Happy News

I'm back! I'm happy to share my good news,I got engaged! Even though we have been together for almost 5 years, it was a complete surprise, and I have never been happier. I'm very lucky to have received the ring that belonged to my Fiance's Grandmother, it's from 1943 and in the original setting! Tomorrow I will post a dress I made this week which is inspired by my ring.

Happy Father's day to everyone, and enjoy this beautiful Sunday.

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On Vacation

Hello everyone! Sorry for the lapse on posts, I've been on vacation!

I'll be back soon with new projects and an exciting announcement.

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Couture Disaster

My blue dress is huge. I don't know how this happened. I was a good girl and made a muslin, and it fit. So I take apart my muslin and use it as a pattern. And then I make the entire dress, with all the couture techniques, the spiral cut boning in between silk organza and cotton batiste. So it was a lot of work. And it looks like this....

It's too big, all over the top. I've never needed had this much space in the bra on anything! The darts in the bust also make me look like I have pointy nipples, which is not a look I was going for. The best thing about this dress is that it matches my slippers.

AHH! That's how I feel.

I'm feeling discouraged, but hopefully I can snap out of it because I have a lot of fabric to get through.

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New Fabric

Look what I scored, four yards of Marc by Marc Jacobs navy and light pink cotton voile. I bought it at Gorgeous Fabrics, she only had ten yards and is now sold out. I love finding designer fabrics and making my version of the dress for less.

This is the Marc By Marc Jacobs dress which was over $350, and would probably be a little too short on me. I think I can make a more flattering dress for way way less. Maybe another version of Chantilly? Any other suggestions?

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Linen and Cotton

I've heard a lot about the book Bridal Couture by Susan Khalje, for it's couture sewing techniques with evening wear, I can't be beat.  Unfortunately it is out of print and if you can find a copy it is well over $100, a new copy on amazon is selling for $355! That's a little crazy, even for a person like me, obsessed with sewing. I really wanted to learn from this expert, and amazing teacher. I love here articles in Threads, and my favorite blogger, Gertie's camp couture posts.

As an alternative I bought this book : Linen and Cotton: Classic Sewing Techniques for Great Results by Susan Khalje, for only $3.60 on amazon. It has a million amazing tips, and I certainly sew more with cotton than I sew evening dresses. If only I had more evening things to do! I can't wait to do some of the decorative details from this book. Pin It Now!

Blue Dress

As an avid follower of Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing, I have been in love with her yellow dress that she made ever since she made it last year.  Recently she posted that McCall's had a similar pattern out (M6350) I knew I had to make it!

Isn't it gorgeous!

I gathered my supplies, a cotton blue jacquard from my stash, cotton batiste for the lining and silk organza for bodice lining. It will also have boning, I bought the spiral steel boning, which is what Miss Gertie used. The McCalls pattern comes in cup sizing, but i still had to do some sizing up in the cups and make a few muslins. It's coming along, and hopefully I can wear it to my brother's college graduation next week!

Lots of fabric!

final muslin

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Violet Blouse

When Colette Patterns announced a new blouse pattern last week, I knew I had to have it. The violet blouse is the perfect basic pattern.  I love the vintage styling of this pattern. I was a very easy patten, I did version 1 with the shorter sleeves. It all came together in only a day, I wore it out to dinner that night.

I used a cotton shirting with a geometric detail that was in my stash from mood. The fabric has a vintage, semi masculine vibe to it so it works well in contrast with the sweetness of the peter pan collar. I plan on making it again, in the long sleeve version. There are a lot of different details you could add to change it up!

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