100 Posts (and a giveaway)!!!

Just last week I celebrated one year of blogging fun!  Today I'm posting my 100th post!  Due to some technical difficulties relating to my camera memory card not wishing to speak to my computer today, that 100th post will not be what I had planned to talk about.

First, the fun part.  In addition to sewing, I dabble in a bunch of other crafts, including jewelry making.  I especially like to use upcycled materials in my creations. To celebrate 100 posts, I'm giving away a pair of handmade (by me) earrings, just like the ones I made for the wedding.  They are reclaimed faux pearls with reclaimed faceted glass beads, on sterling silver ear wires.  Just the thing for a dressy occasion.

To enter, leave me a comment telling me what sorts of posts you'd like to see more of on this blog.  This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere.  Please also be sure that your e mail address is there someplace so I can contact you for the shipping particulars. 

Now the not so fun part.  Lately it seems that I'm not getting many comments on the blog.  Is it because of the preoccupation with the wedding preparations?  Sorry for that.  It'll all be over after August.  Is it because I'm too shy to post too many pictures of myself in my creations?  Is it because I'm an old lady and I'm out of touch with what real people wear?  Please let me know so that I can serve you better, cause I'm really getting a little down about it.  I sincerely want your opinions.  Thanks!

The deadline to enter the giveaway is midnight EDT on July 21st.  Good luck, and thanks again for your suggestions!

Edwardian Skirt Update

I am working on this lovely Edwardian Skirt from Vintage Pattern Lending Library.  I'm planning to pair it with my Armistice Blouse.  I fell in love with this skirt the second I saw it.  Of course, there's nothing to all the straight sewing, but that cute little scalloped edge detail on the left side of the skirt is taking some machinations, let me tell you. 

This one is going to take a little longer than planned, probably going into next week.  I want to do self fabric covered buttons, and I'm considering some possible details for the binding on the scallops.  Please, if any of you have done this skirt, please do leave a comment and give me any advice you have!

Instead of completing this little gem by tomorrow, I think I'll do a little refashioning tomorrow so that I can chock up an accomplishment for the week.  I couldn't let a week go by without finishing something!

Would You Consider Making Your Own Wedding Dress?

I'm sincerely interested in your answers to that question.  You see I'm getting married in August and I assumed I'd be making my own gown.  I've made them for others, so why not for myself?

I want to do it for economic reasons, for environmental reasons, for romantic reasons, and for sentimental reasons. DIY certainly seems to be the choice of most brides today when it comes to the favors, decor, flowers, etc.  At least it seems that way when you look at Pinterest pinboards, or the myriad of wedding sites in the blogosphere.

Then I started reading some other sewing blogs on the subject.  In her recent post, What I Learned While Sewing My Wedding Dress, Kim from Cotton Creek Sewing has some really great advice, including buying extra fabric and being willing to start over.  I plan on using satin from my mother's wedding gown, so extra fabric may not be an option, though I am looking for some look-alike satin just in case. 

I already incorporated my Mother's wedding gown in my daughter's Odette tutu.  To  make the basque, I separated the bodice from the skirts, removed the sleeves, and replaced the zipper with a grommeted lace-up closure.  The tutu was made from scratch, but the top layers were netting and re-embroidered lace from the skirt of my Mother's gown.

I saved all the other bits and pieces, but not with the idea of ever using them for a dress for myself. I never thought I'd get married the first time, let alone remarry!  I like the idea of wearing at least parts of my mother's gown, I like the ecology of refashioning, I like that most of the fabric will be free, and I like that the result will be uniquely me.  I have some vague visions of what the completed dress will look like.

Meg, from A Practical Wedding, started out with a family  (group effort) sewn wedding gown, only to find that the dress, despite a muslin and multiple mailed back and forth fittings,  did not fit properly.  The hand sewn gown was jettisoned in favor of a vintage find.  Though I plan to do all the sewing myself, could I end up needing a "Plan B gown"?

Many sewists do their own gowns.  Examples includes Melissa of FehrTrade, The Curious Kiwi,  and the totally impressive Iowahoodlum of FeatherPetalSilk, who learned to sew by doing her wedding gown! 

Well, would you do it?  Let me know!

Armistice Blouse Progress

It occurred to me today as I worked along, how much I really love to sew.  Time just flies by, even though the work may be very time consuming.  Like basting lace into place prior to machine stitching it down.

I hope to have the blouse completed tomorrow.  Then, I'll be skipping my usual UFO project to do an Edwardian skirt to go with the blouse.  I'd like to have the emsemble completed by the Titanic anniversary, even though I'm not attending any themed parties.  How do you feel about anchoring current day celebrations around past events?  How about when the events are unhappy ones?  I'm curious to hear your opinions.  Thanks for watching my progress!

Opinions Please

Recovery is proceeding nicely since my clumsy tumble down the stairs. The one good thing about it was that while elevating my foot, I was forced to watch Season 2 of Downton Abbey. I was held in thrall for many hours, and now I have to worry about the fate of cousin Brendan (it's a joke... Please see my maiden name) until Season 3 hits stateside :-(.

Now that I'm ready to resume sewing, I think my next project will be a blouse of some sort, possibly the lovely (and free) Colette Sorbetto. Then, in keeping with my pledge, it'll be back to the UFO pile to see what else awaits me there.

Aside from these plans, I've been wondering... Is there anything in particular that you'd like to see featured on these pages? A technique we could explore together, or a topic you haven't found covered elsewhere? Please comment and let me know!

Image credit: The Graphics Fairy