Currently attempting...

This pattern has been sitting in my sewing box for a few months now...I have made pants before, I have made jackets before.. But throw me into the world of menswear..and well..I'm doomed.  Cameron always hassles me for the fact that I sew for everyone else but that the only thing I have made him is a bow-tie (and it was hideous mind you).  So I decided to dive right in. Go big or go home right?  So here I am.. staring at a suit pattern.. oh boy.  Wish me luck. 

Loves,

Brooke

Wings.

Fall is in full swing here in Nashville.  It is undoubtedly my favorite season in the south!  For many reasons, but especially because Fall fashion is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  This year I have made a few sweaters for the season. They are over-sized and comfy I think I wear them just about every day.  I found a few patterns that I love.  They are very easy to use but allow for a lot of personal modifications-which the inner designer in me LOVES!  And I'm kind of loving sewing knits this year.  You don't have to hassle with zippers (not complaining one bit about that!).  And once you discover that amazing stretch stitch on your sewing machine..its like winning the lottery-every single day.

I decided to use the same pattern I have been using for my sweaters to make a dress.  I have been a little obsessed with the "mullet" like dresses that everyone seems to love this year, but I didn't want to make one quite so drastic.  For the dress I kept the sleeve of the dress the same, but extended the bodice to hit just above my knees in the front.  Then rounded the edges to make it just a few inches longer in the back. It created a sort of "mini-mullet" type look.  Wow. Mini-mullet. I should never ever say that again.  Overall the dress is comfortable but unique and the medium knit that I used worked perfectly for that pattern.  Take a look and let me know what you think!

Its a perfect dress for walks through a tunnel. 

Sewing gives me wings! 

Fall also equals spray tan time......pale is in right??

Loves,

Brooke

Fall

I am so happy it is finally time for Fall!  Here in Tennessee the leaves are beginning to change, the weather is getting cooler, and I have even more reason to sit by the fire and eat s'mores. And even more exciting is that I can turn in my shorts, swimsuits, and all too revealing (without being at all revealing) summer clothes for over-sized sweaters, soft scarves, and tall boots.  This season is a win win for everyone.  

Another reason to love Fall.. Football season!  We go crazy over football here in the South.  

So what's on your sewing table these days?  I have found so many patterns I am dying to try!  here are just a few!

Think long sleeve..think Christmas..think bright red!

To kick-off the season I wanted to share my very favorite fall recipe.  And a staple food in our house. Cornbread.  It has real corn in it.. so you know it can't be bad!  Hope you enjoy!  

1 (8.5oz) package Corn Muffin Jiffy Mix

1 (8.5oz)  Can of cream style corn

1 (8.5oz) Can of sweet corn

1 (8oz) Container Sour cream

1/2 cup melted butter

2 Large eggs

Set oven to 350 degrees.  Stir together all ingredients.  Pour into a lightly greased 11x7 inch baking pan.  Bake for 35 minutes or until golden on top.  

Happy Cooking and always happy sewing!

Loves,

Brooke

Guest Post Monday!

Well hello everyone!  Am I the only one that thought that weekend flew by?  Hope it was a good one for you!  We are kick starting this week right though with my first guest post!  I am so happy I was asked by Lauren at styleafterhours.com to be a guest on her blog!  So be sure to check out the post HERE to see the full interview.  I also have more pictures of my peplum top and stretch pencil skirt on her blog.. so please take a look!

Have a wonderful week!  More sewing projects are on the horizon.  Can't wait to show you the finished projects!

Loves,

Brooke  

Happy in September

LOVING this announcement...

Fashion week strikes Nashville again!  I think April just might be my favorite month.  Counting down already!!

Check out more details here! 

In the meantime...I just finished an outfit that I'm dying to blog about but it was ordered by a client that is giving the outfit to his wife for their anniversary as a surprise (awww isn't that so sweet!).  So pictures will just have to wait just a few more days!  Keep checking back in.  I am also working on a baby blessing dress for my sweet cousin that just had her first baby a few weeks ago.  I can't get over how tiny everything is when you sew for a baby!!  I am loving this new challenge.  Pics and details to come!  

And for more good news...I have also been invited by Lauren from Style After Hours to guest post on her blog next Monday!  Yay!  She is an amazing fashion blogger from the Utah area so PALEEEASE check out her blog and her amazing fashion tips!!  She is just about as classy as a girl can get!  I can't wait to chat it up with her in the next few days!  

Lauren from Style After Hours

So good things things are in the horizon.  And we haven't even talked about Halloween yet (MY FAV).  Hope you all had a wonderful long weekend.  I am excited to get back to the grind.. and although I do love summer and everything that comes with it.. I am excited to move forward into fall.  Its about time for football season, fireplaces, warm coats, and red leaves.  And of course I cannot wait to start sewing some clothes for the season.  I have a coat, pants, and a suit (for Cameron) on my mind....  Its gonna be a busy year!  

Loves.

Brooke 

Polka dot attack

My last day in London I stumbled upon this beautiful polka dot fabric and fell in love. 

 Its not hard for me to fall in love with polka dots anyways but this was just screaming my name.  So even though our bags were packed to the max somehow someway we managed to get this treasure home.  AND it was totally worth it.

I had it set in my mind that I wanted an entire outfit out of this polka dot piece.  But I was inspired by all the print on print combos that I saw in London.  So instead of doing a dress I opted for a skirt and shirt polka dot duo.  And who doesn't love a little black velvet collar?  I love how it turned out.  Its a pretty dramatic outfit when worn together, but I love that I can wear each piece separate for a more casual look. Ohhh London..how I love thee.  

My hubby got a new camera (after selling off half our furniture!) so he has been so sweet to photograph my sewing these last few weeks!  I think he's a natural!  I have to say we had some pretty hilarious moments trying to capture some of these pics!  Its a little awkward walking around a park while having someone snap photos of you! But I love that Cameron gets just as excited about my designs as I do.  And finally.. finally we can say goodbye to those blurry iphone photos. 

Loves,

Brooke

Memory Lane

Almost a year ago I was sitting in a testing center taking one of the most difficult and technical tests I have had to take thus far in my life.  I had prepared months for that exam and had used just about every technical part of my brain trying to pass that 5 hour test.  So when I walked out of the testing center that day I gladly handed over my study materials and traded them in for scissors.  I craved to fill my free time with something creative for a change.  A few years earlier in college I had taken a sewing class (apparel sewing class) and remembered that I really enjoyed the design and creativity it forced me to have.  So I headed off to Joannes found some discount fabric and a 99 cent pattern and went home to dust off my pretty Elna sewing machine. I turned on old episodes of Project Runway-as if their skill and creativity would somehow overflow into my living room-and I made myself a dress.  

Somehow I remembered how to mark my patterns, cut fabric, sew side seams, and insert a sleeve.  My husband had no idea I even had a sewing machine, let alone that I knew how to sew.  So needless to say he was pretty shocked when I told him I was making myself a dress to wear to church.  And even more shocked that the dress I made was actually wearable.  

I love looking back at the past year and seeing how my skills have changed and grown.  Notice my first dress has no zipper, no darts, no pleats, no gathers!  Boy have I come a long way (I hope!).

Since that time I have sewn countless dresses, skirts, shirts, and even a pair of pants.  I have sewn vests, pockets for t-shirts, oven mitts, evening dresses, baptismal dresses, graduation dresses. I have hemmed pants, fixed holes, drawn designs, and fabric shopped in just about every fabric store in the south (and in NYC and London).  All for a love that I didn't even know I had a year ago.  So here it is.. a year of sewing in IPhone pictures.....

The first of many vests that were made and sold!

Apparently I was into animal print this year!  Loved our halloween costumes!

Made this dress to wear to my beautiful friend's wedding shower!

Loved how the teal exposed zipper turned out!

another leopard print......

Definitely my favorite dress to date.  It was a difficult one to put together but I love how this turned out!

This is the only pic I have gotten of this dress!!  This was at a another friends bridal shower.  Not my favorite dress but I definitely learned a lot in the process of making it!

Made this for my sweet sister in law for her Christmas!

I wanted to make something different.. and yep this def turned out different!!

Ok maybe I didn't sew this outfit but we spent a lot of time getting that tape to look just right! Not easy but completely worth it:)

Still crying over this one:(  My gorgeous peplum got eaten by the iron!  A lesson learned for sure. 

First trade show and it was a success! Sold almost every single vest!

Mmmm... wishing I could cozy up in this RIGHT now!  

Another hit at the trade show.  I sold completely out of these oven mitts!

Prom dress for Samantha!  Isn't she GORG!!

dress to wear to my brothers graduation

playing with fabrics.  Got this fabric from NYC.  

DEF one of my favorite dresses! I died at that pink and tan ombre! And of course every dress looks amazing on Mckenna!

My Easter dress this year!

Pretty Lauren's Baptismal dress

Bailey's graduation dress

Rachel's birthday dress!

Kind of made up this pattern and I ended up loving it!  I will def be making more of this skirt!

Stripe dress for London!

Dyed, cut and sewn.  Love this skirt.  

What a year of sewing it has been.  I have so many pieces in my closet that I am proud of-I rarely every go clothes shopping anymore!! And of course it has been so much fun working with several different clients to create dresses that are completely custom to them!  It is one of my favorite parts of sewing.  

 This past year was a great time for me to learn the basics of constructing several different pieces of clothing.  But this next year I want to shift my focus a bit.  My goal is to spend more time on each piece I create making it more tailored, more detailed, and more unique.  I may not be able to create as many pieces, but I want to learn couture techniques that really set my clothing apart.  I am taking a few classes on Craftsy.com and I just got the book Couture Sewing Techniques to help me in this process. I cannot wait to show you some of the designs and looks that I am currently creating!  This year I also hope to blog more about my experience...including some tutorials for those beginner sewers out there (believe me you can do it!!) So keep me updated on what you want to learn and what you want to see!  Feel free to leave comments and let me know if you have any tips for improvement!! I am always looking for constructive criticism and input!  

Loves,

Brooke