Frayed Edges

This song always made me wish I really WAS walking in...

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:43:29 -0400

This song always made me wish I really WAS walking in Memphis…

Then after walking in Memphis, this song made me smile and remember how much fun I had…

Then it made me long to go back and plot when I’d return…

Now I’m all giddy like a schoolgirl because… just 10 more days :-D My feet will be 10 ft off of Beale! Better believe there will be catfish on my table at BB King’s!!!

And I am still jealous of myself because I’ll be staying at the Peabody. I also have a BIG problem… my mind’s already there, and my body is still here. Oops! Damned pre-vacation syndrome!

A bracelet and a necklace I strung up tonight. Glass beads,...

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:51:02 -0400

A bracelet and a necklace I strung up tonight. Glass beads, hematite beads, and plastic glow-in-the-dark beads with metal charms. The stars glow in the dark :-)

Dress is all finished… tons of tiny stitches later, the...

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:45:41 -0400

Dress is all finished… tons of tiny stitches later, the hem is completed :-) I can’t wait to show this off in Memphis :-D

I decided April will be a 2-for-1 month. This dress whipped up...

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:49:35 -0400

I decided April will be a 2-for-1 month. This dress whipped up easily. I just need to do the hem and I’m set to go…sounds easy but the skirt is at least 7 yards at the hem which needs blind-hemmed (otherwise, it won’t look right).

The dressmaking form doesn’t do it justice because the form is NOT close to my proprortions. When it’s worn, it looks flattering and those awesome peacock shoes? Those really bring it together along with the fascinator I made!

I was afraid it’d look too fussy, but it really is a perfect look for a night out in Memphis (or anywhere, for that matter)! Even makes a great day-dress. Suffice to say, I’m in LOVE with the outfit. Will pair it with some vintage black beads from my grandma.

Shoes the Full Version (by liamkylesullivan) My friends say I...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:57:11 -0400

Shoes the Full Version (by liamkylesullivan)

My friends say I act like Kelly when I see shoes I like :-P

Candid confession

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:39:47 -0400

My new sewing projects and my upcoming trip have me REALLY smiling for the first time since my grandpa died in February. It’s fun to get excited about something again.

Fascinator to go with my black dress. Coral rose by New York and...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:43:38 -0400

Fascinator to go with my black dress. Coral rose by New York and Company. Headband by Icing. I added the white feathers onto a clip, and the rose is pinned to that. The whole piece can be removed from the black headband.

Little Black Dress finally had its extra piece of flair added to...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:33:59 -0400

Little Black Dress finally had its extra piece of flair added to it. It’s enough to kind of balance out the *black* of the dress and it can be removed.

This is what happens when you’ve realized… with...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:07:00 -0400

This is what happens when you’ve realized… with horror, that indeed, your blue suede shoes were in that box that was mistakingly sent off to Goodwill when you moved.

Some of us simply can’t go to Memphis without a pair of blue suede shoes… and how could *I*, of all people, board a plane and touch down in the valley of the Delta Blues in shoes of another color??

Ahh, in two weeks I’ll be walking with my feet 10 feet off of Beale :-D Then I’ll be off to Texas spend time with a friend I’ve known more than half of my life, followed by taking one of my best girlfriends out to dinner for her birthday in Louisiana… followed by another afternoon in my beautiful Memphis!

I finally got around to snapping pictures of the fabrics for May...

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:17:52 -0400

Fabric for May project

Fabric for June project

I finally got around to snapping pictures of the fabrics for May and June’s dresses. HOWEVER… if things go as I *hope*, I may *ahem* “need” my May dress for mid-April ;-)

The May dress fabrics are linens in plum, teal, and ivory and they match those amazing peacock shoes I ordered…which arrived today and were love at first sight and everything I could have asked for!

The June fabric is gold organza, ivory dupioni silk, and a green-gold taffeta.

The facinator is finished, but I’d like to get pictures of it *on*, which will have to wait for a day when I can be bothered to put in my rollers, put on some make-up, and do it justice. Otherwise, it looks… flat. Impressive, but the picture of it not being worn doesn’t really “make sense”.

Think...think...

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:50:52 -0400

I should get pictures of the fabric I have for upcoming pieces. I need to remind myself that I can NOT, under any circumstances, buy any more fabric until June because I don’t need it.

Yep… I have dress ideas for my sewing challenge decided up until then. No idea what I am doing yet for July. Part of the idea behind the sewing challenge is to go month-by-month. Otherwise I’ll suck all the fun out of it.

My June theme will be “Re-purpose and leftovers”. I have a bridesmaid dress from a thrift shop that has the perfect fabric for the skirt and just enough leftover ivory dupioni silk for the top, and a leftover piece of gold chiffon for a sash. It’ll go with my gold and ivory brocade shoes.

This sewing challenge has been a lot of fun… I LOVE picking out fabrics for fun designs, adding new things to my wardrobe, picking out accessories, and watching things come together.

Fascinator I am working on. It’s a purple-blue dupioni...

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:34:02 -0400

Fascinator I am working on. It’s a purple-blue dupioni silk base. It will have three gradual layers of netting in plum, black, and white with black trim. It is surrounded by white and blue feathers. Sequined flower from Hobby Lobby. Middle piece is a vintage clip-on earring. This will go with those AMAZING peacock shoes and the dress I am making to go with them :-)

Still painstakingly sewing the black satin ribbon to the netting…!

This gif dances in time to almost every song.

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:33:00 -0400

Right now he’s having a LOT of fun with Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” :-)

Accessories to go with the black-and-white dress. Going to...

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:03:38 -0400

Accessories to go with the black-and-white dress. Going to “dress-up” the coral rose…some green tulle “leaves” and some white feathers to put on the waistband of the dress- nothing permanent, just something big, fun, and temporary.

Rose and earrings by New York and Company. MANY thanks to Tenille @ Joey Eric Style in Dayton, OH, for helping me find the perfect accessories today!

Shoes were previously ordered from Lulus.com. Use coupon code DLISTEDLOVE to get 15% off your order.

Green necklace is vintage… belonged to my grandma :-)

Sometimes half the fun of putting together the perfect outfit can be finding all the fun things to go with it….!!!

This is April’s project, sewn together! I’ll be...

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 23:52:16 -0400

This is April’s project, sewn together! I’ll be adding some simple embellishments at the waistband… removeable stuff, though. Otherwise, it’s so… *solid*, but the whole idea is that I will be able to wear it with different-colored accessories… it’s the Little Black Dress with a twist.

My mom’s reaction? “It’s pretty but reminds me of those freaky movies you watch”.

LOL she was referring to my love of Tim Burton movies. I happened to be watching Beetlejuice when I designed this…. oops!

My recent shoe MISSION

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:54:54 -0400

Dangers of being bored at work lead to seeing these beauties on Plasticland….because looking at shoes makes me happy. Looking at shoes I have to have can make my whole day, especially when they’re actually affordable!

As luck would have it… they only had size 9…. cue this face:

So I get home and I check ALL over the web… I mean all over the web. Only available in sizes 5 or 6.

Repeat very unhappy face.

Then I decide to try EBay in a last-ditch effort and ….

SCORE!!! Click “buy NOW” pay and…. we’re off!!!

After over an hour of scouring the internets, I have what I wanted and they’ll be here SOON!!

…I also have a pile of fabric for a coordinating dress ready to go :-)

This was the last I ever saw of my favorite doll…back in...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:49:39 -0400

This was the last I ever saw of my favorite doll…back in August. I forgot I never did post his fate.

So, upon meeting the doll, Rob Zombie asked me “What IS this freaky thing?!” and then proceeded to ask if it’d kill him in his sleep.

I had intended to have the doll autographed and have one hell of a piece for my collection. Security pushed me through the line as Rob and John 5 were admiring it, and they said I could go up and get it once the meet and greet was finished despite the fact I wanted it back and politely stated that I wanted it back NOW (40 hours worth of work, yea… I was not happy that it was beyond my grasp), that I understand they have a job to do, and if someone could please go get it, I’d appreciate it. They wouldn’t.

Instead, Rob Zombie assumed it was a gift and took off with it.

LIVID doesn’t describe how I felt toward security….!!! It’s the same feeling you had back in the ancient days before AutoSave when you’d type up a paper and your computer would crash, deleting the whole damned thing.

At least I can say that 1.) I scared Rob Zombie, and 2.) He owns that doll.

BUT I am still mad about not having it anymore!!!

April’s project is going along well. This is the skirt,...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:37:30 -0400

April’s project is going along well. This is the skirt, unpleated and unattached.

Yes, I know it is March. However, April promises to be one clusterfuck of a month so working ahead is essential. Besides, I have a fascinator I need to work on, so that will keep me busy, too.

My biggest challenge in April will be to not touch the fabric I purchased for May’s project.

This is March’s project for my 2011 sewing challenge where...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:25:14 -0400

Fascinator, jewelry

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ladnamedfelix

This is March’s project for my 2011 sewing challenge where I sew one new thing for myself each month. This gives me a break from sewing dolls, a chance to play with fabrics and new designs, and a chance to fill up my closet with pretty new things

This dress is a black satin A-line dress with an organza overlay consisting of a black pleated bodice and a gold skirt. Carnations accent the waistline in black, pink, and platinum.

This design is from ModCloth.com (gotta give credit where credit is due) but the dress is sewn together by me. I’d have ordered the ModCloth dress if I thought it’d fit me up top correctly, but few off-the-rack/pret-a-porter dresses ever do

The best part about the dress is it is flattering and doesn’t show any cleavage… I can’t wait to wear it to my cousin’s wedding!!!

I really wish pictures did it justice… the organza is a bit metallic but the weather hasn’t been nice enough for outdoor non-flash pictures

I had an absolute BLAST finding accessories for it and putting together the whole look. The one-of-a-kind necklace is “Snake Said Nom” made by Lad Named Felix on Etsy. The rest of the jewelry (two bracelets, earrings) as well as the gold clutch (not pictured) came from Deb. Fascinator is made from two hairclips from Icing. I also purchased these amazing glitter pumps from Journey’s.

This dress has lit a fire under me for not only making clothing pieces, but assembling full ensembles from head-to-toe… literally!

This is February’s project for my 2011 sewing challenge...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:16:32 -0400

This is February’s project for my 2011 sewing challenge where I sew one new thing for myself each month. This gives me a break from sewing dolls, a chance to play with fabrics and new designs, and a chance to fill up my closet with pretty new things!!

Jacket is made from grey wool and has a quilted lining. I originally intended it to be a spring coat, but I decided to go with a dressier cold-weather coat instead. The pewter buttons were expensive as all get-out, make it weigh a ton, but were the ONLY ones that would work with such soft, lovely fabric!!