Silk

The Red Orange Silk Halter Top
 

Red Silk Halter

Silk fabric to me is always fashionable and timeless. It’s one of those special types of fabrics that has extra care written all over it. I could give you a detailed history about silk, but you can Google it for yourself. Some important things I want you to know though is:

You cannot treat it the same as cotton, which is also a natural fiber. Silk comes from the fibers of the silkworm’s cocoon and is woven into fabric. Then it is dyed in various colors.

Silk is used for many things like dresses, tops, pants, jackets and more. There is also silk thread, which I found is like many other fabric threads in that it comes in many colors, but it is not as strong as cotton and polyester threads. It can be and is used in sewing garments but I would say if you have an item that is 100% silk please be careful with it.

The top I showed you last month with my silk skirt…remember that?
Well here it is again just in case.

Silk Tapered Mini Skirt

I made this top to go with a matching skirt but when I made the tapered mini I had to line it up with this top.

For this top I used a vintage pattern 1365 by Simplicity. As you can tell from the pictures I made a couple of tweeks. It’s a beauty and one of my favorites.

I have several colors of silk here; perhaps I will make another in a different color. The pattern was pretty simple, as always though I make my adjustments.

I Believe

Sew for the love of it.

Every day I am captivated by new dresses, blouses, skirts that find their way into my mind.  I continue to sew for the peace of mind it brings me. Despite life’s changes and challenges, this is the place where things make sense. A seam is always a seam and a hem a hem!

On my Singer machines I craft for others garments that are meant not only to fit, but to look beautiful and gorgeous. Every person is unique and so are the outfits I make for them. Occasionally, I get the request to make an outfit a celebrity has worn, or an outfit from a picture. No problem, just remember I am making a replica and when I do that, and it will be your own outfit when I’m done.

I used to have a slogan when I began… You are the celebrity.

Over the years I’ve learned it is not size that matters. I can sew for many sizes… I think the key is being comfortable in your skin. My custom-made clothing can be and is catered to the individual no matter their size. Oftentimes I use patterns and alter them to get the look I want. Some patterns I do not have to do this at all. It all depends on what a client wants. Last year I got a new software program from Wild Ginger that allows me to make almost anything based on my client’s measurements. So far I’ve had a few requests and got the chance to test it out. I like it and it works well.

Here are a few of the things I’ve made with the new program.

From a flat piece of silk to a very beautiful silk skirt. 

 

This is a high waist tapered mini skirt made of an exclusive silk tapestry like fabric. When I tell you pictures do not do this skirt justice. I am so serious. This fabric is also textured, which makes it that much more amazing. It’s soft to the touch and can be paired with any color in the skirt.

Here I have it pictured with a silk vintage halter top I made. I will tell you more details about that in my next post.

 

 

Dear 2015

I haven’t written much so far this year on this platform. I have been sewing my heart out. I think this has been the most I have sewn in years. I completed several tops, dresses and skirts. I posted them to my Etsy Shop.

So far a lucky customer has found my shop and placed an order. Off to a good start!

So excited!

Hello Etsy

Hello Etsy

For a while now I’ve been considering selling my garments online. So today after I put my nerves aside I signed up for Etsy. I was considering other online marketplaces; however this is a start to test how my items will be received.

I do not know much about online sales but I will take some pictures and post them to the site.  It sounds easy and this is the marketplace for handmade items so here goes.

Lord I pray this goes well.

Faith Hope Love

… If I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

 

Faith Hope and Love - The Greatest Gift

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…

From 1 Corinthians 13 NIV

💗💗💗

 Happy Holidays today and always

Hounded

Hounded

I’ve arrived in North Carolina… finally! So happy and excited, my plans are working out! Thank you Lord! I have gotten all moved in and mostly unpacked. With the help of family, I got most of the furniture where I want it and have begun working. Sewing is still part-time as I adjust to my living and working conditions here. I think this is going to be an exciting opportunity. That’s my optimism speaking and getting carried away. I am also exhausted from moving but I find the time one Saturday morning to find the local fabric store and get to sewing.

My mom and I visited Mary Jo’s and chose this black and white cotton hound’s-tooth. I was so eager beaver to get in my happy place; I forgot to jot down what pattern it was. As you can see this pleated front sheath dress is almost done. I measured the hem line and ironed it flat so all I have to do is sew it in place. I can’t wait to try it on.

What is going on?

Well it has been a few months since I’ve been on my blog, I wonder how you are doing but no one says anything, just read through my posts I’m guessing. It’s okay that’s why I post. I’m a woman who loves clothing and ol skool sewing.I seriously can’t help it lol!  Let me take a few and explain a couple of things on how I got here…I don’t think I have done that yet.

Well my name is Nadia Lake and I’m an aspiring designer.  I began sewing when I was a kid, some twenty five plus years ago now.  I started because I wanted my dolls to have new clothes, so I would make them out of any fabric I could find around the house. My mother had sewing books and I picked those up occasionally to figure things out. I would ask her for help with the big black Singer sewing machine she had, but for whatever reason she didn’t show me how to operate it. She said it was broken and it probably was but that didn’t stop me. I grabbed needle and thread and my story began.

Throughout the years I did small fixes and alterations on my own clothes accordingly. I didn’t have the skill to make the outfits yet, so I would draw on the sides of my notebooks and on random pieces of paper. When I find that box again I will post some of the pictures for you.

When I was on maternity leave with my son in 2000, I made a handful of pieces of my own for me and my little one. They were not perfect like I wanted but I was still trying and it’s amazing I made anything on the tiny machine I was using but I did.

Along the way when I wanted something different I would hire a seamstress to make skirts and dresses for me. This still was not enough. In 2004 my family and I moved to a house that came with a vintage Singer machine. I thought it was destiny! This machine didn’t require electricity as it had a foot pedal, and was in working condition. The dream continues and begins again.  That year I made a jean skirt and an orange blouse. Still not the outfit of my many dreams, it was a start. I also made some bracelets to go with it, but that’s another story for another time.

It wasn’t until I read every Singer, Vogue and other sewing book and encyclopedia I could get my hands on. During this same time, I practiced the techniques listed in their pages and began watching sewing videos and tv shows on pbs or cable. I was determined to understand garment construction to its fullest. I asked friends and family and others for work to gain more understanding and knowledge. I took on alterations left and right and thankfully, I have not messed up anyone’s items. I thank them for the experience and trusting me with their clothes.

From hand sewing to machine operation and serging wasn’t a short trip, but I appreciate the journey. There were ups and downs throughout the years, but I guess that how life is and you have to pick yourself up when you fall and keep on stepping.  That’s part of the reason I continue this journey to see where else it will take me. Also sewing is so much fun for me, problems and issues seem to melt away when I get in front of that machine and focus my attention.

Well I will tell you more soon thanks for reading.