Fabric

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...

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...

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...

18 Sep Obsessions

Posted at 15:02h in clothes, clothing designers, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, New Look Sewing Patterns, sewing patterns, shopping, Uncategorized by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Hmmmm…….. I’m feeling divided. My goal is to make clothes and not buy clothes for one year. Through my self imposed challenge which will save me lots and lots of money, improve my sewing skills and give me a new sense of accomplishment, I’ve become more obsessed about clothes than I’ve ever been before. This obsession isn’t what I was expecting but here I am. I remind myself that I’ve got enough clothes for a year even if I don’t make anything! This challenge isn’t about seeing how many clothes I can make in a year but to remove myself from the endless...

15 Sep The Top of Many Lessons

Posted at 00:56h in clothes, clothing designers, DIY Clothes, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, New Look Sewing Patterns, sewing patterns by goodbyevalentino 3 Comments

Oh my goodness. I thought this would be sooooo simple – loose fitting, no zippers, darts or buttonholes. My first Peasant Top. I know it's not the Milly top I posted, but I like it. My mother gave me the silk over 10 years ago, and I used a New Look pattern which I bought last year but never made. The Lessons………. From Cal Patch – measure and make a “muslin” for fitting purposes. I’m so glad I did this because I did make some simple fitting alterations such as adding two inches to the length From the muslin I decided to use elastic with...

09 Sep Last Summer Skirt

Posted at 13:10h in Amy Butler, clothes, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, shopping, skirt pattern by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Greeting me inside LaRoque two days ago was a cute summer dress made from one of my favorite Amy Butler fabrics. It just so happened I bought two yards of the fabric over a year ago, and seeing this smart dress was the inspiration I needed to get this fabric out of the stash and into my wardrobe. Once again I used the A-line pattern from Amy Butler’s Barcelona skirt pattern and I’m pleased with the result – a casual skirt to finish out the final days of summer. On to fall!...

07 Sep Inspiration

Posted at 21:37h in Amy Butler, clothes, Fabric, Fashion Sewing, shopping by goodbyevalentino 0 Comments

Last year I was searching for retailers carrying Amy Butler’s fabrics and came across a business that continuously inspires me. The shop is LaRoque in Columbia, SC and is owned by the young and talented dress designer, Annabelle LaRoque. Six months after learning to sew she left her corporate job to sew and design clothes. I finally visited her store yesterday which overflowed with Annabelle's terrific sense of style. [caption id="attachment_58" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="LaRoque skirt and wrap top"][/caption] LaRoque’s clothes are just great and Annabelle's perseverance is paying off with her wholesale line now available in dozens of stores throughout the Southeast....