Sunday, August 26, 2007

Aprons

I still have quite a way to go before I reach my goal weight. I'm itching to start sewing something for myself that won't need fitting. So I've decided to make an apron. I LOVE aprons and I'm happy that they are fashionable again, along with dresses. I LOVE dresses also. I enjoy wearing dresses, and heels, and even pantyhose. I'm a girly-girl. Always have been, even when I was climbing trees with my next door neighbor. LOL


I have 3-4 apron patterns. I'm thinking for my first one I'll use either Butterick 4945or Butterick 6567. I like the ones in the middle of the pictures. I like the flounce and bow on 4945 and the piping on 6567.
















New Orleans, Louisiana is still feeling the effects of hurricane Katrina. Are the levies going to protect the city if another hurricane strikes this year? What has been done to protect this city? Why are there still people who cannot return home? Why did it take the government 5 days to give them assistance and why is it taking so long to get to get this city back on it's feet? My heart aches for the people whose lives have been turned upside down. I do not live there. But I love NOLA as if it were my birth place. I feel at home there. I love it's people, I love it's music and I damn sure love it's food.







Thursday, August 16, 2007

New Autumn Patterns

After looking through the Big Four‘s new autumn patterns, I’ve chosen a few that I would like to sew. I didn’t see very many that called my name and demanded to be put on my sewing list though.

I’ve always liked Butterick patterns so the majority of the ones I’ve chosen have been from Butterick.




Number 5100 is a cute tunic! It can be worn a number of ways. I like all of them except the dress. I would also wear straight leg pants with it instead of the tapering ones.




Butterick 5101 is a wrap dress and top with an elastic waist skirt and pants. I like the jacket, even though I’m sure there are others like it that is prettier. I just haven’t found one I really like yet.




I love 5087. I could see view B in a royal blue hound’s-tooth check with a black belt and black pencil skirt.






I like the simplicity of 5066. Since my SWAP colours are black, gray, and white with splashes of red, burgundy and pink and maybe royal blue. You know I love the ensemble as is with a red shoe and bag.



I envision New Look 6729 view A without the bell sleeves in a pretty shade of pink( such as Pantone Confetti 16-1723). I would maybe think about wearing a thin lace cami underneath and an animal print ballet slipper with it and jeans.








And the last one I really like is 3673. I love the retro look, although it’s usually garments and patterns from the 1940s era.







I've also been looking at Ralph Lauren's collection for fall. I love the menswear look and this particular one is my favorite.




When I was a junior/senior in high school my favorite outfit was a black & white hound's-tooth pencil skirt, white shirt, black vest with a tie and heels. I stood out like a sore thumb. I never fit in growing up, from my music (blues, Motown, good ole soul music, while everyone around me was listening to country), to my political views (I was a registered Communist, please don't ask, Angela Davis was a personal heroine, again, please don't ask) to the clothes I wore. I was goth before it was called goth. I believe it was the summer before my sophmore year, I refused to go out of the house unless I was totally covered. I have pale skin anyway and refused to tan. I died my hair jet black and wore red lipstick and all black clothes. I lived by the personal motto "Why be normal?". I guess the few friends I had got used to my weirdness. And the others were afraid it would rub off on them! LOL I still struggle, but I think I'm really close to normal now! (yeah, right.)





Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Today

I received my Diploma of Paralegal Studies from Florida Career College along with my final grades. I graduated with a 3.97. Not the 4.0 that was my goal, but not too shabby either. Now to get that coveted CLA certification. I also plan to get a specialized certification and a Florida certification. After the first of the year I will start working for my RN degree. I will allow myself one year to complete that.

101 Things: #2…As for my SWAP. I have a clearer picture of what I want to sew and wear. I don’t want to actually sew something until I am much closer to my goal weight. I’d love to be able to take advantage of the beautiful autumn colors this year. Especially since I don’t have to wear a uniform to work.


Your Power Element is Water

Your power colors: blue and aqua

Your energy: deep

Your season: winter

Like the ocean, you evoke deep feelings and passion.
You have an emotional, sensitive, and spiritual soul.
A bit mysterious, you tend to be quiet when you are working out a problem.
You need your alone time, so that you can think and dream.









Tuesday, August 14, 2007

It's been a long time

between posts.

I visited with my Dad. We ran a few errands. Mostly we just sat around the house. It was way too hot to do much of anything. I'm planning on going back in a month or so to drive him to FLA for a visit.

I had a very nice long visit with my cousin Reba. We went through Mom's old photos. She identified quite a few family members. Mom didn't write the date and names on the backs of her photos like I do my "hard copies".

Reba explained some things regarding my birth Mother Maggie Lou Russell. Maggie died in 1997. The last time I saw her was in 1964. Of course at the time I didn't understand who Maggie was. She and I share the same birth day, January 21. She had 4 sons. I'm going to try to contact her other family members to see if they could share a photo of her with me. My adoption was a little more complicated than most. (I have always known that I was adopted. I can't remember a time when I didn't know or understand what it meant to be adopted.) My birth grandmother and my adoptive Father’s Mother were sisters. My Dad is my cousin by birth.

When Maggie died, my son Michael went to the funeral home with my parents. They had explained to him who she was. Now, there is a very strong family resemblance between my son and me. No doubt who his MOTHER or FATHER is. Mike looked like Roger, his Dad, too. Mike’s comment was, “Mom, she looked like us.” LOL
Reba said that I look a lot like Maggie.

Things are finally getting back to normal here at home. I’ve thoroughly cleaned the house. I’m sending out resumes and studying for the CLA exam in Nov/Dec.

Now if I just had a job! I’m thinking I might have to go back as a nurse until I can find a paralegal position. Trying to keep a positive attitude. I can do this!!!!