Author: ~LOLA~

Hey everybody!…Good afternoon to ya’!…This will be a short post because I have a lot of pictures to share on this post….I’ve made another ensemble; this one is a skirt and matching jacket…Remember my shorts and matching blazer jacket?…apparently I’m still on that hype and I decided to make another outfit that is “matchy-matchy”…..The skirt is View A from Butterick’s B5466; I’ve made View E before and it fits absolutely awesome btw because of the princess seams….this view was the simplest of them all with it just being a straight skirt with 8 darts….The jacket is simply called “The Jacket” from one of my sewing books that has patterns….its came together perfectly this go ’round; I’ve made one before as well….The top is from an old school Simplicity pattern (I forget which number but its from the 80’s) that I found on one of my trips to my local thrift stores….I’ve blogged about all the stuff that I talked about if you wanna read about ’em and see ’em after reading this…Just scroll down the page to my older posts….I got the shoes from Target a couple years ago for like $25-$30 dollars tops….they also had gold and pewter but I just went with the Black…I even made my belt!..I always feel “dy-no-mite” when I wear my creations…All ME everything!…….Well I guess I’ll share these photos now….What have you been sewing?…Are you on the matchy-matchy hype right now?…what about the super sheer hype like my top?….Share with me!
~~MsKRS~~

Howdy folks!…Y’all can probably guess what I’m doing by now; watching Judge Judy and sewing stuff up…I had been working on a new collared shirt and just like my life it was an adventure…a FUN one, but still an adventure just the same….the shirt is Butterick’s B5526, View D heavily modified…I basically just used the pattern as a guide…..I started the shirt and everything was going well; or so I thought….I ended up cutting it too small and had to get a little innovative….In other words, MsKRS, the Designer had to step in….the pattern itself, I must say is totally cool, the view I cut has princess seams **my FAVORITE** and plenty of buttons, pockets and other additions….its has 5 views in total (friggin’ awesome)….but I just wanted this one to be plain since the fabric is seersucker and tiny checked….busy, ummm yes indeed but I LOVE THE FABRIC, well A LOT…..so I decided early into making the shirt that I wouldn’t add the buttons…..I guess my mind already knew that I would cut the shirt too small so the no buttons idea went hand in hand with that….
To finish up my new shirt I went to my neighborhood JoAnn’s (ugghhhh JoAnn’s and I have a love/hate relationship) for some elastic and of course they didn’t have what I was looking for…I should have just gone to Hancock’s but I didn’t feel like going that far…the color I wanted was all gone, and it looked like it had been that way for a while….so the crafty beast that lives inside of me came out and said: Make it work! (in Tim Gunn’s voice)…is Tim Gunn the crafty beast that lives inside of me?…nahhhhh but I heard his voice anyway…..so I grabbed some regular elastic and some fabric dye….the elastic matched perfectly when I was done! (which almost NEVER happens)….I added it to the front in place of the buttons….it fits perfectly and I cant wait to wear it…its effin’ awesome!!!!!
Now you may also notice an infinity scarf around the neck of Pink Cookie adorning my new shirt….well yep, I made that too….no pattern though, they’re so easy that you really don’t need one….I made the scarf last year though out of some soft knit fabric I had in my stash, and have worn it several times…I’ve just never taken a picture…I wear my creations every single day so IMO, that is just too many pictures to take….I’m MsKRS, NOT Vanity Smurf! LOL!  I told myself I would take more photos though, because after all that is one of the points of me sharing….I want to make myself a new bag too…maybe I’ll have one to show you next go ’round….Have y’all been adding to your wardrobes?…what are you pairing together these days?…share with me!…. okay, photos now, talk to you good folks soon!
~~MsKRS~~

 Infinity scarf coolness…its sooo soft…cost me under a buck to make it!!!!…now THAT’S frugal fashion at its finest! (tongue twister; say that 5 times fast! lol)

Can you see the princess seam?…I love, love, love princess seams!

Good evening all!…I haven’t posted in a little while with what I call some good reasons….Now how is everybody before I start rambling?….I hope everything is well and I’ve been all right; been involved in some cool stuff too….First let me tell you about our picnic….remember the
 HAPPY BLACK GIRL picnic I mentioned a little while ago?….well the turnout was just awesome!…I loved every single minute of it and I cant wait to hang with the folks that I met that day….Of course I was late getting there so my picnic basket wasn’t how I intended it to be….My huny came with me too (usually the cause of all my late arrivals) so we ended up having to settle for some sandwiches from Blimpie’s, chips, and sweet tea….but you should have seen some of the baskets….I spied everything from whole roasted chicken to super healthy cucumber and lemon water!….we had it all; LOVE totally included….HUGE SHOUT OUT TO DEVOYA MAYO; she is a semi-“new” friend (I met her last year sometime and its been on ever since) that is literally FULL OF ADVENTURE….I’m just lucky that she asks me to tag along sometimes….
I’m also working on a super cute shirt with princess seams in the front and the back (of course; I LOVE princess seams) but it is now a UFO (unfinished object)…I didn’t snap any photos of my shirt in progress; I guess because its not done…..I have the buttons/buttonholes and the cuffs left to finish….My new hem gauge from Wawak has the hem speaking to people! (its THAT nice y’all forreal)…I love it and it totally helps; I really needed it in my sewing room…..I’ll take photos when I finish it up which is hopefully soon….
I haven’t really felt like taking any pictures of myself; I don’t want folks to get tired of looking at me….and I also don’t want to appear like a one-hit wonder (only showing my sewing stuff) because I really do have a lot of coolness I do around here and my jack rabbit life…(my Mama used to say I live like a jack rabbit; I have a tendency to run wild sometimes)….She admired that about me and she told me all the time…
Courtesy of Ms. Mayo again I was invited to another cool event in our downtown area called Dinner at the Library…Yes yall, food, books and talking about crafts…I was Devoya’s guest there; even had a  name tag printed up waiting for me!….We talked about crafty goodness and met other like-minded and curious folks…it was a nice atmosphere (afterall, it was at the library) and a good time….It was somewhat formal I guess because I did see a couple people that looked pretty sharp….
Me, I just wore some wedges, wide-legged jeans, and my
HAPPY BLACK GIRL t-shirt….I got a couple side eyes but then again when do I not?….Some folks are just that way….(shrugs shoulders)….I didn’t take photos at this event; it just didn’t seem appropriate….
I just finished a apple cobbler a little while ago too….the apples look soooo good around this time of year; you can tell its apple season…..I grabbed 6 Granny Smith apples the other night when I was getting some dinner stuff….I always eat and use the green apples; I love the tartness….when I was slicing the apples for the cobbler I was snacking ’em up and I kept one to eat later (I used 5 apples for my cobbler)…..I did a crispier crust this go ’round too….I wasn’t feeling the bready crust this time….it came out nice…its cooling now, I’m going to eat a piece in a few….well okay y’all I have rambled on and on….photos now….
~~MsKRS~~

 peeling AND eating ’em up….I even bit a corner off one of the cores…hehehehehehe

 at this stage is when I have to restrain myself so that I have enough fruit for what I’m actually cooking…

 Cinnamon-y, sugary Granny Smith’s…..

All done….;)

Good afternoon everybody!…How is everything going?…I hope well; I’m all right except my allergies are once again irritating me….and no one knows why I decided to get not one cat but two knowing how my allergies are (shaking my head in my own disbelief)…..I got up and cleaned the barrage of cat hair and other germs from my house yesterday and after that I decided to sew myself an outfit….Sewing is guilt-free when all the other junk is done….
Remember when I said I was going to make a cape for myself?…well I did…I did yesterday…well, its a cape shirt….I had some boucle’ I wanted to use initially but when I got ready to sew it up it just screamed blazer and skirt!…I spotted another piece of fabric and then another and I thought hmmmm cape shirt and skirt?….why yes, don’t mind if I do…..I was going to make the cape as outerwear but my sewing plans ALWAYS change….the fabric always wants to do something else; and I let it have its way like ALL THE TIME….
For my cape shirt I used a rust-colored pashmina and a silky feeling tie dye fabric for my skirt…..I copped both fabrics from Hancock’s…..the skirt is supposed to be A-line but Pink Cookie is such a skinny arse that you can barely tell….it should show better when I wear it…and this button thing?  I have to toot my own horn and say its effortless, for me it really is…Did I mention that I friggin’ LOVE this outfit?….for those that don’t know me well, retro/vintage is one of my absolute faves….hence even the thought of making a cape….(well besides that fact that Super Girl is another one of my alter egos)….so damned elegant and lady-like….and this outfit (the skirt does) sports three Pantone Fall 2013 colors which are: Koi, Samba, and Carafe….go check ’em out when you get a chance…the Spring 2014 colors are already introduced too!!!!!…If I left anything out or you wanna know more about my new fit let me know…I’m always ready to talk sewing!….got a few pictures for you good people and I’ll talk to y’all soon!
P.S. My next post will probably be about our
HAPPY BLACK GIRL End of Summer picnic
coming up this weekend….I’m going to take plenty of photos so y’all don’t feel left out….
okay pictures of my Super Girl outfit now!

 Check out these awesome buttons from my Mama’s stash…..

How’s every body’s evening going?…Mine is just fine; just looking at the Golden Girls and getting ready to finish going through all my scraps from almost three years of sewing….yes, I have THAT many doggone scraps of fabric….I liked looking through ’em though; I remember each and every project I completed with each piece…even the very first one….ahhhhh nostalgia coolness….
Anyway, I’d been thinking to myself since my babygirl isn’t always here anymore (she works now and spends a lot of time with her boyfriend) I figured I may as well take over the bathroom and give it a makeover….I don’t feel guilty now because ever since she was little girl I did the bathroom in a lot of kids’ attire; the rubber ducky theme, pink polka dots, and even the Brats once adorned my loo….I know I mentioned I love elephants before and that is going to be the staple I decorate around…I have a couple of elephant pictures to hang other little things to do….I originally wanted to feature my newly decorated bathroom and the new stuff all together but after I finished the rug, I decided to feature it on its own…Yeah, its THAT cool imo….
The rug is why I drug out all my scraps….I looked through them and found some cool scraps to work with….I cut strips from the scrap fabrics I used but not in any uniform size….they were however on the longer side; I’m sure if you used shorter ones they would work just as good….I used some kinda weird fabric I bought last year sometime as a base…it has a rubber backing and it kinda looked like drapes on the fabric side…I don’t know what is really is but it was absolutely perfect for my rug project….and my huny is always messing with me saying you just buy any kind of fabric don’t you?…I always smile and say I’ll use it one of these days and I always do….I used quite a bit of scraps too but it didn’t even put a dent in the scrap pile I have left…This scrappy rug is also my OWN idea from my OWN noggin….I just thought I’d mention that before someone decides to claim it as their own (its been A LOT of that going on lately)….and if you wanna know how I made it, just ask!….its super duper easy!….I’ll also share photos of my the bathroom when I finish adding stuff to it…probably in a couple days….the spray paint is drying on another project I did for the makeover too….
I’ll talk to you good folks soon, hopefully I’ll be getting on around to Hancock’s Fabrics tomorrow…I want this jacket pattern from Burda and some faux leather to whip it up…..or maybe I’ll use a soft suede; its on sale for 60% off….Pictures now…..
~~MsKRS~~

the beginning….it took about two or three days…I probably could have finished it in one or two but I kept stopping…

 the scrap pile….I need to finish going through this heap….

 Isn’t she a beaut??!!…I LOVE how this rug came out…..I really do…

 My new scrappy rug again….

 the underside….my huny said Hey babe you can put it on this side too…ummm NO babe….the other side only lol…

Howdy folks!…I hope everything is going good with everyone; I’ve been doing just fine myself….I’m starving but its the “bleh starving” because you don’t know what you want to eat….you just feel like a hostage….I haven’t sewn anything in the last few days either…I’ve just been at my friend’s new place watching football…..
Today is the last day of September; which is the last day of National Sewing Month….All of us folks that sew don’t really worry about the end of this month because we sew no matter what month it is but it always feels kinds melancholy when this month ends…..well to me it does….I may sew up some things today but at this point I don’t know what those things may be….I have a slight headache too; and it may be because I’m hungry…..
This post is really to show off my awesome stain removal solution I copped from where?…You guessed it; Hancock’s Fabrics!…when you get your fabric cut at the cutting table there are always awesome products sitting there just in case you may need them…one day while patiently waiting my turn, I noticed a little bottle that claimed big things….As I read the back of the bottle, it claimed that it could remove: oil, paint, blood, ink, like basically anything…and it also said it was environmentally safe….OMGoshhh a miracle product?….Why yes, yes it is!!!!!….this product is called “Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover” and its friggin’ AWESOME!!!!!…I thought I had ruined one of my favorite tote bags a while ago when it accidentally fell and rubbed against my friend’s car tire….it had thee biggest, worst stain on it and I was sure it would NEVER come out…I washed it twice and that evil stain just sat there…Just yesterday I put Grandma to the test….that stain came out almost instantly!!!!! and it was old!!!!!…I just put a few drops of the stain remover on it and lightly scrubbed it with a damp towel and ta da!…no more stain!!!!!…so I guess this post is to HIGHLY recommend this product for your household and sewing room and to say so long to September….Seriously, go get some of this stuff….Talk to you folks soon!
~~MsKRS~~

Good afternoon y’all!…I’m sitting here watching my huny play Grand Theft Auto 5 and he just got “killed” for flying over a military base! LOL!…I’m going to make a “swear jar”; with one play session I’ll have enough money to get myself some new fabric!….He loves these games though, although you can’t exactly tell by listening to him play!…
The sewing bug was biting pretty hard yesterday and was also whispering that I should start sewing for the season change….Now I always sew things that are for the season per say but I don’t always use the designated “Fall colors”….Now it gets cool around here for sure (today is in the high 70’s/low 80’s) and there is a need for layering…but I NEVER feel a need to wear dull colors….I love all colors; the Pantone colors for Fall are beautiful but if I want to wear bright Orange or Yellow smack dab in the middle of Winter time, then I definitely will….The sun usually shines although the air may be crisp and I take full advantage….I get depressed when the sun doesn’t shine and my colorful clothes keep my spirits up…
Now this dress is from a pattern I’ve made before; just a different view…its New Look Pattern # 0167…..This is View B….I love the neckline; there is no collar on this view….I used a fabric I’ve had in my stash since last year some time and I got it from ——>HANCOCK’S FABRICS!…I friggin’ love that place….It’s kinda slinky, but it was super easy to work with….it was the perfect choice for this dress….I omitted the kick pleat in the back; I just didn’t want it….I wanted the focus on this pretty hounds tooth fabric….the colors I guess are “Fall” like although I didn’t plan it that way….The berry color my new dress has also matches one of the Pantone colors for Fall 2013; the one they dubbed “Vivacious”….I will be just that when I rock this dress;  mos’ def…..
I have successfully mastered the invisible zipper and it shows on this dress…the neckline is fire too…I had a little trouble with the set-in sleeves but I fixed it right up….sleeves have proven easy to fix unlike other things….
I’ll be pairing this dress with heels and boots and I anticipate a lot of wear out of this dress!…I loves and loves me some hounds tooth….
I’ll share my pictures now, and talk to you good people a little later!
~~MsKRS~~

invisible zipper?…piece a’ cake!
 
 

Good afternoon everybody!…Now y’all know what I’m doing by now; waiting on Judge Judy to come on and thinking and living sewing…My huny and I noticed that we ran out of bottled waters (our water has floaties in it blehhhhh) so we made an impromptu trip to the grocery store…Of course he got his usual Red Box movie that he has yet to watch (I don’t know why that Red Box attracts him so) and I went over to grab a couple of pieces of fresh fruit….I was originally going to grab some Black plums because they were so tasty when I got some a few weeks ago….and everybody knows its now apple season so I was going to grab a couple of those too…Am I the only one that sees apples and instantly think “Apple Crisp”?…well as soon as I got to looking around at all the fruit I wanted something baked….Then I see some peaches….hmmmm peaches always = peach cobbler so I settled on those…Grown folks usually have all the rest of the stuff at home to make peach cobbler so I only needed peaches….In a minute, if the Lord says the same I will have the peaches on my tree at my beautiful country home….(a girl can dream can’t she?)…..well the dream ain’t too far-fetched because we had every tree in the book when we were kids…even a White peach tree, a walnut tree, and grape vines!….so I may just get my wish…**fingers crossed**…don’t even get me started on how all me and all my cousins used to stalk the loquat tree!…
The cobbler is in the oven right now; it should be almost done….I have my Mama’s recipe in my mind so I just went to work….I peeled and sliced up the peaches and made up the batter…Now some may say batter? what batter?…well if you don’t know, I’ll enlighten you real quick like…There are TWO kinds of peach cobbler….One with a doughy, bready kind of crust and one with a flaky crust….Well since I am my Mama’s babygirl and I like the doughy, bready one, that’s the one she made for me…although the woman could make any crust, any damn thing for that matter taste exceptionally good….her flaky crust she just saved for other pies such as her famous Sweet Potato pie which I have in my brain matter as well….I basically like sweet bread/crust so she made that the feature of the cobbler when she made it…I don’t really like soft fruit so she would go easy on the fruit too…I would run outside and pick the peaches; those were thee BEST peaches I have ever had from then ’til now….they were so huge and sweet….I would eat damn near all the peach slices before she could get ’em in the cobbler!…I sure do miss her….and that is possibly the biggest understatement in the world…..The one that had the more bready consistency was easier than the flaky crusted one; because the flaky crust has to be rolled out….I used to like looking through the stove window and seeing the doughy one rise up over the peaches (I just went and looked at mine); I thought that was so cool……
There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for the parents I had….they taught me so much about life and being who I am supposed to be….I’m grateful man, I’m truly grateful….
I only took a few pics; if you want to know more about how to bake it up just let me know!
Now if I could just make my Bigmama’s famous tea cakes I would be really winning…..
~~MsKRS~~

Good afternoon folks!…I’m watching Mrs. Doubtfire and trying to shake this dumb arse cough my huny shared with me….Of course now he is back to normal while I sound like I’m coughing for dear life….I’m all right though…just had to complain a little…I woke up with a fever feeling horrible and it started raining…yuck…I guess the season change is upon us….I’ll be glad when it changes back…Spring and Summer are mine….Fall and Winter are so NOT…
Now that cloudburst yesterday forced me to think of new outerwear for myself….Even though I felt like I had been through the ringer I managed to get in my sewing room and make myself a super cute jacket (with the help of two extra strength aspirin)….I kept starting and stopping because I felt horrible yesterday but it did finally get done….and I LOVE it….
I used some wool blend fabric, I don’t know exactly what it is but y’all know by now I got it from Hancock’s Fabrics like usual….I was going to make a blazer originally but the fabric had other plans like it often does….The jacket is a pattern from my new book again; chic & simple Sewing….and its simply called “the Jacket“……That Christine Haynes has some nice patterns that can be modified to fit any one’s taste…As I mentioned before, her patterns don’t include tedious things like buttons/buttonholes and zippers…but if you want them, there is nothing stopping you if you want to add them….As a matter of fact, the next jacket I make will have two or three big buttons on the front; just because I want them there….this go ’round I also used the selvage edge on the tie belt; I liked the selvage and didn’t want to throw it away…(this is the second time I’ve used a cool selvage)….They aren’t usually that cool but sometimes they just are….I also used navy blue bias tape (vintage bias tape) because I assume I’ll be wearing this jacket with jeans a lot and wanted a little subtle color…..Well, I’ll share my photos now, I’m starting to hack again….ugghhh….
Talk to you good people soon!
~~MsKRS~~

Good afternoon everybody!…How’s it going?…Me, of course I’ve been sewing my little heart out….Matter of fact, I just put the hem on a new dress of mine with my trusty hemming foot…that thing is friggin’ awesome!!..and the slinky fabric I used was perfect…it doesn’t work all that well with the thicker fabrics and IMO (in my opinion) it shouldn’t be used unless the fabric is on the thinner side….
Now remember my post about my new sewing book?….well I decided to sew something out of it last night (of course in the middle of the night)….Let me tell you a little bit about the book….its written by Christine Haynes (a fellow “Chris”) and its called “chic & simple SEWING“….it has full-sized patterns in it and let me tell you….THIS BOOK IS COOL!….my huny hit pay dirt when he copped this one for me….I absolutely love it…Her patterns stray away from zippers and other tedious installations which is right up my alley…..That’s why I initially grabbed the book instead of going through my pattern drawer for a new dress…I wanted to sew but I didn’t feel like going at zippers, buttons/buttonholes, hook and eyes, etc….I just wanted a new addition to my dress family….basically I wanted the almost instant gratification thing….my new book to the rescue!…I flipped through the pages and finally decided on “the Date Dress“….now I’m not dating anyone (been in a relationship for almost 5 years now) but whoever is, may wanna whip this one up….its super cute AND comfortable at the same time…that is what all ladies need on a date…to look purty and be able to finish their food without feeling and/or looking like a sausage stuffed in a casing! (go ahead, laugh, its true for us folks that don’t run unless something is chasing us!)…
The dress came together really fast although I believe I made my straps too long…I may leave them that way or shorten them….at this point, they don’t bother me, but they may start to if I wear a jacket with the dress…the dress also took less than two yards of fabric which is always a plus…I may look for some brown and cream fabric to make another one; like the dress on the cover….I like that color combo…and just in time for the season change…I’ll have to line the next one though, just for warmth….overall, I’m happy with my dress!…and I’m seriously considering sewing everything in this book….everything….yep, its that cool!….I only have a couple flicks this go ’round but I’ll be sewing something else probably this evening……talk to you good people soon!
~~MsKRS~~