The Lace Layer

Thank you for all the birthday wishes. It was a wonderful day. I went for breakfast and journalled, stopped at the plant store for a tray to put under that pot I bought last week and some small perennials for the front garden, went to Fabricland for a zipper for the dress and a chat with the women there, had lunch with a friend, and sewed in-between phone calls. I didn't get a lot of sewing done - the lining. I'll start on the lace layer today. I imagine I'll have more time to sew and expect to make significant progress. Finished would be good.

Stash wrote: Glad you decided to mock up the skirt too. I have found a complete muslin before cutting into the good stuff is well worth it.




DEFINITELY - a muslin is so worth it. I was all set to do one of the skirt only yesterday morning, when I got dressed to go out for breakfast, I wore a Burda 8213 skirt that I made several months ago. I realized that I could use the pattern pieces from it for the length and proportions of the skirt. Comparing it to the Vogue pattern, it will work like wonderful. I'll see for sure today.

The lining was the test of the final measurements. Since I have a lot of this fabric, I decided I may as well use it because if the lining worked out, I was ahead and if it didn't, this would be just another muslin. Everything was fine except for angling the shoulder seam down a half inch at the neck which removed that half inch I'd added yesterday. Didn't I just say that everything keeps changing? Returning might be a better description. My measurement chart is back to the original center front and center back lengths with the longer slopes being the only adjustment. Right now, the lining looks like it's falling off my shoulder. Once the seam allowance around the armhole is gone, it'll sit better.

I only looked at these pictures this morning. They're candlelight soft. I thought the dress would show up great against the new pattern cabinet. Apparently, there was too much light from the window. This works. Now you can't see how desperately I need a shaper underneath. I've added slightly more ease to the lace layer so it'll skim over the lining and me.

The seams are serged and will be against the body with the finished side against the lace layer. I debated seams together or both facing the body and decided that both facing the body was the best approach for the least show through EXCEPT on the shoulder seams. They'll face each other for a smooth line around the neck with no possibility of a seam sticking out. The finished neckline will be 5/8" wider and lower. If the shoulders won't stay put, I'll use transparent elastic stitched to the seam allowance over the shoulder.

I put a zipper in the lining temporarily so I could try it on. The hem is just below the knee for now. Once I have the lace layer complete, I'll be able to see how much show through there is. If it's fine, I'll add a lace hem to the lining. If more coverage is needed, I'll add the same flared bottom as the upper layer. And, if pouff is needed, I'll create a crinoline look. It all depends on the look of the lace layer, which is what I'm doing today.




By Monday, I should have the finished dress to show you and - hopefully - some all dressed up with heels and make-up pictures from wearing it Sunday night for our 29th anniversary. Did I mention what an amazing man I'm married to?

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - Cement. The weather cleared up enough yesterday to pour the patio just outside my studio. It looks wonderful. It's drying and will be acid washed and sealed late next week. By next weekend, we should be able to use it. YES YES.

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Personal Growth - I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

Letting go is quite possibly the most difficult task a parent faces. We want to keep our babies bubble wrapped and safe and yet all kinds of damage occurs when parents try to control and direct their adult children's lives. Ask me how I know.

I view parenting as the process of teaching my children how to be independent, self supporting adults. That means teaching them the things that an adult needs to know including things like cooking, doing laundry, cleaning, how to manage their money, and decision making skills. We learn by making mistakes. Making them in a safe environment is helpful to a child's development.

My youngest son has type 1 diabetes which adds an extra dimension to everything. The teen years plus hormones plus diabetes is not a good mix. We've had a rough two years and some rougher news this week. His average blood measurement was up... again... however, in order to drive, he needs doctors forms filled out and government approval. This is perhaps a good thing. He'll need to make changes to get that.

I'm a take charge personality. I like to fix and organize things and I can't always. With my adult children, it's none of my business and with my youngest son, it's not in his (or my) best interests plus have you ever tried to control a teenager? Can't be done. I've had to find a way to feel calm and in control without taking over and directing. Instead of telling him what to do, I've asked him to make his plan, put it in action, document how it's working, and present it to the appropriate people for feedback rather than arrive at appointments uninformed to gather varying and contradictory opinions. He knows what to do. He has to want to do it bad enough. Isn't that so true of all of us? Wishing and wanting?

I've needed to let go in my own life, of the direction I thought I was going in to nothing to a glimmer of the future. I've been in the vacuum of the unknown for a long time. Two years ago, when life changed suddenly, I had no idea which was was up. Instead of forcing it, I decided to focus the next three years on getting my sons through high school and on helping my youngest son with diabetes. In essence, I decided to focus on my family not my career.

It's hard to believe that I'm two thirds of the way through that decision. It's been a difficult and positive choice. Yesterday, I thought about the year ahead and concluded that I want to continue working on all aspects of wealth - physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, and relational - which really means I want to work on balance. What a gift to have the time and space to re-center myself, to focus on what's most important, and to create a plan for the future. I'm learning to live out of control and actually enjoy it. Who would have thought.