testing 1...2...3...

here's a random selection of what i've been up to since last august

trips: kansas, missouri, south dakota, north carolina, connecticut, maine, kansas city, ks/mo

(pictured: silver dollar city in branson, mo - a place that hasn't lost its charm. enjoy my sister's strategic camera positioning skills)

mmmm...coffee. i'm addicted, much to C's chagrin. lattes in the winter, my own homemade iced coffee with milk in the summer. 

(pictured: my fav coffee place in boston: barrington's in the fort point district)

trying to find some time to do the things that keep me inspired

(pictured here: new mittens!)

and...of course the best for last! in late march we happened upon a condo for sale in a building still under construction. it felt incredibly right, and now we're waiting for an august 15th closing date! more to come on that.

Sewing & summer weddings

A picture of my latest 'creation' - the product of a 60s dress top pattern (modified to be one-shoulder) and a skirt pattern that fit well. Not the most perfect fit ever, but the color and shape worked well enough for the wedding we were at last weekend in York, Maine! I don't think this is the last time I'll use this idea, but I'll choose a more forgiving fabric next time. Cotton sateen is beautiful, but I think more suited for slightly less-structured garments (like a shirtdress). I think this pattern would look perfect in a navy wool for a fall wedding - the drape would be better and a little sheen would still be perfect.

Happy Friday!

Not the pool I'm going to, but one of my favs. By Melanie Turner, I believe.

I'm so happy the weekend is almost here! I am working from home today, sitting in a comfy chair and drinking the best iced coffee possible. (Smitten Kitchen, Starbucks coffee, and my french press are to thank!) Sewing is planned for tomorrow, then Sunday we'll head out to my in-laws' pool for some r&r.

What I want to be wearing...

Cynthia Rowley lookbook (sorry...don't know the season)

It's been cool and rainy here the last few days - yes, this weekend's weather was depressingly cold & rainy (but a lot of fun!). Our high today is lower than the average low for this time of year. I'm yearning for warm weather again!

Summertime

{cynthia rowley's backyard, elle decor, article here}

I know it's been awhile (umm...yeah...a year). Thankfully tomorrow is Friday, because I can't stop daydreaming about the weekend. I've got fun plans that involve a bridal shower & bach party, sewing, and hopefully some baking, but a little part of me wishes I could just lounge around in the backyard above.

More sewing

It's been awhile since I put up a sewing project, much less anything else. I made this to wear it to our friends' wedding rehearsal dinner this Friday evening. This is green cotton jacquard from fashion fabric club, in a blend of two patterns (with a little "drafting" to make the patterns match up). It's lined with light blue cotton batiste...maybe not very matchy-matchy, but it doesn't peep out and is so soft on my skin. I'd really rather do this than line it with a matching polyester that will make me sweat all evening. The dress went together smoothly & I feel great in it! However, in looking at the pictures, I think I'll be sewing up that vent in the back. It just doesn't look proportional and (I'll try on the dress again just to make sure but) I don't think I have to have it to walk easily. I'm wearing 3" heels with this dress...do you really think I'm going to be walking easily anyway?

Can you see that lovely sewing machine silhouette in the background? It's older than I am!

Cynthia Rowley & sewing

Over the past month, I've finished a couple new items, both from Cynthia Rowley's line of patterns for Simplicity. I have to say that I'm quite taken...both patterns were extremely easy to sew, and the instructions were excellent. Not to mention that the styles are a little more trendy than most patterns.

First up: Simplicity 2584. This is no old-lady tunic. Made of linen. I completely ignored the instructions on adding a zipper after making a muslin & finding that I had no problem pulling it over my head. I took this in a size or two at the waist so the fit is really flattering.

front view: yoke is topstitched

back view: you can see here that the sleeves are slightly bell-shaped. next time they'll either be straight or have the elastic that was called for. ;-)

Next (with many apologies about the picture quality): Simplicity 2406. I have been in desparate need of some cute dresses to just wear around in the summer, so a couple weeks ago I decided that this would be the first of (hopefully) many. The fabric is a cotton stretch sateen from joanns, so it has a nice body. No pictures of the back unfortunately, but I reduced the back slit to about 9"and made a covered button & loop from the fabric. I love the cut-out sleeves, which were surprisingly easy to construct. I've worn this out several times (ok, time to make another one already!), and it is cute & a little fashion-forward, is comfortable, and has garnered a few compliments from complete strangers.

front view

sleeve detail

Man oh Maan

At some point in the (rather distant) future, my husband and I are excited to have children. However, looking at the children's clothing from Maan (and the outrageously great styling), I find myself hoping that the children come sooner rather than later. ;-)

Coco

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I watched 'Coco before Chanel' this evening. I'm not sure what touched me more - the moving storyline or the beauty of the clothing. It was, at the very least, an inspiring movie.

Around the corner: Spring

We've been feeling it for a few days...a breeze that is a little more balmy than it was a month ago, a sunset that is just a little later than it was a week ago. While on my run this morning, I found daffodils poking their leaves out of the dirt. I'm so ready to be done with winter (along with all of those winter clothes)! Here's what is inspiring me:

-I happen to think that the color combination here is just about perfect-

-ok, look at the shape of the skirt - this would be great in a colorful brocade
for work or a light chambray for the weekend-

- i am in love with the color and shape of the dress. ok, maybe not the sleeves.
but everything else. paired with a light cardi,
leather sandals, and a statement necklace-

-how perfect for one of those summer weddings - the color is a little dark, but such
a fun shape - maybe perfect in a linen?-

-such a classic shape with just a little twist in the design and color-

Lela Rose, Spring 2010 & Resort 2010
(pictures from here and here)