I Made Something Really Cool!

~ or so I think ~

~ and I totally match the backyard too ~

I saw this dress on pinterest from the Santa Fe Dry Goods Store (it's no longer there) and wanted to make something similar.

So I looked through my pattern stash for a straight up and down type dress to make it with.  I found the Sewing Workshop Collection's Veranda Dress which had a few more interesting details to it.

I made several changes to the pattern: 

• used a double fused knit I had because I liked the print (pattern called for linen)
• shorten the length by 6"?!  (I am 5'5", so...)
• lowered the arm holes by 2-3 inches so I could wear it as a jumper
• cut the back neckline the same as the front because I wanted to be able to wear it with front as back or vice versa.
• made it button all the way down (rather than just to waistline)
• raised the pocket height by 5-6" and moved them to center side (again so I could wear the dress either front or back ways
• added straps attached at shoulders hanging down to mid arm, then attached a 2" buckle to it.  Another strap attached to the buckle to wrap around the arm allowing the leftover strap to hang down freely.

~ see? ~

I'm wearing the "back" in front now.  I could also wear it as a coat, vest thingy, opened.

~ close up of the sleeve straps ~

~ and the panel that goes down the back (in this case) ~

~ and loverly shoes from ebay, bay-bee ~

~ A classic, don't you think? ~

I'll soon be at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style, then Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and finally Cherie's Shoe and Tell when they all go live.  Hope to see you all there!



ooo, ooo, I forgot to mention, I'm wearing my 20 minute start-to-finish stretch mesh dress underneath.  I posted about it here.

Wearing the Green and Gray

for my workout today.

~ yep. ~

When I walked in, two women seated there said they were reviewing.  

"Reviewing what?" I said.  

"You," was their reply.  

"She makes everything she wears."  

"I know and look, everything is matching."  

"This doesn't really match," I said.  

"Yes, but, it reaallly goes together well," was the response.

~  awww ~

While I was standing on the front porch getting my photo taken, the mail lady came up the stairs and said:

"ah, so there's some of the shoes I'm always delivering."

"yes, yes, they are.  Used, but looking brand new."

"Regardless, new to you."  And it's so nice to put a face to all those packages."

~ awwww ~

(Hey, I've got dialogue in my post.) Meanwhile, I made both of these things awhile ago and hadn't had them photographed.  The dress is a light-weight cotton knit from New Look 6525 that's a breeze to make.  The pants are from the Sewing Workshop Trio pattern that I changed up a little bit.  They're made from cotton sateen.   It's the second make for both of these patterns. 

~ and the ebay shoes via our friendly mail lady ~

With that, I'm off to Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell.  Hope to see you all there!