Sewing and Flickr!

So, I've been sewing a bit. I decided to start on Wearing History's Smooth Sailing Blouse. I decided to go with a fancy pocket. It took a bit of time (and trial and error) to get it right, so I didn't get much further than that yesterday. I dyed my hair again today, but maybe I'll get a bit more sewing in later.

The front, back, and front of the blouse.



Those dratted pockets! But they are pretty cute!



Topstiching! I think I'd look just darling in a contrasting color on a simpler pattern or solid fabric.

And I'm now on Flickr! There's not much on there just at the moment, but I'm still figuring it out. Feel free to add me as a contact!

Wardrobe Refashion!

So, I'm officially back home from vacation, but more on that later. I've decided to plunge into another adventure, the Wardrobe Refashion! It was started by a lovely lady out of Australia as an effort to promote wardrobe changes by abstaining from purchasing new garments for a period of time. Seeing as I have major issues not only with clothes shopping, but impulsive buying. So, I'm finally bucking down and doing it! Here's the rules:

The Rules

• 1.
  No buying new! (handmade is excepted; So this allows for Etsy purchases etc!!) All clothing must be Recycled, Renovated, Preloved or Thrifted, or Handmade only for the term. Employment related and special needs clothing (ie sports, school), shoes and undies are excepted from the rules, although you are encouraged to have a go at making these.
• 2.
  In extreme circumstances, maybe a special event, or the worlds greatest and most amazing never to be repeated sale that you simply can not pass up, you may use the Get out of Refashionista Jail Free card. You are able to use this card once during the 2 month part of your contract; ie 1 for 2 months, 2 for 4 months etc. Of course you need to fess up on the blog and display the button!
• 3.
  You must post on the blog at least once a week to let the community know what you've been up to. This will not only give you brag points, but inspire and encorouge others! Of course you need to display the button on your blog and have copied the pledge in at least one post, and provide a link to your pledge under the button. [Note: The blog was disabled late last year, but I'm just going to share here instead.]
  
• 4.
  You need to be honest and admit when you've fallen off the Refashionista Wagon! Go directly to Refashionista Jail, do not pass GO and do not collect $200! Apply for parole once there.

Yikes! This will be interesting!

The Pledge

I Stephanie Lynn, the Girl with the Star-Spangled Heart, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 4 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!

Signed

Stephanie Lynn
The Girl with the Star-Spangled Heart

Faux Betty Bangs

So, in keeping with my New Year's resolution #3, here is the hairstyle from last week's Youtube of the Week.

Pardon my weird face. My eyes looked goofy in all of the pictures. I hate taking pictures of myself.

Here's the bangs by themselves. Looks pretty cute. I wore this style out shopping and it held up pretty well.... that is until I started trying on clothes. It's not really designed to hold up to shirts going on and off all day. But, other than that, it lasted quite long.

Ashley of Lisa Freemont Street used a hair flower to cover her bobby pins and I choose to do the same. I think that with more practice, I could figure out how to hide the pins underneath the rest of my hair, but I didn't have time to fool with it. I'll definitely be doing this style again. It was super easy and made me feel like I had my Betty bangs again! The hair flower I'm wearing is another Belle Blossom.

Vacation has been going great! I'm in Palm Coast FL, which is located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. The weather is quite fabulous and the hubby and I are quite taken with the area. The resort has no wifi, so this is likely to be my last post until I return home.

New Year's Resolution

I've been pondering some blog related New Year's resolutions. I'm not usually big on New Year's resolutions, but I think some blog goals are a good idea. So, here they are, in no particular order:

#1. Do more vintage hair styles.

My hair is finally getting longer and I want to do more vintage hair styles. I feel like a retro hairstyle is something you can do anytime, even if vintage clothes is not practical or allowed. I am studying to be a chemist and will be working in a lab. Not only is vintage clothes won't protect me appropriately at work, I can't protect vintage clothes appropriately at work! Hair, however, is up for grabs as long as it stays out of my face.

#2. Sew more! Vintage and otherwise!

I have so fallen in love with sewing in the last few months! It allows me to be so creative and fun plus I get cute clothes out of it! I really want to start making more of my own clothes and buying less premade stuff. My school schedule next semester allows me to have Mondays and Fridays off, so I plan on filling my time with sewing projects. So, this blog may become a bit more of a sewing blog, but no fear! Vintage will still be here in full force!

#3. Do more with my Youtube of the Week

Since many of my Youtube of the Weeks are tutorials, I've been wanting to do them and let you see my results. So, plan on seeing more hair and make-up looks from me.

#4. Break out onto Youtube

My husband suggested recently that I start making my own Youtube videos. Hmmmm.... what an idea. We do have web cams and a real video camera. I would like to try. I'm sure I'll feel like I sound stupid and weird on camera, but I feel that way when I leave voice mails and I haven't exactly stopped doing that. Besides, I think it's cute when Casey of Casey's Elegant Musings does her nervous laugh sometimes and when Aya of Strawberry Koi puts not only herself but her singing out there.

#5. Be better about responding to comments

I love each and every comment that I get. One can totally make my entire day! But I'm not super good about responding to them..... :/ Bad Stephanie! I love that relationship that comes from reading a blog by a blogger who is so personable. I want to have that with you guys!

#6. When in doubt, be BOLD!

I'm not exactly the most outgoing person. Actually, I can be painfully shy and self conscious. So my motto for 2011 is "When in doubt, be BOLD!"

Have a great new year!

Sewing Projects for the New Year: Fabrics

Thanks for the comments on my Sewing Projects for the New Year post! Yesterday, I went fabric shopping as I'm going to the mall with one of my girl friends today and I wanted to make sure a good hunk of my Christmas money was spent on sewing stuff! I opted to get fabric and notions for #1 Wearing History's Smooth Sailing pattern pants and shirt and #3 Vintage McCall dress that I've dubbed the Faux Button Dress.

Here are my goodies for the shirt. I just fell in love with this cute bumble bee and apple print. I love the colors! I picked out white daisy buttons, red rick rack and some white for contrast on the collar, sleeves and tops of the pockets.

Love it! Polka dots too! My husband is not so crazy about prints, but he hates prints. As a graphic designer, he's more into texture. And he lacks fabrical vision. But I know it will be too cute! I've never put in a button before but I'll figure it out.

I found some lovely navy linen to make the Wearing History pants! Woot! I had some difficulty with finding this. I found some nice navy suitings for $24.99 a yard. That was not going to happen for my first pair of pants. I wasn't too excited about any of the denim available either. But then I found this lovely linen for $8/yd plus 30% off! And linen was on the list of approved fabrics! If these turn out great, I might go for a cordoroy pair, but I did want to start with a blue pair and I'd like brown cordoroy.

Here's all of my stuff for the Faux Button Dress! I found a lovely forest green fleece. This was also a difficult pick. There were not fabric suggestions on the pattern. Gah! Anyways, this dress may be a complete fail, but onward I go! I also picked up an awl, coverable buttons and plastic rings to make Casey's covered buttons.

See all of my lovelies! (Although I just noticed that there is only 5 buttons in that pack.... guess I'm going to go get some more.)

I love the color! I was going to go for navy with this dress but I fell for this one at the store.

I also got a gift card to Barnes and Nobles! I bought this sewing book. It looks super cute. I love the author's whimsical, girly style and fabric selections. She designed three basic patterns- a skirt, a dress/tunic top, and a jacket- and makes quite a few different garments from each one. I'm hoping working with this book will help stimulate my creativity and ability to "see beyond the pattern".

I adore this fun, funky so-called "Mod Jacket".

This jacket so reminds me of a jacket of one of my friends I've been drooling over. Hers is made of a tapestry type fabric with a fur collar and cuff. Another pattern in the book has fur collar and cuffs so I may get creative.

Tomorrow, I'm leaving for New Year's with my family in Kentucky and then a week in Palm Coast, FL. Blogging maybe spotty for a while. I'm going to try and write some posts before I leave and post them during the week. There is supposed to be internet at the hotel, but one never knows. Well, Happy New Year all!

Sewing Projects for the New Year

Now that the Crepe dress is finished, I've been pondering what to sew next. Here are some of the patterns I've been wanting to do.

1. Wearing History Smooth Sailing Pattern


I've been dying to make this Wearing History pattern. I'm a bit nervous about the pants, but after seeing Casey's Elegant Musings make this pair a while back, I went ahead a bought the pattern. I'm definitly going to have to make a muslin for this one. My waist and hips are in way different sizes. :/



The cover picture makes the shirt look kind of boring but Lauren of Wearing History made these two shirts. They are super cute and I saved the pictures for inspiration. The second one is still available in her shop!

I particularly like the use of contrast, rick rack and fun buttons in the second one. I'd buy it if I didn't really want to make my own!

2. Vintage McCall Dress

I just got myself my first two vintage patterns, this one and the one below. I love the stripped one! There's no fabric suggestions, but I was thinking something medium weight. Suggestions on fabrics would be greatly appreciated!

3. Vintage McCall Faux button dress

Vintage pattern #2! I loved the buttons on here, but after looking at the pattern, I found they are just for show! It actually shuts with snaps! And since I've never made anything with buttons, that makes this pattern much more friendly for me. I think this would make a darling winter dress in navy with Casey's covered buttons, perhaps with contrasting fabric or white fabric with a navy print. Again, fabric suggestions would be appreciated as none are given.

4. McCalls Shirtwaist Dress

A simple shirtwaist dress that would look great with a novelty print!

Any thoughts on which I should tackle first?

After Christmas Special

I was able to complete my Gertie Sew-along Crepe dress before Christmas. yay! I wore it to my husband's family Christmas party on Sunday. It was quite a hit with everyone. So here it is:

There is me, and my little tree and my husband's Christmas present (the globe-it opens up to hold wine and wine glasses.).

Me again.

Here it is with out the sweater. I didn't make any changes to the pattern. I guess I lucked out with this pattern!

Here is the back!

Christmas Present #1: Serotonin molecule necklace (Can you tell I'm a huge nerd?)

Christmas Present #2: Tanzanite and diamond ring

Hope you all had a great Christmas!