Wednesday, 21 November 2018

Black Friday PDF Sewing Pattern Sales!

Black Friday is here with a vengeance, and a great way to start Christmas, Festivus, things ending with "s" shopping. 

I am promoting the companies I REALLY enjoy sewing with (and affiliate links are utilized!), and hope you find a new company to try out, or grab a pattern or two that you've been waiting to sew up. 

With a month to prepare for Christmas, I have a few patterns on my list, so can't wait!  

I've posted some of my fave Me-Made garments for more temptation!

Most sales are from Black Friday to Cyber Monday (and some are on NOW!)

5 out of 4 Patterns

- 40% off ALL patterns!!


Aspen Fleece Vest
Rosanna Tank & Swim Dress 


Virginia Tank & Dress
Mabel Ruffle & Cowl Tunic


Agility Tank & Reversible Riptides



Lola Pants & Stella Top

Diane Joggers
Escapade Tankini


Gloria
 

Roxanne Tunic

Bella Sunshine Designs:

- 40% off ALL patterns!


Clementine Top & Sansa Flare Pants
Maggie Top & Sansa Flare Pants


Amelia Top
Apple Cardigan


Emmaline Top & Eden Leggings
Sahara Top


Sophia Racerback


Winter Wear Designs

- 35% off ALL patterns with code THANKYOU2018


Cross Hem Top
La Croix Top



Provence Pea Coat


Trendy Tank
Unicorn Pillow

Fashionista

The Wolf & The Tree
- 30% off ALL patterns!


Ballerina Skirt and Ballerina Tie Top
Flair Top


Ballerina Tie Top



Halla Patterns

- 40% off ALL patterns with code BLACKFRIDAY


Stella
Elora Dress


Hey Babie Top

Stardust Top

Hey Babie Top (for Mom!)



Twig + Tale

- 20% Off all patterns - use code ALLBLACK

Breeze Top
Wild Things Vest


Forrester Coat

New Horizons:

- 50% off BLACK FRIDAY ONLY!  Use Code BLACKFRIDAY


Marbella Tank
Pierside Pencil Skirt


Tami Hoodie

Valencia Top


Wardrobe By Me:

- 35% off all patterns

Hipsters and Carma Cami


Summer Skirt & Classic T-Shirt

***Affiliate Links Above used - I love these patterns, and without the help of those who love their patterns, marketing would be extremely difficult for the pattern makers we love and learn to love. Affiliate links help with the hours, fabric, and tears that go behind testing each pattern in order to provide a real-person view on the patterns for you (and me!) 

Monday, 19 November 2018

Distraction Technique - Smile and Pretend You Don't Have a Migraine

It's been 6 months since my diagnoses.

8 months since I've worked at home in solitude.

16 months since daily symptoms began.

It has been the shittiest year ever. The end of my 30s has been epic in such a lonely, sad, deflating, and defeating way.



I don't even feel sorry for myself. I just feel spent and done. Forgotten and left at the side of the road.

That's what happens when you have severe Chronic Vestibular Migraines.

Sure, I can turn on my game face - I've done it all of my life. Look cheery on the outside, and feel utter despair on the inside.

I cry most days.

I lost my Unicorn.

Any jab taken at me verbally, I take to heart and it just eats away at me - even if it's not meant to be harmful.



I'm tired of feeling so utterly alone and sad all the time.

I've asked my general doctor and even Neurologist # 1 (twice!) for anti depressants. I've gotten nowhere. and I just need some help.

Anyone close to me is or has lost patience.

How can I explain how I physically feel to someone when they haven't experienced it? Lived it? Breathed it in every breath?



I barely hear from my friends  - even with a text or a message. One or two people actually seem to give me hope that I'm not alone and forgotten.

I don't really blame people. I'm not really fun for me to hang out with. I don't socialize enough to know what to say, I have so little drive to go anywhere, and I'm just not a happy person anymore.

This disease is winning, and I don't want it to. I just mentally cannot do it alone anymore.

The headaches are SO much better...but the vestibular issues still remain quite intact.

My VEstibular Neurologist suspects the medicine I'm on for the "headache" part is causing the depression (yup - she also denied me antidepressants), and I'm just holding out to see my "Headache" Neurologist this Friday.

I can't leave without a prescription for some sort of "happy," pill so I can get back on track.



Outside of Husband, I don't have a best friend, or a friend I would think would just talk with me, listen...and Husband is at his wits end.

I don't blame him either. I have no interest in anything (I don't know why). He is also depressed and so without me being positive Polly most of the time, it's just draining.

Migraines are just the root of all evil.



I did go into the office the first time this month - for a half day. Two anti-migraine Triptans, half my face being numb, and feeling nauseous half the time, I made it until lunch - my goal.

I received several hugs, chatted with people. Even happy people!  It was nice to see humans.

I also saw a few people actively avoid me - ones I used to chat with regularly and spent enough time with in the past, that it slighted me a bit.

...I've been crying non stop for about an hour now. I just can't stop. I just need to get my thoughts out. I just wish I had a friend who understood what I'm going through - or tried to understand. I am just so tired of feeling like I'm going through this all alone.

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Cute as a Button! The Rebecca Page Sofia Shirt Dress Pattern

Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. 

I love the challenge of an intricate pattern...or really small pieces. Hence sewing for 18" High dolls (and smaller) with my scrap bits of fabric. 

Although Chloe won't speak, she's stylish in her new Rebecca Page Sofia!




Sofia includes a plethora of options:

- Sleeveless, 3/4, or long sleeves
- Knee, Midi, or Maxi Skirt Lengths
- Optional Belt

- Darts for shaping
- Crisp collar
- 18" Dolls, Girls, or Ladies Sizing

I'm good for dresses right now (working from home, so I live in my Pippas), but I love the challenge of smaller clothes - hence Chloe's cute western-style dress!






I love the little details that are included - like the buttons (thanks, Mother-in-law for your buttons - perfect sizing for dolls!), and crisp clean lines.



I used a scrap bandana for the top of the dress, and some scrap checkered lightweight cotton for the skirt and belt.



I did find the belt QUITE long, so wrapped it around her two or three times, holding it together with a little charm clip I had in my scrapbooking stash.

The buttons aren't too difficult to sew on, and I'm getting much straighter with my button holes (thank you, button hole maker attachment, sewing machine!).

I really love how the skirt flares out at the sides too - I'm unsure how the flare goes with the longer skirts.









The seam allowance is generous and easy to sew (same allowance as there is with the kids sizing!), and any areas that may be bulky are trimmed off as per instructions.



As usual, the instructions include lots of pictures, and are easy to follow along with.







And look at how nice and straight those seams are!  And that collar!  I bought a new type of "interfacing" - Thermoweb Heat n' Bond - it was less expensive than Interfacing (which I was going through quite quickly), and although I'd opt for a lighter hold next time, it seems to work well for collars and plackets! 

I'll definitely make my own once I'm back in the office, as I've been wanting a button up dress for eons! 

With the little touches and hidden seams, you can't go wrong with Sofia.





***Affiliate Links Above used - I love these patterns, and without the help of those who love their patterns, marketing would be extremely difficult for the pattern makers we love and learn to love. Affiliate links help with the hours, fabric, and tears that go behind testing each pattern in order to provide a real-person view on the patterns for you (and me!) 

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Dressing With Elegance - 5 out of 4 Patterns Mabel Ruffle Cowl Tunic

Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of every day life. 

That just about sums up my life. 

Sewing is my lifeline to fun, playfulness, and total utter creativity. 

It also makes me go outside of my comfort zone as far as fashion is concerned.




Ruffles? Me? Never...wait...Mabel changed my mind on that one. 

I created two  5 out of 4's Mabel Ruffle Cowl Tunic - each with a bit of adjustment or hack for the right fit. 

There are several options for this top:
- Regular or tunic length
- Short, 3/4, or full length sleeves
- Cowl or regular neckband
- Ruffled skirt bottom or plain skirted bottom

Mabel #1

I found My first Mabel to be a bit too roomy for my liking - the intent of the pattern *is* to have a bit more room in it - but this wasn't my style, but with assistance from Jessica (5 out of 4's Owner), I Graded Small on the entire front bodice, and graded from small to medium on the back piece to accommodate for my Caboose - and it worked!

I went from swayback to Sexy Back in a snap. 



Okay..in the time it took for me to rip out my stretch seam from both sides and the ruffle at the seams, cut the front bodice to the small sizing only, resew the side seams, and reruffle and sew the ruffle again. 

Left pictures = Before Alteration

Right pictures = After Alteration







I do have issues lately due to Chronic Vestibular Migraine Brain. The easiest tasks take me at least twice as long as normal. 

But sewing gives me the greatest joy, so I persevere. 


Look at that Sexy back!

I love the flow of the ruffle - fun in light
Feminine yet sassy

I really like the length of the sleeves (a bit long so I can totally cover my hands when they get cold), and the drop of the ruffle at the back. 

It doesn't make me feel hippier, and the cowl is SO comfy.  With Winter Coming, covering my neck is a must. 

The cowl was super simple to make, and doesn't bunch up a lot, so it's not suffocating for those who have anti-neck touching issues. 



My fabric is a lovely Rayon Spandex from Water Tower Textiles. It's so soft - and at the same time, it's not clingy. It had some "discolouration" on the roll, so I got it for a steal. The same with the Wine coloured light sweater knit - also from Water Tower Textiles - I've used this in so many different clothing items. I only needed a scrap of it for the cowl inside, and I used the floral for the exterior portion of the cowl. 

I try to be $$ smart with fabric, as my funds towards it are quite limited. If I could get more, I totally would! 

Me thinking about more fabric

Mabel #2

My second Mabel isn't Promo Approved, but I love the slimmer fit. 

I just went straight Small and took 1" off the shorten/lengthen line, and voila. 



The only unfortunate part (that probably only a sewist would notice) is the back at the high hip takes a bit of bunching on - that's easily fixed with the Mabel #1 alteration of grading to medium at the hips. It would then lay flat. 



I paired the Eleanor Cardigan with this Mabel - see the matching Wine coloured sweater knit

I also went purely Water Tower Textiles with this version, pairing the Rayon floral pattern with a comfy lightweight cotton lycra pink and ivory striped fabric. 

I also went with the regular band vs cowl on this version - I think it looks good either way, and makes it versatile for all seasons. 


Glasses to help my brain connect with my eyes properly - Husband finds them ultimately sexy, so this is apparently my favourite pose for him now. *sigh* MEN!



So you can alter the Mabel pattern to truly accentuate your body in a positive way. Even the ladies testing with me who weren't sure about ruffles were converted to the Ruffle Side. 



***Affiliate Links Above used - I love these patterns, and without the help of those who love their patterns, marketing would be extremely difficult for the pattern makers we love and learn to love. Affiliate links help with the hours, fabric, and tears that go behind testing each pattern in order to provide a real-person view on the patterns for you (and me!)