Belt Blues

I put together this great outfit for a job interview and needed a quirky belt to add a bit of personal flair. This belt is made from an assortment of yoyo's created from upholstery fabric and the waist band from an old denim skirt. It was perfect!

Prototypes

I have once again resolved to start an etsy store. As a fashion design student, I believe it would be beneficial to my career and pocketbook. Another motivating factor is the recent blessing of 3 boxes of upholstery fabric and swatches. Although my friends had a good laugh at me, digging through those boxes was just as good as Christmas. For now, the idea is to focus on fabrics I already own and see where my creativity leads me. Hopefully, I will be able to continue to find fabrics from alternative sources and therefore focus my designs on re purposing.

On the left, you see the first handbag created from the swatches and the first shaped bag I've ever made. I used two 12 x 12 swatches to create the body and folded the bottom as if I were wrapping a present. The interior is lined with two 12 x 12 cream colored linen swatches. I used cluny lace from my stash for trim (left raveling by design) and scrap of contrasting upholstery fabric for the rosette and handle. Although the exterior looks great, the interior is a little messy since I failed to think through the application of trims before I stitched in the lining. The perk is it's imperfections give me a perfect excuse to keep it my self!

If I didn't need to stock a store, I'd save this tropical tote bag for myself as well. It is created from two 12 x 12 swatches of a cotton blend with two 4 x4 patches appliqued for interest. The bottom/gusset/handle is made of a complimentary scrap of cotton bled yardage. The best part about this tote is the fact that the colors are reversed from front to back with teal being the main color on the other side.

In the process of creating myself a new wardrobe I am designing my own line of clothing for the grown-up hippie chic. Not only do I love the way this top looks and wears, I love it's eco sense. The only part not re purposed is the thread holding it together. The floral fabric is vintage flour sacking. The beige waistband and trim are recycled from a cotton jersey tank I no longer wear. I also used the ribbon ties from the tank to seam finish the front neckline. My next sewing project will be a similar top for etsy.

Border Print Blouse

Here is my latest creation. Completely mine from design to construction. It is sewn from a poly/rayon blend. To give a flattering fit, the lower portion is self lined with side roaching and the sleeves are hand hemmed. The idea was to come up with a top that was as easy to wear as a tee, but had a classy grown up look. I think I succeeded.


I wore this new creation to church today and got rave reviews! Not only is it the newest addition to my closet, it is the prototype for an etsy piece that I plan to make out of a similar fabric in royal blue and purple.

Fall Dress

Who would believe that this started out as a glorified bathrobe?! This summer I found a wonderful 1970's lounging dress at a yard sale. It was handmade and had its owner must have treasured it because it had been dry cleaned and lovingly stored. I just couldn't resist its flowing russet toned fabric, so for $3 I brought it home. Because of its humble orgins and intended use, the dress is very easy to wear while still making a statement.
Like I've mentioned before, Clarisse doesn't have quite the curves I do, but she still looks great in this creation. It is the type of dress I can imagine myself wearing for many years and I designed it to be forgiving of almost all the common figure flaws that naturally come with age and children. It is also one of those great "best friend" dresses because it could be worn by women of a variety of sizes and shapes.
The detailing is really what makes this dress. It takes it from a fun fall romper to an elegant fall gown. Its initial purpose was to be worn to an outdoor wedding and it was one of the most elegant dresses there! Many people questioned me about it and were very excited to hear that it was my own design. Those who know I am working toward a career in fashion were doubly enthusiastic.
This trim did not turn out quite as I had invisioned it, but the results are still awesome. I wanted a bit more gathering, but the slick fabric I was working with had other intentions. The chocolate fabric used in the belt and on the hem is tafta. All told, this creation cost me $9.

Let's Just Say I'm Ahead This Year

We don't really have to let it out that I started this dress for last Christmas, do we? One way or another, it is finally done and I will wear it this holiday season.

The dress is a customized vintage pattern, made from vintage fabric. It is fully lined and tailored to my figure. Clarisse, my dress form, is a size smaller than I am and doesn't have the boobie power I do, so it hangs a bit on her. I absolutely love the belt detailing I added!

Introducing My New Sewing Buddy

A few months ago, I visited a going out of business sale at a local botique. I noticed three beautiful dress forms in the window and just had to ask about them. The owner of the store was not available at the time, so I left my number with the clerk and asked that the owner contact me if she was going to sell the forms. I didn't hear anything back for nearly a month and had almost forgotten about them when the owner finaly called. Not only was she selling the forms, she was selling them for the fabously low price of $25 each!

Hello, Friends

I’ve gotten very bad about posting lately. For starters, my computer is going through some sort of depression. Then school and sewing are keeping me busy. I got the new power cord for my machine two weeks ago and have kept the house humming as much as I possibly can. The hum of a sewing machine is such music!

To reassure you all that I am indeed making progress, here is a list of my completed summer projects.

• · Tube top for me (fun-n-funky made from cotton handkerchiefs)
• · A cotton asymmetrical skirt for me
• · A sleeveless cotton blouse for me (refashioned from a man’s button down)
• · An artwear skirt for each of the girls (refashioned from stretch pants and embellished)
• · A shrug for my oldest daughter (refashioned from her favorite hoody that was badly stained)
• · A tank-top for me (refashioned from a poly/satin drawstring skirt)
• · Two artwear t-shirts for a friend and two for my stb etsy store
• · Two artwear hats for my stb etsy store
• · A artwear jacket for my stb etsy store
  
  This isn’t counting all the UFO’s laying around my house in various stages, so I’m not doing too badly. I hope you all are having a productive summer as well!

Celebrate!

After 6 long months, my dear sewing machine is home! I have missed her so much! Yes, my old Bernina plugged along for me a few times, but that old girl is ready for a break and some TLC. Now that my girl is home and ready to go, I have a list of projects a mile long. I need to buy her a new power cord, then I am sewing me some summer clothes before I start getting the girls' wardrobe ready for fall.

Saturday Pants

I am tired of the jeans and sweater look for my Saturday errands, so I made a pair of comfy running around pants. The fabric is a poly/rayon blend that reminds me of the parachute pants my aunt use to wear in the 80's. Loving the fabric, but not the dated look, I decided to go for a girly cargo type pant with faux patch pockets trimmed in eyelet lace. The next time I make this pattern, I will alter it for a bit more ease, but overall I like what I've come up with.