Monday Morning Inspiration

Good Morning Everyone!! I hope your new week is off to a great start. 

So many of you enjoyed last week's post on cartridge pleats, so I thought I would showcase another technique, the welt pocket. A beautifully executed welt pocket can give a garment a touch of tailored class like no other technique. I have a feeling though that many of you have already started to cringe at just the thought of putting in a welt pocket, but be sure to scroll to the end as I have added some tools that will help you master welt pockets.

The skirt below is a wonderful example of how a simple, but beautiful welt pocket can be a perfect detail.

Check out this pocket. Vintage garments always have such lovely accents.

For the person who likes a challenge and some extra work.

I love this jacket!!! The lining, piping and then the pockets make for the perfect accents.

Here's another beauty accented with a bow.

The curved welt pocket.

Accented with stitching and a leather arrow.

Incorporated into a seam. If you don't look closely, you could miss the pocket.

A zippered welt.

Beautifully executed bias stripes.

Accented with pick stitching.

A crescent shaped lip.

A shaped pocket. The rivets are a nice touch with the denim.

A little origami.

An interior pocket with a small flap and a button loop closure.

Given a bow feel.

For those who really want a challenge.....

and then a challenge on steroids!!!!! Take note that this is a double pocket. Amazing!

Welt pockets can be added just as a design detail with no functionality.

Here's a video from Peggy Sagers on making a simple welt pocket.

Some years ago I purchased this tool for making welt pockets. It's a very useful tool.

You can find it HERE.
The trick to making great welt pockets is just to practice....like just about any other technique. The video and the tool won't render the special pockets like I've shown above, but once you've mastered the basic pocket, you'll be ready to take on something a little more challenging.
Wishing you a lovely week!
Rhonda

Sunday Night Reflections

It takes effort to say no when

 our heart

 and brains

 and guts 

and most important, 

PRIDE

are yearning to say yes.

 Practice.

                                                                                               Cole Harmonson

A Look Back at 2014

I've had this post in my file for the last week and I've gone back and forth about whether I should post it or not. I really don't want it to come across as a "look what I've done" retrospective. As upbeat and positive as I try to be, there's a little voice that lives in me and I'm sure a lot of you as well. That little voice loves nothing more than to focus on what I didn't do, what I should have done, where I should be at this point in my life. As much as I try not to listen, sometimes, when things don't go as I had hoped or something disappointing happens, that little voice loves nothing more than to speak up. As this past year came to a close, that little voice was talking, and loud. A friend called on Christmas Eve. She is a very good friend. One that I feel very lucky to have. I had sent her a set of the owl pattern weights as a Christmas/birthday present. She's one of those lucky people to be born at Christmas time. I shared with her that I had been thinking about closing down my blog. Is this where I want to spend my time? Questions like these especially come to us when there's a potentially life changing situation looming over you. Then I decided to take a look back and here's what I found.

2014 began with this incredible surprise. I knew that the garment would be in the issue, but WOW!!!, the cover!

Then the sew alongs began with Sew News. The year began with the Amy Butler Beautiful Belle Bag. Such a fun project.

The next project was the Clara Dress from Sew Liberated.

I ended up living in this version that I did for the sew along. It was perfect with heels as well as sandals. I think my husband got tired of seeing me in the dress ;)

The third project in the series was the Summer Breeze Top from Hot Patterns. For the sew along, we made it into a dress. Some said that they didn't like the ruffles that I added to the neckline and armholes, but I did!!  

Then we made pants using the Clover Slim Pants pattern from Colette Patterns. I made 4 pairs of these pants!

.

The Emily Bag from IThinkSew. Fabulous bag! My niece was over recently and ended up going home with one of the bags I made. The other 2 have been sent to Italy. When our former exchange student visited this summer, Sew News had just sent back the bag I made for the magazine. His mother and his girlfriend both fell in love with the bag, so Merry Christmas!! Now I have none:)

We finished the year with the Sewaholic Robson Coat. I have now finished 3. I did give one away as a gift, but I've been selfish with the other 2 ;)

In April, the show I did on the Perfect Travel Dress aired on the Sew It All program with Ellen March.

I was asked to participate in Sewing Indie Month as the Pattern Hacker. I do love to hack a pattern ;)

I was completely shocked when I was asked to be interviewed for "Living With More Style Than Cash." It was such an honor. If you would like to hear the episode, you can find it HERE.

In September I taught at the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan. It was a wonderful experience.  

Another absolute shock came when I was told that I had been voted as one of Burda's Top 50 Bloggers.

Again, I was shocked and honored when Susan Khalje asked me to teach with her in a one day seminar here in Chicago. I spent a lot of time being shocked this past year!!!

Our Mary Bridge Pillowcase Project was featured in Sew News.

Throughout the year, we did a number of sleeve designs for the Sleeves On Saturdays posts.

We continued on with the Fabulous Free Pattern Friday posts. My favorite drafting posts :)

I began the new series, Thrifty Thursday, showcasing free sewing patterns.
The Polly Top from By Hand London.
                   
The Yellowtail Cami from Seamster Patterns.

Owl Pattern Weights.

There were a few remakes and techniques.

A couple of crafty items like this little pin made from the selvedge edge of my fabric.

I did a series on making a fascinator.

Along the way, I've had some fun!!!

We've had a lot of inspiration.

Did a lot of cooking, like these delicious Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies.

And we've had a little time to reflect.

There was so much about this past year that I had completely forgotten about. I've accomplished more than that little voice would like to give me credit for.
As this new year begins, I would like to give you a challenge. If you have a blog, it's easy to look back. But if you don't, here's the challenge, record your life. It doesn't need to be a detailed journal. It can be just short notes left on a calendar. But record your life, what you've done, happy moments, places you've been, even what you've made. And then, when the year comes to an end, look back and I think that like me, you will be so pleasantly surprised.
In some ways, that little voice is a good thing, especially if it makes us angry enough to push forward. Just don't allow it to make you stop :)

Paris Fashion

Good Morning Everyone!!! I was supposed to be in Denver, Colorado this morning taping the 2015 sew along videos for Sew News. On Tuesday, I felt my throat getting sore and it progressed as the day wore on. By yesterday, my voice was gone and I now sound like a frog who swallowed a frog!! It seems that I am far from alone as many in America are suffering from the same thing. Silly me, I really thought that with all the vitamin rich whatevers I put in my body, I would somehow not be at risk. Surprise!!!! Thankfully I'm a little better this morning, but not up for the regular Fabulous Free Pattern Friday post. So I thought I would check in and share something rather pretty.
One of the perks of the Wednesday Showcase, for me anyway, is the friends that I have made over the years. Jacqueline, who blogs at http://foliedemode.blogspot.com/, is one that holds a very special place in my heart. She is such a lovely woman in every way. Quite often she posts the loveliest videos. Jacqueline recently posted videos that showcased an exhibit of fashion in France from 1947 to 1957. You can find the videos that she posted HERE. After I watched the videos that she posted, I found a few more that I thought were especially nice. The first one has wonderful music, but the fashion is a little difficult to see. On the other hand, it gives a nice feel of the exhibit. The second is truly lovely as they focus a little more on the garments.  
The first video is less than 3 minutes, and the second less than 2. So neither will take a lot of time. But I think you'll want to see the second a few times :)



Recently, Paco Peralta posted the loveliest video on his Facebook page. It's a retrospective of Givenchy. It's a little over 7 minutes long, but WELL worth seeing. You can find it here, http://vimeo.com/114119486
A little good news about Paco. He's doing well and even better he's back!!! You can find his lovely pattern line HERE
Wishing you a lovely and healthy day!!!
Rhonda