What a Dress!!!!

Came across this little number at LanetzLiving. Now this is a dress that makes a statement or two, or three! The dress is made in 2 separate reversable pieces that you join by either buttons or zippers. How ingenious is this, you get 3 dresses in one. Just LOVE IT!

The Dress That Wasn't

This Thurs., April 30th is The Husband's and my 26th Anniversary. One of our favorite restaurants that burned to the ground over 3 years ago has finally rebuilt and reopened recently. So we are going there to celebrate.

This is a big deal for us since we have had to really cut back on the nice dinners out. I wanted to have a pretty dress to wear so have been working on Simplicity 2896. I had a really great black and pink floral stretch poplin fabric picked out. I checked the sizing for the dress and it looked pretty straightforward as a size 12 would fit. So of course I didn't make a muslin. And of course it doesn't fit well.

Here is the dress, pretty much complete except for hem and sewing down the facings:


It looks great! Just not on me. It's a little snug in the hips (I let it out a 1/2 inch on each side already, no more seam to let out),a little tight across the tush and it kinda bunches at the stomach instead of lying flat. So I went out an bought one of these:



Yes, that's right ladies, the modern day version of our Mother's Girdle!!!! But alas, it didn't help. It was still snug, still tight and still bunched. Maybe the style just isn't for me, but I am really bummed. I love the fabric and the look of the dress, just not on me.

So instead I will wear this dress (for the first time).



It looks soooo much better than the other one I may just make another. At least I will still get to wear these:

I have such a hard time finding cute shoes that fit okay and are reasonable I was thrilled to find these at the local Bealls.

Next up I'm working on practicing buttonholes. I finished a muslin for this blouse NL6598 of the sleeveless collarless view. I love this style of blouse and can see making all of these variations. BUT, I need to sharpen my buttonhole skills. I will start practicing them tonight. If it works out well on the muslin I will make the short-sleeved collar version in a red and black print next.

New Look 6860

Holly's Dress

I finished this dress made from NL 6860 for my grandniece, Holly.



It was very easy and only took 2 days start to finish. I like this pattern because you can make several different dresses from it and no 2 would remotely look alike. I liked that the bodice was lined and on a fancier fabric I would consider lining the skirt.

This was the first time I put in a zipper after the side seams were together so that was a new experience for me. It certain is easier when the piece lies flat but I did and okay job.

Holly lives over 900 miles away in Chicago. I hope it fits her. I had her Mom send me a few measurements and the size she wears in RTW. She is only 6 but wears a 7 RTW. Her parents are very tall, my nephew is about 6'3". I decided bigger was better so went with the largest size in this pattern an 8. I know she'll love the color becuase green is her favorite, just like her Aunt!

So I have finished my garment for this month for the sew along on PR. If my dress fabric shows up, hopefully I will get another one done by the 30th, which is also our anniversary.


Lily One-Foot




Poor Lily had a growth removed from her pad last Weds. We saw the vet today and got good news, it was benign! We were very happy as Rotties are very prone to cancer so we are always looking for odd growths on them.

She has her bandage off today, now if we can just keep her from licking it!

Mixed Feelings

I have finally finished this dress. It seems like it has taken me forever. I have mixed feelings on this dress and am beginning to get a little down on the things I have made so far. I'm not sure if it's the styles I am picking for myself or the fabrics I'm choosing, but I'm not really totally pleased with anything.
Anyway, here is Simplicity 4220 (I made view B):

Sorry, I cut my head off, it has been raining and the humidity is outrageous. Not a good hair day. (And ignore the truckdriver tan, I was working in the yard the other day). I really liked the fabric, it is a very nice weight quilting cotton. I don't like to wear slips and it seemed to thin to me at the time so I lined it. Now it this is obviously a summer dress and it gets pretty warm here May to Oct, so I didn't want a polyester or acetate lining so I used a lt. weight muslin. I made the front and back dress, then the front and back lining and basted each piece together so you had one front piece and one back piece. Then I joined the shoulder and side seams and did the bias arm facings. Doing it this way eliminated the need for the neck facing.

The dress is a little heavier than I thought it would be (apparently the cotton wasn't as thin as I thought) but it's not bad, it still has a nice drape to it, not stiff. I cut a size 12 but added 1/2 inch to the side seam allowances then sewed the seams at 5/8 inch. This worked fine. I had to adjust the shoulder seam for my sloping shoulders. I think I needed to adjust it a little more but it's not too bad, better than the other blouse I did.

I thought this would make a nice summer dress. I was hoping it could be TNT but I'm just not that thrilled with it. Here's another view:

The Husband says I stand funny, with my shoulders back and stomach out, but that's the way I stand. Does this dress make me look fat????? Is it the color, the print (too busy)? What is wrong here? Is there anything wrong or am I being overly critical?

I don't know what I'll try next. I have to finish quilting a baby quilt so that will give me a few days to ponder my next project.

Homemade Ravioli:

The Husband got a pastamaker a few weeks back and has been practicing. Here is portabella ravioli in a parmasean cream sauce with an asparagus custard garnished with tomatoes and basil oil. I like how he tucked the ravioli to make them stand up. Tasty.


Fidos

I think all these dogs do is sleep!

Dress #1 New Look 6803

Okay, here it is my first dress using New Look 6803. The dress was super easy which is what I needed to start with to get back into sewing. I looked the pattern up on Patternreview.com and found a few helpful reviews.

I made version A and E (the belt) in a size 12 with no modifications. The fabric is a cotton quilting fabric that I had in my stash. The fit is what you would expect from a pattern that is labeled EASY. It has no darts and isn't very shaped, but it wasn't the total potato sack I thought it would be. I would never wear it without the belt. The front pleats do make it a little poofy at the bust but I'm small chested so any help there is appreciated!

All in all, I'm pleased with it and will wear it when it gets a little warmer or with an aqua colored cardigan, if I can find one.

Now my thoughts on my first web picture......let me just say this, I do not like having my picture taken. Don't know why, I just don't. And I am hardly ever pleased with the outcome. That being said I knew when I started this that I would need pictures and I like to look at the clothes people make on them, rather than on their dressforms. So I sucked it up and had The Husband take a few shots. This one was the best. It's not bad, I'll live. Although in my mind................I am much hotter in real life, ROFL!!!!


Tonight's Dinner


The Husband made one of my favorites....Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza. He makes the best thin crust pizza in my opinion. His crust is perfect, thin and crispy with just the right amounts of cheese, meats and sauce so as not to get soggy in the center. Honestly, I could eat it everyday.



Fido


This is Lily, aka The Princess, waiting for what
she thinks is rightfully hers ....a piece of pizza
crust. She got a piece, of course.