SWAP pictures: Refashion edition

First, the refashioning dresses...

This is the darlingest vintage eyelet I think I have seen recently, and I say that because it's unusual. It was once white and belonging to my mother, and now you see the skirt of what will be a really great dress... I have pleated the skirt from its full original width down to my waist measurement, and it'll have a side zip and decorative buttons at the top. No matching pattern, not enough fabric.

The first cafe-au-lait brown will be in the running for a dress to wear to my boyfriend's commissioning in May. I like the idea, in theory- we shall see. It's thought to be a silk-linen

blend- all I really know is it drapes really beautifully

and I like it for a 40s-style knockout dress with somewhat military detailing.

I'm really excited about it- It should be a joy to sew with because it's really nice. I know it's dry clean only though, which will be a bit of a bother, but really, I just need to suck it up and find a good dry cleaner. Something with good lines in a good fabric

deserves the attention, and I'm a big girl now. It's one of those things that just need to happen.

The second, lighter cafe-au-lait brown is a linen shirt dress with a button front. It'll be something cute with an empire waist and strappy straps if I think there is enough to do it that way with a little over-jacket. If not, I think it'll be strapless but classy- or a halter cut. Just a good summer linen with an awesome twirling skirt. Because every girl, no matter her age, deserves a skirt that is twirly. And a swing-dancing boyfriend is plenty of incentive if there wasn't already. And another bonus? It has pockets. SCORE!

Those are my 3 refashions, and this lovely (okay, I was using my bed for all of these in less than ideal lighting. Insanely short on space in my itty bitty dorm room...) shot is of all of my current fabrics for SWAP.

A package wins and changes it again... maybe.

I got a package from my mom with 2 more dresses and a few other fabric things... and I am most definitely doing the 5 dresses. Here's what we have now.... and will narrow down. The stars are in for sure. But please. Chime in. You can help me solidify!

Dresses:

vintage/refashion:

*Brown/retro eggplant sleeveless shirtdress: McCall 5801 view A

*dyed eyelet- peekaboo top, pleated skirt refashion

(I think) silk/linen blend refashion into something with a 40s feel- no pleats

natural linen shirtwaist dress refashion

from stash:

herringbone print wiggle dress: possibly Vogue 8280 view D

brown knit dress

champagne silk for Dining-Out- closure with corset back

tops:

chocolate knit tee

embellished plum or coral tee

?

?(purchased vintage or refashion)

bottom:

a pencil skirt in chocolate

embroidered cotton skirt

choice:

purchased trench a la Old Navy... 2 seasons ago?

Checking in

Once upon a time, I posted regularly, and had many things I really wanted to talk about.

Now... I don't know. A blog I regularly read, Mimi's Room, featured a post on "Blogger's Block". Maybe that's it. I hate the idea that I have outgrown this, but I feel like the shape of things might be changing. My life is changing so so much right now I feel it's understandable... But my love of sewing and creating hasn't magically disappeared, and I really do still read many many blogs... But I've lost a bit of steam about working on mine.

Granted, there is a TON of stuff going on in my life right now... I am a senior in college. A member of a sorority. A chair of a university committee. I have a boyfriend. School responsibilities. An internship at my church. Seminary applications. Family. Life outside of the internet.

And more memories to make before my life changes for forever over the course of the next few months. I have rediscovered what it is to live in the moment and be a friend and a part of the world around me, and I'm relishing in that chance to just... be. I think it really could stem back to the sunsets and times I spent in Istanbul, and everything I've experienced since then. Just learning to be IN the moment.

I'm working on a list of goals for the time between now and graduation, and I may make this blog part of them. I'm going to do my best, as always, not to disappear... But I might just have to be okay with some changes. That might mean more posts like this.

Sorry for rambling. If you read this, I appreciate that. Although I suspect my sporadic posts and lack of pictures means not many do.

SWAP and a new twist

Well, I think I am in it for five dresses... if my closet will tolerate the presence of five more dresses.

And if I do it, which I fully intend to, I'm going to make another commitment with this thing. It will be from things I have or that I am given from other people's stashes. My mom has some really awesome clothes from the 80s, when they used way more fabric and longer hemlines in everything. Much of it is still very usable and very very pretty. I have a pile of green eyelet, dyed twice, that was once a beautiful white dress she wore in the summers when I was very small. It means a lot to her that I am using it, and it means a lot to me to have it.

So my swap, Coffee and chocolate, will be retro-inspired. With Stash. I think that's fair. I know it's me.

Oh my goodness! Almost a month! I need a kick in the pants to do this regularly again... I suppose. But it is as much for me as for all of you, I could point out... I suppose I should do a yearly overview, no matter how pathetic it will look.

Garments:

dresses:

Sunset

2 blue knit

Jessica Rabbit Halloween costume

skirts:

eyelet wadder

pants:

Istanbul pants

UFOs:

champagne cocktail dress

brown refashion

retro print dress

green dress refashion

Pathetic until you look at Sunset and factor in costumes, right?

Sickness mans sleepytime, so more tomorrow... I hope!

FINISHED

Ladies and Gentleman (Do I have gentleman readers?)

I am done with my religion major. Can we say EXCITED!!!

That is all.

SWAPping...

I think I have the stuff to do it to it this time... I am spurred onward and inspired by newest acquisitions in the stash- and some old ones. So at the moment, I have things I would like to make. It's honestly a matter of getting to them, and of making a cohesive wardrobe come of getting to them. Things I'd like to make... Stars mean I have fabric.

2 dresses:

*brown/eggplant retro print matched print?

*brown jersey knit

*brown herringbone wiggle dress

6 tops:

*purple sweater knit tunic-type thing unusual closure

some fun shirt featuring entre-deux- maybe dotted Swiss?

long/half-sleeve tshirt

embellished tee

purchase/purchased

purchase/purchased

2 bottoms:

*embroidered cotton circle skirt fill in w/color along top opening edge to feature embroidery

*charcoal/navy twill kickpleat skirt

plus one:

*wiggle dress

Financially, stash, and planning-wise I am in better shape this year.But first, finals...

December is INSANE.

Sooo I am getting back into the swing of things, and feeding my fabric addiction, and I suppose I should start thinking about Winter Break sewing goals, although I have a pretty awesome sewing goal to accomplish before then... Remember Dawn? The dress that never happened for a formal that never happened?

Well, that fabric was still destined for "greatness". Imagine this strapless neckline, knee length, with kick pleats over each leg, but maintaining the same clean silhouette- a sort-of straight but not pencil-skirt line.

You know, this will be easier to explain with pictures. Which I will take.But for now I used another line drawing to kinda make a point... I've drafted the pattern (using a straight skirted strapless dress as a starting point), cut, and assembled to the point of pleats pinned to insert.

Bought the lining and other unnecessary but truly wonderful things today- and the lining was the only thing I bought full price! I'll share those, jewelry made for the dress, and some other projects when I have my camera.

Thankful for 30...

I really do have SOOO much to be thankful for, and as late in the month as it may be, I committed to doing it and have done poorly, but I will have 30 reasons, one that happened on each day. And I will put them all here!

1.Bad Descisions Brunch- a time my friends and I get together on Sunday mornings and revel in Saturday evening's events... including some bad descisions, and many more laughs and remembering good ones.

2. Boys who play girls in the theater

3. Dancing in Fall leaves... SOOOO many wonderful colors this year!

4.Tech Crew fun times backstage

5. The scene in V for Vendetta about Guy Fawkes Day... "Remember, remember the Fifth of November..." ...We watched it as a study break for a big exam

6. Knowing the answers for exams

7. Naps.

8. Lunch with my youth group followed by fun with my actors... AND no big long photo call!

9. A day during the run of a show in which I don't have to enter the theater... Feels magical!

10. Playing Powderpuff Football with my sorority sisters, and having friends come watch!

11. Times to laugh with my classmates.

12. Revisiting SG (Stitcher's Guild) for the first time in a long time

13. Simple exams

14. A smooth Strike for what could be my last Strike... It is really an amazing thing to have watched an organization grow, and then to be okay with the idea of letting it go. Sitting at pizza party after Strike that night, I was really... okay with it.

15. Nintendothon! A philanthropy event for Pi Kappa Alpha's chapter at my school... I sponsored 2 members of the fraternity and was sponsored by 2 members of the fraternity and 3 of my sorority sisters. It raises money for Toys for Tots. Over the course of the weekend I played 12 hours of video games!

16. good hugs

17. feeling pretty

18. an empty feed on Google Reader

19. new media to play with in Drawing for the Theater- playing with black paper is neat!

20. Good friends who will let me take over kitchen tables and get work done

21. Piling people onto couches and getting to spend time talking and laughing into the wee sma' hours- nights you may not completely remember with people you know you could never ever completely forget are the stuff college is made of.

22. good coffee and good friends- and any occasion, even homework, that brings the two together.

23. throwing lessons- I learned to build a teapot!

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

To SWAP or not to SWAP?

I am really torn. The format is SUPER attractive this year... I could see myself wearing a grouping like this, and it would fill out the wardrobe of a Seminarian nicely...

From SG's page on SWAP 2010:

This year, to accomodate the many different clothing needs of our members, we have three SWAP formats to choose from. Certainly you may make more than one if you have time, but if you do each finished SWAP must fit one of the three formats.

Option #1:
6 tops - t-shirts, shirts, blouses, or camisoles
4 bottoms - jeans, pants, shorts, skirts or kilts.
1 your choice (not an accesory)

Option #2:
2 dresses -single pieces consisting of top and bottom that can be worn alone.
6 tops - t-shirts, shirts, blouses, or camisoles
2 bottoms - jeans, pants, shorts, skirts or kilts.
1 your choice (not an accesory)

Option #3:
5 dresses -single pieces consisting of top and bottom that can be worn alone.
4 tops - t-shirts, shirts, blouses, or camisoles
1 bottom - jeans, pants, shorts, skirt or kilt.
1 your choice (not an accesory)

2 garments may be purchased or previously sewn.
1 may be knitted or crocheted.
1 will be a matched print or stripe.
1 will feature embroidery, beads or sashiko
1 will have buttons as the star feature OR use unusual or alternative closure(s).
-----------------------
This year's emphasis is going to be on making a wardrobe that fits your needs, and showcasing your sewing and embellishing skills.

Sewing will begin December 26th, and all garments must be finished by April 30th, 2010. Because this is a shorter time frame, pattern fitting and cutting may be done whenever you're ready.

I really like option 2, and I think I could do it. Especially since 2 items can be pre-existing, and it contains dresses. I am not penalized for not finishing, and I will be sewing for my Senior Seminar in costume design... these little challenges of embellishment and matching could be practice for real things in Senior Sem! The six tops could be difficult, but at the same time, they could be my 2 pre-existing items, AND a chance for me to get over whatever "thing" I have about making tops. I have some coordinating things I bought and never even touched for SWAP and Istanbul, and need more things I make on my body... I just don't know if this is the way to do it.

I'd love some input.