Heightened Reality (or Hello Sagittarius!)

Heightened Reality

(or Hello Sagittarius!)

Do you ever just take a moment to close your eyes and in that quiet a design simply comes to you? Fluttering so close and then you see it, the visual of what you absolutely want to make is ever so clear now. Well, this top is one such design and I absolutely love it! You don’t have to love it, it’s all mine after all, but I did so very much want to share…

There I was one lovely rainy day meandering through Mill End when I spotted the most fabulous Sagittarius fabric. For those of you have not guessed already, I am one such fabulous Sagittarius (yes, we are awesome, we just don’t usually boast about it like some of the rest of you do :p). I of course had a fabric budget at the time but I also knew I just had to have some of this fabric. So I picked up a yard and a quarter. Not a whole lot but I didn’t think I would need much since I knew by the time I was at the counter having the fabric cut that I was going to make the top you see before you.

I used one of the patterns from Mary Adam’s book The Party Dress, and I know I have mentioned this in former posts but this is a really great book. If you are looking for a solid dress design book, it is definitely a great one to have. Having personally gone through the book many times over and even having emailed and received the sweetest email back from her, I can honestly say it is a fantastic resource, and she’s as nice as can be!

Normally, a yard and a quarter is not nearly enough fabric for a full skirt style like this but I used what I had and mixed in a bit of navy blue for the skirt and then as you can see in the photos, I went with a navy blue for the bodice base and hand stitched the Sagittarius printed fabric strips down for accent. For the skirt I laid the pattern pieces out flat and then took the patterned fabric and cut out smaller pieces and mixed them with the navy. I then sewed the skirt pieces together and continued to do this until I had the pattern pieces equaling the size of the pattern pieces. Then I sewed those pieces together as instructed in the directions, down the sides, leaving the back open until the top and bottom pieces are sewn together and the zipper is put in. One thing I did not worry about really when cutting out the pieces for the skirt was the bottom hem. Not until later at least.

Once the skirt was made I moved onto the top bodice, which I made out of a navy cotton stretch sateen fabric. I added stabilizer to the inside bodice seams and sewed the strips to the outside before I sewed the inside lining down. Once finished with the bodice front I added the zipper and then for the bottom hem I wanted to keep it different heights so I ever so lightly trimmed the angles on the bottom a little and then hemmed, folded, pressed, and hemmed once more.

Heightened Reality

I do need a big navy blue floppy hat to go with for the beach. When I say ‘floppy hat’ though I really mean ‘big hat’ (and less flop) because who wants to have a hand constantly up holding the brim of a hat while reading a book at the beach? No one does. It’s much better to have one on that cold drink and one holding the book. Or as the boys say (in their own way), a hand free for each Shih Tzu  for belly rubs.

But with faces like these, who could deny belly rubs… 

(Yes, those are our babies. Don’t they make the cutest pair? They’re brothers. You can find more adorable photos @ www.GizObi.blogpot.net because I had so many photos of their cute selves I couldn’t resist sharing ;)

Mommy's Fuzzy Pandas!

Alright, I am off to the shop to make some new blouses and finish some new bathing suits! I know I know..I’m behind because I meant to have these finished by the weekend and here it is Wednesday but the fun part is we’re all going to look so fantastic! Ohh you’re right, we already do!  But new designs made today bring about even more inspiration for future projects, and everyone loves that!

Have a fabulous day and shoot me a message via Craftzies.etsy or Sophia.etsy if you need anything. I’m around ;) I just might be pulling a sewing machine out onto the deck and sewing in the shade this afternoon. 

It is ever so HOT in the sewing room today but you know how it is, the sew must go on…

Lindsay ;)

Dreaming a Little Dress (plus all the rest)…

Whatever your style, we all love dresses. And yes, that even goes for the men too because as much as they may be hesitant to admit a deep passion for seeing the softer and more feminine side to their female counterparts, we know you think we look hot. Besides, design is design and gorgeous is gorgeous and those are facts you simply cannot argue with.

I love to make all sorts of items, but clothing is the utmost on my list for crafting passions to be sure. Dresses are so much fun to make and yet I personally have a more relaxed and casual style for the everyday so I do like to incorporate all sorts of clothing styles into the mix. That ends up leading me to make a variety of styles from wedding and evening gowns to more of the sportswear styled items. If you would care to join me, I would love to take a look at all of the clothing I have made in the last year and how they stack up in the grand scheme of design and comfort…and fabulousness (don’t be ridiculous, of course it’s a word). Are we distinguishing design and fabulousness as two different elements? I think we might want to.

I feel as though this clothing review in its entirety will inspire me to make more clothes and anyone who has seen my craft room lately knows I have the materials and the patterns and the machines! How do you say hello Hawaiian shirts and sweet sarong dresses? (ohh that’s how ;) Bathing suits and swim cover-ups? And hats and scarves and bags and…well darling, why don’t you just scroll through and see what you like? I’m sure there will be something to captivate the eye.

Some of the items below are sold, but a lot of them are still available and even more of them brand new. Check Sophia for the details and have a great day! If you like an item you see below and do not see it as a current item listed in the shop feel free to message me via Sophia @ www.SophiaDeLaMer.etsy.com and maybe I will consider making it again. In most cases I will remake an item. Once in a while though you will find I am not interested in remaking something. Usually that decision is because I was unsatisfied with the pattern used. That however needs to be a blog post all its own. I’m thinking something along the lines of Patterns: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. That’s going to be a long one for sure though, I warn you. You’re going to want to walk the dog ahead of time and get the pop corn ready for that one because I cannot under any circumstance, cyber space or otherwise, make a blog post on that subject without it being the length of a Melville novel. Ok, ok. I will plan to keep it slightly shorter, but never the less, if you want it, you are just going to have to read it (all). I guarantee it’ll be more fun to read though. I can promise you that…

Alright, I’m off to the shop. You’ve all been fabulous! I do however have to get some actual sewing done.

Until next time, stay cool and looking fantastic! While waiting for the next blog post and new items listed in the shops, take care that you’re wearing a pair of fabulous shoes. It’s summer you know and I think we can all agree that those pretty little feet love the most smashing little shoes to go with! Girls love to match you know.

Lindsay ;)

P.S. There were a few items in the clothing department that did not make it into this blog post but show up in a later blog post if interested... http://craftzies.blogspot.com/2012/08/bringing-it-back.html