Dress Drama

It has been two weeks since i've posted, and it's NOT because i've been slackin'. quite the opposite.

My capstone project, sewing and designing an evening gown, has taken over my life right now because, well, i have to graduate. and it has given me major drama. The metallic linen that i so gushed about is lookin like a 1950's version of a futuristic space suit. cheap and shiny. not for an evening gown.

somehow the GREY that it was supposed to be, has turned into a disgusting baby blue. i've checked my sanity by asking other sewers that were in the BYU sewing lab. the very PC opinions were as follows:

"i would never pick that."

"i think it needs embroidery or some sort of sparkly." (like i can do that...AND that's what the metallic was for!)

"i usually go for more color."

now that i'm scrapping that fabric, i'm trying to decide between a duchess satin or this amazing metallic, almost gunmetal silk:

It's real silk with actual metal woven into it. SO COOL. i'm hoping the swatch comes soon!!! i'll try to post more, but school is kickin my butt. and i really need to graduate. i have cut out the bodice to my blog dress, and soon the skirt will be cut out as well. pics to come!

it was one of those days... that ended with a yellow bird.

welcome to my friday night:

now, i know how this looks: slightly appealing yet overall disgusting. that was my thought process as KFC digested. ugggh.

this mess, however, was on my living room floor for two days as my husband patiently walked over it as he walked through the door coming home from work. I've been working on my evening gown for school as my fabric for my blog dress crawls its way to my home. i dont understand why the poplin is taking so long to get here. Fabric.com has never had fast shipping, but i ordered it about 9 days ago.... i think i deserve something a little better....

which is what led me to Yellow Bird Fabrics this afternoon. this is the only fabric store that sells designer fabrics in all of utah valley/ salt lake. i finally found it on the internet last night as i was searching for a place that sold French Netting for my wedding veil business. here is my phone conversation with a a worker at jo-ann's fabric store when i called concerning the location of where to find the fore-mentioned French netting:

"this is Allen (made up name, but totally male). Thanks for calling Jo-ann's...oh, ugh *grunting of frustration* the cord is wrapped around me... stupid cord! 

Me: "oh..um.."

Allen: "hang on. i'm almost free.."

Me: *uncomfortable laughter*

Allen: "STUPID cord! ok... i'm free. how can i help you?"

Me: "i'm wondering if you sell French netting?"

Allen: "uumm, *French* netting?"

Me: *sighs* "yes, French Netting. it's used in wedding veils."

Allen: "you mean, like tulle?"

Me: "yes, like tulle. but it has a larger weave"

Allen: "a larger weave, huh? well i know we have all sorts of tulle in different colors. i can go check if any of them are French for ya."

Me: *defeated* "no, that's alright. thanks anyway."

I have expected these results when i called. I loved going to Yellow Bird and bashing Jo-ann's about how incompetent the entire company is. i have found my fabric home in Yellow Bird. i want to eat their Anna Sui silks. and i got my French netting lickity-split.

 

I had an idea

Sewing and designing are visual arts, and you all should probably know what is going on in my head when i dream up and sew a dress (besides the mild cursing of frustration). So from now on, i'll be posting the designs of my dresses that i make before each dress. I dont know why i didnt do this before, but what's past is past. Here is my next dress that i'll be starting when the fabric decides to show up:

I call it "sunshine in winter" as it is about 30 degrees in Provo right now. I'll be using olive green silk dupioni for the skirt and waistband, with white stretch cotton poplin for the top. I'm so excited for the poplin because it is just really good quality. I cant say this is an exact likeness of yours truly, but i will say i love the shoes. 

I'm going to be so crazy busy this semester. I signed up for a basic entrepreneurship class, and my group and i are starting this rad wedding veil business. Be ready to be blown away. More info to come soon.  

Drum Roll Please....

I've Finished. Finally. isn't it cute?

My sister came over last night and as i was modeling the dress for her, the stupid cheap zipper popped open. for this reason i wasnt ready to go out to a restaurant and take pictures in it there, like i said before. and i HAVE NOT gained any weight at all. i swear. i know what you're thinking! i've just had some unlucky zippers lately, and it's driving me nuts. any one know of some good, quality zippers?

 

I think the belt really helps the dress not seem so "cutsy". and it sort of hides the left waist seam that bulges out from me trying to alter it. all in all, once i replace the zipper, i actually really like this dress. i'm happy i finished.

Now, i'm sure everyone has noticed that i'm not exactly living up to my word and producing two dresses a month. right now, its been like one dress every six weeks! i promise i'm trying. after seeing my somewhat lacking grades for last semester, i realize i cant exactly not do homework and just sew if my goal is to graduate. that's why, from this day on, i'm simplifying my designs so i can get them done in a timely manner.

i'm off to my birthday lunch with my hubby. happy 22.

almost there

all i need to finish are the sleeves. i'm going to do the petal sleeves that i did on my first dress. very reliable. the dress is actually lookin pretty good. i'm thinking i'll belt it.

excusus, excuses

so i\i'm sick with the flu. the normal kind, not the piggy kind. I've been on serious bed rest since Tuesday trying to recuperate for school that starts Monday... ugh, and my birthday which is on Wednesday... yippee. new years eve was spent lying down all day and straining to give my husband a new years kiss while my head pounded in my ears from the fever i had-- the sick kind, not the romantic, swoony kind.

so, my point is that i haven't finished the dress yet, and i'm trying to figure out how to get around it some how, but i owe it to myself and to all of you to finish it. as penance i will even wear it out to my birthday dinner on Saturday, with pictures to come. deal?