A Vintage Pattern Sale

Are you looking for a CyberMonday deal on vintage patterns? Denise, of the Blue Gardenia, is holding a sale that could be considered more of a CyberDecember kind of deal. Her website will be having a Grand Re-Opening January 1, 2014, but until then, you can still shop. And more importantly, the more you buy, the more you'll save!

The details:

Spend $100 (before the discount) and get 20% off.

Spend $200 (before the discount) and get 30% off.

Spend $300 (before the discount) and get 40% off.

Spend $400 or more (before the discount) and get a whopping 50% off.

Sounds great! She's only accepting Paypal during this sale, and you can also buy gift certificates with the sale rates that will be honored during January.

Head over to the Blue Gardenia now! 

Happy New Year and the Sewing Room Hangover

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

With that out of the way, I do hope that you all had a wonderful December and were able to spend time with the friends and family you love. I was able to have 4 days in a row off of work, and those days happily coincided with Christmas and a visit with daughter Laura (plus entourage). I feel like I've been so lax in blogging that I must reintroduce you to my family... that is if I have any readers left.

no sewing happening here

Anyway. I've been reading with envy what I'll collectively call the sewing blogger's 2012 round-up. Truthfully, you have all made many MANY gorgeous things, and in the last quarter, I've pretty much made bupkiss, so I haven't had the gracious feelings of awe that perhaps I should.

Do I resolve to change that? Well, I do want to make a few things, and I did get a Tiramisu for Christmas, so look for that sooner rather than later. Steph is hosting a sewalong starting next week, and I might just attempt it! She calls it 30 minutes a day, and c'mon... surely I can manage that!

I would like to blog a bit more, because I do enjoy that, but my topics may not be as sewing related as in the past. Having worked in the bridal industry for 3-1/2 months now, I have formed a few opinions, and might just share a few of them with you. And, in lieu of actual sewing, perhaps a little indulgent fantasy sewing.

My Etsy shop is still open, and I just celebrated my 600th sale, so do drop in now and then. I have some "new" patterns that have yet to be listed, so look for some fresh merchandise appearing soon. You can keep up with the latest in that little Etsy Mini in the side bar on the right.

Finally... and just in the nick of time. Yes. There is still time. There really is. You know you want to shop there. Denise, aka The Blue Gardenia, is having her End of the Year sale, and it ends TOMORROW NIGHT PEOPLE! Click HERE to shop for your favorites and get a great deal. Hurry before they're all gone!

Red Dress Revealed -- Vogue 2692

Oops, I bet you didn't even know I was making a red dress! Well, I am. Or I did.

This is the pattern I used:

Hmmm, from the 60s, I think. I started this in May, I think and there is so much I've forgotten about the construction, but I do remember that I bought it from Denise, Miss Blue Gardenia herself!

Mine is red ponte knit, deliciously thick, but part of the reason I put it aside. It's actually quite warm, which makes it a great spring or fall dress, but definitely not a summer in Atlanta dress. And I made it with short sleeves. I think I used the long sleeve pattern, and used that as a guide for a short sleeve. Wanna see?

Necklace: Earlybird Creations
Bracelets: Amy Fine Design 

I did make a muslin, but don't remember much about the  alterations. Of course widening at the waist. The original size is a Bust 36, so I didn't have to do anything there. For some inexplicable reason, I lengthened the bodice, and now it is too long. Not really sure what I was smoking when I did that! I'm also certain that I shortened it. Oddly, even the 60s "mini" skirts are often too long for me. Was everyone super tall back then?

I made the recommended bound buttonholes. This is a Paris Original after all!

I am not the huge bound buttonhole fan that many other sewing bloggers are. For one, you make them first. For a skirt such as this, with somewhat unusual placement, if I were doing regular buttonholes I would have spaced them a little differently, or just made 3. My solution to that odd buttonhole placed so closely to the hem edge is to just leave it unbuttoned. There is a button under there, though.

I made the belt, but it is narrower than the pattern simply because I used a vintage buckle I already had in the stash and it was smaller. It makes the width about 1" which is good for me anyway. I also kind of made up my own belt making technique, using the thick black cotton pique from my Mad Men dress. On the back of the belt, I used a 7/8" wide satin ribbon, and even though the belt itself is curved I didn't have any problems with it.

 Yesterday, I pulled the dress off my dress form to finish it. Turned out all I had to do was finish the back of the buttonholes, sew on the buttons and hand sew the hem (which was already pinned up). Really? Yippee!!

Go Visit the Blue Gardenia

I've been asked to do a guest post! I'm so honored to be Denise's first Gardenia Garment Girl. It's a review of the dress that I recently finished and wore to the wedding in Texas, made using a 1950s Butterick pattern I bought from Denise.

Does this pique your interest? Go check it out at The Blue Gardenia!


Thanks, Denise! You're lovely!

My Blue Gardenia Haul

Do you shop at the Blue Gardenia for your vintage patterns? Well, ok, I sell vintage patterns, too, but I think Denise must have the corner on those super duper special ones, so when she has a sale, I confess to doing a little shopping. Where does she find all those amazing Vogue patterns?!!


She had a sale that ended a couple of weeks ago, and, since sewing is still on hiatus here at Chez Sewing Life, I'll just have to do a little pattern show and tell. In the order that I think* I might make them.


First up, Advance 8623:

The exciting thing about this pattern... it's my size! I'm admitting to a 34" waist, and I've got my fingers crossed it'll fit right out of the envelope. Fabric TBD, but I'm leaning towards a classic black RPL from Gorgeous Fabrics.


Since I actually have a couple of things in the queue before the skirt (remember the Ruby Slip? the minoru jacket? a not mentioned yet blouse? all UFOs waiting for the studio reformation), it should be spring by the time I get to the next pattern. Heck, it's hardly been winter here so it might be hard to tell.


Anyway, a Vogue Paris Original by Molyneux:

I'm thinking a brilliant jewel-tone ponte if I can find it somewhere... any ideas?


There may be some other things in between, but I'm thinking for summer, the Butterick 5301:

That sleeveless blouse has My Style written all over it, and I love the pockets on the skirt. Maybe (maybe?) even the shorts.


That brings us around to the fall and winter for the next one. I was thinking originally that it would be first, but did you see where I said we haven't really had winter this year. I'm hoping capes will still be in style because I've had a hankering for one this year. Some other dear blogger beat me to my first choice, but I do love this Vogue Americana by Anne Klein:

I have a potential estate sale brown and black houndstooth wool in mind, but we'll just have to see about that. And do you see that delicious red hood peeking out? That's actually a scrunchy turtleneck top that stretches into a hood. I'm intrigued. Besides what you see in the pic, there are also pants! That could be quite the project.


I have some others I've bought from Denise on other occasions that I need to get made up, too. Well, for that matter, I have lots of patterns that I've bought that need to get made. *ahem*


*I think I might make them in this order, but you never know when the mood will strike to make a particular pattern, and I reserve the right to change my mind!! =)

Should I Go With the Blue?

The Blue Gardenia, that is. The time is especially good right now for heading over to see what Denise has on sale! But don't delay! The sale runs now until 11:59 PST January 15. You have to buy 3 or more patterns, but it's 35% off! What a deal... the Blue Gardenia ... don't miss it.


After I do some shopping, I'm going to start with some interior design. With my son moving into a rental house, he needed a bed, and the extra queen size that was hanging out in my sewing room is heading south. And that leaves me with the opportunity to move out of the unfinished part of the basement, and into an actual finished room.


Here's the before picture:

You can see in the lower right hand corner, where my sewing machine table is, and behind the door on the left edge... my ironing board, and a dresser that Kyle is also taking with him.


Lots more will be happening in our house, so occasionally, some other interior design projects might be mentioned. New kitchen, anyone?


But back in this little corner of mine, I'm first going to declutter and then repaint, color still to be determined...

An Interview with Moi

If you are just not that into March Madness, you can swing on over to The Blue Gardenia and read about my sewing history. There are some amazing pictures of me through the ages! Apparently, I was sewing vintage patterns before they were actually vintage! =)

In other sewing news, I'm working on grading a vintage pattern up one to two sizes. It's the first time I've really done it with the slash and spread method. I'll post pictures soon.

Sewing Book Giveaway!

The Blue Gardenia is at it again! To celebrate the success of her Sewing Spaces Series, Denise is giving away The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing: 1100 Full-Color How-To Photos by Singer. Go visit her blog, The Blue Gardenia, check out all the featured sewing spaces, and leave a comment to have a chance at the giveaway. That's it! Good luck, and thanks, Denise!