Can inspirations from nature ever be too literal?
These ladybug print pants are kind of cute (I've been meaning to share this photo with you for quite some time):
But it's a slippery slope, don't you agree? (especially if you're short)
Moving right along...
What a wild, warm and wacky week we just had, right? And the week to come promises to be even wackier and warmer!
I have exactly one week before our Fire Island trip, and I'm just now sitting down with a pile of assorted spandex tops and bottoms (my research tools) and figuring out just how to make Cathy a bathing suit. I'm trying not to panic.
Meanwhile, look what I won on eBay last night:
Guess who I'm sending the bill to as soon as I can track down her mailing address. I know you guys were pretty evenly split about this pattern but I'll try to make it worth your while. If nothing else I'll learn how to do a rolled hem on my serger.
So, quick, let's review last week. Not that much to tell, project-wise.
1. I finished the Twenties dress and was able to rouse Cathy with some mild stimulants to model it for me.
I never did draft a shirt or make shorts, though with the temperatures hovering around 100 degrees I wish I had.
And as for this coming week:
1. Must assemble Cathy's beach wardrobe. She and I need to sit down and discuss just what I'm expected to provide and what she's bringing herself. Hopefully she'll be carting her baby blue Samsonite make-up case. I'm not her valet after all.
2. If there's time, I may try to draft a shirt. Or make shorts. Or something.
Now how about you?
Sarah: Did you make your sundress? Sewforward: How's the wearable art garment coming along? Rebecca: Did you finish your beach cover-up? Maybe you can give me some tips for Cathy's. Elle: What did you wear to your 4th of July party? Cath: When are you due and have you mastered your walking foot? Lorrwill: How did the pencil skirt turn out? Smarty Pantalons: Who is Mrs. G?
OK, that's enough nagging. When the temperature reaches 90, I start to tune out and seek mindless distractions. Yesterday I watched my fourth (of four) Troy Donahue movies from my "Warner Bros. Romance Classics Collection" and when I think that less than ten years later he was making soft-core exploitation movies like "The Love-Thrill Murders"....well it makes me very scared -- for Cathy.
Oh, by the way, I'm SO very grateful for all your wonderful style icon suggestions yesterday. I'm still trying to figure out who they all are and will report back later in the week for sure.
So, what are you sewing this week? Nothing with butterfly wings I hope!
Stay cool!
Peter! Now you're instigating! lol
ReplyDeleteI hope you guys are meeting up for drinks (real or virtual) and laughing about these posts
What did I say? So I don't like insects...
ReplyDeleteHm. The pants are certainly interesting, as mens pants (so I say go for it), but NOT with black shoes!
ReplyDeleteNo sewing goals for this week, sadly, just trying to make it through my French 20th Century Lit class (in French, nonetheless).
Me? I'm planning on making two dresses this week. You see, I land in Paris on Bastille Day and will simply die if I don't have a blue, white and red dress to wear.
ReplyDeleteBut two dresses? I'm trying to get my life ready for a three week vacation. I have no business trying to sew two semi-complicated dresses. especially the one that will require a muslin mock-up first.
By the way, are you sure those aren't ladybug chaps????
Sew? I hope to start a 1960's MOD dress with a chiffon overlay. Thanks for the inspiration last week. If you ever want to tackle the gown from Cinderella...I will help. Not that I can sew or anything, I just want to wear it. Do you think Cathy would mind?
ReplyDeleteDid Troy Donahue really star in that film? OMG the trailer was scary. How politically incorrect it all felt. Seems to be a spoof on the Charles Manson Murders. Eghads!!!!
Looking at your "Warner Bros. Romance Classics Collection" I have to say that "Palm Springs Weekend" may be one of my all time favorite movies. I LOVED the clothes and who could not love, be still my beating heart, Robert Conrad in that movie. So naughty and mean!!!! Such a bad boy and oh so gorgeous.
Romance Adventure left me, well, I fell asleep. The librarian thing just did not do it for me.
And I have never seen Parrish. Is is worth watching?
This is hilarious. She is going to get you, Peter!
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, I completed my goals for last week... except for cutting out the layette. Instead, I made an outfit to fit Alina *now* rather than when she grows a bit. I made a pair of pajamas and four outfits last week, just to play with my newly fixed sewing machine. The tension was still a bit funny, though, and I found out that it was fixed by switching brands of thread. Funny, isn't it? Coats and Clark thread was making the tension behave wonkily, but it's a solved problem with Gutermann!
ReplyDeleteSo. For this week, I have a bit of mending to tackle, a sleeveless pleated dress for Evie, and the layette to cut out. If I manage all that (which is probable) I need to cut out two Evie slips and a pinafore dress.
LOL!! I love you two... Never stop fighting.
ReplyDeleteGood grief! When I saw that big butterfly dress peeking up out of the bottom of my screen, I thought those wings were muscles -- like from an anatomy book! Gad!
ReplyDeleteToday I plan to make a pair of linen pants that I finally gotten around to underlining with silk organza this weekend. The blasted hand-basting of the underlining took longer than the actual pant construction will!
Oh, come now! Her coveted dress looks nothing like your examples! And would be quite the thrill to read about in progress, so I hope she pays you no mind!
ReplyDelete:)
Ohhhhh, it's oooon now I bet! You've had Star Wars, now coming to a [flat] screen [monitor] near you.... dun,dun, DUN!!! "BLOG WARS", a tale of darkness & light, the world of the West ( NY-US ) verses the East (Aachen, Germany). Who will fall down on their flat-felled seams? Which foe will succumb and roll-over on their hems? Tune in folks to find out! (Baste, sorry waste away hours reading the sparring posts of our 2 batting – sorry battling seamsters :D.)
ReplyDeleteAachen, Germany? That BEAUTIFUL dress was in lovely Seattle, WA -- and made by a Seattle designer. Hmmmph!
ReplyDeleteNot that I had ever seen that dress or heard of that designer before, but still -- Seattle scores (even if it does rain on the 4th of July).
Beth from Seattle.
I tell you what. You wear those ladybug pants, and I'll wear the Luly Yang monarch dress. We'll walk down the street together and see which of us looks like the gorgeous style icon and which of us looks like the guy way too old and creepy to be wearing pants made out of a the bedsheets he swiped off of an unsuspecting toddler's twin bed, mmmkay?
ReplyDeleteI'm going fabric shopping as I am now officially bored after reading this. Ta!
I think by mistake I wrote on an earlier posting. Anyways, this is Michael. It was nice to run into you yesterday and hear that now you are sewing. I am also sewing like crazy, though quilts, but have been interested in starting to do clothes. Your blog is very inspiring, I'm just beginning to make clothing plans. It's a great read, and fun to see what you have been making and what Cathy has been wearing, as well! Take care, I'll be reading this blog for sure....not just informative, but really entertaining! Michael
ReplyDeleteJason Mraz is cute, but kind of cute. Is that what you're going for?
ReplyDeleteMrs. G: http://bit.ly/aeR8hM
I have a hoodie and miniskirt out of Juicy Couture fabric in progress, but as soon as that is done, I plan to tackle a Vogue Rebecca Taylor dress (1152) out of a red charmeuse print.
ReplyDeleteOld and creepy here. I don't even own ladybug pants, I just found the pic online, so there!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Mike!
Ah, yes, THAT Mrs. G....
Peter - I love your posts! Keep on blogging! I love to read- P.
ReplyDeleteThat butterfly dress... hmmm, I actually quite like it.
ReplyDeleteI wore my brand spanking new, hot off the sewing machine large floral print sundress to the 4th of July party, thank you very much! And I don't think anyone mistook me for the sofa... pictures later this week.
This week, no specific occasion, so I think I may try my hand at drafting a skirt. And maybe some shorts (alas, no drafting there, just trying to make some that may actually fit).
Can't wait to see your swimsuit progress!
I found a cute linen dress at my neighbor's garage sale--with butterflies--that will go in my etsy store one of these years when they add a few extra hours to the day. My neighbors had just about everything at their sales. Too bad I didn't have more time to shop. I agree with Elle. Although I'm generally not into the novelty print, I like the butterflies on the dress.
ReplyDelete(ducks insect-themed fabric fight)
ReplyDeleteI completed my second pair of Jalie Jeans (despite a near-fatal glitch with the waistband) and cut out a jean-jacket for one of my kids. This week: assemble the jacket and get started on one for the other kid.
LOL! You guys crack me up. Goals for this week? I need to finish an outfit for a baby gift and then hopefully finish the leopard skirt of doom. It has been a trial and at this point I just want it finished and off of my sewing table.
ReplyDeleteholy crap you actually asked me a question. ok. ok. don't panic. breathe.
ReplyDeleteIt is on fitting garment number 4 and dude, I so thought of you last night around 2:30 am while sitting in my undies doing on more tweak. You said you got sick of fitting the pants, well I was definitely channeling that.
To save my sanity, I pulled out Simplicity 2451 and have just about finished tracing it on some Swedish tracing paper-interfacing-stuff to try a test garment. The plan is to make it in black stretch twill.
I also have a blouse I want to make to go with it from red and black chambray/oxford cloth/end-on-end.
Well good luck with that bill. Shellfish won't even say what continent she is on.
So looking forward to Cathy's beachwear!
Oh Pierre, what can of worms have you unleashed?
ReplyDeleteYou realize of course that proponents of SS are calling for... nay, demanding a SEW OFF between the two of yo. And I have to admit that I would like to witness a sew off as well but I swear I did not instigate the challenge.
A Sew Off? What is this, 10th Grade?
ReplyDeleteI'm like totally inspired by SS's butterfly dress so my goal is to make one this week. Here's my plan:
ReplyDeleteWhat I'll need:
Angel wings, bought or created (see tips below)
Dimensional paint in assorted colors
Trash bag
Headband
Chenille stems
Pom-poms in matching color
Tacky glue
Sweat suit in matching color
Safety pins, optional
How to make it:
Place angel wings out on trash bag.
Using the dimensional paint, create patterns similar to a butterfly. Fill in the wings with the paint (if the paint runs, you may wish to let dry between colors).
Let dry.
Take chenille stems and attach to the head band for antennae.
Glue the pom-poms to the chenille stems.
Let dry.
Put on the sweat suit and wear the head band.
If the wings do not have a way to attach them, try using safety pins.
Tips:
We found the angel wings in the Halloween costume section. You could also make your own wings using wire and a white sheet.
YES!!! Sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off sew off...
ReplyDeleteI'm like totally inspired by SS's buterfly dress so my goal this week is tyo make one. Here's my plan;
ReplyDeleteWhat I'll need:
Angel wings, bought or created (see tips below)
Dimensional paint in assorted colors
Trash bag
Headband
Chenille stems
Pom-poms in matching color
Tacky glue
Sweat suit in matching color
Safety pins, optional
How to make it:
Place angel wings out on trash bag.
Using the dimensional paint, create patterns similar to a butterfly. Fill in the wings with the paint (if the paint runs, you may wish to let dry between colors).
Let dry.
Take chenille stems and attach to the head band for antennae.
Glue the pom-poms to the chenille stems.
Let dry.
Put on the sweat suit and wear the head band.
If the wings do not have a way to attach them, try using safety pins.
Tips:
Make your own wings using wire and a white sheet from a Salvation Army shop. Check for revolting stains before you use, if present boil sheets for a long time before using.
sew off! sew off! sew off!
ReplyDeleteI'm like totally inspired by the SS's butterfly costume! So my goal is to make one this week. This is my plan-
ReplyDeleteWhat I'll need:
Angel wings, bought or created (see tips below)
Dimensional paint in assorted colors
Trash bag
Headband
Chenille stems
Pom-poms in matching color
Tacky glue
Sweat suit in matching color
Safety pins, optional
How to make it:
Place angel wings out on trash bag.
Using the dimensional paint, create patterns similar to a butterfly. Fill in the wings with the paint (if the paint runs, you may wish to let dry between colors).
Let dry.
Take chenille stems and attach to the head band for antennae.
Glue the pom-poms to the chenille stems.
Let dry.
Put on the sweat suit and wear the head band.
If the wings do not have a way to attach them, try using safety pins.
Tip:
Make your own wings using wire and a white sheet, bought from a Salvation Army shop. If it has gross stains, boil for a long time before using.
Well, Cathy certainly has good taste in luggage. I have that Samsonite case (and the matching suitcases). They were my high school graduation gift!
ReplyDeleteWorking on a white twill jeans-style jacket this week and then I really must make a new pair of PJs from some nice knit fabric I have and those Stretch-and-Sew patterns that are about the same vintage as the Samsonite luggage :-)