Remember me? I used to blog! Ok, well, I’d like to tell you a fancy tale about pirates, ninjas and a ring of Beanie Baby knock off smugglers and an international chase with cable cars, but……..I got nothing. Honestly, I just got lazy. Once I got out of the habit of taking pictures after each first wear- it snowballed and I just never got back to it! But alas, I’ve missed the adoration of the masses, the community, the feeling of kinship with other people who don’t just stare blankly when I rhapsodize over my joy at self- facings. 
So here I am! Back in the yard while Mr B is off at Beer Club. It’s a thing. What separates it from alcoholism is the bumper sticker. It’s Mead night. I think that involves horned helmets and lots of braided beards. I’ve politely declined my breastplate opportunity.
By the by- this is the exact face I made during gym class. Bewildered and not sure where the ball was. We have a new (to us) Pup-pup. Please met Jas-mini! She is our rescue dog- we found a black and Tan Dapple Dachsie at the local Petsmart/Humane society event and as they say in the war movies- NEVER LEAVE A MAN BEHIND! So. Lets get this party started. Mini is a fetching machine and this dress looks lovely in motion. I know this because everytime I walked to the cafeteria in it, I got compliments. It gently swirled about me as I bent into the ice cream cooler. can I get some love for my excellent match of shoe and textile? I mean really!
So Mini will fetch while I toss the yellow bone and tell you about my stellar work on this Franken-pattern. We proceed.
I’ve had simplicity 8125 for a very long time. It’s OOP and hasn’t gotten much love on Pattern review. One review in a pretty floral. I chose the longest version with the little flippy awning sleeves. But I have issues. That seam down the front- can I be saved from that? How about that back seam? You know I’m no fan of the back seam- if I can weasel in without a zip- I am weaselin’! So I trotted to the vault where good fabric waits for bad ideas. I found 2 lovely challis prints that Fabricmart made me buy and when I held them up together for Mr B- he plotzed. I assured him- or tried to that it was a great idea! He was beyond uncertain. Normally that would make me pause and question, but I WANTED THIS!!!! So Bruder and I retreated to the sewingroom to shake our little fists and rue stuff.
Oh! Do you know what this needs???? A overskirt! So I stole the overskirt piece from Burda 6944 – a pattern I bought when the Hancock fabric was closing and I was on a spree. I think I saved enough of the original concept to make the top half almost recognizable- almost? Sort of? 
Once I was in square handkerchief frenzy- I decided to add a triangle of the contrast fabric to the center of each sleeve awning. By the way, pattern placement failed me. I liked to see the little birds, but I kept seeing one out of the corner of my eye and the white splash was jarring. I’m easily distracted.
Once I got this all together, we had a cold snap. Seriously. A cold snap in SC. So this stayed on Ms Holloway the dress form for a week or two and I felt like it was calling out- ‘Hey! I’m not busy enough!’ so I added some copper-toned bits of business to satisfy my inner crow. Finally the weather cleared up and we are back to the 1 hour of spring we get every year before it turns to a back fat blistering southern hell. Action shot- I’m moving so fast, everything but Bruder is a blur!
Mini? May I ask why you are refuses to get into camera range? You aren’t Garbo you little snot- get back over here and be cute so one of us is coo-worthy! 
Min-Min, come here, precious! Bring the drool soaked yellow bone to Mama! Come here pretty girl! Go get her Bruder! Ok, just lay down.
Why do I try to organize you beasties?! I swear- none of you are earning the kibble!
photo credits: little me, Pattern Review
Pretty Grievances 
WELCOME BACK! I swear I thought you’d fallen into your own cleavage you little devil. Love the fabrics, love the overskirt, love the inner crow. {or should that be magpie? meh]
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Ah thank you- I have no good excuse! Bruder did miss his forum!
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Oh hi! Welcome back! I always love Wearable Wednesday but it’s great to see your new dress. 👍🏻 On the fabric pairing.
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Oh thank you! I love a quirky mix.
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I love the way you distributed the two types of fabric for a balanced composition. Good thing you went with your instincts and did this! The tiny bit of darker blue (hidden breast plate?) works as a subtle punctuation.
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Thank you! I was more attracted to the bird print, but thought the subtler pattern should dominate or it could get quite….busy!
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If your fabric pairing can make a man plotz, you’ve got a winner! Love everything about this! I am always drawn to this kind of neckline/waistline arrangement, but as the lady says, I like to wear my boobs down around my waist, and I usually find that the seam rides up very uncomfortably. Did you have to make any adjustment to the pattern?
P.s. Kudos for the rescuing of dogs!!!
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Let me tell you about Jas-mini. The humane society lady said that she was pedigreed and the owners took her to the shelter because she was paralyzed. Seriously. Well, she was fostered and after crate rest and steroids- she is as you see- a force to be teckoned with!
I didn’t do any alterations but my usual- narrow shoulder adjustment. It’s an easy fit.
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Yes, that is possibly the least-paralyzed dog in history. Do not get me started on owners of dogs who decide to get rid of them because of X, Y or Z. Thank you for sharing the happy rescue story! And the pattern suggestion!
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Love your creative dress! And welcome back. I missed you!!
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Aw! Thank you so much!!!
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Welcome back! This is such a lovely dress. I like the two colours together.
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Thank you! It just sort of forced itself on me!
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Are I pressed sent instead of the space bar… Doh! Congratulations on your new dog. I am glad that she is a rescue and really wish that more people would do this instead of buying dogs from breeders. It is very kind of you and I am sure that she loves her new home. Xx
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She fit in like the rest of our spoiled rotten herd- already feeling most entitled.
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Welcome back!! I also bought the bird fabric and absolutely love it – I wish I had your creative mind. All I managed with it is a pleated-neck shell style top, but your dress is so awesome! Love the combo of fabrics!
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I went thru the Anthropologie site and thought of so many ideas with that fabric! I still have enough to make a summer top- since I have the shoes, right?
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yes!!!!!
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I love this dress, so pretty. The two fabrics work very well together and I love your embellishments. I knew if I waited long enough you would post again! Love those cute pups.
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I’ve been doing a lot of cross stitch and I’ve noticed a lot of dachshunds featured on stitchers posts- mine needed their forum back!
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Yay, it’s you and not an array of vaguely-awake models wearing g*d knows what! 😉 (Not hating–I love those posts but miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissed you.)
Love the Dress of Many Skirts, the dog, the tribute to your inner crow, and the idea of you getting an honorary breastplate for literally any/no reason. You ought to reconsider that refusal, IMO…
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Well, if Mead night becomes a reoccurring event…..
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I really like the fabric you used! It all looks great together. Also, your dogs are freaking adorable.
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If they weren’t adorable- they’d have been strangled long ago! They run our damned house.
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So glad to see your post. I’ve missed you, both your humor and your sewing. We are built much the same, so your posts are both entertaining and inspirational. Hope your blogging mojo and sewing are here to stay.
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Thank you! I get so tired of scrolling thru reviews looking for sympathetic barrels- I’m going to have to be everyone’s cautionary tale! Heehee
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You.Are.The.Best.
And your dress creation is fantastic. Please write more, more, more!
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Oh p’shaw! You’ll regret this!! Heehee
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Missed you, missed your makes, missed the hounds, missed laugh snorting at your commentary. It’s good to have you back!
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Oh you are too kind!!
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Wild applause! I’m so glad you’re back. I too, have disappeared because for some mad reason I think my district needs a State Representative that can sew. (But I am working on a costume for a film, even though the timing is the WORST). XOXO to you and your cutie babies!!!
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Ooh! Your state is lucky to have you!
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They didn’t pick me, but that’s okay—now I can SEW.
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Yay! You’re back! You will inspire me to write another blog post so I thank you 🙂
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I really like this ensemble, the two colours work brilliantly. So glad you’re back, humour and sewing, a double bill.
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Thank you, Ma’am!
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I haven’t read you blog before, but every word brought a smile to my face so I will be back. Oh and then the sewing !!
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Oh you are too kind!
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Sooooo happy your are back!! I was laughing through the whole post. I’ve missed you. Love the top. You are fabulous. (the dogs are cute too)
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I won’t tell the pups they were mentioned last- they may refuse to pose again!
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So. So. Good. To have a post from you again. Love your work. And all that research for wearable Wednesday’s has not taken away your awesome style and eye for print matching and pattern hacking. Plus your dogs are the best.
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I haven’t seen you around much, but I haven’t been around much either. This is a cool take on the pattern. Well done!
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Well let’s get out more, shall we?
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Oh I am SO glad to see you back! I’ve missed you. Dress is fabulous, as always!
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Oh thank you!
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I only know you as the weekly runway show. How pleasant to meet the force behind the scenes. I adore this dress on you and I’m still trying to figure out how you got from the simplicity to adding the burda. Awesome look.
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Ah- where there is a gaudy will- there is a way! I just basted it to the Simplicity skirt and pretended it was all one piece.
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great to see you posting your makes again, welcome back!
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When I recently recommended your marvellous blog to my ten loyal followers I know they would have to rely on the back catologue for the belly laughs. But you go and produce new material! A series two! Of Gaudy and Doggy!! I was so thrilled! Bruder wasn’t the only drooler. Love how you have done that handkerchief overskirt and the layered sleeves to get the maximum fizz out of the two fabrics. Love the high waist and the 1920s vibe.
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I kept thinking it had a lovely armistice shape and I now pity the lucky 10!
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Hey!!! Kitty and I are so excited you adopted a resue pup!!!! 😊🐶 I’m sure you are a match made in heaven. A bit camera-shy she is. I think you did a great job of adding your own flair to this pattern. I like the overskirt and fluttery sleeve piece. Looks lovely on you. As for the pattern, I wonder why the centre placket doesn’t go around to the back of the neck? Maybe they figured everybody wearing this would have long hair? 😁
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Ok, ok,ok! That has seriously bothered me- but I didn’t realize it until I was done. In a contrast print it’s a bit jarring. Especially with my sloping shoulders. I may have to haul it back into the garage and make a facade-facing!
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Honestly, I bet nobody except other sewists would notice it. We critique patterns so…. It’s an odd design choice though. Just because it’s a V, plaquet style neckine doesn’t mean there’s also not a back of neck neckline. Ya know? *shrugs*
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Hey there Girl!!! Welcome back. I haven’t been seeing in ages. I hope I can follow in your footsteps…and start seeing this Fall!
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Let’s do this! Jump off the cliff with me….or let’s make it a bouncy castle jump. More fun.
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This dress is perfection…shape and color blocking and those cool sleeves! No wonder the compliments are flowing! So good to see you back with custom fashion to inspire the rest of us drooling over the Anthropologie catalog…you went one step better! Anne is back…HOORAY!
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Oh thank you! Any suggestions for the baby under bust drag lines? I think it’s the 2 layers being contrary….
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Just looking at the top layer and the drag lines, if you make it again, the top edge of the skirt where it joins the bodice could use an inch or two more fabric and graduate to nothing at the side seams. That will allow the skirt to drop a little and not really change the overall appearance. If the underneath skirt does the same thing, then add a little to that layer as well. You inspired me to buy both patterns!
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Ok- I may pop her back on Ms Holloway and give that a go. Thank you- you are always so good to share your skills with us!
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Oh how I’ve missed you, and it’s so nice to see you back for your adoring fans. I was going to admire the dress first but then I had to give all the love to your little rescue pup. You have really made that dress your own, and I suspect that Jas-mini has made you her own!
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Jas-mini is a force to be reckoned with! She has made me her official lap and Daddy her fetch slave. We are filled accepted!
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Lovely dress and was happy to see your review at PR and your funny/witty blog post again.! Glad you are back!
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Thank you, Ma’am!
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So glad you are back! I love your pattern mixing on your dress! Lovely as always!
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Oh you are too kind!!
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I’ve missed your sewing, writing, and the dogs! So glad you are back!
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So glad to see you and the dogs again, missed your humour. Love that dress on you, looks fabulous darling!
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thank heaven. i can breathe again. you are back.
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You obviously are not standing close to Bruderlein!
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Yay! You’re back. Though I love the “wednesday WTH?” It gets me through the week. Love your dress. An excellent combo.
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Well thank you- I think it will be a major summer staple for me.
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I haven’t sewn for about five years, and not read much about it either, but have never deleted a blogger I enjoy from my feedly. You are the reason I own the Cynthia Rowley 1939 pattern and it’s still very high on my list of things I will sew once I get back to it.
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Sometimes we just can’t put our energy where we want to- I hope you get back to it for enjoyment.
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I’m glad to see your post. Your humor is a great way to look at sewing and fashion so thank you!
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Well thank you! One just can’t be too serious about these things.
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you have not missed a step during your hiatus – from the prose to the fabric pairing, returning in rare form! so happy to read any post by you.
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Oooh- you kind enabler!!
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So glad you’re back! I can’t decide which I love more, your fabric or your writing! Thanks for the most fun you can have without spending money!
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Awwww! You’re so sweet! My grinch heart is touched.
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4 days late, but finally here for the laughs and the puppers. 🙂 I literally LOL’d at the dog caption of being afraid of falling into your cleavage. 🤣 So glad to see you sewing again!
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I think this dress is great, with the two layers and the fabric patterns. Cute dogs too–
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Boom! It’s great to have your sassy self back in front of the camera 😀 I love how ninja the bird print is – at first I thought it was a fab geometric number and then KAPOW – it’s birds everywhere!
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I’m so glad to see you back posting about the things you make! I like the dress. (And the doggies.)
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I should have gotten a pup in at least one picture to add guest stars!
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