Rhonda
Master Sewing and Design Certification Program
Monday, December 21, 2020
Celtic Dreams/The Flipping Pleats Skirt
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Tea Towel Totes
If you've followed the blog for a while, you may remember the summer bucket list that my husband found in the alley a couple of summers ago. It had been written by a teenage girl. At least the items on her list were things a teenage girl would like to do. The list was fun, and interesting. My husband tried to see if he could find someone and return the list, but no one was to be found, so he brought the list home to me. I was so inspired by her list that it prompted me to create 1 of my own. What really inspired me was the fact that she was so looking forward to summer, with intention, and with goals. As I read through her list, I realized that I allow time to just go by. Yes, I have goals, but the very focused aspect of her list is what inspired me to do 1 of my own.
When I sat down to work on my list, I decided that rather than just write it on paper, I would paint something and make it all the more special. Here is what I did, a bouquet of cone flowers.
After I finished the piece, I decided that I would like to see about turning it into fabric. Off to Spoonflower! There I was able to upload my piece and create fabric. I did do a yardage piece that ended up becoming part of a bag;
Rhonda
Monday, December 7, 2020
Monday Morning Inspiration/Chanel Le Chateau des Dames
Earlier this fall I went to a party. Of course parties aren't like they were:( This one was held out on a driveway so that we could all be outside, and distanced from each other. And, we had to bring our own beverage and glasses. Wow, have times changed. Enough with the lamenting.
Anyway, I can't remember what I wore, but it wasn't anything haute couture, by no means. There was a lovely woman there who was just in awe of what I was wearing. She asked me if I had gotten my sense of style from a relative. I told her that for as long as I could remember, I LOVED clothes. I dreamed of being able to have a closet full of pretty things to wear. Being poor, my only alternative was to create it myself. I still remember an outfit I made when I was in the 8th grade, a hot pink bodysuit with a lime sherbet and hot pink plaid maxi shirt. I felt like I had arrived!!! At what, I'm not sure ;), but I felt like a million bucks in that outfit. Sweet memories, for sure.
I recently saw the new collection from Chanel, and I fell in love. I've attached the video of the fashion show below. It is gorgeous, the music, the staging in a castle, simply magical. It's only about 11 minutes long, and so worth the time spent.
Here are a few of my favorites from the collection. There are so many things that I love about this collection, but 1 in particular is the use of leggings. Wow, talk about taking leggings off the running track and making them full blown couture!
While watching the fashion show, I saw the back of this jacket. It actually has a hood. Look closely and you'll see that you could easily use the Wilder Gown from Friday Pattern Company to create it. I rather like the leggings too. Different for sure, but interesting.
Talk about a throwback piece! Reminds me a lot of Geoffrey Beene. Love the mix of patterns.Rhonda
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Sunday's Soup/Popeye's Spinach Soup

Tuesday, December 1, 2020
It's a Pajama Party!
A few years ago, I read Madame Chic by Jennifer Scott, and thoroughly enjoyed it. You can find all 3 of her books HERE. I've read them all and enjoyed each of them.
In her first book she talks about going to France and being an exchange student(something dear to my heart). Not long after she arrived, she had given her clothes to her host mother to wash. Her host mother took 1 look at her pajamas, at least what she was wearing for pajamas, I think they were an old pair of sweat pants that had belonged to her sister, and an old sweatshirt. They were full of holes. Her host mother was horrified as she thought that she may have done something in the wash to cause the holes. Jennifer told her that no, the holes were there. Her host mother just couldn't understand why she would want to wear something like this. The conversation prompted her to go out and purchase a proper pair of pajamas, and she said that she was amazed by how much better she felt, and how much better she slept.
This prompted me to take a closer look at what I was wearing to bed. Not the best. So, I have been on a mission to revamp my bedtime wardrobe, and find pieces that feel wonderful, that I enjoy wearing, and will keep me warm in the winter. I thought I would share my makes as they are simple, comfortable, and I actually look forward to putting them on at night.
I have found that I REALLY love wearing leggings to bed, at least in the winter. They stay in place, and aren't riding up my leg during the night. The legging pattern that I have used over and over again is the Loveland Legging pattern from Sew News. I can make these in less than an hour. The top that I am wearing below is a free pattern from Fancy Tiger Crafts. It's their One Hour Top pattern, and you can find it HERE. I lengthened the top a bit, and lengthened the sleeves. Love it!
Rhonda