The End is The Beginning

I have been on a mission new for the past several years. A mission that has been a strain on every part of who I am, and who I have become.

During these past several years I have been learning so much in the running a business. Not only will I be able to apply my on the job knowledge of business management, I will also have a better understanding of the all areas of business management.

Since I have taken on the education with a bachelors degree in business management I have learned other skills that I wish to apply to the prospects of my own business ventures.

One of the things that I have taken on and learned about is sewing. I started out by sewing a couple of zipper bags. I have also taken on the construction of a couple of skirts. They might not be something that will be worn out on the town, at least not yet. The learning that I have done over the past few years has been refining my techniques and I will soon be able to construct works of art.

My latest course of study in the world of sewing is to learn the are of the pleat. Since there are many different types of pleats out there I will be working through them and learning everything that I can about them. Many of these will be worked into various articles of clothing. I however do not want to just leave it at clothing, I want to add to my collection of other crafting endeavors.

In my spare time, which there is very little I have started the construction of a new skirt, which is pictured above. The material that I am using is reclaimed which is a trend that I intend to continue. This skirt will be a maxi that incorporates box pleats. It might take a few more weeks to finish, not because making a skirt is difficult to construct, but passing my accounting finals is. After passing this exam I have just one more class left and that is my capstone project. 

The end of my bachelors degree represents that beginning of other promises that life will provide for me. Until then, have the most wonderful time...and never stop learning.

Beyond Black and White, The Painful Reality

     We chose clothing that fits our personalities. What we wear speaks volumes about who we are and many first impressions are formed by our looks. The messages that we send can change though out the day. Suits and ties or a nice button down blouse and midi skirt for at the office shows that we mean business. Jeans and a t-shirt or a mini dress that hugs every curve for clubbing at night.

     We also use color to manipulate how we are seen by others. I know that the ladies understand this concept very well, after all that little black dress can be irresistible to look at. We use dark colors to mean business and bight colors for fun and uplifting times.

     Rarely do we dress from head to toe with the some colors, but will use complimentary colors to provide variety and to make an even bigger statement, though that LBD is enough of a statement on its own.  Even in the office we layer our colors that is what ties a outfit together. There are layers of solid colors, patterned colors of every imaginable variety and we even will use stripes. Yes, I did say stripes.

     Stripes are not my favorite choice for outfits. In fact I prefer the basic solid colors and yes I have been referred to as boring and unimaginative when choosing outfits. Another fact is that I have a tendency to be challenged when mixing colors. I think certain colors work together that don't or certain colors don't work together that do. I can be forever grateful for the abundance of color charts that are available.

     I believe that I mentioned that I am not a fan of stripes. Wide stripes I can live with a little better than micro stripes. In fact the worst thing of all is black and white micro stripes. Who ever thought that micro stripes, specifically black and white micro stripes, were a good thing really does not understand the pain that is inflicted on society, or at least a segment of the population.

     Take the a beautiful woman and have her put on a black and white micro stripe dress and you have detracted from her beauty. Further more, she becomes painful to look at. The black and white micro stripes have too much contrast with each other and optically it screws with the eyes. Further more, speaking from experience, it can trigger migraines and yes there are plenty of migraine suffers out there that are plunged into a painful day. All because you wore micro stripes. Even if for some odd reason the migraine does not present itself a headache is definitely triggered.

     I suffer from migraines. I suffer from looking at micro stripes. Please help alleviate the pain that we migraine suffers face by leaving the micro stripes behind. Please remember that no matter how beautiful your are, you could be the cause of someones migraines if you choose to wear micro stripes.

     Yes, there is a reason that I inserted the picture at the end of the my writing. Just from the short time I took to edit the photo and to utilize it for my social media postings I have started to get a headache. I hope that you enjoy my short rant about black and white micro stripes and will have some sympathy for others by leaving the black and white micro stripes alone.

Now where's the pain killers!

     I have no scientific basis for and of the information provided in the text above. Everything written here is just my opinions that I have formed from personal experience, observation, and from others I have spoken to.    

   

Fainting Couches and Perfection

     Women have been pushed by society to become an object of beauty and desire to fulfill men's wildest dreams. After all men desire a beautiful woman at his side. A woman who not only can live up to his fantasies, but who also has promise of fertility allowing for his family name to carry on for generations to come.

     There was a time when ladies would contort their bodies forcing them into shapes that would appear as if they ready to bear the fruits of life into the human race. They did this because that was what was expected of them in their social circles. I would imagine their bodies screamed out in pain as the laces of the corsets were cinched with a crushing force. There were many times that the image of a desirable body would break from the stress that corsets would apply to the bodies structure. Bones would break and breathing would become labored, thus the need for the fainting couch. A properly dressed lady would not be able to get enough oxygen to her body and while performing even the simplest of tasks would run out of oxygen and pass out. Why? So that she could live up to the societies expectations of how she should look and to be desirable enough to be selected to propagate future generations.

     The corsets left mainstream society and so did the fainting couch, but that is far from being the end of the love affair with the corset. Men desire the hourglass figure that can be obtained from the corset. The corset left mainstream retail to take residence in shops specializing in the fantasies and desires that your mother would not want to know about.

     Yet here we are today. Year after year. decade after decade. We have brain washed society into desiring that perfect body once again. We have been bombarded by media and the fashion industry into believing that if we do not have that perfect body then we are not desirable and run the risk of not finding that perfect mate.

     Women throw large sums of cash at the cosmetic counters in order to get the latest trends that they are told that they must have. They paint their bodies hiding any and every imperfection because they are told that it is not desirable to have even the slights imperfection. They colorize their faces in hopes that they will be noticed in a crowed, wanting to be more beautiful than a room full of beautiful women. They strive for the perfect eyes to draw in the right gaze and their lips cry out to be gently caressed by the right man. Why is that?

     Our social circles have changed. We are now influenced by advertising and the fashion industry, not so that we can be healthier person but so that the driving forces behind the industry of beauty can line their pockets with your hard earned money. They want you to coat your skin with their chemicals so that they can make money. Not all makeup is full of chemical, so you must do your homework before covering yourself with them. You must remember that your skin can and will absorb chemicals into your body and that is not really in your best interest.

     And back to the rest of the woman's body. A body that is still being crammed into the perfect shape as defined by society. Countless hours are spent at the gym working out, trying to nip at fat deposits in order to be comparable to the airbrushed models wearing the latest fashion trends...that are a must have. As the body can no longer meet expectations money is wasted purchasing body shaping clothing such as control hosiery and  yes, the ever famous corset is back.

     Men have been brainwashed too, into thinking that these unnatural beauties are to be desired and sought after. The expectation of having a beautiful woman on his arm is a driving force in his expectations of that perfect woman. Then at the end of the day, when in the privacy of the home environment, the make up comes off, the shape-wear comes off and reality comes to destroy that fantasy. Once again the mind wanders on to the next prize that the man can possess, crushing the hopes of truly seeing the natural beauty that lies beside him.

     Fortunately, the veil has been removed from my eyes. I still see the beauty as society defines it, but I desire only the beauty designed by nature. Even though I have immersed myself in a world of societies beauty I desire to call for change in how to define beauty. Fortunately, the industry is starting to take notice of this but it is slow and may never be fully realized. Only time will tell.

Please remember that what I have written here is based on my observations and opinions. I do not claim to be an authority on any particular issue that is written about in this article. I am not promoting any particular product. Take what I say and form your own opinions. 

     2018 is promising to be a great year. It is the year I finally graduate college for the second time. First time was an associates degree, this time I will have my bachelors degree in business management. I am excited to be done. Not just because it is finishing with something that I have been working on for several year, but because it will free up more time to do the things that I have not had as much time for. 

     I will be hitting the sewing room more working on new creations. I hope to renew old things into new things. I want to create something completely new for me and finally I am excited to learn new things in the sewing room. 

     Sewing however is not going to be the only focus for this new year. I will be working both in front of the camera and behind the camera, though mostly behind, to bring you new photographs and break  into videos. I also am looking forward to adding more blog postings and even some traveling to 2018. 

      Yes I said traveling! As of right now I have plans to travel to the Seattle area in late March and early April. I also am looking forward to spending the 2018 holiday season back home in Minnesota! There will be other short day trips or weekenders tucked in to my schedule but those are the big trips for this year that are planned as of right now.

     I hope that you can overlook my long absences here in blogging land. I have been really busy with college, working a full time job while maintaining some sanity with my wife, kids and myself. With college out of the way that will be a huge relief and I will not feel guilty for working on some of my side projects.

     I hope that you can join me for my 2018 adventures and...

Happy New Year

SKIRTING THE ISSUE, PART 3

     Why skirts? Because wearing pants contradicts the message that we have been preaching about our health. The unfortunate part is that if a man in today society (here in the states especially) their health can be compromised by physical and mental bullying. This is the stigma that must be changed in order to safely move forward with male freedom.

     Time and time again men hear that they should be wearing boxers instead of briefs. What good does this do? It is fine if your walking around your house in your boxers without pants on, but put a pair of pants on things start getting cramped down there. There is some relief if we stand up but still most pants are a little snug. We have a tendency to spend most of our waking hours sitting down at a desk. That leads to a continuous shifting and trying to be comfortable. Yet there is still no great solution.

     Through out the world you see cultures where men are wearing everything from vashti in India to a sarong in Sri Lanka. There is also the hakama from Japan and the kilt from Scotland. We should also not forget about religions. Look not farther than the Catholic and Lutheran churches. Their priests and pastors wear the cassock and alb. Wiccans and other neo-pagan religions are also known to wear ceremonial robes. Yet (in my opinion) some of the most vocal critics of the male skirt come from religion.

     As you remember from my previous posting. I am not advocating men to raid the women’s departments at your favorite clothing store for the perfect dress. If men started wearing something other than skirts there would have to be a specific market designed around those articles of clothing. I am also not advocating the wearing of anything that would restrict our movement. Sorry guys I am not interested in seeing you in pencil skirts. It is very important for men to maintain freedom of movement so that we can continue to be the protector of our families and property. That is what was bred into our being to be the hunter and gatherer and protector.

     

I hope that men can finally be freed from the restrictive clothing that we have just become so accustom to in the western cultures. Allow us not to be cramped when sitting and give us a better reason to be wearing the boxers that we often told to wear for our health.

SKIRTING THE ISSUE, PART 2

     One of the ways we show our identity is through the use of clothing. We define our own fashion to fit our individual personalities. The problem is, if we fail to dress like the mainstream society thinks we should dress then we get negatively looked upon. Will how we dress really affect how we perform our jobs?

     When was the last time you saw a gothic individual running a board meeting in any company? Most of the time if these individuals are seen at all in a business it will most likely not be in an office building where the attire is socially set and set by the policies of the company. A few years back a directive from a place that I worked stated that we were no longer able to wear black on both the top and bottom at the same time. Black pants required a different color shirt and if you wore a black shirt a different color of pants was required. This would prevent our clients from being uneasy with us.

While being goth in the business world is not acceptable it is even less acceptable to be, dare I say, a “crossdresser”. I am not saying that I really want to slip into a long gown for the next formal event I go to, or that I desire to march down the isle in a beautiful wedding dress. Though I might be able to pull it off if society’s thinking was different. Actually, no even I have my limits. I would not be able to get that fit just right, even if I worked out and beefed up my chest. Seriously, there is a limit to even where I would define women’s wear and men’s wear.

     I would like to see men be allowed by societal standards to wear a skirt. Nothing more. Some men have tried to bring this to mainstream society but have failed. Other cultures allow for skirt/dress like garments to be worn so why can’t we bring this to the United States? Could a man ever feel safe walking down the street in a skirt? It can happen but it is going to take a fundamental change in societies thinking.

     

Stick around for part 3 and I will explain why it makes sense to change our ways and if men could just get over this stigma of being different then things would change and different would become the norm.

SKIRTING THE ISSUE, PART 1

     In today’s society we brainwashed into thinking the way a normal society wants us to think. We are made to think that society’s normal must be our normal. I believe that these barriers that are holding us hostage must be destroyed and we must work at recreating a new normal.

If one decides to go against the societal norms they are considered to be outcasts and substandard citizens. Society has a fear that if we accept these individuals into our realm then we will become like them.

     It is time to make a change. A time to stand up for our differences and a time to stand up for others who are different. How do we do it? How do we change the way society thinks without becoming outcasts ourselves? The problem is that changing the way society thinks is not something that can be done from the bottom up but must be changed from the top down.

     There is so much talent that is wasted in this world because of the outcasts that fall outside of the societal norm. Let us not be afraid of what we do not know and learn about our fellow humans that we have removed from our normal society.

Continued Sewing for a Fashionable Home

      Just when you thought my fashion was going to be only about clothes. Sorry, I hate to disappoint you. In fact I look at fashion as so much more. 

     I do look at a big part of fashion as being a part of the clothing industry. However, we can have so much more that would be considered fashionable. How about the accessories that we adorn ourselves with, the home that we decorate to our tastes, the art work that we admire. I believe that all of it and more can be considered fashionable. Unfortunately when it comes down to fashion people stop at the first thing they thing of, clothing.

     Now I have to admit that I did pick out the curtains that I was working on last night. That was a selection that my wife made. I did however assist in making a decision about the colors of paint that we used on the walls. Once we finalize the room I will post a couple of pics looking at how all of this ties together.

     The curtains were a simple purchase that we made. We liked them but they did not conform to the size of windows that we have. The answer was to split each curtain panel down the middle and hem the raw edge that was created. This worked out well and I believe that it was a great success. We used two full curtain panels and ended up with four panels. This covers the two windows that flank either side of our fire place.

     Now the big challenge that we faced was getting a double roll on the hem that needed to be sewn. It was up to my wife to pin it up and ensure that all of the hems were straight. For the most part that worked out well. The issue is with working with this type of fabric. I has a fairly loose weave and did not like to completely stay in place while sewing. If we would have taken just a little more time we should have taken out the ironing board and pressed the hem flat. This would ensure that it stays in place when sewing. We just wanted to get the project done and relax for an hour before hopping into bed for the night.

     Now the hem ran the length of the curtain. It might have been easier if it was just on the top or bottom width. Sewing the length proved to be somewhat challenging. That is a long distance and it had to be done on all four of the panels. That means that no matter how hard I tried there were still flaws in the sewing. The biggest issue was that the stitching was not exactly straight. That however was easy to over come. Put the newly hemmed edges to the outside of the windows so that they are up against the wall. You want to put the factory hems butted up against each other in the middle of the window. That way none of the flaws in your sewing will stand out.

     This project was a simple sew though it did have its challenges. You think that great, four quick straight hems and your done. Sounds simple enough but in practice it proved to be a little more challenging that first anticipated. The total sewing time was right around 1 hour. Total time for the cutting, pinning and sewing is estimated to be right around 3 hour.

     Just because something that you like does not exactly match what you are envisioning, you can make changes, most of the time. Two curtain panels turned into four. This I believe also fits other areas of the fashion world. Just learn some simple sewing and you can customize your outfit to match your vision. I learned just a few simple sewing techniques and I am up and sewing. Each time I get in front of the sewing machine it is a learning experience. I strive to learn something new. Whether it is working with new fabric or just learning new other techniques I strive to keep learning.

     I hope that you have the most wonderful day and I will be back soon.

A Frightening First for Halloween

     A year ago I would never have dreamed that I would be participating in sewing a costume for Halloween. In all reality I did not do much but there always has to be a beginning.

     OK, there was not much for me to do. I just had to add a little stitching on the apron of my daughter outfit. Everything else was pretty much already done. The rest of the costume was purchased and ready to go.

     My wife asked me to do this simple task because, one she really does not like working on clothing... of any kind and two, she knows that I am fairly proficient with the sewing machine. This is a skill that I have worked on over the past year. When I emerged from the sewing room the only thing she said was, "your done with that already?" My answer was of course. For me mastering the sewing machine is not really a difficult process and for years, before I started sewing, I was always the one getting things set up and making the machine work for her.

     I finally figured that I know enough about the machine that I might as well start sewing. The only thing that I needed to do is learn how to sew. That is where some light reading and You Tube came into the picture. I spent a short amount of time learning the basics and practicing the basics.

     Now I am looking to expand my abilities and really enjoy the learning process. What is slowing me down now is I am a full time employee in a major health system and I am also finishing up my bachelors degree in business, which I should be done with college by the end of the year. Then I can move on to other interests.

     Will sewing be a part of these other interests. Yes. I will be doing more sewing, photography and blogging. I also am really hoping to add some videos of what I am doing. I will have a full plate to keep me busy by I am looking forward to these new ventures.

     Please follow this blog and check out wertanen.com. You can also follow me on my website for updates on everything I am doing. I can also be found on various social media sites most of which is listed on my websites homepage.

     Thank you for visiting and hope to see you back here often. Have the happiest and most wonderful holiday season.

My Thoughts and a New Beginning

     I view myself as a lost soul in a world of lost souls. I am in search of a place to call home, a place where I fit in. It is not about not being happy doing what I am doing, it is the longing to do more. It is the understanding of the world around me that drives me to do more, yet not wanting to poke the beast that is hiding the map that will help the lost souls to find their rightful calling.       I am thefashionframework. I can be found in many places in the social media world. My social medial links can be found on my home page at www.wertanen.com  Please look me up and follow me on all of my social media.        I chose the fashion world not because I am good at it. I chose it in order to amplify the demands that society has been placing on women. I have a desire for a change in the way the world is objectifying women and fattening their bank accounts with little regard as to the true well being of women. Now don't misunderstand me, I am not opposed to a well dressed women. I am not opposed to a woman who is self confident and understands what she wants in the world. I am opposed to women being used so that the bigger fish can get fat.       I may be only one person, with only one voice. I may or may not be heard. I want to be that one voice that speaks up to bring change to a brainwashing of our society, of our women that keeps saying that in order to be happy you must seek more and more and more. You must spend your money and buy into the latest fashion trends because that outfit that you purchased last week is no longer in style. Or that you must cake chemicals on your faces in order to look beautiful.      How about we as a society focus on buying only what we need and not what we are told we need. Let us focus on finding inner beauty, with maybe just a splash of something on the outside that accentuates our true selves. Whether you dress in sweatpants and a sweatshirt , jeans and a t-shirt, a skirt and a crop top, your favorite little black dress or evening gown, be happy being you and not the you others want you to think you are.      I have teamed up with various companies as an affiliate representative. You would think that I would not be so geared towards selling women's fashions and makeup, but that is the world that we live in. It is a world that needs to change but that change is not going to happen overnight and as the saying goes, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's. At least until one day you own Rome and are  Caesar. So feel free to stop by my affiliate page and browse the different companies that I have partnered with. Find who you really are and if not that is OK too. I do receive a commission on most items purchased through the links that I have provided. It definitely helps what I am trying to accomplish here. So please visit, wertanen.com/affiliate-shopping and browse.        Oh and guy don't think that you are not apart of this too. You also have been brainwashed into a false sense of reality and what it truly means to be happy not only as a man but how women are objectified by your thoughts and  actions.

Affiliate Marketing

     I am running with final this week. Starting Wednesday I have one more 6 month term left before I graduate. I really wanted to take a quick break and let you know about some ventures that I have started. 

     I have signed up with several companies to provide my readers with direct access from my blog and websites. How I benefit is when someone buys products from a affiliate company using a link that I provide I get a commission from that sale. It usually ranges from a .5% - 12%, which is the highest that I have seen so far. I am sure that scales could be different from other companies but this is just what I have observed so far.

     The great part about affiliate marketing is that everyone has the opportunity to participate. All you need to do is have a online presence, usually with a significant amount of followers. I am currently running on Twitter , Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr. I am also working on the finishing touches on my personal website and looking to add a second website soon. This is exactly what these companies are looking for...exposure. Best thing yet is that it costs nothing to get started, that is if you have a computer. Then again you would not be reading this if you did not have some type of computer.

     So if you really want to pad your income, are looking to add to a rainy day fund or wanting to save some cash into your dream fund for to buy something special you should consider affiliate marketing. If you want to change your starts you must take the first steps, even if it is a leap. Have the most wonderful day and I will see you soon.

    Now back to my studies so I can finish this B.S. in Business Management. Oh and please don't forget to visit my "Favorite Links" to the right side of this blog. 

What about you?

I have been wanting to find out more about my followers. Not just the ones that read this blog but about everyone on my various social media sites. I have put together a short 5 question survey. This way I can start to make sense of what my followers/readers are looking for. In the future I plan on having other surveys but they will not be the main focus of my posting. Today I really just wanted to focus on the readers. So what about you. Please let me know. With your input I will grow this page into something that we all are happy to read.

Once again have the most wonderful week and keep being the best you that you can be.

It's time for me to get to know you. Please answer the short and quick 5 question survey. 

Recycle and Reuse. That's What I'm About...most of the time.

     I don't believe that you have to run to the store every time you need a new outfit. The only place to go is your closet. I'm sure that there is plenty items that have been worn once and you'll never wear them again. There are also things there that you love but they are getting a little worn out. Believe it or not with just a touch of creativity you can get them new life and a new purpose.

     If you haven't already noticed, I like to reuse and recycle. I started out by making the sewing ham where I combined some new with a lot of old recycled t-shirts. You can not see the t-shirts because they are what I used to stuff the ham. I also had a couple of queen size sheets laying around. I used them for backdrops when I was doing photography 20+ years ago. I have just kept moving them with me every time I moved. Finally I have come up with something to use them for. I made the circle skirt and the wrap skirt out of these sheets.

     I have done some research and found that I could bring new life to old jeans. there are a few things that you could do with them. First of all they would make a great pair of shorts. They could be just cut off shorts with no hem on the legs or you could take a little extra time to hem them just to give them a little more of a finished off look.

     Your old jeans could also take the shape of a cute jean skirt. The length of the skirt dictated by taste and though a little more imagination must go into creating the skirt it is a realistic project to accomplish. Am working on creating a jean skirt an will hope to complete it fairly soon. I will be working to keep on track of these sewing projects even with my heavy work with my job and in my college classes. The nice thing about the jeans project is that it does not have to be limited to jeans. You can find any old pair of pants that you want and create a new skirt or what ever your imagination can come up with.

     Some of the projects that are on my short list to accomplish are:

• I need to finish the jean shorts/skirt project.
• I want to start exploring sewing men's clothing, pants and shirts.
• I will be creating a couple more skirt projects. Still need a midi and maxi that I am still looking for the perfect fabric.
• After all of that it is hopefully onto a full length dress. 

These should be enough to keep me busy for awhile and I should be able to increase my sewing skills. I am still a novice at this sewing business. One day I will be able to create anything that I want but until then I will keep taking these baby steps. Have the most wonderful week and I will see you next time.

That's a Wrap!

 

     I have so many goals in life and so little time to do them. Aside from working 50 hours a week I am also a full-time student getting a business management degree. I enjoy learning about what I need to do to make me better at managing a business and about building my own business. I would like to see a time where I can get out from behind the desk and not have to worry about going to work every day. I want my money to work for me so that I can enjoy doing whatever I want to do. I am taking small steps learning about how to be a business owner and how to properly invest my time and money.

     Things that I enjoy doing are photography, writing and sewing. There are many other things but I have learned to focus on just a few things that get me to the life that I want to live. I would hope that one day photography, writing and sewing could be wrapped up into one big business and so I am formulating a plan.

     The reason I have selected the name and have become Fashionframework is because I am looking to focus on a well rounded life. Fashion to me is much more than the photography. It is more than women (and men) dressed in the latest trends, the unrealistic portrayal of what the everyday average woman must live up to. It is about a lifestyle. It is about your home, your family, the way you perceive yourself as an individual. That to me is fashion. Not everybody can be a model, but everybody can be themselves. They can live that fashionable life and live in that fashionable environment. That to me is what fashion should be all about.

     So now on to this weeks project. I have chosen to sew a wrap skirt. Once again I am using my own design and need to make some tweaks to it. Pictured is a floor length skirt made once again out of my favorite practice material, a bed sheet.

     It is hemmed on the bottom and on both sides using a single stitch rolled hem. One thing that I learned after and what I will be trying on my next skirt is to use a double needle on my machine. That way the hem allows for a little stretch and looks finished off with the double row of stitches.

     The waistband was created out of a 8 inch wide by 74 inch long strip of fabric. It each side was folded over to the center line of the fabric to create a stiff yet pliable waistband and ties. One thing that I would do differently next time is to increase the length of the ties. As you can see in the photos there is not much room to tie a bow or use other fasteners.

     This was the most awesome project and I learned a lot. The next time I create this wrap skirt I will be looking at a different fabric. I will also be adding some light to medium weight fusible batting that will give the waistband a little more structure. Add a little more length to the ties and it will then be a great outfit for that special someone.

     Oh and I almost forgot to mention that I managed to successfully create pretty good elongated button hole which I created to feed the tie through on one side of the skirt. I think it worked out well.

Until next time please keep striving to do things that make you happy.

A Full Circle

     Hello once again. I believe that I am back after a well needed break. I am refreshed and ready to jump into 2017 with a renewed energy. This coming March I will be starting what I hope to be my last tern in college. I will then be graduating with a Business Management degree. The only thing that could foil these plans is one class that I am currently taking. It is managerial accounting and I find that any accounting class is a little challenging for me. I must continue on though. So much of what I hope to do with my future revolves around business that this could be a nice addition to my knowledge base.

     I had to leave work early yesterday since the children are still on winter break. I also did the same thing today. That just gives me more time to do the things that I love to do and that is to learn. I learn the best by doing, so yesterday I jumped in and immersed myself into my sewing. I created my very first circle skirt. Even thought there are some flaws I feel that it was a very successful project. I learned something.

     I am running short on fabric around here. But what I had was  couple of  old sheets lying around from my photography. I would use the sheets as my back drops and I have somewhat shifted from using these for back drops but kept the sheets. Now they are free to be used for my practice material.

     I have a tendency to work from memory and create what is in my minds eye. Is this the correct way for one that is new to sewing? Not really, but I have a strong vision as to what I want to accomplish and I have a love for geometry. I find that sewing is just one big geometry project. I will use patterns for many things that I want to sew, but I will also make many patterns. I find that if I am making everything from scratch I am learning everything that I can about what works and what doesn't.

     I managed to get that perfect circle from which to make this skirt. I made successfully made a 1/4 inch hem around the bottom. I know that this is not the typical hem width but this is what I chose for this project.

     I had a vision in my head as to what I wanted for the waistband and just cut it out. The waistband is 3 inches wide and but I cut the original piece out as a 4 inch piece with a length of 42 inches. I left a half inch seam allowance on each of the long edges. That is how I got 3 inches out of the 4 inch waistband.

     In the last picture you will notice that the zipper is showing and that it really stands out because I did not color match and just used the last zipper that I had in my kit. Is everything sewn straight? No. What I have is working zipper. It zips from the top to the bottom without any snags. From everything that I know from others who have worked with zippers this is one of the hardest things to do when it come to sewing. My next zipper will probably be color matched and there will be a much cleaner look. I learned what I by doing and managed to learn what I will and will not do next time.

     This was my first project heading into the world of sewing clothing. This skirt will not see the light of day, or the darkness of the night. In other words no one will ever be wearing this skirt. I was my learning project, by break out project. Now I will take what I have learned and make improvements and work towards that sewing perfection and maybe I will one day I will create that perfect outfit.

Take care and keep challenging yourself. 

More to come!

Zippers...The Necessary Evil

    I have returned to conquer the zipper. The problem lies in the fact that the zipper wants to be the winner. Needless to say I will be victorious in the end. I was hoping on working on this yesterday and have a posting on Sunday, the day I like to post to my blog. Shopping and yard work had other things to say about that. In a couple of weeks we will be having our yard reseeded. That means we need sufficient watering equipment to ensure that the seeds have the best chances at life. We were pricing out hoses (even purchased a couple lengths of hose) and calculated what we will be needing for sprinklers. Also, since we are so busy we want to buy a timer that goes on the outside faucets to run the sprinklers. I also figured that while we were out I needed a new pair of sandals to replace the ones that are falling apart.

   The zipper pull on today's bag is fairly good but not great. The ends still do not lay flat and are slightly misaligned. The other end of the zipper on today's bag appears to be nearly perfect. It slightly dips into the corner but for the most part it is nicely sewn.     So, here I am today. Tackling the zipper issue. I have made some improvements in the sewing of the zipper. Though I am finding that I need to learn just a little more about these difficult items. The bag on the bottom, is the bag that I had

previously made. As you can see the alignment of the zippers are quite off. The top bag is the one that I made today.

     I looked closely at the flaws with the first bag and determined that I needed to stitch closer to the zipper stops. Taking that into account I reduced the size of today's bag. It seems to have helped even thought the bag is smaller from side to side. I believe that works well for the bags. There is one other technique that I will be trying but I need to learn a little more about it first, back to YouTube.

     Next week I need to continue on with my sewing education. I will not be giving up on my bags though. I think that I can master this and have some very successful items. I do have future plans on making other bags that are larger and that do not have zippers. These bags will be more along the lines of larger totes that can be used for the beach or even reusable bags for shopping.

     I know that I will be heading into the clothing world soon. In fact next week would be a great week to start. If all goes well I will create a circle skirt. This will be a easy beginners level project that will help guide me into the next phase of my sewing life. I have some ideas already on the fabric that I want to use and this would be an excellent time to work on something for the holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are just around the corner. Let's see what creations I can come up with. 

Until next time, have a wonderful week and keep stitching. 

         

Once Again I Have Returned and I Have It In The Bag.

     It has been nearly a month since I have posted last. I did have good reason to be missing for such a long period of time.  During the first week of August I took a trip to Parris Island Marine Recruit Training Center. As one of the officers for our local US Naval Sea Cadet Divisions, I took my cadets to Parris Island for training. Though it was warm down in South Carolina we did have a great time.
     During the rest of the month I have been finishing my Project Management Certification. I had to have it completed by the last day of this month since I am doing the certification for college. Yes, I said college. I am a full time student as a business major at Western Governors University. I did pass my certification and passed all of my classes for this term. Now I have two terms left in my degree program which means that I will (if all goes as planned) graduation next year at this time.

     Now on to this weeks project. For me this project is where I have been heading to since I have started this blog. My goal is to make these zippered bags and sell them on line or at craft shows.
     Several weeks ago I went out to the fabric store to look for the perfect material for this project. My wife will have to be credited with finding this material. I believe that this was the perfect matching material for this project.
     When I finally sat down to use this material I folded it in half and ironed both pieces of material. Once they were ironed I took to the cutting table and stacked the two pieces of fabric so that I has four layers of fabric on the table. Using a rotary cutter I cut the four layers of material into pieces that measured 10.5 inches by 6 inches. That way I have four pieces that are exactly the same size and ready for sewing.

     The next step was to properly layer two pieces of fabric with the zipper. I like using binder clips to hold material when possible. It for me is easier to use and I believe does a better job at holding the material. I also find that it is easier to make fine adjustments.
     After aligning the fabric on the one side of the zipper I took to the sewing machine and did a straight stitch down the length of the zipper to attach them together. Next them I performed the same procedure for attaching the rest of the material to the other side of the zipper.
     With a quick ironing I flattened the material once again pulling slightly away from the zipper to allow the seams to be properly flattened. After the ironing I returned to the sewing machine and did a top stitching down each side of the zipper. This helps to flatten out the seam and give it a cleaner look.
     I did manage to finish this bag which I find to have turned out rather well. I do know that there are a few flaws with the bag, but feel that this was a very successful project for having been the first time I have sewn a zippered bag.
     Now that I have finished my first zippered bag, I can work at refining m techniques. I have to refine my stitches and make them straighter along the zipper. I also have to work with the ends of the zipper and make them fit with the bag better. With that being said I am very satisfied for my first bag.

     I will be making more bags in hopes of getting this sewing down and making a viable product that I can sell at some point. As for the projects that I have coming up, I will be continuing on with expanding my collection of projects that will refine my skills and teach me new skills in the art of sewing.

     I hope that you have a wonderful week and look forward to what I can put together for next weeks project.

This Last Week Was Not About The Sewing.

INST WERTANEN of the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps
 Signal Mountain Division, Signal Mountain, TN

     The sewing was very limited this past week. But I did manage to slip in a few stitches. I had to make my uniforms shipshape and get them ready for a week long trip to Parris Island, South Carolina. The name tapes and collar devices had to be placed on several pairs of uniforms that I was bringing along.
     This trip was not about me however. It was about the cadets who ranged in ages from 13 years old to 18 years old. It was about exposing them to how the Marines train their recruits. These cadets are a part of the US Naval Sea Cadets Corps. It is a place for the cadets to learn leadership skills that can be used whether they join the military or not.

     At Parris Island the cadets took part in military pt and marching drills. Toured various places on the base including seeing the barracks of recruits who are really attending Marine boot camp. They spent time listening to lectures along with hands on experiences with the confidence course, obstacle course and firing range simulator. On our last day we attended morning colors and watched Marines graduate from boot camp. What an awesome time .

     Now it is back to reality. I have my new project picked out and am looking forward to getting back on track with the sewing... along with my school work and my job. I will be attending one last Sea Cadet event tomorrow before heading back to reality on Tuesday. I really cannot wait to reveal my project next weekend. Until then have a wonderful week and get involved in the lives of our youth. Let us lead by example for future generations.

The Art of Re-purposing! Stuffed Ham Anyone?

 Weeks are so short and before you know it Sunday evening has arrived and the blog has not been updated. Needless to say, that after a busy week I am getting ready to fill you in on my sewing week.

     The pork chops are in the oven and there is a stuffed ham sitting on my sewing table. OK, what I really have is a stuffed tailors ham. Several weeks ago I had watched a YouTube video done be Lori Griffiths. about making a tailors ham. I thought, wow this could be a fairly easy project to do. So I watched a few more videos and before you know it my tailors ham was born. I did not follow her pattern 100%, but in the end it worked out well.
     I used the material that I have been using for the last couple of weeks, since I did by it for practicing with and that is exactly what these projects are. The nice thing about it is that these projects are turning out to be rather good.
     I tightly packed the ham with old t-shirts that. I re-purposed to use as the stuffing.These were old and well worn t-shirts that I had left over from my days in the navy. I cut the shirts up into small strips and random pieces of various sizes. This way I could pack a lot in there and get every space filled. When all was said and done I managed to stuff 6 old t-shirts into the ham.

     I did manage to save the pictures off of some of the shirts. This I figured could be incorporated into a future project, but I am not sure what that will be at this time.

     Yesterday I went out to the store and purchased another kind of fabric that for the time being I will be keeping it a secret. With the help of my wife we found the perfect fabric for this next project.
     What I will be making is a zippered pouch. Similar to that one that I have already created but slightly bigger and zipper will be inserted. I am really excited to try my hand with zippers and yet a little apprehensive at the same time. I think that zippers are one of those things that you either love or hate them.

     I am not sure how far along with this weeks project I will actually get. I have a jam packed week. I will be working my normal 50 hours at my paid job, I am working on my project management certification for school  and packing/preparing for a week long trip that I will be taking.
     Several of us officers will be taking our cadets from two of the local US Naval Sea Cadet divisions to Parris Island in South Carolina. The cadets will be training with the Marines when they are there. That means I am not sure how many projects I can do over the next couple of weeks. One thing that I do want to make a point of doing is still getting my blog postings in. The postings might not be about projects but could be of how things are going while on my trip. We will have to just see how it goes.

If you like what you are seeing here and want to make sure that you do not miss anything new, please follow this blog. Until next time have a wonderful week and keep pushing on and try something new.

Machine Time

     This week I dove head first into my first sewing machine project. I had a slow start at first and if I had to rely on the instructions that came with the machine, I might still be trying to get past loading the bobbin into the machine. Thanks to YouTube I was able to find a great video that showed me step by step on how to get it installed. The best part is that I really was doing it right. The problem is that the instructions really did not properly explain the process of feeding the bobbin thread so that it was ready to use. Once I got past that part things went pretty smooth for the most part. The only other problem that I occasionally have it that the tread gets tangled and stuck in the throat plate. I believe that is solved by just making sure the thread has the proper tension on it before I begin to sew.

     The project this week was yet another bag. I did not put any closures on the top, I just wanted to get the basic sewing down. My goal was to make sure the stitches were straight and that I could actually come up with a good looking project.
     I used two different fabrics, one for the shell and one for the liner. I feel that my first attempt was pretty good, but what is pictured here is my second attempt. I remember learning that you must remember to always leave a three inch opening in the liner to allow for the bag to be turned right side out. Yeah, I forgot that simple step. I guarantee that I will not be forgetting that again.
     In order to resolve this issue I decided to shrink the bag down slightly and use the rotary cutter to remove all of the stitching and start over. That saved me a lot of seam ripping on a project that was more for practice than anything else.
     As you can see, I was pretty successful in creating the bag. I was able to turn it right side out and did a quick machine stitch across the opening that was left in the liner. Oh, before sewing up the hole I did remember to tuck the corners of the bag shell and lining. I finally was able to get the lining into the bag and I think it turned out pretty good for my first ever sewing project on the machine.

     The other project I have that has become a ongoing work in progress project is the light tent that I am creating. I have had several request from the family to take product pictures for online sales especially in Etsy shops. I am really excited for this project also because I have always wanted to venture more into product photography. I maybe one day I can get back to being a professional photographer.
     This week I was working on creating a clamping system that will hold the covering on the frame. I am actually using two twin sheets that will fit over the 3'x3'x3' frame. What I came up with was using 2" sections of the same piping that I used to create the frame. I cut out a 1/4" section out of the length of the pipe and it fits great on the outside of the framing pipe.I put the sheeting over the frame and used the clamps which firmly held it in place.
     I will be finishing up this project this week and will hopefully have some sample pictures coming up soon.

     This has been a great and exciting week. I feel that I have accomplished so much. Not only have I worked on these projects but I was able to get a bunch of homework done. Yes I said homework. I am a full time student with WGU Tennessee. I am currently working on my project management certification as part of my bachelors of Business Management degree. I have two terms after this one left.
     I was also honored to have been able to provide cadets from one of the local US Naval Sea Cadet Divisions (of which I am the Executive Officer) to be color guard for the Chattanooga Heros Run/Walk that was held yesterday. This run/walk was in honor of the five member of our military who's lives were cut short by the terrorist attack here in Chattanooga on July 16th, 2015. A day we here in Chattanooga will never forget. I am not sure who took this picture but I wanted to include it here with this posting anyway since it would be nearly impossible for my to get copies of my own. Over 1500 people came out for this event that included family, friends, co-workers, emergency services, law enforcement and the public. I was a awesome tribute to these five men.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful week and carry on with your dreams.