Simplicity 2599

This top was made with the fabric that I intended to use with the top of Vogue 1247, there wasn't enough fabric so I used the Simplicity 2599 thinking that I could still wear it with the skirt tucked in.
The picture was taken at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. What a fun museum! Highly recommend it!

 I did not use the facings, I made bias binding with batiste in white since I did not have enough fashion fabric. The back seam has no shaping, I kept it in since I wasn't sure if I could pull the top over my head without an opening (I can). I added a little bit of shaping at the waist in the back seam.

 I also used the binding in the armholes.

The ruffles I made using my serger. I love how you finish the edge and gather at the same time. It took me a while to get them right, but it was worth it!

I leave you with a couple more pictures of the museum.

A birthday celebration

My son turned 18 last week. Yesterday he had a second celebration with a couple of friends at home so I baked a cake and made quesadillas for them.

The cake is a recipe from Martha Stewart and the quesadillas she showed how to make on a show many years ago and have become a staple that I make for parties. It is a great recipe since you can add many things depending on what you have available. I have made them with black olives, salsa, chicken, green onions and then you can serve them with sour cream, guacamole...you get the picture. Here is a video showing you how to make them except I heat up olive oil in the pan.

The cake I have made before, yellow cake with lemon curd filling and chocolate frosting. I did not make the lemon curd, it came from a jar, but the cake and frosting I followed the recipe.

I used to watch the old Martha Stewart show but I'm not a fan of her new one. I do still go to her website from time to time.

Vogue 1247 Skirt

Obligatory shot to show pockets

Like everyone else who has made this skirt , I love it! As you can see I added quite a bit of length and it works just as well as the original short version.

The top is from Burda magazine made in 2005. Here is the review , but I'm afraid the original picture has gone missing.

 The most time consuming part of this skirt is the seam finishing and it looks so pretty you don't mind the extra time spent on making your own binding and then applying. I used a light weight cotton, and although I love it is a little too young for me but it is perfect for details like these.

The zipper does not match because it was the one I had when working in this project so I used it, after all it is an invisible zipper so it doesn't matter right?

Forida Vacation

This year for vacation we went to Florida. We spent about 5 days in Sanibel, enjoying the beach and the warm gulf waters. The rest of the time, 5 more days, we spent visiting family and surrounding attractions. Hope you enjoy my pictorial trip!

This was the start of our nature walk at "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

The best part of Florida vacation, anoles! Used to try catching these when I was a kid, my kids still chase them.

Yum! Sea grapes...

Although we enjoyed our 4 mile walk, other than anoles and a few birds, wildlife was no where to be seen... The only alligator we saw

The shade and water provider in action

Leaving Sanibel we stopped at Edison and Ford Winter States, Ft. Myers. I fell in love with the location, the houses, porches and the gardens.

Fairy tale banyan trees

The living room at the Ford family winter home

Lunch stop in historic Ft. Myers

 Canoe trip, my boys and my niece

Homasassa Springs Wildlife Refuge State Park

Honorary Floridian hippo

Taking shelter from afternoon storm

Manatees one of the main attractions at Homasassa

Busch Gardens

One of the highlights of the Busch Gardens visit, feeding the lorikeets

Great vacation! Glad to be home!

I'm back!

I had all intentions to post while on vacation but it did not work. I have to show you the skirt from Vogue 1247, which I have worn several times and I love! I don't have a good picture to show so it will be reviewed  on my next post.

Here are pictures of my beloved Framboyan (Delonix regia), it is original from Madagascar but it is very plentiful in Cuba. I had my family drive around Sanibel/Captiva Island, where we spent part of our vacation, looking for it. More on my vacation on another post!