Vintage pattern

I used a vintage 1950's pattern I got from Etsy to make this dress.  It turned out pretty well, even though I was too lazy to read all of the directions!  The bow is a little pin I made.  :)

I bought some 1930's and 1940's patterns too, but it turned out that they were way above my skill level.  Oh well.  They have kept this long, guess they can keep for a few more years while I improve.  :)


Here are a few other projects I have been working on using scrap material.  I didn't want to write a whole post about them, but I did want to quickly share some photos.  


Muslin for Iris shorts (with pockets!):  

I couldn't figure out the waist band at all.  Maybe my next pair will have one.  


Fully lined top (my sister Rachel made that cute pin!):

I'm blond!

It has been quite a process, but so worth it!  If you have been following my blog for long, you probably noticed that I change my hair A LOT, but one thing I have never done (successfully at least-lets not go there) is try being a blond!

So, I bleached it...

 
waited a day, dyed it...


waited two days, bleached it again...



waited a few more days, added toner and developer, then wallah!  Supper ice blond!

BEFORE:

AND AFTER!

Little Top

I wanted to practice making something without a pattern, but I also wanted to not have to make any closures and use scrap material (since it was just for practice).

This little red top is what I came up with.  It looks almost nothing like my original vision, but I do like how it came out.  You can see all of the stitching, but that is okay too since I was just playing around.  I'm sure I will wear it anyway though.

So yeah, not the most beautiful or sophisticated top in the world, but you have to start somewhere right?  Every time I try something new, I learn so much!  I can't wait to see where this little hobby takes me.  ;)

Fan Dress and Jasmine Top!

I almost forgot to post pictures of this dress since I made it right before I went on my vacation last week (I finished it the night before my flight!).  I couldn't get a great shot of it since it is too skin tight (fits great!) to fit on my dress form.  But here it is!  It's a Truffle dress (my second, although I already posted my third) from the Colette Sewing Handbook!

Isn't this pattern just perfect for the Truffle?

I also cut out the pieces for this Jasmine top a long time ago, but I just put the shirt together this week.  I used the left over fabric from Willow's sun dress from my last post!  

Few!  So, That is it for sewing for a while.  I have some new patterns coming in the mail soon, so I am trying to save my remaining fabric to use on them.

Can't wait to get started on something new, although, I'm not sure my closet can handle it!

Two beach cover ups!

I made these two modified Hazel dresses before I went to Disney Land last week!  I made both pull on dresses without zippers, and made the straps so that they would tie at the neck.  I also made the red dress using only one piece for the skirt instead of three.  These dresses made great beach cover ups, but they are just basically awesome summer dresses.  ;)

I lined the top of this one using the same material that I used for the main dress.  

I made this black patterned dress for my friend Willow in case the wrap dress I made for her didn't fit (which it sadly did not), and it fit like a dream!  Willow was nice enough to model it for me for this blog too!  :)

Here she is showing off the pockets.  :)  I used pretty binding tape to finish the inside of this dress.

Pretty great, right?  I think I like these modified Hazels even better than the original pattern!  Yay me!

Shift dress with a drape!

This was my third attempt at the Truffle dress from the Colette Sewing Handbook.  This time, I decided not to do the flounce (what I have been calling the front flooffy part in my head) and just make it as a nice structured shift.

But then...I saw this awesome post from  Gertie's New Blog For Better Sewing, and I decided to try to add a drape to mine too, and it came out great!  I hate to even show you hers it is so much better than what I am able to make yet, but hey, I'm still pretty new to this!

My drape- sorry about the photo being on it's side.  ;P

I used this light yellow fabric to line the top.

I also chose not to hide the zipper by using a color that would match the fabric, but instead make the zipper an accent for the dress by using this bright green zipper.  Cool, right?

I really can't wait to wear this dress out with a pair of nude heals.  I think this would be a great date dress!

My Pin-Up Girl Moment

I am by no means fat, but when I look in fashion magazines, watch TV or rent a movie, I am hard pressed to find a woman with something close to my shape that isn't dubbed "the wacky chubby friend", if anyone over 115 pounds is represented at all (which we are generally not).  This can be depressing, and more than a little deflating to a girl like me who wants nothing more than to see average sized women represented as beautiful, or even just normal and acceptable, in the media. 

After years of fighting my natural shape, I made peace with it and even learned to like it (a huge accomplishment for a woman, I am sad to say) around the time I meet my husband.  It's hard to wish you were skinny when you find someone who loves your curves!  Contrary to the popular opinion that breasts and bums are the enemy of fashion, I think that curvy bodies look great in skinny jeans and make dresses fit like a dream.  I have learned that if you can't find external inspiration from the media, you need to learn to inspire yourself.  

Still, every May I start to sweat at the thought of hanging out half naked by the pool in a skimpy bikini, or worse yet, a one piece that covers but also smashes.  Finding a well fitting swimsuit has long been a quest of mine, the goal being to find one that compliments (not hides) my unique shape (we all have one!).     

Every single year, I long to swim but dread putting on a bathing suit.  Not this year!  This year I found the perfect suit, and although it didn't come cheep, it was worth every penny.  I believe in bargain hunting and sale shopping in almost every case, but I have come to believe that there are two things worth splurging on: a great fitting swimsuit, and pretty well made underwear (a post for another day).  Finding the perfect swimsuit that fits just right and makes you feel your best can be the difference between hiding under your towel all summer and letting yourself shine. 

This suit from Anthropologie not only offered great bust support (a dream come true!), but it also made my tummy and legs look their best. I have never felt so good about myself in a swimsuit.  I wish I could have one in every color!  

So this is what 140 pounds (give or take a few) looks like in a great swimsuit.  Too hot for Hollywood maybe?  ;)

But seriously, I was looking cute, right?  No need to answer.  A happy girl is a pretty girl, and I was so so happy being out in the sun by the ocean in this perfect swimsuit.  My advice is, no matter what your weight, size or shape, and no matter what the media is telling you you are supposed to look like, rock what you got, be happy, and never shy away from the sun and sand.  Finding YOUR perfect suit can be a challenge, but it is worth it if it makes you feel as divine as I felt wearing mine.