Ooooooohhhhhhhh!

I am not allowed to buy any more patterns until I sew up a few that i already have!

This is the last one!

I promise!!!

It's late 40's.

I love the changing style! Look at that super short hair!

Jet Lag and Pound Cake

I gained 8 pounds on holiday.

EIGHT.

My pretty new skirts no longer fit. Isn't that hilarious??

My husband gained TEN pounds.

HA!

TEN!!

That's what yummy pasta and rich pastries does to the tum-tum.

They eat chocolate filled croissants every morning for breakie in Italy.

Love it.

So I'll hit the pavement this next week and burn it off.

3 weeks to gain it, 3 weeks to lose it.

No big whoop.

And now we are zoning out and having a "Heroes" marathon, as recovering from the 9 hour time difference is a real killer.

I can't wait to start sewing again when I am rested!! I'll post more projects and pickies soon....

I think my head is gonna explode....

I am doing too much before this trip----I feel manic and it is time to chill.



I have been looking at this fabric for a few months now, anticipating that I would make something with it to wear on my european vacation....something 50's to prance in around Rome.

And I woke up this morning and thought..."Shoot. We are leaving day after tomorrow, and even though the house needs to be cleaned, I must use that fabric."



So I whipped up a circle skirt.....and it only took an hour or so. It would have taken less had I not messed up the zipper when I was installing it....stupid, stupid. A beautifully lapped zipper and then *snip* gosh darn it, I cut the top of the zipper clean off.....I mean the do-hick that opens and closes the zipper. I stared at it for about 15 seconds and then started laughing, cuz what else can you do?



Anywhoo.....my crinoline arrived in the mail today as well. Not too sure how I feel about it---it is kinda lopsided-like and funky. I still need to hem the skirt (thank god for the sewing machine blind hem foot) but I can do that on the morrow.



I am tired. My back hurts. I should have lied and said that I was leaving on my trip a day or two before I was so I wouldn't have to work up to the very last minute. We had a fancy dinner on Friday and attended a wedding on Saturday...it is Monday and I think I am still hungover. Tired for sure. I have two skirts to hem tomorrow, and some housework.



I need sleep.

No more projects.

Tick

Here is me in my dress on the way to a weddin'.

All hemmed with a fabric belt and Bakelite buckle.

New dark hair, too!

The Simple Skirt.....

Owie, owie, owie.

Post war 40's New Look fashions are a bit painful.

This pattern called for a 30 inch waist, which I have.....but what it really meant was a 30 inch waist cinched in a very tight girdle.

It is super cute, and worth the pain...but I cannot imagine women dressing like this every day! And this is *nothing* compared to the turn of the century boned corsets and frilly petticoats.

I do have a crinoline coming to wear with this and a couple other circle skirts and New Look dresses, but I would certainly never *ever* clean my house wearing anything resembling this or those or anything that constricting!

Will I walk around in Rome, my gut squished into itself by a pair of Spanx, petticoat swish swish swishing as I traipse passed the Trevi Fountain?

Ab-so-lutely.

Man oh Mighty.......

Here she is--2 on me and one on Rosalind.

The fabric is actually a more vibrant green than these photos suggest---it kind of reminds me of a Christmas tablecloth. :) It is a wool blend crepe...and it itches a little....but my new slips arrived in the mail today, so it shant be an issue.

I could not get a good photo of the skirt, but it's not hemmed anyway.

This was much harder than I had anticipated. It was humbling. That side zipper was the bane of my existence last night. Next time I will sew it by hand.

I was a good little chickling and basted the sleeves on by hand this morning to check for fit. I usually just live dangerously and go for it. But I have realized that mentality is meant for other things.

(BTW, this is an old size 20: 38-32-41.

I had to take in the waist and hips a couple inches but did not have to do a DD full bust adjustment, if this info helps anyone out there attempting to make this.)

I love this dress!

I've realized by gathering 30's and 40's style patterns, there may never be a need to shop at Anthropologie again. :) Well.....some knitting knowledge would seal the deal, but that will come in time. I am planning on taking a beginning knitting class when we get back from our trip this fall and have already purchased some vintage sweater magazines off ebay. I suppose it would help to know how to cobble too....hmmm....too many things to learn in this short life!

I finally finished the mock up...

.

Well...everything but the sleeves. Close enough.

It is a pattern from 1939 and I love love love it. Kind of a pain in the bottom, but worth it.

I did not take pictures of the skirt because it's tennis length to save muslin. Just long enough to fit the hips, and that's what matters most.

It needs about 2 inches shaved off the waist (which makes me feel better after *adding* 3 to the last project) so it will be more in keeping with the times...right now that extra ease (which is hidden in this photo with pinning) gives it a poopy 80's feel. :)

After it's tailored, a foundation garment will be mandatory---but I have pretty much decided the female form looks better in one of those anyway. I just like the sleek and polished look. There is no reason why the muffin top or pooch should be displayed in this day and age.

Today will be spent cutting out the fashion fabric--a nice greenish wool blend. I am hoping to finish this dress and the black gored skirt by Friday.

Maybe I'll wear it to the Vatican.