"It Is What It Is!"

Just finished this dress on this pass week, and it offers great possibilities for personality presentation. I don't care what fashion experts say, but wearing a more relaxed style of dressing requires very deft styling and image coordination. This is a casual styling, that I have worn to church on my teaching day. The pattern is my own adaption of the basic T shape body covering. Check out my youtube video of basic components of the one-piece pattern, "New Twist on Old Style Dress". My measurements put me in a ready to wear size 10, and I classify this dress as a small.

ELEMENTS: Faux Ivory Carved necklace (a gift from sister-in-law), black wingtip brogues by ABOUND (Nordstrom Rack), flower print anklets (Nordstrom Rack), Anna Beck silver ring.

"Be the type of person you want to meet"

"Find a Need and Fill It"

Great day, I'm back to producing and selling hair aids. I stopped production about four years ago when my husband, daughter and I moved to Texas. My dream at the time of our move was to reinvent myself as an online marketer, selling my creations, and living off the income----but things went array. I haven't put it all into thoughts or words I can currently express, things just went in another direction.  But I'm back!!!!!!  My easy order shop.

LARGE SLEEP BONNET, GRAPHIC HOUNDSTOOTH PRINT, will fit comfortably over big hairstyles, is fully lined with soft grey 100% polyester knit, that will not grab or pull hair. The smooth finish outer covering, is 100% polyester that will move freely on bedcoverings.

SMALL SLEEP BONNET, GRAPHIC HOUNDSTOOTH PRINT, this small sleep bonnet fits comfortably over my short TWA, and I just love it.




Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.  Psalm 31:24

OOTD: My New Jumper

This is my easy and roomy jumper, I wore to church today. I wanted to be very comfortable because it was my day to work with the 2 - 5 year olds during service time.As anyone knows, children in this age group can be a handful to work with. I try to dress not only comfortably and creatively around my little charges. The jumper is a upcycle from a wool crepe wrap skirt in aubergine, bordered at the bottom with the recut of a charcoal grey bias cut skirt.  The neckline and armscye are trimmed with the same charcoal grey, adding a small patch on the jumper back, one of my favorite design features. The necklace is a 25 year old button assembleage my children made, probably one day when there was nothing else to do---it is a favorite accessory.

 "Never underestimate God's hand in all your plans."

Making mistakes

I love taking my thrift store purchases and creating new yardage for my signature dress. Sometimes the," best laid plans of mice and men" goes array, like with my three patterns of blue dress. The original idea was like in picture #1, but it just presented me with to much visual light blue---eekk!
So the stripe shirt I had planned not to use became the saving feature of my dress.  

Original Idea

Revised Styling

Back Detailing



Don't be the same. Be Better.

"Thanks for the Memories"

About 4 years ago my best friend Christine Dougherty, watercolor artist, sent me a large box of old clothing. This box is a treasure trove of great usuable items, silk shirts; silk suits; a tapersty jacket; a few over-sized linen shirts and much more. The thing about this box is it travelled with me for 4 years before I could get an opportunity to be creative with the contents. In the last three months, the box of goodies has been, my main source for new wardrobe items----I've been cutting and building virgin yardage from suits, tops and skirts. Below is two dresses I've made using brushed silk suits in lovely jewel tones. The first is a deep purple silk pieced from jacket and pant, with some salvage yardage as the center panel. Dress number two is a lovely teal color, also made from a pantsuit, with the additional yardage created by reconstructing a short sleeve top to be the dress yoke.

Everything has been cut apart and ready for reassembly into usable yardage.

Its not finish for me, until I add my label.

"Happiness consists not in having much, but in being content with little."

                        -Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington 

Creating Fabric from Ready-Made Clothing

This is what I really like to do, make fabric from ready to wear items. I am always buying clothing pieces more for the amount of fabric I can get out a item, then just to remake the item. This is one of my reclaimed fabric remakes from my Youtube channel.

"May your choices reflect your Hopes, not your Fears."

                                                     -Nelson Mandela

"The Things I Find When I Look for Something Else"

Trying to get the house in a holiday mood, so I've been looking for the over the door hook for hanging our wreath. Have not found the door hanger, but I did locate some of my creative work from the past. The first photo is my creation quilt, probably the second or third quilt I made.  Quilt number two is my "African Queens" wall hanging. The two following pictures are close up photos. It is hand applique and machine quilted. Sure was nice finding these treasures, and they are now on display instead of hide away.

...behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.  Proverbs 1:23