Buying Alterable Women's Slacks

As long as I can remember Women in Business have been getting the short end of the stick. I've read articles on the difference in pay, the difference in benefits. I even read an article once on the difference they were being charged for dry cleaning. A man would be charged $2.00 a shirt and a women would be charged $5 because it was a blouse. Those are early '90's prices I haven't dry cleaned a blouse in a long time.

Well ladies here are some pointers so you don't get stuck paying twice as much for alterations on your slacks. This is what the back should look like. The waistband should have a seam in the back and the fabric along the back seam should be pressed open and finished to each side.

Unfortunately that is not the case with most women's slacks, they don't give women's slacks the same type of attention to Tailoring, even if you purchase some of the expensive one's. The only way to get manufactures to get you what you need is to tell the clerk at Macy's or Nordstrom's that you are not buying that pair of pants because they are not tailored in such a manner to be easily altered. Believe me they will pass it on to the buyer, who will pass it on to the Designers sales rep, who will pass it on to the Designer.

But for now what I had to do for a customer that didn't want to be charged for 3 hours worth of work for me to correctly tailor her pants while doing a simple waist shortening, was this:

Because the back seam was serged together, so I had to take the excess and fold it all to one side. It creates an awkward gathering of fabric.

It worked and didn't look to bad on the outside, but I was not happy with it.

Coachella Valley Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony

Every Memorial Day my husband wakes up at 5 am and heads on over to the Cemetery and places flags on all of the Veterans buried there. The local Scouts Troop along with the American Legion and a few other small groups go to help. My daughter and I used to go up until a few years ago, when hands were few. Now hands are many, so we gracefully bowed out so other's could have the joy of service to our servicemen and women. Plus 5 AM is very very early, on one of the few days I sleep in, hehehehe.

Happy Memorial Day!

Thank you for the wonderful Ceremony. 

Painting Bird houses

My niece and nephew like being in my husbands garage. They found these cute wooden bird houses the other day and had to schedule a painting day.

My sister dresses the children in nice clean outfits everyday, and everyday they come over here they leave with stains on their clothes. I tried to avoid that this time by putting aprons on them.

They were doing great for a while, and then Lexi decided she wanted to paint Keegan instead of the bird house. Sorry Monica I tried.

This is the best picture I got of there faces, they would not stop painting to look at me!

Semester is over

If you have been following along, you know that I went back to school this semester. I want a BA in Arts. I have an AS in Fashion Design. So I thought it shouldn't be to hard to finish up, well I was wrong.

I'm not 20 or 25 anymore. I hadn't mentioned before but I took a Piano class it was Mon, Wed, Fri Mornings from 8 to 9 am, Then work 9:30 to 4 and then the Life Drawing class on Monday nights 4:40 to 10 pm.

Needless to say that since my last Final on Wednesday - I have been doing the basics and Sleeping the rest of the time. I think I'm almost caught up with my sleep, I know this because as I walk around my house today I'm realizing all the things I've been neglecting. My To Do list is getting prioritized today.

As for my classes - I eked out a C in piano because I showed up and gave it my best. I can't play worth a darn. I might take another semester and give it another shot, but it just requires so much practice to be any good especially when your tone deaf.

As for my Life Drawing class, I didn't get out of it what I wanted to (to be able to draw the body) but I did practice on my drawing skills and worked with new medium. Here are the images that I put together for my Portfolio Final in the class.

I'm taking the Summer semester off and going to reevaluate my goals. It might be way longer than 2 years till I get that BA.

Kid's Spring 2012 Trend Bible

The Fashion Industry website that I follow has changed names. It's now WeConnectFashion.com. It is still the same wonderful resource it's always been, but I have been noticing a few differences.

Like this one in the Kid's Trend Report, They refer back to a forecasting company in the UK. Here is a quote from there site and a few pics. To view the full Trend report click on to there site here.

"Season Themes | Children's, Home, Lifestyle Trends, Toys: A unique seasonal kids' trend book, catering to children from babies to teens, offers a snapshot of life for this generation in terms of how they are living, responding to their environments, thinking, behaving and buying. For anyone developing kid's products or marketing to children this report is not to be missed. Presented onWeConnectFashion, courtesy of Trend Bible, a UK based publisher of trend forecasting books. "

I like that we will all still be into crafts, including the kids!

Lack of Posts...

Well, I think I got spring fever and then never recovered. All the life stuff going on didn't help either. For the last couple of months it has felt like my body was falling apart, as it turns out it's just Menopause!

You hear the word, you don't associate good things with it, But the reality of it is a horror flick. I've never really had bad menstrual symptoms, but lately I have turned into Dr. Jeckal and Mr. Hyde. The biggest problem is that it isn't constant, like a week before your period or durning. I was actually thinking that maybe I had 'caught' my husbands bi-polar disorder. Great now there are two crazies in the house.

Then there is the anxiety, really just out of the blue, you feel like your whole world is crumbling around you, because you can't find your keys, or something dumb like that. To the point that you have your daughter drive you to the ER because you think you are having a heart attack. Really I sat in the ER for hours for a Doctor to tell me I was having and anxiety attack. Nice, I really am crazy!

The worst part of all this has been the return of my Migraines. I had Migraines as a teen and Young Adult. The massive head pain, the nausea and sensitivity to light is horrible all you can do is hide some times for days. The one thing that had not happened to me before with a Migraine is the right side of my face feeling all tingly. So naturally at that point I thought I was having a Stroke. Another trip to the ER, and several hours later, a Doctor telling me the Cat Scan was normal. Really, really feeling like a true nut job at that point.

Over 15 years ago, I was so glad that I had learned to control my stress and anxiety to the point that I didn't have to take medication for the anxiety and the Migraines. Now here I sit with more pill bottles than my husband, wondering how the heck do women get through this thing called Menopause???

If you know the answer or even a simple suggestion for any of the symptoms, feel free to drop me a note! I seem to have woken up from my initial shock of my mind and body betraying me, so I should be back to my goal of at least 10 post a month!

Newton's Spring Fling

This past weekend was Newton's Spring Fling, and I got to go! Susan wasn't able to teach the 3 days she normally teaches at this function, so I taught a Garment Designer class and a Measurement class. I enjoyed teaching something other than sewing. It is different than teaching sewing, it's more fast paced, and the students have more questions, which makes it a lot more interactive. In my sewing classes I demonstrate a step and they go sew it.

I was also able to sit in on a few classes. I loved Charlene Schafer's (from the Knit Knack Shop) - Pockets class:

The way the classes are set up you are able to get up close and personal with the demonstrator and really see and learn techniques. In just two classes I know tons more about my knitting machine's than I knew before I got there! My poor brain was on Over Time with the teaching and the Learning it didn't know if it was coming or going.

They also had a fashion show of customers Garments. There was a lot of garments, blankets, accessories and even a doll, here are a few:

The Kids stole the show:

But these were my favorites, I want to learn to knit like this:

You'll want to click on that and see a large picture! I had a great time and I'm sure I'll be back even if I don't have to teach. 

Wordless Wednesday - Rosie

My Sister's new doggie came for a visit.

May Day - Loyalty Day

May 1st - is known as May Day - or Loyalty Day.

As a Military family, we are more aware and participate in more Patriotic functions than most. On Sunday May 1st, my husband woke up at 4:00 AM to drive to the cemetery for a Sun Rise service to perform a symbolic ritual to remember our local veterans that gave it all. He and 2 others showed up. They raised the Flag, said a prayer and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

I was away when I got home I found a very sad man, sad that there wasn't more participation in the remembrance of a Day that was instituted a long time ago to remember Loyalty to our Country.

And then at 8:30 PST - he uttered these words "now I know that what I did in the Gulf was not in vain".

Our Military and their families are a different kind of people. Sometimes I wish that he could leave all of that behind him, but when he makes statements like these I realize how deep in his core his Loyalty to his country really is.

I don't know if President Obama knew it was May/Loyalty Day if he did I didn't hear his Proclamation mentioned anywhere, as I have from previous Presidents.

I do find it ironic that he was able to make the statement "Osama Bin Laden is dead" on the very day he ignored. This Act has now brought about many meet ups and Celebrations of Loyalty to our Country a kin to those in the '50.

Cornell University Defines Loyalty Day as:

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/usc_sec_36_00000115----000-.html
TITLE 36 > Subtitle I > Part A > CHAPTER 1 > § 115 § 115. Loyalty Day

(a) Designation.— May 1 is Loyalty Day.

(b) Purpose.— Loyalty Day is a special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.

(c) Proclamation.— The President is requested to issue a proclamation—

(1) calling on United States Government officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on Loyalty Day; and

(2) inviting the people of the United States to observe Loyalty Day with appropriate ceremonies in schools and other suitable places.