The Green/White Geometric Print Wrap Dress!

I have ALWAYS wanted a wrap dress in a geometric print ever since the day I saw one of my friends wearing one years ago! So I was all too thrilled to stumble upon this Myfabricsdesign.com print! You know I LOVE color!!! The green color seemed like it would be the perfect shade for my skin tone and it was. Plus I love that it was a knit with a little sheen to it- it made the fabric very suitable for a semi-formal affair. My Hubby's 20th High School Reunion was coming up so I knew that this fabric as a wrap dress would be PERFECT! So I sewed this up just 2 days before we left. The pattern is Butterick 5454 and it is a staple. I've made the dress at least 3 times before. Sorry I have a bit of an obsession with wrap dresses. You know you do too! LOL!

Front view: Classic wrap. I've made variations with a collar and some other design elements. I opted for the simpler design here. There are pleats in the skirt as well as the shoulder line. That's all the added flare I needed. I paired with hanging earings--they're actually clear with a little tan and crystals in them. I wanted accessories in that color green but didn't get a chance to go accessory hunting. I wasn't going to do stark white since I don't like that color direcly on my skin. In the end I kept it simple and paired it with my cute, white strappy sandals. 

 Back View. I did my normal pattern adjustment. I shortened the center back about 1 inch, grading it to nothing at the sides. I'm a bit shortwaisted. I also shortened the sleeves a tad.

Here's the fabric. It has a little bit of sheen to it, not obvious in this pic. It's sorta visible in the above photos.

 Me and the Hubs. We didn't match but I liked that we coordinated. He wore a deep burgundy shirt and dark gray pants! In my world color means EVERYTHING! It can either make or break an outfit. It's a major part of one's fashion formula! Heck,  I LOVE color so much that I offer Color Consults to my clients! Gotta spread the Gospel LOLLLL!

We hit the floor for some slow jams! I left the fast stuff for the guy who decided to dance shirtless twirling his shirt his over his head. Boy was that entertaining LOLLL!

I had a great time with these guys! 

Also, I keep meaning to post but I wanted to promote our sewing show for those who don't sew. Gentleman Jim who is a Master Tailor (back in the day he made clothes for such famous folk as James Brown, Jackie Robins, Duke Ellington, etc.) and myself, a Professional Dressmaker with over 12 years of experience have joined forces to bring sewer and informative show! We cover everything from hands on tutorials to handling success and challenges. This month we've dedicated our shows to the Sewing Entrepreneur! Here are a few below. New Show's every Thursday! Check us out!!! Also, feel free to join our Facebook page HERE to stay in the loop on what we've got going on :)

Fabric sponsored by Myfabricsdesign.com. My fabric opinion is honestly my own!

The Black Sequin Sparkly Tulle Mermaid Prom Gown

Prom season went by so quickly. Originally I was so busy with some other projects that I didn't really have time to sew any prom gowns but that was until Ms. C showed up. She had such a lovely prom dress idea and despite my tight schedule we made it work! I LOVE working with my clients and helping bring their visions to life. She wanted a fitted sequin gown with mermaid tulle skirt with sequins.  Fortunately I was able to get all the fabric from my local Jo-ann's which saved time so I didn't have to order it. Now let me warn you this dress isn't as simple as it may look. The mermaid tulle skirt has 5 different layers and a total of 32 yards of fabric, The top of the dress is sequin fabric that is overlayed on black spandex and lined with black jet set. Anyhow I give ALL the details in the video below. I love how the dress turned out and even more importantly I LOVE that my client Loves it!!! I live for happy clients!!!

 Ms. C looking so gorgeous in her custom dress!!!

On the mannequin

Here's the Video Enjoy! It was recorded prior to my clients prom! Also, I have a special offer below.....

And since we all just LOVE things that sparkle and bling I wanted to share my BOGO Free Sale on my Crystals and Rhinestones courses! I've received RAVE reviews on them and as a result want to pass on this special to anyone who wants to add some bling to their garments---whether it be sewn or glued on! See this LINK for all of the details!!!!

 Again if you purchase the Sewing with Crystals and Rhinestones Course you get the 8 Tips on Gluing Crystals and Rhinestone Course for FREE (a $9.99 value). You can purchase here

Father/Daughter Banquet 2016---The Making of 2 Special Dresses

Yesterday was yet another FUN Father/Daughter Banquet--for the 6th year in a row!!! 48 hours leading up to it was non-stop sewing for me as I worked to complete 2 dresses---one for my Daughter and Goddaughter! But the hard work was well worth it. Both dresses turned out absolutely beautiful and the event was amazing as usual! I was asked to help serve as I normally do for the event.

Here are some pics I shot at home......I actually REALLY love this dress. I think it's my favorite out of the 6 I've done for the other Father Daughter Banquets. She wanted an edgier dress and wanted it to be short in the front and long in the back. So I came up with this design by modifying Simplicity 6388.  

I LOVEEEEEEE the fabric. It's a shimmery gray blue satin with shimmery bronze abstract flowers. The trim believe it or not is imitation leather with 3 rows of gold chains. It really gives the dress a little bit of edge. I decided to use the trim as a belt. I like the juxtaposition of hard and soft. And I used chocolate brown tulle in the front. Although the belt is black I felt the black tulle would have been too much so the chocolate coordinates with the blue and bronze.  It really works

                                      This fabric is so amazing! So luminescent---and shiny! It has 2 sides---I used                                       blue background/bronze flowers for my daughter's dress.

                                               When I saw this trim I just had to have it! 

My Favorite picture---love the back view!

Here's her hair.  At first I wanted her hair to be a a little edgier to go with the style of her dress but in playing around with her hair came up with this style. I love adding the metal hair beads

 The event was held at the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum and it was beautiful venue! 

Her and her handsome date got their picture taken together. My 2 FAVORITE people in the world! Love em'

They met up with her Godsister and Godfather!!!! I made my Goddaughter's dress using the same pattern and the reverse side of the same fabric. She wanted a "Princess Style" dress so I made the skirt really long and added a beautiful trim around the neckline. I also added a belt with the same trim and a solid colored matching blue bow.

My cute Goddaughter and Handsome Dad (my daughter's Goddad) posing for formal pics

Front view

Here dress is actually made from the same fabric as my daughter's---but it's using the reverse side. So hers is bronze background with blue flowers while my daughter's is blue background with bronze flowers!

Back view---trim is on neckline and sash

After pictures there was mingling, time to eat and lots of dancing!!!!

 Hanging with friends

So many dads and daughters! A beautiful thing to see!

 They look like twins to me LOL!

Hitting the dance floor

As usual there was a dance off between Dad and Daughter---actually there were several. Here's those two being silly....

I enjoyed the opportunity to make both my Girl's dresses! They looked absolutely beautiful! The last time I made them both a dress for this event was HERE in 2011! They were so "wittle" then!!! Sniff, Sniff! Growing so fast!

My two girls! Love them!!!

When Inspiration Strikes!

Beware! When inspiration strikes you can be anywhere doing anything!!!

I'd been waiting SOOOOO long to  get some inspiration for the upcoming annual Father/Daughter Banquet dresses I'm making. This is the 6th year my Hubby & Daughter are attending. Here's last year's post and you can search my blog for the other years if you like. Anyhow my tradition is to make my daughters dress!  The banquet is this Friday and I have 2 dresses to churn out---(1 for my daughter and Goddaughter so I'm going to be sewing non-stop for the next 72 hours).  But that's par for the course and last minute sewing is something I'm used to! Anyhow I'd been waiting for some inspiration for the past 2 months. But I've been up to my eyeballs in client work so even if Inspiration had come a-knockin' maybe I was too busy to hear. Well Inspiration decided it was going to be heard and cornered me a couple of days ago while I was at the hair dresser. My mind was spilling over with ideas and by the time I'd left and headed to Jo-Ann's my mind was racing. I found some supplies at the store. I manage to leave the store but realized Inspiration wasn't done with me yet. By this point my mind was full of ideas and I figured I needed to get them on paper. I found the nearest spot I felt Inspiration would feel most comfortable telling me all it's secret. And yup I was right! Seems like great ideas really flow with a relaxing pedicure LOLLLLL!

 It's always easiest to be inspired when you're relaxing for sure! Studies have shown this to be true. Here are some other helpful tips!!!!

Got to jot downs lots of ideas and do some doodling. Won't use them all but it was great to think them through! Creating is all about the process and embracing all of the steps from start to finish!

So just as quickly and dramatically as it came in like a whirlwind Inspiration was soon gone. But that didn't bother me too much because I knew it would soon return again. And better yet if I need it to return sooner I know what to do. Because it's returns are what I always look forward too!

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Here's a sneak peek at the fabric I picked for their dresses. I bought it from Fine Fabrics in Atlanta last month.  It's beautiful---ice blue and bronze abstract flowers design. I  don't really know what it is---it's either a brocade or double sided satin. Each girl will wear one side which is cool because they'll coordinate.  More dress details to come.....

Mother's Day Outfits---NewLook 6204, Burda Style 8201, & McCall's 6355- Part I

Happy Mother's Day!!!! I spent most of the weekend on client work and wrapping up my daughter and I's Mother's Day outfits. I logged alot of sewing hours and managed to pull it off. I finished a jacket & dress for myself and whipped up this quick little dress for my daughter with the remnant fabric left from my dress. I had to be a bit creative for her dress since I didn't have alot of fabric left so I went back in my pattern bin and pulled out NewLook 6204 which I last made for her HERE. I reviewed the pattern at that blog post and the only difference with this version is I use a cotton knit fabric and used gold rope for the halter ties. It turned out cute. Initially she wasn't that excited about it. My darling is a bit of a diva in the fashion department. LOL!  But she quickly warmed up to it and loves it!!! We wore matching outfits to church and got lots of compliments! So here's pics of her dress. My camera man aka Hubby had to work so he couldn't get any pics of me. I'll post those this week. Again, hope all of you Mama's had a special day!!!!

New Look 6204

Pattern Review HERE

 Side view

 Playing around....

Back view

Simplicity 1814/ Vogue 7014--4th Father Daughter Banquet Dress and Tie--- PIC/VIDEO HEAVY

All I can say is last night's Father/Daughter Banquet was a BLASSSSSSTTTTT!!!! Oh my goodness we had SO much fun. It made any stress I had in making and completing my Daughter's dress and Hubby's tie worth it. My Hubby, Daughter and oldest God-Daughter, Natasha attended together enjoying great food and all of the fun activities. I was asked to help waitress along with others to make sure all of the Dad's and Daughter's had enough food and drinks. The place was packed and it was great to see so many Dad's and their daughter's dressed up and having fun! Well the night really hit a major high when everyone took to the dance floor. It was SOOOO much fun! My Hubby, Daughter and God-Daughter tore that floor up, you hear me! LOLLLLL!!!!  I got in on the action (on the sidelines of course) but they were in the middle of the floor shaking it down. Feels like we all danced and laughed for hours! It was SOOOO much fun! I LOVE my church for having this event every year and for showing folks that fostering good Father/Daughter relationships and relationships in general is a beautiful thing. Pics, Video (yes, this was too funny not to share) and pattern reviews below.

(Group shot after the Banquet. After all that dancing these folks were tired!)

If you want to know why they were so tired here's a VIDEO snippet of my Hubby and Daughter dancing the final dance together. These two are HILARIOUS!!! Donna Summer's "Last Dance" is playing in the background as I film this. The dance floor was crowded ALL night so this was the first time I could get a good shot.  You'll see twirling and them doing "Robot" and all other kinds of hilariousness. I love these two. They keep me laughing!!!!

Ok, here's the pattern reviews......

Simplicity 1814

Time to Sew:

About 4-6 hours

Sewing Ease (scale 1 easy to 10 difficult):

About a 4. Not complicated at all.

Pattern Description:

Pattern Sizing:

Size 6

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

YES!

Were the instructions easy to follow?

Yes

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I LOVED the petal type sleeves and the sleeve pleats. I also loved the tulle overskirt.

Fabric Used:

Coral colored polyester shantung.

 (Accesories: I made her headband. Very easy. Make a tube to slide headband through and secured ends. Used store bought tulle flower from my stash and sewed gold trim in the middle of it. Super simple!)

("Dorothy-like" red sequin ballet slippers. Got them at Burlington coat factory for $5.98. Found these the morning of the banquet at last minute. God was definitely looking out for me!!!)

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I used 4 layers of tulle instead of the 3 recommended. I also used an amazing gold trim with crystals in the middle on the waist band of the dress.

What would you do differently next time?:

Nothing.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Maybe, it was a really cute and easy pattern.

Conclusion:

Amazing little dress for an amazing little girl!!!

(my handsome Hubby and his custom made tie)

Time to Sew:

1 hour once I figured out what the heck I was doing. LOL!

Sewing Ease (scale 1 easy to 10 difficult):

No comment, the instructions had me baffled. I had to toss them!

Pattern Description:

Wonderful Men's tie

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

Yes!

Were the instructions easy to follow?

No. I knew the sew in interfacing wouldn't work out well. So I made a few changes.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?

I liked the shape of the tie. It's the classic shape---not too fat or too skinny.

Fabric Used:

Same as my daughter's dress

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:

I decided to just steal the one-piece tie interfacing from one of my Hubby's discarded ties and use it in the tie. I then just sewed it by hand on the back as with the original. It's quality interfacing that made the tie look so professional. 

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?

Yes. If my Hubby needs another matching tie I'll just make him one. I like having that option!

Conclusion:

Great pattern. Just pick a quality interfacing for it.

We had a wonderful night!!!! I can't wait until next year's!!!!!