Author: goodbyevalentino

30 Aug Mother-of-the-Bride Dress, Vogue 8766

Posted at 14:25h in Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 208 Comments

If only it was this easy. I’m not sure why I panicked so about making a dress to wear to Katie’s wedding! Whether it was having too much to do, searching for the right pattern and fabric or doubting my competence, I was on edge about the project. By now I should know that one’s hard work is ultimately rewarded. All of the planning and efforts invested over the last several months resulted in a divine evening and I dare say, a perfect wedding :) We can’t get much happier than this! MY DRESS What can I say? Sometimes it takes a village to make a...

25 Aug … and the winner is…

Posted at 17:13h in Amy Butler, Goodbye Valentino Giveaway, Simplicity Patterns by goodbyevalentino 99 Comments

iPhone cases, napkins, tablecloths, shoe bags, and a hot air balloon represent a small sample of the 576 creative comments submitted for Susan Khalje's new Couture Dress Video and Pattern giveaway! Many of you were on the right track in assuming I was making bridesmaids gifts. If you were one of the twenty-six readers who guessed - R O B E S - you are correct! My daughter, Katie, wanted to give her friends in the wedding party a personal gift they did not already own. How could I refuse? The girls opened the robes at the Bridesmaids' Luncheon on Friday, and wore them on Saturday; a leisurely day...

08 Aug Where am I ? and… a Susan Khalje Giveaway!

Posted at 22:35h in Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 575 Comments

Many thanks to all who have contacted me either regarding my whereabouts or who have been in my place...

08 Jul Butterick 5889

Posted at 08:11h in Butterick Patterns, Sewing Tops, sewing with knits by goodbyevalentino 121 Comments

I just returned from the new Kate Spade outlet store located 20 minutes from my house, and all I found was this necklace featuring a bitten-off popsicle. The store carried zero shoes and the handbags were designed for the outlet store. Maybe you’re wondering if I am wearing anything besides turquoise, aqua and white this summer. In the past I have been consumed by orange, but this year I’m drawn to anything resembling serenity ;) Inspired by a friend’s RTW top made from a similar fabric, I recently ordered this lovely Tilda French Viscose knit from the Marcy Tilton website, an online store loaded with beautiful high...

02 Jul J McLaughlin Refashion

Posted at 07:54h in Ready to Wear Fast, Ready-to-Wear Fast 2014, Refashioning Clothes, sewing clothes, Sewing Tops by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

The RTW Fasters and I are halfway through our pledge to abstain from buying ready-to-wear clothes during 2014! Lots of the women are knocking it out of the ballpark sewing incredible clothes too. I've found reaching the halfway point serves as a great incentive in achieving nearly every goal I've set out to accomplish, and I celebrated the six-month marker by cleaning out my closet. :) While I've questioned the wisdom about going on the RTW Fast during the same year of my child's wedding, the closet exercise proved my decision sound. Closet organization generates a different type of creative pleasure for me. I do not...

21 Jun MoB Beginnings…

Posted at 13:30h in Craftsy, sewing bloggers, sewing blogs, Sewing Dresses, Susan Khalje Sewing Class, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 90 Comments

Mother “When are you going to start on your dress, Sarah? I’m getting worried.” Me “Today. As soon as we finish up at the lampshade store. ” …..and so after months of procrastination accompanied by some angst, I began the Mother of the Bride dress on Tuesday afternoon. It’s true, I’ve been putting it off while hoping to achieve the elusive perfect weight, shape, size etc……….. I mean what if I lose an inch in my waist after I make the dress? In March I asked for your help in finding fabric and a pattern for my Mother of the Bride...

15 Jun Dare to Wear

Posted at 22:37h in Ready-to-Wear Fast 2014, Ribbon Skirt, sewing clothes by goodbyevalentino 143 Comments

When I started sewing again in August 2011, I vowed to wear my clothes in public. I’ve been true to my word with two exceptions - here and here. While a job well done should be reason enough to do one’s best, knowing that others will see (and judge) my clothes is one of the incentives to get it right. Hubby and I spent the weekend in Charleston, SC, where my daughter and her fiancé were honored with a party hosted by friends of the groom’s parents. I packed a Me-Made suitcase and hoped for the best. Clockwise from the top left: The...

12 Jun Theory Striped Maxi

Posted at 01:15h in Mood Fabrics, New Look Sewing Patterns, Sewing Dresses, sewing with knits, Uncategorized, Yellow by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Once again, the spirits of Marcy the Medium have influenced my fabric selection! “You need more yellow in your life,” she stated. I think I ordered the best yellow a n y t h i n g ever available, for Mood Fabrics' Theory Light Canary Striped Viscose Ponte Blend has more than surpassed my expectations! I wasn’t ready to put away the pattern from my last project (New Look 6210) quite yet - especially since the fit had been tweaked to perfection. Besides, I had set out to make a maxi and ended up with a short dress. The phenomenal drape of this fabric begged...

05 Jun Pucci Pucci Poo!

Posted at 23:34h in New Look Sewing Patterns, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 147 Comments

You might think I made myself a little nighty and I can understand why. It's a muslin that I completed from start to finish and I think I'll wear it as a bathing suit coverup. Here is the pattern, and here is the dress. I succumbed to temptation during my trip to Baltimore in April and bought a piece of Pucci silk jersey from Mendel Goldberg. The owner, Alice Goldberg drove to Baltimore from NYC with a trunk full of fabric, and I filed in line with my other classmates to relieve her from her heavy load ;) Sewing Pucci silk jersey was a brand...

06 May The 30 Day Dress

Posted at 21:44h in Ruffles, Sewing Dresses, Susan Khalje Sewing Class by goodbyevalentino 141 Comments

……… also known as the Baltimore dress is completed. I had the pleasure of taking it apart again only to discover the opportunities for alterations were limited…… but maybe my 30 day investment needed little else than minor adjustments. After separating the skirt from the bodice and removing the top ruffle, I removed all of the gathering threads and started over. Most of the gathers in the skirt were replaced with darts giving me a smoother fit around the waist. I cut 14 inches of width off of the ruffle but sadly realized my new vision for the dress looked disproportionate. The decrease...