Choir Sundays 2010 #12

(A pretty day...breezy...but pretty!)
March colors: Black/grey/yellow w/blue jeans.

This is the Jalie 965 tank top and Jalie 2566 Cardigan, both from the charcoal gray yummy 'designer rayon knit' that came from Gorgeous Fabrics, with the Lee bootcuts and the plastic yellow jewelry again.

Also, got the official word today: we are adding another service in June, on Saturday nights. There's talk of a rotation w/the choir, so that everyone will not be singing all 4 services, but splitting into teams and rotating through somehow. Not sure yet how that will affect Choir Sundays...we'll see...

Choir Sundays '09 #16

This month's colors: Purple or lavender w/black

Jacket: Loes Hinse's Retro Jacket, fabricated in a poly/rayon (mostly poly) boucle-type woven suiting. It wasn't very nice to sew with, but it *is* the right color and it's very comfortable to wear.

Top: The bodice portion of Loes Hinse's City Dress, modified into a tank top, made from silk/lycra charmeuse purchased from the JoAnn's in Duluth, GA (one of the few JoAnn's Etc! stores that I've been in that actually is arranged such that the fabric is the first thing you see when you walk in).

Pants: Not Loes Hinse! It's Claire Shaeffer's Vogue 7881, made from black cotton twill from the dollar table at Wally World...a rare and fortuitous find and I should've bought the whole bolt.

I probably won't be posting any more photos of the whole choir now that they're going to be putting the videos of the whole service on the church website. It's just awkward to catch that picture in the two minutes between the choir coming on stage and the beginning of the service. The video is so much better than a poor still photo anyway!

I didn't get much done around the house during my blogging break; I worked M-W, then was out of town Th-Sat, so there wasn't much time to do anything. But I had a great time on my trip and I got back *just* in time to catch Aida's closing night, which was great. I will post photos of the costumes on stage when I get them; that'll be the last HSM '09 post.

After the show is over, the frustration and stress kind of recedes and is replaced by relief at how well it looked on stage. And I'll miss my sewing buddies. And, I'll be honest, it stirred up my acting blood again...there are rumors that we may do 'The Gospel According to Scrooge' again this year (it's been 4 years since the last production) and, as stressful as that gets, I really kinda hope we do. ;)

Choir Sundays 09 #15

This Month's colors: Purple or lavender w/black.

Jacket: Loes Hinse's Bistro Jacket, in herringbone weave poly/rayon suiting.

Top: The sleeveless mock t from Kwik Sew 2948, in a printed cotton/rayon knit I purchased from Emma One Sock several years ago. I squeezed two knit tops from that piece, and I love 'em both.

Pants: My favorite black wool gabardine Loes Hinse Oxford Pants. It's B. Black and Sons wool I picked up on sale at Hancock's a couple of years ago...wow, is it nice to wear!

But, today marked a significant milestone...the Artist turned 21. Hard to believe...


And, on another note, my calendar tells me it's time for my quarterly internet break. It's pretty good timing; I've got a LOT of catch up housework to do...and I have an out of town trip late in the week. So, I'll catch up with everyone next week!

Bonus Post: Choir Sundays Video

Ok, it's not Sunday, but there's actually VIDEO up of our Easter Sunday service and it includes the choir singing.

Even though it's pretty low resolution, it's still lots better than a still photo snapped in a hurry, don't you think?

I don't know how long it will be up so I wanted to get the post up while the video's still there.

The Rock Family Worship Center

There's a box in the middle of the page that says 'latest message' or some other such thing; there's a clickable button that says 'video' in the middle of the box; that'll get you to the video of the whole service. For at least a little while.

Oh, you do have to click the little 'play' triangle when the video screen pops up. ;)

Choir Sundays 09 #14

He is risen! Christ is risen indeed!

This month's colors:Purple and/or lavender w/black

The jacket is from the first time we wore lavender in choir...4 years ago? It's Butterick 3398 and it photographs HORRIBLY. Actually, in hindsight I probably shouldn't wear it in the choir, as I'm sure the shaders in the video room have a problem with it. But...it was pretty and it was Easter, so...oh, well...

The tank top and the scarf are RTW purchases from about 4 years ago, too; the pants are the black cotton/lycra twill La Fred Daphne pants

BTW, I did finish The Flute Player's Dress...


After tracing the next size up, I ended up whacking it back down to the size I cut last year, except for the length I added. Difference between a woven and a knit I suppose. But she's happy...and she refused to put her shoes back on after church for the picture ;).

Choir Sundays 09 #13

This Month's Colors: Purple or Lavendar w/Black

Jacket: Textile Studios Florence Jacket, made from a lovely lofty purple textured wool and lined w/silk charmeuse. Yummy!

Top: Loes Hinses' Sweater Set Shell, from black poly/lycra slinky knit.

Pants: Ye Olde Faithefull Vogue 7881, in black cotton twill.

I forgot to take the camera this week, so I didn't get a photo of the choir. I probably won't try for a photo next week, as it will be a very busy Sunday. But I'll have one before the month is over ;).

(ETA: That's not exactly a feather sticking out of my head; there's an eagle-in-flight sculpture on the shelf behind me and what you're seeing is the wingtip. Gotta pay more attention to things like that in this fashion photography business...LOL)

Choir Sundays '09 #12

Are you sick of this outfit by now? Truth is, I haven't worn *exactly* the same thing in this month's photos...the jacket and the bottoms have changed. This is, again, the Brown Paper Patterns Basic Shell in green silk dupioni from Hancock's, Loes Hinse's Bistro Jacket in herringbone weave poly/rayon suiting and, this time, the black cotton twill Vogue 7881 pants.

I just couldn't get to the sewing machine for the Tribeca. But I intend to push that hard in the next couple of days...I want it finished and out of the way before I start sewing the Aida dresses.

No more missing garment pieces!

Choir Sundays '09 #11

This month's colors: clover green and/or yellow with black.

I had other duties at church today, so I wasn't in the choir. But I did get a picture of 'this month's' look! ;)

Choir Sundays '09 # 10

This month's colors: Black w/clover green or bright yellow

Basically, I'm wearing the same thing I wore last week, substituting my black cotton/lycra sateen Daphne pants for the skirt.

I think the skinny pants look better with the jacket and top; point to remember.

I really hope I can get the Tribeca shirt finished up in March! We won't be in choir next week (other duties) so I've got two weeks to get 'er done....

Choir Sundays '09 #9

This month's colors:Black w/'dark bright green' or bright yellow.
I managed to finish the green silk duppioni Brown Paper Patterns Basic Shell. I figured out that the neckline on that pattern was not terribly flattering, so I trimmed it so that it was 1 1/2" lower in the front. Then I found I didn't have enough fabric to cut the generous facings and I used a bias binding on the neckline...which raised it back up by about 3/8". I also found that, um, since the hot flash season left me with a few extra pounds last fall, it doesn't fit quite as nicely as the other one in my closet that's made from a cotton/lycra blend. Rats. But it's wearable...and it really looks better without the jacket, but sleeveless tops are a no-no in choir. So there must be a jacket.

The jacket is Loes Hinse's Bistro jacket in a poly/rayon blend herringbone suiting.

And I was just in a skirt mood today, despite the fact that a fabric cutting- related achy back has nixed high heels. So I pulled out the black cotton eyelet Cutting Line 'Farewell to Arms' skirt

So, between hair that insisted on going 'Pouf!', a snug top, flat shoes, and wanting another hour of sleep, I felt just a little, um, dumpy today. But...it ain't about me anyway, right?

Naptime. ;)

Choir Sundays 09 #8

This Month's Choir Colors: Black with 'bright dark green' and 'bright yellow'. But, since this is as far as I got with the green silk top:













I had to go with what I had, which is a shawl scarf that has green in it that is close to the right color, but it is so mixed with the black that you almost can't tell. I've also got on a RTW turtleneck sweater and my favorite black wool gabardine Loes Hinse Oxford Pants. Hopefully next week I'll have a green shirt finished!

And, as you can tell by the landscape outside the window, we had a touch of snow last night, so I anticipated a small choir and didn't take in the camera for the choir photo. Next week... ;)

Choir Sundays '09 #7

This month's Choir Colors: Black and White
Jacket: McCall's 5529, from a double-faced checked rayon blend.

The top was a RTW bargain from a big Talbot's sale; a black silk jersey cap sleeve t for which I believe I paid 8 bucks. Unfortunately, it's a tad big so it only gets worn under things.

The pants are the often-seen Vogue 7881 black cotton twill. Looking at the photo, I really think this jacket would look better with skinnier pants, but, oh, well. I was comfy. ;)

Choir Sundays '09 #6

This Month's Colors:Black and white
Ok, one more frumpilated photo of this sweater coat and I'm going to start suspecting the mirror, which tells me it's ok, is lying through it's reflectively shiney teeth.

Or maybe the camera is just catching that I needed a nap after church in the worst way. Didn't get it....

In any case, I'm wearing my new RTW sweater coat, my Sandra Betzina Vogue 2945 top, from black and white oval dotted
rayon/lycra jersey from Hancock's and the La Fred Daphne pants, made from some of Gorgeous Thing's black cotton/lycra twill.


I think I'm gonna quit wearing the sweater coat for photos... LOL...

Choir Sundays 09 #5

This Month's colors: Black and White












When My Sweet Baboo and I went out on the porch to take the photo (it's 65 and sunny here today...anyone want to come visit?) he asked me, "Haven't we already photographed this outfit?" (Um, it isn't one of his favorites).

To be honest, I don't think we have photographed this *precise* outfit...I've got on my Vogue 7881 Claire Shaeffer pants, made from black cotton twill from the dollar table at Wal-Mart (One of the Good Hunting days...).

The blouse is Hot Patterns Purity Blouse, from white cotton lawn. I really need to tweak that pattern and do another iteration...it's got so much potential!

The vest is a longtime wardrobe piece, Simplicity 5919, from a knitted stretchy poly lace fabric that I got from Fashion Fabrics club eons ago.

It's that whole '70's rock band thing goin' on. And wouldn't you know Pastor's sermon today was about getting rid of the old stuff... LOL...

Choir Sundays 09 #4

This Month's Colors: Royal Blue and Black


Wow, the year is only 4 weeks old and already we're into repeats....

Seriously, this top caused me enough anguish when I was making it that I want to squeeze all the wearing out of it I can! It still garners compliments, despite the fact that I made every boo-boo imaginable except cutting into it w/the serger knives. Fortunately, someone would have to be really, really well acquainted with the original pattern to know it wasn't done right ;)
Anyway, the top is Sewing Workshop's Chopin Blouse made from silk duppioni from Textile Fabrics '07 Big Summer Sale, and it has me coveting more silk duppioni shirts, just because it's heavenly to wear. ;)

The pants are the latest iteration of La Fred Daphne Pants, made from a scrumptious cotton/lycra sateen from Gorgeous Fabrics. Not a perfect fit yet, but the closest thing I have to skinny leg pants.

I've got one completed project to show for my week off the 'net; hopefully I'll get the review and some photos posted tomorrow!

Choir Sundays '09 #3

Sigh. This looked so cute in the mirror...but the photo looks like my grandmother. I think I need to speak to my photographer about things like flipped up collars and camera angles again....
Anyway, this month's colors are royal blue and black. I'm dressed for winter like an ad for the Wool Producers...the blue sweater is merino wool that is probably 10 years old and had to have a moth hole in pretty close to the center front darned before I could wear it.
The black sweater coat is brand new...one of the few non-jeans clothing purchases I've made in I don't know how long. It's a wool blend from Lands' End, and, to *prove* that it really looks cuter in real life than in the photo, The Princess (who's 23 and quite particular about such things) commented that it was cute and wanted to know where I got it. Stupid camera.

But the pants are my faithful black wool gabardine Loes Hinse Oxford Pants.

And, it's time once again for the quarterly blogging break, so I'm going to be pretty much off the 'net this week. Got some Household Duties to get caught up (once again, the household budget has fallen waaayyy behind...my fault entirely; can't blame it on anything this time...). So, I'll see you for next week's Choir post!

Choir Sundays 09 #2

This Month's Choir Colors:Royal Blue and Black
I've got about 30 seconds to snap a photo... basically in the dark... as the choir is coming onto the platform just before the service starts. Not as good as I would like!

I love royal blue, though...wearing it this month kinda makes up for the yellow-orange-tan combos we wore that don't do a *thing* for me. I've got on Silhouette Patterns Robin's Jacket, made from the blue wool flannel that the moths chewed on. I cut it out a year ago, but didn't finish in time to wear it last January, so I'm glad the blue came back around this year. Under the jacket is another Silhouette design, Pam's Blouse, made from poly microfiber charmeuse. It's a good underlayer for the jacket, since the jacket is not lined.

And I'm wearing my white-and-black rayon/poly/lycra modified Oxford Pants. These pants are continuing to shrink just a little; I don't think I can let the hem out any more. I'll be sorry if they ever really shrink to 'too short'...

Choir Sundays Heads into 2009

I took my camera to church today, but things were kinda hectic and I didn't get a 'group photo'. Hopefully next week!

Anyway, this month's colors are royal blue and black.
The top is the silk duppioni Sewing Workshop Chopin Blouse that took forever and was a comedy of errors (remember the piece that I threw away?). But it works great for choir and I love the way that silk feels on...heaven!

The pants are hot-off-the-sewing-machine La Fred Daphne Pants, made from a scrumptious cotton/lycra sateen from Gorgeous Fabrics. I still need to tweek the pants a bit; this is the third iteration and I'd like to be closer to a TNT than I am. But, perhaps the *ahem* excess of the holidays might account for a bit of that? Not sure...but, they work as a bottom layer under a long top, which is what I wanted them for.

I had to have My Sweet Baboo take the photo on the porch as the inside of the house is a maze of half-down Christmas decorations and boxes. That's one chore I'm always relieved to finish.

I really, really need a black turtleneck top; I've got fabric and a pattern, if I can make it today I'll count it for '08 as intended, otherwise I'll be done where I am. We'll see how the rest of the day goes!