more designs

Boy, it's been awhile! I hate to be so neglectful to this little blog, but I've actually been doing stuff, just not posting about it. For example: I made this dress on Friday before the show. 

I'm really happy with how it turned out! Here's the sketch from my journal (made backstage during one of my breaks in the show, again):

The idea was a lightweight, knit casual summer dress that I could dress up and down and that would, of course, have a vaguely 20s/30s feel to it. Also have I mentioned that I'm obsessed with black and ivory? I am. It's pretty much all I've been wearing, and certainly all I've been designing/making for myself.

Here's how I wore it on Sunday, for Mr. Wood's birthday dinner and the Tony afterparty. I can assure that I was not this dreamy and contemplative all night long...

So I dressed it up, but it can also go more casual for a summer day--I forgot to put on the flat sandals for the picture, though:

I used the basic pattern I made for this dress, lengthened it, which left me with a large, basic shape and then shortened the sleeves and took it in bit by bit until I liked the fit. 

The black knit was a really nice, heavier organic bamboo/cotton blend, and the ivory was much thinner and was maybe a bit of a mistake. It doesn't look awful, but if I were to make it again, I'd use a nicer knit.

As these things go, plans changed while I was working on it. I decided to leave out the one shoulder strap and beading (seen in the sketch) as well as the buttoned keyholes on the arms, and I added the bow tie on the front. Though I might get inspired and do an embellished-type of shoulder strap and/or the keyholes later, it just seemed cleaner and a little sexier without for now...plus I ran out of time and had to get to the theater, so that solved that!

About the bow tie: Its actually something I made a few weeks ago and have just pinned it on pretty much every outfit I've worn since :) I had no idea it would be so versatile, so now I need to make it in some more fabrics...

 

These are two more sketches I made and also bought the fabric for--another long dress and an old-fashioned skirt which I'm hoping to start today and finish this week.

I also made a fantastic summer pasta that I want to share--probably tomorrow--so check back if you're looking for some delish summer recipes...

Comments

[ZombieLace]

This is fabulous, especially the dressed up version with the cloche! I'm so glad I found your blog again... I thought of you recently when my velvet bow barrettes got broken as they were totally my favorites.

[chantele cross]

great dress and I love your other designs!
http://daisymay-dayz.blogspot.com

[mary catherine garrison]

thanks so much ladies! and zombielace i'm so sorry about your barrettes :( i think i'll be making them again once my show is over and i have more time...xo

[jordan shoes 8]

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Food marketing is designed to make the product as appealing as possible. That seems fair, as long as there is a reasonable connection, and you have some idea that what you're seeing isn't literal.
Dealing with the hype of food marketing is one pitfall in trying to eat better.