v.

Dear Vee,

I remember my preteen, not-yet-geeky self falling for your sneaky ways. Marc Singer was so totally yummy in that floppy hair, post David Cassidy-era way.

But the gerbil gave me nightmares. Can the new V's be vee-gan? (teehee)

Smooches,

a.

Favorite Things Prairie Girl

A fall/winter variation on a summery, cotton dress/top pattern. Sorry, it's a headless picture day. My hair is a MESS. Sadly, I'm wearing my new riding boots too, but you'll have to wait til later to see them I guess!


While I was snoop shopping the other day, I ran across this Nanette Lepore:

and noted that the bodice shaping was very similar to this Favorite Things Prairie Girl pattern:


Remember, I made this one before this year, in a cotton print:


I'm always excited to get to make a pattern again, especially in a very different fabric choice or look! That gives me more bang for my buck! Why don't I do more of this??

For my plaid version, I made the dress length and kept the sleeve frills. I didn't have enough fabric to try to duplicate the very cool drape on the Lepore dress, so I thought another little 'extra' oomph would be nice. I actually like the little frills, even if I feel just a tad Daughter Judy.


I got the fabric at Hobby Lobby last fall, and it's a poly blend. It didn't press easily, but it wasn't impossible to get a crease eithier. I like it because that "red" stripe is actually hot pink! And the coloring of the plaid is such that I can go black OR brown with boots/tights/etc.

The bodice shaping is just a dead ringer for the Lepore dress though:


Construction was easy since I've made it before. The only snag I ran into was that the sizing was off. The first time I tried it on (only needing hems. OF COURSE.), it was about 2 sizes too big! I didn't realize I'd lost that much weight since summer, but apparently I've lost a little. I had to basically take the dress apart at the shoulder seams & side seams, and also take up the bodice seam in front too. I shortened at the hem about 2.5" too, since I prefer knee length and this is below-knee as drafted.

Now, back in the summer I did have some sizing issues, especially with the bustline being too low (no FBA for this, not even lowering the empire seam!) but I had adjusted the pattern at that time, and thought the next one would be perfect. I'm just writing down all my changes on the instruction sheet before I forget, so maybe the NEXT one will be perfect!

Here's one more peek!


My grass is still really green in the back yard, but all my pretty leaves are gone. Sniff. Next thing we know it will be snowing! Eek!

want.

I hesitate to say need. :P But...I SERIOUSLY WANT THIS:


Back view:

And it's even by one of my favorite Project Runway alums, Jillian Lewis.

Beyonce first sported it in May:


And I found another view online (from Celebrity Fashion Tips) that has a good view of the lining & ruffle construction. Yay! The trench is fully lined, and the "peplum" has the ruffle sandwiched between outer/inner coat. The ruffle appears to be of the circular flounce variety (I think if you click the image you'll get a large enough view to see this):


With all the trench patterns BWOF cranks out, there has to be one with a peplum, or at least a seam...right? It's almost trench meets riding jacket in the back. Hmmm. This one will require some thought.

Meanwhile I'll keep lusting.

Simplicity 2863

I've been trying to get home early enough to snap a photo of this all week! Remember my first post about this Built By Wendy dress?


Well, a whole month later, I finally finished it! Click for a really big picture! Note how the camera couldn't focus on those crazy stripes!


So two things I should say now that you've seen it.
1. I have a neck. I must have misplaced it for this photo shoot.
and
2. This dress doesn't have a black banded hem. It's just the shadow from the flash.

Anywho...I wore it Monday with black leggings, my black turtleneck, & a pair of cute black ankle boots (which I cut off here. Still haven't quite got the hang of my new tripod and completely FORGOT I have a remote for the Nikon, so was using the 10 second timer. Doh.)

But back to the dress...here's the back view (which I rarely show on the net! So enjoy! But no need to click for the super size version. Really.)


And here's an up close view of the ruching at the back waist, the only thing providing shape to this dress:


I especially like this cropped picture because my butt looks rather small. This photo should have that rearview mirror disclaimer: Objects in these photos are larger than they appear...

About the pattern (because who knows if I'll ever get around to reviewing it!) It was super easy to construct because it has cut on sleeves (making it a 4 seam dress!) And the hardest part of construction is the ruching back. You could definitely do elastic thread in the bobbin for this, but the pattern has you sew a strip of fabric to the back, stitch channels, then run elastic through the channels.

Now, had my brain been functioning when I was sewing this, I would have done this FIRST, before sewing the side seams. Instead, I read the instructions and they have you do this AFTER you sew the side seams and I blithely followed along. Um, that's 10 times harder to maneuver. I perservered though, and it's pretty straight. Honest. (Next time I'll be doing the channel thing first though.)

I used a really drapey rayon/poly/lycra knit in flaming red, with a black burnout stripe. It seems really see-through until you put it on and then it's actually not. I can't explain it, but I did wear it to school, and I didn't get arrested.

Next up is that Nanette Lepore plaid dress knock off with my Favorite Things dress pattern. Scroll down to the snoop post to view it, I'm too lazy to go find the link. Happy Friday!!

NanoWriMo

A funny word for a fun month of words. NanoWriMo kicked off yesterday! It stands for National Novel Writing Month. I've never participated but I'm interested enough to give it a go!


Basically, you write a 50,000 word (really rough) draft of a novel in 30 days. Like hard and fast, no holds barred, furiously writing without editing, FUN. Or at least it sounds fun to me! I used to be the worst about stopping and reading and rewriting and editing that I never got anywhere. I'm better now, but this could be a real test of my fortitude.

Anyone want to join me??

www.nanowrimo.org

snoop.

Ok, so I forgot to turn back my clocks, and I've been sitting here thinking the morning has flown by when...woot! No, it hasn't!

What was sucking up the morning hours you ask?? Sephora. And Old Navy. And MyShape.com. Just some snoop shoppin that turned into some Christmas shoppin and a little bit of just because shoppin.

Use this code to get 20% off your order at Sephora through tomorrow!

ff2009

Use this code to get 30% off your order at Old Navy through 11/8:

ONSTUFF30

And try this one if you're an avenue.com shopper for 25% off (I got some super cute boots for my wide calves for $31! ps...Silly calves.)

AV81131

I'm actually a regular Sephora shopper (online and in the store) and I didn't get this coupon emailed to me. I ran across it online this morning, and since I'm out of foundation (and I have expensive taste) I went ahead and ordered. I'm trying the Smashbox liquid foundation. I've heard good things.


Smashbox is pricey, but my favorite primer is their PhotoFinish Primer (I usually just pick up the travel size for $17, it lasts forever):


and my favorite cream gel eyeliners are theirs too. I really, really like Image, a dark metallic green:


and Process was my favorite brown (but is no longer available unless you can find an old palette that has it. Sad.) Putty looks like a close match though:My very favorite cream eyeliner they made was called Crop, and it was a gorgeous dark gold, but when you put it on, it was almost "black". Really pretty.

I'm a Bare Minerals girl as a rule, but in the winter I'm just too dry for the mineral powder foundation. Last year I switched to a couple of drug store brands (Loreal True Match is my favorite, but Revlon Colorstay works well too if you can stand the thick formula--especially after wearing Bare Minerals! I typically can't, so I'm interested to see if I like the Smashbox liquid foundation.)

Then I ventured over to ON where I did a bit of Christmas shopping for a girl I know, and picked up a pair of (gasp) skinny leg jeans for me. Ok, not really skinny leg (which would be a horrible DON'T on me, but skinny-er leg so I can tuck them into boots if I feel the urge.)


THEN I ventured over to myShape.com because I love the no-brainerness of their outfit shopping experience. I heart Betsey Johnson, which can't really be that surprising to you, can it?

Also feeling the love for this Nanette Lepore:And it features a surprisingly easy to recreate bodice shaping/neckline in this pattern by Favorite Things (Prairie Girl):


Bonus...I've already made it and loved it!

Other things that struck my fancy on the myShape site...(and I'm not even a vest person):


As long as we're doing vests, I love this. Hate on me if you dare, it's calling my name.

Love the seaming on the dress, love the military styling of the coat...so time consuming. Sigh.

I'm pretty sure I have half a dozen BWOF's to dupe this coat.

Wow, I just realized how colorless all of these are (save the one Betsey Johnson dress). I should probably go snoop some more, huh?

We haven't had a song in a while, and this one's been stuck in my head for 4 days. Now it will be stuck in yours. Enjoy!

follow the jump to have a listen!

Keane- Somewhere Only We Know

wow.

Where did flipping October go?? Holy cow.

SUNDAY is November. NOVEMBER. As in turkey and Christmas shopping and cold weather and Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade NOVEMBER. Crazy times.

I've been quiet lately, just busy! Our "block" rolls over mid-October at school, so I get all new classes and I'm usually swamped in the beginning, as you well know if you've followed me for any length of time! I'm thinking sewing, if that counts.

I did something crazy insane last week for my new classes. I opened a wordpress blog (blogger is blocked at school) to use as a "newsletter" format for my kids & their parents. Now I just have to find time to update it regularly! I know I've got lots of teachers out there in the audience, so if you happen to teach Business Ed or FACS like me, feel free to pop over and see if there's anything usable to you & your classes!

blog here!

(Oh, and its just a page right now, I was serious when I said I haven't posted yet! HA! That's on today's agenda.) Wordpress was pretty easy to setup, too. If you're a teacher and looking for a way to keep parents & kids involved, I'd recommend giving Wordpress a try! Our admin encourages those types of connections with home. I thought being a veteran of the blogworld, a blog was my best option.

Let's see...what else have you missed this month?? OH! Have you ever heard of Coastal Scents? If you're a youtube video junkie like me (Trudy started it all) you may have seen makeup tutorials videos. Well, one of my favorites, makeupbytiffanyd, did a review of eyeshadow palettes that Coastal Scents sells. I know it sounds like a candle company, but this place gets GREAT reviews all over the net on their makeup AND their makeup brushes. Their prices are spectacular! I just ordered several brushes and this palette:


It's the 88 Warm Palette. LOVE the colors and I can't wait for it to get here! I'm a little sad I didn't see the gel eyeliners before I purchased, because those are my favorite formula (Smashbox being my favorite brand) and I'd love to try a few. Darn.

Lastly (because I'm going to be late if I don't get wrap this up!) I got my November BWOF Wednesday! Woot! I LOVE this. I love a few other things too, but this is my favorite:



Line drawing:


Might forgo the shoulder ruffles, but who knows. I've been known to throw caution to the wind before! Again, as you well know. Toodles!

late bloomer.

Look what was waiting for me in my (currently) bare patch of flowerbed this afternoon when I got home:


She's beautiful, especially against the gorgeous fall colors in my front yard.

This is the tree in all its glory (not even fully turned yet!)


These colors are amazing.


Happy fall!

merry.

Can't help myself. Played with charm packs.


and fat quarters.


Not enough of any to do much with...possible table runner or wall hanging ahead!

witchy-poo shoes.

It's that time of year again! You know, when my inner craft geek comes to life and wants to MAKE and stuff.

And just in time for some Halloween decorating, I bring you a witchy-poo shoes pattern and tutorial. Enjoy!


You'll need 2-3 coordinating, witchy fabrics; 8 eyelets (& the insertion tool); thread; polyfill for stuffing; and the Witchy Poo Shoe Pattern. This is just a preview. Make sure you visit my flickr HERE to download the full size pattern!
Cut 4 shoe pieces from your body fabric. Also cut one strip 1.5" x 10" for the hanging loop. Tear one 1" strip the full width of the fabric (45") for the ties. You'll want to tear each side instead of cutting so you have nicely frayed ties! Cut this strip in half.


Use your eyelet tool and a hammer to insert 2 eyelets on each shoe piece. I completely forgot to mark the eyelet placement on the pattern! I hope you can guesstimate using the photos below. Just remember that you have 1/4" seam allowances, and your sewing machine foot needs to clear the eyelet when stitching the shoe together too. Place your eyelet at least 5/8" away from the cut edge.

To insert the eyelet, carefully poke a hole through your mark with the point of your scissors. I turn my scissor point back and forth too, to make a little "circle".


Insert the eyelet with the prongs to the wrong side of the fabric. You'll place the tool over the prongs and tap with a hammer until it lies flat.


Repeat for all 8 eyelets (4 per shoe)!


Now you're ready to sew! Start stitching at the top front of the shoe, right sides together, leaving the opening for the hanging loop. Stitch down and around the toe point. I stopped after getting the pointy toe all stitched, but before I started on the bottom of the shoe.

You have to insert the ties now, before stitching the rest of the shoe! Or you'll kick yourself later. (You'll see that I did just that on one of the shoes. Kicking ensued.)

Spread the two halves flat, and roll the end of one of the ties into a point like so:


Insert it into a bottom eyelet from the right side, and thread like you would shoes. The ties go IN at the bottom outlet and OUT at the top. Cross on the wrong side or just go straight up to the top eyelet, it will never show, so doesn't matter!


Place the shoes right-sides-together again and continue stitching around the bottom and heel portion of the shoe on your sewing machine. Trim your corners and clip all of the curves so you will have a nice smooth seam when you turn right side out!

Fold in the long edges of the hanging loop (the 1.5" x 10" piece) and press. Fold again so that the folded edges meet, and you've created a long tube. Stitch close to the folded edge. I used contrasting thread so you could see better, and because I'm lazy. ;)

Now we're going to insert the hanging loop. Below, I've stitched all the way around, leaving an opening for stuffing on the back of the shoe (above the heel), and a smaller opening at the top of the shoe, near the back seam for the loop.


Thread the loop through the stuffing opening and then through the loop opening like so:


Stitch across, catching the loop in the seam! Trim off the excess loop.


Turn your shoe right side out and admire how cute it already is:

Begin to stuff! I use a bamboo skewer (if I can find it) like you use for shish kabobs to poke out tiny places like the pointy toe of this shoe. But you can also sub in anything narrow, like a pencil. Just be careful not to poke a hole in the point! Use the skewer to poke your stuffing all the way into the point. You'll want it nice and firm. Continue stuffing until full!


I used a plain jane whipstitch to close the stuffing opening.


Repeat all of the above steps to create your second shoe (obviously you can wait and stuff at the same time too. I'm impatient to see the finished product so I stuffed as I went.)

To insert the hanging loop in the second shoe, just follow the same procedure, threading the loop through the stuffing opening and up through the loop opening. It should be plenty long enough, even a stuffed shoe pair won't be in your way to stitch it closed!


The last little bit of crafty fun includes my favorite, glitter. I painted a translucent fabric paint randomly over the stars on each shoe, and sprinkled super fine glitter over the paint before it dried. Just to give it an extra punch of pretty!


Tie your raggedy ties in a cheeky bow:


And if you have some (I didn't have any handy) stitch a jingle bell on the point of the toe...preferably one that's been painted black (or whatever color matches your fabric). Now hang your witchy poo shoes from a door knob, on a Halloween wreath, from a dresser pull...wherever you might like to spot a touch of whimsy during the spooky season.

Don't forget to let me know if you used the pattern! I'd love to see! Flickr group pool HERE!!


ps...Don't you think these would be uber adorable as ELF shoes for the holidays too??!!