My frozen jacket

Hello everyone, it has been a little while since my last post. I have been busy with the holidays and trying to get my house back in order.

Being as craft oriented as I am I can accumulate a LOT of stuff!!! And then I have nowhere to put it as my house is not very big! So I (and my husband) lol have been trying to come up with solutions to find more space to stash my paint, fabric,canvas’s, markers, fabric, pencils, rulers, fabric, thread, notions, fabric, sewing machines, books, fabric, brushes, ironing board and iron…etc etc, etc…..you get the picture….oh did I mention I need room for fabric??? hehehe. And that is not including my custom made drapery business things such as a large cutting table and office supplies etc.!!!

We are still working on some house renovations and would love to have a bathroom off of the master bedroom and so my “junk” has to move and a bit of rearranging has to happen! We also would like to add on a porch to the house, we will see. Time and  money will have to come together!! :)

I just put the finishing touches on my jacket today! I was so excited to finish it so I could wear it!! There is just something exciting about putting on something new!

Leon took the pictures and voila, here it is!!! What a perfect day to take pictures!! The sun was out but still getting snow flurries off and on

 



This jacket is made of 100% cotton with a good quilt batting inbetween (not the fluffy kind but the solid more expensive kind, not sure what it is called) The white is  a textured vinyl. Looks like leather.

Each piece is quilted separately with metallic silver thread. Not easy to do as the thread will break many times! Quite annoying.


This piece shows the shaping of the jacket. I have never bought a jacket that was shaped to my body and so this is very nice for me to wear. I have always found that jackets would never fit well at the bust or back. Having a sway back and large hips, store bought jackets never have quite enough room in the butt area and bags out at the small of the back and the princess seam fitting at the bust is always shapeless it seems. Being able to design my own I can eliminate that problem and I can have a curvy fitted jacket which I love!
 

I wanted white fur to put on it because you can’t have a “Frozen” jacket without white fur right??

Well at 35 dollars a meter and it is fake fur besides!! I won’t be using it too many times!!! haha Good thing I only bought 1/2 meter!!! Yikes!!!  I lined the inside of my hood and cuffs with it, it feel deliciously luxurious. Feels like baby bunny fur! Don’t worry, it is fake!! :)

 

I had some white fur lined boots that I have had a few years to go perfectly with this jacket.

I don’t know if you can see this but there are criss-cross metallic thread on the back side seams sewn by hand!! Can you say work and sore fingers!!!???  It took forever and I had big blisters on the end of my fingers trying to pull that metallic thread through!! Ouch! lol The metallic thread takes a larger needle and is much harder to go through three layers. Besides that if I had of been a bit smarter and less lazy I would have looked for my thimble!! (Sheepish grin)

I know, you don’t feel a bit sorry for me do you?? lol

And warm!!! Wow, it is warm!!! I went shopping with it on and I couldn’t wait to leave the store!!

I got a compliment on it from the first person who saw it! She said, Wow, you have a nice jacket! I said thanks, she said, knowing you sew and make jackets you probably made it did you? I said, probably and we laughed.

   

I found the perfect match for a scarf at Le Chateau, I really like it with my jacket.
I have to say, this is probably my favorite jacket so far… I’m sure there will be more though…

Thank you for your interest in the things I make, I really appreciate all the compliments and encouragement you guys give!! like wow, makes a person feel great!!! :)

God has blessed me so much with these talents, it is breath taking at times, I feel overwhelmed sometimes with wonder at it all, and I often ask God why I have sooo many things I like to do, it is almost too much at times and it confuses me.
I get a lot of compliments and a lot of people ask me why I have so many talents and really I don’t know exactly why, it sure isn’t anything I have done. I know I have a lack of fear of trying things which I guess that is good, you can’t do something if you are too afraid to try. I can’t give myself gifts and talents.
I do know one thing, when you are complimenting me you are actually complimenting God because HE is the one who gives talents and gifts and every good thing.

1 Timothy 6:17 New International Version (NIV)

 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

James 1:17 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Cutest little country beach dress you ever did see!!!

 

Now this is screaming country charm!! I found this cute fabric at the used clothing store in my favorite fabric bin! It is not really “my style” but my sister sure likes it!!! (Sorry Cara, but I already promised her she could have it when she comes home from Alberta in May BUT if it doesn’t fit her you can have it!!!)

This fabric was not printed correctly. The border was on the wrong selvage, not with the stretch but against the stretch and so I had to do magic to work it into the design. I cut the border into wedges and sewed them all together to make a “new” border and so I used the rest of the fabric with the stretch going across the body which worked out great!! Sorry if this is confusing those who don’t sew but it’s too difficult to explain without having  a whole chapter on it! lol

This is a flower I had kicking around here for like forever!!! You know, one of those things you keep hanging on to thinking you may use it someday? I didn’t know what I was ever going to use it for and trust me I’ve tried to use it many times for different projects and it just never seemed right…..until now, I think it goes perfectly with the dress and adds just that right touch!

This is ribbon I had bought at La Shoppe a Slu when the store closed and I bought a whole bunch of left over ribbon (Yes I know a lot of you English people can’t pronounce that name! It’s Slu with a french EU  lol )

It just happened to match the flower perfectly!

 

       

 

I wish I had some little cowboy boots to go with this…but I don’t :(

 

Pretty short Lee Anne!! Wouldn’t want to get into a puff of wind with that dress!!! 

Yes, yes I do!!!

   

 

I suppose I could wear them with some leggings but still, I think a puff of wind would be better!!

How else could I show off the cute little matching shorts I made!!?? lol

 

 

  

I took all these pictures and then realized that I hadn’t ironed the bottom of the dress yet!!! Oops!!! Oh well, you guys will have to deal with my wrinkled skirt! lol

Shorts with the sweater I made last year

 

Make up I chose to go with this dress. Soft brown pinks, blue and gold

 

Matching nails!

 

That’s it folks we are at the end. Hope you have a great day!!! :)

 

 

P.S. I just bought an old wooden desk/bureau for the bedroom!!! Another refurbish job!!! Yay for me!!! :)))) Pretty busy with work right now with blinds, valances, alterations and window seat pillows. I just find it so funny how people are. We are creatures of habit for sure. In business you can be slow for a while and then all of a sudden everyone is calling you!!??lol
I owned a little video store some years back and it was the same thing, it could be dull all day and then one person would show up and then everyone would just rush in at the same time to rent their movies. I’m sure it happens with most businesses. If only would could pace everyone out... :)  But thank God we have  jobs!!! :) And if you don’t and you need one then I pray that you find a good one!!!

 

II Corinthians 9:8 NIV                   
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work

Have faith

 

Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Have faith

 

I Thessalonians 5:16-19 NIV

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; this is the will of God for your life.

Have faith

 

Ecclesiastes 11:4 AMP

He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Have faith

 

I Thessalonians 5:16-19 NIV

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; this is the will of God for your life.

Have faith

Beautiful purple lace dress with matching sweater!!!

 

I was in need of something pretty, comfortable and warm…always warm for winter because I hate to be cold! I didn’t have anything that fit the bill and so I had to sew something up.

I had this ugly plain purple long sleeved shapeless thick T-shirt that I don’t even know where it came from. It may have been my husbands, I don’t know but this is what I made with it.

Sorry, I forgot to take my before pictures…I get so excited you know, by the time I even think of the pictures I’ve got it half done!!! lol

Some of the pictures were taken, (by my husband Leon),on the water front, Killam’s Wharf, Yarmouth N.S. Canada

This is a beautiful painting someone painted on the side of the building!! Sorry forgot the name of the artist!!!…….

This is my purple sweater that I made

 

I folded the top in half to find the middle and I cut it. Just in the front though. I turned the edges under and sewed them down

.

I can wear this with jeans, jogging pants or dress pants. Love it!!!

That may look like the virgin Mary behind me….but it is not! lol

I added the lace from the fabric I had to make my dress on the edge of the sleeves and hem. Makes a nice touch I think.

I then sewed up my dress using a simplicity pattern that I had on hand.

And here it is…..

The lace has been sewed with the fabric as one piece. Really hard to get the pieces to lay flat but if you pin them together first while they are laying flat it shouldn’t be a problem. Just be extra careful because one false move and your lace will be crooked and bunched up and will not lay flat against the backing fabric. I used the scalloped edging for the hem which omits having to make the hem on the lace. I just hemmed the backing fabric right underneath the lace.

This is what you do when you run out of fabric!!! Yup, I ran out of lace but that’s ok because it looks fine without it. You see I don’t totally have plans when I buy my fabric. I see it and I like it and so I buy it thinking I could make a dress or a top out of this and so I am not sure how much I should buy at the time but being creative helps figure out what to do about the shortage of fabric. There is always a way to use it.

I don’t know what the pen on the floor is about but I think it was on my keyboard when I moved it :/ 

I can wear this with a belt too.
I already wore this dress to church so some of you may have seen it already.
I wore it with plain black tights, probably looked better but I think they were in the wash when I took these pictures and so I substituted with these…

My sweater and jacket together!!! A perfect match!!!

 

Sleeves are sheer lace. Flowers are bright blue, dark green, white and black and the sheer part has a slight purple tinge to it. That is why I decided to use a purple or lilac if you prefer, fabric underneath.

 

It can be worn with or without a belt

Zipper in the back

I smocked it, I smocked it, I smocked it!!!! YES I DID LOL I smocked it!!!! This is the first time I have ever smocked anything and I really really enjoyed it and I will be doing it again!!!  Doing this technique gathers where ever you smock it and in this case my square top that I used became nicely gathered at the waist for a neat fit, great to do for someone that has curves (hourglass or pear shape, even someone with a rectangle or ruler shape this will give the illusion of curves as long as it is slightly baggy on the top and bottom of the waist) The fabric is pinched together and sewn in an even pattern making a kind of triangle look all around the sweater. Did I say I loved this??? I do!!!

 

I guess it was time that I posted these pictures because fall is almost over!!! It is getting colder here! We had a fabulous fall though and hoping we will have a beautiful winter too! Hope you enjoyed my pics of my revamped sweater and my new purple lace dress!!!

Just want to say a big thank you to all who support my blog!!! WOW, you guys are soooo great!!!

Canada,United States,Russia,China,United Kingdom,Sweden,Netherlands,Poland,Australia,Germany to name a few! Don’t be afraid to comment!! Love to hear from you!! :)

P.S. Don’t ever feel judged!!!! If you are feeling guilty(like someone is pointing a finger at you and hating you), this is NOT of God! It doesn’t matter WHO(or who they think they are) is doing the pointing!!!
If you are feeling convicted(knowing it’s wrong and that you shouldn’t be doing it) this is God speaking to you. For your own good try to listen.

John 8:2-11

New International Version (NIV)

8

² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.

 ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

 ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.

 ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time,

the older ones first,

until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Whenever someone is trying to make me feel guilty as if they are better than me and condemning me or putting me down, I remember this scripture and it is very helpful to me. Jesus never condemned anyone and neither should anyone else because all of us have faults and if you think yours is better than someone else’s, you are only fooling yourself… yes some have more sins than others and are more in your face but it doesn’t mean that someone who’s sin is hidden(and you know who you are) is better than someone else. Sin is sin to God.

What do you think Jesus was writing in the sand? Why do you think the oldest left first?

Don’t forget that even though Jesus said he didn’t condemn her, he asked her to leave it behind.

Is he saying it’s ok that you did it, I don’t condemn you, now go, I got you out of this one but now stop living that way?

Why do you think he said that? Was it so he could have his own way or was it for her own good that he said it? 

Jesus does NOT condemn and it does not matter WHAT sin your are committing but he asks for you to leave it. Will you do it for him?