The vote for my Perfect Spring Dress is ending today at 10pm MST. Make sure you cast your vote! It's a close one so far! The poll is located in the sidebar! Don't know what I'm talking about? Click here for my latest sewing inspiration and here for the fabrics I simply could not decide between. Choose wisely, this is for my birthday you know.
xoxo,
Sunni
Sandra from Sandritocat Vintage Patterns has graciously offered some of her vintage pattern expertise here today. I do love a good vintage pattern find and Sandra has one of the best vintage patterns shops I've seen. She has a wide variety to choose from and in fact, I purchased my first vintage pattern from her. My Red Vixen Dress was a 1960's pattern straight from her shop! Without further adieu, here some great info on vintage sewing patterns! Thank you Sandra!
Continue reading "Guest Blogger: Sandra from Sandritocat Vintage Patterns" »
After becoming enamoured of my first Harlequin Romance Novel, I've been wondering how to get my eyes to glitter. I do realize that the couples' in these nutty romances are also in love and therefore, the eyes might glitter in part because of that. But I'm in love too. My eyes aren't glittering quite yet. In the novel, The Unlikely Mistress, the characters wore clothing that offset their eyes by either wearing the same color as their eyes or wearing a color that complemented the colors in their eyes. The interesting thing is that I've also been reading Adele Margolis' book on fit. It's an incredible read and not only does she talk about fitting garments properly and what to do if they don't but in the beginning of the book she talks about color complementing and coordinating a garment, which is also offset by some of her humorous expressions.
Continue reading "How to Make your Eyes Glitter or Right out of a Harlequin Romance Pt II" »
Ok, not really, but it does look that way. I was out and about over the weekend and thinking about all the inspiration and advice everyone has given me about my Perfect Spring Dress. Oh thank you, thank you! Thank you lucky, for your advice for Spring fabrics from Joann, yes they did have a fabulous daisy print that I was sorely tempted by, but I did end up picking up something different. They had some great poppy colored prints and solids in stock as well and I totally recommend everyone go grab a few yards of everything! he he he! That poppy color is quite hard to find.
Of course, I couldn't find the exact fabric used in this dress. Of course. I'm going to have to settle for something a little different and not a border print. For shame, for shame. I mean, I knew I wouldn't. Selfish Seamstress said it would be hard to find a border print that didn't look too quilty and I completely agree. More on this topic in another post. I found two different but similar prints on my travels, one a vintage sheet and the other, a cotton print by Heather Bailey. I can't decide which would be the better option here. I need some input. Let's talk these over, shall we:
This is the vintage sheet. I think I've seen this particular sheet a few times at the local thrift and it never really called my name until now. I saw that it incorporated similar colors from the Homegrown Dress. It's not great fabric, I'll admit. It's got polyester going on in it, but considering the dress will be lined, I'm fine with that. I do actually like the vintage look of the fabric and it would look a little sassy with an orangey colored belt and pumps.
Next up is this cotton number from Heather Bailey's latest collection Nicey Jane. It doesn't incorporate the poppy color I was hoping for, but it might look dashing to accent with a poppy colored solid. I do like the print and the addition of the blue is fun and perky.
I am concerned about the crazy quilty look here. Prints are a bit hard to master I think and I'm especially fond of the crazy ones. They are so colorful, fun and lively. But I don't want to look silly. Especially on my birthday, at a nice dinner, with Mr. S looking so debonair and suave. Still, I do want to look fun and flirty. I don't think these prints are too over the top. And I want the print that looks best on me which is why I dolled myself up in make-up and am half naked underneath these lovely remnants! Give me your thoughts here Lovelies and cast your vote for which print you think would look best. The poll is located in my sidebar and will be up til Thursday March 11!
xoxo,
Sunni
I cannot live without this dress! What will I do? It's pure perfection. I just received the March Anthropologie Catalog and as I flipped through the pages thinking this and that looked nice, I inevitably landed on page 77, on which was featured this rendition of my dreams. To you this may seem silly, but to me it is life and death with a belt included. Oh my goodness! What will I do without this dress? I cannot permit myself to buy such a cotton frivolity for $158. How could I possibly face my public after that? It's purely criminal. I'm sure to make it is the answer. I know its the answer. But oh the pain and toil and that only to find the right fabric. Someone slay me please! It is too much!
You know, it's funny because I'll wear my little handsewn outfits to work and of course, now that everyone knows that I sew my own clothing they will inevitably ask, "Did you make that?" Sometimes, I get an eye roll as they ask, like the "you are so amazing to have made that, but I hate you because I don't sew anymore" look. I really do. I don't know why people are like that. Usually I try to get it out of them. Talk to them and say, "You could do it too, you know." Inevitably, I get the "Oh, I used to sew everything. Jeans, dresses, coats, you name it. But I don't sew anymore."
So what does this really mean and will I feel this way when I'm older? I don't want to feel this way, because I enjoy the art of sewing so much. I have to say that my grandma and aunt have sewn a lot of their garments and such since a young age and they still sew and find much enjoyment from it. I want to be like that. I still want to love it and I still want to make smashing clothing items even in old age.
I was finally able to get something out of someone at work one day. She loves my handsewn fashions and just thinks they are the most wonderful things she's ever seen. She falls into this category of used to sew but doesn't anymore. She bluntly told me that she was completely jealous of my talent and that I had gotten her starting to think about sewing a skirt for herself. She ranted and raved about her various sewing machines. I mean, to think, she has a vintage Bernina and a great Singer Serger and doesn't even use them! She says she sews a few things here and there for her grandchildren, but nothing for herself. This is wherein I do believe is the heart of the problem. Really. Who wants to sew something that takes loads of hours, bleeding from pin pricking, cutting out, pre-washing and pressing your fabric only to give that away? I realize I'm stealing a little Selfish Seamstress thunder, but I completely and whole-heartedly agree. If you don't make anything for yourself, then why do it? This is where I find it hard to say no too. When someone finds out that you sew, they want you to sew things for them, thinking it will be fun for you. Ha ha ha.
Take my Raindrop Coat, from the Lady Grey Pattern, everyone wants one of them. I had this one lady at work who kept asking me how much I would charge to make two of them, one for each of her daughters. I just looked at her and laughed and finally I said, "One of these would run you about $500 and that's not even including the fabric." But even for $500, I don't want to do it. The sewing part is the enjoyment for myself, not for someone else. They can make their own. I mean, that's why there are these things called sewing patterns right?
This also brings me to another point. How do you feel about telling people that you've made something that you are wearing? I used to think I should tell the whole world and be proud of it. But now I'm to the point where I would rather lie and say, "Oh no, I bought this" and then they wouldn't pester me about:
Call me crazy but people are actually starting to get a little annoyed when they ask me if I made something and then I say yes.
What do you say? Does this ever happen to you? Thoughts, philosophies? How do you react when someone rolls their eyes at you after you have poured your heart and soul into a garment?
xoxo,
Sunni
Sewing comic images courtesy Bitter Betty Blogs and yes I do find it hilarious that in the top comic the homemaker makes her own clothes because she finds it's easy, not to mention a few other things but we'll save that for a later post
Admittedly, I'm a Banana Republic Fan. I am. So sue me. I walk in there, try stuff on and it fits and I like it because the styles are simple and easy to pair with other things. It's basic stuff and that's sort of the beauty of it. I need a few basics here and there, what about you? But what's the fun of buying it when I can just make it? Plus I could make it better, with even more sturdier and higher quality fabric (though I admit, I do love the fabrics they use) and it wouldn't just fit, it would be made to fit me. I went into a Banana Republic just last week and everything I saw I immediately saw a sewing pattern for.
I saw this Banana Republic Trench:
And then I remembered this sewing pattern:
I mean they look nearly identical. I'll tell you right now, this pattern is out of print. But you can still get it on the Simplicity website as of right now. And just for the fun of it, let's consider the price here. Yes, there are things that can get pretty pricey when it comes to sewing, but chino fabric and the synthetic lining they would undoubtedly use here are quite inexpensive. BR Trench: $198. Let's get real here, it's not going to cost that much for you to make it, unless of course you factor in your time, but who's counting that? Let's keep going shall we:
This BR dress looks very similiar to the Anda over on Burda Style. It's shorter yes and the neck and sleeves are a bit different, but you could achieve the same look with a little alteration of the neckline and the addition of a billowy sleeve. And let's face it, you wouldn't have to wear those silly whitish boot things either. Really, what are those?
And this military style blouse, nearly the spitten image of this vintage McCall's pattern. I mean how crazy is that? In fact, I dare say the vintage pattern is cuter. I like how there isn't a pocket right smack over the bust as in the BR version. Yet, it still flatters that area of the bodice.
I've been dreaming about cigarette capri pants and even though these BR ones are a bit on the snug looking side, I'm going to try making some from the Anita pattern from Burda Style. I like the pocket better from Burda Style as well. Still both are cute and all the Anita would need is to be shortened.
And my favorite, this sublime skirt! And it's so simple. The Jenny from Burda Style is the perfect fit for this skirt. So sleek, so naughty secretary, so wicked. And just think how much more perfect this would fit if you made it. Oh man, drop dead sexiness right there.
The funny thing here is that what draws me to the BR store every now and then is the fabric choices. Those subtle hues really get to me. They look so sophisticated and I think that's the key here. I mean talk about making those eyes glitter, take that last ensemble and instead of wearing that golden blouse what about something that really made those eyes of yours come alive? Seriously, it would be stunning. Thinking in that vein we have to remember that when we view colors and fabrics we need to think of them in comparison to other colors and fabrics. I mean, how are you going to wear them? What ensemble does it go best with? Hot pink might be your color, but you might look like a Pepto Bismal nightmare if you aren't careful. Head to to in that and well, you've just kissed your sanity goodbye. But, if the top here was hot pink rather than that gold, you could pull it off with panache and polish and be quite the eye turner. Just sayin is all.
So what do you think? When you go into a favorite shop, do you see a sewing pattern in your head as your looking over a garment? Am I crazy?
You're Spring Wardrobe Inspiration awaits you. I suggest finding a sketch book and picking up a few mags and cutting out those things you like and then researching your favorite patterns and getting a handle on what you would enjoy wearing this Spring. Be open to different fabric choices and different colors. You might just find out something crazy about what looks good on you.
xoxo,
Sunni
"So, you have some skill with a needle and thread?" He said as he noticed her so competently sewing the button back on his shirt. He had never kissed anyone like that before. He couldn't help himself, the perfect evening, the dinner, the green of her dress made her big emerald eyes glitter with invitation. So steamy, so uninhibited was the kiss, that he had gotten a little excited and innocently enough, a threadworn button had popped right off his chocolate brown shirt. The shirt had always been a bit snug through the chest, but the fact that it offset his eyes so well made up for that.
She noticed it when she first laid on eyes him. He was so strong and she just knew she would fit perfectly into the wrest of his arms. The kiss had taken her by surprise as well, but she knew it was inevitable, as inevitable as those deep chocolate brown eyes seductively melting her with their stare.
~Me, a closet Harlequin Romance Author
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You may not believe me, but I've just read my first Harlequin Romance Novel. I was out on the hunt for a gift at the local thrift, when an entire shelf of Harlequin Romances beckoned to me. I caved, what can I say? My 75 cents bought me the most trashy of all of them I think, picked in part because the cover illustrated a half clothed couple staring into each others eyes as they laid so uninhibited on a silk covered chaise. Have to admit, thoroughly enjoyed it. And yes, it was horrible, sinful and obscenely naughty, sexy and you said it, seductive.
And yet, I was inspired by it.
OK, maybe in more ways than one, but some things are best left to the imagination. I found the writing style interesting, and no I'm not saying this is great literature, but it was interesting to the point where there is a lot of emphasis on what people look like and what they are wearing and how this best makes their eyes glitter. I can't even count how many times the word glitter was used in conjuction with the word eyes. Too many, because by the end of the short novel (which only took one night to read) I kept wondering how to make my eyes glitter.
I took a very close examination of my eyes and had Mr. S do the same. We have come to the conclusion that I have blue greyish eyes with rings of yellow and amber in the center. This next leads me to what colors offset these types of eyes. Possibly a yellow sundress? Perhaps something that coordinates with the yellow in the eyes, possibly violet, which I do look quite good in? Poppy maybe?
So tell me, what makes your eyes glitter? Have you ever thought to coordinate colors of outfits with the color of your eyes? I'll be back with some images, patterns and color scheming for your viewing enjoyment. For now, find yourself a Harlequin and rediscover the magic.
This little inspirational post has been brought to you by: A Harlequin Romance, The Unlikely Mistress. Just so you know, in case you didn't, Harlequin Romances started in 1949 and last year they celebrated 60 years of pure reading pleasure with an art exhibition of the Harlequin Cover Art in New York of which you can read about here. It's pretty interesting to see how romantic values have changed through the years and that just by judging the cover of the book. I think you'll enjoy perusing those images.
PS ~ It's OK to giggle like a girl while enjoying a Harlequin. I did. And don't forget, they are not real, but its fun to think they could be.
PPS ~ Yes, these are "Harlequin" inspired images of Mr. S and I and yes, it was very hard to keep a straight face, and yes it was even harder to talk Mr. S into shooting these photos with me. Thank you very much.
xoxo,
Sunni
