Epic Hair Fail

I'd like to think that I'm the best at styling vintage hair...well maybe in my own mind I am.

However, I am not always spot on with my hair styles. Sometimes I come out looking like a hot mess. I am brave enough to share some of those disasters with you.
Note: I am not wearing make up, and I might look completely busted in these pics. Just deal with it.


Here is the first style I attempted to recreate, because I have a snood (hair net) that is super cute and I wish I could wear it more. I am showing you the picture so you can sort of understand how it happened.

This is the first snood style from Lauren's book "Vintage Hairstyling"

What I got was this:

Caption: Vintage Mullet? No Thanks.

I thought adding a flower would be a good idea. Adding bows, ribbons, or flowers can cover a mutitude of sins, but this disasterpiece was busted beyond repair.

And no, I haven't retried this style since. It's just not meant to be.

Next, I went for the old faithful, the Victory Roll:

I'm like a landshark, just look at that fucking fin.
*cue Jaws music*

The good news here is that I've almost mastered Victory rolls and they are pretty cute on me.

I was feeling a little 50's, so I tried to do a beehive. Good idea, right?


WRONG. I might as well just call my vato's and lean like a chola. To bad I lent my sharpie to my cousin for her quinceanera........


I guess the moral of this story is that being glamorous isn't always glamorous.

Dress Woes

I'm still in the planning phase of my dream dress construction. I'm a little upset because the pattern I had originally planned to use now doesn't seem like the best for what I am trying to accomplish.

I want a dress with a full skirt, something that is light and airy. I also want a fitted bodice with a defined waist, and sleeves.

Today, I decided to shop Vogue Patterns to get the dress pattern confirmed and sort of browse. When I came across the pattern I originally picked, I noticed that Vogue was now offering pictures of the garments made with the patterns they were selling. This is something they had not done before. I decided to take a gander and wow, it has totally changed my perceptions about a lot of patterns on their site. Some patterns I hated, some I loved. The drawings don't really show how the item can turn out.

Anyway, here are the patterns and such.

This is the original pattern I was considering. Please note the white dress. I wanted more of a sleeve, but it seemed to be enough, and the length looks good. The bodice has some gathering, but I didn't pay much mind to it.

Then I saw this:

This is a mess. Look at that RAPE YOUR EYES print. I wouldn't have picked that fabric for this dress in 5050557239855897 years.
Also, what happened to the sleeves?
Look at those terrible pleat like gathers in the skirt. GARBAGE

So, as much as I want to believe this dress would be cute, I have a hard time believing it.

So then I saw this pattern:

Please note the floral dress.

I looked at it and thought, I guess that could work. Then I scrolled over to the rl picture:


I think the print is a bit much, but I really like the way this dress looks. The skirt isn't as long as I want (that's not really a problem). The bodice looks fitted, and is pretty straight forward....it also has sleeves.
The more I look at it, the more it makes sense to use as my pattern.


I am really leaning toward the 2nd pattern. Probably going to pick it up soon and get started on things!

Dreams meet Reality

Remember my entry about my dream dress?

Well, I was wondering about the cost to start working on such an endeavor, and would I be able to afford such an expense, especially after shelling out $220.00 to get my sewing machine fixed. (And yes, my machine is still in the shop, I'm borrowing a coworker's sewing machine.)

Currently, I have some 50% off coupons for Joann's, so I plan on getting most of my supplies there, since I can pick the fabric in person, take it home and work on it, plus I won't have to pay for shipping. When I bought my fabric for my current project (strawberry fields top) I looked at what Joann's had, and I was pretty happy with the selection.

I've chosen an emerald green taffeta


and a cream colored lace


The lace doesn't look cream here, but it does in person.

I've also decided a few things for this project as well. I've decided to try my hand at invisible zippers, which are pretty difficult, however they blend in with the fabric and tend to look a lot more polished. I want this dress to look 100% awesome and I feel like adding small things like an invisble zipper will enhance it's appearance.
However, I will have to get an invisible zipper foot for my machine in order to do that. It adds to the cost, but I feel that it is worth the investment.

So, without further ado, here is the cost break down:

$15.98* Lace Fabric
$11.96 Emerald Green Taffeta
$10.00 Vogue Pattern 8446
$3.19 22 inch Invisible zipper
$2.59 Thread ( I don't have any in the right color in my current stock!)
$2.29 Invisible Zipper for For Singer Machines/Coats and Clark Zippers
$5.99 Lining Fabric
$4.42 Taxes
TOTAL $56.42

* 4 yards, this is after the 50% off coupon discount is taken.

Hmm Let's see.....Custom made, custom fitted one of a kind dress to wear to Marine Boy's homecoming for $56.00.....Can I afford it?
YES I CAN

I could buy something off the rack for much cheaper in this instance, but it wouldn't be THIS dress.

I'm sold, this dress just got bumped up to next project on the list.

Strawberry Fields

I pretty much spent all weekend in my apartment working on a few things. I wasn't in the mood for people in general, so I decided to stay in and take care of things around my house. I did venture out on Saturday for a few things I needed, but other than that, I had minimal contact with the outside world.
Some days I just would rather stay away from everyone else.

I'm feeling a little better today, and since there isn't much to do here at work, I figured I'd give you a preview of the newest sewing project that I've been working on.


This a new blouse I am working on. This is how it looked on Saturday.



This is what I have so far. I properly attached the sleeves last night, and it is coming together just wonderful.

I'm pretty happy about that.

I also grabbed some strawberry buttons this weekend, that I will be turning into strawberry earrings.

I am also working on a few more projects that will remain a secret until I am finished and they are on the way to their new owners.

I got a letter from Marine Boy this weekend, and I think I've read it 351652156465464 times. He basically just let me know he is okay, and that he was sad he couldn't be home for Love n' Lasagna/Valentine's Day. He let me know he misses home and can't wait for this to be over with.

Only in Dreams

I had the best dream last night.

I made the most perfect dress for Marine Boy's homecoming.

Don't laugh at me. I've been really worried about what I am going to wear to see him for the 1st time in 7 months. I wanted to wear something that would be beautiful, deilcate, and not overly ostentatious.

Last night, the dress came to me, and I am determined to make it.

I was standing outside looking at a parade deck of some sort, waiting for my Marine to march out in front of me. My hair was perfectly colored and worn with a side part in gentle cascading curls. I wore my favorite pair of earrings and my mother's pearl necklace.

The dress was perfect, it was a dream in lace and emerald taffeta. The bodice of the dress was fitted with a gentle sweetheart neckline, and sort of almost cap sleeves. The sleeves were just enough to cover up the tops of my arms, but small enough to not be constricting. The bodice was fitted, so I wore a big green ribbon around my waist, like a belt, and I had tied it into a giant bow, which was pushed off to the side.
The skirt of the dress was really full, it flared out, which when I turned it made this swishing noise, it went down a little past my knees, the perfect length.
The color of the dress might have been the best part. I was the most beautiful shade of green, and over the green color was cream colored lace. So it looked cream colored, but you could see the green under it. It was amazing.
I wore a pair of peep toe green wedges with it. Just awesome.

All morning I've been looking for the right dress pattern, and I think I found one that will work.
Possible Dream Dress

Now, I am just on the hunt for the right kind of fabric. I am going to have to do some research on a few things before I start though.

I am really excited.