Flounc-ing Around

The flounce on BWOF from 08-2009-117, as done in the pattern, is too wide out on the shoulder so I'm playing with the neck pleat to make it fall more toward the center, along the button band. I'm using a stretch silk charmeuse, flat side out. The flounce edges was hand rolled, and I see that the left and right flounce move differently at the bottom edge so I must have done something wrong.

The bodice is BWOF 08-2009-103. I had to let out some of the front dart because it's very fitted, which is somewhat odd because the back is not. I'll chop off quite a bit of the length as well.

Just got the call from school that oldest DD has flue symptoms... :(

Art Show Opening Blouse

Another break. But I AM working on the Balmain it's just so darn hot here right now. This blouse was made in a couple of days and I love it. So easy and soft to wear yet it has some structure which my body sorely needs. If you are a rectangle I think you should make it right now ;)

A few pictures of the inside. It is very easy to make just be sure to mark all the lines and info on the pattern for the hidden button placket so you can refer back during construction. I used the magnifier I wrote about in my last post to clearly see the close stitching I had to do (matching the stitching line on the tuck exactly over the pleat stitching.)

And it is official: Million Dollar Quartet is going to Broadway in the spring :)) And I'm expecting to make an announcement regarding Baby It's You any minute. We're taking a quick vacation to Laguna Beach so I probably won't be posting for a week or so.

Hollywood Bling-Bling

All girls love some bling (myself included) and DD got a good dose of it yesterday. These two pieces came together very quickly and that's good cause I want to get going on a jacket I'm planning. More on that later.

First up: BWOF 06-2008-134

Hollywood Glamour Blouse

This was made by sewing the dupioni and sequins as one. I washed the silk first so it's soft and enclosed all seams. It's best worn layered due to the structure.

Here's the link to the sequined fabric (the dupioni color sold out I think)

Second up: BWOF 05-2008-137

Disco Shorts

These were requested by DD upon seeing the fabric and I think she showed great innovation here. It's a knit metallic, very soft with great drape. It doesn't stretch much though, which is a bit misleading on Fabric.com's website. I had originally bought it for a skating outfit but don't think it would work unless you only use it for details like a skirt or part of the bodice.

Link to disco stretch fabric

Photo shoots are so fun when I'm behind the camera :)) I need to sew for her more cause she just loves modeling for me! I'll share some more shots before heading over to post the reviews. I'm entering the contest on PatternReview which I actually hadn't planned on doing. But then I read the reason for having this contest: To encourage those of us who sew for children to post reviews. I so agree with that, and I'm guilty of not doing it too often. Btw, thank you Trena for managing the contest. I used your slapdash philosophy on the blouse as you will see on the crooked lines inside :))

Love these buttons from F & S Fabrics

Build-A-Blouse

This was a long time in the making, but it's been so busy with rehearsals and previews. I now only have one item left in my mini wardrobe and hopefully that will be faster (although I doubt that very much since I don't have a clear image in my head of the Big Bird skirt yet.)

As usual, I took these photos with a self timer, so you can't really see the beads sparkle as they do in real life- you know I adore sparkle right :)) Anyway, I'm happy with this blouse, and it goes great with black pants as well. 

The word Habili is Latin and means (according to one website): clothe, clothing, that which may be easily handled, suitable, fit, proper.

Blouse assembly:

Centered tucks:
Making folds on centered tucks:

Build-A-Blouse and Other Musings

There are presently too many ideas running amok in my mind, which have moved me to do something a little out of the ordinary (for me.)

Presenting the Build-A-Blouse:

It's like a puzzle and I'm having way too much fun. Visions of sugarplums and fairies, vintage grace and modern comfort. Individualism.

This whole couture thing has made me realize that I do love the itsy-bitsy details, and that hand sewing is my friend, not my nemesis.

Nancy asked a couple of questions in the last post regarding my skirt, and they were very good. Nancy, are you secretly reading my mind?!

"Is it comfortable?"

Yes. I made it a bit loose at the waist so I don't have to "suck it in", and can eat when I'm hungry :)) I can also sit quite comfortably without it riding up.

"Do you find that it fits your lifestyle and you have occasion to wear it?"

It does NOT fit my lifestyle :)) At least not my day-to-day living. I wear jeans and tees mostly. BUT... I do occasionally have to venture out "into the circles" so to speak, and on those occasions  I'm VERY picky. I want Barney's and Neiman's, not Macy's. I'm also thrifty (well, not at the fabric store...), so paying thousands for something I wear maybe a couple times a year is a hard pill to swallow. I've always been that way- in good times and bad- and it's highly unlikely that will ever change.

And... I like to be the only one with that exact outfit :)) Unless you go the highest price-point, we're talking waaay up there, that is nearly impossible to guarantee, especially here in Tinseltown. I'm pretty sure many of you have that in the back of your mind as well, maybe it's what drove us to sewing in the first place.

So coming full circle here; couture fits my sewing preference. It challenges me and keeps me extremely interested. I can buy jeans and tees for basically the price it would cost me to make them, and they fit me well (for now), so I feel I'd be wasting my time. I'll still make RTW when something has enough unique qualities about it to make it worth my time. And of course, for the children (well, one is fifteen so she won't be too thrilled with that label!) I will make anything they want- as long as I get to put my own spin on it :))

Its very liberating to know my motivations, and Pattern Review has played a big part in finding my way "home". Before, I never looked at my work, never wrote a single note, never took any pictures. Deepika has done so much more than simply asking us to review a pattern. She has created a database for us to store our individual sewing history, and I cannot thank her enough. Big hug, Deepika!

And big hugs to all of you too! Your comments and questions are so appreciated, as they are helpful, inspiring and encouraging.

PS. I just received an article about "Million Dollar Quartet" (still in previews at The Goodman in Chicago). Rock it out, Boys!

Chicago Sun-Times : "Million Dollar Quartet" rocks the house in stage musical

To Mini Wardrobe Or Not To Mini Wardrobe

That is the question.  Like Melissa, I started contemplating this the other night. I'm a terrible planner when it comes to sewing. I love using silk and anything that sparkles :-), yet my day-to-day life is basically jeans and tees. We're going to Chicago in the beginning of September to do a third (and final) workshop of our bio musical, so I have a good excuse to add some 'sparkle'... "my kind of town"... and all that jazz :)

My one and only time in Chicago was back in the early eighties. Don't remember much since I was already severely overworked and sleep deprived from months on the road with "Up With People". Yeah, and now that that's out the box- horrible I tell you- I'll get back to the more pleasant aspects. My DH lived in Chicago way back in the days, he was part of "Second City". I'm really looking forward to see the places he's talked about.

Sooo... looking at my clothes, the timeline and my stash, there's only one choice: Black. And then I'll add silver for sparkle :-)

I just fell in love with this blouse from YSL Rive Gauche. The black one. But look at how they hang on the form; the white has the closure in front whereas the black is in the back. What's up with that? The surprise of those cascading flowers down the back is so gorgeous IMO, what say you? I haven't draped it yet, just making the flowers at the moment.

I'm using silk organza and silver metallic thread (steil stitch), stabilized with tear away and solvy in the hoop, and I go between computer and machine to change the sizes. I think the blouse is chiffon and the bodice is underlined with organza. Suppose I'll wear a cami underneath, not much of a 'showing bra' kinda girl. Here's the link to yoox YSL BLOUSE

I'm thinking to do one more blouse and a skirt and pants. But I have to do it step-by-step. I'm too much of a control freak and have to see everything as I go along. I so envy those of you who can pull together such fantastic storyboards. And then make them!! On time!! Maybe one day... It was quite hard to vote in the Wardrobe Contest. Marji's guidelines were very helpful, and I ended up voting for the one I felt was most pulled together and suited the person best.

Finally, thank you all so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave such wonderful comments. You brighten my day and help motivate me. And you also make me better at documenting the process and to include my thoughts- a quite new experience since I'm on the quiet, shy side. (always was, unless I was on a stage :-) )