Do authors get stage fright?

Entering the preliminary stage of “coming out of the closet” whatever your closet holds … It has cocooned me, my thoughts and my emotions. Popping out and diving head first into the outside world… is an unambiguous way to perceive the situation. However once one leaves the proverbial closet you’ve …you entered into another which you can stay, retreat back to your prior closet or again venture out of the newly recognized enclosure.

With that said check out a few things I've been working on in my closet. Nervous at how it would be perceived, a seamstress I am with a deep hankering for fashion, crafts, colors, vintage and most of all the freedom to express myself.

Not all the garments have recognized patterns attached to them; some are deviations from original designs.

I introduce a Tom and Linda Platt design I chose from Vogue 1283. I like that it’s not a regular dress with just two side seams. I like the detail of the gathers.

 

 I added a bit of eye candy - red rubies to the gathered front seam.

On the back I did not add any embellishments; I just extended the gathers right up the back unlike the pattern said.

I like the fit and the material. I chose stretch knit cotton of some sort. I know it’s soft and light and has a nice flow.

 

Overall I would love to make this dress again but something is telling me to switch it up a bit. Well we'll see!!!

What a tasty night

Last month my friend and I attended the opening party or tasting for a new restaurant in town. Needless to say it was packed with people and food. The food was delicious, omg.  I am not much of a wine drinker, but I must say the Rose we had was quite nice.  Food tasting…Something new for me so was wine. I had only had it a couple of times but it was not my go to until I tried this, hmm.

Throughout the evening we walked around and talked with others, ate and ate some more. The shrimps were my favorite. I tried so many different things I don’t know what they all were to be honest, but it was good. We looked at the art on the walls and admired the new restaurant, architecture and atmosphere. What a great evening to be a part of.

 As we were leaving a guy asked for our picture, we asked a couple of questions and agreed. We walked away fully and giggling, it was so spontaneous and fun.

Not so perfect plaid

Were the instructions easy to follow? Most pieces were easy to assemble even for a beginner, until you get to the angled pleats in the front and back. That’s when the directions do not make putting this puzzle together easy. I felt they could have been written a bit better.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I purchased this pattern because it look like a dress if I made it long enough could be worn to work during the winter months. When I began sewing this pattern it went fast, that is until I got to the skirt. Assembling the angled pleat according to the directions did not work for me and made the skirt back look a tail (purely my opinion).

Fabric Used: I used wool of some sort that I purchased from Phoenix of Anderson. It’s a grey plaid fabric with red and blue. Not too heavy and not light. For wool it’s not itchy (good) and really soft, pliable and warm.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I didn’t make any huge alterations, I just made the armholes a little smaller.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might sew it again just to see if it would work in another color. I would not recommend it to a beginner for they would get lost in directions for the skirt.

Conclusion: It’s complete and looks good on the mannequin with a jacket but it’s not what I expected so I will move on to the next project.

Let's do a lil reading shall we!!!

  The Help

I keep seeing the commercials for this movie on tv. My girlfriend said she read the book in school and it was really good. I'mma take a trip to Barnes and Noble this week end and enjoy it over a cup a cocoa. Yes!!! Cocoa in the summer. I love going to BN for a few hours to catch up on the new books and an episode of people watching in the latest magazines. Oh how I remember my days in the Menlo Park Barnes and Noble sitting on the floor checking out all kinds of books! Well it’s a plan, Barnes and Noble this weekend!

Read it with me and let me know what you think.

The Help

Was it meant to be the way it is?

Amy Winehouse - Back to black

Amy Winehouse... one of those artists you just love because she's so real. For the music from the heart you can really feel her. This week I played her music for people who have never heard it. The only things they could say was who else died the same age as she did and what the news said. Really news is not what I expected to hear. Music that shakes your soul after listening to it. Tunes and beats that can take you back in the day like Etta James, while keeping you in the present with Jigga. But oh well it's done now and still like before I think  she was an amazing artist who like everyone else in this world... has issues or should I say had issues.  Issues that ultimately got the best of her aww L RIP. Her work was creative and there are songs I like. Her voice reminds me of singers back in the day and I would not down play another creative or person for their struggles, we all have issues.

Why is it people pay so much attention to how you died rather than how you lived your life????

Sure Amy's was permeated with issues as well as parts where her talents showed through and she was able to touch the world through her talents. Isn’t that what it’s about?

Check it out her album Back to Black

Stars

Every time there’s a clear night I have the habit of looking up at the stars. I find it funny the distance stars are from Earth… some say light years away. Still beautiful and a sight to behold.

You see that light! That light in the sky right there!..Up There…Look at it shine! Remember when you were young and you first went to the planetarium? The first time I went it was one of our elementary school field trips. For some strange reason, parts of it still feels yesterdayish, not all of it though. So, after attendance was taken we loaded onto the buses and left our little school in the Bronx. I still to this day love fieldtrips! Our destination was to the planetarium somewhere downtown. We followed the signs on the Bronx River Parkway toward downtown. We passed the Bronx Zoo… Oh I wanna go there! I thought. After riding and talking with friends I noticed we got off the highway. I already knew one borough from the next so I knew we were in Manhattan by now. We made our way through a few streets and wound up near Central Park. That young all I can remember was… it was near or in Central Park…Now this park seemed to be big as forever. How many streets does this park take up? I thought. What kid you know is not ecstatic by now?! All I’m thinking about is playing, how much fun I can have in a park this big!

I don’t recall getting off the bus or walking into the building so I’ll skip to when we were all seated in the theater. Everybody did their shushes and we were ready to begin. The lights dimmed slowly then paused then from dim slowly to pitch black darkness. For the first half minute, we all were still excited. I heard some utter wows and other shushes. I think I did too. It remained dark. A minute passed until all the noise quieted. Another minute went by. It felt like five minutes went by…The first thoughts of excitement were starting to wear off. The OMG acronym was all I kept saying while sitting in the plush theater seat clutching the armrest trying to breathe. For whatever reason I don’t know why I was terrified. The narrator’s deep low voice began to speak real slow and smooth like a James Earl Jones. With each word there was a beam of light on the ceiling… I think. Heck, it’s pitch freakin black in there and you couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face no matter how many times you tried and blinked and squinted. I seriously think I’m seeing things at this point. As I listen to the story he tells the beams of light continue and start to make sense. I start to relax. Some stay lit and others later dim going with the movement in his voice. He continues for a few minutes or so, the same and his voice is slowly accompanied by soft music. He continues until the ceiling was illuminated by stars and we are looking at Earth from an astronauts view.
It was a view unlike what you've seen in the movies or pictures. That same vivid moment is alive.
What do you see?

This week was my sons 5^th grade graduation.

Just some thoughts…
I am so thankful for this opportunity
The ability to create and inspire others is amazing and so much pressure all at the same time. To my Lord I am forever your servant.
My reasons are simple… It's all for You.

I want to make a suit for him. It's weird how one day I know he would look good in it...So I will practice making suits. I haven't yet chosen a color but I know I don't want it to be boring. I want it to fit his personality and lil lifestyle! Looking for boy’s suit patterns. Any suggestions?