Sewing: Simplicity 2593

Simplicity 2593 is a Cynthia Rowley pattern (that apparently just went out of print--when I bought it about 2 months ago it wasn't out of print but it appears to be now). I am enjoying making skirts and dresses but I wanted to try a new type of garment, and I really liked the twisty neckline on this particular top.

I had picked a fabric that is a little out of character for me, a bright large floral pattern that I got at Jo-Ann's. I thought the pattern was reminiscent of Liberty of London patterns, but without the price tag.

The hardest part about the pattern was getting the collar to sit properly. If/when I make this pattern again I think I would do it differently. Regardless, after I finished, I had a photo shoot on my balcony.

Below you will see my grey cat, Eleanor on the balcony railing. She is my little gymnast, balance beam specialist. Scares the crap out of me sometimes but she's never fallen.

There was some bird poop on the railing. Guess I should clean that up, or hope the rain does it.

 

I look so skeptical in this photo. I don't know why.

Poof! A Pouf!

Poufs. They're expensive. Why? I don't really understand. They start at about $150 and the sky is the limit from there. This doesn't really fit my style or my budget, so I pursued other options, like making my own.

I was inspired by various DIY pouf projects I've seen on Design*Sponge, Apartment Therapy and more. 

Design Sponge

When I saw a post on Welcme to Heardmont about a "Pouf-A-Long" I knew it was time to act. 

I decided I wanted to use this tutorial from Bromeliad.

From Bromeliad

I really dig the metallic poufs I have seen, so I decided to search out metallic fabric options for my pouf. One day in Joanns, I stumbled upon the pleather section, where I found some snake skin textured metallic silver pleather. This fabric is intended for apperal. I can't imagine a situation in which someone would want to wear this fabric....

I bought 2 yards for this project, and at $15 a yard, I think this was actually my most expensive fabric purchase to date! Of course I used a 40% off coupon, so I didn't pay full price.

The pieces I cut looked like this-- I made a pattern based on the directions on Bromeliad, using pieces of paper taped together to be the correct size.

I sewed the pieces together as described in the tutorial, and then was ready to stuff it. I put in a few things while looking around for appropriate filler. My cats really enjoyed the opportunity to explore inside the pouf. Perhaps this is a project in the future for the cats! When they came out of the pouf after napping in there, it was like they were hatching. Pretty hilarious. At one point I didn't realize there was a cat in the pouf and then it started moving and making noise. Freaked me out good for a second, until a furry head popped out!

I originally thought I would use comforters that I could get for "cheap" from the Salvation Army, but I was shocked when I got there to discover that the comforters were like $20 each. I knew I would need 2-3 of them, so that didn't seem like a good option. In the end, I decided to go with a combo: old sheets I had around, some clothing I was intending to donate, and a 20lb box of fiber fill that I bought at Joann's with a coupon (I'm seeing a pattern here). The fiber fill was the only thing I actually bought, and that cost me about $10. I then made a medallion to go on top and attached it with some super fancy hand stitching. 

And Poof! It's a pouf! I intend to eventually have it outside on my balcony, but its kind of late here and also about 100 degrees out right now, so these inside pictures will have to suffice for now!

The kitties approve, even if they can't burrow in anymore.

A Dream Come True!

Over the July 4th holiday, I went thrifting, and found my DREAM piece of furniture. A Thomasville Faux Bamboo dresser. For $45. I'm in love. 

Now to decide what color to paint it. 

(PS, Am I the only one who didn't know these dressers are actually vintage? Given the shape it is in and their popularity I figured they were a product of the 1990s, but apparently this baby is straight from the 60's??)

Paint and Repaint

Back in September I bought and painted white a little cabinet for storage in my dining area. Well, it quickly got moved to behind my couch, to serve as a landing strip for mail, keys and other stuff that I have in my hands when I walk in the door.

I decided that while the white was nice, I needed a little punch of color in my life. Looking around at the other things in my living space, I decided turquoise was the color I needed. So I repainted this white cabinet with "La Fonda Turquoise" from Valspar.

I think the color really brightens up the room. It's one of the first things you see as you come up the stairs into my apartment, and it definitely makes a statement. I love it!

 This cabinet is actually small enough that I used just about 1.5 paint samples, making it extremely affordable. I had the first sample in my stash already for a previous project, so that was already paid for. I only had to shell out about $3 for this project!

Linked to:

Another Butterick 5466 Skirt

I've really been on a roll with sewing this summer. And, I wasn't lying when I said I had used this same pattern for more than one skirt. I love, love this pattern. I love the simple straight silhouette and the fact that it sews up incredibly quick, so I can make them in any/every color that I fancy. It also only takes about a yard of fabric, making it inexpensive even with regular fabric, but also entirely likely I will find remnants or clearance fabric to use.

And that's exactly happened with this one. I found just under a yard of this fabric on the clearance table at Joann's on one of those days when everything on clearance was an extra 50% off. I think I paid about $1.50 for the whole piece.  It's a silky fabric, but the gold portions of the pattern are embossed. 

I've already worn this skirt to work once, and I am really liking the interest it adds to my wardrobe. I actually wore it to work with the red shoes I have on in these pictures, a similar white shirt and a navy knit open cardigan I got recently at H&M.

This skirt is also good for hanging out by the dumpster in your apartment complex. I need to learn to pay more attention to my hands when posing. I have quite a few shots that are decent except for my hand in some crazy looking position. :) I guess I am not America's Next Top Model.

Dress: Vogue 1236

I can't remember if I saw someone else that made this pattern, or if I just came across it myself, but either way, it is awesome. V1236 is a DKNY pattern, and probably can be used with about any type of fabric you fancy. The envelope says Seersucker, Chambray, jersey.

V1236

I used a cotton sateen, from the Lisette line at Joann's.

I really liked this fabric upon first touch, so I bought it without a solid plan for use. I think the fabric matches the feel of the dress pretty well, and I am quite happy with the outcome!

The dress includes pockets, and although it wasn't the first time I have attempted pockets, this is the first garment I've actually worn with pockets! I do wish the dress was an inch or so longer.

No, that's not a nicotine patch on my arm. I've been having muscle spasms in my shoulder and was trying those goofy icyhot patches. Results are inconclusive.

I have worn this dress to work, on a weekend for just running errands, and to a BBQ. At work, no one immediately said "oh, did you make that?" which I think is a good thing! At the BBQ, someone asked me where I got the dress, and when I said I made it, she asked me where I sold my clothes! Yikes! While in the future I would love to have an Etsy store or something, for now I am enjoying sewing for myself, at my own pace. 

I do think I will be making this pattern again. I need to play with the fit a bit- I made a muslin of this pattern of the size I would "normally" cut, and it was HUGE! I ended up cutting this dress two sizes smaller, and then shortened the shoulder area a bit because the neckline was too low for my comfort. Perhaps I can cut the top part a smaller size and then taper the skirt out a bit (the whole dress is only two pieces!)? I've never attempted an alteration like that but it seems like it could work. 

Skirt: Butterick 5466

Painting isn't all I do. You may remember that I got a new sewing machine for Christmas this year, and I have spent some time making not only grocery bags and placemats, but also dabbling in clothing. It's been a slow process of learning how to pick patterns that aren't too hard, picking fabric and getting all the little extras that make sewing easier. I've made a couple things in the past with my old machine, with varying degrees of success. 

Following some fashion blogs leaves my wish list for clothing ever expanding and my wallet ever thin. Sewing is really kind of a nice way to acquire some trendy things I see on blogs. This pink skirt is one I made a while ago...as you can see by the snow on the ground. I made it using bright pink bottom weight fabric from Joann's, which I bought for something like $4 a yard (and this particular pattern takes under 2 yards). I definitely bought this pattern on sale, for $1-2. 

Butterick 5466

I made the 4th version, the yellowy one. Full disclosure: Before I cut into my beloved pink fabric, I made a practice version, with the narrow waist band. I'm glad I did that, because I really wasn't a fan. I have since remade that skirt to be sans waistband. 

Don't mind the wrinkles. This is what happens when you wear clothing in real life

I really like this skirt, and I've actually used this pattern twice subsequently. I'll have to post pictures of those skirts as soon as I take them... I have quite a backlog of projects that I haven't photographed. oops.

Garbage Buffet

I'm not ashamed of finding things near the dumpster. In apartment living, people often leave things that are perfectly good but no longer needed next to the dumpster, sometimes with a "free" sign but often not.

Well, one good Saturday evening I made one such amazing discovery. As I came around the corner in my car, I spotted a promising piece of furniture next to the dumpster. At first I thought it was just a buffet or dresser, but upon a closer look, I realized it was a buffet with a china cabinet on top, two pieces. 

I parked my car quickly and ran back to the cabinet to get an up close look, and it just kept getting better. First, it was in EXCELLENT condition. Never painted, no flaws/dings/scratches. I can't really imagine why someone would have discarded something in this condition, but who knows. And most importantly, IT'S MID-CENTURY! 

After the fun of bringing it to my apartment and up the stairs--which turn, I put some things in the cabinet. When thinking about how I wanted the cabinet to look, I was really inspired by the china hutch that Nicole at Making it Lovely has in her dinning room. The arrangement is really pleasing to look at, and I already have a collection of similar-colored vases and other pieces, which also happen to be white.

Source

I would love to find some colorful fabric to put on the back in luei of painting (because its in SUCH good condition, I can't imagine painting at this point), but I haven't found anything yet. Because I live in an open floor plan apartment, it feels like the colors in my "living room" should coordinate with the colors in my "dinning room", which leaves colors like light blue, grey, pink and yellow. I just need to find the right fabric and then I will commit. 

Here are some pictures of the whole dinning room area with the cabinet. Sorry about the glare from the mirror!

 There was once a mirror on the wall that now has the cabinet, so I had to move it. I decided to rearrange my plates to go around the mirror, as you can see above. I took out 2 plates--my least favorite ones, which also happen to be the smallest plates. I think I am liking this arrangement better than before. It takes up the whole wall nicely instead of not taking up enough of the wall.

Pre-chandy, Pre- china cabinet dinning room, ugh, and an stray chair

Current dinning room!

The one thing that really bothers me at the moment is that the chandelier is NOT centered. I might need to do something about that in the near future.