Versace

Oh my goodness, I am LOVING the Spring 2011 Versace collection. I can't say I often feel that way about Versace. Her collections don't usually strike me as very wearable, but I find myself wanting to make several of these looks.

Instead of cutouts, I'd do some kind of trim.


I LOVE this one, but honestly, I'll never make anything like it. By the time I'd get it done, it would look dated.


I would have to figure some detail other than the sheer panels. Maybe some kind of hand embellishment. This is the top contender for me actually making. I already have a strapless dress pattern I could start with... It will be the ultimate date night dress.


I liked a lot of the other looks, but those are my faves.

I've actually started sewing since finding my machine pedal! I've been working on Simplicity 2724 with the ruffled bodice and pencil skirt. The top is turquoise silk charmeuse and the skirt is leftovers from these wool pants. I started it almost a year ago, when I was staying with my parents while hubs was in Afghanistan. Anyway, nothing like MOVING to show you how many UFOs you have. I joined the bodice to the skirt tonight, and the zipper goes in tomorrow! I still have to do the lining, sleeves, and banded collar, though. I was just anxious to try it on!

Red tops

Maybe I should have titled this post "holy moley, those shorts are short". Must be the camera angle... anyway...

I put on this outfit yesterday and decided that this top needs some TLC. It's just too gapey and floppy at the neckline opening. I don't think you can really tell from the pic, though. The neckline was too loose, so I tried to fix it by taking it in at the center back neck. It didn't do enough. It's still pretty floppy and it drives me nuts when I wear it. I think I'll take off the neckline part and just make it into a simple binding that I can stretch a bit to hug my body better.


It drove me so nuts yesterday that I quickly changed into this top. Ahhh, much better.

Pink voile skirt

I don't think I've blogged about this skirt, but I wore it last week and snapped a pic. I made it a couple of weeks before leaving Germany.


It's a simple gathered skirt made from cotton voile from Gorgeous Fabrics. It's the simplest skirt ever - no pattern. I cut a strip for the waistband the length of my waist plus a little extra. The skirt part is about 2 times the length of my waist, just gathered to fit the waistband. I put an invisible zipper and hook and eye in for closure. I love simple things like this. :-) Makes me feel clever and productive.


Even after I remembered Self-Stitched September, I've been doing a very poor job remembering to take pics each day. I thought about spending this afternoon putting on the outfits I forgot to photograph last week, but no, that's not going to happen. Oh well. I can start fresh today, and it will be Self-Stitched-Second (half of) September. :-)

I found the pedal for my sewing machine! Nothing hold me back now but me. :-)

Sewing Crisis!

This morning, I decided it's time to set up my sewing machine. I filed papers that had stacked on my sewing table, cleared off various other junk piles that have settled there after the move, and got out my machine.

PROBLEM! I didn't pack my pedal with the machine in the box for some reason, and I haven't come across it yet. I started digging through the boxes we haven't opened yet (only about 10 or so) and haven't found it. Not sure where it is hiding, but I'll find it!!

Herb Pots

Warning! No needlecrafts present in this post. Click away if stenciling doesn't interest you.

I decided I want an herb garden in my new Floridian paradise. Since I know NOTHING about herbs and even less about gardening, I really couldn't tell one herb from another, so I had to label my pots.

I got plain green pots from a JoAnn crafts superstore.

and pretty lettering stencils as well.

I cut up the letters to make them more manageable. I taped the appropriate letters to the pot to help them conform to the curve.

A simple disposable stencil sponge and plain old craft paint.

This was my first stenciling experience, and I did learn you really can't have much paint on your brush at all, or it gets sloppy. Luckily, the letters were easy to scrape off once dry and try again.


(um, pretend that e was a p)

Keep on going, making sure you don't put tape on completed letters (ask me how I figured THAT one out).

All ready to plant...

and sitting pretty on my windowsill!

Self-Stitched September

Hello again from Florida! We have finally gotten our Internet up and running, and my machine is sitting on my sewing table (though still in the box).

So I TOTALLY forgot about Self-Stitched September, which I had signed up to participate in (in which to participate). I really enjoyed the challenge of Me-Made-May, though, so I'm jumping in as of yesterday. The rule for me is the same as May - at least one me-made garment or accessory every day for the rest of September. Fun!

Here's my effort yesterday:






I'm still seeking out the best photo-taking spot in our new house. Um, clearly I haven't found it yet.

I blogged about the silk top here. In all the craziness of moving, I never did go back and do a proper post on it. The pattern is Marfy 9810. It's pretty straightforward. If you are confident without instructions, try a Marfy. They are stylish and well-drafted (no alterations for me, at least), and they seem to have come down in price a bit, if memory serves me.

The pants are my purchased J Crew ones I blogged about at the end of this post.

In COMPLETELY unrelated news, here is my giant boy, ready for his first day of preschool (this year). Yikes, he's a big boy! It wasn't too traumatic for me, but I fear things will not be the same when my baby starts preschool in two years. I'll be a wreck!