I made a skirt!

One of my goals this year is to become a better sewer (sewist?). I know I talked a few posts ago about making a dress from a vintage pattern, and I PROMISE I'm working on that too, but it is really slow going, what with the tracing the pattern out and adjusting the size up to fit me... so I thought I'd try something a little simpler.

I was inspired by Gertie over at Blog for Better Sewing to try out her gathered skirt tutorial (part 1, part 2).

I would really recommend this tutorial to intermediate/beginner sewers - though not people that have never sewn before. I definitely learned alot - like how to do a blind stitch hem (video tutorial here), how to gather heavy material using a zig-zag stitch and cotton cord (tutorial here), and how to insert an invisible zipper (which was the hardest part for me, tutorial here). I followed instructions almost to the letter. Except the hand-basting parts. That's too much for me, I can hardly sew a straight line WITH a sewing machine, let alone by hand.

I picked a heavy material because I wanted the skirt to have a lot of body. I found this 100% cotton home decorating material (think curtains!) in a blue and cream tiny check (kind of ginghamy?) on the $4/yd table at Joann's.


See me pinning things before sewing them?


See me pressing open my seams?


I pinned almost everything! This is really rare for me. And probably why my projects don't usually turn out so great.


But this project turned out really well:



hello knees!


Sassy!


I love having a finished product turn out so well! It's really durable and feels really well made. I am very proud of myself! But, on the other hand, this project was totally frustrating. It took me probably 15 hours to make it, from cutting it out, to putting it all together (and messing up the zipper like 5 times). I think I don't really enjoy the process of sewing. I like having an awesome skirt that I made for myself, to my measurements... but the actual MAKING of the skirt was a totally frustrating and backache inducing process.

I also think I have amnesia about how frustrating it was, because I've already bought more fabric to make another one. I'm going to try a wider waistband at the top for the next one!

How do your craft projects usually turn out? Do you, like me, underestimate how much time and effort they will take?

Awkward and honest ramblings on my propensity to buy clothing

Definatalie linked to this article by Ashe Mischief on the relationship between fashion and finance, and I wanted to post about it too, because it's something I have been thinking about for the past few months.

You may notice, from reading my blog or seeing my posts over at fatshionista, that I buy a lot of clothes. I love buying clothes. Especially dresses. And while I do thrift shop and buy things on sale when I can, I don't really let the lack of a sale keep me from something I want. I'm fortunate, I'm half of a dual-income-no-kids relationship, I have extra money, and with all the fashion blogs I follow, I have a steady source of "inspiration" to buy more things. I put "inspiration" in irony quotes because I feel that sometimes all I am doing here, and all many fashion blogs do, is encourage people to buy shit.

Honestly, I need to stop buying stuff. I don't have room anymore. I don't wear the items I love very frequently because I have so much other stuff. But, on the other hand, I still feel like I don't like what I have or get stuck in a rut wearing the same jersey dress with a dark cardigan every day... and so I think buying something new will help.

I've been gaining weight/changing body shape over the past year as well, so things don't fit me as well, and I've experience growing out of clothes that fit me only last year. That sucks, and I really hate it. So, I buy more not just to replace what doesn't fit... but I also buy more because I'm looking to find new shapes that will flatter my new shape.

This is super honest for this mostly fluffy blog.

So, what do you think? Do "fashion inspiration" blogs (like this one, I like to think) help you or do they just encourage consumption? Is there a way to tread the middle road, being inspired but not feeling like you need to purchase something? Is it just me that feels this way - because I have to tell you, when I see someone out in the fatosphere rocking an awesome dress from Old Navy that I think would look great on me, I pretty much go and buy it immediately. And then I feel kind of bad for doing so. Maybe it's just my own issue.

I'm a country girl at heart (an eShakti denim dress review)

I blogged a few posts ago about my eShakti denim dress order. The dress came in a few weeks ago, and after washing it to get the wrinkles out (I'm constantly impressed with how tiny a box they can package a dress in, since it has to come all the way from India), I thought I'd show you it in all its countrified glory.



To be fair, I'm only joking about how Texas it looks. In reality, it's a soft and thin (but not transparent - think summery and breezy) chambray. The mustard colored thread detailing, and the brass buttons, are really what makes this dress look denim, not the fabric weight.


OHAI I DINT SEA U THAIR

I love the full skirt, the tailored look, and how it fits loosely enough to be comfortable and skim over my backfat rolls, but not too loosely as to look sloppy.



I paired it with my Pikolinos oxfords, and my dollar-bin brooch. I didn't want to do cowboy boots because I didn't want to push the look over the edge, and I think any more accessorization would also have been too much.

Overall, I'm really pleased with it, and I also think I've nailed the eShakti sizing now - I'm pretty much a solid 20W in their dresses, as I've had several now of that size that have worked out well for me.

Model measurements: 5'7 or 8", 250ish, 46/42/55 (and still growing) :)

1st anniversary trip to San Diego

Hey lovelies,

Back in February Bob and I celebrated our first anniversary by going to San Diego. We had never been, and it was really fun. Here are some of my outfits from the trip!

Trying out red lipstick:

Details:
Dress: Old Navy (old), 1X
Cardigan: Old Navy (old), 1X
Pearl necklaces - $1 bin at farmer's market
Stockings (in lap): American apparel

Worn to explore the USS Midway (which was SO MUCH FUN):

Details:
Dress: Old Navy, XL (these run HUGE)
Leggings: Duo maternity 2X (not pregnant mom, just like these leggings)
Cardigan: Target Merona, xxl, old
Flip flops: reef, size 11
Bag: old navy - I love this bag!
circle scarf: american apparel
A lady at a restaurant actually complimented me on this outfit - it was so sweet!

The USS Midway was fascinating!



Creepy art deco-ish clown on the sidewalk:


Yes, please!


Remember astronaut ice cream? They had it at the air and space museum in Balboa park:



It wasn't good at all.





Outfit details:
Jeans: Avenue divine denim, size 20 (they run a size large, I'm normally a 22)
T-shirt: black with tiny pocket, target pure energy size 1 or 2, I don't remember...
Tank underneath: old navy, xl, years old
Yellow cardigan: Target xxl



nice horse...


Enjoying lunch and the older couple at the table next to us offered to take our picture!



Details:
Dress: thrifted
Cardigan: target xxl
Leggings: duo
Flip flops: reef
scarf: aa

Balboa park was beautiful!



And we had a great time. Isn't Bob adorable?



I definitely think he is.

Because I have healthy coping mechanisms

Buying stuff because I am stressed out? Totally healthy and normal.

Also, I think, secretly, I've always wanted to be a country western starlet. I think that subconscious desire explains away this recent purchase:



I know, I know, a denim dress? Really getting back to my Georgia roots. But it's cute, and has a full skirt and metallic buttons and the shade of denim is pretty close to chambray, which is so hot right now... so, yeah, I stand by it. Pictures forthcoming when it arrives (if eShakti doesn't cancel it for some reason like they did the last dress I bought. First world problem, that.)

As part of my further retail therapy, I also made my first purchase from a UK retailer - ASOS. I really hope the stuff fits, because returning it won't really be an option:


(in navy). I only hope to rock it HALF as well as the darling definatalie.

I also bought some of their skinny jeans on sale - not knowing what size to buy, I went with the largest, a 26, because I wear a US 22 in jeans, and the size chart recommended a UK 26. Here's hoping :)