The Dummy Did It Dress

So, I'm at the pool and the cutest little blond headed child sat beside me. He appeared to be about 2 years old and was a complete stranger. He looked up at me and with the cutest wide open smile said, " I missed you."

awww....

How could I resist. So I said, " I missed you too."

 And I do, I miss you. So without further ado, I give you my Dummy Did It Dress.

Inspired by Once Upon A Pie, and the brilliant wardrobe people behind Pushing Daisies.

note to self: take the hem up about two inches.

Plaid skirt re-fashion

plaid skirt found with a 22" waist

 

I'm working really hard on the re-fashion pile. I buy things that do not fit me (mostly vintage- since I rarely find vintage in my size). Which wouldn't be a problem; if it wasn't for the fact that I seriously hate to alter/mend. I've had garments sit for days and days waiting on a simple fix like buttons. I'm a seamstress that doesn't like to mend. In a last ditch effort; to attempt digging myself out from under this pile, I plan on two re-fashions for every one new project.

Yep, you heard it here first- 2 to 1.

The Look for Less

This is my Dolce & Gabbana inspired jacket. I found the vintage sweater while thrifting. 

The roses are made using a wool knit remnant. I just stitched a bias tube and applied the rose using an embroidery stitch. If you are the visual type there is a great tutorial here from Hot Patterns.

 

I took the roses all the way around the jacket back.

If you noticed the plaid skirt peeking out, it is a vintage re-fashion and I'll post it later.

Fall Inspiration

I'm sure to the true fashionista this post is very late. These Dolce & Gabbana images are in the fashion magazines - and I'm sure, all over the web.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around fall fashion until it is actually Fall. So...
I am finding several looks from this collection inspiring. First, the little suit. I plan to wear mine with a top.
Last fall I wanted to make a Chanel- inspired jacket and didn't get to it. So I'm moving it up near the top of my sewing queue.

::Chanel inspired jacket- check

And then... in several colors? I don't really see that happening, but aren't they pretty?

Ahhh... great print and pattern. Love the dress.

this photo was blurred for a more realistic dream like appearance

I had to include these images. When I saw them I was reminded of a dream I had in high school on more than one occasion, with slight variations in detail.
I am in the hallway going to class. My mood can be described as happy, buoyant even. I speak to all my friends as I pass, and things are just peachy, until I feel a slight breeze on my nearly bare derriere. That's right -I forgot to put on my pants. I look down and sure enough -I'm in my underwear. Predictably this is the point where my peers notice that I came to school in my panties. No one ever notices until I do, weird. The rest of the dream usually involves some elaborate plot to clothe myself before everyone notices.
Maybe the Dolce & Gabbana models won't look down, and will never have to know that they did the whole second half of the session in their skivvies.

Day two Self-Stitched

I am including this vintage dress in my Self-Stitched wardrobe. This was a pretty hefty re-do.
I cut off the weird almost 3/4 length sleeves, and with the fabric - lengthened the way short torso (bodice). At some point the dress had been altered and I had to fix the pleats. I almost gave up on this one. I hate mending/altering with a passion. I am not really sure why I loathe it so. It makes so much sense, as I love vintage, but rarely find anything I can wear - as is. So I've tackled a couple of items that were sitting in my mending pile, and plan to do a few more this month.

Note to my siblings: I did a little mending-it is not your green light to ask me to hem your pants. Remember, I am an artist. (I use this when I don't want to do something) ;)

New Look 6723

In search of an Audrey silhouette, I chose this New Look pattern.

View B.

Worn today for the first day of Self-Stitched-September, forgive the wrinkles.

Rick-rack detail.

I am happy with the fit and my fabric choice (100% cotton seersucker).
I made this one as is, with the exception of the addition of pockets in the side seams.
If you've been considering making this one up - check this out. The same view made up in a print fabric (sis boom). I like her version a lot.

Slow Stitched

Somewhere along the way I may have mentioned slow stitching. I read about "slow design", in the Alabama Stitch Book. Natalie Chanin refers to this approach as embracing the long-term view over the short-term gain by using age-old techniques to create products that celebrate strong design principles for modern living. The designs in this book are fashioned by hand. In other words hand stitched. I love the thought of this. Taking time to thoughtfully stitch something up- enjoying the slow measured pace.

Never again will I use the words slow and stitched in the same sentence. This dress took me about three weeks to complete. I could never find time to work on it. So I stitched it- a few minutes here and there.

Finding myself at the end of the day dress project, frustrated and in need of a sewing fix, I couldn't be bothered to hand stitch the Alabama project and I stitched it entirely on the machine, so there.