Yea for Fall Layers

~ It feels good ~

~ Just relaxing into it ~

~ the side view ~

I'm wearing all stuff I've made awhile ago.  But never worn altogether before.  The hat is hand sewn from old t-shirts and seed beads a la Alabama Chanin. I've made at least 2 so far.  The beautiful scarf was given to me from a friend via the Salvation Army.  And the sunglasses are from the $ store.
 

The coat is from The Sewing Workshop Thai Coat pattern made in black and gold brocade.  It's the second one I've made.

The overdress is from The Sewing Workshop, the Verenda Dress, much modified and made in a scuba knit print.  The underdress is from Tina Givens Sam Dress pattern, much modified, made in striped georgette.  Also the second one made.

~ I made it so I can wear it backwards or frontwards ~

~ with my lovely shoes from ebay ~

And that's a wrap.  I'll be linking up with Patti and the Visibles when she goes live at Not Dead Yet Style.  And Catherine at I Will Wear What I Like.  Also Judith's Hat Attack for October.  Hope to see you there!

Day 29 MMM'19: A Lighter Shade of Pale

...Blue

~ yes, it is ~

The blue shades are as old as that song I alluded to.

~ yes they are ~

The vest I made so long ago, I really don't recall.  But a long while after that, I refashioned the jacket that it was, into the vest that it is now.  I had also made matching pants.  Now where are those...

~ I seem to be misty-eyed ~

The shirt you've seen before and is a recent make from stretch mesh, self-drafted.  I wear it a lot.  The pants are a few years old now, made from a heavy linen table cloth using Tina Givens Phoebe pants pattern, modified.  Also seen here.

It was actually a bit cool out, so another layer was necessary.   

I threw this on for our walk.

~ recognize that print? ~

It's the same 2-sided stretch denim that I used for the pants I had on yesterday.  ha.

~  I luv the pattern used to make it ~

The Sewing Workshop's Thai Coat pattern.  I've made another one, here,  but this one is the best choice of fabrics for it.

~ and it's not hard to make either ~

and finally,

~ more Mary Jane Doc Martens from ebay ~

Only two more days to go!  phew.

Meanwhile, I'm all set to join Spy Girl's May Florals.  And go for Catherine's Share All link-up too.  Stop on by.

Watch Me Now Ensemble

MeMadeMay'18, Day #19

 Here's some posters of me walking the backyard runway.

~ yeah ~

~ twirl ~

~ pause ~

~ behind the scenes ~

Now for the business part.  The dress is a flop from the Park Bench Willow Grove Pattern.  I modified the heck out of it as it came out as a gigantic sack. And you know I like oversized clothes.  The fabric is printed linen.

Because I don't especially care for the dress on its own, I keep trying different things over it.  This time, I'm wearing my version of the Sewing Workshop's Veranda Dress which came about through a complicated mind-melding process of the pattern and my pinterest pin seen here.   If you just can't get enough, you can see/read the post here.



With all that said and done,  I don't think this ensemble is a roaring success, but it isn't a flaming flop either.  It's okay.  The coral dress is still seeking something.

~ Trippen shoes from ebay ~

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!

Kimono on the Cityscapes

~ Yes, here we all are ~

The Kimono is from Koos of Vogue patterns 1493
and the Dress is from The Sewing Workshop Collection Cityscapes pattern.

I made the dress awhile ago and never wore it in public.  The original pattern calls for a jumper to go over it.  I tried, but it didn't work out at all.  But when I finished the Kimono and tried it on over the dress, I liked the vibe, especially with the dusty pink boots. 

~ I mean I'm having a flashback, man ~

 

~ check out that sleeve action ~

Okay, now this is something you don't see everyday.  In fact, this is something you never see on the likes of me.  Totally XXX rated.

Back in Black

I am

~ Facing It Straight On ~

yep.

~ More Or Less ~

And now to business.  That's the first Thai Coat from the Sewing Workshop Patterns I made.  Using some black/beige spiral brocade fabric.  The pants are my second from the Trio pattern of the same company.  This time made 2 sizes smaller.  Seems their patterns generally run big.  The fabric is a lovely charcoal gray/sage spiral print cotton sateen.  The fingerless gloves are made with very stretchy black nylon knit using McCall's 7397 pattern.




and underneath it all...

~ my new wings ~

It's an ivory burnout stretch velvet made into a shawl-like cardigan from Butterick 6065.  I made the sleeves longer and lengthened the collar band.  The top underneath is a self-drafted tee and made from a scrap of abstract nylon sheer knit.

~ Yes ~

~ and big pant pockets, see? ~

~ I just luv this thing ~

It's so soft and snuggly and really does keep me warm.  I see more in my future.

~ both sides now ~

~ oooo ~

Check out my new-to-me Trippens from e-bay.  

After a hard day at the photo shoot, it was nap time for the crew.

~ Albertine et moi ~

On my way now, if it's not to late, to Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style.  Then Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like.  Thanks Giving to all of you guys who stop by and read my blog.  You are what makes me work!  Thanks!!!

"Interesting Outfit You Have On There"

... said a man as I walked into the elevator. 

~ uhuh ~

I laughed and turned around.

~ kinda like so ~

~ but my initial response was this...~

~ yeah bay-bee, and I have super powers too! ~

I wish.  Meanwhile, this is my second make of the Thai Coat by the Sewing Workshop Collection patterns. It is out of print, but is still available through ebay, etsy, etc.  I made it with an unusual double-sided stretch denim fabric - as you can see.

~ back scrap patch ~

It's very quick to make, especially if you don't follow all the directions.  Primarily, it's all folded over hems with mitered edges.  I did not use either of the double neck facings.  They seemed completely unnecessary and just otherwise followed the instructions for a kimono-like collar folding into the front lapels.  I also cut the front right and left panels as two separate pieces with a 4" seam up the back collar area, rather than cut it as one huge front panel with no back collar seam.  A huge unnecessary waste of fabric, in my opinion, for no aesthetic or design favor.  Eliminated the gigantic sleeve facing which was difficult to maneuver and again unnecessary.  Just turned over twice and hemmed sleeves.  Cut overall length at smallest size which was plenty long enough on my 5'5" frame.  Made it one size smaller than I would usually overall.  But the armholes for the sleeves were very low.  I raised them up by 2 inches and if made again would raise them again by 2".   They are still quite huge and I don't have skinny arms, that's for sure.

It flows beautifully as you walk and would look great in any number of fabrics from heavy to light.  As long as they are delicious on both sides.

~ dress print on your left side, coat print on the right ~

I'm wearing it with a double-sided fused knit I made awhile ago, also from a Sewing Workshop Collection pattern that I massively reinvented, the Bristol Dress.

~ grainy photoshopped look ~

~ and au natural ~

Check out those sox.  I couldn't believe I matched up everywhere!   The sox were leggings long ago and cut off as they became too small.  Then I sewed up the toes to make over-the-knee sox worn with garters.  voila.

~ and the ebay Vivienne, Trippens ~

I finally got some Cherry Red Doc Martens shoe polish and took care of these babies, the Docs, some boots, and wowser.

Trippen on over to Patti & the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style even while she's celebrating in NYC.  Then Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell when they all go live.  See you there!