I know I can't just sleep but

...some days a nap would be the best answer... ok 2013 here we go 2012 ended with another ride on a merry go round. I want to change from the inside out please God help me find peace in this situation.

Ate to much this holiday season and am ready to get back in check. I want discipline and obedience to be predominant (defination:present as the strongest element;having or exerting control) in my every day life It is a game and I know how to play it why do I make it so hard?

New Years resolutions nope life changing and Jesus first yep...

Be Blessed

Wow it comes and goes so fast...

I am as always excited and sad it is all over, ready to be a better me in 2013 . God in the name of Jesus my savior please help me reach the plans you have for my life this up and coming year and thank you for lessons learned this year. Amen

Wanna come back and keep this up for real what a great way to keep track of what happens in ones life eh?

Let's see if I can do it my life feels just like the picture flying by out of focus

WOW has it been a long time a long long time ...

New year new me ! I want to get back to blogging I wasn't all that great at it before but I think it can be a fun way to remember my life.
Blessings

Back is out again so editing some pictures for fun

If I could see behind the curtain

The quiet reflection times like a walk on the beach, is when I do my best work and thinking. I'm not sure where to start with a huge project so bits and pieces I gather until I hopefully reach an end. I need to stay focused and not get distracted as I do. I know what outcome I want. I read in Hebrews today and these verses really stood out

{6: 19 Our hope is certain. It is something for the soul to hold on to. It is strong and secure. It goes all the way into the Most Holy Room behind the curtain. 6:20 That is where Jesus has gone. He went there to open the way ahead of us.}

I kept thinking as things get tough if I could just peek behind the curtain and see what is there would I worry and fret so much if I could see all that was waiting would any of this stuff really matter??
I want to do my best that is all I can do. There is a plan I need to hear and listen for it to be true. I need to put my wants aside and seek what God wants for me.
For the here and now until I can step behind the curtain.


Blessings

lookin out the window...

Driving home (I was the passenger) my camera with me looking out the window this beautiful sunset is what I captured. I love all the gifts God gives so freely. It feels as though I have really had to work on relationships lately but this kind of beauty is a free gift given to us by God. I need to stay focused on what is free in life and not so much on what I have to work so hard at never to get anywhere anyway.
Blessings

robynne senior pictures ...

This shoot was a blast with a real sweetie pie

I miss this dress :(

Here is my DD with her BF (jack) OK its not Jack it's not Leonardo DeCaprio its Daniel haha.

Well prom was Saturday and here it is Thursday and I actually miss that darn dress after all the tears ,fret and worry to get it done I can't believe I am saying that. DD made it home with no rips or stains. I was shocked I was sure I would have repairs the only thing I can find is one missing black bead on the drape.

She had a blast and she loves to dance and her BF isn't a big dancer so she was worried but he danced every dance with her and had fun doing it. Plus he was such a good sport about the "Titanic theme" he got tux similar to what Jack wore in the dinner scene except no tails he didn't want tails nor did DD. They looked so gorgeous together.

All in all everything went smooth a few Limo issues I guess the limo company was sold and this ride was this companies last job so the owner bumped their Limo from a 6 passenger to a 14 passenger at no extra cost. All of the employees had quit so there was no driver available and the owner had to do it and he was not happy. I guess it was he and his wifes anniversary. He kept complianing which kind of bumped the kids out a bit but we paid for 4 hours and they knew they could have the car for four hours rather he liked it or not.

Plus they got the big limo and there were only four of them in it. Funny thing we got them all loaded up and the driver tried to start the car and it was out of Gas so My husband had to get our lawn mower gas just to get them going the driver went nuts we parents tried to calm him down and told him not to worry stuff happens. I wanted him to drive safe. He got them every where safely and they had a blast.

The four promies

I still need to do a detailed write up about this dress if not here somnewhere to record all I learned. I just needed a break from it for now. I have also decided DD will have a purchased wedding dress I will make her garter.HAHA

I do miss working on in in a strange way I had such a routine get up early get coffee head out to the work table and start beading. I don't miss it enough to do it again. :)

Blessings

Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gifts well.” 1 Peter 4:10

The Jump Dress is so done stick a fork in it!!!!!!!! :)

Praise the lord above the dress is done!!!!!!!!!!! She wore it last night to prom and looked beautiful. My Mom's hair dresser did her hair just like Rose in titanic (DD wanted bangs to the side). We sent photos and she copied it. I want to do a detailed post on this dress as I did learn so much. Yet at this time I am really tired so tired I listened to church on the radio this morning. Here is a photo for now
God Bless

Jump Dress or I haven't jumped yet!!!!

Lots of progress the under dress is done except for one hook and eye at the back and a good steaming. Thank the Lord above it fit her perfect.

(no purple bar on prom night) haha :0)
I have stayed prisoner in my own home just to get this done. I want to blog about some techniques but for today just this preview of the dress. I still need to do the overdress which is where all the d@#* beading comes in (sorry for the d@#*) haha oh and miles of sequin trim around the train did I mention that? (Reference pictures in below posts)
I have Hand sewed so much on this dress just about everything to be honest. I did not want to take the chance of pins running my fabric.
ok I think I am going to take Dogs to the beach they have been missing walks one because I am prisoner to the dress and two it has been very windy and cold and today is beautiful!!!!!!
have a blessed day

The Jump Dress or I want to jump because of this dress:)

Progress today yeah :) also first day in over 8 days I was virtually pain free. A little pain down the leg but all in all I felt almost back to new!!!!!! I was able to walk dogs for a entire hour with no pain YIPPIE!!!!!!!! Back injuries stink!!!!!!!
**********************************************
This morning I finished sewing the beaded trim to both net overskirts. I sewed my 12 sequined mediallions on by hand. Previously I added 3 crystals to each mediallion to make it look more like the orginal which was all hand beaded. No way was I about to take that on. The orginal dress had 16 Mediallions but I could not find 16 round mediallions anywhere except on line and I just didn't have time ot wait let me tell you circles were hard to find. For apperance reasons I would have perferred to have 16 for hand sewing reasons 12 was enough.
In addition while I am trying to stay as close ot the orginal gown this is a one time wear most likley (prom) maybe as a costume one day.

After finishing the trim and medallions I cut out the red satin I cut out the front on the fold first.
TIP/NOTE
I tried satin pins, flower head ,long quilting, dressmaking and glass head and the glass head worked the best. I didn't have to work hard ot get them through the fabric I also did not want pins on the fold for fear of a run so I used clothespins (dollar store pack) to hold pattern on. I only pinned in the corners to anchor the pattern to fabric. I also broke out my really heavy metal Ginger knife edge shears instead of my fiskar springloaded shears. I just needed a nice clean cut again not wanting any runs in the satin.
I also used weights instead of all pins for the same reasons. I use large washers from the hardware store they are cheap and work perfect.

Did I say I was trying to avoid runs or snags in my fabric? I know I said that! I know I took all precautions! so off I go cutting into my satin and I look at it after I had cut it. I should have examined my fabric for any flaws before I cut it so of course because I skipped that step what do I see a huge flaw all the way across my front skirt!!!!

ugh now I could cry, throw something, say a very un-lady like word or see if there is a way to save this.
I tell myself that the flaw won't matter since there are two over skirts and the train also comes around the front so three layers are over the red. I am sure it won't show but NOOOOOOOOOO I will know it is there, so I look at my fabric and thank God it is 60" and also my daughter is small so I can get front and back out of one width.
I could not do a same direction lay out, satin does have a nap when the light hits it but with the over skirts it won't matter but that darn flaw would have at least in my mind:).

Red skirts are cut out but it was by grace for sure that I had enough fabric it was so close to the edge notice how little trim there is in the photo.
Ok I am sleepy so good night until tomorrow pray for me I need it.
I would like to thank Maggie @http://www.costumersguide.com/maggie_costumes/my_jump.html
for emailing a response to a question she made this dress in 2006
hers is beautiful!!!!!!!!

P.S. I avoided someone to avoid drama and when I finally returned numerous phone calls it was an invatation to a party. OK I feel really dumb.

pain is a pain and other moaning and groaning from the last week

OK today's lesson for me is humility.

Let's start with I have the Jump dress to get done for my daughter's prom which is May third and there is a lot to that dress.
It has been our dream dress (yes "our") since she was a little girl (1997 titanic movie came out) I shopped all over to get all the supplies in town and out and then................. I'll keep this short... the fight over grad, a move, a sell, paper work being the conductor of all!!!!!. Hubby's birthday party all day in kitchen.

OK fine I can sew now most of the above is handled. then............. the back went out and here I am a week later still perched on my heating pad trying not take any pain meds. Today I was up a bit went to church though I could not stand for all the songs the irony was the last song was "standing standing for Jesus" and I was sitting sitting for Jesus and to save my back.
I can't not believe how much this back has hurt and it is going into my hip and leg this time OK yeah I should go to the doctor but................... no time. Oh yeah I now realize I am not a spring chicken I used to lift things and have no problems or be on my feet for hours but now again here I am perched on the pad:(

Where does the humility come into all of this? I was complaining all week how nothing can get done with me down how I have to handle everything yada yada and in the shower this moring as I was barely able to stand I heard in my soul loud and clear "looks like things are getting done" Hubby has been cooking and running to the store and very helpful he even did the dishes this morning. I feel like I put up a road block to my own recovery by complaining. I think If I would have been more humble and said thank you instead of griping my healing process might have went faster. I am hoping with this realization tomorrow I will feel much better and I will take down the road block and realize it is a joint effort that gets it all done. I am still learning and may God continue to guide me with the light of Jesus shining in my path. Today I was able to give and ask for prayer still working on steping it up.
Forsure ok nothing is sure so formaybe tomorrow the dress!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blessings

JUMP DRESS and b-day

Progress has been slow because so much has been going on including my Hubby's b-day. I have told every one I must work on dress I am writing this to encourage me to get busy.
Progress:
When I last left here I was supposed to be beading the bodice I changed my mind. Instead I cut out the train but first I had to shorten it because My DD doesn't want to have a dragging train at a dance so I shortened it 10 inches making it just a tad shorter than the dress. I did this by lifting the pattern so I could use the round bottom then I used my french curve to draw a new cutting line (one of those notions that comes in so handy)



I also took the gathering out of the skirt I matched notches to the bodice and then folded out the fullness. The original is not gathered to the bodice and the pattern I am using is fully gathered. (reference pattern in below post)

I then did a test cut out of two old sheets one to check fit and also to make three skirts lengths the costume pattern I am using does not have the three skirts it just has you sew trim at hem lengths. I want three separate skirts like the original dress (reference pictures of dress and pattern in below post).

This is the skirt cut from a sheet this pattern only uses one pattern piece for the front and back the only difference is the front is cut on fold.


I sewed my muslin to test fit DD loves the two sheets and said I can use it for the final dress forget the beautiful expensive lace hahahaha :) silly girl I am tempted

Checking fit and skirt length

I cut out the two top skirts out of stretch fine net the pattern called for tulle which I bought then I found this stretch net and the drape is so nice I am using it instead I took apart my muslin after I noted fitting points and used it as the pattern for the skirts it worked out really nice it took very few pins since the fabric doesn't move around like tissue paper.



After I cut out the skirts I tested the three length with the trim and medallions on



I sewed the front to back skirts with a rolled edge which is perfectly fine as a seam it is strong and stretchy and eliminates french seams on a sheer fabric



I started sewing on trim to one of the overlay skirts I hand basted it on first in pink thread I think hand basting is underrated it really saves time in the long run and I know why couture houses use so much hand basting and hand sewing period. I didn't have to worry about straight pins snagging my net or I didn't have to take the time to pull them out. I also finished the edge of the fine stretch net with a two thread over lock it prevented a lot of the curling that would have happened with the stretch net again an extra step that in the long run saved me time.



One of the reasons I have not worked on this more is My Hubby's 44th was on the 9th and since it was a work day and my Son couldn't come home from college until Sat. we decided to have a little shin dig on Sat and I asked my Hubby what he wanted me to make him he picked chicken and dumplings which is delicious but is an all day dish.

Birthday table
I used some fabric I had on hand Nascar since my hubby likes Nascar I put out some cars and I used Canning Jars for glasses it made a cute table and was a hit with the guests I also put out colored straws so guests would know whose is whose.
I wanted to do something special on his actual B day so I made him a doughnut cake. It has been a issue with us for over 20 years if he has a buck in his pocket he is at the doughnut shop this man loves them I give him a lot of guff about it so I thought it would be fun for him to find a mountain of them. Happy Birthday Mark you are My dream come true I love you.

Whew I am tired but I really want to blog this dress it has truly been a dream My DD and I have had for 11 years.
Please pray for me I need it off to sew trim:)
God Bless

P.S. prom is May 3rd do you thinnk I will make it??
P.S.S don't give your husband money they go get doughnuts

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been so long and so much has happened in my life. (too much to type)

God has revealed more to me than ever before and I feel that the stuff on my plate is here for a reason and the reminder from my lovely daughter "Mom, put God in the center of that plate" So that is where he is with Jesus at my side while we dine.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
The Dress


This is one of the many things on my plate right now. If you don't recognize this dress it is the "Jump Dress" from the movie Titanic and my daughter and I always said this would be her prom dress well 11 years sure flew by because here it is 3weeks before prom and I need to get busy.
The last few weeks amongst all the other tasks in my life I have been collecting my "ingredients" I have had to search a lot and make do with some items so please join me on this next adventure while I sew the dream dress for a very worthy daughter from a stressed out momma :).

Pattern:


Ingredients:

Fabrics:




join me in the journey pray for me I am on a deadline so off I go to bead the bodice.



Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Recent Photo shoots

Always a daughter, Always a friend.

2year old Christmas photo shoot:

It is sad when they grow up but it is hard to photograph them when they are little :)
Sometimes the best shots are the candid's and I move when he moves:)
Children are an heritage of the LORD... – Psalm 127:3
I will sew again one day :)
Blessings