I found the shirt at the thrift store for $1 and embellished it with one of Martha’s templates.

1. summertime, 2. Serenbe Farm, 3. teeny tiny, 4. Good Old Wallpaper, 5. horse 1, 6. gray linen dress, 7. studio, 8. warm, 9. redecorating, 10. off for a while, 11. Skirt, Made by Me, 12. design-milk-teacup-chandelier, 13. party skirt, 14. Watercolor: Blossoming, 15. the perfect afternoon snack, 16. July 14 Outfit 3

Thanks, everyone, for encouraging me about the move!  Keeping the house spotless for potential buyers is stressful (and so is packing), so I decided to unwind a little bit today by making over Emily’s shirt:

While visiting the library recently (and wearing the aforementioned shirt), Emily was mistakenly called a “he” by 2 different people.  To be fair, she was wearing boy’s shorts, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.  But still.  The incident made me rethink stripes on girls.

Or maybe it just gave me an excuse to applique.

For this project, I was inspired by a hot-air balloon zippered pouch in Zakka Sewing.  (And you might recognize the bird from here.)

I think I feel better already.

EDIT: And here’s the Emily looking very much like a girl in her freshly decorated shirt.  She was tickled pink by it.  We even watched hot-air balloon videos on Flickr. :)

That’s right folks… We’re moving!  Our little family is relocating to Blacksburg, Virginia to live near family.

We just put our house on the market, and we’re going to stay in Tulsa until it sells.

At least… that’s the plan.

Impact Productions (where Evan works) just released a new Pahappahooey Island video featuring Joyce Meyer.  My husband and some of our best friends worked very hard on this.  It even features some shout-outs to Arrested Development. ;)  It will have your children saying coo-coo ca-chaw, and what could be better than that?

Find it in stores tomorrow!

Today I made a collage.

Well…

A mood board.

Clothing design is on my mind a lot these days.

Which reminds me…

Do any of you have experience with dress forms?  I’m looking for a good (but inexpensive) one.  I tried the duct tape dress form, and, well, DIY doesn’t always work…

[Mood board clippings taken from Domino Magazine (R.I.P.) and an Anthropologie catalog.  And that’s Jenny Gordy from Wikstenmade front and center.]

It’s finished.  It has pockets and a slight tulip shape.  This was fashioned almost entirely from the bottom ruffle of the dress.

To cinch the waist but leave a little wiggle room, I made it so that the waistband wraps around from the back and ties in the front.  Does that even make sense?  Anyway, I can tie it in a bow or twist it (as it is in the picture) or whatever.  Maybe even a brooch could hold it together on the side.

I think it could be 2 inches shorter.  Because less is more. ;)

Come see my house tour and interview on Vintage Indie today! :)

Thanks again, Sarah.

Here are a couple ideas:

[From Mod Cloth.]

[From French Connection.]

So I told you last week that I had a shirt to finish before I would allow myself to cut into this dress.  Here’s the shirt, for which I used Simplicity 2863 as a starting point, and made it up from there.  Not that it looks all that different, but I stopped following the directions when I realized that the pattern is intended for knits.  The material I used was, I think, acetate.  I don’t know for sure because I found it at an antique store last year.  And I honestly thought it was cotton until I got it home.  How does a somewhat-seasoned sewist make a mistake like that?

Anyway.

So I was showing my friend, Heather, the unfinished garment on Friday night, and somehow I found myself, well… you’ll see.

Do you have a friend who brings out your inner crazies?

Heather is that kind of awesome friend.  (So is Jacquie.)

WARNING: You’re about to see my home in disarray, unflattering use of the flash, and me, looking like an idiot.  Or a Floral Ninja.  Enjoy!