathered at the waist. I do have a little junk in my trunk so typically, gathering is not the best look for me. Despite the fact that I am wise to the Big 4 and their generous ease, I still ended up with a waist band that can stand to be taken in another 2 inches, at a minimum, once it's in the proper place (my waist line). In it's current state, it looks very much like a sack with sleeves. Heidi Klum I am not, therefore I like to steer clear of sacks which, in general, do nothing for my figure. My mind's eye had it close to the Michael Kor's dress Beyonce wore and the Hot Patterns Cosmopolitan from last year. Cidell and Christina had beautiful versions of this dress. I may just have to give in and cough up the $20 for the Hot Patterns dress...

The blog silence of the last two weeks was two fold: new job and the flu. The first job was something of a bust - temp-to-hire at a large bank but the commute was killing me. An hour each way in the worst kind of traffic you can imagine - for just 17 miles! It's easy to forget how much you detest traffic when you don't have to deal with it. Well. After being on extended vacation jobless for while, I admit it was not the easiest transition. I ended up getting the worst case of the flu - sicker than I've been in the past 10 years - that actually kept me from last week's sewing class! I missed the fitting and lining! What to do, what do to?

Well, tomorrow I start a new, full-time professional job back with my old company. They called last week and asked to hire me back. Admittedly, they caught me at a ripe moment, delirious as I was from lack of sleep and road rage. How could I refuse a 15 minute (breezy) commute, gym on campus, working with my only best friends in the valley, and a better comp package? I'm only human, after all.

And, because moms make everything better (mine is especially talented in this regard), I opened the door to discover a package containing a gorgeous gift: a beautiful red leather tote bag! This bag deserves a post all of its own so I'll save the slavering description for when I can take a photo. It's incredibly unique and I can't wait to share it with you all!

As for Fashion Week in NYC, have you seen some of the styles?? Some are amazing and some not so much. Highlights for me were from the Calvin Klein collection; somewhat severe but still really compelling. I am really happy that we are moving away from the trapeze silhouette of last season and coming back toward a more natural look. Lots of inspirational looks out there. It seems that we are still working through the pains of the 80s and marching towards the 90s. And I'm sure that I speak for many when I say: Let us just pray that the belly shirts and high waisted jeans don't come back...

Until next time!

Empty nesters...

I know I'm late, but still: Happy Thanksgiving! I am very, very thankful that I was able to spend the holiday with my family!! I had my parents and aunt (my namesake) out from Boston for two weeks. It was too short and tears were shed as I left them at the airport.

It was the first time the 'rents had been here and I think they were equally impressed and disappointed. The landscape seemed to wow them and leave them flat simultaneously, which I thought really funny. I suppose that works as Arizona is a land of extremes. The first few days, my father kept asking where all the people were and that we have many walls. He commented that this was the first and last time he would visit since he didn't really care for the surroundings. Now, I was not offended by this as it echoed my sentiments about Phoenix pretty much too a T. However, we did make the trek to the Grand Canyon and Sedona and somewhere along the road into Oak Canyon along route 89A (one of the most scenic roads in the US) he changed his tune. My mom and aunt were all oohs and aahs from the backseat and my father (not a religious man by any stretch) started talking about "God's hands" all around us.

Now that they are gone, I feel something like and empty nester... Still, it was awesome to have Mom and Dad here and to show them what my life is like here in Arizona. My parents have such a positive outlook that I see life through fresh eyes whenever they are around. Even though I am wife now, I love being my parents daughter :)

Confessions...

I have what I call sewing ADD. It's a problem really because I start many wonderful projects and just don't finish them.

Exhibit A: The Living Room Drapes...
Started well over a year ago, I still have three panels left to do. I even have all the material cut out and ready to go and yet I can't seem to "find" the time to complete the last panels.

Exhibit B: Simplicity 4146...
My first notched panel jacket that I constructed as part of a Joann's class. Now, it was my first experience with easing jacket sleeves and elbows. I wasn't happy with the resulting notches (they were asymmetrical and resembled lobster claws just a bit too much) and so it remains unsewn at the the sleeves and hem. On second thought, this was just a wadder, so maybe its not an exhibit after all. Did this prevent me from reviewing it? Click here to find out!

Exhibit C: Kwik Sew 3151
You know, I gave this pattern a good review. However, it too hangs unworn and unhemmed and unaltered in my closet. The dress is a modified sheath/a-line and it needs, desperately needs, a sway back adjustment. Or maybe I just need to lose 10 pounds.

Exhibit D: Burda 124b
A lovely blouse, potentially, cut from a pretty georgette. That's right, I cut it. But sadly, that's all I've done. 3 months later, it looks at me every time I open the closet.

I could go on and mention McCall 5189, the pants from Simplicity 4146, or even Simplicity 3884,
but that seems gratuitous. So I have this problem where I start projects and then get distracted or bored and just put them aside. So, how many UFOs do I have? They stare at me each time I open my fabric closet, and they take up a fair amount of space. Uggh!

So, any suggestions on how to help with this problem? I always start with the best of intentions and then, well, I just fizzle out somehow. Or maybe, I get really bored and want to move on. But then, why the guilt?