Tank Top Love

Living in Texas means living in tank tops, at least for me.  And now I have discovered some amazing tank tops!  I've always hated trying to find a bra that I felt comfortable wearing under a tank top, it always showed in some way I wasn't comfortable with.  Shelf bras are a joke, they do nothing.  Here are my tank tops I am head over heels in love with:

They have a built in underwire bra, see:
You order them by your bra size. I love them so much! I wear them with cardigans and a scarf to the office. I wear them by themselves on the weekends.  I only have the two right now, but am waiting on four more to arrive anyday now.  Here is where you can buy them: Solutions.com.  I bought the ones that are half off, the neckline is a bit higher than I would prefer, but the price is right.  If you do an online search you can find coupon codes for free shipping.  These are going to be the basis for my new wardrobe.  Oh ,by the way, do not put them in the dryer.

Making Clothes

Since two of my five favorite pieces are ones that I've made.  I think it would be safe to continue making pieces for myself.  Recently I hemmed some pants and shirts, and that made me catch the sewing fever for a few weekends.  I made pajamas for both kids, but only managed to get a photo of one:


I then took out the projects for myself that I already owned patterns and fabric for.

I like the shirt, but not sure if I like it enough to make another.  I have some very special fabric coming, and want to make sure that I use it on a shirt I'll love. 

Shoes!

I have purchased two new pairs of shoes!  The list I am going by has two pair listed: black pumps and nude flats.   I have strayed a bit:



 I found the brown shoes on clearance, and well... I have some lovely flats in green.  My shoes did need an overhaul.  My brown and black work shoes (both maryjane flats) ended their service this past fall.  I've been making do with some black velvet Doc Martens.  I love my Docs, don't get me wrong, but with warmer weather coming, and all.  I thought these would look nice.

The Purge

I started my closet purge last Saturday. While all the clothes I normally wear were in the wash, I went through and pulled anything that didn't fit, I didn't like, or for whatever reason I just do not wear.  I also went through my shoes.  I bagged everything and took it to the local thrift store that morning.  I was a bit surprised at how much clothing I was holding onto for no reason.  My mom told me I was brave, but really do I need to keep a dress I haven't worn in over 8 years?


When the laundry was finished I moved onto Tim Gunn's closet sorting step, and took out all my "Soul Stirring" pieces. I only had five:
 
 Tim Gunn says to look at your pieces and see what your soul is saying to you, I guess I love cardigans, skirts and tank tops?  The tank top is one I made myself from an Alabama Chanin pattern.  It would be super easy to make more of those... The green skirt I also made myself from an XL t-shirt, inspired by Alabama Chanin.  This also proves to me even more that I am not in love with my wardrobe.  I am obviously keeping much more than these 5 pieces, but these are the ones that I truly love.

Wardrobe

This year I've really started to notice I'm not happy with my wardrobe.  Somewhere between having children, moving across the country, and starting an office job, my clothes just don't work anymore.

I really started thinking about what I owned when I discovered  Project 333.  I've always loved the idea of living simply, but never have fully committed.  Project 333 in a nutshell is choosing 33 items of clothing to wear for the next 3 months. On Project 333's pinterest board I saw a pin of this awesome Business Casual Capsule Wardrobe.  I have been obsessed with it ever since.

A few years ago I read Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style (Tim Gunn's Guide to Style), which has a wonderful bit about how to clean out your closet.  I purchased a copy and hatched my plan.

This is my commitment to myself, think of it as a late New Year's Resolution:

1. Purge my closet.
2. Carefully purchase new pieces.
3. Look great.

Simple right? Wish me luck.

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day!  I am very much enjoying a job that has paid holidays, and wishing my husband could share this benefit with me.  I am also very thankful for a mother-in-law who took my children to the park and to lunch toda!  With that break I did a little laboring of my own:


Here I am piecing my first quilt (this is from a few days ago).  I set a self-imposed deadline of today to finish this little quilt for my baby girl.  I am proud to say I made it!  Onward with the Christmas crafting!  (If only I were kidding...This year will involve more woodworking.)

Most of the fabric is Heather Ross' Crafty Chloe line from Hancock Fabrics. The rest is from bed sheets that are no longer serviceable.  I used our old cloth diapers for the batting, and let me tell you, those diapers are dense!  You see, I am trying to keep myself on a strict budget.  The more things I use that I already own the better.  Repeat after me thrifty =crafty.  I don't think I'll be making anymore quilts in the near future.  But for now, both my little ones have their very own quilt made just for them by family. 

Overheard This Week

Boy, it sure was nice of Uncle E to come for a visit.

Overheard This Week

Son: Do you think that little girl in the restaurant will find her Daddy?
Husband: It was a small restaurant, I'm sure she already has.  How would you find Mama or I if you were lost?
Son:  I would look for you in your gray shirt and Mama's hair and face.

A Bit of Sewing

I wanted a pair of shoes, not just any shoes these shoes.  But, I have this issue with spending all my money on crafting supplies.  Instead I made a skirt:


It's the skirt from the Saturday Night Silk Jersey Set from Heather Ross' book Weekend Sewing. I adore that book... I used a lycra/cotton jersey fabric I had on hand and my most favorite supply of right now, fold over elastic!
 
 I don't think I will make a casing again, well at least not for a skirt!  Now, I just need to find someway to massage to budget to include those shoes!

Overheard This Week

Son: Mama, did you know that some people have gears inside of them?
Me: Why do you think that?
Son: Because some people are really robots, and robots have gears in them.