To Sew: Turning the Table(cloth) - Orla Kiely remix

Truth is I never used this Orla Kiely fabric as a tablecloth. It was far too pretty to get some spaghetti stain on, so I always draped it off the back of some chair until I could figure out what to do with it.

I picked a vintage Simplicity 3299 Shift Kimono sleeve dress because I wanted a simple cut that would allow the fabric to be the centerpiece. I left the darts out. I didn't want any interruptions in the pattern.

The front is adorned with a simple tuxedo ruffle, a red ribbon to bring out the colors and my grandmother's butterfly pin. This is all so Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music," but when life gives you material, you have to make some out of it.

I'm not sure if this will turn into a sewing blog, but it's definitely what I enjoy doing at the moment. I think I may have an addiction to fabric.

Sew: 60's Dress Done My Way

I was born to wear things from the 60's, especially the dresses. They're not as prudish as dresses from the 50's and not as over the top as the one's from the 70's. Ultra modern and distinctive - those are my favorite qualities in a dress.

I chose Butterick Pattern #4091 Dress C because of the front panel. It reminded me of something a London girl would wear while dishing to her besties about her favorite Beatle. Although personally, I prefer Led Zeppelin. 

As you can see, I made a few adjustments to it. I shortened the length of the front panel to hit below my waist instead of at the hips. I felt that would give my hips better definition. I also added the neck scarf and ribbon as a touch of playfulness. Black and white is nice, but black and white and hot pink is sheer delight.

I kinda like sewing. I do find it incredibly frustrating at times as any beginner would. However, I like creating things. I'm intrigued by the possibilities of what a pile of material can turn into. I have the feeling that I'm going to go beyond my goal of "Sew 3 Dresses" this year. 

Dear closet, who knows what I will have in store for you in twenty thirteen.

Sew: Gingham Tuxedo Dress - Unleashing Hidden Potential

 The moment I saw this dress, I knew it had good bones. It simply needed someone to unleash its hidden potential. Some black to outline its best features and little red to make things pop. I purchased the shy, demure thing from Etsy for $14 knowing good and well that I was going to alter its personality. And so I did.

But it unleashed my hidden potential, too. It made me want to try my hand at sewing – a feat I never thought I had the patience to do. I was encouraged by the fact that I could take something and make it my own, so I challenged myself to make 3 new dresses this year.

When I was in high school, I would sketch different outfits all the time. I would take my J. Crew catalog and learn about wool crepe, a-line skirts and waffle henleys. My designing  dreams abruptly came to an end after making a blue velvet dress in home economics class that had a close resemblance to the Gordon Gartrell shirt that Denise Huxtable sewed for Theo on “The Cosby Show.” Now 18 years later, I’m trying again. Like my favorite George Eliot quote goes,

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

Song Accessory: "Suit & Tie" - Justin Timberlake