Navy Mission Maxi

 





 

Who knew that short people could wear maxi skirts and dresses!? I sure as H didn’t know! This whole time I’ve been looking at girls with those long blankets around their legs with myhalf-judging-not-judging-kind of- envying eyes while convincing myself I could never pull off that look because of the  tiny log legs that I've been equipped with. Mind you, I’ve always prided myself on my plain Jane wardrobe and penchant for stripes.

A few weeks ago I found a large jersey knit grey and white striped (my favorite kind of stripe combo) maxi skirt with elastic waist at Goodwill. I took it in on the sides and redid the elastic like MimiG does her knit pencil skirts and had myself the most comfortable skirt for only a couple of bucks and an hourish in front of the sewing machine.

Since the grey and white skirt I’ve been eyeing the Mission Maxi pattern thinking I need more of these in my wardrobe. It wasn’t until I woke up one Saturday morning getting ready for the farmers market that I found myself saying that I wish I had more dresses that I could just throw on with some sneakers or sandals and be done with it that I decided to buy the pattern.

When the pattern arrived I was ready for it. I hit the jackpot at Goodwill with a billion yards of this navy made-for-active-wear polyester knit material. The fabric reminds me of something they would use for a cheap version of those dreadful Lacoste polo dresses. So I made a not so dreadful wearable maxi muslin with it.

All of the reviews are correct about the instructions. They are soups easy to follow. I couldn’t get over how profesh my armholes and neckline looked.

I only had a few problems with the fit. As you can see, I’ve got a bit of a sway back (and a pink bra?! Sorry). I’ve looked up several resources and made a couple adjustments to the pattern already.

 

 The other problem I’ve spotted is the tightness across my upper bust. It makes my boobs look a lot flatter than normal. It just doesn’t give ma chest the normal perkiness I am accustomed to.

 

You know, I’ve read it in a thousand blogs, but I’m one of those people who has to learn certain things on my own (the hard way). Never sew while tired. I should make a sticker with that saying or something equivalent like “Do not operate while sleeping” and slap it on my machine. First my machine ate (I never knew what that meant until I saw the mastication happen) the fabric. Thank you bloggers for the wonderful tip about tissue paper! Worked like a charm, but I still had to cut a ¼ inch off the straps to make them even Steven. THEN, because my brains wanted more action before bed time, I totally cut the binding strip before sewing it all the way around the neckline. Stupid tired brains.

I’ve got one more navy muslin to make then on to the real deal fabric. I already have another maxi lined up with this fun lovin salmon color.  

 

Here's to the begining of summer and the best kind of weekend dresses.

 

Full Bloom

I made these bloomers a couple of weeks ago for a work event. I had to dress up like Eve, which meant minimal clothing. I thought it might be better to take a full clothing approach and wear a nude color dress and tack vines on it. The dress was super short. I didn't mind having my chest hanging out (I've been busty my whole life so I'm kind of accustomed to that anyway), but the thought of my rear peering out from under the skirt made my skin crawl. The guy who ran the event for our restaurant was beside himself about my take on “sexy bartender.” I kept explaining to him that I might be cute and little, but my modesty prefers a Mumu over a bikini.
 
Anyway, I needed something that met two requirements: cheek coverage and makes me laugh. THANK YOU BLOOMERS! These guys were easy to throw together in two evenings. It took me about four hours total from print out to tying the little ribbons. I got the material from a very old skirt my mother sent me. She's been purging her closet of all things she considers she'll never wear. This skirt with matching top sat for nearly thirty years. The pattern was a free downloadable pattern from Colette patterns, the Madeleine Mini Bloomers.
 
I cut the smallest size and they fit perfectly. I don’t have much of a butt and these guys were super low. I mean, it was like the pattern designers knew exactly where things begin to crack….you know?

 

Last week I finished the scalloped waist skirt from Vivat veritas. IT LOOKS AWESOME! I only had a little bit of fabric to work with so it’s short, but I’m short so it works out. I learned a lot from this pattern like how to install an invisible zipper with this tutorial, finishing seams with bias tape, and how to understitch a waistline using Sewaholic’s tutorial. I also underlined the skirt, but I kinda wung that using a few tutorials.

 

It looks profesh from the inside and out. Just look at how the waist seam matches..Gah!! So awesome! Sure, I noticed a few flub ups,for example, some of the scallops look more like shark fins, but whatev, I love my new skirt. I just need a place to wear it.
 
On to my next two projects: one lengthy body skimming maxi, a pair of black hot shorts, and a chance at screwing up contrast piping !

 

Happy June First!

 

Simplicity 7395 All hands on deck

 

 

Winter is gone and the weather has been absolutely beautiful out here. Aside from some storms it’s not cold anymore. I’ve been stuck in the house for almost a month dealing with a bad case of impetigo that’s finally made it’s way off of my body. Sewing’s been the one thing keeping my mind off of my wart hog face. That’s right, the impetigo was on maface. I couldn’t work, eat, or do anything I normally enjoy doing except mess with fabric, which is fine cuz it gave me a great jump start on summer sewing. I’m actually almost done with my first complete, made-by-me, from scratch sewing project. And it’s about time!

I’ve had my sewing machine for two years now and managed to turn into this one trick pony. If I posted everything I sewed it would be a whole blog about sewing up a side seam or skirt hems. Exciting for me, but not that exciting to read about in erry post.

My first project, which I don’t know if it’s a beginner project, but I wanted a wrap skirt, is Simplicity 7395 circa 1976. A knit wrap skirt with giant patch pockets with optional transfer embroidery bird.

Had Tilly’s skirt come out before I purchased this skirt, I pry would have gone the way of the Miette. Simplicity 7395 includes a lot of hand stitching, which is why I’m not done with it. I have to reposition the pockets as they’re pulling at the skirt seams.  

 

So many firsts for this project. Lining. I lined it with a jade green 40 denier tricot in jade. I spent one afternoon chasing this stuff around my house. I’ve never lined anything before so I’m guessing using a slippery fabric isn’t for beginners. The only thing that saved me was hand basting everything together.

 

So. Much. Hand. Sewing. From the pockets to the waistband. So much. I don’t mind hand stitching, I actually prefer hand stitching hems over other methods, but this was out of control. I must be in the habit of it now cuz I caught myself finishing the seams of a shirt yesterday with hand stitches instead of rolling it under the machine.

I tore apart a giant pleated skirt that I bought thrifting to make the scalloped circle skirt from Vivat Veritas. I read the instructions, I didn’t see any hand sewing, but I’m sure it’ll make it’s way in somehow. I loved the fabric, but didn’t have a ton of it. I don’t even know what kind of material it is.

 

 Maybe linen blend? It wrinkles almost instantly and has a pretty loose weave, which I thought would be perfect for summer. I’m lining it with a sheer (Slippery!) remnant I bought from Hancock's last year. Navy, white, with bink blushing flowers skirt. I thought both of these skirts would be nice to have for fall as well, hence the lining.

Here's to more slippery fabric and basting!

 

 

One Smooth Breakfast

I seldom stray from my usual breakfasts, but this recipe had my name written all over it. I saw the images  of their smoothie on Friday night while cruising around the peeps I follow on Pinterest, and punched the air in a fit of joy when I checked off all of the ingredients. We’ve never had a smoothie for breakfast, but I thought, hell, we’ve never had smoothies for lunch either, but we managed all week.

I can always count on Sprouted Kitchen to combine awesome ingredients and make them even better, if not prettier. Frozen banana, we’ve got those for days, dried dates, oh yea, coconut milk…pffftt I buy that sh*%t by the bulk when it’s on sale (you know, like three cans worth). I ousted the oj, and protein powder because we never use either of those items.

My only qualm with the breakfast, at first, was that we had some cooked steel cut oats leftover from weekday breakfasts that I didn’t want to go to waste. I solved that problem by plopping in a few scoops of the cooked vanilla-y steel cut oats into the blender with the rest of the ingredients. It totally made the drink into a meal. I soaked the dates for a few in hot water to soften their flesh. I’m not down with chunks of dried fruit stuck in my straw, or mouth, or throat. I’m sure it wouldn’t have been THAT bad, but I wasn’t willing to take any chances.

 

The smoothie is rich enough with the oats as far as mouth feel goes. We also used coconut milk lite, which she says takes away from the beverage. I’m sure if we hadn’t used the oats and instead added ice it would have been way thinner, but one can split two ways was plenty dense for us.  

Paired with one scrambled egg, this breakfast will go down as one of my favorites. Rich, luscious smoothie meet savory golden yolk in my tummy. I F-ing love weekends.

Happy March! Here’s to getting our gardens plotted, planted, and ready for warmer weather!

Put It in a Blender

 

Kudos to anyone who can just throw a bunch of produce in a blender without the addition of yogurt, sugar (that includes you, honey), a shit load of fruits, and make it drinkable.  

Alright, I finally tried making green smoothies. This is day three of drinking the algae colored cocktail and I have to admit, I need more practice. I give mad props to people who can just jump on this band wagon full throttle without any discontent. It’s not that I don’t like vegetables; on the contrary, they’re inspirational. Here’s where I think I messed up, I just wung it.

It’s not that they’re terrible or vomit inducing (although they look like it, am I right?), I just can’t get the flavor down. The last one I made, designed by yours truly, tasted a little like ginger and a lot like leafy dirt.

 The other problem is texture. Granted, I wanted the whole shebang. I wanted this smoothie to give me everything I love about veggies and lunch. It had to be tasty and filling. I could forego the cheesy part (I’ll get my cheese on at dinner) as long as it tasted good.

The end result? Bleh. I mean, I’ll drink it because I made them, but I’m not happy. I didn’t even want to take a pic of one smoothie hanging out in a cute little jam jar. The color alone made me rethink my life choices. Don’t judge me! I eat greens and vegetables everyday and I love it. I swear I’m above aesthetics!

Let’s just say this is the beginning of a long relationship. I’m actually going to follow a recipe next time. I have a plan. It just needs to be more thought out. Maybe I should invest in some book? Or hunt for some blogs dedicated to this subject? Is it that hard to recipes that can honestly replace my fork and food lunches?

Here’s to the end of February and the start of a March with more blended greens.

 

Eat Breakfast

I know some people just can’t eat breakfast.  Since it’s one of my favorite meals, I’m dumbfounded by those people. Eating breakfast gears me up for my day. I eat at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and I love it. We basically eat the same thing every morning with few variations and I never tire of my meals. Dinner is a whole different story, but for breakfast, it just oats, an egg, and a cup of hot Paris black tea.

Up until a few weeks ago we were soaking our oats every night and then cooking them fresh in the morning. When the ship set sail sail a few minutes late because we didn’t hear our alarms, our precious breakfast time becomes a last minute scarf fest.  Enter newtome/duh/whereHaveIBeen cooking method for the oats –oven roasted. Gah! It’s so simple.

Preheat oven to 375

Rinse oats (I use 2 cups of steel cut oats for a total of 10 servings)

Pour in cooking vehicle (dutch oven, casserole, baking dish with lid)

Add double amount of water (4 cups for my ratio)

Pinch of salt, squeeze of lemon, and spoon full maple syrup or sugar

Stir. Cover.

Place in oven for 30 to 40 minutes.

Done. Done. Done.

Oh yeah, then put away and scoop out for the week as necessary. Add a splash of water or milk for each serving before reheating. Add toppings. We split a banana then add a dollop of Bonne Maman preserves.

Boom.

No stirring constantly, hanging around in the kitchen looming over the stove, or waiting for the oats to finish. Set your timer and GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!

I love 2013.

 

Test Driving BM's

 

I have to engage in a competition to keep my job. Basically, if we don't have a legit recipe for a Bloody Mary, we don't deserve to be a bartender. I'm not typically a huge fan of Bloody's, but I like my job so I figured splurging on some horseradish, olives, and Old Bay seasoning wouldn't kill my bank account unlike losing shifts behind the bar.

So of course last minute, I'm scouring the internet for a "legit" recipe for this confounded competition set up by a manager. I have until Monday to get it together.

 The thing about the recipe we have at work is that they've used the same recipe since the restaurant opened a year ago. It tastes fine, but everyone wants to update it, especially since the person who made the recipe quit the restaurant months ago.

I wanted to keep the recipe relatively simple considering the nature of my work environment. I'm not throwing a billion ingredients together during the throes of a rush. I just didn't know what I wanted the drink to taste like. Another thing I didn't realize is that my partner in this taste testing had never had a Bloody Mary before. A Bloody Mary virgin? at 34? In America the land of weekend brunch! What did he drink? coffee?! 

Searching the blogs I follow (it's like shopping local, right?) I found this recipe from A Cup of Jo. It was perfect. Easy, tasty, and more importantly, easy.

The boyfriend drank it up in about three minutes. He said it was the best he had ever had (Because it was his first!). A spice vendor at the farmers market had their own version of Old Bay Seasoning called "New Bay Seasoning." It smelled pretty good, but I think a better quality tomato sauce is the key. Which makes me think a summer time heirloom tomato Bloody Mary might just be a new favorite come July.

Anyway, mad props to the creator of this recipe. I mean, I honestly don't care if my recipe wins, I know it's tasty Bloody Mary, and that's good enough for me. But seriously, try the recipe. Make it on a Wednesday, store it in a mason jar, and pop it open on Saturday morning. Pour in two jam jar glasses, add vodka, ice, an olive garnish, an extra lemon wedge on the rim, and throw in a straw and boom. Just add breakfast and it's instantly brunch.

Happy First Week of February !