projects, plans, promise

projects projects projects.

they are piling up. 

some are for school and some are not.

 (these will not get done immediately because my husband outlawed me from working on non-school projects until the term is over. good advice, because i have been getting so stressed out lately).

here it goes, random thoughts, swatches, etc.

for my next swimsuit project for school,  i'm thinking of doing something pieced like this: 

via anthropolgie

out of these three swimsuit knits:

 

the stretchy lace one is actually not a swimsuit knit, just a regular knit.  

i'm hoping i can underline it with white swimsuit knit and no one would be the wiser.

i am working on a swimsuit quite a bit like this, only a tankini:

via shabby apple

out of this fabric 

blogged about, and see a bigger swatch here

it is almost done.  just need to finish the straps and tie.

and the bottoms.

i'm doing a blouse, just for fun, like this:

 this pattern is from the 70's..via my grandma.  i've already made a dress out of it.

i'll post another time.

i'm doing it out of this fabric.  i only had one yard, so i'm not sure if this will turn out completely.

i'm really fudging it. 

next up...for my knits class, i'm making this dress. 

it is actually coming along a little wobbly. i'm not sure if i'll even like it ha ha.

i made a size small, and it would still fit me if i gained 100 lbs. 

don't get me wrong, i'm all for style ease, but this just might be excessive.

anyway, here it is:

and here is the fabric i'm using for it:

it is a navy blue knit (it looks darker than it really is here)

and a pleasant contrasting lilac floral knit.

it's on the inside of the pockets and is used for the drawstring.

i bought this pattern to make this skirt (blogged about here)

via madewell

 [i have yet to buy the fabric. because i haven't found that perfect shade of dated light denim yet. but don't worry, i'll track some down.]



and lastly,

this is the fabric for the cardigan i talked about in this post

and this is the fabric i used for the first, most basic swimsuit i made in class.

i got an A!

i will post a picture when i get it back from school.

accidental knock-off

it all started about 6 months back.
i found this great gray-and-white-striped knit at hancock's. it was love at first sight so i bought a few yards.  fast forward at least 6 months, and that same fabric was stashed away until i found the right project.

present day.
i started my swimsuits and knits class last month, and decided to use it.  i looked through my patterns suitable for knit fabrics, and found this pattern:

butterick 5528

i decided to make this view:

while i was cutting out, i thought i'd like to make the built in "collar" (the fold over band) in a contrasting solid white knit.  so i changed the pattern a little bit and did the contrast.  as i was talking to my TA about my plans for this project, i mentioned that i might do some little tabs on the fold over collar as a cute detail.

then a little lightbulb went off in my head....i have seen this before!!

i went to a file of inspiration pieces i have on my computer.  and look what i found:

 

anthropologie, via 2009-ish? 

my "original" design is shockingly similar to this cardigan that i have loved for a couple years from anthropologie! a shameful knock-off.  but if i'm doing it, i might as well do it right, right? so i did the cuffs and i am just about finished.  the main difference is that mine doesn't have the white trim around the hem and mine has raglan sleeves.

i will post some pictures when it's done.  i am happy with my little accident!

navy + linen

i have been searching aimlessly for probably over a year to find the perfect cropped navy blazer.  i have come to the conclusion that i don't think one exists, ha ha.  just kidding, but not at my price range.  so i realized i should probably just make one.  this thought intimidates me.  but with my advanced patternmaking and construction classes, i actually do know how to.

so this weekend i started the patternmaking and i made a muslin.  i have listed the changes i want to make to the pattern before i make it out of the navy linen/rayon blend i picked out.  i am nervous because sometimes i get so antsy to finish something that i rush. but not today, soldier.  i am going slow on to get the perfect thing, something like:

this

or this

navy + linen. can't go too wrong, can it?

to be continued...

p.s. doesn't the girl in the top photo look like lynette from desperate housewives (felicity huffman)?? don't tell me you don't watch it.

swimsuits part II

garnet hill

stussy

shabby apple

via pinterest

juicy i think... via here

marysia swimstore

anthropologie

keeping yesterday's fabric post in mind....

these are a few ideas i have for swimsuit pattern inspiration. 

 it is always a little bit hard to visualize what a particular fabric

 will look like made up... 

dress delivery

i am kind of in love with this dress/outfit from cupcakes and cashmere:

simple and so cute. the possibilities are endless....

p.s. amazing shoes huh?

butter + brass

when i saw these outfits on this post at butter + brass..... there's no easy way to say this.

 i fell in love.  [evident on my pinterest]

butter + brass blog

madewell sightseer skirt

via shopbop

 i need to find a way to recreate these looks with a slightly different price tag. this will not be the last you see of them...

funny ha ha or funny faux pas?

i'm not usually big on collars.  most collared items in my closet never get worn. they are the ones that get pushed to the back or packed away in boxes (or somehow stay in my dirty laundry basket through multiple laundry days).  sure, i have one gingham button up i wear.  the notched collar on my trench is fine... and there are definitely types of collars that are exceptions, like cowls and huge fold-over collars that i like.

but flat collars?  i thought they were hideous.  just last semester i had to make a baby dress with the requirement of a flat collar.  blah.

but now.... i find images of clothing with flat collars stacking up in my inspiration folder.  we are learning about collars in my patternmaking class and i am excited to try out peter pan styles.  ahhhh! it's so funny how times and styles change. and suddenly i am liking some flat collared styles.  [same thing happened with skinny jeans.  i was very stubborn and wouldn't wear them for quite some time.  now that's all i wear.  and i am always saying that i hope they stick around for a while, long enough for me to put my unborn daughter in them.  little girls are so cute in skinny jeans.]  okay back to collars.

here is a small roundup of my favorite flat collars.

urban outfitters

need supply

possibly my favorite outfit ever

queen's wardrobe

granny...but cute?

three from modcloth

and this sweater from urban outfitters doesn't even have a collar. but it is a little bit reminiscent of one.

so... what do you think? do you like this trend? or am i way off base?

best dressed

isn't it amazing that some bloggers [and regular people, i suppose] get up and get dressed and ready and look stylish and wear makeup every morning?  they pick out great outfits and do their hair, accessorize....the works.  i won't get into the details of my outfitting neglect but let's just say i wouldn't have many posts if i were just blogging about my daily outfits.  

that being said, i love that people out there DO blog about their great ensembles!  i see so many wardrobes that i covet that are a mix of new and thrifted and handmade clothes.  i find their photos inspiring and i save the ones i love in hopes that i'll be so put together myself someday.. ha ha.

i have a few favorite places to find outfit inspirations.

this link takes you to mydailystyle's "looks" archive written by a cool, super fashionable girl in spain.  i love her style and wish i had her clothes....  she blogs about fashion in general and also posts her own outfits at least once a week.

one of my favs.

i also like to peruse katy at kansas couture's "daily style" archives for cute outfits with vintage pieces mixed in. 

                              

a cute outfit she posted lately.

lookbook is an interesting site with a neverending supply of outfits posted by contributors.  most of the looks are a little too extreme for me on this place, but there are also lots of great ones if you spend the time.

i recently found this website yatt with a lookbook of their latest collection.  

                           

loved this casual look i came across.

and of course, aside from bloggers, who doesn't look forward to when anthro comes up with new outfits?  i don't know if this happens once a month, maybe bi-monthly? but i am always sure to get a couple screen shots of my favorites to archive.  their newest collection, in the news is up...

like the layers on this one                            and i would love to jump into this

i never love every single outfit anthro does. but i always love at least one or two.  

freepeople also puts up outfits monthly.  they are usually hit or miss but i do love so many individual pieces at free people.

j. crew has also been known to put up lookbooks now and then.  the new fall "looks we love" had a couple of looks that i loved...

anyone have any go-to outfit inspiration sites to add to the round-up?  anything you can't wait to see each week/month?  i just keep hoping that the more i look at the inspirations, the more inclined i'll be to put thought into my own outfits!

day dreaming on etsy

there are a couple items that i have really been lusting over this summer and heading into fall.  i have been searching for the perfect pair of light leather oxfords for a month or two now.  i like this little vintage trend and i think they are so versatile.  i can picture myself wearing them both with skirts and skinny jeans. and as a student, these look especially nice for walking around campus since they are flats.

i finally found a pair i love at free people but they are a little pricey and are currently out of stock...

                              

miller cutout oxfords

anyway, looking around on etsy the other day, i came across some vintage leather oxfords that were reminiscent of the free people oxfords and about 10 times cheaper:

                              

                              

 yay! i had to order them.  they arrived last week and i love them.  the shop owner was so cute, she even wrote a little note about their merit in the package.  check out her vintage shop, becky plants trees, on etsy.

another item i have been wanting since i got an email about them from refinery29 everywhere is this leather satchel from asos.  

                                    

i would love to prance around campus with this on my arm!  i think my laptop and a couple schoolbooks would fit perfectly in this little guy.  and the tan color is definitely my leather of choice.  once again, out of my price range.....but etsy came through again.  this is the look alike i found:

                          

okay, so i realize neither the etsy shoes or bag look just like the new products i wanted to buy, but they both have their share of charm and character.  i'm actually not sure which i'd choose if money weren't an option.  i loved this little leather briefcase from ark's endeavors and i'm kicking myself that i didn't snatch it up right away!  i was only $20 or $25 and i guess some lucky person out there is getting use out of it!

so there are a couple of morals here.  i am obviously a little color blind outside of the light leather family.  shopping on etsy can be a cost friendly alternative to other stores. and you have to act fast if you want to become the owner these one-of-a-kind etsy items.

oh yeah....p.s.

i also found another really cute pair of oxfords on etsy that weren't my size:

                                     

but i love the floral laces!  two great trends in one perfect shoe.  i am going to try to track some cute laces down as another option for my new vintage oxfords.