Monday Morning Inspiration

For many years now, I have been keeping journals of inspiration. I may see something on a billboard, read something in a magazine, or it may be something that someone says in passing that I find inspirational. Whenever I see something or hear something, I quickly jot it down and then bring it home and put it in one of my books. The journal in the above picture was my first.

 The pages are now full.

The second book was a gift from my husband. It's a book that I love to hold in my hands. The leather smells so good and I love the Celtic cross on the cover.

It's almost full as well. I keep so many things. There's a card with the name of a firefighter who was killed on September 11th, Kenneth Kumpel, 42, Cornwall, NY. When I come across the card, it reminds me to say a prayer, especially for his family.

My new book, waiting in the wings. It is from Africa. I love it. We have a fair trade store in Evanston, IL which is where I found this book.

The paper is all hand made. It's lovely to touch something and know that I'm touching something that was lovingly handmade by someone.
So this morning I would like to share just a few pieces that mean something to me.

Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.

Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.  (Anais Ninn)

A personal favorite;
Don't allow your fears to get in the way of your dreams. Don't allow your fears to get in the way of what God dreams for you. (Chuck Swindoll)

When we look at a statue of someone great, we think they've got something we don't. We are trained to think that only a tiny percentage of us have the stuff it takes to be a hero. Not many of us will cure any diseases or slay any dragons, but every single one of us.....every single one of us is called to be a king, a queen, a hero in our ordinary lives. We don't build statues to worship the exceptional life, we build them to remind ourselves what IS possible in our own.

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal. (Albert Pine)

And one to put a smile on your face this Monday morning;
If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito. (Betty Reese)

Wishing you a wonderful start to the new week.
Rhonda
Just a little note. I have included the names in parenthesis of the author. Sadly, the others, I do not know.

A Look On The Bright Side With Russian Flair

 My husband passed along the current issue of The Wall Street Journal magazine this morning.

The layout they did was so bright and playful. As I looked at the styling, I realized that they were playing with the traditional Russian costume. I really enjoyed it, so I thought I would pass it along.  

I am going to have to save this picture. I absolutely love the painting that was done on the models face. Both cheeks is a little much, but just one cheek would be so much fun to do for a formal event.

 The play with patterns is great! Love, love, love the polka dot gloves!

The Prada dress we keep seeing over and over this season.





This is a wonderful coat. I love the fabric. It's by Thakoon and is a mere $1990.00. I'll take two please.

This picture makes me think of the movie, Dr. Zhivago. The movie is really slow through the first half, but if you can get through it, the second half is well worth it. Some of the scenes in the movie are so hauntingly beautiful. I especially love the scenes set in the Russian countryside.

 I found a few pictures of traditional Russian dress.

 And for all of us who sew, I just couldn't resist.

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend and not spending too much time behind the sewing machine working on costumes.
Rhonda

Fabulous Free Pattern Friday

Surprise!! Surprise!! Surprise!!
It really is Fabulous FREE Pattern Friday.
I'm celebrating. I had thought that I would wait until I had 100 followers, but my 90th follower joined yesterday...Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!! So why wait any longer?!
Now here's the scoop,
1. You must be a follower on the blog. If you aren't a follower yet, look on the right hand side of this blog, there is a small blue banner that says, Join this site. Click on that banner and you'll be instructed as to how to join this blog. It's really quite simple.
2. You will only have until midnight Monday to email me (sewbussted@yahoo.com) if you would like to have the pattern.
So all you have to do to receive the pattern (for free) is be a follower on this blog and email me by midnight Monday, October 31, 2011, Central Standard Time. Your very own little Halloween treat and no trick! On Tuesday, November 1, 2011, I will send everyone who emails me a PDF of the pattern. After midnight Monday, the pattern will become available in my Etsy store as a PDF. The cost will only be $5.00 (I don't think that's too bad). You will be able to find it at www.etsy.com/shop/SewBussted.

The Clam Shell Wristlet

Wristlets seem to be everywhere. They make a great little bag for evening. You can hold a drink, eat hor d'oeuvers, dance and never worry about leaving your bag somewhere or worse, someone taking your bag.

This little bag is basically a circle, with a few modifications.

 Really easy to make,

 and has a rather sculptural look.

A close up shot of my bag. I used a quilted velvet that I purchased from Gayfeather Fabrics. She may still have some. Give Virginia a call. She'll be happy to send it to you if she still has some in stock. I lined mine with an Asian print, heavier weight silk.
These little bags make fantastic gifts, especially made out of some wonderful black fabric. Everyone needs a little black bag in their wardrobe.
So many of you make my day with your lovely notes and comments, so the bag is just a little thank you from me.
Have a wonderful Halloween Weekend!!!
Rhonda

Still Riding My Horse

I came across this camera bag tutorial this morning and thought I would share it with you since it's right in line with yesterday's post. If you're interested, you can pick up the tutorial here.

I also saw this picture and loved how they added just a bit of spice with the bag. I think the bag makes the entire outfit really pop. As I looked at the dresses the two women are wearing, the thought came to me that I have seen something similar. I have......

It's Vogue 1268 by Guy Laroche. You can get the details on the pattern here. The dresses in the previous picture have collars, but that's easy enough to add if you choose. I actually like the cleaner Vogue pattern version better.
Just a quick story. I attended a luncheon a couple of days ago and as I was listening to the speaker, I looked around the room to check out what people were wearing. Horror of horrors, there were two women in the same exact dress!!! OMG!!! And they weren't sitting that far apart from each other. Now, for those of us who sew, aren't we lucky? I always know that I will not see a mirror image of myself. Thank goodness.
Hope you have a wonderful day.
Rhonda

Western Inspiration

I recently received the Fall 2011 catalog from UGG. The photographs are wonderful. 

 I especially love this purse.

 The bag in the above and again below is something that could definitely be replicated.

 Look at the belt detail on the bags above.

 I love how there is such a sense of the west, but it's not overdone.

 Fantastic boots.

 I included this picture because I especially like the woven detail on the boot.

 A cowgirl with attitude.

 Check out the scarf. So, so easy to do.

 Eddie Bauer is even getting on the band wagon.

 The bags are wonderful.

 They even have stockings,

 and you can outfit your bedroom. Oh my, I would love to crawl into this bed.

 I even found this pair of leggings. A little out there, but fun. I just might have to order a pair of these.

 Those who know me, know that there is a cowgirl buried inside that would love to break free.

 A few of my boots. And yes, those are Christmas boots, poinsettias and holly.

 A few years ago I made this coat. I had been looking through a Pendleton catalog and I came across a coat that I fell in love with. If I remember correctly, I think it was around $1,200.00. A beautiful coat, but I didn't want to pay that much. As I continued through the catalog, I saw that I could order fabric. The light went on. "I'll just order the fabric and make the coat myself." And that's what I did.

 The coat had a leather collar just like what I put on mine.

But I went a step farther and did leather bound buttonholes and I found the ceramic buttons that were just perfect. I also inner lined my coat with a cotton batiste and I used a flannel back lining. I get cold.

 Now in all fairness, the Pendleton coat did have a fur collar and cuffs.

Lucky me. A friend gave me an old coat that had a wonderful collar and cuffs. So now this year, my coat will have a new addition.

At this point the collar has been taken off the coat. I now need to reshape it and do a little interior work and then line it. I'll show the progress in upcoming posts.

So this year you have permission to show your inner cowgirl. Ye-Ha!!
Have a great day.
Rhonda