Author: goodbyevalentino

01 Mar New Look 6910

Posted at 08:14h in clothing designers, Mood Fabrics, New Look Sewing Patterns, Sewing Dresses, silk, Uncategorized, Yellow by goodbyevalentino 132 Comments

It’s the time…. of the season…. when love runs high…… That means all things wedding around here. With two twenty-something daughters, the fun never stops as someone is always getting engaged or married. Three years ago the wedding season caught me off guard and I spent a fortune outfitting everyone for wedding related occasions. Now, I’m always in the Mood for a wedding. Sewing has given me access to the world’s greatest designers in an entirely new dimension, especially when sewing with fabric from Mood! I’m wearing Carolina Herrera to the next wedding :) (check out Mood’s Carolina Herrera fabrics here) I love Carolina Herrera so...

22 Feb Tips and Clips

Posted at 10:16h in Ready-to-Wear Fast 2014, sewing bloggers, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 55 Comments

Do you keep a Sewing Diary, sew your muslins with one-inch seams, or keep a pad of post-it notes beside your machine? The 2014 RTW Fasters are rocking the sewing scene with some fabulous frocks and I asked them to share some of their secrets to successful sewing. Following are 48 of their Favorite Tips from techniques to practical and even philosophical advice. The first clip, from a Singer Sewing Manual was offered more for amusement, but I find it could be quite helpful if re-written for the 21st century! Does anyone want to give it a try? ;) While I don't...

06 Feb Marfy + Mood = Love

Posted at 10:00h in Mood Fabrics, sewing bloggers, sewing blogs, Sewing Tops, silk, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 79 Comments

Have you made your Marfy yet? Thanks to Leisa Stanton of A Challenging Sew, I had no more excuses to avoid the chic Italian patterns without instructions. Not only are three free patterns available for downloads on the Marfy website, but Leisa is providing sew-a-longs for the patterns on her blog and just completed the top sew-a-long. How do you like it? The pattern is Marfy 1913, and after two muslins I was ready to cut my Thakoon silk crepe de chine from Mood Fabrics. When the silk arrived in July, I was tempted to make my 5th sleeveless ruffled top. “No! No! No!” exclaimed the...

08 Jan Inspiration Defined

Posted at 20:47h in Ribbon Skirt by goodbyevalentino 73 Comments

According to the Oxford dictionary the word inspiration is defined as: the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. An example is "Helen had one of her flashes of inspiration" _________________ I have received many comments from readers who said they were inspired to sew after reading my blog, and I am always inspired (mentally stimulated) upon reading such comments. As a matter of fact, I believe living a creative life is the only way to live. Recently, Cathy Rogers, a reader talented in her own right illustrated the epitome of flashes of inspiration by taking the Ribbon Skirt Tutorial (blogged here and here) to...

07 Jan So Faux Futuristic Vest

Posted at 17:39h in Butterick Patterns, Sewing Tops by goodbyevalentino 110 Comments

When hubby left for work this morning the fur was flying. The metallic faux-leather with faux-fur backing spattered like confetti once cut and even stuck to the walls, my clothes and my hair. Having just finished vacuuming the Christmas tree needles, I was not amused to watch the expensive fabric behave so poorly, but I was on a mission ….. and I had a vision to realize. I selected the fabric from many faux-leather, faux-fur backed fabrics in the Garment District in October (2013). More reasonably priced than most, I bought one yard to try out. I a pictured fur-trimmed vest,...

02 Jan One More Day

Posted at 08:08h in Ready-to-Wear Fast 2014 by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Dear Readers, The positive response to the 2014 RTW Fast invitation is all things good in addition to a little overwhelming! I've had many requests from readers who want to join the 2014 RTW Fasters since yesterday's post. If you are interested in joining - and did not shop for RTW yesterday - and will send me ALL of the information today - I will be delighted to add you to the list. Please send 1. Name 2. Online photo album or blog address 3. Photo - preferably a headshot 4. Send to goodbyevalentino@gmail.com I'm happy to extend the RSVP through today, January 2 and would love...

01 Jan Happy New Year!

Posted at 01:01h in Ready-to-Wear Fast 2014, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Ready - Set - STOP! Buying clothes that is…. It's time for me to stop shopping and start sewing for an entire year :) This time around I am in the company of nearly two hundred women who accepted my 2014 RTW Fast invitation. Click on any of smiling faces below to see the entire group of the 2014 RTW Fasters. Aren't these 200 women amazing? They represent women across the globe and feature a diversity of skills and styles as well as a diversity of shapes, sizes, ages and races. The new 2014 RTW Fasters page found at the top of the blog is designed so...

24 Dec Vogue 8532

Posted at 07:20h in Craftsy.com, Mood Fabrics, Sewing Dresses, Uncategorized, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 158 Comments

Santa Baby, Leave a sable underneath the tree for me…… :) While waiting for Santa, I sewed one more holiday dress, this one for a January wedding. I have never seen a Carolina Herrera I didn’t love which includes this cobalt blue paisley silk brocade from Mood Fabrics. Yum……. I was sold on the color alone until the fabric arrived. The quality of this brocade is unlike any I have seen or touched. It’s that good, and once again I found myself scared to cut my fabric. What would Carolina do? Santa baby……. give me an answer! I made a muslin from an old Vogue pattern - 8532, now...

17 Dec Don We Now Our Gay Apparel!

Posted at 07:43h in Butterick Patterns, Mood Fabrics, Sewing Dresses, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 126 Comments

Some fabrics are meant to be worn at night, and I believe this shimmery metallic boucle from Mood Fabrics is certainly one of them. I bought the fabric at the NYC store in November 2012, and admired it at home for over a year while waiting for a vision to appear. Perhaps, a coat, a suit, or another French jacket…… And then - it came upon a midnight clear ;) After nearly three weeks of no sewing I was eager to make something festive and chose the classic Butterick 5588 pattern as my base (available on Etsy). Since the fabric is relatively heavy I wanted...

05 Dec 40 Techniques

Posted at 08:32h in Ready to Wear Fast by goodbyevalentino 53 Comments

My goodness - I'm loving the R.S.V.P.s coming in for the 2014 RTW Fast! Whether one is stuck in an RTW rut, ready to improve sewing skills or just enjoys the thrill of owning a unique wardrobe, the RTW is gaining momentum and I'm delighted to take the plunge with so many dedicated sewists :) I also hope those readers not ready to take such drastic measures will cheer us on through our trials and tribulations as well as our triumphs. _______________________________ What's happened to my sewing, you might wonder? As of today I have a bonafide sewing room! I made do by sewing in the...