The Collection

Okay...so I feel bad about my earlier post...Gioia Diliberto did an extravagent job researching Chanel, her 1919 collection, and Paris after the war that she was able to bring together an imaginative tale about a seamstress and her career under Mademoiselle Chanel. It is a beautiful story with a pleasing ending. From the main character's humdrum beginnings to her fright with illnesses and the missing Chanel toiles. It is a relaxing read that would serve beneficial for enlightenment.

Enjoy!

currently...

Here are two sites I am loving right now:

http://www.wekillyou.net/

http://magdasayeg.com/style/style-1.htm

Also, I am currently reading The Collection by Gioia Diliberto and so far it is pretty good...pretty much. It isn't a book that I'm not able to put down - since I place it to the side often.

Michael Kors

Bag Snob posted this picture today:

Isn't it wonderful!!!

The Sixth in Sixth

Go to your pictures folder, pick the 6th folder, then choose the 6th picture and blog about it. I decided to do mine while here at work and I only have 5 folders! So I just picked the 6th picture that was in the first folder...I'll do another when I get home!



So here it is:

This is actually a photo taken at work by our manager by my desk. Across from me is my co-worker, Christa and we are going through some handmade jewelry that I was selling at the time. I prefer sewing over jewelry making though. My back and neck would hurt so much by the time I hit the sack, I could barely move in the morning!

I'll post another once I get home!

Purse Inspo

Here are some GREAT purses I would die for!!! But I can make my own - so I don't have to!

More Inspo from Style.com

More beautiful dresses to cause inspiration...time to draw!

Bloodsucking Fiends

Christopher Moore is one of the best writers ever! He is hysterical with satiracal words combining to make great, hard-to-put-down stories. I have read "The Lamb," which is a story about Jesus and his best friend Bif getting into trouble during their young teenage years (since Jesus cannot do harm he needs Bif to do it for him).

"Bloodsucking Fiends" takes us through a red-headed 24-year-old woman's life as she is bitten and left to learn about the life of a vampire on her. A story filled with love, humor, and suspense - I could NOT ask for more!

I highly recommend this book for anyone enjoying a good novel that will make you giggle everytime you turn the page. Now, on to my next Christopher Moore story!!!

HA!

I did it! Yes I did it! I feel like Henry Higgins right now!

Anyhow, I have spent the last several hours figuring how to fix the waistband (fold forward, iron, iron, sew, complete!) and I DID IT!

Therefore, I got to complete the hem with a rolled hem on the serger (it is a tad crooked - but not that noticable!). And tada!

DAMNIT!!!

So there I am cutting out the waisband facing, ironing, sewing, taking out stitches, sewing, taking out stitches, sew some more, fix some more stitches, and iron once again. I finally trim the seam down to about 1/4'' with my new stainless steel bent curved scissors, so sharp. I even pricked my finger with them. Then I iron one last time...WTF? How did that happen? No it can't be! No! No! No! Yes, I am an idiot. I did it. I sewed the waistband grosgrain facing on backwards (no the grosgrain had not yet been added). Demolished - my work of months of thinking, pondering, researching, waiting, thinking, cutting, sewing, ironing, pondering, moments of laziness, photographing - all of it - DOWN THE DRAIN.

I'll have to post pictures later. Although you are not able to tell the difference between the right and wrong sides. So it isn't worth my time. Or yours.

There is no way to fix it. Only wishing that I used more of brain. I can work on a one seam skirt pattern and lay it on the skirt and cut away. I have no extra, it took it all since it was a full circle pattern. I spent over an hour laying the fabric on one layer so that all four pieces of the skirt would fit...just enough.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

Research and Design

Simon Seivewright introduces the most basic elements of designing fashion in Research and Design. This book is really great at explaing the main elements of design. He reviews inspiration and research and how to go about it to get what you want. What you want to accomplish is setting-up a mood board and collages. I will have to post my notes and what I have learned from this book at a later date. There are many interviews with several fashion designers, which the best part of the book! You can get inside a designer's mind and find what techniques they use to get the most out of their collections. The photos and the layout of this book is great and makes everything easy to understand. I will definately read this book over and over again.

Inspo from Burda

Here are two items I adore from the Burda Fashion website. Of course, I am still on selecting the perfect details from all of the white dresses I can!

weekend

I cannot believe the weekend is almost over! And I wish I had not slept my Saturday away! I also messed up some of my assignments for class - whoops! We did pick-up a coffee maker by Mr. Coffee at Lowe's. It is real snazzy in stainless steel with a delay, brew strength, immediately brewing and all kinds of nice things. So now I've been running around the house hyped-up and ready to clean...so I have accomplished quite a bit!

I also received my teflon shoe Saturday. Susan Veblen (teacher for patternreview.com) recommended the thing for ironing everything without ever worrying about messing up the fabrics. I haven't tried yet - or completed the curtains or dress or skirt and on on on on...

Don't mind the clutter upon clutter upon needless clutter. The polka dot pattern jersey is the dress-in-the-ever-so-slowly-making..of course I started my skirt months before.


The photo above is of my inspiration board for projects I have in mind for the present. My inspiration notebook is growing rapidly everyday.

Below is a picture from Vanity Fair of Reese Witherspoon in one of my most favorite dresses of ALL TIME!!! I love the way the bustier is split at the top and the vertical opposite black and white draped beautifully over her curves with the over-sized Texan style earrings.

I'll have to post pictures of the Sew Sassy order I received along with the great strech lace from Denver Fabrics and some sari panels I received from the classifieds on Pattern Review.

RTW Inspo

Here are some items from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu. Once again, thanks to instyle.com.

Inspo

I was carousing this afternoon for some inspiration. The haute couture spring lines are gorgeous! There are so many grays, whites, and creams. I've been keeping an eye out for details to add to a white dress I'm dying to put together (right after all the other ones!). I really enjoyed Saab and Valentino's collections. All of the photos shown here are from instyle.com.









It was nice to see lots of draping and feminine details. I am loving the flowers, soft colors, layers and the gorgeous emerald coat! I also love the sheers in black and white with the corset lines and lace detailing.

Hmmmm...

I wish it were a snow day! I could be at home in bed with B. Getting ready to make us a yummy breakfast with bacon, waffles, potatoes, and scrambled eggs.

Hmmm....

It's been a nice weekend

I picked mom up this morning and she brought this along with her:


















It has been a breeze to work with! And I was able to fix my knit dress within seconds! I still used the four colors shown above on the black and white jersey but the stitches are so perfect, so gorgeous.














You can see the different colored loopers in green and blue. The top stitches are in yellow and red. The machine even comes with an elastic foot and blind hem foot. For an easy rolled hem, there is a special plate to use with either 2 threads, 3 threads, or 4 threads. The cleanliest of all the choices is 2-thread...who cares!! THIS MACHINE IS GREAT! I love how it makes a clean cut and the stitches go straight to the edge. The picture above is actually a side seam on the jersey dress. I made a small hole during some reconstruction techniques and am waiting for glue to dry before I finish it.

I guess I could always go finish my skirt or begin steaming my grosgrain ribbon in place.

I ordered three colors of stretch lace from Denver Fabrics. I am waiting for an orange, a purple and a turquoise. I can't wait to see the different things I can do with this machine. I would like to make corsets and other fun lingerie.

Of course there is always the hats and purses and gloves.

and dresses...