Category: Sewing

Bra Making/

Kids Summer Sewing Camp! July 19 to July 23, 2021

Welcome to the Summer 2021! Whew last year was a doozey! But this year we are back to normal.. Kids bored.. they want to learn a new skill send them to Summer Sewing Camp for the week. Camp begins on Monday 7/19 and ends on Friday 7/23/2021! T

This camp is for beginners and intermediate! They may sew and complete any of the following things.. a pillow, tote bag, bucket hat, a skirt, or shorts! If they don’t complete their project they can continue with the next sewing camp in August or continue with Saturday Kids Beginner / Intermediate Classes!

Camp is for ages 8 through 14.. and we have all the tools necessary for a nominal fee and is paid at the end of class.

We have two slots for July available and four slots for August Sewing Summer Camp. You will find all the information for the class in the links I have included in this newsletter.

Also to let you know the shop is closed on 7/15 and the 7/16 as we need to complete our taxes with the I, the R, and the S..

If you need something in the store, I have included a 10% off coupon that is good until Sunday July 18th! Use the code WJYRR

Happy Sewing and see you in class!

Bra Making/

New Retail Store and Instruction Lounge!

Inside Sew Chic Fabrics and Crafts

New Retail Store and Instruction Lounge!

2020 was filled with quite a few highs and many lows! We made it through tho!

In 2020, I moved my business from my apartment into a studio in Mount Rainier right after loosing my full-time job! The opportunity landed in my lap to move my sewing business to full-time and build my way to a “real store!” This was always a dream of mine.. to leave a legacy for my children.. The studio opened then COVID hit.. urgh.. it was instant mask making time for the next two months!

Mask Making 2020

Within those two to three months I made over 1500 masks! It was exhausting.. but I learned a lot in a short amount of time!

As the months wore on I kept building and building.. then in November I received devastating news that I needed to move so the persons I was subleasing from could expand their business.. sure it was fun being evicted in the middle of the pandemic.. but I turned lemons into sweet tea and I also gained a much needed assistant and she kept me sane..

Business Building

In February 2021, almost a year to the date I moved into a new retail space less than one mile away from the studio also located in Mount Rainier… it was exciting and stressful at the same time! I literally ate through all of my savings with deposits, purchasing things, new items for the store and I’m still spending all while there was little no business coming in.. Most classes last weeks and I couldn’t start my students than stop them..

We had to build it all – paint, new shelving, new tables.. refresh the sewing machines.. build the classes and the most difficult part – waiting on Prince George’s County to grant permits 🙁 it took over two months… in fact still waiting on one part of the permit.. but at the very least the city of Mount Rainier has approved our city Use and Occupancy permit!

We aren’t done yet.. but here is a snapshot of the inside retail portion of the store.. We are now open for Retail Shopping and to book more classes!

We still need help though as help is still moving slow from the SBA.. and we need to fill classes!

Help Me GIFs | Tenor

We still have private classes and general classes listed below..
Groupon Coupons
Kids / Teen Classes
Bra Making Workshops Day and Weekend Workshops
Jean Making Workshops..
And our regular beginner through intermediate classes – for kids and adults



Thank you for reading and hanging in there with me all these years.. its not easy.. trying to keep up with social media, sewing for myself, and people. I hope the building part is dwindling down so we can get back to promoting and generating sales..

If you are in the area please stop by and say hi! Please share my post with others to let them know I am still here!

Donna and Liz

XOXOXO

Curvy Girls are Chic/

DIY Aquazzura Like Pom Pom Sandals

 

For the past few seasons, pom pom sandals have been the rave! Luckily, it does not appear this rave will go away anytime soon! We.simply.love.them! They are a great addition to any wardrobe whether they are flats, mid-heel, or high heels.

Aquazzura was one of the first designers to re-introduce these to the fashion world followed by Sam Edelmen with a lower price. I purchased the Sam Edelman flats in the neutral color last season, here they are shown in a sailor blue.  I purchased them last year for $100 bucks and they were worth it.

This Spring, I looked at a pompom in a slightly higher heel and did not find quite what I was looking for without spending fabric money! So I thought, why couldn’t I do this myself? I mean I am the Do it Yourself Queen and all Queens must wear the crown proudly. I skimmed a few blogs and YouTube videos for the “DIY” versions and it is so super simple — just some glue and some pom poms! Follow the instructions below so you can have a pair as well!

Do it Yourself Instructions

Goop Adhesive
Pom Pom Any Size You Like any Color (I used primary colors)
Ann Taylor Pumps (Now Sold Out) similar here and here

 

How to Create the Pom Pom Sandal

You don’t have to prepare your shoe for anything special. The Goop glue adheres to just about any surface.  Make sure you have a damp cloth near by and some alcohol swabs as the glue may leave stray marks on the shoe or your hands. Dab some glue directly to the pompom or directly on the shoe and press down on the surface. You can do a random pattern or a color coordinated pattern.

It dries in no time. I did wait a few days before I wore the shoes or moved them as I did want it be completely dry. I also added different color pom poms to the tassel for extra flair!

 

 

Eazy Peezy!

More Details!

Dress Pattern: Burda 7225 OOP
Fabric: light-weight denim in my stash

 

Let me know how you like my shoes xoxoxo!

Curvy Girls are Chic/

Mother’s Day Skirt McCalls M6842

Happy Mother’s Day!

Flower Skirt M6842

Mother’s Day Skirt M6842

For this project, I used two fabrics.  The fabric used is from A Fabric Place in Baltimore. The bottom layer of fabric is navy blue taffeta.  The top layer of fabric is an embroidered tulle with 3-D flowers in red, pink, and orange. When I saw this fabric a few weeks ago I had to have it. I also did a preview of this fabric on Instagram when Sewing Design School did a monthly photohop and asked us to post #fabrictoafraidtocut!

I generally do not have a fear to cut fabric, it’s fabric, I control it I won’t let it control me! The only part that I did have a slight fear of is wasting the precious petals of the fabric and or cutting it in the correct direction.  I used the larger group of petal pieces as they actually went across the grain of the fabric. The more cascading petals were near the end of the fabric on the left side of it. I have a good portion of pieces left over that I refuse to discard. Perhaps I will add them to a clutch or a cool T-shirt to add some flare!

Here are more photos!

As you can see I did not hem the tulle, it does not fray.  However, the placement of the petals are uneven throughout the fabric it was almost impossible to hem as I would remove a great deal of the petals!

Close up of the embroidery on the fabric!

The wind was really whipping after dinner yesterday I am pretty sure quite a few got a peep show downtown Baltimore as my niece took my photos..lol

Do you like my shoes?

I will provide more details on these later this week, they are a combination of a store-bought shoe and a do-it-yourself added accessory!

Pattern McCalls 6842
Fabric: A Fabric Place in Baltimore
Top: Zara
Necklace: JCrew Factory
Lipstick: Tom Ford Cherry Lush Lipstick
Nail Polish: Essie Satin Sister

 

 

#ad This post does contain affiliate links, not sponsored links. All recommendations on this post are recommendations of Curvy Girls are Chic and are not sponsor or paid for by any sponsor.

Bra Making/

Learn Bra Making Live Instruction with Ann St. Clair

Learn Bra Making with Live Instruction by Ann St. Clair and hosted by Curvy Girls are Chic on Wednesday, October 5th and Thursday, October 6th, 2016 at Hobby Lobby Laurel, MD.

Anne St. Clair of Needle Nook
Anne St. Clair of Needle Nook

Anne St. Clair will instruction and fit for two days October 5th and October 6th, 2016
Agenda forth coming. Cost $130 plus 1 kit –  $75 that can be purchased from Anne.  The kit will make up to three (3) bras.
Continental Breakfast and Lunch and snacks included.
Please note: there will be no recording of this event. Ann teaches live only.

**Students must provide their own sewing machine, scissors, needles, and thread. Some basics can be purchased at Hobby Lobby and a discount code is provided when the class is paid for.
**The Basic Tool Kit list for the class is provided once the class is paid for

If you want to stay overnight let me know so can block rooms.
Tuesday evening with be dinner at Mike’s Crab House (Annapolis or Seaside Crab House (Glen Burnie, Maryland)

Deadline to pay for class is September 26, 2016.  Please use the Pay Pal “Buy it Now Button” below to pay for the class:

Queen Anne Bra Inside
Queen Anne Bra created
Student Created Queen Anne
Queen Ann Bra

Class Payment



Buy Now Button

 

For More info you can join the Bra Makers – Beginners to Intermediate Facebook Group – Bra Makers – Beginners to Intermediate 101

 

 

Curvy Girls are Chic/

Rainbows Melanin DIY Off Shoulders Top

Hello Blogger Fam!

Rainbows Melanin DIY Off-the-Shoulders Top Red Pants. I saw this beautiful cotton fabric at Metro Textiles in New York and I knew I had to have it.  At first I was going to make a pair of pants but then the off the shoulder crazy reinvented itself and I decided to make a quick top, I used McCalls 6558 for the top — I had this pattern for a while but the photos on the outside envelope is hideous. Not sure why I ignored using this pattern but I did.

When everyone began wearing and sewing these tops again I knew I would make a few. I was even shocked by the sticker price of an Off-the-Shoulders dress in JCrew with the grand price of $138! While I love the brand and the simplicity of JCrew’s clothing, I won’t spend $138 a dress that I can make four of at that price.. anyhoo..

Rainbows of Melanin Off Shoulders Top M6558

Rainbow Top M6558 and Vogue 9032
Rainbow Top and Red Pants V6558 and V9032

Rainbow Top M6558 and Vogue 9032

Rainbow Top M6558 and Vogue 9032

Rainbow Top M6558 and Vogue 9032

The Red Pants V9032

The pants were made using Vogue 9032 I have to say I really love this pants pattern as its definitely made for girls with curves. The back fit is probably the most important for me as the back pants pattern is in two pieces and it allows for the shaping of the rear and waist.  I do have a tendency to cut my items bigger than necessary then I need to take inches and inches out 🙁

Rainbow Top M6558 and Vogue 9032

Cropped Front View

About the Camera

These shots were created with my new Canon EOS Rebel T5 and I am in love! I purchased my bundle at Costco but there are better deals to be had at Amazon.  My kit came with two lens which I am still learning, the lens on these shots were done with the a Zoom Lens 18-55mm out on the streets of Baltimore. When I edited these in Picasa I simply cropped out the unnecessary body parts.. The colors were not changed at all.. I wanted to see how the images would come out before I dabbled in any other editing software.

Cropped Face Shot
Rainbow Top M6558

Cropped Face View

Close-up Rainbow Top1

Close-up Rainbow Top Side 1

Close-up Rainbow Top

Raw Rainbow Shot Backview
Very raw shot! Forgot to crop out the trash LOL

 

**This is not a sponsored post however this post does contains affiliate links.  Although this post contains affiliate links, all opinions are my own.**

 

Sunnies: Gucci (old)
Bracelets: David Yurma
Watch and band: Michele
Shoes: Ann Taylor (old)

 

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