New Project Sketch

Dreaming up a new dress for a client is always my favorite part of creating! Listening to what someone likes or doesn't like, discovering what excites them, what they're hoping for in a garment and then pinning down the details, it just feels like a new adventure each and every time!

 This particular dress will be black lace and tulle over a champagne or mocha base, to get that lovely contrast of light and shade.  Here are a few of my early inspiration pics and sketches!

Apron Pinspiration

I've been neglecting my booth at Austin Gift Company, and need to make some stock to take over soon! Specifically I need to make some aprons, so I'm trying to find some inspiration via Pinterest for a new-ish retro design. Here are some of my favorite finds so far!

Lime Toile Easter 2014 Dress

A couple years ago, I kept coming back to some pattern art I had pinned that had a sash sewn into the side seams, that angled a bit downwards in front and then wrapped around to the back. I loved the lines it created.

 

I decided that this was going to be my inspiration for my Easter dress that year! So I created a simple bodice using Butterick 5982, I wanted a V-neck and short sleeves so I used bodice C on the far right.

I altered the back to also have a V-neck. I wanted the sash to be a contrasting color, and decided to go with a gorgeous lime Asian toile fabric I had sitting around, and used a deep teal chiffon for the sash. I added a circle skirt (which ended up being too short due to lack of fabric, more on that in a bit!)

You'll notice I have no pictures of this dress I created, lol, because at the time I wasn't blogging much and somehow never took an Easter pic! I liked the result, but the sash ended up being a little fussy, and I wasn't sure I loved the contrasting color in the end.

I didn't wear the dress a single time after that Easter, and recently pulled it out and thought, you know, I bet it would be better without the sash. So I ripped open the side seam, removed the sash, and sewed it back up.

It was SO MUCH BETTER!!

As you can see, the full lining extends beyond the hem a few inches. This was my fix to the fact that I didn't have enough of the main fabric to get the length I wanted. But as often happens with creative solutions to problems, I ended up liking it even more with the peekaboo hem, it reminds me of a petticoat!

I think this was my most successful sleeve insertion to date, I often feel restricted by sleeves on dresses I've sewn and haven't quite figured out how to make it better, so I tend to go with sleeveless and plan on adding a cropped sweater! But as I wore this one I realized the sleeves are actually pretty comfortable on this one, makes me want to get out the pattern to use as a bodice again when I want sleeves.

 I added a waist stay (the color was a fun little wink to the sash which is no longer there, lol)....

...and pockets of course!

So strangely enough it ended up being rather different than I planned, and my entire inspiration for it is nowhere to be seen on the dress itself, but that's just how the creative process works sometimes, isn't it? 

Another surprise is, it ended up in my destash pile of dresses, which means I've listed it on Etsy along with my other efforts at making more room in my closet. I had a harder time with this one, as I ended up really liking its reincarnation sans sash, and my husband even commented on how much he liked it on me! But, it's still about an inch or two shorter than my favorite, most comfortable length, and at the time I made it I felt like more length on the peekaboo lining hem would have started to look odd. And seriously, even after a brutal go through my closet slashing my wardrobe in half, I still have TWENTY FIVE dresses, y'all! And you know I'm constantly making more. So...yeah. I figured I could stand to let it go. ;-)

But I learned a lot from making this dress, most notably that though sometimes you start with one source of inspiration, it won't necessarily be that specific thing that you end up loving about it, so it's good to be flexible and edit as you go. And that's useful knowledge I'll be keeping with me as I continue to learn, with or without this dress around!

Pinspiration Tuesday - Rain Bonnets

Running a bit late with my Monday post, mostly due to preparations for the trip! So as I was planning for the trip to Scotland and trying to anticipate appropriate attire for lots of rainy days, it was recommended to me by an online Scottish friend that I pick up a "rain mate." I had to google...and then fell in love! Also known as a rain bonnet, it's just a plastic little head covering to wear in the rain, and it used to be something ladies carried around in their purses to pop on when needed!

I'm always amazed when adorable and functional items like these suddenly disappear from cultural awareness. I mean, sure, ladies don't generally have to worry about pin-curled hair, and I don't really need this in Texas (when it rains here you can't really walk around in it, as it's usually torrential rain or nothing, so a plastic bonnet won't do much!) But I just love the concept, especially as it makes big bulky dripping wet umbrellas less of a necessity.  I went looking for any place I might find one, and I may even end up making something similar to take with me. I'll be sure to share what I end up doing! In the meantime, here are some lovely examples, both vintage and modern. :-)

 

The style above used to come in these tiny adorable boxes!!!

 

 

Here's a modern reincarnation! If I'd had time I would have ordered one, but no such luck!

 

Pinspiration Monday - Tartan Fashions

So, in just a couple weeks I'll be heading to Glasgow, Scotland to compete in the Worlds with Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums! Clearly, this means I have tartan on the mind. ;-) So here are some fun tartan fashions I found while browsing Pinterest!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinspiration Monday - Project Inspiration

Lately I've been collecting some lovely pins that have elements I'd love to incorporate into future projects. Here are a few of my faves!

This flower placement is just divine!

 

Love the idea of a tulle maxi dress!

 

Yeah so...toile. Need I say more?

 

 

And more toile, aaahhh!

 

Dita, gorgeous as always, love this minty lace overlay!

 

Pinspiration Monday - Fabric and Pattern Pairings

I thought it would be fun to go through my pattern stash and my fabric stash and make some potential pairings! I love dreaming about what I could make next, and I really need to make a habit of using up more in my fabric stash. I even made a new board to be able to pin my pairings! Here are some of my favorites (apparently I gravitate towards blue!):

Vintage Vogue 8811

McCall's 6953

Vintage Vogue 2267

Retro Butterick 4792

I especially need to use up these fabrics I bought in France! You know when you feel like you have to find just the right way to use up a fabric, so you end up not using it at all? Yeah, that's what keeps happening with these fabrics, but I know I need to just push through and go for it! Hopefully these ideas will help me get there.

Retro Butterick 5880

Retro Butterick 5209

Vintage Simplicity 2154 (blouse)

And finally, here's one pairing I've already started on (mentioned in my last Instagram post)! Hoping to finish it this week.

Vintage Vogue 8728

Pinspiration Monday - Populaire

So I just finished watching the adorable French movie Populaire about the makings of a typewriter champion, and the wardrobe was just scrumptious the whole movie. So many great mid century details!! I ran right away to start pinning all my favorites. ;-)

 

 

The bow!! The buttons!! Perfection.

 

 

Aaahhh, the neckline and bow! Love!

 

 

And then there was the final pink dress, gorgeous from every angle...

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're looking for a sweet story with delicious eye candy, check it out!