Chevron Lotus Dress

It has been a few weeks since I have been able to add a post! As an ode to the end of summer I thought I would post this lovely chevron lotus dress that I made about a year ago. It was one of my first pieces and it is far from perfect. It is always nice to see how much you progress when you keep at something.

This dress is from a vintage Butterick pattern, number 5657. The original pattern calls for a midi-length skirt but Kentucky summers are just too blazing hot for that nonsense. The pattern is backless, with a button-up skirt through the back. The pattern is so fun and I am thinking about using it for another dress down the road.

I will make one caveat when it comes to this pattern. See that billowing of the bodice in the back? It is LOOSE. I tried a variety of things to tighten it up but what it really needs is a tie to keep it from falling off my shoulders. The dress goes from cute to risqué in a quarter of a second. My husband's cousin gave me a hug at a family function a month ago and the top button on the back came open and the top fell off one of my shoulders. Whoops.

The pattern originally called for a plain front bodice, but to make it a little more interesting I created a chevron-patterned front panel to add visual interest. It is so not perfect but I love how it takes the dress up a notch.

Holy mackerel, this fabric is so wonderful. It is over 50 years old, a heavy polyester blend with tiny pink lotus flowers. It feels feminine and whimsical, like you should be drinking lemonade and eating lavender cakes at a garden party. And that lovely buttoning up the back makes the dress fun and girly.

While I feel like this dress is a song to end of the summer, here in KY the temperature is hanging around the 90s and the humidity makes you feel like you've taken a steam bath when you walk out doors. I am ready to say hasta la vista August, its time for fall.

DIY Tie-Front Dress

The concept for this dress has been gestating in my mind for weeks. I have spent the summer obsessed with open front dresses, dresses with cutouts, and '50s style beach babe cover-ups. When I stumbled upon some sweet candy-cane striped fabric at Joanns, my decision was made. Think modern married to retro chic.

The dress is actually a Frankenstein-like mixture of patterns. I modified a darted bodice to include the triangular cutout and ties, then I used the front pocketed skirt pattern from another. Being without a dress mannequin, I have to use my own figure to make the perfect fit. This means pulling on and off the dress about a 1,000 times, taking it in quite a bit here and a little there before the fit is perfect. One of the challenges with this dress was keeping the waist band tight enough so that it didn't gape when I stood still. Too tight and I couldn't sit down comfortably in it, but too loose and you could look down the skirt front. After much trial and error, I finally got it right.

This dress just announces summer fun. It is so light and airy with classic lines and baring just enough skin. Once complete, I tossed this sucker on and spent the rest of the day frolicking in the sunshine.

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Dress: self-made, necklace: thrifted, purse: vintage Coach

Jungle Fever

Leopard print. The print of teenage girls, chicks from the club scene, tacky housewives, and hookers. So, when did it become okay for the rest of us to wear them?

I think wearing animal prints with class requires a little finesse. They need to be a small print, kind of like an afterthought, an innocent "Oh, this is leopard print?" that you utter when someone comments on it.

I found this fabric at Hancock fabrics for sale for like $2 a yard. It is a polyester mix with a light sheen and pretty, loose drape. At first I was going to make a dress. But as I seem to have more dresses than there are days in the year, I felt it was time to try something new.

This leopard print midi skirt took all of 2 hours to make. It is 4 pieces: the front and back of the skirt body, the ruffle, and the elastic waist band. It is comfy and floaty, a bohemian skirt style with the flirtiness of leopard print. I'll admit I have already worn it like five times since I made it; it is just so easy to throw on with a tank top and jacket. It is also super light, making it doable for the steamy Kentucky summers. 

I also paired this skirt with an old thrift store hack I dallied with a few months ago. This vest was originally a hideous suede jacket that I ripped apart and recreated. Taking something that is like $3 and making it beautiful and wearable is as addictive as whiskey sours. 

P.S. As it is the beginning of August, I am already excited for fall weather. Oh! Jackets, scarves, ripped up jeans and boots. This fall I am going to take my first attempt at sewing a few coats for myself and the hubby. Will keep you guys posted :)

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Skirt: self-made, sandals: Target, tank top: H&M, necklace: Urban Outfitters

Hot Pink Tie-Dye Dress DIY

This summer has been the summer of shibori. With dying shibori-style comes a world of new dying techniques. These methods are an awesome way to add color and dimension to fabrics, a step beyond the dip dye and ombre. One of my favorite shibori techniques is the square accordion fold. I love how the geometric and the organic combine for an amazing effect. So when I set about to dye the fabric for this dress, shibori was my first thought.

My second thought was "indigo?" I ruminated for a bit and examined my closet. Despite the fact that I may own as many dresses as pairs of underwear, I didn't own a single pink dress. Tragedy? You bet.

So hot pink it had to be.

This dress was made using the same pattern from The Best of Dresses post. I told you that I used that pattern over and over! In this version I simply excluded the collar and sleeves and added a lowered back neckline for a simple and clean summery look.

I love that the accordion pleat method of dying made for a very large square print. It is kind of abstract but still retains a method to the madness. And the hot pink turned out so perfect! The original fabric was a white cotton sheet (again), and the space between the squares is a light baby pink.

To add a little visual interest, I added on triangular appliques to the front bodice and embroidered them with the sewing machine in white thread.

I think that using dye can take something plain and make it fabulous. I love every inch of this girly boho chic sundress.

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Sundress: self-made, shoes: Keds

Fly Away With Me

Today was my first day off from my new job. There is nothing like a day off in the middle of your week to break things up nicely. For me, a typical day off means I get to sleep in (cues the tears of joy because I normally wake at 5:30 AM), drink two cups of coffee from the bed, and spend the rest of the day lounging around in a glorious slothdom of laziness.

Lucky for me, my hubby had a whole other set of plans.

Now being the love he is, Justin still let me sleep in, but the rest of my day was filled with something a little closer to adventure. Let's just say it started like this:

I should probably mention that Justin is a commercial pilot. He currently spends his days instructing from a local flight school as he builds hours for the airlines. Through this experience he has had many a cool opportunity, including joining a local flying club that lets their members rent out these babies. This is a Citabria. This little aerobatic beauty is a light and fun two-seater, perfect for what he had in mind.

On the way to airport, Justin swung by a local bakery and picked up pain au chocolate and salted caramel french macarons to sate my mild obsession with sugar. Picnic supplies, he told me.

We set down on a grass landing field called Lee Bottom (only in Kentucky do you find names like that). It sits nestled between the Ohio river and the rolling hills of Indiana. A little piece of farm land carved out for flying enthusiasts; it has apple trees, bee hives, tiny flocks of goats, and a view.

Once we landed, we chowed down on our goodies and enjoyed the still dewy air. Scenic flight+macarons+handsome captain=a perfect day off. Oh, if only all days could be as sweet.

The Jane Austen Festival

I love living in Louisville, KY.

Louisville is quirky and fun, teeming with all kinds of people, food, sights, and things to do. There are random and weird bits and bobs, one the most random being the annual Jane Austen Festival held at Locust Grove's historic home.

Yes. Jane. Austen. Festival.

It is one the largest festivals for Austenites around the globe. Hundreds of people flock to the rolling estate at Locust grove to explore the original house, wander about in period piece dress, hawk 1800s merchandise, and meet others who share their love of Austen. As a matter of fact, this year the promenade of individuals dressed in period piece costumes surpassed in number those people who participate in a similar festival in Bath Spa, England. It's kind of a big deal.

For the past four years I have gotten to attend this amazing event with my mom and sisters. I love wandering around listening to people talk in snooty fake English accents, hearing men announce ladies dresses as "divine," and slipping under tented canopies to examine wares from a past time. This year the entertainers ranged from magicians, a musician playing the water glasses, a historic fashion show, bare knuckle fighting, and a gentleman's duel.

As if it couldn't get any better, my mom always springs for the full service English tea that the volunteers host. Imagine Austen-themed character teas, lavender and berry cakes, fresh strawberries,

scones, and hordes of clotted cream all melded together. It is beautiful enough to make one weep. If you love Austen and a good time, then hit up Louisville next July and find out what it's all about.