MMM'20: Unadorned.

Lockdown does that to you.

~ and mask-less too! ~

This is from Simplicity 9018 made in a heathered sweater knit.   

So soft and comfy, to say the least.  

~ woo-hoo, and a side view ~

And very plain.

So I decided to add the "vest" shown on the pattern cover.  

You may recall one of my top 5 disasters from 2019 here.   

I chose to resurrect it into what you see below:

~ ta-dah ~

Yes, I modified the vest pattern a bit,

since I was working from something already cut and made.  

But I do think it works much better than what I had originally.  

(How could it not?!)  

The neckline helps immensely, in my opinion.  

And having shorter sleeves means 

I don't get caught on everything with all those loose loops.

~ But wait, there's more... ~

I added ruching to the dress!  

All the way from the hem, up the side seam, to above the waist.  

First I tried self-fabric ties, 

but they were was way too thick and bulky.  

In rummaging through my sundries stash, 

I found a length of gray grosgrain ribbon that worked perfectly.  

I ran it up through one side of the casing I had created,

and then down the other side.

Ending with both ribbon ends dangling out at the hemline.

 Pull to ruche and then tie in a double bow.

They won't slip out cuz...grosgrain.  

I liked the way it created an asymmetrical hemline 

and just added more interest in general.  

But if I wanted a straight up and down look, 

I can just un-ruche it. 

~ worn with super comfy shoes from ebay ~

'til the morrow.

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.

Day 26 MMM'19: Memorial Day Whites

This is just a test:

But go ahead and do it anyway

~ Do I Look Like I'm ... ~

1.   in an ad for Magnolia Pearl Clothing?
2.   a Victorian fairy?
3.   modeling for Gustave Klimt (sans glasses)?
4.   ready for here comes the bride?
5.   dressed to kill?
6.   all of the above
7.   none of the above
8.   other (add your selection in comments)

 Okay then, let's get the show on the road.

~ I know, I look better in infrared ~

But this is my real world, bay-bee.

~ and really, it all started with THE shoes ~

But first, what am I wearing?

• 1st layer is an old linen jumper that I refashioned into a vest long, long ago.  Adding lace here and there as one is want to do, and big ole pockets out of upholstery fabric.
• 2nd layer is an old lace tablecloth messed around with to turn into what I have on.
• 3rd layer is a linen gauze slip made from Tina Givens Priscilla pattern.
• 4th layer are the gauze & lace shorts refashioned with added organza and made into pantaloons.

~ the back view ~

Wherein you might exclaim, "What's that on her head?!"  But then again, you might not.  I've already worn it once a few days ago without embellishment.  Now I think I have it just right.  It needed ropes of pearls, ladies, not a dye job.  Yes.

~ Let's zoom in for the detail ~

~ and another vantage point ~

Oh my.  I just whipped these pearls from off my dress and up and around my hat in a flash (without even looking) because it just had to be.  Otherwise I couldn't stand all that twee.  Which is why I put the hat on in the first place.

~ and the golden Trippens that started it all, from ebay ~

I'll be joining Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style when she goes live.  And Catherine's I Will Wear what I Like as well.  Hope to see you all there.  Oh, oh, and I simply must do Judith's Hat Attack for May!  Do Come on by!


See you later,

Day 10 MMM'19: Captain Clash

 and the Fight Against Blasé-ness

~ pay no heed to that hand jive ~

Who knew burnt orange and purply-pink would look so smashing together?!

You've seen this all before, only not all together.  Hat is from Secret Lentil, last seen here.  Coat is made from Tina Givens Becca pattern, last seen here.

Underneath is my exercise wear for today.

~ too blurry photo posterized ~

I think it helps a bit.

Here's another one of those vests I was talking about in yesterday's post. 

~ back view, and a peak at side contrasts ~

Pants are made from Sandra Betzina's Vogue 1355 pattern using challis fabric.  I also made a matching top for them as seen here.

~ inside view ~

Here you can see a bit of the red side of the reversible vest.  And my stretch mesh ivory Parisian scene top.  It's just a plain t-shirt type top and I don't recall what pattern, if any I used.

~ Vivienne Trippen shoes from ebay ~

I spy something floral, so off I go to Spy Girl's May Florals link-up.  And a hat for Judith's May Hat Attack! 

Until tomorrow,

Day 9 MMM'19: Turning Gray

I really think so
 

~ Back to the Archives, the Vault and more or less, the Present ~

Skinny jeans are from the 25+ year old Archives.  

~ vest made from fabric scraps ~

From the Vault.  I've made many of these through the years using V8000 pattern.  Adapting it to make it reversible.  I've written endless posts about their making (look up vests).  You'll get more than these, but that's the best I can do in pin pointing them out for you.  There's also detailed pictures scattered throughout my Clothes for Winter page.

~ and this weird-o top ~

Self-drafted top using crazy knit fabric that I obviously didn't know what to do with.  But it was so cool just as a piece of fabric.  I should've left it at that.

~ see?  crazy cool ~

And finally, more or less presently...

~ Jane and the Shoe from ebay ~

Yes, that's their name.  And no, I didn't name them.

Since, I spot a bit of floral on the vest, I'll be heading on over to Spy Girl's May Florals.  Stop on by.

It's Day 1 of MeMadeMay'19!

I, pao @ projectminima.blogspot.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May 2019. I endeavor to wear MeMade items everyday during May of 2019. I also plan to wear a different pair of new-to-me shoes with each ensemble worn during MeMadeMay'19.


And with that out of the way, let's roll.

~ 1st time wearing my newly made dusty mauve velvet coat ~

with a silver lining no less.  Made from Vogue 9340, which was a super easy coat pattern.  Although I complicated it up for myself by adding a lining, not to mention using velvet.  Anyway, after taking me months on end and many time outs for both the coat and I, it's done!  The pattern cover shows a much fuller-looking coat, but it's straight up and down.

~ hood up ~

I know, there's a snow white/ druid thing going on.

~ see?  There's that silver lining. ~

Just part of the magic, you know.  And what's that I have on underneath?  I've worn part of it before.  The pants here.  The reversible vest, who knows when.  And the stretch mesh tee...hmmm.  (I checked it out and it seems I haven't photographed or posted either of those items.  Memademay will remedy that.  Stay tuned.)

~ complete with rainboots from ebay ~

Until the morrow...

Ooh, and just linked up to Spy Girl's floral theme for May.  Check it out.

Greetings from the Frozen Tundra

...located down the street at Lake Michigan.  Yea, just enjoying the sunny, 10 degree weather with a -6 wind chill.

~ Can't tell who that is? ~

I'll try zooming in

~ hmmm ~

Okay, what if I just enlarge myself all over the place

~ I'm actually getting hot now ~

Maybe you can get a hint by my ensemble

~ hey, flash you! ~

and now for the piece de resistance (spoken with a French accent)

~ my Geisha moon boots ~

Didn't I recently post about Surviving the Tropics in Chicago?   Well, that was then and this is now.  And by the way, I did make the vest I have on out of scraps of fabric I had on hand...

I'll be linking up with Patti and the Visibles and Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cheri's Shoe & Tell when they all go live.  Come on by.

Another Accidental Outfit!

for MeMadeMay'18, Day 20

~ whoa, I'm all striped up ~

First, I had this skirt under a dress with the vest on top.  And then a light bulb went on.  Hey, that would probably look much better if you just lost the dress.  So I did.  However, I did replace it with a top that happened to be striped too.  Well, then I had to go with striped sox.  Another accidental ensemble came out.

(The camera flash was accidentally on for this pix.)

~ excuse the washed out face, et. al. ~

Again, I've never worn these things together before.  Even though they're made out of the same material!  What is my problem?  Am I blind?  That's what MMM does for me.  I get out of my routine of wearing the same things in the same ways.  

So the skirt is from a Marcy Tilton Vogue 8637 pattern.  The vest is from McCall's 7416 made rather large.  It's so oddly shaped, I really like it.  I believe I changed up the back a bit, but I can't really remember any more.

~ Dream Happy Boots from Trippen via ebay ~

And that's really their name.

And they are.

It's about that time to link up with Patti at Not Dead Yet Style when she goes live later today.  I'll also be joining Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe & Tell when they come on.  Hope to see you there.

Me Made May '17

I finally committed to it.  After all, I only wear my handmade clothes as it is.  The clincher was you don't have to document daily wearing of them.  Yea, I could see that. Not. 

~ All Me Made ~

I mean, it would be nice, but...

~ ooo, onslaught of the seedlings ~

you know I barely get photographs done once a week month! 

~ So here I am on a beautiful day in the neighborhood, etc. ~

I made this top thingy to go over the other Sam Dress, but evidently it decided this Sam Dress was the one.

~ don't get dizzy ~

The top is from McCall's 7416, but the back is what I find interesting, and then I modified it a bit.

~ see?  so weird ~

~ ta, for now ~

~ oh, and les shoes from ebay ~

me made details:

• hat made from old black and gray t-shirts a la Alabama Chanin's bucket hat as seen on my Winter page 
• Sam Dress pattern by Tina Givens made in B&W striped georgette with modifications
• McCall's 7416 vest pattern made in B&W striped poly
• gray fingerless gloves made from stretch fabric from stash as seen on this post.
• unseen dark gray slip with pale pink lace made from Butterick 5045 with modifications as seen on my Spring page

With that I'll be joining up with Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like, Cherie's Shoe and Tell, and Judith the Style Crone's Hat Attack.  And of course, there's Me Made May '17 for the next 30 days!

Hit the Mute, Dear

~ this room has all the colors I can take ~

Today I've dressed myself in all sorts of pastel-y colors, muted patterns and soft textures.

~ And turned my back on bright and vibrant hues ~

ahh, the peace and quiet of lilac knitted over-the-knee socks paired with old Doc Marten Mary Jane shoes.

~ uhhuh ~

Can we get a close up of that?

~ yeah, that's what I'm talking about ~

Ladies, what I'm wearing today is:

• the Becca jacket pattern made as a vest by Tina Givens (now out of print)
• a linen wrap-around dress modified from Simple Modern Sewing
• the aforementioned sox from Sox Dreams
• the Doc Martens from ebay
• $ store reading glasses

oh, and check out the handmade fasteners on my vest

~ fasteners by Sara ~

and photo-ing by Sara too!

Just in time for Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style.  Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like, and Cherie's Shoe and Tell.  Do stop by and see the gang.