Month: June 2013

Maria Denmarks Yasmin Skirt for Indie Pattern Month!

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OK, thank yous first! Sew Busy Lizzy gave me a free pattern from Maria Denmark (Happy late Solstice Maria!) and I chose the Yasmin yoke skirt and used a soft charcoal linen I received in a freebie bundle from fabricmart.201

By the by, I was quite proud of this mature choice. Seriously, CHARCOAL…..GREY…..LINEN. Do you link these words with me? Probably not. To date I have made…hmm…. maybe 4 things in solid colors and I wear them to work. Yes. I made turdlety brown scrub tops and such. Nothing much to write home about. So to pick out a mature, sensible color and fabric, whoo-boy! Did I ever feel mature. So I was showing the Mothership my latest plans and I get to this piece of fabric and she is holding it up and feeling it and I haven’t shown her the pattern yet and she looks at me and says- in total seriousness- ‘Why don’t you sew up both sides and then use it to store onions’. So in case you ever wondered, this apple did not fall far from the gaudy tree!

Ok, so onto the  show! This pattern is a really easy to follow and well-thought out work. It makes alterations easy, it is a sharp shape and I’m already thinking about a few more for summer. Want to see a picture?linen1

Oh, sorry, just-IMG_1397

let me finish this ironing- linen, Gees, what a lot of ironing.IMG_1401

Ok. Here we go. Well- IMG_1407

Here it is- I love the shape of the pockets and I lined with them with this frisky calico left over from a Godbabe Callie romper project.IMG_1399

Wait- let me just run this under the iron just once more.IMG_1413

Ok. Thats better.Lets see how we do. IMG_1416

Crap! I wrinkled it while trying to get it past my bloomers?!IMG_1426

I did not have charcoal grey invisible zipper, so I used an eggplant colored regular one, cuz, well, if you can’t match- do it in a big way, right? Ok, I am thinking calm, unwrinkling thoughts.IMG_1388

All ironing foolishness aside- I’m really pleased with this skirt. I will definitely be trying more of Maria’s patterns and if you haven’t, please do!

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Hey, that reminds me- did you hear that squeak? This barely made it on time for Indie Pattern Month!!!! Go check out the show!

photo credits: meadhawg, Pattern Review, google images. all images remain the property of their original owners.

Swingin’ and Swappin’ and gettin’ real merry!

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sss_13_xl

Last year I enjoyed Kestral’s Swap so much, I had to do it again! I was paired with Musings of a Seamstress – go check her out! She is a  gal on a very special mission this year. Her mission wasn’t to send me the perfect fabric, but it could have been! Check out my loot!!!

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You all know how I like to be giddy and this almost broke the giddymeter! I wouldn’t have been more pleased if the Swinton had dropped it by on her way to the Planetary Summit. The nappy coral formation fabric is my favorite actually- even tho it’s sort of like a solid color! Strange! DSC08551

I must be getting too predictable. Thats 2 lovelies in a row that threw we some gorgeous beastie prints and tunicy spendidness! I think this suit will be my next make to throw you all off track: V8887

It will be in a sensible beige and I will wear it with nude heels and a sensible slip……… Ok, that was even hard for me to type! Do not send out a search party- I will not do this! I love that I am a bit gaudilly predictable to my webbie friends- who I am very thankful for!mabel-normandkiss

Now I have to go find a special place in

THE CLOSET OF INFINITE TEXTILE HOARDING

for my new treasures!

photo credits: meadhawg, google images, all images remain the property of their original owners.

Wearable Wednesday The Innovators

40 Comments

Today is the 100th Wearable Wednesday. Seriously! So when I found this group show, I thought it would be perfect for us. So set phasers on snark and lets roll!

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Oh, you need to show us more innovation that that- we’ve seen unlined garments, am I right?

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Free-form zipper placement, check, please.

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I like this print- looks like Bruder helped me paint.

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Oh, snooze. Wait- it has a mudflap. Now I’m impressed.in5

I think this is a different designer from the group- either that, or during the runway show alot of people come out and wave periodically. Could just be that. Anyone know? Is this a game show or something? in7

Totallly different sheer vibe now.

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Hmm.in9

I had a kite like this once.

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Ok, designer switch- or did I really have to tell you that?

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Fav so far- are you shocked?

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Any thoughts?

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Oh good. A Biker jacket with a growth extension.

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Ok, your turn- in the comments:

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Poe or Chaplin?

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Oh, the little tramp, obviously.

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Does my gargoyle distract you?

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is that- no….in21

photo credits: Vogue Australia. All images remain the property of their original owners.

Cuckoo Chanel is SEW BOSSY!

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SEW BOSSY BADGE

When I saw the above on Closet Case files  I was most intrigued. I immediately thought about the pride of Hillsborough, NJ- Shelley of Cuckoo Chanel. She is sassy, girly and wears a lot of dresses. I started pestering her. She let me and soon I was giggling magically over a box at the post office- thrilled that she would play with me. Indeed she did play! I received this:5815

and also the most fabulous animal print  floral gaudy gorgeousness!  Shelley- you have been paying attention! She didn’t take me out of my comfort zone with a blazer or chainmail- she really thought of little me- Shelley, you are a dear!!!by2

Ok, first off, I didn’t initially notice the cool cross over shoulder action- tiny, tiny tech drawing- now I am thrilled with how it repeated the sleeve crossover and takes it a step away from ‘oh, gee a boatneck, how fascinating‘. I crossed it over in the opposite direction from the instructions after walking around Ms Holloway and seeing how the print looked various ways. I liked the way the zebra laid best from this angle. After all- whats  the first rule of the jungle, kids? Thats right. ‘Don’t be a zebra’.*IMG_1320

Now don’t bother to tell me the shoes are too much, you know I don’t believe in such things! I love that last pic- it’s like I have paparazzi…. This next pose is ‘Blue Steel’ of course. IMG_1330

I immediately thought I should belt this, but I got to really like how the drape was without it and hell, I didn’t have to suck in all day. So that really appealed too! By the by, we had to drive around quite a bit to find a photo spot that didn’t clash with little me! by1

Now, Shelley, if you think that I am just being gracious and made the top just for the pics and probably never planned to wear it again, let me share a little secret from the Closet of Infinite Textile Hoarding……I just might have bought 4 yards of this material myself unknowingly because I just couldn’t resist it! Lady, you have made this gaudy gal quite happy! by3

Thank you Shelley and Closet Case Files- I really enjoyed being sew bossed around! *Thats Jungle Cruise humor- yes, this top will see Mickey- another garment test passed- it will go Mousing well!

photo credits: meadhawg, Pattern Review. All images are the property of their original owners.

June 14, 2013

19 Comments

I just need to share this today.

I’ve Always Loved You Best……..

Dear First Born
I’ve always loved you best because you were our first miracle. You were the genesis of a marriage and the fulfillment of young love. You sustained us through the hamburger years, the first apartment, our first mode of transportation (1955 Feet), and the seven-inch TV we paid on for 36 months. You were new, had unused grandparents, and enough clothes for a set of triplets. You were the original model for a mom and dad who were trying to work the bugs out. You got the strained lamb, the open safety pins and three-hour naps. You were the beginning!

Dear Middle Born
I’ve always loved you the best because you drew a tough spot in the family and it made you stronger for it. You cried less, had more patience, wore faded hand-me-downs, and never in your life did anything first. But it only made you more special. You were the one we relaxed with, who helped us realize a dog could kiss you and you wouldn’t get sick. You could cross a street by yourself long before you were old enough to get married. And you helped us understand the world wouldn’t collapse if you went to bed with dirty feet. You were the child of our busy, ambitious years. Without you, we never could have survived the job changes and the tedium and routineness that is marriage.

To My Baby
I’ve always loved you best because while endings are generally sad, you are such a joy!! You readily accepted the mild-stained bibs, the lower bunk, the cracked baseball bat, the baby book that had nothing written in it except a recipe for graham-cracker piecrust that someone had jammed between the pages. You are the one we held on to so tightly. You darken our hair, quicken our steps, squared our shoulders, restored our vision, and give us a sense of humor that security, maturity, and durability can’t provide. When your hairline takes on the shape of Lake Erie and your own children tower over you, you will still be our baby!!!

-Erma Bombeck, 1971

Thank you so much Ma.

Wearable Wednesday Elie Saab

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I demand pretty today. Pretty dresses and well-cut gorgeousness. I think Elie delivers nicely, do you? Look at the detail on this skirt- el1

I’m also crushing on these little booties!

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Ok, this is not the most practical outfit, especially with the crotch motif placement, but so pretty! el3

The cut of this dress is thrilling me- obviously more than it is thrilling the model.

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Ok, who can we picture in this? The Kidman perhaps?

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I think I could carry off this next one- altho that plunge deserves it’s own diving board?! el6

With only a few discrete slashes, this converts easilly to nursing apparel- how handy! el7

She did not want to wear black.

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Hey, you know what? Wearable Wednesday is getting close to it’s 100th Wednesday- who can believe it? So, the 1st poster to remind us all of what designer started us off on our bitchy cruise gets a little Annelicious prize. Don’t let my taste scare you!!!

 

photo credits: Vogue

Mccalls 6741- a Marsupial Housedress?

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Today I’m going to be that person on pattern review that I just hate. I love getting  new patterns then checking out what others have done with it on PR or Flickr. Except, when I really need to know what some Big4 craziness really looks like without all the editing, photoshop, weird poses, smoke, mirrors and palm trees. Like this one: 6741

Wanda, I love your cruiseship handbag. I do. But it is distracting me from noticing that you have marsupial pockets. Oh, you meant to do that.

So I haunt PR looking for people who have dove in before me and tried out a new pattern. Then  I see that someone has altered the snot out of something so much that it is barely the same pattern and no help at all.

I did that. I customized this badboy like a fancy lowrider. lowrider

I know sweetie, but I was really thinking more along the lines of a fancy altered car. Sorry. By the way, that is Liesls ‘ thinking’ pose. known_gallery_sesame_street_grover_blue_custom_lowrider

OK, so I am loving my new dress- I tried to get out of my print rut and try something different and I was worried at first that it has a little housecoat feel, but I think adding the little tucks at the neckline and the buttons and tapering the waist in a bit helped that. Do you think? I am still weirded out by this pocket placement- it feels clumsy or like a very low set hoodie. Ah. Lowrider pockets. How on theme!cute2

The front tucks started as a fix to the gappy neckline that resulted from little me thinking a center front seam just had no purpose and distorted my adorable par-cheesey print fabric. Then I just liked it more than the slashed neckline and kept rolling. Design option or  miscalculation? You say tomato, I say tomatoe….IMG_1274

I used to feel great shame if the pattern didn’t look like the envelope- I took it to mean that I couldn’t follow directions. Like PR was judging me with that question on the review template. I always feel like putting in ‘No! …and I’m really, super sorry!’  Now I think it’s more about personalization.IMG_1283

Ok, more details. I skipped the back zip, removed the center seam, no lining, I created a neck facing once the tucks were set and oh, hey, thats all I changed. Next time I’d like to try the slightly funnel-necked version. What do you think? Is it a marsupial housedress?IMG_1269

Now. Lately I have read alot about blog comments seeming too kind, or just repetative and not very informative. So, let me tell you- I love some constructive thoughts, it’s a big help. On the otherhand, if you just wish to repetitively praise me, let me make this easier. Please select A, B or C and drop it in the comment both.

A- Damn, Anne- your proportions are practically willowy in this! When is Colin Firth leaving his wife for you?

B- Never have I seen such raw, gaudy talent outside of the Chanel workroom

C- Why do they not let you grace the covers of all big4 pattern envelopes? They are missing out on huge revenue.

Oh! I forgot-

D- All of the above and a german chocolate cupcake is in the mail!

photo credits: Pattern Review, google images,  meadhawg. All images remain the property of their original owners.