Marica Mitchell

Happy Monday Loves! I am counting down to my Spring BREAK vacation that starts on March 23rd!  I have not finalized my plans but I am sure I will go away for a few days and indulge in some rest and relaxation. I have about 3 more months before I am officially off on Summer BREAK and YES, I am looking forward to it.  I am excited to share my makes with all the great deals I found on Fabricmart this past January under the PRE-CUT New Year sale.  I got 16 YARDS of fabric for $24 and I lucked out on these two amazing PRINT for under $10.  YES almost 6 yards of awesomeness. My first look is one of my favorite makes of all time, SKIRTS.  When I first started sewing, for the first 2 years, all I made were self drafted skirts.  I have made so many variations as I was too scared of commercial patterns.  Now that I have overcome my fear, I have pretty much made everything except coats and jackets. This Simplicity bra top pattern (8549) caught my eyes the minute they released the Pre-Spring pattern. I fell in love as it is perfect for high waist pants or skirts.  I knew it was easy as I created a top similar here for the Fabricmart challenge.  I also wanted to mix prints and use different fabric on each side to make it reversible. The waistband of the skirt and straps on the top  were created with this 100% rayon fabric (here) on SALE today for $4.80 (60% off pre-cut deals).  Unfortunately, the PRE-CUT deals of the floral fabric used for the skirt was sold out the minute the were posted. The skirt is  very comfy, breezy and light weight as the fabric is semi-sheer.  I love the flow and fit (except the fact that I used a light weight interface instead of a medium).This skirt can be worn heels or flat and is perfect for an outdoor tropical wedding or vacation. I will definitely modify the TOP pattern next time by adding 2 inches to the length and changing the front to a sweetheart bodice with no straps for summer.  I really enjoyed making this look and plan to finish and shoot my next 2 looks over the next two weeks including my jeans.  Thanks for stopping and stay tune for PART 2 next weekend. One LOVE! Marica

Happy Saturday Loves! I am so excited to sew at least 3 pairs of jeans over the next 2 months.  I have so many items on my sewing list and I just need to stay focus and on task.  I will be working on my Spring capsule the month of February and at least 1 pair of jeans and a few other items in between. This year I plan to sew more and be consistent with my makes.  Now that I have to create 1 look each month for 6 months for my Fabric Mart win, I have no choice but to crank up that sewing machine each week. NOW LET’S get to the POINT! I would love for you to join me on this challenge, so I am giving away a few yards of stretch DENIM to make your OWN pair of JEANS!  This giveaway is a kind gesture to all the ladies who will be participating or plan to sew some jeans in the future. There is no need to follow any pages or be a part of the challenge or  like any pictures; all you have to do is complete a quick 2 minute survey.   I am exploring the idea of planning a weekend sewcation and I would like to get your feedback before investing my time in planning it. If more than 10 ladies shows interest in a SEWCATION getaway, YOU will be responsible to book YOUR OWN FLIGHT, reserve YOUR room and bring your tools.  I will secure and negotiate the best possible hotel rates and will research and plan a few local excursions.  I will NOT be collecting any money but will spend time to get the best deals based on the location that has the most votes.  This will allow so many sew sisters to get together, share ideas, tips and techniques and even sew while enjoying a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.  I am bias to Jamaica of course as it is my island home and I can negotiate and secure great hotels rates and plan a few excursions.  Also, you can invite a friend who doesn’t even sew and make this a FUN getaway event!  I promise that we WILL NOT be sewing for the entire weekend but will make at least 1 simple garment before we leave. JUST CLICK on the survey LINK and answer just a few questions. Tag another sew sister on instagram and share the link and you will be receive another entry.  I will automatically enter your name as an entry if YOU TAG another sew sister.  Thanks you so much for you  stopping by and hope you are getting ready to make your own JEANS! SURVEY WILL BE CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 21st and I WILL BE SELECTING THE WINNER ON February 22nd. STAY TUNE! Thanks so much for stopping by and ONE LOVE! Marica

Happy Monday Loves! I am super excited to return back to blogging about HAIR care and WILL share all the secrets that have worked for us.  Before I even start, I am NOT getting paid for this POST and I promise to keep it real. Arielle has suffered from dry, flaky scalp since birth.  Unfortunately after a month, she actually had cradle crap and her hair did NOT grow much the first year.  At around 18 months, it finally started to grow and I was super excited.  One thing I noticed the first 3 years of growth was slow and it was very fine.  I figured she inherited it from me and the texture from her father’s of family.  After reading an article written by a friend (SEE HONEYVERA POST HERE), I decided to try an organic herbal based product for the flaky scalp with castor oil. I have been using Honey Vera scalp tonic for about 4 years consistently.  It definitely has helped with the itching and flaking of her scalp and has truly thickened her hair.  Mind you, I did not see much results the first month but after my second bottle, I noticed a BIG difference.  I decided to give it a try and continued with the product. I also tried several other brands of hair care products including Pantene, Cantu, VO5 and all the KIDS line you can imagine until I stumbled across the Curly Kids line in my local Dollar General. I noticed that her curls were more defined with the GEL and vowed to try a new Curly Kids product each month until I found the right combination.  I then shared our hair styles and journey via INSTAGRAM, mixed products, tested pretty much every single one until I finally came across the ones that works for her texture.  Curly Kids noticed us and that’s how we became a BRAND AMBASSADOR! NOW TO THE REAL DEAL:  June we decided to request a special blend formula as I noticed more flaking due to the Summer heat. I ordered 3 bottles as my friend had tried it before and told me that her daughter’s hair was NOT flaking and growing more than with the regular blend. The SPECIAL BLEND FORMULA  has SPECIAL added herbs and oils that stimulates the hair follicles and I was amazed just by the first week of using it.  After seeing the results just the first month and using LESS oils on the hair, I decided to continue with it for a few more months. I NOTICED A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE GROWTH.  Within a 6 MONTH period, the HAIR GREW twice as MUCH! Special BLEND is only available UPON REQUEST by sending a DETAIL message of the SCALP or HAIR ISSUES VIA EMAIL OR DM. It is formulated to meet YOUR NEEDS and even though it COST more it is WORTH EVERY PENNY.  I also decided to switch up the moisturizer and use less OILS since the SPECIAL BLEND has OILS which is perfect for her scalp issues. WASH DAY ROUTINE: Hair is washed 2 times per month.  HERE ARE THE PRODUCTS USED: REGULAR WASH WEEK – Curly Kids Super Detangle Shampoo and Super Detangling Conditioner DEEP CONDITION WASH WEEK – Curly Kids Super Detangle Shampoo, Deep Conditioner mixed and Honey Vera Castor Coconut Oil.  SPECIAL BLEND TONIC is always sprayed directly on the SCALP after every wash day! DAILY ROUTINE: We found that the Your Curls Conditioned, and Moisture in a Minute works best for styling after wash day.  We may add a small amount of Honey Vera Coconut – Castor Oil on wash days when the hair is NOT deep conditioned. MOISTURIZER IS USED 2 times per week when hair is styled.  (PART 2 will focus on styling). We only use a small amount of Moisturizing Gel, Coconut Oil for Curls or Moisture in a minute along with Your Mane Moisturizer as needed. HERE ARE THE 2 MAIN MOISTURIZERS THAT WE USE. HERE ARE THE 2 GEL BASED PRODUCTS THAT WE USE: HERE ARE THE 2 OIL BASED PRODUCTS THAT WE USE: SPECIAL BLEND TONIC is USED DIRECTLY ON THE SCALP AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK EVEN when the hair is styled.  We often times use a little with the detangle spray instead of water.  Arielle’s hair is SO thick that IT cannot be styled dry. Thank YOU so much for following our hair journey.  We are grateful for the KIND WORDS and COMMENTS shared on our posts on Instagram.  Feel free to leave a comment with any questions that you may have and MENTION ARIELLE10 for your 10% discount CODE with Honey Vera!  This SPECIAL EXPIRES March 1st. HOPE ALL THE TIPS HELP!  Leave a COMMENT BELOW  with any questions that you may have. STAY TUNE FOR PART II as we will sharing MORE STYLES and DOS!  We may even have a giveaway too! Thanks for stopping! Marica

Happy Monday Loves! The minute I saw the new Early Spring McCalls pattern collection, I was in love.  I did grab quite a few and vow to sew at least 1 view of each of the patterns before May.  The last 2 collections, I have only made 1 to 2 and I have tons of NEW patterns in my collection that need to be sewn up. I really love all the sleeve variations of this McCall pattern (7722) as it reminded me of a Gabriel Union sweater I purchased over the holidays except it has pleats. I opted to follow the directions as is and not hack it with this wearable muslin and will be creating another one using pleats instead.  I really wanted to practice more with stripes so I used a stripe fabric from my stash that I purchased last year from Girl Charlee.  My biggest pet peeve is lining up patterns and stripes.  I made sure to pin the black stripes as I do NOT have a walking foot. QUICK AND EASY METHOD I actually use the under arm seam of my bodice based on my size for both the front and back. This is the easiest and quickest method that I have used for patterns and stripes.  Ensure that the stripes are also aligned when the fabric is folded. I used 2 different types of knit which did NOT feature the design element of the pattern or the look that I envisioned.  I used a COTTON knit MIXED (stripes) from Charlee Fabric with a SCUBA knit from my stash. For the NEXT one that I create I will make the following changes: Grade 1 inch to the width at the bottom and grade from the waist (for better hip coverage). Add 1 inch to the length to avoid pickaboo issues. Use a light to medium weight knit. Use the same weight and pattern but different colors for contrast. Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out my blogpost for my monthly Fabric Mart make here of this simplicity dress pattern that I hacked. #DIY #Fashion #M7722 #sewing

A NEW YEAR, A FRESH START!!!!! I am back on the blogging scene on my PERSONAL page and I am so excited.  I will personally commit to writing at least two blog post per month for the next 6 months and will continue to share most of my makes via Instagram. I am not into all the New Year’s resolution revamp, change, uproot my life philosophy, BUT I believe in personal growth and commitment.  I had some amazing moments in 2017 and some challenging times, but there were MORE GREAT MOMENTS than challenges.  I continued with my Math Summer Academy which was a huge success, had the best MATH SCORES in years, WON a sewing challenge, and most importantly believed more in my God given talents. I plan to push myself a little more this YEAR and take a few risks with God by my side.  I want to travel and explore more with my children, enroll in a creative writing class and most definitely, continue to grow in my profession. Aiden and Arielle are doing amazing in school and paying them for their grades have eliminated “Cs” off their report card.  I am so excited that my son will be in Middle School this August and has finally found his groove and is doing better than I expected in school.  He has NO C’s this quarter and I am so proud of him. My personal goal is to at least sew one new garment per week and add one skill to my knowledge book.  I am an educator who believes in lifelong learning.  Each and every day, I learn as much as my students both in my personal and professional life.  They know that I am one of the coolest, toughest Math educator you will meet who believes in challenging your mind. NOW BACK TO THE REAL DEAL…… My FIRST MAKE for 2018 is this McCall 7099 jumpsuit without the pockets.  Even though I am not the biggest fan of the look and the pattern, I wanted to learn the technique of grading and tapering a fitted pants.  IT WORKED and I plan to use the pants portion of this pattern to make more yoga type pants. For the bodice, I cut the size 10 and for the pants,  I graded from the 10 to a 14 hip and tapered at the knee back down to a size 10.  I used a ponte denim knit which feels amazing on the body.  I loved the overall fit but would select a darker color to draw less attention to the curvier parts of my body.  YES! I am blessed with double portion in the assets area. Now one of my favorite makes back in December is this beautiful red and black sweater (RIGHT) for the sew your view monthly makes using McCall 7688.  The ribbing topped it and gave it a great finish.  YES!! I will definitely wear it again next week when I return to work. My Fabric Mart blog post make included another view with leopard print of the sweater and a fitted turtle neck body con dress.  For more details and photos, check out the blogpost here. I am super excited about my next two makes for this upcoming month and the new McCall patterns that have been released.  I have three projects in mind with my top two  McCall patterns and I can’t wait. Thanks so much for stopping by and HOPE THAT 2018 will bring you love, joy, peace, happiness and many blessings your way!

“Love yourself.  It is important to stay positive because beauty comes from the inside out.” Jenn Proske Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I spent most of my week relaxing, planning and counting down the days to my 2 weeks Holiday break.  I have so many sewing projects to finish and I plan to spend at least 1 hour a day to get them done.  This duster is long overdue and was the pattern  (NEW LOOK 6514) selected for the October sew your view with my sew sisters Monica (here)and Felicia (here). Unfortunately, I am just getting around to finishing and shooting as I lost my sewing mojo for about 3 weeks when my fabric got delayed.  My local post office blamed it on Texas (ship from location) and the next day after I complained, it magically appeared on my doorstep.  I have never had an issue with House of Mami Wata (here) where I get all my beautiful ankara print fabrics. I had it cut for over 3 weeks along with 3 other projects and last Sunday when Monica and Felecia went live (on Instagram), I got off my lazy butt and decided to tackle and finish the project.  It came out amazing and I can’t wait to rock it again with boots to an event in December. The only adjustments I made were the length and sleeves.  I wanted it right above my knees so I measured the pattern and cut.  Most Ankara fabrics are 45 inches wide and due to the fact that I did NOT want another floor length Kimono or duster, I opted to use the width of the fabric for the length. I decided to make minimal changes to the pattern as most of the views I saw look amazing.  I only made another minor tweak which was adding a cuff with a solid fabric. HERE ARE THE STEPS IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO GIVE IT A TRY! ADDING  A TWO (2) INCH CUFF TO THE SLEEVES BEFORE INSERTING SLEEVES – Less than 5 minutes 1. Measure your arm length. 2. Measure the pattern sleeve length and compare it.  If the pattern is the exact measurement as your length, all you will need to do is remove 2 inches from the length of the sleeve. 3. For me, the pattern sleeve was a bit shorter (1/2 inch) than my arm length. I  would have adjusted it and  add 1/2 inch extra based on my arm length and the pattern for a perfect fit, so I only removed 1.5 inches. 4. Measure the lower width of the sleeve pattern (which is the circumference of your wrist). CUTTING THE FABRIC AND ATTACHING THE CUFF (Refer to photo below – NO FLASH so color is a bit distorted) 5. Cut 2 pieces of fabric – 5 inches long times the width of the sleeve pattern (at the bottom). 6. Fold fabric in half, wrong side facing each other and press.( The width is now 2.5 inches – this include 1/2 inch seam allowance). 7. With right side facing pin, stitch folded cuff to sleeves sewing 1/2 inch seam allowance and finish the raw edges. 8. Press seam downwards and then top stitch, stitch in the ditch or close to the seam based on your personal preference.  I opted to double stitch which is totally optional based on style. Thanks to my beautiful daughter Arielle for capturing these amazing shots.  She has taken over from my son AIDEN and truly enjoys it! As always, thanks for checking in and stopping by.  Can’t wait to create a few more looks for the HOLIDAYS!  I promise NO more kimonos or dusters for the next few months!  I can’t wait to share the dresses and a jumpsuit that are currently in the works!! Have a BLESSED HOLIDAY AND REMEMBER THE TRUE MEANING of CHRISTMAS!!

“We should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us. “ A. P. J. Abdul Kalam I love Mondays!! Its a new week, a fresh start, a new day to regroup. The month of October we celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month. To honor the women and men too who have suffered because of this dreaded disease, I wanted to create and wear something PINK to an upcoming event.  My dear friend Primrose (see blog here), has been affected by breast cancer the last 18 months.  She is a fighter and is so determined to beat cancer. This easy to sew kimono was made using Simplicity 1108 (here) with a rayon crepe challis fabric that I selected for winning the day to night look for the Fabric mart challenge (here).  This was the last piece of pre-cut fabric in this color and I was so happy to grab it.  I chose to rock it with the jeans that I made using Closet Case mid-rise ginger jeans pattern (here)  for the final Fabric Mart challenge!  Yes the Fabric Mart challenge that I won (here).  These jeans fit amazing and I have worn it every single week since. This kimono pattern will be modified significantly on the next make for my daughter.  I will probably grade the pattern for her (XXS TO XS), shorten it to mid thighs, add belt loops at the side and cut the back piece on fold and remove the 5/8 inch seam allowance.  I will be in sewing overdrive the next week as I have the sew your view and a few makes before my last vacation of the year. What would you rock your kimono with?  I can surely rock this again with shorts or a pencil dress.Thanks for stopping and be sure to check back for more DIY and fall projects.  I will be adding a subscription link and making a few changes to the blog so stay tune! Have a BLESSED WEEK and one love.

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to give it just one more shot." Many of us have been affected by cancer in some way. Our neighbour, co-worker, family or even a close friend may have been affected by this disease, so it is important that during this month we focus on breast cancer awareness. Click here to read more

“Her smile makes me smile. Her laugh is infectious. Her heart is pure and true. Above all I love that she is my daughter.” Happy Monday All!! It’s a NEW week, new challenges and of course a few new sewing projects.  The last few months I have neglected sewing for my daughter as I wanted to develop new sewing skills.  During the month of September, my main focus was the Fabric Mart Fashion Challenge 5 (here).  This challenge was a great life learning experience as I took each challenge as an opportunity to grow.  I developed so many new sewing skills and I am happy to report that I WON with my first handmade pair of jeans! (here).  I also won the Day to Night look right before the finale (here.) My makes for the Fabric Mart features will focus on more mommy and me looks.  Can you believe my son is even willing to join in? Now that the challenge is over, my daughter has set aside her list of makes for the year and I will oblige.  She wants kimonos, jogger pants, sweater dresses and of course a peplum top made before her birthday.  The next few weeks I will be in sewing overdrive as she wants 3 handmade looks before November 10th. I am super excited about this new challenge as I will be able to put my $25 monthly fabric selection to good use. My daughter had picked out a few rayon fabric for kimonos this fall. She wanted a Mommy and me look and we purchased this fabric back in August. Luckily, the XXS in Simplicity pattern S8172 measurements matches her size with little to no adjustments. The culotte seen here was made using McCall 7131 (here) using a different color palette of the same print. She really loved the fabric, the fit and the details of the yellow bias tape. Jeans – Old Navy Sneaker – Converse Arielle pretty much has her own sense of style and I truly embrace it.  She picks out her own fabric and makes the final decisions on most of her look.  Thank goodness she is NOT a fan of skimpy clothing so lucky for me I don’t have to worry about that! I truly enjoy sewing for my daughter because she appreciates every look that I create.  She is one easy going and pretty much appreciates every item that I make for her. Hair styled using Curly Kids Hair Care Products (Curly Chic LINE)  (here) You Mane Moisturizer and Moisture in a Minute Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous week!

From the Boardroom to the Ballroom! Fabric Mart Challenge – See what the other ladies made! (LINK HERE) The day to night look was such a bit of a challenge in deciding what I really wanted to create to add to my collection of vibrant colors.  I wanted to create 2 pieces that fits my personal style; one garment that I was familiar with creating and another one that I always wanted to create and had fears.   The idea of creating and  wearing a sweetheart bodice with my love of skirts was ideal for the night look as I could cover with a jacket or cardigan from my closet to wear during the day.  I chose to select vibrant colors that can transition from one season to the next.  I wanted to show versatility omitting the typically greys and dark tones that we tend to wear in the business arena. The Sweetheart Bodice I am in love with bodice, bustier and corsets and opted to create a sweetheart bodice with loops to secure the back.  I choose to use a pattern that I purchased on Etsy from craftyalex  shop (here) that I can reuse and modify for future projects.  The pattern is a sweetheart cut line with panels that would work perfect with the off white denim stretch fabric from my stash.  This pattern was so easy to cut as it has 4 pieces, and great visuals with clear easy instructions that I could follow. I watched several YouTube videos before on sweetheart bustier and bodice constructions to learn how to create the case for the  boning and other techniques such as top stitching to have a clean and smooth finish.  I opted to remove the zipper for this project as I plan to wear this bodice over a fitted classic shirt in the future. Even though this was an easy sew, the bust area curve and loops required careful execution for a smooth clean finish.  The loops and the details in the back took double the time than it took to sew the bodice.  I had prior knowledge working  with loops from a previous project but opted to use the perfect white cording from my stash.  I carefully used my tape (as a placement test for the loops) and the circumference of my sharpie to ensure that each loop had the exact measurement.  I then taped to ensure placement and position and pinned to my dress form before hand stitching all 12 loops. This task was extremely tedious as I measured the markings 1 inch apart and then  and used a needle to fully secure before going to the machine to finish the project. I opted to stitch the loop on the inside lining, folding over about ½ inch to close it up and then double stitching to complete the finish. The simplicity cording that I found at Joann Fabrics was absolutely perfect and gave it a beautiful finish. I was in limbo about adding more details or creating straps but the beauty and simplicity of the white on the dress form was spectacular with the bold colors from the skirt. Looking back and having worn the bodice all day before the shoot, I would have added boning to all seams to have a more structured look. The instructions only required boning for the front bust area. I noticed that after a while, the denim started to stretch even more than I anticipated. I am very happy with the technique and finish but the next time I create this project, I would consider straps and adding boning in between each panel. I would also add a single piece of fabric to cover the straps in the back. The Gathered Full Circle Skirt – Ankara Print (Holland/Dutch wax fabric). I really wanted to use up the last of my ankara print (cotton) fabric that I purchased this past summer in Washington DC on vacation (Thanks Feesewcrafty for taking me to the store!).  I love sewing skirts with bold prints because of its vibrant color palettes and endless possibilities with tops.  The ankara fabric has a lot of structure and is typically used to create hats, blazers, skirts and dresses.  I love the hues as I can wear this skirt both in the fall and spring here in Florida.  I wanted a super full circle skirt so I opted to cut a circle skirt that was double the measurement of my waist and gather it. Cutting the circle skirt was a bit of a challenge on my table so I opted to use my floor instead.  I carefully used my tape measure crawling around in a circle and marking with a chalk.  I then used my curve ruler to connect the markings for the front piece. Once the front was done, the headache of matching the seams of the prints for the back took a bit of concentration.  Mind you based on the waist measurement that I used, I had to cut 2 pieces on fold and made my life easier but cutting 1 and placing the other on top as both pieces were identical. I was able to use almost 6 yards and did not even have enough left for a skirt for my daughter. The gathering technique that I choose was using the sewing machine  to create a single loose stitch and changing my settings to stitch length 5 and tension 3 so that it would be easier to gather.  I simply hand gathered the front separate from the back based on my waist measurements and then secured it with a tight stitch before connecting the seams.  I know having a gather foot would have made my life so much easier. The remaining fabric was used create to create a 2.5 inch waistband. I opted to add an extra inch to my waist measurement  as I knew that I will be wearing the skirt with a lightweight sweater or cardigan tucked in. After the skirt was gathered and the waistband was attached, I decided to shorten by cutting 2 inches off. I measures again from the waistband to ensure that the length matched all around. My Sense of Style and love for Ankara Prints! Shoes: Steve Madden (here) Cardigan: NY and Company (here) Bag: Zara (old) In am in love with modern day fashion using bold prints and colors with a touch of the ’50s intertwined with a bit of ’70s flair. This look that I choose to create and style with my cardigan is  oh so perfect for a board meeting and a night out salsa dancing after a wine tasting event. I truly enjoyed creating 2 pieces for this project that is a true reflection of my personal style. I had an amazing time capturing the beauty and flow of this look especially the skirt. I am in love with bold prints that make a statement the minute you walk through the door. The geometric shapes, the pattern details, the colors, the texture and flow is oh so perfect for the transition of my style from day to night.  In closing I will continue to be bold, be fierce, but most importantly, be me! Amazing SHOTS captured by Michael: Photos by Ernie Follow him on Instagram (photoernie) Thanks for stopping by and ONE LOVE!!

When life throws you lemon, take it and make strawberry L E M O N A D E! I was so excited to create the pattern as I had made something similar before and it was a HIT.  I contemplated modifying the sleeves and hacking other patterns, adding a unique trim, using a solid color and adding a pieces of my favorite ankara cotton (African Print) fabric until the storm decided to visit my city, Miami, Florida.  Nonetheless, I would NOT allow  mother nature and Hurricane Irma to defeat me and NOT submit a beautiful dress for Challenge 2. I planned on standing tall through Irma the storm and would make something classic that depicts my sense of style and submitted it days before the storm hit. I wasn’t quite sure if I had to evacuate to a shelter and did NOT want to wait until last minute just in case I had to leave home on Thursday or Friday. I had less than a day to make it and knew that I  had NO time to run to my local store to get all the bells and whistles needed to make the dress that I had originally had planned in my head. Fall knit prints are non existent in my stash and I had to settle for this beautiful Scuba Knit that I had purchased at JoAnn Fabrics.  I love cutting into floral prints as I love perfect alignment of colors or pattern details  and felt this was  perfect for fall based on the color palette.   I am definitely planning on wearing this to a BRUNCH in early October that I had planned on attending this past Sunday. I wanted to make sure that my layout was absolutely perfect and that the center would depict the flow of fall flowers from the center neckline to the bottom of the front. Moreover, being  an island girl and a Floridian, fall here is like summer as we wear sandals most time of the year and boots is NOT a big trend unless the temperature drops to the 60s. I chose to do view A as it was, classic with a perfect length for transitioning to fall here in South Florida. To top it off, the fit  would show off  just enough of my curves.  I opted to grade the size to accommodate my hips and adjusted it to fit my sense of style.  Modifications were a must to have a clean smooth fitted silhouette. I decided to preserve the beauty of this classic pattern focusing more on the fit and made slight modifications to the sleeves as most of my local family owned fabric stores were closed where I would purchase trimmings. Pattern Modifications Graded the size 8 and 10 based on the finished measurement on the pattern (Decided to cut a size smaller as I wanted a more fitted look) Added 4 inches to the length of VIEW A based on my height to fall right at the knee Added a BELL sleeve to draw less attention to the hips and to elongate my physique Bell long sleeves (Doubled the width of the sleeve, gathered it adding more gathers to the center and attached it to the sleeves) The FIT and PRINT I am happy with the fit, the print and the simplicity of the dress with the modifications of the sleeves.  The dress fits amazing and I loved the  way it turned out even with the challenges that I had to face.  Having been through a few hurricanes (Andrew and Gilbert)  and other life challenges, I have  learned that life still goes on no matter your circumstances may be.  Irma may  have caused the stores to close and may have put a damper in my spirit  but I refused to allow it to get the better of me.  There are so many challenges and setbacks in this world, but I wanted to create my favourite fall dress style using this classic fall print for my upcoming brunch. Thanks for stopping by and ONE LOVE!!!

I have learnt in life that "if you want good, you nose haffi run." Lord knows that my nose runs so much it bleeds. The fighter in me has defeated many battles, overcome many obstacles, and even pissed off some folks, as I didn't fall like they wanted me to. I have feared stepping out of my comfort zone for so many years, and in 2017 I decided it was the year to win. Click here to read more