It has been awhile but I just had to splurge on some patterns

I just won this lot of 9 1940's to 1960's patterns. Actually I don't see any 40s patterns but it is all good. Here is the what I got:

Love them old patterns but sometimes too spendy

I love this pattern but if I can find a modern one that will do the same why pay more! This is Simplicity 4704 look at that sweet bodice.

Now for a modern version. Burda 7688. The Burda Pattern is a top and some real ugly pants and basic long skirt. It would not take much to take a from either a vintage pattern you have and attach the top of the Burda or even use a modern skirt pattern and you have recreated this super cute vintage pattern without paying the vintage pattern price! The sleeves would be a breeze to add to as the cuts are the same.

A remnant a vintage pattern

I have less then a yard of this cute black and white floral pattern cotton fabric.

My goal is to whip out three of my orders and before doing another actually make something for myself with this vintage pattern Advance 6265. The pattern is more formal but I'm thinking a summer dress. I think I may add halter straps and shorten the skirt to just below the knee. The skirt is really a overskirt but I'm just going to attach it so it is a full dress. I love the detail and lines of the bodice.

I'm not sure if I will go with a pure white skirt or black skirt. More than likely black since I always have a hard time getting out of my box with with colors. Unless it is for someone else of course. Maybe white with black chiffon over it? What do you think? Then again maybe I will rummage through some of my many vintage patterns and select something totally different. lol Decisions decisions.

Such a pretty dress too bad it didn't fit my YOU Dress

Hate it hate it hate it...This was for one of my favorite customers. The YOU Dress. It is so pretty but it did not fit. Of course I'm going to either remake this for her, refund or make something entirely different if she prefers. I'm sharing it anyways because one I'm not perfect and two it is a really pretty dress. The dress itself is a lilac and the overlay came from fabric.com. It is called watercolor chiffon and it has actual paint on it. So dainty and pretty. The green mixed with the lilac gave it almost a pink hue.

 Bodice detail

Not the greatest pictures but my new wiggle dress

So the lady who is going to be taking some professional photos for me wanted bright vibrant colors. Pink & white are bright! This has a 40's retro vibe with a little sailor girl too. I will take better pictures tomorrow when I have some natural light to work with. I'm just excited about how it turned out and wanted to share.

 Front & Back

The details. I love a front slit. I made piping for the top of the bodice and then trimmed the little sleeves with white too. Maybe I should add some buttons to the slit...or do you think that is overkill? I wanted the bodice to be more heart shaped and I cut a heart shape, but it is really hard to keep the shape when attaching the piping. It maybe different on a person. I will find out tomorrow. Oh yes I will be trying this one on :)

6 Very Pretty Bridesmaid Dress to be made

I love this dress. The bride wants this fabulous blue. These are just going to be pretty! I will be starting them in March. It is going to be hard to wait!

To give credit where credit is due the dress picture can be found here.

Cute 1950's Dress

Well I shipped out the skirt. I was a little disappointed in it. So much I didn't even take a picture. On a good note though I love how the dress for the twelve year old turned out. Super cute!

I made my own ribbon for the bottom of the skirt so it matched exact. The dress had to be pinned to my form as it was too small. There is no petticoat the skirt is fantastically full without one!

Now I'm working on my dresses that are going to a photographer. One the green dress with bolero and a new design that I am almost done with! I will be posting it as soon as it is done even without the professional photos. It is too darn cute not to share!

Red Petticoat for Sew Retro's Give Away

Love the red...I don't know why I've never made a red one before. I'm shipping it tomorrow to chronically uncool the winner of the give away.

Of course I can't capture the true red that is is.



Next projects in the works

If you read my New Year's Goals you know I be making two dress for a professional photographer. I just completed a beautiful silk dress but won't be able to post it until February sometime so she sees it first. Tonight I will be finishing up a red petticoat for Sew Retro's giveaway.

This little dress is being made for a twelve year old. She dances and I think her & her mom picked out the greatest fabric. It is from fabric.com CU-201 The dress will have the red contrast pieces.

I love Laren Bacall and am shocked that from what I've seen no shop on Etsy offer some of the dresses she wore. For dress I'm creating it is going to be floor length but a striking red instead of the white. Again fabric.com BOX-070

I need to recreate this skirt which I know is going to be a pain unless some can tell me of a pattern for it:

I will be making the faux fur dress again but without the faux fur and also will be using the bodice from this Vogue pattern. Thanks again Chrissy for selling it to me. When I get some time I do want to make that dress exactly like the pattern...well I don't want the bow. Neither did my customer. So imagine this pattern combined with this skirt with no bow. I think it is going to look great! I got some faille fabric from can you guess? Yup fabric.com DI-559 I can not recommend this fabric enough.

I also have a surprise order...which I will give all the details when it is completed. 

Wedding Gown from my Sketch

The sketch:

This is for my sister she loves when I hug my dresses that I fall in love with:

Keep in mind that my dress form has no arms and I pinned it at the shoulders. On a person it would be off the shoulders. Front and back:

Bodice detail and petticoat:

I can't express how proud and happy I am with this dress. It was a lot of work to get what I had envisioned on paper to life. Hopefully I will receive some wedding pictures to share. She is getting married at a castle in the hills. How romantic is that?

Wow look at this dress from Traven7

I love this shop Traven7! I don't know where she gets her fabulous dresses but this one has really inspired me. Look at the circumference of the skirt.

The fabric it perfect too!

Here is the link to the actual dress. I doubt it will be there long. I need to make something like this! It is $240.00.

New Years Goals but No Resolutions

I don't have any New Year's Resolutions I'm perfect ;) but I do have some New Year Goals and they are already in the works. Please feel free to share your goals or resolutions too.

My first goal is to get better pictures for my shop. I am working with a photographer in Sweden for this and will be sending two dresses this month. I'm very excited about this! Obviously I will be posting them as soon as I receive them!

In December I was asked to take down a picture in my shop that was from pinup girl clothing or something like that. I didn't know. I actually thought the picture was that red head sorry don't know her name from Mad Men. Oh well I apologized up and down and promptly removed the picture.

I do not do searches for dresses to list in my shop. I'm sure I've used pictures before if a customer sent me one to recreate. I will usually use the picture sent as the custom order then use it as a "Inspiration Photo" after I made it if I decide to offer it to others. I am going to be a lot more careful now about what I use in my shop from now on.

My next goal is to see how I fair on my own. Meaning setting up my own e-commerce site. That would be the easy part. The hard part is getting it to be noticed and in the top when people search for items. I love Etsy but like so many others I can't compete with their reseller problem or their "collective shops". I can't match their prices and my listings get buried with their hundreds of items.

Plus this will save me money in the long run as I will be charged only one fee which would be Pay Pal. Even if I buy a domain name and pay for hosting I would be saving more then the fees I receive now. Go Daddy has a very reasonable e-commerce I may do that or code it myself. Depends on time (yeah right time) depends on if I'm lazy or not :)

Fabric.com has new netting!

They have new netting! Lots and lots of colors to choose from and only 52 cents a yard! I just bought 8 yards! Click here to see the selection. They even have beige and teal! Love the teal.

Been kind of lax about posting

With the holidays and among other things I've been playing catch up. I finished and shipped another green dress with bolero. I hope the way I attached it works. I won't know until she tries it on. I think it will.  Here it is there a petticoat under it.

I also finished up a 50's style skirt made with a vintage pattern. I absolutely love the way it turned out! I've used it once but attached it to a bodice never used it as it was intended until now. The fabric my customer picked out was perfect. I see it with a tee shirt as I put on my mannequin, tank top or sweater. I think this will be a very versatile piece in her wardrobe.

Right now I needed a break. I'm working on the "You" dress. For those who don't know what that is, it is Designers choice. I have it envisioned but...sometimes it is easier to imagine it then to put it together. Can't show pictures yet wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. It is going to be perfect for upcoming Spring though.