Post Vacation Blues

My office is a mess.

My apartment is a mess. No food in the house, except my sister's dog's food. Anna is in Kenya with her husband for humanitarian aid for two and half weeks. I'm watching Lois. She's a cutie and keeps me company. I bought her two toys from Petco because I felt bad for her. She misses her mom. 

Did you know I love dogs? Like, looove dogs. Lois is our little practice pet until Steve and I get our own dog next month. Her name is going to be Harriet. I have her personality in my head, like she is a character in a movie. I hope the pound has a Harriet. I mean, I would take the entire pound if I could. We might get two dogs at once (maybe) (cross fingers). 

Any tips for babysitting someone else's dog? Lois seems a little confused. She hasn't been super affectionate with me, which she usually is when we go over to her house. I hope she's happy here. 

Did you spy my new present in the first picture? Mom got me a serger this week when I was home. It's a beauty. 

This is going to make the clothing line a lot easier!

Vacation is a great time to get everything you've ever wanted.

Do you spy the Hollywood sign in the hills behind me?

Steve and I were in Phoenix for the first half of this week visiting his parents, the hot sun, and the immigration debate. That wasn't nearly as fun as LA's fashion district, Hollywood, and buying about 100 yards of fabric and my husband not caring one bit. You read me right: one hundred yards of fabric. 

Above is just one of the fabric stores in the 5 blocks of the fashion district in LA. Fabric piled that high is most definitly going to give you an overwhelming feeling of..... smallness, and a sudden stupor of thought. I had to take a moment to just remember what kind of fabric I liked and what I was looking for. I remember when I went to New York last year, standing in the middle of Mood (drom Project Runway fame), and I turned to the Doc and asked her how I'm supposed to know what kind of fabric to get. I had so many swatches in my hand I couldn't decide. 

You'll just know. It will speak to you, she said. I remembered that all day yesterday as I hunted through stores and stores looking for the perfect fabric for my clothing line. Luckily, I have such a wonderful husband who encouraged me to get whatever I wanted.  I don't want you to go home and feel like you missed out on something. We came to LA for you to buy fabric, so get whatever you want. I love my husband. 

I didn't really find much in the fabric district. Not a lot of the options really met my high-quality taste. My rule is to never use fabric I wouldn't want to wear myself. And I'm a clothing snob. I was able to buy an entire bolt of stretch dark denim for only $60 though. I also found some gorgeous light pink satin with a dull sheen, awesome stretch embroidered black lace, and olive green cotton sateen. It felt weird leaving the district with so little (30 yards plus the whole bolt of denim).

My mother's living room couch with all my loot. 100+yards.

I did strike HUGE gold at Mood Fabrics in LA. I didin't need the doc to hold my hand. If anything, I needed someone to hold me back. I made it to the store a half hour before closing. A man came immediately to help me as I started pulling out bolts. 

I want 8 yards of everything I choose. 

EIGHT YARDS? of EACH fabric?

Eight yards. You heard me right. 

I pulled chinos, dobby weaves, ponte knits, Marc Jacobs and Oscar de la Renta prints. I was in heaven. Pure heaven. The best part wasn't feeling guilty for buying anything I wanted. Steve was right there encouraging me. It felt like walking on water without the worry of physical properties. 

The car ride home was infused with the smell of fabric dye in the air. Keep those fumes coming.

How do I celebrate graduating from the largest private school in the west?

A friend of mine has a sister who inherited a bunch of vintage patterns, and I was able to snag a few from her the other day. I thought it was a great reward for completing finals and actually being a college grad. Nothing says "adult college grad" like vintage. 

There are elements in all the patterns that I would like to mix and match with some of my own designs, from the sleeve variations, the tuck details, and of course the collars, which are my favorite design element in any garment.

I can't believe I am done with school forever. It seems weird because I have no one to report to and all my plans are my own now. I am my own teacher, boss, and employee. I feel so free.

Since school is over, blogging will take more precedence. ill be able to sew all I like and post all i like because i dont have homework! or class! or tests!!!!!

92%

I got my graded coat back to today in my tailoring class, the last sewing class I will ever take at BYU, not to mention one of the last classes period. I got a 92%, a solid A-. I am most proud of this one project more than any other garment I have sewn before. It's not just about all the time and new techniques I learned while sewing it, but it's on the top of my list as one of the garments I've sewn that I would actually buy in a store. here are a few others. But this coat is numba 1.

I didn't show the lining before, which is one part I'm most proud of, nor have a I shown the cute covered buttons. so here ya go:

Do i feel like Audry Hepburn when I put on this coat? Why yes. I do.

I take my last final tomorrow. My last final of my college career. How will i celebrate? Go to L.A. next week and buy all the fabric I want, of course :)

Darkling, I Listen

It's no secret that I love the Romantic and Empire periods in both dress and literature. But an artsy fartsy romantic period movie? I'm all in. So of course, this morning I watched Bright Star on Netflix instant play as I worked on orders for Poor Man's Wife. I felt especially romantic with my window open and the candles lit! 

Fanny Braun's clothing in the movie is so great. Thing's that most inspired me in her wardrobe, as well as other's, are: 

The overall brooding mood. The black dresses with all the details involved, and then the peaking white ruffled collars. 

The bright, lighter moments of Fanny's costumes, like the knit sweaters and silk ruffled mushroom collar:

And of course, the HATS and Coats! I wish I could wear hats, but my face is too round. But this coat I could definitely do. I love how high up the coat is, almost as high as her blouse collar, which is probably why I chose such a large collar for the coat I'm making right now, and how it buttons all the way up. I just don't like open collars for some reason.

I have three Victorian pattern making books right now, and have yet to make anything from them. Perhaps a summer project (a long with my snake dress that I have YET to make)...

Because my Mom wanted to see more pictures

My coat is coming along. It's due by Monday, and I think I'll have it done then! I need to finish sewing the buttons, put in little shoulder pads, line the sleeves, and I'm done!

I was afraid the collar was too tall when I first put it on, but it's actually awesome. I feel like I'm in Paris when I wear it. Too bad its 90 billion degrees In Utah right now. Hence the sad face.

Aren't the sleeves delicious?