Bytes & Bobbins

Please forgive my lack of posting. Know that is only because we are in the midst of moving this week and the next. I’ve been packing up all my sewing stuff and getting ready for the moving van next weekend!

In the mean time, please enjoy some new photos on my flickr acount from my best friend’s wedding this past weekend!

Congratulations Amanda and Jeremy!

You’ve heard me lament the suit on here before right? I can’t recall whether I’ve mentioned it before or not.  This is what’s it’s going to look like *hopefully*

It’s burda pattern 8681. I’ve been working on this suit on and off for about 3 months. I’m ashamed at my progress. I finished the pants, all but the hem. And I’m working on the jacket. I’ve only made one jacket men’s jacket before and it was for costume purposes, so I wasn’t entirely worried about the details. The lapel was a little wonky and the collar didn’t sit right (I had to tack it down.) This, however, is for everyday wear and so I’m trying to be a little more precise…never my strong point. Last night I had to stitch the lapel by hand to get the points pointy enough….needless to say I’m over this project and if it wasn’t for my poor husband’s sad face I’d probably shelve it for a while. Oh well. On I go.

This time of year always brings out the patriot in me.   I love July 4th.  It could be my favorite holiday, though halloween would run a close second.  I like to “dress up” for the occassion and the obvious choice is RED, WHITE, & BLUE.  Above are a few things I’ve been thinking about wearing.  The UO dress has been on my mind for a few weeks now and I think I might have to attempt to refashion a thrifted dress that’s sort of a look alike.

1. Swim Suit from Modcloth 2. Necklace by Loubijoux 3. Shorts from Anthro 4. Lark&Wolff dress from UO 5. Wedges from KEDS 6. Headband By Skylark Dawn

And I’m sort of excited about it. They are for a wedding I’m in at the end of this month (more on that later, I constructed programs this weekend). I was looking for something I could possibly wear to work with a suit, maybe? I haven’t really decided.
Though they are pretty dressy, I was feeling like the closed toe made them appropriate for daytime also. As an added bonus, they are the most comfortable heels I’ve ever wore. Period.

That’s right…just half.  I was going to wait until I had the entire outfit from this post refashioned, but I just couldn’t wait.  PLus I remembered I have this similar shirt that’d prob work with the skirt anyway.

I’ve been dying (haha?) to try some dying techniques.  I used some teal dye and a bleach bath to lighten it as I went.  It turned out a little lighter than I wanted but I’m happy with it.  Again, I’m stealing ideas from J. Crew.

More pics on my flickr!  HERE

Patterned shoes.

I need to invest in some of these.  I have far too many pairs of black, beige, and brown shoes.  Nothing punches up an outfit like a nice pair of shoes with a cute pattern on them.  enjoy.

Clockwise from top left:

1. photosfromwyatt 2. Target.com 3.Sandra Banava 4.Shadarington 5.Puebla 6. JCrew

I’ve never been very good at math, in fact, it was 3rd grade when i got my first “C” ever and it was in math.  We’d just started on times table and memorization had never been my strong point.

When it comes to the above equation, I hope I’ve got my math right.  My intention is to butcher that white linen dress I got from target about 2 years ago.  It’s been hanging out in the back of my closest for about a year.  I always felt like it was a little too *ahem* low cut and usually wore a cami underneath.  Then the zipper broke and I gave up on it.  I saw this dress on the J. Crew site and instantly thought about making it, but alas, it’s kind of shapeless and I need a dress with a shape.  The skirt translation made sense.

The shirt is a thirft store find.  I bought it with a refashion in mind.  I’ll have to take it up quite a bit in the bust and I’ve been wanting a neckline like this one for a while.  I’d love to know what you guys think of the idea.  As always, I love hearing from you!

So, I had it all planned out. I’d get home from my little weekend trip this afternoon and start posing pics of my growing shoe collection. A post about my neutrality in choosing shoe colors was to be the post. I had about a paragraph already constructed in my mind. Then, after I’d scheduled that post I’d start taking pics for wednesday’s post. Topic? A vintage 60s dress I scored while thrifting. Yet, here I am, a new post with no picture that is, neither about shoes, nor dresses.

What happened you ask? Well, sunburn happened. Oh and alcohol. This weekend turned into a drink fest. I was drinking all day today at the river, then I came home to a lovely dinner, made by my husband, that included wine. As much as I pleaded with him to “Just let me have water,” he insisted that I drink a glass with him. A glass turned into two and here I am, tipsy and bright “lobster” red.

The saddest part is, I had actually gotten motivated enough to put on the 60s dress and take pics (I’m even having a good hair day), but after finishing the pics, I looked at them closer and realized how OBVIOUS my rosy cheeks are.
“Oh I’ll just wait!” I didn’t really want to plaster the internet with images of my sun scared skin. So that’s my excuse. I promise to do better for the rest of the week. :p

…CARD CATALOGS.
I’m starting a friday tradition.  Every week I’ll do a “For the love of” post, with a collage of images that feature something I love.  I’m kicking things off today with Card Catalogs.  As furniture for the new townhouse has been weighting on my mind lately, I’ve been thinking (ok, obsessing) over things I’d like to have in my new SEWING ROOM!

These are just a few of my “card Catalog” favorites on flickr (Nerd Alert).  Everytime I walk into a thrift store, I start to wonder, “Will this be the day?  The day I find the card catalog of my dreams??”  I’ve been looking for one for a while, with no luck so far.  I couldn’t tell you why I’m so fasinated with them.  Maybe because I love storage?  It’d be a great place to store any number of sewing notions, like thread, beads, needles, bobbins, pencils/pens, or my extensive button collection.  I COULD ORGANIZE THEM BY COLOR FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!  Drool with me…

1. AdoreVintage 2.B-Kay 3.JanelleGrace 4.Wig3000 5.HelenK 6.BitsandBobbins

This dress used to be a sheet.  Twas a pity for it to go to waste on someone’s bed.  So I made it into a little dress with a peter pan collar and a sweet little belt using Butterick 5315