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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

MMM Weeks Dos y Tres

I'm really liking MMM 15 and am surprised at how many MM items I actually have.  Here's a recap of weeks two and three:

Vogue 8952, worn on days 11 and 22.  This photo is actually from Day 22.  I spilled so much coffee on my t-shirt on day 11 that it was un-photographable!



MMM Day 15 - Vogue 2011 top and skirt

MMM Day 16 - Vogue 1322 cape

MMM Day 17 - Self-drafted skirt



MMM Day 18 - Vogue 1247 skirt and Vogue ? jacket


MMM Day 19 - Vogue 9679 suit


MMM DAY 20 - Skirt - Butterick 6102
Shirt -Vogue 1846 - OOP Byron Lars


MMM Day 21 - Top - Vogue 2064 - OOP DKNY Pattern

MMM Day 22 - Top - Vogue 8951








MMM Day 24 - Skirt - Vogue 8908


MMM Day 25 - Dress - McCall's 6556




MMM Day 26 - Skirt - Self-drafted black panel lace.


I think I may be a little sad when MMM is over, but I'm learning about the holes in my wardrobe and actually appreciating the items I've been wearing much more so than after I first made them.  I'm not sure why that is, but it's a good feeling.  

Are you participating in MMM?  How has the experience been for you so far?

Hasta pronto!

Friday, May 15, 2015

Me Made May- Something Old- Vogue 2011

Hola,

I've been participating in MM15 but just posted my first pictures to the Flickr group.  Oh well, the month is only about half over.  Today's theme is, "Something Old," and I'm always one for a theme!

Here you have today's outfit, Vogue 2011, OOP (Out of Print) Calvin Klein:


Front View

Party in the back, view!

Although this is definitely Something Old, as it was made for our trip to Peru in 2008, I still really love it!  It travels so well!  The t-shirt is made from some comfy stretch knit that's super soft, while the skirt is made from a type of nylon material that doesn't wrinkle very much and dries super quickly.  That was especially useful when I had to wash it by hand in a hotel sink.  Both fabrics were purchased at Fabrix and the outfit was sewn when I was still living in SF.  

I can wear this entire outfit with sandals or flats (as you see here), but on trips I've changed into higher heeled shoes and statement jewelry for a dressier look.  Other times, I've worn the skirt with boots and tights, and the t-shirt has accompanied me many times under a heavy sweater or jacket in chilly temps.

This pattern is a classic with just a bit of edge.



Both t-shirts, view A and B are timeless as are the skirts.  Even though the view I made, view D, is asymmetrical, one could always straighten the hem to achieve something symmetrical.  View C, the long skirt on the right hand side is a wrap skirt with a buckle as opposed to a tie.  I think this would look cute as a summer skirt in linen.  I'm seriously contemplating this make for the coming warm weather.

Hasta pronto!

Monday, May 11, 2015

Me Made May - 2015 - Week Numero Uno


Hola,

I'm participating in Me Made May for the first time, and here's a recap of week numero uno:

Business Chica

Brunch in the Village - Previously made but un-blogged lace panel skirt/Zara top



May 4th - Mod Squad


Cinco de Mayo - my birthday!  All-female mariachi lunch
Frieda Falda and un-blogged me made top


Cinco de Mayo - Birthday Dinner with Prof. R.
What She Wore to Goldfrapp
May 6th - Lunch with Prof. R
Un-blogged Vogue 1073

May 8th
Un-blogged self-drafted nautical dress


May 9th - Visit to Wolf Park, IN
Un-blogged top and pants
May 10th - Visit to a Video Store in IN!
Un-blogged dress


So far it looks like I'm able to maintain my pledge of wearing at least 3 me-made garments each week for the month of May.  Are you participating in Me Made May?

Hasta pronto!




Friday, May 1, 2015

I Did a Bad, Bad Thing...

I'm not a bad person, I just did a bad thing.  Can you tell Netflix's, "Bloodline" has been my recent binge watching sewing show?

Anyway, here's my confession:

I bought some fabric!

Ignore the wrinkles.  I put them through the washer and dryer so they'll all prepped and ready to go!  I promise you'll see wrinkle-free finished garments soon.

Why is this bad?  Because like many other sewing chicas, I'm supposed to be on a fabric diet.  Consuming the fabric in my personal larder (what some may call my own fabric store) is permitted - anything else, with the exception of a graduation dress I have to sew for one of my nieces, is prohibido!  My stash consists of 4 giant stuffed-to-the-brim-so-that-the-lids-won't-stay-on, plastic storage tubs stacked two and two.  On top of each of these are two extra large vacuum storage bags so full of fabric that they can't be vacuumed closed.  Under the bed there are two more storage bins.  One contains my UFO's, and the other contains interfacing and muslin.  I sort of think the last one doesn't count as excessive stored stash (say that 5 times fast) since it's good to have interfacing and muslin on hand.  But all the rest, for a 1 bedroom NYC apartment, is a bit excessive.

In my defense, most of the fabric in my stash came with me from San Francisco where it never really gets warmer than 75 degrees F.  June can be one of the coolest months, and you almost always need to wear a jacket.  The fabrics in my stash reflect this, my former environment.  They're lovely wools, tweeds, thick stretch wovens and some great heavy cotton knits.  Back in San Francisco, I never had much cause to sew light cotton anything.  Now that I'm here in NYC, clothing from light fabrics is a necessity during the late spring and summer months.

When I saw these I grew excited by their colors and textures.  Don't they scream light summer tunics, floaty dresses, cute little short skirt outfits, etc.?

Here's the back story:  I was on a business trip last week, when off to the side of the road, I saw a giant Joann's sign.  Since I needed some thread, I thought I'd just pull over, pick up the thread; and be done with it.  Thread in hand, I wouldn't have to make a special trip to the garment district when I got back to NYC, thus enabling me to start my next project without pause.

Once in the store, I remembered I needed a zipper for the second project in my queue, so I grabbed that.  I then headed to the cash registers, but at the last minute decided to take a quick "peak" at the fabrics.  What harm could there be in just "seeing" what stock they had?   Well, I'm never one to resist fabric on sale, and they had it - lots of it.

Again, sorry for the wrinkles!

The rose print in this bundle is one of the new Gertie fabrics, and I'm thinking of pulling a 50's style shirtwaist out of it (creative, I know).  The woman at Joann's who cut my fabric was amazed that the Gertie fabric is a Dotted Swiss.  I was amazed that she even knew what Dotted Swiss is.  A lot of folks who work in fabric stores these days don't know very much about fabric.

Now that I've confessed my bad, here's my good.  I signed up for Me Made May '15!  I have pledged to wear at least 3 MMM items per week for the month of May.  This could be a bit of a test for someone like me who mainly works from home.  Maybe I need to sew some more PJs:)  But, here's my day one of Me Made May '15:

Sorry for the grainy photo!

This is Business Chica, Tracy Reese Vogue 1092, and I wore it to a work function today.  Several ladies complemented me on my suit, and when I said those 3 little words, "I made this," they oohed and awed.  I just love it when that happens.  Well, Me Made May '15 is off to a good start!

Hasta pronto!

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