I Will Wear Dresses - Plan 1

I have been trying desperately to finish the dress from the 90's.  It turned out to have a heck of a lot of hand sewing - not a big deal, it just took me longer than expected.

I've also been thinking about some summer dresses - something easy you can throw on with a pair of flats and some accessories and feel mostly put together.

The goal is breezy and bright.  The first plan - The Moderne:

From the stash - Butterick 5456

I liked the keyhole detail in the back, and it looked 1) comfortable and 2) breezy for the CA heat.

I found this gorgeous fabric at Emma One Sock and loved it right away.

Definitely bright, 'eh?

Then the following weekend I walked into a certain favourite retailer that I love so much and saw this: 

$148

It took me a minute but the bells went off and when I got home, promptly contacted Linda who fortunately had another roll coming.  Not long after, a popular sewing blogger did a write up about the connection and I hear the fabric got pretty popular. I still don't mind, I love it that much.

So I have a muslin all cut out and ready to sew, I'm just trying to use this tutorial for a different method of construction for the bodice and haven't managed to get the computer and the sewing machine in the same general vicinity.  I know I'll have two dresses in the same style but the mock-up is a solid and then I'll have the floral.  I'm deficient enough in the dress department that I can live with a double up.  Or can I?

What about you?  Have you ever loved an item so much you've made or bought yourself two?  Am I going to regret this decision of an empire style floral?  Is the style too breezy?  Will I look like I've been knocked up frolicking in a field of hyperactive wild flowers? 

Tell me what you really think...

I am not a cat person

The end of school was to be celebrated by the memorial day weekend away with friends up the central coast of California.  All the school crazies ended, and I was going to sew at my leisure, bake some traveling treats, pack up my house in a stress-free fashion, and enjoy the long weekend.

Then this happened:

Tentative names were Buddy, Rover, and Twinkle

My husband found her in our front yard one night when he went to get the mail.  She started playing with the girls, then I realized it was hungry and thus began the downward spiral into cat ownership.

Needless to say my house did not get cleaned, nor did I bake the treats I'd hoped to take up north, I did not sew, and I certainly didn't pack until the last minute, managing to leave the toothpaste behind.  What I DID do was learn the spanish for "Is this your cat?" and "Have you lost a kitten?" and I door knocked up and down our street looking for the owners.  I called vets.  I made appointments.

I had some rules about the kitten, mostly trying to dissuade the growing feelings of attachment and hope.

We could not keep it if:

It's a boy.  She isn't.
It is aggressive towards the kids.  She wasn't.  Instead she was sweet, affectionate and patient.  
It's microchipped. She wasn't.
It's fatally sick. She is in perfect health.
The owner of our place says we can't keep her.  He said we could.  (!!)


And my last ditch attempt - if she is named after a Barbie movie cat: The girls instead chose "Rosie".

Rosie.

And so we became the owners of a 2 1/2 month old kitten who is pretty much perfect, and just landed on our doorstep.

Apparently I'm now a cat person.

Weekend Perk-Me-Up

My sister is younger than me, smarter than me, has fewer children, and is thusly far more conscious creative than I am.  Consequently she finds little gems like these, and then I steal share them.  Thanks, Sis!

Shoe Candy

On the up side, they would go with everything.


These however...

...you might only wear with jeans.  Or not.


These are for when you might want to channel your inner candlestick.

Or, for your urban elf self...

But it's these ones that I wish would come and live in my closet, and on my feet this summer:

Yes please!

However the likely scenario would involve me, with incredibly stylish feet, rushed to the ER after some sort of perilous fall.

These are the more likely scenario, and I love them.

I really, really love them.

You can see more of the awe-inspiring Jeffrey Campbell here.

Funk Folly

Lately every project I've started in the last two weeks has been foiled in some way - it's been quirky!  It started with my "sewing time" babysitter going on vacation - how dare she! ;)  Then, a missing pattern piece, fabric too short by 1/4 yard, no thread in the right (or coordinating) colour, lack of trim to make up a birthday pattern...  And then, when I wore my one finished item on Mother's Day, we were so busy we didn't snap a single photo!  It seems I've picked all the wrong projects to get much done!

No yellow or gray thread.  Fabric is cut though!

So for all the work I've done ironing and tracing pattern pieces, sizing, prepping - I have nothing to show for it. Any suggestions for some instant gratification?

Too much love?

Really, Verna... bells on your tassles?

Flu Folly, and Onesie Love

Sorry I have been gone a while - the whole family came down with the stomach flu - again!  From what I hear this has been a pretty common occurrence amongst other young families too.   If that's you, you have my condolences.

Here is a treasure I found for you.  I was going to make it up for the hubby, but he wasn't so keen.

But what's not to love about a men's onsesie?