A Broken Heart!!!!

Hello Friends,
Just want to thank each of you for the kind words and encouragement. You will never know how much this means to me!!!

My best friend/husband passed away on Friday, 06Nov2009 during the wee hours. He had a short stay at the hospital from Monday 02Nov2009 came home on the 5th and gracefully spoke his wishes and went home to be with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What a brave, encouraging, uplifting, etc. man he was.

Today, Tuesday 10Nov2009 is the Memorial Service. Though he has departed this earthly life, I have no doubt that we will be reunited someday. Can't sleep tonight eventhough, I've had peaceful and restful nights up until now. I know that I will get through this but the suddeness of it all is a bit much.

Please continue to pray for my strength. Word of advice: Get your annual checkups, demand nothing short of a complete examination and second opinion!!!! To care about, love and respect your physician is never enough when it comes to our health. Second and third opinions are in order!!!!

Just wanted to drop a line, now off to bed. The love and support that has been shown toward my family is astronomical. As a Truancy Officer, he deeply loved children, encouraed them to remain in school, never giving up or dropping out.

There will never be enough time nor words to describe this man of my life. I pray that I be as dignified in death as he was. Now to heal....

Until Next Time,
Brenda

Please Pray Along With Us!!!!!

Many of you have noticed the lack of posting. Much has been going on in my life. On October 6th, my husband and best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Our world has been totally rocked off it's rafters!!! He has gone through two rounds of chemo and is scheduled for the 3rd round and radiation this upcoming Tuesday. I ask for your prayers for my strength during this time. As you can imagine, we are totally in shock dealing with this.

My soulmate is a strong believer in exercise and began each day with a four mile-a-day walk @ 4:30am before going to work. He had been in and out of the doctors office for about three years with complaints of shortness of breath, sinus problems, etc. and was constantly diagnosed as having bronchitis and being treated accordingly. Neither of us, having no medical training, trusted our physician and relied on his expertise. Excuse me, I'm still in shock and rambling.

I ask that you please pray along with us as we go through this difficult time. Our Faith is sustaining us right now. Faye, thank you so much for listening to me the other week and encouraging me.

My posts will be sparse and at times not at all for awhile. I will try to keep you all posted on the developements. God is able and that I know and believe but right now I am struggling. Thanks to you all for continuing to follow my blog.

In His Care,
Brenda

National Sewing Month!!!

September is National Sewing Month and to that end I need to get in my sewing room and whip up some things. Begin my fall sewing, maybe? I hope you all are having a great holiday vacation. Let's sew!!!

Until Next Time.....
Brenda

CONGRATULATIONS MY DARLINGS!!!

Back in May, you all shared in my excitement at the graduations of my son and daughter from Emory University (Atlanta) and Aiken Technical College (Aiken, SC), respectively.

My son is now, and has been since January 2009, the Plant Manager at a major company in New Jersey and my daughter recently obtained her RN License!!! I am so very proud of you both!!! Now both are contemplating higher degrees in their fields.

Oh yea! my granddaughter received 5 Smiley Faces for being quiet(lol) and my grandson is back doing his thing at daycare. Got to give props, you know!!

Yes You Can!!! So says Momma Bear!!

Until Next Time,
Brenda

Contemplations and Babbling!!!

Okay Blog land, it is early morning and I'm still awake contemplating the previous days' sewing project. Prepped two patterns (I don't usually cut my patterns, but trace them using Swedish Tracing paper) but this time I decided to take the giant leap and cut the actual patterns, fusing each piece with fusible woven interfacing.
Mercy Me!!!

Afterwards, I tissue fitted Mollie (dress form) and discovered that one of the patterns had an obvious defect!!! Mercy Me!!!. The next pattern involves a bias skirt with an enormous amount of fabric. Spent three hours trying to eliminate some of the excess fabric. Even though this skirt pattern is designed with a bias layout and markings, it still has an enormous amount of fabric. Four attempts later, I was just absolutely tired of the fabric and the darn pattern!!

The pics above gives you a glimpse at the patterns and fabrics I so lovingly fondled, obsessed over and made every attempt at controlling my need to just cut into and suffer through tons of guilt and insane madness at not making a muslin or tissue fitting said patterns.

Well, now that I have blamed the patterns, maybe today I'll have greater results.
Thanks for listening. Only those that sew can understand my angst. Not sure who to blame if all fails today (LOL)!!!!

Until Next Time,
Brenda

Giving Proper Credit

In my last post, I mentioned that I underlined the Silky Shantung with French Fuse to reduce the wrinkling. Please note that this method was taken from Sandra Betzina's Book "More Fabric Savvy". This book is fantastic and if you don't have it already, I strongly urge you to add it to your book collection.

Until Next Time,
Brenda

Review - Vogue 8278

Helloooo, I have been sewing. This is the latest. This Vogue pattern has been in my collection since its introduction (2006) and has finally made its way to the top of my to-do list.

This is a very easy pattern. Described as a Top, Dress, Sash and Skirt. I decided to make the dress with the sleeves froom the top and the sash. I sketched this out first to see how I would like and it worked. The dress is actually sleeveless with a back slit.

After making a muslin, I discovered alterations were needed for a high round back (1/4 inch- tapering to nothing), 1 inch waist lengthening, 2 inch below hip lengthening and I finally added 2inches to the hem area. Rather than use slits I added 2inches to the back slit area and made an enclosed vent. The dress is a pullover and after the alterations was a great fit. I made this dress in a Size 12.

The fabric is Silky Shantung which I interlined with French Fuse to help eliminate the wrinkling, which is characteristic of this fabric. I really cut the wrinkling down tremendously and was so easy to wear.

I highly recommend this pattern and may make the top and skirt later on. I love this pattern and am very pleased with the alterations. The high round back alteration was dead on. No gapping in the neck area. I was only able to get a front pic of me wearing, still have an uncooperative photographer (LOL)!!!

Until Next Time,
Brenda