Hair

I've had really boring hair my whole life. Straight, parted down the middle. For.e.ver. Proof:

I'm in the middle. The oldest, but the middle. You get it.

In college I had a perm (hey, I liked it, so suck it) and after that it's been kind of wavy. Not straight or curly. Sometimes I've had bangs, but my husband hates bangs. The only thing I particularly liked about it was the color, blond. I've always liked being a blond, probably because I connected it with those beautiful Disney princesses like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. Blond=better is how petty I've been my whole life.

The perm. You know this is an old photo

because it has a cool 2000's timestamp.

But then I got older. And had one kid. And another kid. And suddenly, without doing anything, my hair wasn't quite so blond anymore. In fact, upon asking my 3 year old, she said my hair was brown.

What.

I do not have brown hair. At least, my self-image does not contain a person with brown hair. My personality doesn't go with brown hair. I am not a person with brown hair.

Or am I?

Seriously, what color is this?

When you start becoming unsure of your own hair color, life becomes unnerving. Especially in the year you turn 30. So last week, reminiscing about a picture I saw in a book of a similarly neither-here-nor-there hair-colored woman, I decided to dye my hair. Platinum blond.

When I picked up a box of hair dye, my daughter got very upset. She told me to leave my hair alone and not to make it look "like an old lady". I was a bit taken aback. I didn't realize a 3 year old would care about such things. I decided to just dye it when she wasn't home and see if she'd even notice the change. Note to self: next time, take her advice.

This was actually not my first stab at this hair color. The first time was two years ago, when my husband was on a business trip in Germany. I didn't tell him I was doing it, because I figured I had enough time to go get it fixed before he got back and he'd be none the wiser. It ended up not being much of a change, my hair just looked a little lighter. This time I went for it, and the results were...not pretty.

After first box

The first pass made me look like a tiger. No joke. There were great big places where I'd missed (have you ever tried dyeing your hair without someone helping you?) and the roots were a noticeably different color. Bad bad bad. And nothing scissors could even save (I considered it). The next day I promised my husband beer in exchange for helping me fix it, which he did. And now? Still bad, but at least uniformly so?

After second box

It's MUCH brighter in person than in this picture. And of course, all this was happening just before my Momiform MAKEover post was due. Hence what prompted the change in the first place. But I hadn't banked on the change going so terribly wrong. Suddenly, these new clothes I was pumped about rocking made no difference to me. I wanted to pull out of the tour. I wanted to never leave the house. I almost didn't order pizza delivery one night because I felt like it looked that bad (for the record, I did order pizza, and the delivery guy had a mullet, and I laughed at myself for feeling so foolish).

It's even bad in a ponytail.

On the advice of a friend and Mr. Google, I've ordered some purple toning shampoo and it should be here this week. Supposedly, the purple cancels out the brassy tones and will result in a more ashy/white-blond look, which is what I want. In the last week and a half I've basically been wearing my hair up and avoiding mirrors. I'm really super frustrated, because I feel like I've spent the last 3 1/2 years of mom life rebuilding my self-image and confidence (oh, you didn't know? becoming a mom screws with your identity). With one little box of hair dye it all went off the rails.

So cheer me up! Have you ever had a hair disaster? How did you recover? I know this is only temporary, but I think it's safe to say I'll be leaving the dye to professionals from now on.

Project Runway recap

We're halfway through this season. Thoughts? This seems like a highly forgettable one. I don't love anyone. I don't hate anyone. The designs are kind of boring. What a shame, because the challenges are interesting for once.

Spoilers ahead...

Best moments: I liked this challenge, despite the shameless plug for Finding Neverland. I've seen worse cross-promoting, certainly this show is famous for it.

I like that Edmond bought feathers that he didn't use. Why not? Isn't it better to have a lot of crazy options, as long as you do have the ability to edit?

Worst moments: A few weeks ago I said that I like Swapnil. I don't know now. He's becoming fairly cocky and arrogant, and when he was in the middle he got all whiny about it. I think he needs to get his head out of his butt and stop listening to everyone telling him how talented he is.

Best garments: Um...I didn't have a favorite this week. Sad.

Worst garments: Wow, Ashley's was a hot mess. It takes a special kind of fail to make something that's both too big and too small.

Even though she won, I thought Candice's dress was way too costumey. Am I crazy? It did look well-made and complicated, though.

Laurie's "garment" was beyond awful. It was so, so, so bad. I don't understand. The boobs were supposed to be out? She didn't have a plan for that? And what is her obsession with hot pants? The fabric looked like upholstery. It's embarrassing that she didn't go home for that.

Best quote: "I was inspired by the pictures I saw on the wall...when I was waiting for the bathroom." --Kelly


My husband asked me if the designers are really scored on each week's challenge, or if it's cumulative over the whole show. I see what he's getting at, if they were truly judged week-to-week then Laurie should have been out. I think the judges were just tired of Lindsey, and frankly, she seemed quite tired of them.

Next week: School? Is it the design your own print challenge?

Momiform Makeover Reveal!

When Lauren of Baste+Gather put out a call for moms who wanted to make themselves over, I jumped at the chance to be a part of the blog tour. Baby H turned 4 months old this week, and with fall approaching I knew I needed a kick in the butt to refine my style. Big life changes can inspire more changes...or allow certain areas of your life to fall into a rut. So here's my attempt at staying away from ruts!

The Momiform MAKEover is all about Style, Comfort, and Wearability. Twice a week I have to haul two kids across town to preschool drop off for AB. I am required to actually get out of the car (what a drag). A lot of the moms I see there are in jeans...but the majority are wearing the ubiquitous black yoga pants. I know it's hard to hear, but yoga pants are not dress pants, even if they are black. I get it. My uniform is nothing special and is downright embarrassing. If left to my own devices, there is no doubt in my mind I would show up looking like this:

Here's a good rule of thumb: if the sum total age of your clothes is higher than your age, your outfit fails. I'm never going to stop wearing jeans and tshirts, but I wanted a way to refine the look into something presentable. I also wanted a nicer option for the times I felt like wearing a dress. Bonus points if I could use patterns that will work over and over again (hence the "Momiform").

These two outfits are entirely handmade! On the left is my casual jeans look, and on the right is my dress look. Yes those are two different garage doors. We have two garages. Deal with it.

I'll start with the casual look because it's definitely my favorite!

I wanted to avoid hoodies at all costs, so my alternative is the Cambridge Cardigan (affiliate link) from Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop. I sized up to a medium in order to go for that slouchy, boyfriend cardi look. It's made from ponte so it's just as comfortable as a sweatshirt, but with lots more style. The solid navy color will work with a lot of different outfits, so it's also very wearable.

To prevent myself from throwing on an ancient baggy softball tshirt, I went with an equally comfortable hack of the Willow Wrap Dress, from Love Notions, by combining it with the Renfrew from Sewaholic. I need nursing access and the wrap top is the cutest way to do it. I love that I can take off the cardigan as the day gets warmer, and still look great. And who doesn't love a fun jersey print?

The jeans are from the Jamie Jeans pattern, from Named. This is my very first pair of me-made jeans, and they were desperately needed. A year ago I put on 10lbs (on purpose) and outgrew most of my jeans. Then I got pregnant. At this point, I have two pair of skinny jeans that fit (including these) and the rest are a hold-your-breath-and-don't-eat sort of situation. The holey jeans above are held together with the good ole hair tie trick. Not good. But now I have the confidence to #sewallthejeans. A full review on these will be coming soon.

Look number 2 is a Willow Wrap Dress and an Astoria sweater. I previously reviewed the Astoria here. Who doesn't love a good wrap dress? And when it's made in a polyester ITY you can literally pull it out of a heap and still look fabulous (wearable! stylish! comfortable!). I usually choose to dress this down even further with slip-on chucks. Ideally, I'd go with navy Toms, but I'm still shopping around to score some used ones. It would also work with flats and tights when the weather cools down.

The print is busy, I know.

You might have noticed that both outfits fit the same color scheme. A year and a half after doing the Wardrobe Architect project and I'm still in love with navy/grey/pink/black. I'm starting to have a seriously coordinated wardrobe and picking a color scheme is the best thing that ever happened to my sewing!

Sooooo you might have noticed something odd about my hair in these photos...it's different in every single outfit! More on that later, because it's a not-so-funny story and I feel like blabbering on about it in a separate post.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to enter the massive giveaway below, including a chance to win one of my Sewist's Notebooks!

The Willow Wrap dress and Cambridge Cardigan patterns were given to me for free as part of this tour. Everything else was purchased by me. All opinions are my own.

REMEMBER: Scroll to the bottom of this post to enter the two separate Rafflecopters! 50+ winners will be selected! Get 10% off your fabric order from now through October 1 at Michael Levine/LowPriceFabric.com with code: Makeover10

Get 20% off your pattern order now through October 1 at UpCraft Club with code: MOMIFORM Are you MAKE-ing over your Momiform? Join the fun on Instagram with hashtag #momiformmakeover

 

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Be sure to check out all the awesome series participants to get lots of momiform inspiration!

Reyna Lay Designs | Call Ajaire | Golden Rippy | Love Notions Sew Not Perfect | Scientific Seamstress | Rebel & Malice Creative Counselor | Mabey She Made It | If Only They Would Nap | Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts Shaffer Sisters | FABulous Home Sewn | Fa Sew La | Baste + Gather Lulu & Celeste | Swoodson Says | Phat Quarters | Hey June Climbing the Willow | Everything Your Mama Made & More | Näh-Connection | 110 Creations A Jennuine Life | Straight Stitch Designs | Sew Straight & Gather | KZJO'STUDIO Wild & Wanderful | Mae & K | Handmade Frenzy | HattieLu Handmade

 

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Sponsors

 

Special thanks to these major sponsors who generously donated the following items for the giveaway:

(There will a different winner for each line item so we can spread the love around!)

Janome - One Skyline S5 Sewing Machine* Indiesew - Four $50 gift certificates (four separate winners) Michael Levine / Low Price Fabric - Four $25 gift certificates (four separate winners) and 10% discount for readers through October 1 - code: Makeover10 UpCraft Club - Two $25 gift certificates (two separate winners) and 20% discount on patterns through October 1 - code: MOMIFORM

And the following pattern designers who graciously provided patterns for the series participants and/or contributed the following items for the giveaway:

Grainline Studio - Two patterns of your choice True Bias - Hudson Pants & Southport Dress patterns Colette -Two patterns of your choice Closet Case Files -Two patterns of your choice Sew Much Ado -Two patterns of your choice Sew Straight & Gather - Three patterns of your choice Golden Rippy - Two patterns of your choice 110 Creations: A Sewist's Notebook Patterns for Pirates - Two patterns of your choice Itch to Stitch - Two patterns of your choice Mouse House Creations - Two patterns of your choice Hey June Handmade -Two patterns of your choice Peekaboo Pattern Shop - Three patterns of your choice Go-to Patterns - One women's pattern of your choice GreenStyleCreations -Two patterns of your choice Puperita - One pattern of your choice Sofilantjes - Two patterns of your choice Charlotte Kan - One pattern of your choice So Sew Easy - Two patterns or one bundle of your choice OUSM Designs - Women's Thumbs-Up Tee pattern E-Beth Designs - Two patterns of your choice Muffin Head Patterns - Any pattern of your choice up to $10 GrayDay Patterns - Sandpoint Top or Athena Top pattern (your choice) Scientific Seamstress - One pattern of your choice Stitch Upon a Time - $20 gift card 5 out of 4 - Two patterns of your choice Frianki Patterns - Two patterns of your choice KZ Jo Studio - Two patterns of your choice Straight Stitch Designs - Full collection of patterns Sewing Patterns by Aivilo Charlotte - Two patterns of your choice Striped Swallow Designs - Two patterns of your choice Rose and Lee Designs - Two patterns of your choice Sewing Geek Patterns - One pattern of your choice Filles a Maman - One pattern of your choice Bella Sunshine Designs - One pattern of your choice Liola Designs - One pattern of your choice Cali Faye Collection - One pattern of your choice Tinman Patterns - Orbit Skirt pattern Felicity Sewing Patterns - Two patterns of your choice Winter Wear Designs - Two patterns of your choice Ellie Inspired - Three patterns of your choice Love Notions - One pattern of your choice a Sparkly Baby - Two patterns of your choice Terra's Treasures Designs - Two patterns of your choice

*Janome giveaway winner must be located in U.S.A. and is therefore on a separate Rafflecopter below. Machine must be picked up at a local dealer; it cannot be shipped.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This second Rafflecopter includes all the other sponsor items since they can be awarded internationally! You must enter both Rafflecopters in order to be entered to win both the sewing machine and the rest of the giveaway items. All patterns awarded will be in PDF format. Enjoy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to Look Put Together...When You Feel Like Falling Apart

You heard about the Momiform Makeover Series, right? This blog tour is full of classy ladies reinventing their style, and I'm so happy to be a part of it! When you become a mom, you become the ultimate multi-tasker. "Style" starts moving rapidly down the list of priorities in the face of things like doctor's appointments and preschool snacks. I can't speak for everyone, but the more I've got going on, the more scattered my brain feels. Over the years I've come up with a few quick, easy ways to look like I've got my act together...even when I'm falling apart!

Have a Plan

This is a sewing blog, so let's start with clothes. Resist the urge to pull a wrinkly sweatshirt out of the laundry basket. Resist! The smell test is not good enough. If I know I have to be out the door early, I lay out my clothes the night before. My 3 year old helps me, and on a "school night" she looks forward to selecting her outfit, my outfit, and what baby H is going to wear. We even lay out our socks and underwear. All three outfits are together, so we can get dressed at the same time without leaving the room to search for something. Ten thoughtful minutes are way better than five frantic ones!

Have Go-To Statement Pieces

Let's say you forgot to lay out clothes, and you did throw on something only halfway presentable. Add a statement item that will distract everyone and make it look like you tried. These could include:

• A stand-out piece of jewelry (not the whole box!). Mine is a pair of pearl earrings my husband got me for my *cough* 30th *cough* birthday.
• Glasses (if you normally wear contacts) or contacts (if you normally wear glasses).
• Lipstick in a bold color and minimal (or no) other makeup.
• A fun scarf.
• Edgy boots.

These are all things that people will notice instead of your messy hair or inside out shirt. They're easy to do and some can even be kept in your car for emergency fashion disasters. Spit up on your shirt? Cover it with a scarf.

Have Two Makeup Routines

This tip has been a lifesaver for me. I don't like leaving the house without makeup on, it definitely makes me feel less confident. But sometimes I can't get even ten minutes of peace to "put on my face" as my mom would say. Rather than skip makeup altogether, I developed a "quick" routine and a "slow" routine.

The quick routine gives me just enough to feel human. For me, that's foundation or BB cream, blush, mascara and an eyebrow pencil. The slow routine is more involved (obvs) and is the same as the quick routine, except I add eyeliner, eyeshadow, and concealer if I need it. If you're not sure how much time you'll have, start with your quick routine. You'll at least cover the bare minimum. When you're shopping for makeup, look for shortcuts, like this foundation and applicator in one, or this eye shadow stick that doesn't need a brush (affiliate links).

I've also been known to throw my makeup bag in my purse and apply it in the car when we get wherever we're going (no, not while I'm driving!). I find that having the kids strapped in their car seats makes application much less stressful, because I'm not stuck in the bathroom wondering if someone has climbed on top of the kitchen table and is swinging from the ceiling fan (OMG I have to move my kitchen table...).


Whether you're a mom or not, we're all short on time and motivation. Do you have any quick tips to look put-together and polished? 

Project Runway recap plus Momiform MAKEover kickoff!

Sometimes 3 year olds are very challenging. And sometimes they're so cute you want to die. I was sitting on the floor, cutting and taping a pattern together while watching this episode, when AB came up to me with a blanket and draped it around my shoulders. "It's time to go down to the runway!" she said. Oh m gee.

Spoilers ahead...

Best moments: No Blake! Seriously, wasn't that a relief?

Worst moments: Jake and his dog...ugly cry. I kept waiting for them to show a clip of someone dissing his decision, but they didn't. Thank goodness, or it would have been insta-hate. Why can't dogs live forever? Seriously?

Not too keen on another unconventional challenge. Does Mood hate them?

Best garments: Edmond's dress was so cool and looked like neoprene. Ashely's was fine. Too short. Kelly really did a lot with two tiny pieces of pipe. I admit I couldn't see what she was seeing when she picked those up, so kudos to her.

Worst garments: I know everyone was raving about Candice's dress, but have they never watched this show before? It's been done to death.

Best quote: "I feel like I'm dating the judges...and it's not going well." --Lindsay

I think this was the first time an eliminated contestant said something super smart. Joe said that he wasn't sure he deserved to go home, but that he also wasn't sure he deserved to stay. I think he hit the nail on the head. He was just kind of blah this whole time.

Next week: I already forgot. Neeeeed more coffee.


One last thing! Head over to Baste+Gather to read about the AMAZING Momiform MAKEover series that's happening this week. There are a gazillion prizes you can win, including a new Janome sewing machine! Watch out for my post on Wednesday, where I debut my very first pair of me-made jeans! Eeek!

Seamwork Astoria

I bet you're all starting to think that I only make Seamwork patterns. They sure have been a trend in my recent sewing! Something about fresh patterns delivered monthly makes me very happy. In this case, the Astoria was one I initially overlooked, but with a push from some fellow sewists I went for it.

The Astoria is a close-fitting cropped knit sweater, with a high neckline. It's meant to be a layering piece, so it's perfect for throwing on over dresses in the fall. It's not exactly a part of my normal silhouette (I usually gravitate towards looser cuts and lower necklines) but recently I found a need for a close-fitting (read: more polished) item in my closet.

I have a few "fancy" knit dresses that just don't look right with a sloppy, oversized cardigan. When I toss on this Astoria I instantly feel more put-together. The fabric is a navy ponte from Girl Charlee. It has a slight sheen to it, which also means it looks less casual.

I made a size small based on my bust measurement, with no adjustments, and the fit is perfect. I have a large bust for my frame since I'm currently nursing, but with a cropped sweater it means no bagginess everywhere else. I normally have to make an adjustment for narrow shoulders but found this one fit fine. If you have broad shoulders double check your fit.

The only issue is that the neckline binding is just a smidge too long. That's all dependent on the stretchiness of your fabric, so it may not be a problem with any other versions. I do recommend adding a tag to the back of the garment, since it looks pretty similar front to back.

The dress I'm wearing underneath is RTW, from Old Navy a gazillion years ago. The leggings are me-made (blogged here). I LOVE how well-defined my waist looks in this sweater, the band on the bottom definitely gives the visual that it's nice and narrow.

Unlike some other Seamwork patterns I've made, this one did only take the 1 hour stated by the pattern. It's a super fast sew and I highly recommend it if you have the same kind of hole in your closet that I did. I used my serger for the whole thing, other than tacking down the loose serger threads (rather than weaving them back in or tying a knot). I just made a bartack at the end of each sleeve seam.

Stay tuned next week for the whole reason why I was sewing this up in the first place...it has to do with a HUGE blog tour with a TON of prizes, including one of my Sewist's Notebooks AND a Janome sewing machine!

Mood Board of the Month: Crisp

I'm not sure if it's here to stay, but cooler fall temps have definitely moved in to my neck of the woods. That means super soft wool pants for the kids, and layers for me. This month's mood board gives you versatility for those crisp 70 degree mornings and warm 85 degree afternoons.

Polyvore // ColourLovers

// Patterns //

This month, try one of Named Patterns' new designs, the Olivia Jersey Wrap Dress. A wrap dress works for almost any occasion, so wear this one to work and stay warm in cropped sleeves. For your casual weekend trip to the apple orchard, make up the Sanibel Dress (or romper!) from Hey June. One view comes with full-length sleeves complete with placket, or roll up those puppies when you're hot. Need another layer? Try my TNT leggings pattern, McCall's 6173.

Bonus! This month I'm including two bag patterns! Finish off your work look with the Valencia clutch, from Seamwork Magazine. Small backpacks are trendy right now, and you can join in with the London Backpack from LBG Studio.

// Fabric //

To me, slinky knits will always scream "wrap dress!" and it even works with some prints, like this ikat rayon spandex knit from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. The Sanibel would be crazy cozy in a cotton flannel, from Robert Kaufman via Fabric.com. Leggings don't have to be boring, and if you make them up in a metallic gold mesh from Mood they won't be! Finally, both bags can be made from some snazzy faux leather, from Hancock Fabrics.


This post is not sponsored by any pattern designer or fabric seller. I wish. I just have too much time on my hands and love planning wardrobes! Check out my Mood Board of the Month Pinterest board for all the links to my inspiration. 

Project Runway recap

I have been doing soooooo much sewing and I haven't been able to show you any of it. I'm participating in a blog tour and all the items are for that, so they're being hidden away! I can't wait to show you what I've been up to!

Spoilers ahead...

Best moments: The sleepover was cute. Did you see Merline in a hammock?? Did Tim seriously sleep there?

Worst moments: Somebody get Blake an anatomy book. Also, the women had a definite advantage here. That said, somebody always has an advantage because somebody is always more experienced with one thing or another. 

I was disappointed that so many people used the base bras, although I'm glad they were provided. Can you imagine?? They'd all look like Blake's free-flying boobies.

Uhm...the runway show was almost over before I realized that my 3 year old was intently watching this episode full of boobs and blurring and booty. I think she was mostly confused.

Best garment: None, really. The cute ones were poorly made and the well-made ones were boring.

Worst garment: Blake by a mile. This might have been worse than Emilio's pink string bikini of yore. 

Best quote: "If your model is only missing a whip, you've gone too far." --Tim Gunn

We're finally rid of Blake. I maintain that he does not know how to use a sewing machine. He hand-sewed the underwear, which would have taken 10 minutes by machine. I think he thinks he's couture, but he's really just unskilled. This was a fairly disappointing episode, which is always true when they're asked to make a specific thing like pants or menswear. Is it too much to ask for some range?

Next week: More unconventional baloney.

A Peek at my Stash: Denim

Today I'd like to kick off a new series, all about snooping around in my fabric stash. I'm hoping that by writing these posts, I'll pay more attention to the lovely fabrics I already have, rather than constantly buying new ones. I encourage you to check out your own stashes and see what forgotten beauties you have lingering there. Tell me all about it in the comments! A little accountability goes a long way, right?

I'm currently slaving away over my very first pair of jeans (!!!), so we're going to peek at the different denims I've been hoarding. A few quick stats:

Number of cuts: 5

Amount of yardage: 8 yards

Oldest fabric: 2 1/2 years old

All have a purpose?: no

Number of "what was I thinking" cuts: 2

These denims range from short remnants bought at Jo-Ann's, to larger designer fabrics bought at Mood. Some are stretch denims and some are not. I believe the short pieces were intended to be jeans for the kids, and the longer pieces jeans or Sewaholic Thurlows (for the non-stretch denim) for me.

My biggest "what was I thinking" offender is this sparkly stretch denim:

I bought it to make Jamie Jeans, probably a year ago, but now it's screaming 14-year-old girl at me. Since I am not a 14 year old girl, I will either chop this up for muslins, or hoard it until one of my kids IS a 14 year old girl.

My favorite cut is this black organic cotton stretch denim, from Nature's Fabrics:

This is what I'm currently using for Jamie Jeans. Can you believe I've never owned a pair of black jeans? They definitely seem more sophisticated than your standard blue jeans, and I cannot wait to see how my finished pair ends up.

Any secret denim shame hiding in your stash? Any beauties? Tell me someone has some of that amazing Cone Mills denim that Heather (from Closet Case Files) was offering a few months ago!

Project Runway recap

Hi all! Hope you had a great long weekend, those of you in the states. It's pushing 95 degrees here, so I'm somewhat limited in the amount of outdoor fun I can have with a baby. I'm not begging for those crisp 60 degree days, but 80 would be nice!

Spoilers ahead...

Best moments: In an episode full of disturbing behavior, leave it to BLAKE to be sensible and come to Ashley's defense. Something tells me he was probably in her place at some time in his life, so kudos to him for standing up for her. And good for his team, actually working together! Wait, did I just say something nice about Blake? What's happening?

Worst moments: I think we can all agree that this whole episode was a bad moment. Do we really believe Candice when she says that she picked Amanda to help her out? Or did she pick her because for sure Amanda would be out if their team was on the bottom? Was there some sort of plot to go against Ashley and eliminate a tough competitor? 

I have all these questions about what was really going on, because what we saw made no sense for human adults. What we were shown were petty, silly women, and I'd like to think that we've moved beyond that. I guess not.

Best garments: I liked Swapnil's, yet again, though Edmond's winning look was pretty as well.

Worst garments: Amanda's parachute dress was a snoozefest, and her whining about it made her look like a big baby.

Best quote: "It's about to get Hunger Games real." --Kelly

Finally, Amanda is gone. She had no accountability and nothing interesting to contribute to the runway shows. I'm sure she's a perfectly nice designer, but in the realm of this show she was bad.

Next week: Heidi scares the crap out of people, and they make lingerie. This one should be very interesting! Anyone want to take bets on how many designers have never made a pair of underwear?

Bridesmaids' Dresses In Action!

Who's ready for me to be done talking about these dresses haha? This past weekend I experienced something new--seeing garments I made being worn by other people. Well, other people who don't live with me, since I've previously sewn for my kids and my husband. I'm happy to say that the dresses turned out great, fit the bridesmaids well, and worked perfectly for the setting.

All photo credit goes to random family members...I didn't take a single picture! As you can see, the wedding was outdoors. It ended up being very humid and slightly overcast, it actually rained during the ceremony. It was so humid that I don't think anyone minded the rain, it felt like a relief! And it quit as soon as it was over, of course. I cannot tell you how awesome it was to be wearing a lightweight, breathable cotton dress. Aside from my strapless bra situation, I was very comfortable.

AB did an excellent job as flower girl. She can be clumsy, so I was positive she'd faceplant going down the stairs, but she went slow and steady ("like a turtle!") and did just fine. I wish I could say that I made her dress, but I didn't. It's from J. Crew (I bought it second-hand). And don't let her fool you, she's not always as angelic as she looks in this picture ;)

Green isn't a color that I have a lot of in my wardrobe, but I think I will wear this dress again. Just with a regular bra. I'm not crazy about how unsupported my boobs look in these photos. YES I know I picked the pattern (the Delphi Layered Maxi from Named), so it's my own damn fault, but so what. Maybe I can make a bra from the leftover fabric, so it matches the dress.

Sewing three identical dresses back to back (four if you count the muslin) isn't the most fun, but I'm happy I could contribute to my sister's big day. Not to mention that each dress came out to be around $60 for fabric, pattern and supplies. I have TWO can't-wear-again bridesmaid's dresses in my closest that each cost me $100+, so that's a big deal. I was also able to control the details and make sure I had a dress in which I could nurse baby H. The bodice of each dress is two layers, and on mine they are two seperate layers. The outer one lifts up, and the under layer is in two sections so it can pull apart for nursing access.

I drafted this modification myself, based on a RTW top from Motherhood Maternity. It was pretty simple, let me know if you're interested in a full tutorial.

It was an awesome weekend and lots of fun all around. My sister planned a great party and I was so honored for myself and my daughter to be a part of it!