I’m randomly in DC this afternoon so Trena and I podcasted. It’s been a long time, eh? You can listen HERE on the Podbean site. And of course, you should subscribe on iTunes where we are automatically updated.
Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen from All Lacquered Up
I finally settled on a copy of this Orquiedea dress from Anthropologie for my final project. We’re supposed to draft on the 1/2 scale sloper first. Get that approved and then move on to our full scale sloper.
I haven’t seen this in person, but it looks like a basic bodice with a faux wrap skirt. To make the bodice different than my two-dart sloper, I’m using armhole princess seams for the bodice and changing to a one dart skirt. I also want to add frills to the sleeves. I love me a frill. Hopefully it won’t be too much.
Hmmmm, I forgot to alter the neckline. And, I think I’m going to shorten the shoulder…. So, this probably took me about two hours I think. Tomorrow, I would really like to make up my pants sloper again and make some tweaks. And now, I leave you with this week’s colors. I get so excited on Monday when Shannon swatches colors (especially this week because she showed a color I was wearing at the time), I thought I would join the fray.
Last week I went out both Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday paid the price. It was a Mardi Gras themed party (hence the feather mask and beads) and I was in high heels until 2:00 a.m. Party Voice all day on Sunday I tell you what.
These outings have led me to a dilema. I don’t have a club / party outfit. Trena said she has the same problem. Not looking for anything hoochie, just a step up from jeans a cute top. You know what a lot of people were wearing? Jumpsuits and shorts. Similar to this April 2009 BWOF ditty.
I know it’s trendy and I don’t know if it would work for me. But, I may have to consider it. Although, I think I would feel like I was in a onesie.
Some of you asked about my pants sloper. I had to turn it in for my grade (I got a 94) before I could make it up again with the alterations. I now have it back and will make it up over the weekend. Dress sloper is also turned in for a grade. I think there are some minor tweaks, but I’ll deal with them later.
Is Belinda, who said,
‘To me a purse is what a woman holds her money in, you carry your purse in your handbag and carry a bag to hold your shopping, books, luggage and other larger items. Although sometimes a ‘bag’ can be short for handbag. A man keeps his money in a wallet and carries a bag.”
Loved all the commentary. My mom even called to tell me what she called a purse growing up in Grenada and what she called it when she moved it NYC. And, it if wasn’t 6:00 in the morning, I might actually remember right now.
It’s fitting a pattern is going to Australia because I FINALLY got the last two seasons of the original Kath and Kim. Either I don’t get Sundance anymore or they didn’t pick up the last couple of seasons. Bummer. Last Friday at happy hour, I met an Australian woman who worked at the Police Department. She’s got every season on DVD and I have a new best friend. Now, if Project Runway Australia would come back, all my Aussie dreams would come true!
Yes, I am still taking pattern drafting classes. I am little behind. We had spring break two weeks ago and I was too busy at work to slip away for classes this past week. But, I’m going in today. So, very early this morning I got up and altered and sewed up my dress sloper (due last week — yikes). This is based on a Butterick (can’t find the number right now).
Overall, I’m pleased! I have NEVER considered wearing a pencil skirt before. But, I like the shape of this! I see some basic sheath dresses in my immediate future. Right, back to the sloper.
The center front line is pulling (as is the center back). But, I think it has more to do with how little ease is in the sloper. Using my measurements, I
Very minimal alterations needed. Based on what I’m seeing, I think I still need
I have since added a zipper to the back.
I’m open and welcome to thoughts! I’ll also let you know what my professor has to say.
** ETA: My instructor said I needed to lengthen my front skirt darts and take a tuck from the upper front bodice. She said the rest, was good. So, I cut it out of oak tag and she’s grading it now. I’ll make it up again when I get it back.
Hello kids! Thank you kindly for the birthday wishes! I’m happy to report that last night I had a celebratory glass of champagne (or six) for each of you. Today, we have three things to cover in this post. A pattern review, a nail polish swatch and a cool pattern giveaway from my blog sponsor, Fabricworm.com. But first, the dress:
You’ve seen her before! It’s the #120 sun dress from the July 2007 BWOF. I first made it last February and I’m in the middle of a second edition now. The fabric is from fabricworm.com and is actually for the owner, Cynthia. While I haven’t finished my version, she wanted one to wear to the International Quilt Market in May.
Both prints are Anna Maria Horner. The top print is Cathedral Dusk and the skirt print is Small Gathering Sea. This dress is so adorable! I gotta get back to mine soon. So, how do you sew for someone long distance that you’ve never met? Really good measurements. Cynthia told me everything from the distance between her waist and hips to the length of her legs! I also sewed with a one inch seam allowance to allow for adjustments.
There’s even an extra 1/2 inch under the bust just in case she needs the room. And, I didn’t stitch down the straps so she could tack them at the best length for her. My fingers are crossed!
So, that is a natural segway to the giveaway! I blogged last month that Anna Maria Horner is now designing patterns. I think this is so cool! Cynthia does too, so she’s offered to give away one of Anna Marie Horner’s new patterns! You can check them out here. If you want to enter, tell us what you call a purse (i.e. handbag, purse, pocket book, etc) in any language. Why? Because a lot of people in Baltimore say ‘pockeybook’ and ‘kindygarten’. Drives me bananas. Just leave the comment and say which pattern you’re interested in. We’ll do drawing on Friday! That should be the day Cynthia gets her dress in the mail. And, I’m happy to mail internationally so come one come all.
Now, nail polish. This is from Misa called ‘A Sin Worth Committing’.
I read the nail polish blogs for color ideas. But, will ocassionaly post them here because I think it’s tough to know what colors are going to look like on brown skin. And, I can only really wear these fun ones on the weekend! It’s a pretty, inky, sparkly (not glittery) blue. This is two coats, top coat and three hours of weeding, raking and mowing the lawn. Nary a chip. I’m starting to think China Glaze is a little chip prone. I plan on wearing this again come Fourth of July.
Thank you for all the positive feedback on the blouse! I love, love, love it. And, I’m a French cuff convert!
If you’ve picked up on my neuroses the last week, it’s because I had the pleasure of turning 33 this week. Between that and my 15 year high school reunion this weekend (not going) I’ve been a little reflective. I always think I want my birthday to pass quietly, then am so humbled and elated when my family and friends remember. So, I was super thrilled on Tuesday when I got this gift from the ever thoughtful Christina (her mom and I share a birthday!):
Check the bottom left hand corner. Yep, that’s an April 1976 Burda magazine!! I was on the phone with Trena when I opened the package and SCREAMED in her ear. I also spent last year’s birthday with Christina and Trena!
My parents and boss also surprised me with some beautiful flowers at work. Daisies, lilies and tulips are my favorite flowers 
My office smells like a garden. It’s fantastic. There was also lemon cake from the girls at work. I once got a chocolate cake three years in a row at a job. I don’t care for chocolate cake. And they knew because every year they would ask why I only ate a little bit of cake. But, that’s what my boss liked and that’s what he ordered every year. Every. Year. There was even a chocolate cake when I left. It’s a running joke now with my former co-workers.
And the man formerly known as the Cop dropped of two dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. We are no longer involved. But, he knows I LOVE Krispy Kreme (I spent half my life in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee), and all three stores within 30 minutes drive closed in the last year. I dunno where these came from and I think the effort was pretty remarkable. But, I smell sabotage folks. I’m figuring he doesn’t like that I’ve gotten back down to my dating weight.
So, this weekend: Sew up dress sloper for class and make up summer dress for a friend!
I kind of love this BWOF 4-2007-114 blouse for all it’s kookiness. The French cuffs, the ruffled Elizabethan neckline. Love it. But, I admit that it borders on the ridiculous. First, let me be clear. The directions are AWFUL. I felt like a bleeding idiot because past the ‘add seam allowances’ I didn’t understand a thing. BWTF!! Holy cow.
I left off the neckline facing because I couldn’t understand the directions and how it was supposed to go in. I also scrapped the drafted right fold, left fold, fold facing, etc. lines because when I followed the directions, the hidden button placket was two inches wide. HUGE.
The one regret I have is how low cut this is. I cannot reach for pens or coffees in a meeting. Small children thought I might be a wet nurse. It is that LOW CUT. From the top, I can see my bra. The gaposis is so bad sitting down that I see London and France. ** ETA: I did wear it to work. But, with a lacy brown cami. Still got rave reviews.
And, on my anonymous coworker who does not have a low bust like me (we switched tops today to see) it’s ridiculous (camera phone pic).
Oh, and how I adore the French cuffs! We have cufflinks at work that all the men wear. Now, I get to rock my own.
Fuzzy photo of the back. I made a swayback adjustment. I won’t lie. I used a lot of starch on the ruffles.
Overall, I like the look. But, I should have made a muslin. I would have seen to raise the neckline and elminate the gaposis. I wore it all day and got a ton of compliments. This blouse is so unique, fun and really makes a statement. But, as the immortal Tim Gunn say, ‘It’s a whole lotta look’.
Here’s a glance at tomorrow’s review, BWOF April 2007, #114. Tentatively and affectionately titled: Bordering on the Ridiculous:
And, here are the patterns I picked up at the $0.99 Simplicity sale at Joann’s.Two aprons, one home / sewing dec and one actual garment pattern. I so rarely buy clothing patterns from the Big Four because I have my BWOF. But, I loooove aprons and want to do some decorating.
I got out to the mall yesterdy and wanted to show a couple of fun details from the Anthropologie stuff I tried on. The first is this ruffled tank called the Cherimoya Blouse. It retails for $118 on the Anthropologie site.
In person, there is this cool optical illusion.
At first glance, there seems to be a few more layers of ruffles. In fact, all they did was sew three pintucks at the bottom of each ruffle layer. This adds the illusion of depth.
Here on the Profiterole Blouse the ruffles are edged out in a bias trim.
Rather than just ruffle them and sew them down, they are ruffled a little, then stitched down the midde in a circular / rosette pattern. Really pretty. I’m going to try and approximate the contrast trim with a serger rolled hem. It would probably work best with Wooly Nylon. But, Wooly Nylon and I don’t talk.
I am predictable about many things. If there are French fries on the menu, I will be ordering them. Given an option for a meal, I always vote for pizza or Mexican. I tend to perfer form over function. And, when it comes to clothing, give me some trenchy military details and I’m all over [...]
When I posted about my original red and camel version of Butterick 5522 back in January, Shirley commented that she had a similar dress in navy blue and lime green in the 70s. I LOVED the color combo idea and quickly bought two navy rayon double knits from FabricMart. Unfortunately, I couldn’t seem to get a hold of [...]
I apologize now for not being able to show this to you on either my persons or correctly on my dressform. Because the bust cups are lace, they were not exactly internet appropriate. At least not the kind of internet that is free. Sadly, I wasn’t able to get it on my dress form either [...]
I went for a run the other day in my red and grey Jalie multi sport skirt with attached knickers (think cheerleading bottoms) and am 90 percent sure the bottom of my butt cheeks were playing peekabo with the hem of my skirt. I was plodding along (I am ridiculously slow) and thinking my butt felt kind of cold [...]
Well, hello sailor! I am digging the World War II era vibe from this Burda 5-2009 #122 dress. It feels like I’ve just been cranking out projects lately. But, I’ll let you in on a little secret. I started this dress a little over three months ago back in November 2011. I thought it would [...]
Guys, I’m so busy these days between work (larger projects, running a Fellowship program) and extra curricular activities (election season). I don’t want to tell you I’m on a hiatus from blogging since I may have a whim (like now). But, I will be posting very little until the end of September. I can only [...]
I’m at least two projects or more from tackling my athletic wear (I sew by the color on the serger). But, thought you might be interested in a great resource on sewing athletic wear. I managed to purchase most of the Singer Sewing Reference Library in one fell swoop a couple years ago. One of [...]
You may have gathered from this blog that I have a love of all things international. Through much hard work and calculation, I have struck up a unique relationship with my counterpart in Japan. So unique, that when Trena went to Tokyo, my counterpart actually took her shopping — and we’ve never met! At anyrate, [...]
It’s been a crazy busy month on this side of the world. But, my reward came early! Remember when I bought the Singer 221 Featherweight? Well, one came without a case. The woman selling said her mom had the case and accessories and she’d let me know when she got it from her mom. Well, this [...]
This book was a delightful and generous gift from LindsayT who picked up on my love of the now defunct Cottage Living and Domino Magazine. I’ve always called my personal decorating style Urban Cottage and this book will easily help develop it. Country Living is also where my favorite bake-at-home cake recipe is from. Despite [...]
