DIY Pencil Skirt

This weekend I had high expectations of what I would accomplish.  I did get my mini shopping trip in - and J spoiled me!  I needed these things, for sure, with the upgraded dress code at work, but I had hopes of getting 2 maybe 3 new tops.  I got a few more than that - thankfully everything was on sale so the price wasn't bad either! 
I spent Saturday with family and doing some shopping.  Sunday I cleaned. a lot.  My closet is small-ish.  It's deemed a walk-in closet but it's the smallest walk in closet I have ever seen.  Because of space issues in the entire house, we only have one dresser - that's where J keeps all his work clothes, unmentionables and board shorts.  This takes up the ENTIRE dresser.  SO my workout clothes and towels and shorts and unmentionables are all in my small-ish closet.  I had gotten lazy and pretty much created a happy little land of chaos in the closet.  I set out yesterday to correct the ordeal and separate my work clothes from my fun clothes.  It looks awesome and for the first time in months, I can actually walk all the way into my walk-in closet.  yes it's sad but we're so limited on space...not that I need to make excuses to you, you don't have to deal with the mess =)  I have decided when we move, regardless the size of our new closets, we are getting me a dresser and another night stand =)
I also did all the laundry and in between that went grocery shopping and cleaned the house! WHEW! Busy day while J was out working.  I know I promised a skirt tutorial but it just didn't happen.  I attempted writing one up, but it didn't work out with the skirt.  So I scrapped that project for the moment and attempted a second skirt using a new method of making a skirt without a pattern. It worked out nicely: it's high waist and knee length.  I'll make another this weekend, I'm sure, and I will create a tutorial then =)

In the mean time, I am very much looking forward to the upcoming three day weekend.  J has promised to take Monday off with me at the very least - so looks like I'll be getting lots of husband time - WOOHOO!

I Enjoy Being a Girl

"I'm strictly a female female

And my future I hope will be

In the home of a brave and free male

Who'll enjoy being a guy having a girl like me"

-"I Enjoy Being a Girl" from Rodgers and Hammerstein musical: Flower Drum-

I learned this week that beginning September 1st (really why couldn't it just be starting Monday?!), my company will begin enforcing a dress code. It's called 'business casual'...now what this even means is beyond me. I checked wikipedia.com and it states "there is no generally accepted definition of business casual wear". Oh great, so basically the description is arbitrary, perfect. My company says "we want our employees to look professional in a casual manner". So why can't I keep wearing my long pretty jeans, heels and a nice top?? What it means is no. more. Jeans. WHAT?! Many ladies would say this isn't a problem at. All. The reason it's a problem for me is because for the past two years, I have bought nice long jeans to wear with heels and semi-casual tops that I wouldn't pair with dress pants. So this weekend’s plans include a mini shopping trip to pick up some cute (read inexpensive) tops to start wearing to work. Also included in said plans, will be sewing -- dresses, skirts and MAYBE a top. We'll see how adventurous I am in the early hours of the morning.
Speaking of adventurous, J had to be up extra early this morning to do some work, so I was up. I know what you are all thinking, "Why don't you just go back to bed?" Right, well the thing is, once I'm awake I have a very hard time getting back to sleep. So instead of lying there unproductively, I get up and do something. This morning, that something was making a new skirt to wear to work! =) Yep, free hand business skirt. I'm pretty proud of it and its super comfy!
PS Please excuse the mirror picture -- I didn't realize how badly I need to clean it!

There is a slit in the back that makes it a little, dare I say, Sexy. *GASP!* Don't worry, it's work appropriate and doesn't show off anything.  I wore it to work today because I have to get use to not defaulting to my happy jeans.  Hopefully we can convince the boss to approve casual Fridays.  Until then, it's skirts, dresses and pants, oh my!

*Stay tuned this weekend for some tutorials! =)

I'm Sew Excited!

This weekend I decided to take on a new project. SHIRT and SKIRT!!! EEEK!!! I didn't have a pattern because I didn't find any that I really liked. I DID, however, find some fun print fabric and a pretty pink fabric. I based my shirt off of tank tops that I already owned. I had absolutely NO pattern at all for either piece. I must say I'm pretty impressed with myself! =)

I had sent my mom a picture asking what she thought. She only commented on my skirt =( I found out later that she didn't realize I had MADE the shirt too! That made me happy =) I love making stuff without a pattern -- it gives me a little more creative design BUT because I'm still so new to the sewing world, I find myself limited in some ways because I am still learning how garments are put together. I really love this outfit -- in fact I'm wearing it today at work and have gotten LOTS of compliments =)