And The Crowd (me) Goes Wild!

There are more images coming, but here is the always-lovely Jenna wearing the (finally) completed Black & White Striped gown.  I will admit, there were some fit challenges with this one, but we were able to work through it and as you can see, she looks dynamite.

I love the way she styled the gown with bold jewelry - It's always interesting to see how people accessories the dresses I make.  I may make myself a shorter version for a summer wedding this year, and I may go with a sock bun, red lipstick and some gold cluster earrings.  How would you style this gown? 

 earrings | Robin McCormick, shoes | GoJane

I will post new pictures as I get them!

Sewer's Block.

I completely understand that it sounds like we have plumbing issues, but the unfortunate homograph of sewer ('one who does sewing') is sewer ('a system of pipes used to transport human waste').  I'm trying to say I have that I have something like a writers block, only for sewing.  I had a three day weekend, finished the black & white gown [will get pictures from Jenna this weekend!], flipped a so-so vintage find, and then got stuck.  I had so much time, but no great fabric and a severe lack of creative flow.  I decided to get sketching.  I also decided to try a different approach and color them up in Photoshop instead of markers & pencils - my art supplies are in serious need of updating.  It definitely helped with the creative rut I was feeling.  What do you think?

The next idea for Caroline's prom dress.  A lot of light layers, a lot of draping, and a heck of a lot of awesome.

This is another idea for Caroline that is slightly out of the box from the ideas she's sent me - just throwin' her a curveball.

This is something I want to make for the spring.  Maybe for me, maybe not for me (clearly this one's a little more willowy than my 5'2" self), but I really love doing the hand-detailing featured on the bottom and the sleeve cap.  We'll see.  

Out of Order

Chris's job requires him to be in a courtroom from time to time (he's a criminal. jk.), and in my head everything is like an episode of Law and Order, with people screaming, "You're out of order!"  Apparently, it's nothing like this.  Allegedly, it's very boring.  Lame.

So normally for a project, you would sketch before you start making the dress, right?  Meh.  Sometimes I just like to get down to business, and then do the sketch later.  I'm sort of excited for the impending snowstorm this weekend, and plan to do nothing by sew.  So, to take a little break last night, I decided to sketch up Jenna's dress and also start planning what I'm going to do with my vintage finds from last week.

(I loved the way this one came out!)

(avoid drawing feet at all costs)

Prom Night

My senior prom was the best.  I had (and still have) the best group of friends anyone has ever had.  My dress (my 18th birthday present) was an absolute dream.  We ended the night running around the Long Beach boardwalk like a bunch of lunatics.  I can still remember my stomach aching from laughing so hard the whole night (It may have been the Mike's Hard Lemonade, but we'll go with the G-rated version).  I hope there are plans to rebuild the boardwalk that was decimated by that big fat jerk Sandy - so many memories for so many people.

Anyway, enough about me...Prom!  I have been asked by Chris's cousin Caroline to make her senior prom dress - what an honor!  She is one of the most awesome human beings I have ever met.  She's extremely smart and talented - a literal track star of Long Island - not to mention funny, generous, pretty, blablabla.  She sent me some inspiration images,  and last night I started sketching away to start the process.  Let's see what she thinks, eh?

(a grecian-esque column dress with sheer top/overlay)

(this one is actual very similar to my own senior prom dress - tons of tulle!)

(toga-style with cascading beading)

Sugar-Free Oatmeal is Disgusting.

I've been trying to eat better and work out more, and this has actually been a good week - I've been patting myself on the back.  But this morning I opened a box of sugar-free maple-cinnamon oatmeal.  I thought it was going to be delicious.  I was so hungry.  Now I'm still hungry, and completely grossed out.  But I will not go down to the lobby and get a bagel.  I will NOT.

Now that we've got that out of the way, I've also discovered I have some of the oatmeal stuck to my sweater.


Back to business.  I don't have a Thursday DIY for you today because I've been working on Jenna's dress!

One day I'll have a table big enough so I don't need to cut out large patterns on the floor.

I have the whole pattern cut out,  so tonight I'll be putting it together - this is my favorite part.  First I'm going to stabilize the front and back center seams.  Since this dress is cut on the bias, these seam points will stretch if they aren't sewn to a straight piece of fabric.  Next I'll sew the bodice together.  Those are my goals for this evening - lets do this!

 In other news, I just bought a pattern.  I actually never use patterns, so I'm nervous/excited about this.  I think its going to be a fun Winter/Spring transition coat.  Thoughts?

 

(The words "very easy" are prominently displayed, so I don't think it'll be so bad.)

Now the fun part is picking a fabric for this.  I'm going to do it in wool, but I'm torn between doing the safe Black, or something a little sassier.  What do you guys think?

What's on my sewing table?

A whole lot of awesome, that's what.

I was so excited/nervous to start this gown.  Its a lot of dress, its a lot of fabric, and its a lot of stripes.  But I've mapped out the cutting and planned out the logistics so now we're full speed ahead!  I need to go buy the lining today and then we'll be good to go (It's extremely convenient that my office is in the garment district).

 

First Lady Style

So apparently they're referring to Michelle Obama as "Mobama".  I like to refer to her as "The Arms" but that's just me.  Speaking of how awesome she is, she was looking particularly wonderful at the Inauguration events this week.  Lets review, shall we?

 

(image via latimes.com)

  Michelle is wearing a coat by Thom Browne that I am going nuts over.  The way this a-line coat is seamed is so simple yet so immensely flattering that I am already concocting ways to emulate it in my dresses. The J. Crew belt and gloves were the perfect pop of sparkle and color, and the Reed Krakoff suede boots tied it all together.  

(image via nymag.com)

  For the main event, Mrs. O donned a beautiful blue Reed Krakoff dress that was only complimented even more by the room itself.  Also, from one bang-sporter to another, love the new 'do.

 

(image via thedailybeast.com)

 

(image via style.time.com)

 

(image via harpersbazaar.com)

  

  A ruby-red shoulder-accentuating ball gown by Jason Wu was the real main event.  After last years' gorgeous white gown by the same designer, fans and fashionistas were eager to see what this newly-minted style icon would chose for the 2nd time around.  I personally think she knocked it out of the park.  In my humble blogger opinion, style isn't about always wearing the hottest trend, its about knowing yourself and your body, and highlighting what makes you feel like a million bucks.  

Nothing is more attractive than confidence.

 

What do you guys think about her style choices this year?

 

 

Putting the puzzle together

I have been neglectful of the blog but it is for the greater good!  Here are some work-in-progress pictures...

Enjoy!