To Market, To Market

I finished the blue, floor length skirt with an elastic waistband.  Elastic just so much more comfortable.  Besides, I found I had some wide elastic which is really comfy.  After the skirt, I cut out the red vest and decided to make it reversible with the blue fabric from the skirt.  The vest pattern had to be altered a bit to fit me but it worked out fine.  After cutting out the pattern, the edges were serged and the shoulder and side seams were sewn for both the red and blue fabric.  Then, right side to right side, I sewed all around the vest and turned it inside out via the arm holes.  I ironed the vest and pinned the arm holes.  I decided to hand sew the arm holes, although sewing on the machine would have been fine.  The costume was constructed.

Ahhh, you may think that's it.  Oh no.  Next comes the embellishment.  I decided white stars would be appropriate, especially since the bobbin thread is white.  I embroidered a row of white stars on each side of the vest.  Because the bobbin thread is also white, the stars also appear on the blue reversible side of the vest.  Cool, huh?  Then I decided I wanted stars on the skirt.  Rather than a row of stars around the bottom of the skirt, I've decided a few rows of white stars up and down, like on the vest.

Then I decided to sew a pearl in the center of each star.  That's where I am now.  This may be the end of it but we won't know until tomorrow.

Yesterday, I also embroidered a market basket for a customer.  She wanted the word "Mine" embroidered in a pretty script.  I suggested that we do the word in an outline script and fill with rhinestones.  She loves her market basket now. 

I need to get back to my pearl sewing.

C'est tout, mes amis.

Cutting and Sewing the Skirt

  

I purchased the fabric for my blue, floor length skirt and red vest on Tuesday.  I chose the patterns that I will use from my stock of patterns.  The skirt will be made from an A-line dress pattern that I will alter for the skirt.  The vest pattern is smaller than my size and I plan to adjust the pattern to fit me.

On Wednesday I hit the fabric store and chose a red and a blue satin for the shine effect.  I began with the skirt.  I pinned the pattern and cut the fabric.  Then I serged the edges and serged a seam on each side of the skirt.

Today I was too busy to work on the skirt.  I did try it on and so far, so good.  All that is remaining on the skirt is to reinforce the side seams, put in a waist and hem it.  I'm debating with myself about the waist.  Do I want to put in a waistband and zipper or just use elastic.  The wasteband and zipper would make it look much nicer and professionally finished, but the elastic wouldn't look bad and it would be more comfortable.  I should finish the skirt this weekend.

Tomorrow night is our monthly krewe meeting and we will be celebrating two birthdays.  Since I'm giving each of the girls an embroidered towel for their birthdays this year, I spent all day working on the two towels.  All of the towels have the same mermaid design but the back applique is different, as are the colors.  One is for my friend, Marilyn, who is a master gardener and owns her own landscaping company.  I love the shiny orange and red flower applique.  The other is for my friend, Chrissy, who is active in several organizations, including the gold star ladies.  Since my favorite color is red, I love this patriotic design.

Tomorrow will be a busy day with a couple of meetings.  I wanted to ge this posted while I had time.

Oh, yes, and did you see the cool collar I made for Ms. Stinky?

C'est tout, mes amis.

***FIESTA***OLE***

Fiesta Ball is a week from Wednesday.  The girls have been emailing deciding what we are going to wear.  The theme is Red, White and Krewes and we a celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Naval Aviation.  It all started when Paulette found a novelty store website.  She found an adorable red, white and blue vest.  As it turned out the thing is plastic.  We all wanted the light up white boas and the blinky plastic red, white and blue tiara.  We nixed the plastic vest.  It's a formal ball.  You can go in costume or formal attire.  So, I wanted to dress up a bit.  So, here is what I will be wearing to the ball: floor length blue skirt, white blouse, and red vest.  I will wear the white lighted boa; the red, white, blue binky plastic tiara; and a red tinsel wig. 

I chose the blue skirt, white blouse, and red vest because I have a picture of it in my mind.  George is wearing white pants, red tux shirt, blue tux vest and bow tie.  I'm getting him a hat that's plastic but looks like an old timey straw hat with a red, white and blue band around the hat.  I'm also making him a red, white and blue belt with a rhinestone flag buckle.  My attire will sort of match George.  Reminds me of the old movie Pollyanna with Haley Mills.  In fact, those costumes were from that same period that Naval Aviation began.

Now that I have this beautiful picture in my mind, I have to pull it together.  The boa, tiara, wig, and George's hat and his outfit has been ordered.  I have the white blouse.  I will make the blue skirt and red vest.

Out of all of my patterns I do not have an A-lined skirt pattern.  I have chosen a pattern for an A-line dress and I'll adjust it to become a skirt.  I have chosen a vest pattern but the pattern is a size too small for me.  So, I will adjust the pattern to fit.  Tomorrow I need to shop for fabric.  Hopefully, I'll take pictures on the creation of this outfit.  Should be interesting.

I've been making luggage grips lately.  They really are fun to make.  They are made completely in the hoop.  So far, I've made some with the word "MINE" and "CAJUN" outlined and filled with rhinestones.  I can make them with any word or name.  I've listed them in the Etsy Shop and sure hope they sell.

C'est tout, mes amis:>)