December Sewing Group

We had our Sewing group early this month. A couple of the girls wanted to sew Christmas Stockings. They each had to do between 4 and 6 stockings so most of the class time was used up cutting fabric.

At that point I was glad to have 3 cutting tables. We used my Stocking pattern from last year, blog post here.

And my sister asked me if she could do a cuff on her's so I made a cuff pattern, and embroidery her name's on velvet. Santa will have lots of new stockings to admire and fill!

Mom's set the mood in there home's

I've always known that, and tried to keep aware of my attitude making sure it was one that I would want those around me to catch.

Yesterday I realized I had a mood that everyone around me had caught, When my daughter said 'It doesn't feel like Christmas.'

I had to ponder on that, and figure out why it didn't feel like Christmas, and the culprit was me. Our truck broke down the last week in September, I had someone work on it, they weren't able to fix it, I hauled it of to the dealership, they took an arm and a leg and it worked for 3 days, and then didn't. Had someone else start to work on it, that didn't work, had someone else work on it and he said he did all he could everything was in order in the transmission, hauled it back to the dealership, they took the other arm and leg. And now I cross my fingers and toes and hope and pray that this time it lasts longer than 3 days. So after 2 and a half months and 4 different mechanics, it looks like the truck is fixed.

I say all this because this is what has brought me down for the past couple of months, coming to the point of my low last weekend. So because I allowed myself to be so consumed by this situation, it hasn't felt like Christmas around here.

So what is Christmas for us and why isn't my family feeling it. Well it's not the gifts because even in my stooper I did manage to buy some gifts and put boxes under the tree.

I realized that because I didn't want to keep borrowing cars and asking for rides we did not participate in our regular Christmas functions or do our regular Christmas Service. We have not gotten in a car and gone to go see the Christmas lights, we didn't attend the Prophets Christmas Devotional, We didn't attend the Wonderful Christmas concert that is put on every year, we didn't go to the Ward Christmas Party.

So all in all I have been a Grinch, and my family not realizing it became Grinches with me.

Today, We go find Christmas! Still have 9 days, Merry Christmas Everyone.

Wedding dress Design Research

I love making custom Dresses. It makes the design process easy, you just ask the customer what they want. Since I made a goal for myself to make dresses even if I don't have customers in order to start a design line, the design process is different.

I have to guess what people would like. As I have mentioned before there are companies that forecast trends, color trends, shape trends, silhouette trends. Most designers take a look at this type of forecasting and then just have it in the back of there minds while they are designing.

Again I don't have money to spend on a forecasting package, so I take what is free. FirstView.com is a website that photographs designer shows and puts the images online, the current lines are pay-per-view, but there are old design lines that are Free. I like to go there and see what Designers have put out in the past and try and forecast what they might be doing in the future. Here is a link to a search result for Free Bridal collections. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Secret to Spaghetti straps

I have found the best kept secret to Spaghetti Straps. I always avoid them, I hate turning them. It takes a million years to turn a spaghetti strap.

But today it did not! Thanks to Jules at CraftyEndeavors.blogspot.com

You have to got check it out - you will fall over when you find out what the secret is.

Thank you Jules!

Ribbon flowers

I bought this DVD on how to make ribbon flowers at a Tradeshow were Helen Gibb was our next door vendor, almost a year ago. Now I want the book so I don't have to keep using the DVD and fastward and rewind until I learn all the techniques. I didn't have enough money to buy both at the time, but do recall I did like the illustrations in the book.

When I was trying to figure out how I was going to hide the stains on my upcycled sweater purse, it hit me. Ribbon Flowers, I have plenty of ribbon, not sure why other than I like it.

My first two flowers did not turn out perfect but they work to hide the stains and they were actually quite easy to make. I think I'm going to get rid of the bow, and do more flowers in different colors.

QuinceAñera Dress Done

It has been really crazy around here. The transmission to my truck has been sitting on the floor for almost a week now. Needless to say it is very hard for a one car family to have the one car out of commission.

Well at least I didn't need to go anywhere important, Oh wait I did - I had a QuinceAñera to go to. Well with plenty of help and charity, The dress got done, tried on, an attempted photo shoot on Thursday end in a ripped dress and then back to me for repairs. Warning: when you are walking next to a woman in a large dress of any kind shuffle your feet under her dress, so you don't step on it as she walks off.

But more than a dress the pictures below are of a B-E-A-utiful family! Gotta Love the Lopez! We love you guys!