Sunday, July 5, 2015

Sometimes a gal has just gotta sew

Another week has passed. Another week somewhat similar to the last one with daily zaps of radiation treatments for my husband, daily strolls around the city, some drives to surrounding towns and a week where a gal has just gotta sew.

Another week of carting my sewing necessities from our home in our far rural outpost, to the city cottage where we are staying during the week. Oops.....you can see I seem to cart one or two suitcases filled with my pretties. Yes indeedy, it takes a few holdalls to carry all what may be required in readiness for a little embellishing. I have to lug oodles of pretties with me because I just never know what I will need. Invariably the little pretty that I really, really need to make the finishing touch has been left at home.


At the moment my husband is having his daily snooze whilst I sit here effusing about my latest tarted up jacket.

As I hinted at in my last post, I found this little jacket at an op shop whilst strolling around Launceston. I am always on the lookout for jackets with 'good bones' that I can add the 'Kim Sharman' touch. Normally I don't do a lot of brown but this jacket tripped me over as I walked past a rack filled with rather unremarkable garments.


Did I say I am not a fan of the colour brown? Paradoxically, the last two jackets I have embellished to an inch of their lives have  been various shades of the hue brown!! Why oh why is there never a lovely blue, grey or even purple jacket to be found in these op shops?? Perhaps one of these days I will happen upon one.


Anyway back to the tarting up of my new find. I have always loved the look of a double breasted jacket or coat and I must say I rather like pin stripes as well. I love the wide, overlapping front flaps with the parallel columns of buttons.

First things first. I decided to banish the rather plain fastening doodads that were stitched on the jacket.


Normally jackets have buttons, times four or six or whatever......BUT.....I have decided I want five different buttons. As you know I am a gal that loves to play and be a little different. There are some seriously funky buttons in this lot.



Then of course, I dived into my slew of pretties in the name of all things embellishment and came up with these.



I thought it would be rather cool to stitch some upholstery fringing down the front of the jacket.



To make a statement on the sleeves, I stitched these lovely trims to the cuffs.









As for the collar I thought I would keep it simple and just border it with this pretty velvet, swirls upon swirls, ribbon. Ooops...did I say simple?? Wow.......unbelievable! I did audition other trims but thought them a little over the top.....even for me.



This jacket doesn't have a breast pocket so I thought I would gussy up my jacket by stitching a corsage-like pretty, using vintage lace flowers, crochet flowers, ribbon, a pretty fan brooch and other triflings.











There you have it, another tarted up jacket, which when stepping out and about town, one certainly won't become lost in a crowd. Another jacket which was perfectly fine and acceptable unadorned, but for me who is not a fan of wearing what all those other gals are turned out in, needed a little sprucing up....a little gussying up. Another pretty, making merry with needle and thread and oodles of bits and bobs. Another pretty with a wee bit of experimentation. Another pretty which has been transformed with each soothing stitch, calming my spirit, relaxing me, causing a li'l of my anxiety to flee for a while.


With each stitch my jacket  has slowly come together into another upcycled garment. displaying my own personal and unique taste and creativity. That is the best thing about this kind of sewing.....there is not another jacket quite like this one. Not to mention the fact this kind of stitching is rather akin to therapy sessions without having to unclasp the purse! I once read somewhere, that sewing mends the soul.




Yes indeedy.........sometimes, oh all right most of the time......this gal has just gotta sew!

I wonder what this gal will stitch next week.........perhaps I will find a grey or even a blue jacket to tart up or deconstruct??

Whatever this week brings this one thing I know for certain........



.....I am eternally thankful for the peace of God which passeth all understanding!!

Until the next time .............

26 comments:

  1. My sweet Kim, what a delight to stop in for a visit. My, you have been busy! You have completely transformed the two jackets into works of beauty and charm. You are incredibly talented!

    You and your husband remain in my prayers! Love to you!

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  2. Your work is amazing - so creative and unique. I trust you are both finding bright spots amongst the new routines in this season.

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  3. Hello Kim, What fun to search for jackets to embellish. You have done a marvelous job of creating unique and beautiful pieces. Oh, wouldn't it be nice to find a purple jacket, too! I especially like your choice of buttons! What a blessing to be able to take along your bits and bobs and sew while you are in the city. I continue to pray for you and your husband. Thank you for this update and post/photos today. xoxo

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  4. Oh I SO enjoyed that! Your pretties are something else. I have never seen such beautiful trims! I LOVE the fan brooch and crocheted flowers, but my heart skipped a beat at the sight of all your wonderful buttons. I have loved buttons since I was a little girl. I have my mother's button tin - which once housed shortbread biscuits. Whenever I am in an op shop I am going to have to look for a purple jacket for you!!!

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  5. Such a creative and wonderful project, very unique!

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  6. KIMMY! You are a bloody Whizz. Sure you are not at home?.Surprising your husband hasn't pipped in and helped you, surely he must be bored with his sleeping and jealous of all the fun you have been having. they look fabulous. Maybe you should teach him to knit... a pair of socks perhaps and then you could embellish them afterwards. Seriously... glad to see you are both faring okay. Blessings my friends xxxxM

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  7. I adore how you turn these plain janes into Cinderellas. So so lovely!

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  8. What a transformation! You are a genius at applying just the right amount of embellishment too. The brown jackets are in the Op Shop because they are the ugly ducklings.

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    1. Thank you Ann. Yes I don't suppose I'll happen upon any purple or blue swans in those op shops.

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  9. I'm so glad to see that you are still sewing. I think it must be wonderful to lift your spirits. Thinking of you often. I seem to have forgotten how to blog. It's been nearly two weeks! Oh well. I'm having a rest

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  10. The transformation of that jacket is just amazing Kim. Well done, I bet you look forward to wearing it now :-) I do hope you come across a purple or a blue one as would love to see how you embellish/transform it. I did laugh to myself when I saw all your bits & bobs outside the little city cottage you are staying in .... I could just imagine you piling all that into the car before you leave & then unpiling it all again at your destination. Could visualise the neighbours peeking out their window secretly thinking to themselves " here comes that mad woman from the rural outback again with ALL her stuff" !!!!!!!!! x0x0

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  11. Glad to see this post and that you are sewing again, the jackets look so much better with your skill and craftiness wonderful! Love the buttons

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  12. Oh Kim, yes sometimes a girl just has to sew!!! The jackets are amazing!! I wish we lived closer so you could show me how to transform one so beautifully...one that would be fun to wear to school.

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  13. Wow that is just fantastic, you have a collection of lovely embellishments and you used them perfectly here, such a talent you have. I feel the same way with my cardmaking, to get away and make a card just lifts me up and is very relaxing to create something. Wonderful to have that with all your family has going on right now

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  14. Dearest Kim,
    I just read the bad news...I wanna wish you and your hubby strength and courage.I know how you must be feeling,because my hubby was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.Keep your faith....you will be in my thoughts.
    Your work is so amazing...oh how I wish I could do something as beautiful as you.
    Take care
    Hugs
    Caroline

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    1. I didn't know your husband had been diagnosed with cancer; it seems so many people these days are afflicted with this insidious disease. I will keep both you and he in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you so much for your loving thoughts. They add a smile to my day...I can feel them all the way down here. I have no doubt you could do something equally as beautiful, if not more so, Caroline. xx

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  15. Beautiful, Kim! You are just so talented at putting all the pretties together in just the right way. I'm glad that fiddling with your sewing helped restore your peace of mind. I agree that sometimes that is all that will help - gardening does that for me as well as knitting, quilting or sewing.
    My prayers are with you both.

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    1. Thank goodness for stitching, knitting, quilting and gardening.....they all help to soothe the soul....don't they. xx

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  16. Your jacket is glorious, as is your bag in your last post :) I'm glad you are finding some some time to sew and enjoy the prettiness of your creations. Hugs xxxx

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  17. What a beautiful blog you have. Fabrics, ribbons, lace, buttons, crochet, all my favorites under one creative, inspirational roof.
    Amalia
    xo

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  18. so beautiful, so very fun!!! i love the whimsy of the jackets. you are so very creative!!!

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  19. Oh, dear Kim! What a creative, lovely soul you are...I am just in absolute awe at the marvellous job you did of sprucing up this jacket...I love it! :)
    All the pretties, buttons and frills you added are just perfect, and the best thing is that it is so...you! Nowhere will there be another gorgeous jacket quite like it!
    What a wonderful idea to personalize your jacket and make something ordinary and dull quite extraordinary and exciting and of course, beautiful! Smiles...
    And so lovely that your sewing session helped you to relax and unwind a bit amidst the difficulty you and your husband are experiencing...may the Lord continue to strengthen you both and bring healing to your husband...
    Sending much dear love and hugs to you, Kim! Always a delight visiting with you...you inspire me with your amazing creativity!
    Kelly-Anne

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  20. oh wow, it looks fantastic! You did a great number on that jacket. I was going to suggest dying the brown jackets you find, but I don't suppose that would work, especially not on dark brown.

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  21. WOW Love your jacket! you're SO creative! you've given it a new lease of life, so pretty. hope you and hubby are bearing up ok. sewing is a good release :)

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  22. Hello love,

    I've been taking a bloggey break since my mom's passing and sat down tonight to see what you had been up to. And I'm just in shock after going back in time on your posts. You know how much I wish Imcould be there to hug you and offer a pastry to your hubby! Thank you for sharing about your faith as well. My heart goes out to you and I know He has plans for good through all if this! Bless you and know that somewhere in corn country you are prayed for!

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  23. Hi Kim, I've added the link to my post for you and anyone else wanting to try the sunburst square :) Happy crafting.

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