clothes

19 Feb Austerity or Abundance?

Posted at 08:34h in clothes, sewing blogs by goodbyevalentino 25 Comments

I was at a social gathering over the weekend wearing my Red Ruffle Dress when a friend made reference to my year of "austerity". Now, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but I thought this was an interesting choice of words for I’ve felt anything but austere. Based on some of the definitions and synonyms for austerity and austere, I suppose the word can be applied to my abstention from buying ready-to-wear clothing for a year. AUSTERITY 1. Economy measure 2. Severity or plainness 3. Enforced thrift AUSTERE 1. Suggesting physical hardship 2. Unsmiling 3. Plain and without luxury 4. Plain in style or design Sewing clothes rather than buying clothing...

31 Dec Celebrating Creative Spirits

Posted at 18:13h in clothes, Simplicity Patterns by goodbyevalentino 11 Comments

Greetings from Edisto Beach, SC – the perfect place to usher in the New Year! I’m wearing my second serger product – Simplicity 2603. I had no idea I liked red so much until I gave up buying clothes and started sewing again! NEVER would I have bought such a bold piece of clothing. NEVER would I have splurged on something with limited holiday appeal. And NEVER would I have bought something just for the fun of it! As I reflect on 2011 in front of an especially stunning sunset, I question the importance of my mighty goal of abstaining from buying ready to wear clothes for...

29 Dec Nice and Easy

Posted at 10:20h in clothes, Vogue Sewing Patterns by goodbyevalentino 14 Comments

Is it over yet? The company is gone, the tree is dead, the house is a mess and Santa brought me a new serger! To clean the house or sew: that is the question. ...

30 Nov Three Months and Still Sewing

Posted at 15:07h in clothes, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, Kate Spade, sewing patterns, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 13 Comments

What can I say other than I like blouses with ruffles! I made this silk dupioni top in a hurry, and now, I wish I had planned a holiday wardrobe because I truly don’t have one other than a couple of dresses. About the top – its an old Butterick pattern which was pretty simple but I changed the flounce to a ruffle to better frame my neck and dress it up a bit. I also added a sash because I didn't care for the tie. Last night I wore it with winter white wool pants and these Kate Spade shoes...

26 Nov The Big Ball

Posted at 11:36h in clothes, Fashion Sewing by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

As promised I’m posting a picture of the group in full regalia! What? Why yes, of course the ruching above the knee is intentional. It’s really difficult to do you know……… In all seriousness, it was a great evening and well worth the $48.00 investment. Was the dress worth the investment of nearly three weeks?? And why is it that my greatest efforts of time and largest amount of money are devoted to special event attire? I’m looking forward to making clothes I can wear everyday again. Two weeks ago a friend told me that since I gave up shopping for a year and...

20 Nov Robe de Soirée

Posted at 18:44h in clothes, clothing designers, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, sewing patterns, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 22 Comments

It has been eighteen days since my last post! Making an evening gown consumed every precious free moment I’ve had – physically, intellectually and emotionally. The ball is in five days and the dress is finished! Up until making this gown I have really enjoyed sewing again, but I put such pressure on myself to make a dress that will match up to the others (including the ones I bought for my daughters) the experience has been stressful, but I persevered. Other than several dyslexic incidents brought about from working on a one-shoulder dress, this Butterick pattern was easy enough and presented no...

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...

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...

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...