Inspiration #2: Something Fancy

Building off this pick from my inspiration post last Friday...

from modcloth.com

I made this:

I used a Frankenstein of patterns for this one:  Burdastyle's Anda pattern for the top, Simplicity 2440 for the bodice (which is the same pattern we used for Kendra's wedding dress!), and the skirt part from my 1-hour dress.  It's aliiiiiive!

AND this is the same fabric that I used for another little black dress you might remember...

I went all black for a little more classic look (and then I dressed myself up with some red lipstick and a big bun for the occasion!  The ocassion being...taking pictures in front of our closet).

(Guys, taking pictures of yourself is awkward and feels weird.  I'm still not over it.  The only thing that is more awkward was the time I asked Scott to take the pictures for me.  That was way too embarrassing!  So instead I just self-timer them all in our room with the door shut, and sometimes it takes me a reeeeally long time to get pictures I feel even halfway comfortable posting on the internet!)

This was the first time I have ever even attempted to work with lace, and it turns out, it wasn't so hard at all!  I was a little bit terrified I would rip it at some point and then have to start all over, but I tried to be gentle with it the whole time, and didn't have any problems!  In fact, I just sewed it like I would a normal fabric.

Keyhole.

Lovely lace!

And I'm kind of digging it with my tiny red belt!  I feel French :)

And lastly, here's some scary pictures:

I feel like I'm channeling Taylor Momsen a little bit.  Except for about a pound less make-up, zero cleavage, and a way better attitude.  Oh, and also, I like my parents.

And lucky me, Scott already invited me to a fancy occasion I can wear this to!  It's just not until December.  Boo.  Until then I might just wear it around the house.

Out our window.

I (heart) New York.

Inspiration #1: A Loose Interpretation

On Friday I left you with some inspiration pictures of some things I had been wanting to make lately.  Well, I got down to business over the weekend, using this as my first muse:

Really all I took from it was the color blocking and the loose fit.  I ended up using a different color scheme and the good ol' batwing top (of the bats and elephants top, you may recall), and came up with this bad boy (can women's clothes be referred to as males?):
 

I learned this pose from America's Next Top Model.  Check out my smize.

Let the sun shine in!

Now, this top is actually fairly easy to make, but it took me much longer than it should have.  Why?  Because I made own stripes.  Ha!  You can't beat me, solid-colored doubleknit!  I will sew long strips of you together for hours at a time and force you to become stripes if I feel like it!

Hours of cutting and sewing strips = purple and maroon seams

Spot the now-ancient electronic equipment in the background.  Hint:  it's a VCR.

And because I was told by multiple people that my bat face was actually quite accurate, here it is for you again:

Fear the bat.



Copycatting

Here's the inspiration...

jcrew.com

modcloth.com

modcloth.com

I'll show you my own versions as I (hopefully) get them finished!

A picture of pictures.

One of my favorite things in our house:  a lightbox full of negatives of pictures that Scott took, during our engagement, honeymoon, and first month of married life.

Three in a row: Of Bats and Elephants

Is anyone else pleasantly surprised by the amount of sewing getting done around here?!  Here's my third new garment to show you in as many days!  I'm never this sewing-prolific!  I love it!

What I made:

The so-called "Batwing Top" - a free pattern from Burdastyle

Elephant print sweatshirt fabric from Fabric.com

Bats + Elephants!  Two animals that should join forces more often, if you ask me.

When I made it:
Get this:  I woke up early to piece together and cut out this pattern yesterday morning before work, went home at lunch and cut the fabric (where I encountered the unforeseen dilemma of not having enough, so I had to get creative), and then sewed this up from 5:15 until 6:45, when I left my house to go to my book club!  A true one-day creation!

I also didn't start out with the intention of leaving the bottom edge raw, but I didn't have time to sew on the bottom band before leaving my house.  Turned out I sort of like it that way though, so I think I'm going to leave it!

What I like about it:
I'm not really sure why these elephants attracted me so much when I saw this fabric online, but I love the print.  I realize this would probably be better suited for some sort of baby sweatshirt or toddler track suit (as that is the age when it is most acceptable to wear some type of animal plastered on your clothing), but I dig it nonetheless.  Also, it's reeeeeally cozy, and I had been afraid I wouldn't be able to find anything to sew for wintertime - not true!

Me being a bat and showing off my wings.  Because I'm pretty sure bats' faces look exactly like this.

So Domestic

Another sewing project accomplished with a friend via the wonders of Skype!  It only took Kendra and I two sessions to finish these aprons.

What we made:
The Groovy Hostess Apron - make it for free! (and don't let the cheesy name throw you)
Cotton fabric from the Michael Miller collection at Fabric.com


I promise I have shorts on.

When we made it:
We did the cutting on Wednesday of last week, and did all the sewing on Sunday afternoon.  We both agreed Sunday sewing is our favorite - just a leisurely afternoon, chatting with a friend, no stress, no bedtimes, nothing to do!

Spatula holster.

What I like about:
Cute, easy, functional.  Also: POCKETS.

In action!  And totally natural.  This isn't posed and self-timered at all...

 My culinary creation for the night?  Homemade burgers and fries (which Scott cut up himself!).  That's All-American for you.

And if you want to see Kendra's super cute version (you know you do), click here!