A Cool Blue Tablecloth Dress

for the last day of MeMadeMay'18

~ Am I Right? ~

It's funny how time changes things.  When I first made this, I wore it differently.   You can see how here, way back in 2014.  And now because of MMM, I'm liking it more in this relaxed, funky, layered-look way.

~ and here you can see it really was a tablecloth ~

And very simply made at that.  I just added thin navy bias tape to bind the neckline and sleeve edges.  The dress hem is the hemmed edges of the tablecloth.  There were some stains that I covered with appliques.  Like the two gray leaf forms at the center bottom.  They're actually cut out from other fabric and zig-zagged on.

~ this is the buttoned-up look ~

I added a matching button in the middle of the design and two buttonholes on either end of the fabric "wings" so I could fold them over, as you can see.  Those three little flowers on the white border were sewn on to cover more stains.

The blue lace pantaloons were self-drafted.  Piece of cake.

~ and cool blue platform sandals from ebay ~

I will be wrapping up my MMM'18 experience in the next post and comparing this year with last year.  Both had surprises for me.  

And thank you all for your comments of support.  It really makes a difference.  Especially since I don't do any of the other social media.  mmwwaaa!

  

Another Never Before Outfit

for MeMadeMay'18, Day 30

~ never before worn together, that is ~

And look at the mood they create. 

I don't know why, but it feels Asianesque to me.

~ or maybe it's just theatrical ~

 

 The pantaloons are similar to the black ones I've shown here.  

For the white ones I have on...

~ I stated with white gauze cotton shorts I had ~

~ then added organza using French seams and adding tucks ~

~ a very simple outfit! ~

And easy to sew too!  The dress is a Rachel Comey design from Vogue 1482 pattern made in a lovely fabric - a light weight, crinkled jacquard floral print.   

 

~ with Tsubo platform sandals from ebay ~

One disappointing thing:  when I received these shoes I couldn't keep them on when I walked.  They only worked standing still or sitting down.  phfft.

I don't know how I thought of this, but it worked perfectly.  I had some spare nude elastic, adjustable, detachable bra straps for a bra that could go strapless or not.  (I no longer had the bra, but I kept the straps, of course).

All I did was slip each end of the bra strap around each side of the sandal strap, wrapping it once around so it could fasten onto itself.  Voila!  It's nude-ish, it stretches, it doesn't accidentally come off, but it is removable and it works.

~ the end ~

Feeling Alright in All White Today

on MeMadeMay'18, Day 29

~ more or less ~

Thank you all for your response to my last post about the blogosphere and my place in it.  I noticed just this evening that my email notifications started back up on bloggers I follow.  Let's see if anything else gets rectified.

~ hmm, what am I wearing? ~

The top is a wildly altered Tina Givens Lucca pattern made from cotton sheeting.  The dress under it is Tina Givens free Priscilla Slip pattern made with linen gauze.  And the pantaloons are self-drafted and made from the same linen gauze.

~ still thinking about all that tech stuff ~

 But here's a Silver lining:

~ my Trippen shoes from ebay ~

What Have They Done to My Blog?!

in the middle of MeMadeMay'18, Day 28

~ please help if you can ~

Seems blogspot changed a few things 10 days ago without telling any of us bloggers.  I was wondering why I no longer received any emails when bloggers I follow posted on their blogs.  Nor any emails when I received comments on my posts.

Well, it seems even worst than that.  They discontinued whatever OpenID is, and from what I can tell, people can't comment unless that join Google+.  I'm not even a member of Google+.  I'm not a member of most things.  I just like to keep it really simple but I won't go into that now...

I went into my blogspot settings and tried to change a few things, but I don't know if it made any difference.  I'm refusing to join Google+.  Maybe I'll have to change platforms, or whatever they're called, and go to Wordpress???

~ comment here and let me know that you can ~

I don't know how you can if you can't...you know?  Maybe through bloglovin'?

Also, please advise about what you've done or are doing about all this techie stuff.  Like ability to comment, blog platforms, etc.   I don't want to join facebook, instagram, twitter, disquis, google+, or whatever.

Thanks in advance.  I'll really appreciate it.

Maybe it's just time to stop.

But first, shoes.

Trippen sandals from ebay

Oh, and I have on two Tina Givens garments made in lightweight linen.  On top is her Violet Dress Pattern.  Underneath is her Sugar Slip Pattern.  Both with some modifications.

~ standing up for myself ~

Dusty Pink on a Very Hot Day

for MeMadeMay'18, Day 27

~ in the neighborhood ~

Yeah, like wam-bam, all of a sudden, it's 90+ degrees early this morning.  I've even got my laundry out on the line, it looks so pretty.  Everything dried in a jumping jack flash.

~ you can barely make out the facade of the church up ahead ~

No one was out.  I guess they're all at the lakefront for picnics and stuff.  Not me.  I'm contrary.

~ just watching clothes dry in between sewing ~

These are some of my favorite things.

The chiffon dress is made from Tina Givens Adele Dress pattern.  I made several alterations which you can read about here, if you'd like.

~ worn with my ribbon-decorated crocs from ebay ~

Oh yes, it's that time on the week to join Patti and the gang at Not Dead Yet Style,  Catherine at I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie at Shoe & Tell when they go live.  Hope to see you there!

It's a Wrap Boot No Polo Widow...huh?

for MeMadeMay'18, Day 26

 

~ yep, that's what my new footwear is called ~

~ See, heehee? ~

I've been on the lookout for them for awhile but no such luck until now.  On ebay, of course.  They are so silly, people luv 'em or hate 'em, as they say.  Toms is the brand and they are no longer made.  They originally came in black, white, gray, red, green, navy and whatever color this is.  I'm calling it rust.

~ Strike a pose, poster edition ~

They "go" perfectly with my Tina Givens Maria Skirt and Top pattern where I actually used some Tina Givens cotton fabric for the top.  The skirt is cotton plaid.   It doesn't look anything like the pattern picture and I didn't make many alterations at all.  But I still like it, although it was a surprise.

~ and another shoe close-up ~

As you might be able to see, the foot part is canvas with a rubber sole and a bit of a lift with maybe a 1/2" incline for the heel.  The rest is all ACE bandage that you wrap and wrap and wrap until you secure the end with the very large swatch of (about 3" square) sewn-in velcro.  So versatile.   You can wrap high, or low, or even with leg showing between wraps.  eeee, the thrill of it all.

p.s.  I have no idea where the no polo widow part of the name comes from...

Lounge Lizard

on MeMadeMay'18, Day 25

~ Do I look the part, or what? ~

~ "Lounge Lizard" ~

 I even put the label on the outside of my capris when I was remodeling them to fit.  Along with pink piping and leopard print jersey.

~ with drawstring pockets ~

The top was resized too, at another time.  

~ and lo and behold, it's the same leopard fabric ~

Well, what was I to do, but wear them together?

~ so I did ~

as today's workout wear,

yesireebob.

The kimono top is the only thing I made from scratch in today's ensemble.  It's made out of chiffon with satin trim using an OOP Vogue pattern.  Seems I no longer have it (or it's gone underground in the studio).

~ with Rieker shoes from ebay ~

Back to the lounge...

Me and Kimono Hanging Out at the Church

on MeMadeMay'18, Day 24

~ yep ~

Actually I'm next to the church, at the rectory.  The whole establishment is huge and a few doors down from my house.  (In fact, you can see some of the edifice in the background of my backyard pix.) 

~ all aglow ~

 It was such a lovely day in the neighborhood (again), a walk was warranted.

~ no, I'm not being arrested ~

I've worn this before, but with different stuff.    I luv this kimono and how it accidentally came about.  You can see and read about it here, if you'd like.  Meanwhile, it's from a failed Tina Givens Meri pattern.

The pantaloons were self-drafted out of organza and attached to old yoga shorts.

~ black jersey and organza pantaloon ~

~ made with french seams and tucks ~

~ and very sheer ~

They were definitely influenced by this style icon:

~ Debra Rapaport, as seen on Advanced Style blog ~

~ newly received sandals from ebay ~

They are so comfortable and I never, never where thongs.  But when I saw how they were made and the heel/sole, I just couldn't resist.  Plus they were going for $15 and no one else bid on them. (?!)  The brand is Akaishi which was unknown to me before.

Tina Givens in Linen and Mesh, Yes

on MeMadeMay'18, Day 23

~ front view ~

Here I am wearing 3 different Tina Givens pattern makes.   For the light-weight woven pale green plaid linen top I used her Luella pattern.  I omitted the ruffle on Luella.  Using the same fabric, I used her Oprah pants pattern.  And the floral stretch mesh was made into an under tunic from her Tessa pattern.  That was made my own way as I went along.

~ back ~

You can see why I left on the ruffle.  The top was long enough as is.

~ and in-between ~

Everything is made quite large, as is my want.  I always like to err on that side rather than too small.  But I make do no matter what.

That's the workout wear for today.  And it was an absolutely beautiful May Day...finally.

~ shoes not from ebay! ~

I almost forgot.  These are ages old and still look good.  I believe I got them from Payless?!  The brand is Predictions and they are a pale peachy color leather and suede in real life, with avocado elastic crisscross strips.

And that's that.

Do I Look Like I'm...

on MeMadeMay'18, Day 22

a) goth?

b) in a nunnery?

c) dressed for Halloween?

d)  in my jammies?

e)  just odd?

f)  all of the above?

g) or???

~ I'll turn around while you decide ~

~ okay, no peeking ~

And I'll tell you about what I'm wearing.  The over dress is made in gauze and is from Katherine Tilton's Vogue 8834 top pattern.  What interested me was how it opens on a diagonal, so when I elongated it into a dress, it was extreme.  I also used snap tape rather than zillions of buttons and button holes.  The underdress I showed a few posts ago.  It's a linen tablecloth that I self-drafted.  I'm still trying to find something to wear with it.  I think this works the best so far, but it is rather dramatic.

~ the snaps! ~

Yeah, I'm not just showing off my shoes here.  And they're not even the same one's I wore  yesterday.  They're more of a Mary Jane type, but I'm wearing weird wrap-around-and-tie socks that make them look otherwise.

~nice Trippen Happy Blank shoes from ebay ~

And now it's your turn to participate.  I can't wait to hear what you have to say.  eek!

Wearing The Garden Dress

on MeMadeMay'18, Day 21

~ this is a close as I get to gardening, btw ~

 And it's actually my workout wear for today too.

~ minus the glasses, scarf and boxing boots, of course ~

The cotton fabric, called Fairytale Garden Bug Hunt, was made using a modified Tina Givens Lainey Dress & Bloomers Pattern.    I was given a bit of Tina's Rose Water-Honey Pie Lace-Musk cotton and that became the bloomers. 

~ Lovely Camper pink boxing boots via ebay ~

Although I did snag the shoelaces from the dollar store.  They had come laceless.