Review: Enchilada Stew

I found this mix on clearance for a stew mix. I checked out the ingredients all gluten free (corn!!!) Thought I would try it out.

It was easy, add water to the bag of dried veggies and the seasoning.

I made it in my crock pot. I let it cook for about 3-4 hours. The house smelled great!

here is the stew done, I paired it with lentil chips. Delicious! It had some kick to them!!

Nice buy for $1.50. Yummy!

xoxoxo,
Lauren

White pearl sweater refashion

Lo... before I cute sweater but it had some weird holes on the top of it.

Actually the previous owner didn't like it either and when I turned it inside out there was a safety pin closing the bottom portion up.

If I took it out it was a bad attempt at key holes. I decided to close it up and get rid of the big beads. 

I pinned the parts together after I removed the pearl buttons. 

Here it is done. But.... it looks a little off and I decided I missed some pearls. 

So I started to add them back using the existing pattern in the knit. 

Done!!

I love my new sweater now! It looks much more cohesive. 

I didn't really loose much sewing the parts together. Yay now I have a new sweater. I am counting down the day to spring warmness.....

xoxoxo,
Lauren

Sewing books.... ahhhh yes!

This Christmas I got several gift cards that I decided I would treat myself to some sewing books. I am so excited. Several of them are Japanese which really begin to work on concepts and how to execute them.

So first I got the Pattern Magic Books by Tomoko Nakamichi! They are a bit of Avant Garde but the concept is still there. This is what I want to learn. I found these books fascinating b/c it is not like the rest of the sewing books out there. These are beyond basic. I love them.

Pattern Magic 1

Pattern Magic 2

And Pattern Magic-Stretch Fabric

The next ones are by another Japanese writer. Drape Drape! These books are all about drape and the different patterns with drape. These may be a little more wearable as compared with the Pattern Magic Books.
So I got Drape Drape 1

And also drape drape 2

Drape drape 3 releases at the end of March I am drooling over it. It is on my list and I am patiently waiting for it!!

Now I am purchased a few Refashioning books. One day I would love to have my own, but until them I love to be inspired by others..
Custom Couture is by a French writer that I actually stumbled on- actually in a store and not online. It is her take on things you can do to update your clothing in your wardrobe.

The second refashion book is Thrifty Style. Which upon first glance some of these projects are not projects I could rock but I thought I would give it a read and a review. It was over 50% off!

These books also recently join a used book Little Green Dresses

With all the reading and writing I do at work it is really nice to come home to books with pictures. LOL I know that just sounds bad. But it is the honest truth!

So why am I posting these books? Well my goal over the remainder of the year is to try a few projects out of these books and post them online and give my honest review of these books. With that said, the first book I am tackling is.... Custom Couture.

I am currently working on this book right now as I write. I do have several projects in progress and I hope to have them done in Mid April so stay tuned!! :) Yay!

xoxoxo,
Lauren

Red flower chiffon top

Here is my 3rd project sewing with chiffon. This one was a bit challenging b/c it was a blouse. Much harder than the skirts b/c there was more working of the fabric and handling. I used the heck out of my serger again!

My cousin Kathy from Wisconsin sent me some fabric she had her friend gave her from India. I immediately fell in love with it. The flower pattern was different than anything I have ever seen and opted to use this fabric to make a top. I used this pattern from McCalls. From reading reviews online I heard that this pattern is super big so I cut the smallest size possible. I am happy I did. It is M6437 by the way.

Here's during one part with gathering and sewing. Wow crazy time sewing. Sometimes it was better for me to sew fast b/c less mistakes and moving for some reason.

Now I had to do the neckline. I did not tack down the chiffon lining from the yoke. I put it on Vera my dressform. Which I have not adjusted the form yet since I moved yet.  

Here are some buttons I found in 3/8 inch. Man I had to do some searching at Joann Fabrics to find red ones. 

I practiced first on a mistake I made while making the yoke I had to recut it a few times. And Yay the buttonhole was the correct size!

I marked where I wanted the button to go so I would know where to put it. 

Here is my button hole! BTW I love my button hole attachment on my sewing machine it is sooooo ridiculously easy!

Done! 

I cut some off the bottom since I sewed the view D and it was too long. 

Done! 

I paired it of course with a white tank top underneath and this fabulous blue shirt!

Realistically I would wear it tucked in to my higher waste skirt. 

Not bad huh? Especially for my first time making a chiffon top!

Back doesn't look too shabby either! Yay! Hope you have been enjoying my chiffon projects. And the sewing continues!

xoxoxo,
Lauren

Chiffon Maxi Skirt #2- with liner

Try #2 at a chiffon skirt. I made the blue one first but I needed a lining and I thought I would extend the waistband just an inch to let the skirt sit a little lower where I like things to sit on my hips. Because the front and back panels are gathered, I could adjust the gathers not add more bulk but have it sit on my hips.

Again used the same simplicity pattern again. I am a whiz at this pattern!

Here is my cut chiffon and a cream colored satin-like material for the liner. I cut the panels only for the skirt, I left the yoke with the pink chiffon. Since I used white interfacing it was close enough in color. I didn't need to add the lining with the interfacing. 

I did the pattern like normal. I sewed the lining separate from the chiffon. I attached them together while sewing to band. 

I serged off the excess material of course! I love my serger!

I also sewed the sides too. I don't know if this was the smartest step b/c I had issues with zipper. LOL! Also I realized I could not overlap the waist. 

I used a regular zipper (not an invisible one). Here's an interesting fact about myself I can put in an invisible zipper with my eyes closed and instantly. I can not do a regular zipper, this took a long time. Probably longer than what it took for me sew the skirt together. Stupid. 

But I made it work and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how the skirt turned out. The lining was great. It sits at the right spot. The length is perfect. OMG it is just perfect

I consider this a win for me! I can't wait to wear it, I tried to pair it with a sweater in hopes I could wear it soon to work.

xoxo,
Lauren