Cargo Fashion Show

In a bit, I am off to the second week of my weaving class, and dropping Mr. Berkley off at daycare. He loves daycare as he gets to play. Does my heart good :) 

I am so pleased with my first weaving project. Here's a glimpse at what I have done so far;

Last week I learned how to set up the loom. Wow, what a project! 

Rather than a Monday Morning Inspiration post, I thought I would do a quick post and show you my new cargo pants. I am in love!!!

From the front they look like a typical pair of pants. I really like how the print of the tee works with the print in the pants.

The back cargo pockets.

A side view where you can see the trim and I have my hand in the front zippered pocket.

If you missed the last post on the pants, you can find it HERE. I talk about what I did to create all the pockets. 

As you can see, my pants aren't the typical cargo pant, kinda high end actually. But...so what?!! Who says that cargo pants can only be worn for hiking? ;)

Wishing you a fabulous start to your week!

Rhonda

Sunday Night Reflections

Sunday's Soup/Green Garden Gazpacho

The summer here in Chicago started off so cold. I was wearing a jacket to walk the dogs until the end of June. So, when the super hot temps rolled in, whew...I was taken by surprise! 

When I was growing up, my grandmother would do all of her cooking in the early morning hours while the house was still cool. I am not as disciplined. I resort to salads, sandwiches, anything that doesn't require me to heat up the house. 

The soup recipe that I am sharing today, if I may say so :), is absolutely delicious, beyond easy to make, and it won't heat up the house, or you! 

The soup is tangy, a tad bit spicy, and so cool and fresh. Begin with the juice of 1 lemon, and then add more depending upon your taste. Great for lunch, or a light supper.     

Green Garden Gazpacho
4-6 servings

Ingredients;

1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
10 stalks celery chopped
1 avocado chopped 
Juice of 2 lemons
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups water
salt and black pepper to taste

For garnish;
Grated radish
Plain Greek Yogurt(optional)

Place all ingredients(except garnish)in blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. If the soup is a little too thick, add more water and adjust seasonings. Refrigerate until cold. 
To serve, garnish with a tablespoon of yogurt and grated radish.
Will keep in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

I even turned the soup into a smoothie by placing a handful of broccoli in my blender and then pouring in about a cup of the soup, blending until smooth. The perfect way to get an abundance of vitamins racing through your body. 

If you give the soup a try, I hope you enjoy it!

Rhonda 

Cargo Crazy/Pair 2, Pockets, Pockets Pockets

Berkley and I had our second agility class. He loves it, but I think I need a remedial class on how to run without falling :/ Berkley was running through 1 of the tunnels. My job was to run and meet him at the end so that I could then direct him to turn and run through the second tunnel. As I was running, I managed to stumble, and I went flying, landing directly on my knee. Hurt like the dickens!!! But the positive thing is that I didn't land on my wrist and break that again!!! Always a silver lining :) My knee is so swollen, but this too shall pass. 

I am so very behind on the cargo pant challenge that Cennetta of The Mahogany Stylist and I are doing. I may be behind, but I absolutely love this pair!!! I only have hanging pictures today, but my next post will be me in the pants.

Here's the lovely Cennetta in her pants;

     

We both used the same fabric, but in a different colorway, hers is a tanish brown, mine a gray/blue. The fabric is from Mood Fabrics and you can find it HERE. 

For my front pockets, I decided to do something a little different. I used the pocket from the pattern, but I filled in the opening, lengthened the pocket, and rounded the corner. As you can see in the above picture, I inserted zippers to create openings in the pockets. 

I really went crazy with this pair of pants. I had purchased the trim from Fancy Tiger Crafts in Denver, Colorado. Had no idea of what I would do with it when I bought it, but there was enough to run it down the side seams, so I went with it!

I used the existing pocket pattern to create the back pockets. They were a little too large, so I folded the pattern until I had a pocket size that I liked. I did not use the darts, just ignored them and rounded the corners.

The pockets blend in so well that it's a little difficult to see them. I added a snap closure and just a bit of the ribbon trim as a tab on the flap of the pocket.

Here's a side view of the pants.If you look closely, you can see all 3 pockets. I took the original cargo pocket from the pattern and used it on the side of the leg, adding a zipper opening.

You can see the pocket a bit better in this picture. I was able to match the trim on the pocket to the pant leg so that it looks continuous. 

The original cargo pocket has darts so that the pocket will sit away from the garment. I just ignored the darts, rounded the corners, and added a little to the side of the pocket to accommodate the length of my zipper. 

I plan to wear 1 of the Molly Tees from Pattern Union that I made with the pants. There's a lot of pattern going on, but I love it! 

Cennetta did some fun things with her pockets. On the back, she added a solid color strip to the top of the pocket. The pocket is the perfect size for a credit card or driver's license. 

On the front leg of her pants, she stacked the pockets, the patch pocket on top, a small rectangular pocket with a zipper, and then the traditional cargo pocket with the added darts on the bottom. 

Cennetta also did a fun treatment with a zipper down the front of her pant leg. You can read about it HERE.

A sneak peek at my next cargo project...

I have quite  bit of the red and white striped ribbon, so I will be using it with the white denim. 

As it turns out, I really like the fit of this out of print Simplicity pattern. Just fits so well. But, in the end, it's just a pant pattern. If you have thought that you might like to give a cargo pant a try, just use a pant pattern that you really like, and that fits well, then go pocket crazy! 

I'm off to put ice on my knee :(

Rhonda

Sunday Night Reflections

Thrifty Thursday/A Totally Free Ensemble

I have had the BEST week! Super busy, but so much fun :)

The highlight;

I signed Berkley up for an agility class, and we had our first lesson on Thursday evening. Oh how I wish I could have taken pictures!! When we began, the instructor asked if he had any agility training. I said, "no, this is his very first class." The little dog sailed through rings, ran through the tubes, and jumped over bars like a champ. All of this prompted the instructor to ask, "are you sure that he has never had any training?" "Nope, none." The instructor then said that Berkley is like a duck to water, he has truly found his passion. At one point, Berkley jumped through a ring, and then turned around to me, and threw his little front legs in the air with glee. The instructor asked if this was one of his tricks. I explained that yes, I taught him to stand on his back legs, put his front legs in the air as I say, Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! The instructor almost rolled on the floor laughing :)

Not that you drop by to see a picture of Berkley, but...I just can't resist :) This was taken on a recent hike. I just love seeing how he has gone from a scared, and dirty little dog, to a true picture of contentment.

A few weeks back (actually a month ago :/), I shared a top that I made from the free sewing pattern from Tessuti Fabrics, the Zoe Top. I really love this top!!! The fabric was actually from Joann's. Amazing!  

Once I got the top together, I felt that it really needed the lace on the sleeves, so I cut just the lower portion of the lace off of the fabric and then appliqued it to the lower edge of the sleeve. 

 

The neckline has a rather wide opening, larger than what I really wanted, so I took 2 of the motifs from the lace and filled in the corners of the neckline.

And finally!!

A picture of me in the top, and my white Barb pants! Perfect for the horribly hot weather we are having in Chicago right now.

It's a total Thrifty Thursday ensemble, a free pattern from Tessuti, and the free Barb pant pattern from Style Arc Patterns.

The Barb pant is a wonderful pattern meant for stretch wovens. Although it has an elastic waistline, it fits flat across the stomach. After all, who needs extra yardage around the waist???   

It was named best pattern for 2015 on Pattern Review.

It's still available as a free pattern and can be found HERE. All you have to do is sign up for the Style Arc newsletter. So, sign up for a fabulous newsletter, and get a fabulous free pant pattern. A win, win situation :) 

In case you are wondering...

As I said in an earlier post, I was out of town for a couple of weeks. I did have a sewing machine with me, but it started acting up, and there was no more sewing to be had, so I am behind on my Cargo Pant Challenge with Cenntta of The Mahogany Stylist. Be sure to pop over and see her last make for our challenge. Her pants are such fun! My second pair will be up tomorrow, a week late. But, I'll catch up next week :)

Happy Friday!

And if you are in this oppressive heat, by all means, 

STAY COOL!

Rhonda

A Pile of Tees!

It seems that t-shirts have become a wardrobe staple. At least they have for me! I wear them for workouts, and casual dress with everything from jeans to skirts. And, I even wear them to bed with my pajama pants. 

There are lots of great t-shirt patterns out on the market. I love the Terrific 'T' from Londa's Creative Threads. This pattern offers the option of a dart, or no dart, as well as a number of neckline and sleeve options. 

    

A new favorite is the Molly Tee from Pattern Union. There are a number of sleeve length options, and it also offers the option of bust cup sizes from A-G.  

I have made a pile of Molly Tees!!!

The basics, black and white with long and short sleeves. 

I especially love the extended shoulder seam that rolls to the front. The pattern works so well for stash busting leftover knits.

Another example with the print in the front and also used for the sleeves.

 More basics. I absolutely love the print tee on the left. Got the fabric at Tina's Fabric Nook in Granby, Colorado. She has more!!!

And finally...
I bought a maxi dress at a resale shop just because I liked the fabric, and then cut it up to make this top.

I have quite a few more tees in the sewing lineup. They literally take no more than an hour from cut to finish. So, no wasting time shopping, settling for tops that are cut off grain, and inferior fabrics.

Hope I've inspired you to make a pile of tees too!!!

Rhonda

Sunday Night Reflections

Susan Khalje Boatneck Top Pattern

What a joy it is to once again be able to do the things I enjoy doing. Breaking both the bones in my right arm at the wrist took so much out of me. But, I am back, and it feels so very good! 

I love to make quick, simple, fun things as much as anyone, maybe even more :) But, I also love to put more effort into a garment. I have had the cotton boucle that you see below for quite some time. It's just the perfect weight for summer.    

I have decided to use the Susan Khalje Boatneck top pattern, but extend it into a dress. 

I'll be doing the version with the little cap sleeve. I especially love the darts, perfect for fitting. I've ordered silk organza to underline the dress. The fabric will need some quilting in order for it to hold its shape. I think I will most likely quilt along the black lines of the plaid, and in both directions. I've also ordered a beautiful piece of white silk charmeuse to line the dress. What a dream this will be to wear!!! 

Susan Khalje has a wonderful subscription group on Facebook, the Susan Khalje Couture Sewing Club. It's a fabulous opportunity to work virtually with Susan. The subscription includes all the videos that Susan has done for the Couture Skirt, the Boatneck Top, and now a brand new course, the Parisian Jacket. You can find all of Susan's pattern's HERE. 

On Susan's website, you will find classes for the French Jacket, Cocktail Dress, and the Couture Skirt, but you will only find the video instruction for her Boatneck Top, and her new Parisian Jacket in the Sewing Club. I think that the videos alone that are included in the subscription of the sewing club make the price of membership truly a bargain! And then too, the club gives you the opportunity to ask Susan herself for advice. Score!!!

I'm off today to get muslin to begin the process of my dress. I'm so excited as I will have the opportunity to see the Dior exhibit in Dallas around the middle of August. Dallas will be so hot, and I'm sure the museum will be freezing cold, so this little dress should be perfect as I will be able to add a...well, I was going to say a shawl, but wouldn't it be great if I could get a coordinating Parisian Jacket finished for the occasion? 

Stay tuned!!!

Rhonda

My Quilt Block For Olfa Creates 40th Anniversary Quilt

Last summer, Olfa put out a call, asking for blocks to be designed for their 40th anniversary quilt. I thought it would be fun, so I submitted my idea, and my design was accepted! 

Here's the finished quilt. My block is in the middle row, on the far right side.

Here's a close up of my block. 

Along the edge, I did 4 hourglasses that represent time as well as the 4 decades that Olfa is celebrating. Repeating the theme, there are 4 rows with 4 blocks, and then, the number 40 in the center. The colors that were chosen represent the fun, vibrant colors that Olfa chose for their Splash line of cutters and sewing mats. 

Each week, a different block is featured. My block represents week 23. You can read all about the project HERE. 

You can find the instructions for my block, along with a template HERE. 

Although I am not a huge quilter, but I do make a quilt from time to time. This was such a fun project. A big thanks to Olfa for giving me the opportunity!

Sunday Night Reflections

Sunday Brunch/Baked Apple Pancake

I love to make a special breakfast on Sunday mornings. Just seems like the perfect way to begin the day :)

I gave my husband a few choices for today's brunch/breakfast, and without a skipping a beat he said, "apple pancake!" 

I originally posted the recipe HERE, so this is a repeat. But, things get lost in a blog, so I thought reposting it, especially since I just made one this morning would be a nice reminder of something that's delicious, and easy to make.
   
This is a fabulous recipe when you have a number of mouths to feed. I like to double the recipe. When doubled, it will easily feed 6, and if you include a few other items on your brunch table, it will stretch to 8.

Baked APPLE PANCAKE
serves 4

Ingredients;

3 medium apples peeled and sliced, I used Fugi Apples
1/4 cup of raisins or dried cranberries
1/4 cup of chopped pecans or nut of choice
1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 tablespoon of butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 milk (I use unsweetened Almond milk)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Peel and slice apples. Melt butter in a nonstick skillet. Add apples and saute until tender. Add raisins or cranberries. Add nuts of choice and cinnamon. Stir well. 

In a blender, blend eggs until frothy. Add milk and extract and continue to blend. Add flour 1/4 cup at a time and blend well. Pour batter mixture over apples.

Place skillet in preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until pancake begins to crack and is lightly browned.

Place large serving dish over the top of the skillet and invert pancake. Replace any apples that may have stayed behind in the pan.
Slice and serve with powdered sugar.

Be sure to print out the recipe. Once you make it, you'll make it over and over again! And too, you can slice it up and freeze the slices for later!

Happy Sunday!

 Rhonda

Sew Cargo Crazy/Let The Sewing Begin!

Remember me???

Once again, I have been sewing, but no blogging :/

Lots of interesting things happening in my life. In August, I will be taking a 4 day pilgrimage. I'm actually quite excited. It may be a little daunting, but in the end, I think it will be so very good for my soul. I most likely won't share the entire experience, but some for sure. Taking a little time to be quiet, to explore some things that have been pressing on my soul, so wonderful. Even more, I am so very grateful that it's something I will have the opportunity to do. Truly a time of exploration :)

The Mahogany Stylist and I are a day late with getting our cargo challenge posts up. We talked yesterday and decided that it wasn't worth rushing to get it out. We've decided to move our posts to Saturdays.

The pattern that we are using for our July Cargo Pants Challenge is an out of print pattern, but still available on Ebay. Sadly, I didn't find any on Etsy, but I'm sure more will pop up.

For my first pair, the trail pair, I used a stretch woven fabric that I found at a favorite resale shop. 

The pattern calls for a center back zipper. Depending on the style of the pant, I usually prefer a fly front zipper. As I'm cutting out the front, I include the extension for the fly zipper.    

What I end up making is a mock fly front opening as I usually don't include the facing. Works just fine. 

I decided to do 2 of the large patch pockets. I found them to be a little shallow, so in the future, I will extend the pattern by 2". The pattern has the option to add the tab with a d-ring. I thought it was rather fun and added to the whole cargo pant feeling.

The pattern includes a real cargo pant type pocket. I LOVE this pocket! It has darts along the bottom that give it volume. This is a pocket pattern that I will be using again and again.
 

Rather than put a buttonhole in the pocket flap, or add the d-ring closing, I used velcro. I like being able to quickly get into a pocket. As I said in my last post, I love wearing a pair of cargo pants when I am out running errands, grocery shopping, etc. I throw my phone, reading glasses(need those!), driver's license, and a credit card in my pockets and I'm hands free.   

All in all, I liked how the pants turned out. 

She's Alive!!! You haven't seen much of me lately :)

BTW, the t-shirt I am wearing is from Pattern Union, the Molly Tee. I've made a pile! Obviously, I love this pattern :)

I just purchased the new cargo pant pattern from Iconic Patterns. You can find it HERE. I haven't given it a try yet, but I really like how the pattern is styled. 

For next week's addition of Sew Cargo Crazy, Cennetta and I will be using the same fabric, just in different colors. Her first pair of cargo's are up on her blog. Be sure to pop over and check them out. You can see her post HERE. 

And remember...

If you would like to join us, we will be posting at #sewcargocrazy and #sewcargo on Instagram. Hope to see you there!