June Already?

Where is this year going, my friends?

And where have I been?

Life is, as usual, hectic. I have basically been sick since we came back from vacation. I've had a horrific case of Mono, resulting in many hours of just sleeping or lazing around.  I'm not entirely over it, but I have been working on a few things...

My Mother-in-law was kind enough to send me some pewter wire for making some Sami bracelets.
I went through 10 meters in just a few days, but I had so much fun making them.

This is one of a handful of viking knit chains and cabochon pendants I made by hand. I will be selling them at my next Preservation Station appearance. 

I made my sisters prom dress. 

One of several cross stitch pieces...

My love of making totes is well known, here's one I recently made with some Paris themed duck and tan canvas.

Another dress in progress for my sister, this one of my own design! No pattern used, and I'm pretty darn proud of it.

Multicolored Lattice Quilt. I was going to sell it, but I have fallen in love with it.

A handmade antler ring with inlay sapphire

Etched sugar skull wine glass, gifted to my Mom on mothers day. 

January Projects

January has been pretty good to me, so far, in the sewing department.

I sewed these cute pillows with fabric I got in Sweden.

I made these curtains from Ikea- Britten Nummer fabric. I'm in love with it.
I even made a blanket from it!

See the ottoman? I made that as well. 

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This year I get the honor of making my little sisters prom dress.
It's horrible even thinking that she's old enough already, to even go to prom.
Next year she will graduate and then she'll be on to University to become a Doctor.
I couldn't be any more proud of the young woman she has become.

This grey dress was made from the pattern for my sisters dress. I wanted a sample to work on alterations from.
I'm sure the skirt will need lengthening.

I had a lot of fun making this dress, even though I was sick while I worked on it.

The back features an exposed zipper.
The exposed zipper is a feature that I have always loved in dresses. It feels very young and with the grey of the fabric, I think it kept it from being too boring.

Cute flower buttons on the front and a purple belt sewn on, I'm over-all very happy with how the dress came out!
Honestly, I can hardly believe that it's something I made.
Of course, E's prom dress won't be grey or have cutesy buttons down the front, but it was so much fun to practice!
I hope I get to make many more dresses in the future! 

June's Obsession

People, I'm not even joking. 

I recently make a lovely mother of the groom's dress for a long time family friend.

 It was the perfect opportunity to practice sewing satin and sheers.

To top it off, I got to sew something for someone else's body, and it was inspiring to say the least.

It is made from champagne colored satin, not the high end stuff so it wasn't always so cooperative.
The bodice has an sheer overlay with a meandering pattern of sequins, which was interesting to cut and to sew.
The sash is just a plain black satin, to kind of bring the whole concept together.
I had a LOT of trouble with the lining, so much so that only the front and sides of the bodice got fully lined.
I just could not get the pieces to fit snugly together.
I don't currently have a photo of the back side, but it does have a 21 inch zipper.
The arm holes are bound in FOE, to keep the sequins from being scratchy on the arms.

Sewing this dress has had me looking at gowns on pinterest like a MAD WOMAN.
Specifically rosette gowns.

COME ON! Tell me that these are not stunning! I dare you!

Every time I would go to Joann or Hancock's and see rosette fabric, I thought that the rosette's on sheer fabric looked so... Childish...
Boy, was I wrong.
I only wish that it weren't so expensive, because I would love to have a knee length dress with a rosette skirt!
Not that I have any occasion to wear one.

On a more personal note, I really haven't been doing too much, aside from making that dress, and hemming some pants. I have been down with a kidney infection and some debilitating back pain for nearly three weeks now. I can barely put any pressure on my tailbone, so sitting at my sewing machine or cutting fabric in the floor has been a no-go.

Whale Of A Time

Several weeks ago I found this adorable whale fabric at our local Joann Fabric, and fell in love.
It's just so cute! My mind automatically began thinking of what I could do with it, and I thought of how cute it would be as a dress.
I really love the style of the 50's. Wavy hair, circle skirts, winged eyeliner, so when I took the plunge to buy fabric for my ideal dress, I knew the whales would be perfect. 

Now, I've made dresses before, but honestly this is the best one I've made yet for myself. 

I didn't even use a pattern! 

I feel very creative.