Hello hello. Two posts from me in two days. Whaaa? But think of it as a two-parter. Like all of those awesome Star Trek: The Next Generation ones, such as The Best of Both Worlds, Redemption, Gambit, or the best ever, Chain of Command. Or the less good The X-Files two-parters such as Anasazi / The Blessing Way or Nisei / 731. Actually, The X-Files isn't the best example there because it excels in doing a good part one and a really sucky part two (usually with ponderous Mulder voice-over), and this post is going to be as good as yesterday's. And there are DEFINITELY no evil Cardassians or alien-human hybrids up in here I swear.
But yes, yesterday I told you that my Happy Valentine's Day, No-one! dress was one of two Valentine's-themed Emery dresses. Dudes, it's because lil ol' Emery has totally stolen my heart. I kind of want to make enough so I can wear one every day of the week. No, I'm not that extreme and I don't want to get tired of it or anything. But it's just so damn cute and fun to sew! I got this excellent Alexander Henry fabric as a gift, and I think it works just perfectly with Emery:
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Yeah, you know I was saying yesterday how much I love hearts on stuff? Well my pin-up girl preoccupation is almost as strong. This is now the eighth pin-up print dress I own, and it certainly won't be the last. I have my eye on some amazing Alexander Henry pin-up Mermaid fabric, which will have to find its way into my stash at some point soon. I just think the prints are so cute and fun, although I must admit to being a tiny bit disappointed that none of the girls on this dress had bitchy expressions like that one bitchy cowgirl on From The Hip. Still though, they all seem to be pretty delighted with themselves:
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Anyway, nothing to say regarding the construction here. I've said it all before on my other makes. I lined the bodice with some of the red sheeting Offset Warehouse sent to me, and it feels really nice against the skin, and it looks cute inside too. I love that!
I did my best with pattern placement on the front of the bodice, in that I wanted to get as many of these sassy ladies out front and centre as I could. I'm pretty happy with how that turned out.
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I was a bit less careful with the back pieces and, as a result, one of the girls has a dart right through the middle of her face! But, whatever, Dart Face. I can't see you.
So yes. Emery. If you can't find me, it's probably because me and Emery are sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S...well, you know the rest. I'm going to make one more over the weekend (I bought some of the Tula Pink Raccoon fabric with an Emery in mind, and it arrived on Tuesday) and then I'm going to give us both a break. Just don't go sleeping with that girl from the copier place, Emery.
I wore this today to go and have coffee with Sarah, and it seemed like it would be rude not to wear it with some red shoes. I bought these Melissa shoes in Poste Mistress in Covent Garden. They were on sale, and I loved them. Yes, it helped that the ridiculously handsome young Spanish man working in the shop complimented me on my dress (I was wearing the Blanche dress at the time, and in fairness it did look amazing with the shoes) and then talked to me for ages about his boyfriend's job as a garment technician for Miss Selfridge. I AM that shallow, but he was genuinely adorable.
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Our little overnight stay in London at the start of the week was brilliant. Nic's talk at the Vortex was well-attended and a lot of fun. A few of our old university friends came along, one of whom was pretty instrumental in Nic and I getting together and is one of my all-time favourite people. It was a really good night. We stayed in a cute little flat in Finsbury Park and after breakfast with our friend JP on Tuesday morning we headed into town to potter around in Soho and have lunch in Franco Manca before meeting Clare and Sally for cocktails at the Bar Americain.
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My life is normally in no way like Carrie Bradshaw's life (well, except in that I would choose Big over Aiden every time, no question, even though he is an asshole. Aiden is a total asshole too, just in a far less interesting way) but, you know, having brunch and buying shoes and drinking cocktails in the big city with well-dressed friends was pretty nice for the one day. Of course the illusion was shattered on the train journey home, but that's public transport for you. We can't all have town cars.
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Over coffee, Sarah presented me with what is definitely one of the best gifts I've ever been given. My very own labels!
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I was really touched by being given such a thoughtful, funny and appropriate gift. I can't wait to sew one of these into my next handmade dress!
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That's your lot from me for today. I'm tired and run-down so I have a date with some peppermint tea and some DVDs. I'm kind of in the mood for watching some TNG now, actually...
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But yes, yesterday I told you that my Happy Valentine's Day, No-one! dress was one of two Valentine's-themed Emery dresses. Dudes, it's because lil ol' Emery has totally stolen my heart. I kind of want to make enough so I can wear one every day of the week. No, I'm not that extreme and I don't want to get tired of it or anything. But it's just so damn cute and fun to sew! I got this excellent Alexander Henry fabric as a gift, and I think it works just perfectly with Emery:
Los Amantes Clandestinos dress - Christine Haynes Emery dress in Alexander Henry 'Sweetheart' cotton, worn with Vivienne Westwood for Melissa 3-strap heels
Yeah, you know I was saying yesterday how much I love hearts on stuff? Well my pin-up girl preoccupation is almost as strong. This is now the eighth pin-up print dress I own, and it certainly won't be the last. I have my eye on some amazing Alexander Henry pin-up Mermaid fabric, which will have to find its way into my stash at some point soon. I just think the prints are so cute and fun, although I must admit to being a tiny bit disappointed that none of the girls on this dress had bitchy expressions like that one bitchy cowgirl on From The Hip. Still though, they all seem to be pretty delighted with themselves:
Is it weird that I am totally jealous of her hair?
For some reason, this one really reminds me of the covers of the Sweet Valley High novels. Where's her lavaliere, tho?!
Anyway, nothing to say regarding the construction here. I've said it all before on my other makes. I lined the bodice with some of the red sheeting Offset Warehouse sent to me, and it feels really nice against the skin, and it looks cute inside too. I love that!
I did my best with pattern placement on the front of the bodice, in that I wanted to get as many of these sassy ladies out front and centre as I could. I'm pretty happy with how that turned out.
It's not clear from the angle but you can also see the girl in the red dress on the lower right side of the bodice
I was a bit less careful with the back pieces and, as a result, one of the girls has a dart right through the middle of her face! But, whatever, Dart Face. I can't see you.
So yes. Emery. If you can't find me, it's probably because me and Emery are sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S...well, you know the rest. I'm going to make one more over the weekend (I bought some of the Tula Pink Raccoon fabric with an Emery in mind, and it arrived on Tuesday) and then I'm going to give us both a break. Just don't go sleeping with that girl from the copier place, Emery.
I wore this today to go and have coffee with Sarah, and it seemed like it would be rude not to wear it with some red shoes. I bought these Melissa shoes in Poste Mistress in Covent Garden. They were on sale, and I loved them. Yes, it helped that the ridiculously handsome young Spanish man working in the shop complimented me on my dress (I was wearing the Blanche dress at the time, and in fairness it did look amazing with the shoes) and then talked to me for ages about his boyfriend's job as a garment technician for Miss Selfridge. I AM that shallow, but he was genuinely adorable.
Our little overnight stay in London at the start of the week was brilliant. Nic's talk at the Vortex was well-attended and a lot of fun. A few of our old university friends came along, one of whom was pretty instrumental in Nic and I getting together and is one of my all-time favourite people. It was a really good night. We stayed in a cute little flat in Finsbury Park and after breakfast with our friend JP on Tuesday morning we headed into town to potter around in Soho and have lunch in Franco Manca before meeting Clare and Sally for cocktails at the Bar Americain.
This was taken just before Sally arrived, but she looked as gorgeous as Clare does here
My life is normally in no way like Carrie Bradshaw's life (well, except in that I would choose Big over Aiden every time, no question, even though he is an asshole. Aiden is a total asshole too, just in a far less interesting way) but, you know, having brunch and buying shoes and drinking cocktails in the big city with well-dressed friends was pretty nice for the one day. Of course the illusion was shattered on the train journey home, but that's public transport for you. We can't all have town cars.
OUT-TAKE! While we were taking the photos there was a pigeon flying overhead squawking (or tweeting or coo-ing or whatever it is pigeons do) and this is me, blinking, mid-glaring at it, hoping it doesn't crap on me. Or drop out of the sky, which my friend Disha saw a pigeon do on Thursday.
Over coffee, Sarah presented me with what is definitely one of the best gifts I've ever been given. My very own labels!
F*cking Handmade by Dolly Clackett. FUCK YEAH.
I was really touched by being given such a thoughtful, funny and appropriate gift. I can't wait to sew one of these into my next handmade dress!
FUCKING HANDMADE
That's your lot from me for today. I'm tired and run-down so I have a date with some peppermint tea and some DVDs. I'm kind of in the mood for watching some TNG now, actually...
