Photo Challenge: Week Eight

Happy leap year day!

The weather may have been wet and dreary but times are happy: I finally finished the Chantilly dress, I've spent some quality time with the husband and pets and I've skated some of my best so far. Leap year win!

February 23

Magic Tetris derby tights!

February 24

Bimble looking pitiful.

February 25

Pathetic Pimble being made to dance!

February 26

Game playing mid puppy haircut

February 27

New project time

February 28

Goodie bags for a teacher event I'm hosting

February 29

Post derby noms.

Chantilly: short but not sweet

Dear Chantilly,

You know how I totes said we would be BFF forever and I would take you dancing and frolicking in meadows and stuffs? Yeah, well I lied. You broke my heart with your painful construction and numerous screw ups. It's over. 

Keep it real,
Amanda.

P.S. I'm going back to Ginger again. She treats me right!

I'm not sure where to even begin with the shenanigoats that I wrestled with for the construction of this dress. In fact- they are so boring and not worthy of an Iliad style saga. Instead I'm choosing to focus on the positive. Chantilly's finished and I am quite besotted- or should that be be-spotted?! Eh?! Eh?! (Comedic gold here for free, gentle readers)

Check out this gathering- doesn't it say "billowy" and "Amanda, you're pretty awesome please eat some cake I baked for you"? And yes, this is a very awkward photo of my chest taken by me using the reverse camera function on my phone. Crazy times...

The lining is a bit of a mismatch but I got to use up a bunch of fabric bits I had stashed so that is a win. And mismatched lining is so in this season- hadn't you heard.

So, what I loved about this pattern:

• The yoke. Could it be any cuter? Only if tiny unicorns used it as a race track...
• The lack of FBA needed thanks to my new best friend- gathering.
• How easy the skirt was.

Next time, I would totes change:

• The fabric I used- something lighter and softer would be nicer.
• Nip the sides in a teeny bit- it's just a bit loose in the midriff.
• Finish the bottom of the lining properly. I was honestly all about the serge by the end of this never ending project...

Overall, I'm really happy with how this turned out even if it did take over 20 hours of work and many, many consolation beverages. And now I have the perfect polka dot dress. And you know what that means? I need MORE!

Chantilly Peep Show!

Oh la la!

Chantilly is (finally!) finished and she is almost ready to show off. I want her to look her finest when I take some snaps so here she is still damp from the wash and a wee tad wrinkly (don't let her know I said that)...

I'll be posting the epic voyage of pain and suffering this lovely lady caused me tomorrow... Stay tuned!

Photo Challenge: Week Seven

Better late than never! 

It's been a week of long work hours, crazy derby training and illness. The plus side is I have learnt how to make an epic sidecar cocktail. Amanda and bourbon. Who would have thunk?

February 16

Loaf Cat loafing.

February 17

Out and about work style.

February 18

Misty work morning.

February 19

Sitting on the fence...

February 20

Sidecars make everything better. Including cutting new lining pieces.

February 21

Running out of thread on the Chantilly a third time *cry*

February 22

Hello Knickerbocker Glory! Homemade peanut brittle...

Almost There: The Chantilly Saga

Just a quick note to let you all know I am still kicking down here- a little worse for wear but rocking it. I've been slowly chipping away at my new nemesis Chantilly and I think *touch wood* she is almost done! Just hemming to go...

And a little sumthin' sumthin' for your troubles...

It Is On Like Donkey Kong, Chantilly!

Yo yo yo gentle readers!

It has been game on over in this neck of the woods over the last few days. 

Chantilly has been all up in my grill and talking smack about my ability to follow pattern directions and successfully manage to gather some fabric. And I have to say, she is a sassy lady who knows how to hit you where it hurts.

But I'm not letting a ripped bodice shell piece (I'll fill peeps in on the tragedy later), running out of thread three times and a snapped serger needle hold me back.

Witness this, y'all. Chantilly, I'm calling you out. It is on like Donkey Kong. You ain't no Biegnet of doom. You don't make me create multiple muslins like Jenny. Heck, you don't even require a FBA like poor old meh dress. Girl, you can bring it because It. Is. On.

*the crowd goes wild*

Banned: Amanda in Fabric Stores

It happened again.

I went into my local Spotlight (or Spotto as I am now seeming to call it) with a clear plan- and it all went to crazy town. Seriously. 

After the "unpleasantness" that was the Chantilly bodice incident this week I decided it was a prime opportunity to get a softer fabric to line the bodice and also get enough lining for the skirt portion of the frock. And nothing says happy Friday afternoon at work like burning some flex to finish early and head off to Spotto. So off I trundled over the border (yup- I totes cross state lines to purchase fabric. Try not to be jealous of how hardcore I am!) to get me some lining.

And it quickly went wrong. 

I grabbed my lining fabric in no time and was moseying to the register when a sassy print caught my eye. Like an easily distracted squirrel on a sugar high I bounced on over and started randomly pulling fabrics of the shelf and draping them in front of myself while singing My Fair Lady songs in a disconcerting manner. (Pro tip: serenade the fabric store ladies with old musical numbers, they totes love it!) And then as I went to grasp greedily at a fabric label, there it was... LISETTE!

Imagine that sugar high squirrel. Now add red bull and and some kind of crazy strobe light. And maybe a disco tune. Oh and glow sticks. Because that is what I started to behave like. I started grabbing rolls of fabric like a maniac and clutching them to me while pawing at different prints. I was even looking around frantically to see if anyone else had discovered this treasure trove. And on top of that I was madly taking photos single handedly while texting a friend. Crazy times.

So after 30 minutes of holding up different combos and calculating how much money I realistically had after buying these bad boys for skating yesterday I narrowed it down to these three. For the moment.

This epic 70s fabric is what first caught my eye. I have no idea what to do with it. All I know was it had to come home with me and mock all my lesser non-70s fabrics...

And the other two I am planning to use for a for the Lisette dress pattern shown below. Yup- it will be face meltingly happy and bright and that's totes how I roll!

So in conclusion, I am not be allowed into fabric stores for a while. I will purchase my epic cape fabric next pay online and stick to the materials list and all will be well... Though I can't find rayon lining over here so I might get some in cream. And maybe pink. Oh and lime green. Better not forget the purple either...

Fail: Why Amanda Needs to Read Thrice and Stitch Once

Oh, how cocky was I the other day with my fancy gathering that I had spent oh so long on. So quick to share my triumphs with you. So proud of my achievements. And as we all know, gentle readers, that is when the universe lines up to hit you with a great big FAIL!

Let us recap: I'm trying the slow and careful approach to this dress instead of hammering it out like my normal crazy lady way. I stitched that yoke like nobodies business. Heck, my gathering was so neat and even I swear sewing angels wept as they gazed upon its sheer brilliance. 

I was invincible! I mean, look at how epic this is. Unless you don't want to be blinded by awesome- in that case close your eyes and scroll down a wee bit... :P

And how the mighty fell...

As I moved on to sew the front and back shell together for the life of me it wouldn't line up. Puzzled at how the fabric had magically altered, as I could do no wrong, I pulled out my muslin and did a comparison. And that's when I found the ABOMINATION that was my upside down pieces...

Yes- that is right. In all my careful and considered piecing together my glory was to be thwarted by an upside down bodice piece. And not only once. I had done the same with the lining. Curse you upside down pieces! So it was off to the land of drinking a "martini" and unpicking fabric. If you have to do a sucky job, do it in style I say! And nothing says style like drinking pink lemonade from a martini glass and putting on a a really bad British accent... (it's generally best not to ask)

I'm choosing to look at this as an unintentional win. I got paid today so I can grab some nicer lining tomorrow afternoon and line my bodice in something softer. And maybe check out Lisette fabric as it has finally arrived. 

But I'll be watching you Chantilly from the corner of my eye. Any more of that and KA POW! 

Photo Challenge: Week Six

This week: awesome. I have been baking, skating and carefully sewing like a mad lady. And to top it all off I have just discovered I have been approved for a study exchange with the Smithsonian in the States for later this year. I haven't been to America since a teenager and I can't wait to get into some epic cultural institutions. Heck- I need to plan a travel wardrobe...

February 9

Hells yes to stackable Nigella bowls

February 10

I'm getting obsessed...

February 11

Finally tracked down kale. Hope it's tasty!

February 12

I love late sunsets.

February 13

Homemade cookies for bribing my staff

February 14

Meh Dress got pimped!

February 15

Beautiful lunch time walk.

Slow and Steady Spots

After a self-imposed sewing sabbatical yesterday (10 hour work day + sinus infection = sleepy) I am back, baby! And I am sure y'all missed me. So today I bring you my slow and steady approach to sewing. Weird for me, I know!

First off, we have a sassy yoke that has been carefully pressed within an inch of its life sporting some fabulous edge-stitching. And for some reason that sentence makes me think of cheesy fashion shows, so that's where I'm going to go with this... This yoke likes a firm press with an iron, sitting upon shoulders and looking fabulous at the end of summer.

Next we have a long shot of the spotty bodice. Note the sassy placing of the spots- this says summery but also whimsical. But don't be rushing out for one of these just yet- it's only the front piece *canned laughter*

To finish is a close up of the start of the bodice. The gathering stitches took two attempts and almost a whole episode of a trashy TV show to complete. These well gathered stitched enjoy careful handling and basting in place before stitching securely in place...

And for those who are all "Valentines Day = blergh" please switch off now... *epic musak most likely Girl from Ipanema" 

The husband and I are not V day peeps but today he surprised me with the loveliest card and awesome necklace to celebrate our 109 day wedding anniversary. Well played, Mr Bimble and Pimble. Well played... And here is a (dodgy) pic of the necklace. 

How cute is this?! It's a tiny pencil and ruler! I was so inspired I changed my outfit to highlight it and wore my poor old Meh Dress which after some slight adjustments fits better. It's taken Meh Dress to Nice Pink Dress. Win!

Sunday Short and Sweet: Chantilly Edition

It was all systems go for a cutting out of muslins of both my cape and dress patterns today. Small problem- my muslin fabric stash is not what it once was and there was not enough for the cape. Curse you impulsive sewing! Instead I made do with just the dress bodice...

Chantilly and I shared some special moments today including the three attempts it took for me to correctly attach the collar/yoke/bane of my existence to the rest of the bodice. And even then I realised I had sewn it inside out. Not my finest hour... 

On the plus side, the muslin fit well and thanks to the gathered bodice no FBA was required to make this work for me. Thank you gathering! 

I've also done a stash dive and have dug out some of my most epic fabric ever- the creamy yellow with multicoloured polka dots. I am obsessed with polka dots at the moment and am giving into them at every opportunity. Could this fabric possibly be more awesome? I thought not!

Although I need to buy some more lining for the skirt, I'm hoping to get this sewn up before Friday night to wear out to dinner with the husband. I'm starting to get quite obsessed with wearing my own creations out. Is this normal?

Cape + Dress = Overcommitment?

Maths.

I totally failed it in high school. Not by a little but by a lot. This may have had something to do with me being allowed to sit at the back of class and use the time to study for Chinese and Chemistry. But nonetheless, maths is not my friend. Though I totally got a B+ for Chinese! Win!

So I propose this sassy maths problem for you and let's see if we can totes work it out...

The Problem
Amanda + finished summer work wardrobe = spare time!

Spare time - tracing Milano cape pattern = afternoon free time.

Afternoon free time + peaches + blueberries = delicious pah.

Post pie time + TV on laptop = Chantilly dress pattern tracing.

Chantilly + Milano tracing = crazy amounts of pattern templates on desk.

Select the Answer
a. Amanda is overcommitted.
b. Amanda was hopped up on peach sugar and went crazy.
c. Amanda is too excited about new patterns that she is trying to do two at once, or,
d. All of the above?