Sunday, May 19, 2013

Yes, I'm Still Here...

You may recall me sharing with you that my daughter is graduating high school this year and I'm using the prom dress I'm making for her as my submission in the "Frankenpattern" online Facebook challenge.  You may also recall that she wants the dress's details to remain secret until the big day.  However, I didn't want to wait until then to document the process, so I'm drafting all of my blog posts so I could publish them once I'm given the "okay".

Today, I struggled with getting the bodice muslin to fit because the pattern I'm using calls for jersey-type knits and I'm using a woven instead.  Simply cutting the bodice pieces on the bias did not provide enough stretch, so I had to redesign and reconstruct the bodice pieces.  You know I love her, right?

Anyway, I will share more details very soon.

Be blessed!

Aisha

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Have We Met Before?

I "discovered" In Style magazine about a year ago while in a hospital waiting room and really appreciated it's goal - to simply cover fashion.  Period.  The issue I perused didn't have articles on revving up my sex life, or adding the latest home decorating trend to my living room, or new recipes to encourage my family to ditch eating New York strip steak in favor of tofu, or a perceived overabundance of advertising - just some of the problems I've had with other so-called fashion magazines.  So, I recently started my subscription and have been eagerly waiting for my inaugural issue to arrive in the mail.  While thumbing through and adding page markers with Post-It notes (I dislike folded "dog-ear" pages), look what I found on page 78...


This dress looks so familiar.  Where have I seen this?


Saturday, May 4, 2013

What I CAN Tell You Is...

Judging from the many blog posts and Facebook updates, most of you already know it's Prom Season - a fact that has not been lost on me, either.  But, unlike the other prom dresses I've cranked out for my daughter in the past, this time it's for HER prom.  Baby Girl is graduating, and this one must be special.

I would LOOOOOOOVE to tell you what pattern I'm using and the modifications I'm planning in order to make this dress truly "hers".  As it turns out, I've been advised that all dress making plans fall under the realm of "Emanne's intellectual property" and must remain covert until the dress's grand unveiling.  You'd think she was getting ready to walk Oscar's red carpet!!

I have, however, been given permission to show you the fabric choices.  The dress's main body will be made of white crepe and accented with a golden-yellow charmeuse and beaded trim.  I feel it's safe to  mention the dress will be constructed from two different patterns.



Saturday, April 27, 2013

Setbacks Make Me Wanna Holla!!

I shared with you that I spotted this Michael Kors dress in the Bloomingdale's window display in Chicago recently and really want to make my version of it.  On a whim, I dropped by Haberman Fabrics in Royal Oak last Saturday to see if they had a wool crepe that would work for my "Kors" dress.  I didn't find a wool crepe, but there was a Tencel/Spandex fabric with a crepe texture that I felt would work well for my dress.  The color was not quite the "daffodil" I wanted; in fact, I'd describe it as "bile yellow" because it has a greenish undertone to it.  But, I bought 2 yards anyway because I thought I could work with it.


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Plight of the Project Clingers

How many unfinished projects do you have occupying space in your sewing studio?  A question I asked myself recently after reading a post on Erin McKean's "A Dress A Day" blog.  She wrote that, before a recent move, she went through plastic bins housing various sewing and alteration projects which have been "languishing, untended and uncompleted for two moves now."  After looking through them, she realized many of these "zombie projects" felt like "obligations" and it was time to let them go.  I recognize that I also suffer from a condition that I've coined Project Clinginess - yeah, I know it's not a real word, but just work with me for moment.  So I looked around my space, and here are just a few lingering projects I found.


Saturday, April 13, 2013

The Suno Floral

Recently, while surfing the internet, I saw a video clip where Lindsey Lohan made an appearance on "The David Letterman Show".  What prompted me to watch the clip was the caption, quoting her saying, "I thought you were going to be nice."

"Hmmm...what did he say?"  So, I watched part of the interview, and while in my opinion it was rather dull and no earth-shattering news shared, I did take notice of the dress she wore on the show.



Saturday, April 6, 2013

The Michael Kors Plan

After a quick search on the various pattern company websites and browsing through my own collection of patterns, I found one that I believe will serve very nicely for my interpretation of Michael Kors' wool/spandex sheath.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Michael Kors in Chicago

My younger kids were out of school this week for Spring Break, so we decided to hit the road and spend a few days in Chicago.  While walking the Mag Mile Wednesday night, I was drawn by the color combination in this Michael Kors window display at Bloomingdale's.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter 2013 (aka Vogue 1329)

I finally finished Vogue 1329 earlier this morning, and after about 2 hours of sleep, my family and I woke early to attend 8am church service and had Sunday brunch.  We just returned home, and you know how it is when you've had a hefty meal and little sleep.  But, before I slip into something more comfortable (not to say this dress isn't), I wanted to share a couple of pictures of my finished dress.




Saturday, March 30, 2013

Easter Fix-Up

While out shopping with my family today, I bought this dress for my daughter.  We discovered about 2 years ago that she loves the black-white-pink color combination, so she was bound and determined to not fall into her color comfort zone again.  I tell her "Why fight it?  They're your signature colors - go with it!!"  We spotted this dress at Sears (yes...Sears!) and she tried hard to not love it, but it was useless.

dress front

Monday, March 25, 2013

Projects in the Hopper

I'm still working on my two Carnival of Skirts submissions.  The black faux leather and crepe skirt is still in its holding pattern because I want to figure out the most-attractive way to attach the lining and facing to the zipper closing.


Thursday, March 21, 2013

Mmmm...Almost Embarrassed to Admit This

As I shared with you yesterday, I planned to take a 5-hour Energy drink while at work so I could make significant progress on sewing my skirt - and so, I drank half a bottle as I drove home.  Once I arrived, my daughter and I took Max for a walk in the neighborhood, ate dinner and I caught up on some of my favorite blogs.  Only after all of that did I begin working on Carnival #2.

I constructed the lining and facing, pinned and then sewed them both to the skirt body.  Everything looks good, right?



Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Tuckered Tuesday

I shared with you all last evening that I had a new training class starting today.  Well, as I expected, I am pretty tired this evening and really want to go to bed for my much-needed beauty sleep.  However, I didn't want the day to pass without doing something on Carnival #2.  I sewed the centered zipper in the skirt back.



Monday, March 18, 2013

Carnival of Skirts - Entry #2 Update

I hope you all had a great day, and that it's continuing through this evening.  I'm going to KISS this blog post - Keep It Short and Sweet.

My second Carnival submission is also cut from Butterick 5566, but View E this time.  I'm using a polyester herringbone suiting remnant I purchased at JoAnn's sometime last summer.  The fabric width is 58/60", and the length was just under 1 yard.  The regular price would be $11.91, but with their 50% remnant discount, I paid only $5.95 for the fabric.  I LOVE KNOWING HOW TO SEW!!!!!!!!



Sunday, March 17, 2013

Carnival Skirt Progress

I know, I know...it's been well over a month since my last post entry, not to mention I'm EXTREMELY late with my "Carnival of Skirts" submissions, but I recently read something on an email message that best sums up my defense...


Please be patient with reply…life is happening.


Although it appears the official "Carnival of Skirts 2012" blog is closed, my plan is to complete my submissions.  With that said, I was able to put in work on my first skirt today.  But, before I detail today's progress, I would like to share construction details for the work I've already completed.



Sunday, February 3, 2013

Carnival of Skirts - Entry #1 Update

I worked on my first Carnival of Skirts submission today - between Super Bowl commercials and the half-time show.  I will share more details on the skirt's construction and design changes later this week, but I just wanted to share a couple of pictures.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Finding Order in Chaos

I know I've been away from the blog for several months now, and while this type of inactivity is not unheard of from me, hopefully you'll understand my absence when I explain what's been going on.