October 2011

24 Oct I must make an evening gown

Posted at 23:07h in clothes, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I was hoping to tackle the more ambitious projects towards the latter part of the year but here I am in the second month faced with a challenge that has brought my momentum to a standstill…………….. an evening gown…….. for a ball……….. the day after Thanksgiving……… h e l p . I would have considered an exception to my year of no shopping but both of my daughters are going and you guessed it…………. they need new gowns too. I’ll buy their dresses and make mine - something is wrong with this picture. The last time the entire family went to...

22 Oct Seventeen Years Later

Posted at 12:01h in clothes, clothing designers, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, Kate Spade, Simplicity Patterns by goodbyevalentino 12 Comments

Well, I did it! I am now wearing the beautiful silk that I’ve been afraid to touch for 17 years. I finished it just in time to take on a business trip with my husband to Palm Springs and wore it last night. Making this top from some polyester in my stash a few weeks ago gave me the confidence I needed to pick up my scissors. I’m grateful for the inspiration from LaRoque in Columbia, SC, and doubt I would have noticed this Simplicity Cynthia Rowley pattern without first admiring these cute tops designed by Annabelle...

17 Oct Talbots & Kate Spade

Posted at 22:21h in Fashion Sewing by goodbyevalentino 11 Comments

If I like Kate Spade so much, then why is my wardrobe brimming with clothes from Talbots? [caption id="attachment_284" align="aligncenter" width="127"] I love Kate Spade's color combinations![/caption] I’ve been in a wardrobe rut for a while. My mother worked at Talbots until she earned a lifetime 40% discount, hence many of my clothes are from Talbots. I’ve been in such a Talbots rut that I have bought things on my own without the 40% discount. It’s easy…. the sizes are reliable… and of course, they are good old basics which have added up to a predictable and unexciting wardrobe. I’m not knocking...

11 Oct Liberty of London Part II

Posted at 15:25h in Amy Butler, clothes, Fabric, Fashion Sewing by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

My last trip to London was three years ago. My daughters were with me and I enthusiastically prepared them for our shopping trip to Liberty of London, but sadly, things had changed. No more dressmakers, no quilts and far less fabric. Much of the floor space once occupied by bolts of gorgeous and unique fabrics was replaced with ready to wear shirts and skirts in Liberty cotton prints. It was depressing when compared to the store I first visited in 1993, and I never saw it coming. The store appeared to have suddenly changed though I doubt that’s the case. “How...

09 Oct Sevier Skirts Party

Posted at 23:04h in clothing designers, Fabric, shopping, skirt pattern by goodbyevalentino 10 Comments

One of the determining factors to give up buying clothes for a year came after my daughter and I attended a Sevier Skirts trunk show at a friend’s home. Let me begin by saying the woman who started this company is brilliant… Several years ago, one of my best friends suggested she and I start a skirt company. Her ideas were general and I couldn’t envision how to develop a successful skirt business so we moved on. Then I attended a Sevier Skirt Party in August. Sevier Skirts offer customers the choice of three styles of skirts; pencil, a-line and swing, along with...

05 Oct Doncaster Remake

Posted at 21:13h in Refashioning Clothes by goodbyevalentino 8 Comments

Will the real homemade blouse please come forward? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? How did you guess? Never mind……… Last year I discovered how much I love wearing sleeveless silk tops. I bought the two above last fall, and I wear them all of the time. The safari print is a St. John and the red...

04 Oct Liberty of London Part I

Posted at 16:35h in clothing designers, Fabric, shopping by goodbyevalentino 8 Comments

In 1993 I took my first trip to London. I knew I wanted to visit the Liberty store and look at the beautiful Liberty prints. Pre-internet traveling days were full of surprises, good and bad, and this surprise was wonderful. I stayed in the store for six hours. My husband was in a meeting and I opted out of the spouses’ tours offered that day. The store captivated me from the moment I entered. I perused the Liberty fabric gifts on the first floor and somewhere along the way watched a bride being fitted in her gown. When I entered the...

30 Sep Ruffles!

Posted at 12:41h in clothes, clothing designers, DIY Clothes, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns, shopping by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I’m ending the first month of my one year promise to make and not buy clothes with ruffles! Around a year ago I saw these beautiful tops on the LaRoque website. When I recently discovered this Simplicity pattern I thought I had a close match and decided to put my newly learned Cal Patch skills to work. I spent $9.00 on this pattern solely for the neckline and the ruffle – definitely a worthwhile investment. I’ve...

27 Sep Simplicity

Posted at 15:53h in clothes, clothing designers, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns, shopping, skirt pattern by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I’ve was so busy assembling the 24 pieces of this skirt that I barely had time to glance at the Kate Spade 1 Day only 75% off online sale. Making this skirt saved me hundreds of dollars in that respect alone. The skirt is fine and it does fit but it doesn’t have much pizzazz. I was tempted by the Amazing Fit title and ordered it some time ago. I found this beautiful woven silk at Mary Jo’s last week and thought...

23 Sep To Share or Not To Share?

Posted at 12:07h in clothes, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns, shopping by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

I haven’t told my family about my blog yet for lots of reasons. I know if my daughters learn I’m sewing my own clothes this year they will think I should spend all of the money I’m saving on them – specifically clothes. I realize I’ve helped create this shopping mindset and I’m constantly thinking about how to change it. Secondly, my immediate family will tell me there is no way I can go a year without buying clothes and will offer hypothetical situations for me to consider that I don’t want to think about. They will also tell me I don't...