It Became a UFO

Well my dear ladies, I took the 70's shirt out of the trash to work on it some more, and I finished it up, but it looks like a UFO, ie, an Unidentified Foreign Object on me. I love the front style, the long bell sleeves (!) but the way the pattern is designed, needs some help. I think I'll keep the pattern and use it sometime in aid to draft up another shirt that looks like a shirt.

Now what do I want to work on? Something Edwardian, something Renaissance, something modern, something else? Maybe I should just go to JoAnns to pick up some muslin for my Regency bodiced petticoat.

The 70's Church Choir Robe?

When I was at the thrift store a couple weeks ago, I picked up this cute 70's shirt pattern. I especially liked view D.
And so with some stashed fabric that was labeled "what do I do with this?" I thought I'd use it as a tester to see if I'd like the pattern or not.

::cough:: I think they must have used a choir robe pattern as a base for this. Talk about shapeless. I didn't even bother sewing up the underside of the sleeves and bodice sides.

Well, I tried, and it's going in the trash can right beside my sewing machine. =) I think I'll go don a vintage apron and make banana bread.

Cheri is now selling lace!

As apart of my desire to destash my sewing room, I remembered my stashed lace that I bought from an ebay dealer a couple years ago. Greatly misunderstanding the amount I was getting, you can imagine my shock when I received over 60 meters of this cluny lace from England, in the mail!

Would you like to take some off my hands?

Climbing Whatchamacallit

I need a break from my Regency sewing. Well, I had to whether I needed one or not being that I don't have any material for the bodiced petticoat. So I go to my stashed fabric and pull out a lovely high quality print of climbing flowers of some sort, to be made into a Gracie apron.

The rich plum bias really brings out dark purple centers in the green flowers. Oh to be allowed to have as many aprons as one wishes. ::sighs::

If you want it, you may have it.

First of three projects done!

After hours and hours of hand sewing, poking my fingers, and so on, I am happy to say that it is wonderful to be finally finished with this dress! Well, at least everything is done except for the hem which I will do once the other garments are done.
Because of the sheerness of this fabric, I will need another garment underneath it. =) It was either a chemise and stays, or a bodiced petticoat to go along with it. Because the less bulk the better for a light summer gown, I have chosen to do the bodiced petticoat. Looking at the instructions for it, I think I might try to implement the actual stays pattern for the top part. Stays would offer the proper silhouette needed for this particular pattern, and so we'll see how it turns out.

After I make that, my peach robe will be next.

Of tea, sewing, and Dickens

Today is one of those cold snowy days where you want to curl up underneath an afghan or quilt, and read a book. But because of a sudden busy schedule this weekend, and a waking up to a migraine this morning, I don't have hours to sit down and get cozy.

I do have a small amount of time however at this moment to fix myself a cup of some *tea from England and watch an episode of Bleak House. I might try to work on hand sewing the bias fabric to bind my sleeve and waist seams too...

*I was only to delighted to see this lovely canister of tea being sold at a local family-owed discount grocery store. It cost me $2.44 for 50 sachets. The tea is delicious, and the container will grace the kitchen counter for awhile.

Making progress

Still have an insecure and pregnant mama cat, and so I've been using my time of sitting near her, by doing a lot of hand sewing and I just added the sleeves to the bodice this morning (a backview):
I just love how the sleeves fit into the armholes like a glove! In previous makings of this dress, I felt like the sleeve wasn't in there properly or something. Turns out that the pattern did indeed have a couple of wrong markings, but they have been remedied, and now I can actually enjoy putting these sleeves in!

Now to just figure out how to do french seams on the armcycle of the sleeves...

EDIT: Okay, never mind. Apparently what I'm doing is called "flat-felled" seams, and not french seams. As they say, "you learn something new every day!" =) And I think I'm going to make some same-fabric bias tape, and use that to bind the inside of sleeves.

No kittens = sewing for Cheri

Cats must have false labors, as so far we have no kittens.

Instead of just waiting around, I decided to finally pull my fabrics out that I'm using to make Marianne's picnic outfit from the 1995 version of Sense & Sensibility. Because the sheer voile gown will take longer with doing half of it sewn by hand, I decided to start working on it first. I am using the Elegant Ladies Closet pattern for this. Click here to view more details about getting an e-pattern for yourself!
Because it being so light, I have decided to take on the task of doing french seams on everything. Because of my lack of lots of experience, does it look right, to those who have done it?

Getting ready to hand sew the "shoulder" seams down:

Upon taking these pictures, I now have the inside neck facing sewn on and am currently working hand stitching it down. Will keep everyone updated with pictures as time allows.

So Much for Sewing!

::ahem:: Well, I had some plans to work on some more stashed fabrics, and create something with them, but it looks like for the next several days I will be preoccupied with other matters.

For along time now I have been trying to get my purebred persians to mate, and around Thanksgiving time, they finally, or I should say, my female finally starting liking my male. Needless to say, things got rolling, and now my female is definitely in labor with her kittens. She is certainly more nervous than our previous mama cats, so I am having to stay right beside her (who is under a bathroom sink in the cupboards). So it looks like there will be no sewing for me in the next couple of days... =)

Over the weekend, I did finish up an apron which is now in the shop. I love the cheery floral print in this fabric. If it doesn't sell, I just may decide to keep it for myself. =)

Pleated Poplin

Lest you all start thinking that I have my head back in the 1800's and early 1900's of sewing historically-inspired gowns and aprons, I do sew 21st century clothing. =)

I finished this skirt this morning, using Simplicity pattern #3841.
I just love the "sewn in" pleats of this skirt, and the fun, mid to upper-calf length! It was quick and easy to put together, and the poplin fabric (thanks to a red-tag clearance sale at JoAnn's!) is very forgiving and easy to work with, not to mention wonderful to wear.

The shoes came from a grocery chain out east, and I fell in love with their old-fashioned flair! And believe it or not, the leather purse came from a thrift store! An older friend of mine out east had one of a similar fashion, and I thought that it looked a little "grown-up-ish" but not to much for a young woman going on 25 in a couple months... =)

Raindrops on Roses

With sunlight all over it...

A Look at the 1850s

No matter how hard I try not to, I just can't escape from the facination of historical fashion. Whether it's the Regency era or the 1930's, there is always something that intrigues me. Wouldn't it be fun if everbody, just for one day even, would dress up in the clothes from the past?

Having recently watched "Bleak House," I find myself falling in love again with 1850's fashion. I just about swooned when I saw this stunning gown up for sale on ebay.

Just One More...

Chocolate & Roses...
...in the shop tonight.

That Ugly Thing?

one of my sisters: What are you going to take pictures of?

me: My new tote bag

the same sister: That ugly thing? ::pause:: Just kidding

Green may not be my personal favorite color, but I think any person who likes green would like this! Or at least I hope so, because it's up in the shop...

Winner of the tote bag!

And our winner is, after using a random number generatror, is...

Kris from Ante Family Agrarians

Congratulations, Kris! And if you'd like to e-mail me with your address, I'll get it shipped off to you!

If I Only Had a Thousand

I'm serious. If I had 1,000 zippers, I know that I could find enough fabric in my fabric bins to make a 1,000 of these little cosmetic pouches.

They're fun to decorate, and easy to put together! Not to mention they make a great way to use up some stashed scraps of fabric and notions.
Like 'em? They're in the shop...

Tote Bag Giveaway!

It's high time I had another giveway, and looking through my stash pile of finished items, I came across this lovely corduroy tote!
I'd keep it myself, but I already have more than I know what to do with...

My favorite things about this one would be the three yo-yo's and vintage buttons in the front and the pocket on the inside.

All you have to do to enter, is leave a comment with your name (first name and last initial, please).

You can be entered twice, by posting a link over to this post from your blog, and then leave a second comment (please be sure to leave your blog address too)!

I will choose a winner Monday morning, and will post the winner shortly thereafter.

Fabric for sale!

To start my de-stashing month, I'm starting with my fabric bins. I've thrown out some (believe me, ladies, you wouldn't want it!) given away some, and I've now added a couple pieces in my etsy shop:

A beautiful lacey white piece from the late 1800's to early 1900's

5 yards of this lovely fabric that would make a perfect Colonial gown