Spring Top Week - Entry 2

he stripes are not intended to line up, just a warning.  I thought about it for all of one second and then decided that with my first knit sewing experience, that was probably a losing battle and one I shouldn't fight.

I love a v-back. My hair is usually up, so any interest in the neckline on the back of a shirt is good.

i    used some reclaimed eyelet trim from a white sundress I had and rolled it into the roses and hand-stitched them on.

Sorry about the not-so-interesting post. I'm in my hallway waiting for potential tornado weather to pass as I write.

What I Wore Wednesday- 5

can hardly believe I've been keeping this up!  It was a little easier than usual this week because the pics I'm showing you are the rest of my week at the beach (beach = deciding what to wear beforehand + plenty of time to take a pic of it).  And then there was Easter and I had also planned ahead for that, of course.  Then I got sick and was in my pj's, so you're not seeing that.

First up, my new bathing suit from Old Navy.  I know you can't see it, but I wasn't going to take a full-body shot.  I wore this a couple times this week.  Can't go wrong with a one-piece black bathing suit with a halter neck and ruching down both side seams to make it a little retro for under $30.  I was much more comfortable in that than I was my two-piece.  Wonder why, after two kids??

You can also see the nail color I wore for the second half of the week.  My very favorite ever OPI's Done Out in Deco.  Such a happy shade of lavender and it looked so good with my favorite beach drink that I had to take their picture together.  :)

My hair is finally long enough to where I think it can handle braids.  This is a maternity dress from Old Navy I've had for a few years.

  Ear Buds in Litebrite from my shop. :)

I was so excited because I was actually getting a teeny-tiny tan.  I was probably the only one that could tell, but it was still exciting.

Shirt - Target on clearance  Jeans- bought at the Banana Outlet for 40% off while on vacation.  I didn't have any light wash jeans and I finally feel skinny enough to take them on!

Dress from Target a couple years ago. Shrug - JCPenny's sale. Fabric Flower Ring - from my shop  Shoes - Target last year

Easter morning. I was super happy that my hair pretties from Giddy Up and Grow arrived while we were away.

My dress made by me. More about that here.  My daughters' dress is Matilda Jane and she's sporting Giddy Up and Grow as well.

A late Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it. He is Risen indeed!

Spring Top Week - Entry 1

Vintage Poetry in Motion by Sara
This is my first entry for Spring Top Week, hosted by Made By Rae.  I watched this competition go down last year and wished I was experienced enough and brave enough and creative enough to enter.  A year's passing has brought new skills and new bravery, so here I am entering!  yay me!

I've posted this top in the Flickr group here, but also wanted to show it accessorized as I would really wear it.
Flower by Lemon Tree Studio.  Belt by Goodwill.  :)

Here you can see the back of the cowl neck, pleated and sewn down to stand about 4" high.

This is my first try at a pattern from the book Twinkle Sews by Wenlan Chia (gift from my hubby for Christmas) and I'm excited to try more.  I've already got my eye on another I want to try in knit.

Thanks! I Made It Myself

ore and more, I hope to be saying this.  Not only does that mean, I want to sew more for myself, but I hope to sew things that are flattering, classic (and some trendy too) and, most importantly, unrecognizable as being home sewn.



My Easter projects  are a good start.  I bought Kay Whitt's book Sew Serendipity because I loved the long dress with the ruffle and thin tie and knew I wanted it to be my Easter Dress.  It would also be my first dress for myself and also my first invisible zipper.`

I also made my youngest daughter a coordinating dress using this pattern (with alterations) from Lily Bird Studio.  Check Lily Bird out for some cute patterns with good variety.  There are some patterns I haven't seen before, like a blouse for little girls and some cute cuffed shorts.

My 3-year-old's Matilda Jane dress was the inspiration for the fabrics and colors of the other two.  I am very proud of the two I made and HAD to get a photo session in while we were in a great location (at the beach on vacation).  Fortunately, my hubby was kind enough to oblige and he really got some stunners.

What I Wore Wednesday- 4

inking up to The Pleated Poppy today!




I usually just give you one outfit, but because I have less detail shots this time (accessories, shoes and such, I'll make up for it with more outfits.
We are at the beach in Destin this week, so it's a pretty laid back week.  Even though I don't really care about what I'm wearing now that I'm here, luckily, I cared when I packed.  I made sure all I'd have to choose from this week were cute things.  :D

This is a dress I got at Target recently.  I've been lusting after the Matilda Jane Stillwater dress and when I saw this, knit on top, cute, lightweight print on the bottom, I decided this was my consolation prize.  For $20 instead of $70, it's a good trade-off.

See all that pile of stuff on the countertop?  That's all the jewelry I brought with me that I dumped out of my cosmetic bag.  Our three-year-old girl had locked herself in the bedroom by accident that morning and I had to search through everything to find a bobby pin to pick the lock from the outside.  Kids.  Always keepin' you on your toes.

I'm wearing Sephora OPI polish in the color Non-fat Soy Half Calf. It's hard to find a good nude polish that doesn't look yellowish or orangish on me. This one is the closest I've come.

I already blogged about this below, so check out the review of my Sis Boom Jamie Dress if your curious.  This outfit came with us in parts and pieces in a grocery bag with some pins and scissors and I completed it while we were here and then wore it out the next day!  They have some great shopping here and we love to walk around the outdoor malls even though we've done it many times.



I like this mall in particular because there is a Brighton store there and Brighton has the cutest charms and beads at the best prices.  I have a Trollbead bracelet and I'm slowly building my bead collection and got two new ones this trip.  See the light pink bead and the heart lock?  Those are my early Mother's Day gifts.

And this is from this morning.  Out on our balcony, one of my fave places to be, especially with coffee in the morning.  I'm wearing my comfiest-ever fleece ruffle pants made by me.  I want to make myself some more ruffles, but I'm still searching for the perfect material and print.

We've still got a few days here, so check ya later! I'm going to enjoy the sunshine!

Jamie Dress Pattern Review

Pattern Description:

The description from the pattern itself : "The charming Jamie dress is universally apealling and perfect for all occasions... It complements the female figure sporting a flattering waist and beautiful neckline. The full, flowing skirt is definitely a throwback to the best of 1960's fashion."
My first thoughts when I saw it were that it was a pillowcase style dress with a waistband. Of course, you know if you've made this or read other reviews that it is much more complex than a pillowcase dress and that it is a brilliantly designed dress that is surprisingly easy to complete.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

No envelope because this pattern is delivered via email attachment. I am completely in love with pdf patterns and adobe patterns that you print out at home. I wish all patterns had this option.
As for looking like the picture on the pattern, I'd say absolutely it did!

Were the instructions easy to follow?

The instructions are clear as day with many diagrams to help along the visual learners. I know clarity of pattern reading sometimes comes with the experience of the person sewing, but I think this pattern in particular is very well written with clear, precise language.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I liked how the finished product looks like something I'd see in a store on a rack, but the steps to completing it are few and straightforward, making this a very attainable project that you can be proud to wear.
I love the neckline, both front and back. Very flattering and girlish in my opinion. I have to wear a strapless bra with it, but I expected that after seeing others' finished dresses and I'm totally fine with it.

I've read lots of differing opinions on the skirt and I think it's just the sort of thing where you either prefer that full gathered look on your body, or you don't. I so appreciate that the model on the pattern is not a twig. She has curves and this dress accentuates them. So, if you have curves, you have to be ready to show them off. It's certainly not slimming to the lower half.
I didn't care for one particular part of the original design, just a personal pet peeve really. I don't buy things that have trim or waistbands or any sort of design that stops at the side seams and leaves the back plain. If it has a waistband, that band needs to go all the way around for me to like it. Now that many talented ladies have already completed this dress, you'll be able to find blog posts about how to extend the waist band if you prefer. I just kinda figured it out for myself.

Fabric Used:

Something or other that is not quilting cotton and is very slippery that I got for $5/yd. at Hancock Fabrics.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

As mentioned above, I replicated the ruched front waistband in the back. I used an invisible zip, only because that's what I thought the pattern called for and that's what I bought. I had recently installed an invisible zip in a dress I made from Kay Whitt's book, Sew Serendipity and used the same method. I would love to try the glue stick method after reading all the rave reviews about it, but, alas, I didn't get the opportunity for this go 'round.
I did cut the dress one size bigger than suggested, but because I had so much trouble matching all my edges up and with fabric fraying, I made the seam allowances larger and probably sewed it right back down to the smaller size. Fortunately, the fit is perfection. As a side effect of larger seam allowances, I think I may have also shortened the bust area, which is why I think it fits my small bosom so well. :)
I did the hem differently. Because I couldn't get this fabric to hold a good crease, I just used the presser foot as my guide and turned the hem under once 1/4 of and inch and sewed and then again 1/2 inch and sewed.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

I do want to sew it again. I'd love to try it with a couple different fabrics. I'm so curious what it would be like in knit and with the originally intended fabric, quilting cotton, as well. For one thing, I know the pressing of creases and seams would actually WORK with quilting cotton. That did NOT work with the fabric I chose, make it hugely frustrating to sew.
I would recommend this to others because there are so few patterns out there for ladies that are this simple and attainable and allow you to have a figure and can be worn by so many figures.

Conclusion:

Sewing up the Jamie Dress was a great experience for me. Being new to sewing clothing for myself, I was certainly concerned that the finished product would look obviously handmade and that's not the look I want. I'm just giddy with the thrill of completing something for me that I feel good in and that no one else will suspect I made myself. This is a dress I will actually WANT to take out of my closet and wear over and over.

What I Wore Wednesday- 3

y daughter wanted to be the first in on the action. Seeing Mommy move the full-length mirror from the bedroom into the living room is pretty curious. She was immediately intrigued.

Maybe, if I get interested enough in providing excellent pics, I'll use my nice camera, but my phone is adequate for now, I think.

Super simple today, like most days.
Shirt with lace inset neckline - consignment for $5- $6
Jeans - Ann Taylor Loft (consignment) for $10
Shoes - Steve Madden (consignment) for $10... which is more than I'd usually pay, but they were in superb condition and the fit was perfect.

I need more things in my wardrobe that are easy to wear, but big on style. These posts are showing me that, as far as I've come fashion-wise, I've still got a ways to go.

Nail polish - Sonia Kashuk Smoke and Mirrors from Target. This color is so neat. It looks like molten silver in the bottle and goes on totally opaque. None of this silver glitter floating in clear polish business. It's really good stuff. The only Sonia Kashuk polish I have, but I'd consider buying more, if I saw something else unique.

Linking up at The Pleated Poppy.