willyverse – Page 2

Wavy

Published on April 23, 2016 by maksu20131 Comment

Ankara duster coat

Hi Guys!

Another spring day, another slay :). This coat is the prelude to my bomber jacket that I promised. The sleeves are made of a fleecy fabric I got a long time ago, don’t remember what exactly it was called but I’m fairly certain it’s the same fabric used for sweatshirts. I lined the entire coat with it as well for added warmth.

The ankara used for this coat is a Vlisco print, it may be older or out of stock but the fabric was gifted to me by my mum and I just knew this fabric was made to do beautiful things!

The raglan sleeves made this a slightly easier project than my bomber jacket, so much so that I had to go back in on my bomber jacket and change the sleeves. I picked up the ribbed cuffs at King Textiles when they had a sale on them.

The only thing I might consider doing differently on this coat is adding shoulder darts. This is something that I discovered randomly as I was scouring the internet for inspiration one day. Making a raglan sleeve could sometimes create a wider neckline depending on the fabric so shoulder darts just allow everything sit nicer on your shoulders 😀

I have worn this coat with a few different outfits and I get compliments on it every time. However, I was sooo feeling myself in this outfit. Got these pants from the thrift store and I had my doubts on whether I would be able to pull it off but once I chucked this belt on it I knew I had found a keeper!

Spring time is all about the wishy-washy weather, cold in some spots and boiling once you turn the corner so it’s nice to be able to whip this coat on and off depending on what I’m feeling. It also helped that the wind had me looking extra fly ;p

More spring vibes on deck so stay chuned

Pictures by Willyverse

Kilikili

Published on March 24, 2016March 24, 2016 by maksu2013Leave a comment

One dress multiple options

Hi Guys!

Back at it again with a green dress :D. This fabric breathes nostalgia~the beating of wooden drums and little girls *cough* me *cough* popping on stage with our waist beads and kilikili wrappers. I remember this fabric as yellow and red but I am definitely feeling the new versions cropping up.

This dress doesn’t really have a front or back per se, it can be worn both ways. Wearing it in reverse allows the option of wearing it as a summer dress. Alas as winter lingers on I have respected myself and worn a sweater with it.

Lining was important for this outfit because I believe it gave a bit more structure. I used a v-neck dress that I currently own as a pattern and extended the neckline for one side.

In hindsight, as opposed to cutting on the fold, it may have been better to cut four pieces and have a seam down the middle.

Good to note that while this dress may appear to be very straight, cutting it as such was a mistake. I had to go back in and taper the top a bit to avoid looking like I was wearing a barrel

Other than those points I think it was a simple enough dress with plenty of movement and versatility.

Pictures by Willyverse

Fits and Starts

Published on February 17, 2016February 17, 2016 by maksu2013Leave a comment

Rediscovering my blog’s purpose

Hi Guys!

Today I thought I’d go to my about page and try to refresh myself on why I started blogging in the first place. If you’ve never read it before here’s what it says :

Its all about that very first step. The fear of trying and failing should never be enough to keep you from the amazing experiences life has to offer. This is my first step, my beginning if you will, of taking hold of these experiences. I hope this blog inspires someone to think in technicolor. To try something they never thought they could do. Follow me as I share my thoughts on my ongoing projects, baking recipes and a few colorful musings.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Peace, Love and Respect,

E.

Now as far as recipes go I think I’ve posted like one in the entire history of my blog (LOL!) but over all I still feel like this statement resonates with me.

I still want to inspire people to try things that they would ordinarily not do because frankly if I can do it anyone can! I don’t say that to dump on myself; I think I’m a pretty cool person :p but I knew nothing about sewing when I started this blog and now I’m over here crafting bomber jackets and what not.

I thought I would be too scared to write what I truly felt when I first started. It all felt a bit vulnerable and soul-baring hence why I didn’t tell many people about it at first. I still feel that way sometimes; when thing feel too new or too bold, I like to sit with them quietly and get comfortable with them before showing them to the world.

So on the topic of starting, there would be a few things in my life that would be starting this year. One of which would be my business with a dear friend :). We are creating handmade pillows and when things advance a bit more I would be sharing pictures and details and all that jazz, but yea 😀 I’m pretty excited and very nervous.

I’m glad I re-read my about page today. It made me feel all warm and content on the inside. I’ve thought about re-branding my blog many times because frankly if you googled “Begin” you’re probably just going to get the definition of the word but until I find something that still speaks this message, I think I’ll stay put.

Well this ended up being a lot more conversational than I anticipated 😛

Hope you’re all having a great week!

Picture by Willyverse

Flower Bomb

Published on January 23, 2016April 30, 2016 by maksu20135 Comments

Reversible Bomber Jacket

Hi Guys!! and Happy new year!

New year, New theme and fresh goals :D. It feels great to be blogging and sewing again!

Now let’s talk about this jacket real quick…I know I’ve said a bunch of times that some project or the other has been “the most challenging” blah blah blah but this is the project that rules them all!

It’s been a pretty mild winter in Toronto, (I say this now then watch it drop to -22 *knock on wood*) so I decided it might be nice to have a fun coat for the warmer days. I would share my first attempt at this in a future post, however it didn’t take me long to realize that a fleece lined “cardigan” is no match even for Toronto’s mildest days. Also keep in mind that I shiver at the slightest gust of wind so I’m not sure why I thought that would work.

Anyhow, I decided it was time to ramp things up so off to King textiles I went and I bought this quilted lined fabric so it would be a little warmer. I would recommend buying about a yard and a half for a bomber jacket just so you have wiggle room for any unforeseen mishaps.

In the past I would have kept it simple and just lined the outer Ankara layer with the quilted fabric from the store but BEHOLD! old things have passed away (Amen somebody) and I decided to make this a reversible jacket.

For difficulty I would rate this an 8/10 if you don’t really know what you’re doing and maybe a 6.5/10 if you’re a sewing savant and you just make quilts for breakfast. WithWendy‘s varsity jacket tutorial was a great help with helping me figure out where to even begin and how to cut my fabric.

The part I found most challenging though was adding the neck band. I must have taken it out and sewn it back at least 6 or 7 times before deciding to let it be.

Still in the process of modifying the long-cardigan-coat-thing that I made before this one but I thought this was too good to not share right away 😀

I would say that this jacket can withstand -3 at the coldest but that’s good enough for me.

Pictures by Willyverse

The Nigerian Woman: Unfinished

Published on November 24, 2015January 20, 2016 by maksu2013Leave a comment

You thought it was done?

I know it has been more than a few weeks since I put up a Nigerian woman post but I am far from through with this series. When I started I wasn’t sure what I wanted to achieve by asking for these stories. All I knew when I started out was that I wanted stories and I wanted this to be an experience that was beneficial for the writer. I wanted it to be something that causes the writer to think more about themselves. At no point did I think that this would cause me to think more about myself and how I understand my identity as a Nigerian woman. (yes I realize I just called myself a woman and not a girl but I will address this later). Reading through the posts I have received, even the ones I am yet to share, I hear so many of my own thoughts echoed through the experiences of other women. When I read the stories of women in my family and I felt the same things I could attribute it to having shared experiences and while I share something with everyone I’ve asked to post so far, there is a surreal feeling reading the thoughts and perspectives that I have received so far.

I am truly grateful for all who have shared their stories with me and I can’t wait to continue sharing more stories.

Picture by Willyverse

Summering

Published on September 23, 2015January 20, 2016 by maksu2013Leave a comment

Halter Summer Dress

Hi Guys!!!

So if you guessed this would be my next post you was right! (go ahead you can pat yourself on the back)

I made this super simple dress at the start of summer and it fast became a wardrobe fave for me. For difficulty, I would rate this a 5/10 mainly because of the braided strap but even at that, this was a pretty basic project.

I started off with a large rectangular piece for the front and two smaller rectangles for the back. I hemmed the bottom edge and sewed down a one inch loop on the top edge. With all raw edges hemmed, I attached the front piece to the back pieces and stopped 8 inches short of the top for arm holes and so I would be able to get into the dress.

The next step was making the strap. I made two thin strips, tied them up on one end and twisted all the way down. I say this now and it sounds pretty easy but turning the strips inside out was a lot harder than I though it would be. After about 30 minutes of struggling I finally finished and put the strap through my one inch loop and gathered my dress till I was comfortable with the fit and look.

Finally I sewed down the ends of the gathered points so it wouldn’t move around and ta da!!

I wonder if there is a way to transition this dress into the colder months. Do you guys have any pieces that you wear no matter the season? Also I might have a post coming up on these scrunchies in my hair 🙂

Pictures by Willyverse

The Nigerian Woman| Afrolems

Published on September 9, 2015October 1, 2015 by maksu20132 Comments

Atim Ukoh

Hey Guys!!

This series wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t consider the role that cooking plays in the average Nigerian’s life. Nigerians love their food if nothing else and there is the very vibrantly expressed opinion that every Nigerian woman must know how to cook (-_-). For this post, I spoke to my sister; CEO and creative director of Afrolems. She stays slaying in the kitchen and while I try, real has to recognize real!! I loved reading her post because while we’re sisters, our experiences and perspectives are pretty different plus she made me laugh :P. Anyhow, I trust that you would love reading this just as much as I did!

Who are you ? (What are the things that make up your identity, likes, interests, quirks)

My name is Atim Ukoh. I am in my late 20’s, currently a food blogger and a digital marketing strategist. I like to believe I am generally a lighthearted person even if I end up panicking about a lot of things. I am too stubborn for my own good. In recent times, I have discovered I love travelling and exploring new cultures. I believe in living life to the fullest. I laugh a lot at any thing. Ask my mum. Sometimes I think it’s nervous laughter because hey you might be boring and I am not sure how to fill in the gap of your awkwardness or you just might be genuinely funny. You never know.

What do you feel being a Nigerian woman means?

A Nigerian woman means being very adaptable. Adaptability is generally a trait popularly associated with Nigerians in general. Moving to Canada reinforced this trait in me. As a Nigerian woman who spent 18 years in a tropical country, the Canadian winter was not the easiest situation to adjust to.

The dating scene was also different. In Nigeria, women are used to being chased aggressively, wined and dined even before you truly find out about her. It took a bit of effort to adapt to the Canadian way of dating which involved giving a guy your number and waiting 3-5 business days to get a text saying “hey I still have your number”.

The society has several expectations of you as a Nigerian woman. There are expectations that you would naturally be domesticated, which may not always be the case. In general, there are societal opinions that need to be taken into strong consideration. Now I am personally not a believer of that fact but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still something to consider. I believe in creatively playing the game and being strategic to get what you want from the society.

What role do you feel food plays in the life of the Nigerian Woman?

Being that I am from Akwa Ibom in Nigeria, there is an additional expectation that I should also be a great cook and it should be a huge part of my DNA. I sometimes believe when Nigerian men see their women, they see a walking pot of soup. There is an expectation that a pot of soup or rice would come out of her being around them for over two hours. I believe food plays a very crucial role in the lives of Nigerian women. Grandmothers and mothers for generations have forced their daughters into the kitchen to learn a thing or two about cooking because they believe the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

When did you fall in love with cooking?

I fell in love with cooking when I successfully made my first tasty pot of Indomie noodles. I realized that I could walk into the kitchen, climb on a stool because I was too short to reach the stovetop and stir my way to perfect noodles fit for consumption. It was the best feeling ever.

What are you most proud of regarding your Nigerian identity?

I am proud of the fact that we are a resilient group. Regardless of what life throws at us, we manage to smile through it, adapt and keep moving. I love the richness of the cultures that exist within Nigeria. I love the fact that we have unique traits that differentiates us from other Africans and even sometimes makes them a tad jealous. I love the fact that we are an enterprising group of people. I would not trade my Nigerian identity for the world.

What are your hopes for Nigeria in the coming years?

I would like to see Nigeria truly get its act together. Be a place that people want to visit, become a place that is synonymous with great inventions both in the arts and sciences. I’d like the Nigerian woman to have a stronger voice in the rural communities, as that would reduce the rate of poverty within these communities.

Where can people find you and your work?

You can find me through my blog Afrolems or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @afrolems

Picture by Willyverse

Gathe-red

Published on February 20, 2015February 20, 2015 by maksu2013Leave a comment

Gathered Skirt

Hey beautiful people!

So I know I make a lot of skirts but I’m really not sorry. Winter has forced me into a rotating schedule of long sleeves, sweaters and pants. While that’s not all together horrible it gets boring after a while you know. I need to stick it to the weather and expand my skirt collection, I shall overcome! red midi skirt

This time I decided to make this gorgeous gathered skirt and I felt it came out really nice! I was inspired by a skirt my sister has and had hoped to make this a midi skirt but the amount of fabric I had wouldn’t have allowed that happen, nevertheless I am satisfied.

Red skirt- Enang Ukoh-Begin

Making it was relatively easy, I cut out a rectangle 3 times the circumference of my waist (lessons learned from my first midi skirt). After that I set my sewing machine to the largest straight stitch setting and sewed along the edge so I could gather the skirt. After gathering, the rest was simply putting the ends together. I included a zipper which was a little difficult but not horribly so and I finished it off with a little pearl button. Overall I would rate the difficulty a 4/10.

Ooo, well this is completely unrelated but I’m really loving the flat twist crown in my hair…Made me feel very princessy 🙂

Pictures by Willyverse

Old land, New Vibes

Published on July 16, 2014September 1, 2014 by maksu20132 Comments

My summer in Nigeria so far

Begin- Old Land New Vibes

Hey y’all!! So I’ve been in Nigeria for a couple of weeks now and I’m very content so far 🙂

My first week was plagued with jet lag of life but I wasn’t too bothered about that. My days have generally been easy, sleep, go to driving school, visit a friend or run an errand or two, nothing too exhausting and it feels great! All those all-nighters of last year have melted off and I feel well-rested and happy. This happens every time I come back…an air of absolute chill that I never noticed before overcomes me. Well a good 60% of that chill is cause I’m being fed round the clock. Speaking of food, can we just take a second to appreciate the absolute delight that is my mum’s food? Living with a food blogger is -pass out with glee after every meal- amazing.

With every amazing point however, there are a few things that still shock/annoy/confuse me.

1) Peeing men. This is something that I shocks me every single time! I always wonder if I just never noticed before or if more men are just choosing to pee on the side of the road. This is how the scenario plays out most times for me;

me: *sitting in traffic and staring blankly out the window*

Mr pees-a-lot: *strolls to the most public place possible, and starts to pee

me :*notices Mr pees-a-lot and looks away for his dignity’s sake

Mr pees-a-lot: *possibly even carrying on a conversation at this point zips up and walks away like nothing ever happened.

WHY??? I suppose when nature calls and all that good stuff but WHY??? why on the side of the road where everybody can see you? Why aren’t you more discreet sir?

2) Nigerian road users. I say road users because whether they’re in a Jeep, on an Okada (bike) or a pedestrian, Nigerian road users are a truly reckless group. Firstly, what is a lane? A lane is simply a suggestion on Nigerian roads, some people would much rather stay smack in the middle of the road and then abuse you for trying to overtake them. Secondly, crossing an expressway? not dangerous at all :). Go on, run across a four lane road with your entire family cause…why not? Finally Okada drivers and your Keke Maruwa (Three wheeled thingybobs) cousins, the road belongs to you, because if it doesn’t I don’t understand your need to threaten everybody else’s existence.

3). Customer Service. Okay this one annoys me and confuses me at the same time. I call the customer service line to resolve an issue I’m having and somehow I end up being yelled at. Or the cheerful waitress who found it just as funny as we did that half the things on the menu were not available. Or of course the delightful sales girls who are eternally irritated at the presence of customers in the store, especially customers who ask questions about the product.

Despite my many grievances and frustrations with this country, something about it still makes me happy. Maybe its cause this is where my family is and so it will always feel like home, or maybe it’s because as much as these things annoy you they make you laugh even just a little bit. Whatever it is, Nigeria has a texture to it that makes me feel something that is pretty difficult to explain. There is so much content in this country that is just sitting there waiting to inspire you. *Speaking of inspiration I need ideas for a play so if you think of something please leave it in the comments.* It took me leaving the country to see its potential because when you live in Nigeria its too easy to get caught up in the redundancy of your daily hustle. Sitting in pointless traffic for 3hrs would suck the zeal out of anybody. Anyhow I’m excited for my next few weeks :D…just taking each day as it comes and trying to enjoy every minute of my stay.

I’d also like to know some of your grievances with where you live 😀 so feel free to leave a comment.

Picture by Willyverse

Third time’s the charm

Published on May 28, 2014August 31, 2014 by maksu20134 Comments

How to make a romper

Hey guys! So you remember that Aaliyah song; “try again”? I was sitting in front of my sewing machine a couple of weeks ago and this song had never been truer. After two failed attempts at making a romper daddy Lord has delivered me!!! My first attempt resulted in my patterned shorts, my second attempt failed so woefully I didn’t have the heart to take pictures but well well, third time’s the charm dearies 😀 ( I need to stop watching once upon a time).

Third time's the charm Begin

I did a number of things differently this time around but what made the biggest difference was the fabric choice. I made this with double knit fabric which has plenty of stretch. I also made the top very roomy to account for the issues I had the first time around. Finally, I tried to make it “high-waisted’ because I have realized that shorts without waistbands just don’t quite get to my waist, then again maybe I’m just doing something wrong.

Begin Romper

The difficulty of this project, taking into account that I only got it right on my third try is an 8/10. This specific romper however was not as challenging, possibly cause I had done it a couple of times before.The only thing I would change is the way the back hangs. I think I might have been a little too generous with the fabric on top. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be to match up the stripes. I also decided to cuff the bottom because hemming this fabric made it spread all weird for some reason.

All in all I was very satisfied. I shall now live in this romper and my kimono for the rest of summer.

Third time's the charm: Begin

I took advantage of the first hot day in a long long time and went to the park with my brother.Got some delicious Vitamin d in.

Third time's the charm: Begin

Pictures by Willyverse

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