Machine Embroidery the up hill learning curve

Last Christmas my lovely husband bought me a new sewing/embroidery machine. He thought I would like it and have fun. I was flattered by such a generous gift. Little did I realize what a can of worms he was opening up.
I am the kind of person that really likes the challenge of sewing complicated patterns or complicated or difficult to work with materials. I have to say as a result many of my finished products go in the trash. This is because even though I enjoyed the process the end result is not what I want to wear. Sometimes I come up with an item I really like. I rarely make the same thing twice.
Using the embroidery part of the machine was the easy part. Learning about the software and how to tweak the designs, using the correct stabilizer, using the different types of threads and needles, getting the fabrics to hoop correctly has been a tedious pain in the neck.. I am also in danger of buying too many designs as well.

towel set for mom

dish towel for me

dish towel for mom

The other part of this has been taking two classes that were not local so that I could learn from an expert on the machine I had been given. When I had been given this machine I had no prior experience with embroidery machines. Another issue is when I tried discussing my issues some of my acquaintances would turn up their nose to the brand my husband bought me and they would say, Oh he should have bought you a "blank-brand". After one year of futzing with this machine I have finally been getting some great results. I can tell you that doing machine embroidery is very time consuming until you know what you are doing. I have so many failures it isn't funny but you know I feel a sense of accomplishment at this point. I have only done half of the types of things one can do with an embroidery machine. So that is a long explanation of why I have been neglecting my blog. I am going to take photos of my projects so you can see what I have been up to.
One of the things I wanted to be able to do was monogram a set of towels. Well here are the first set.

stand alone butterfly and flower

stacked flowers

The second thing I wanted to be able to do was make stand alone lace or flowers that could be used to embellish things.

purse embellishment

The last thing I most recently wanted to do was embroider on scarves. This one did not come out well the fabric tore... don't know why. I guess it was a cheap scarf.

The final project was not done on the embroidery machine. It was a purse project that I wanted to make to use up some of my African fabric and some batik fabric I had on hand, It is a kaleidoscope of fabrics and very hippish if I do say so myself.

Lovin me some wine color that is!

Butterick 5958

 This is my vest made from fleece. It is a Butterick 5958 pattern. It luckily matches my blouse in color. That is because I bought both the fabric and blouse  this year. I wanted a third layer so that I would be warm. I am wearing leggins that have a quilted strip up the leg. In one of the pictures below I am wearing a quilted vest with the same leggins and blouse. I like the wine one better.
 The leggins and boots are from Target and the blouse is from NY and Co.
I thought the fit of this pattern was super. I didn't have to make any adjustments. I just took the hips in a little cause mine are smaller than the hip measurement. I am bigger on top than bottom so I always down size the hips.

The next thing I am going to make is a cowl knit top that has a wine colored animal print to go with this vest as well. I am having a sewing mojo going so I don't want to stop stay tuned

plaid blouse untucked, skinny cargos and moto boots with drapy sweater.

This is another look of long tapered cargo pants with a loose button down in plaid flannel. I topped it with a loose green sweater and moto-cross boots. I am trying to incorporate a classic with an edgier rough girl look.

The  design line is loose top over narrow skinny legged pants. 

I am wearing a very large plaid too big perhaps for my large busted frame but I love the look and the colors so I am breaking one of my rules not to wear plaid... Sometimes you have to break your own style rules.

 

Another look with the new proportions PLUS tuff meets Classics

I always thought of myself as a little more street wise than your average housewife. So in keeping my new proportions I have these leggins with a loose top. The quilted vest coordinates with the pants and I didn't even realize this when I bought the leggins. I was just trying to find a more current 'black pants look'.

I took a somewhat dressier blouse and made it more casual. I think the boots fill the tuff look requirement. They give me an edgier flair without screaming I am trying to look younger which is not my goal. I am trying to look 'ageless'

Working with proportions and body type to look modern and current

I am not interested in dressing my age because that is a judgement statement. I am interested in looking current and not dated. I thought a lot about how to do this and I decided that it is about styling clothing proportions and how they are wearing them that makes each season different. Something about how they keep changing the way they put together different items of clothing. I think that the blog into mind sums it up nicely. 
I decided to put together some outfits taking these proportions into mind.(no pun intended). The first one is a loose top with long sleeves over shorts. Now it is October you would think that it would be too cold to do this but alas it is in the 80's all week.
So What do you think? Do I look current?

New month new season time to clean out the closet and I visited Target

I am again doing a really big closet edit. I have gotten rid of all of my tailored slacks!!!!!! 
I don't work anymore at a job outside of my home. I am a milliner and that means I can wear whatever I want. I want to incorporate more of what I like into my style. I am not going to let age be a boundary or my weight I am going to dress for now. I think that after reading several closet purge blogs the one that made the most sense to me was into mind. She has several methods of making clothing coordinate in her proportions catalog.  They resonated with me. I like to wear skinny jeans with a loose top, pencil skirt and loose top, slim fitting trousers with a knees length coat, slim fitting trousers non fitted jacket, and sleeveless dress.

I have some really nice boots and I can now wear them that I have gotten some really skinny jeans. 
I have honed my jacket choices.
 I am still coming up with a signature hairdo. 

My own hair refuses to stay straightened. I have turned into a naturally curly haired girl. I may just go with it but I need a haircut to work with my curls. I like the curly bob pictured above.
I was trying to let my hair go into a smooth bob like the picture below

My hair has almost grown out to this length but cant keep the bangs straight.

Like my whimsical fascinator???
I went shopping at NY and company and bought a blouse a caramel color with black trim, I went to Target and bought some booties that work and are not too high heel. They are by Sam and Libby. I also bought floral denim skinny ankle jeans, a brown boyfriend sweater, a wine colored blouse with black trim and a black pair of leggins with a quilted panel running down the side of the pants. Woo wee. I found items that work with stuff I already have and I think these clothes are a bit edgier.
I need to get my makeup look updated and start wearing the stuff. I am going for more lip color this year. Mine are so small that a good color would make them pop.