Overheard

Lately, I have had some great quotes spoken to me by friends & family.  I thought I'd share some of them.



"Well, would you rather have it kept nice, but hidden in your closet, or used but appreciated?"


"Really, at what other time in your life have you ever been able to take this sort of leap of faith, relatively risk free?"



"Well, this is just me, but all of your fears, in my opinion, are completely absurd."


"I think you just have accept that making mistakes is a part of life.  It's the only way you're going to get where you want to go.  You've gathered all this knowledge.  Stop sitting on it being afraid - jump in!"






What good advice or encouragement have you overheard lately?

Powder Blue Pom Pom Pocket Dress

"Is she underwater?"

"No."

"Is she from outer space?"

"No."

"Then what is she?"

Well asked by my middle child!  I'm not sure, but I sure do like her shoes.  And the mini-length dress in pink really isn't that bad, except for the fact that with all that top stitching, the belt looks like it attaches with velcro... and in powder blue those white buttons look more like space fungi.  At least they match her earrings, right?

Love

Vintage linen... waiting.

Buttonhole Folly

The collective noun that describes a group of messed-up buttonholes.

"What is a quagmire?"

I have trouble-shot every which way, and I'm baffled.  Thoughts?

The Beginnings of The Happy Heart Dress

Setting up station in the dining room when I sew has it's pros, like natural light, and also cons - the most significant of which is that it's a location we use multiple times a day.  Ordinarily I can work around it, and if need be, declare a picnic dinner!  But lately we've been having a few people over, sometimes spontaneously, which means all the sewing gear gets packed away again into the closet.

I don't mind, really, except that for some reason in my brain, it seems to take extra effort to get back into the flow of things, y'know?  So I have a few procrastinated tasks like hand sewing, and buttonholes that seem to loom over me right now, preventing me from moving on to the next fun things like the Colette Spring Palette Challenge, the 80's garments for my 8/100, not to mention summer dresses for me and...

this dress.

I can't remember quite how it happened.  My middle girlie and I were sitting watching some runway shows, and looking at vintage advertisements, and suddenly her heart became set on this exact ensemble.  She nicknamed it "The Happy Heart Dress" and has since been telling everyone I'm making it for her.  She's also kept tabs on exactly where we are in the process.  Have you found the pattern?  Has the pattern arrived?  Do we have the fabric? Do you have the thread?  And the kid is only 4!

I'm happy to report that I indeed have all of the above.  I was able to come up with both a pattern, and the fabric.  The pattern ended up coming in the form of two:

Simplicity 4823 c. 1954

Simplicity 1733 c. 1946

Interestingly at the time I was looking for these, it was far easier to come up with a back button jumper/pinafore, than it was to find a back buttoned blouse with a peter pan collar and puffed sleeves - hence why these patterns are about a decade apart.

Seeing them again though renews my drive to get to this project and finish it up for her.  At least then she can start telling people I already made it for her!

Border prints get jiggy with the produce...

I have been looking for patterns that could accommodate a border print, seeings my original plans for some eyelet weren't going to work out and I'm considering dresses for the summer.  Couldn't resist sharing this darling strawberry number...

Can someone fill me in?

These are called The Tube Flop, by Sanuk, and I just don't understand.  Are you cold?  Are you hot?  Are you hiding a drunken tattoo?

I guess they would keep your flip flops from too much flipping and flopping... and you can colour coordinate with your outfit... and they are less than $8...

Ok, someone stop me now!

Tut tut...

I know that sometimes children can do some crazy things, but don't you think prison garb is taking things a bit too far?  Even these illustrated children know something is awry.  Look at those sad little faces!

It's a hard knock life

Modeling for sewing patterns has to be one of the hardest jobs in the world.  How to sell a giant bishop hat?

"I am so not telling the guys on the golf course about this."

It's a tough call here... are they going for that stoic, cold period look?  Or are they just bummed that the gig they've finally scored is one only their mothers would love?  

"Yay!  Kitchen utensils!"

So that's how I look when I finally find my favourite spoon.

I like that the girl on the bottom left is at least trying to think outside the box.  She knows there's more to do in a kitchen than just cooking.

Hey-o.

But recently there was a reminder that a lot of these models are bright, hard working people that are multi-faceted...  Case in point: 

It's most certainly clearer in the Simplicity book down at your local fabric store... but Prom girl, is also an actress, most recently known as Vampire girl, from the latest season of the Bachelor.

If Twilight has taught us anything, it's that even Vampires need proms.

But all joking aside, these models are clearly doing their job well... there are some amazing pattern stashes in my closet out there.