The Stars at Night, Are Big and Bright...

While visiting my my sister in San Antonio (almost a month ago now), I finally finished her birthday present. Her birthday was on Valentine's Day, so I was running a bit behind schedule. Shocking? At least it was this year's gift! She had visited right after her birthday and picked out fabric and I hauled it all down to get the fit right. This was my reasoning for procrastination...no person to fit? No sew.

Pretty in Polka-Dots: 1980's Prom Dress FINALE!

Do you ever wish that you could go back in time and relive your prom? For some, maybe not. But my younger sister? She got to relive our older sister's prom. As you can see from the photo, my older sister certainly got into the fashions of the time. You can't tell from the photo, but that is white polka-dotted tulle circa 1988. With three (3!) layers of ruffles. All asymmetrical, of corse. They really don't make them like that anymore, do they. Thankfully. (Hey, isn't my sisters date great! The original? Not so much.)

Pretty in Polka-Dots: 1980's Prom Dress Sneak Peek

Ah, the 80's. I got to witness it in action with my older sister, I unfortunately (or fortunately looking at photos) was too young to participate in any of the exciting parts of the fashion of that era. Last week I saw it much more close-up. My younger sister went to a 1980's-prom-themed fundraiser this past weekend. She had my older sister's original prom dress from 1988 (last worn by someone in high school) and since my younger sister is *ahem* not 16, we had to do some creative altering. This involved much more than ripping out and moving the zipper. Definitely more.

This is just the teaser. I had every intention of writing a post this evening with pictures of before and after. Alas, I find myself at the end of the evening after a full day of doing non-sewing related things. It will all have to wait until tomorrow, but you can see a sneak peek above. It has been awhile since I last posted and I wanted to get something up. I am doing something, I promise!  :)

Book Review: Coco Chanel & Stravinsky

Can you tell I'm on vacation? It is the only time during the year when I have time to read a book. So it is my ritual to find a book at the airport (I usually forget to get one before I leave) and read it while away. This time was no exception and it also relates to sewing (sort of). Yay!

Shirtwaist Dress: Progress Report

Progress. That is a funny word. It means different thing to many people. A "moving forward", right? I guess what I have been doing would technically fall into "progress". The problem is there hasn't been too much of it around here. Especially on my current project. Let's take a look.

Rompers vs. Playsuits

I have had my eye on rompers when I saw a couple cute versions on ModCloth last summer. I just brushed the thought aside, even though the ones they had there were beyond cute. Then last night, my sister and I were trying to find a pattern I promised I would sew her, and instead we stumbled onto this beauty in this etsy store. We both thought that each silhouette was great, so the pattern was purchased.

My First SBA! Where's the Champagne, Mom?!

Those reading who are not familiar with this term, it stands for a Small Bust Adjustment on a pattern. This is not as commonly seen in the sewing world as an FBA, which of course is the opposite, for those on the bustier side. Most of the big pattern companies draft patterns for a standard B-cup size, besides Colette Patterns who use a C-cup as standard. This is a fine and dandy if you are an average type of lady, with all your full B cup-ness (or even C!), but I am no average lady. I couldn't even fill out an A-cup completely — wah wah wah :( But instead of wallowing in my small-bust-self-pity, I made a SBA. Yay!

Sewing for Wee Ones: A Lesson Learned

I spent last week sewing a dress for my four year old niece's birthday, which we celebrated last night. I decided last Sunday to make it, which was why I was so absent last week and the fact that I am watching way too much television at night after work (how many Law & Orders can I watch!?) For those of you who have never sewed a garment for a child, it takes...um...I don't even know the right words. Courage? Maybe a little. Patience? Perhaps, but that is true in all sewing projects.  Pepared for crushing disappointment? Definitely.