Bloom

Last Friday I completed two dresses - one for me and one for Eva. I used the same pattern which is the same as this but elongated so as to make a dress. Eva is just the cutest in it, which cannot be said about my dress. I didn't make any darts which obviously I should have and since the fabric is a bit sturdy it doesn't follow the curves and it is slightly baggy-like.

The gathered (elasticated) neckline simply doesn't allow a lot of manipulation, but I think I am going to tame the dress. When I first tried it on the first thought that ran through was that it desperately needs a belt. On the other hand I've already have three dresses with belts on I thought this could do without one, and besides this was the look I was going for. So I'll have to opt on something else.
Featured:

Colours of the rainbow

A while ago I received what every respectable crafter believes to be a dream come true.
I received a whole box of embroidery yarn accompanied by a dozen knitting and crocheting needles in different sizes by a very special person who is 'at the sunset of her crafting' according to her own words.

I picked one from each colour to make the palette. Along with my own collection this is going to be a true rainbow! Can't wait to return to my embroidery!

Velvetina

This was the third of the original trilogy of dresses but those who read me know that it was delayed because of its belt. It was a real pleasure making this dress. The design is slightly similar to the Bronte dress. This one has a shawl -like neckline and different sleeves.
The velvet didn't give me any trouble as I was dreading it will.

Everything went pretty neat. Until I came to the belt. It wouldn't be right if I say that it made me hell. Hell is a place I could go on vacation. That was true suffering without measure.

First I started embroidering a design I made myself but the silver thread had so much synthetic in it it wriggled in all possible directions. When I was almost finished with embroidering the belt I didn't like it any more. Couldn't stand it to be exact. So I dropped that and started another one.

I don't know what part of my brain was not functioning right when I decided to make the dress with taffeta! Appliqued - mind you! Yes, it looked fantastic when I laid out the cut-out pieces on the velvet, but as soon as I started actually sewing it - well that was a horror scene. The pieces were easily severed by the machine needle so I sewed them by hand, which turned out to be slightly less difficult. Try sewing taffeta on velvet - there's a challenge!
I had the center piece embroidered for another project but thought it would suit the belt more.

Now when everything is over, I might say I like it. Yes, I do. I like it a lot.
May say the trouble was worth it!

Avatar

Image property of 20th Century Fox

If I say that I was mesmerized by this masterful creation, that would be an understatement!
I absolutely felt thunderstruck during the show. The greatest reason why I experienced the film the way I did is my restrain to read anything in connection with the film. I didn't even know what the story is about. I've only seen this picture of Neytiri (shown above) and that was enough to let my imagination run wild. I didn't know it can run that wild!

The world Mr.Cameron has created is beyond fantasy and imagination! Every scene of Pandora's nature is pure surprise and delight for the senses. The photography is simply breathtaking and truly striking! The story is not quite new so to speak, but is exploited fantastically. And through the eyes of the Na'vi we can see our race as it is: obstreperous, so it comes easy for one to take the side of the natives. Because on their planet - we are the aliens.

Image property of 20th Century Fox

I loved seeing the ways of the Na'vi. They live the lives of the Neolithic men yet are strongly bonded spiritually, mentally and physically with everything living and breathing on their planet. Nothing is taken for granted. Not even the tiniest seed. Something we have long ago forgot about.

Image property of 20th Century Fox

What is the message of the film?
Everybody is free to interpret it the way (s)he desires. However, behind the inclination to entertain I think that the film has a deeper massage.
I would like to think that with this one Mr. Cameron is shaking us by the shoulders to make us realize what we are actually doing to our planet. That we have Pandora right here in front of our feet! That we have to see each other!

If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it to you! Go visit Pandora. You'll be blown away!

My Valentine necklace

I know Valentine is just a bit away, and this may sound slightly premature but I couldn't resist naming it otherwise. How could I have?

Doesn't it remind you of Valentine? It's not just the colours. The whole compositions breaths of love and incites this feeling of happiness...

...while the texture of the fabric makes it look so dreamy, romantic yet delicate!

A piece that is a perfect embellishment to clothing!

Rubbies and lace dress

My newest addition to the dress collection. The Rubbies and lace dress.

I love how it turned out. After writing my yesterday's post I wasted about two hours trying to add some pink to it in order to enter it for the competition. I tried hard, I turned my stash of laces ribbons, and bands upside down, but whatever I tried just didn't seem right for the dress. I had it stuck in my head that it has to have a bibbed lace front and that was it. Besides I didn't like how it looked with the pink on although I have not against combining those two colours.

So I followed my intuition and this is the result. And I am sorry dress - it was just your luck - no competition for you!

I am off to prepare for the film. And I am going to wear this beauty!

Pink delight scarf

Today was a great day! I am almost done with the scarf I've been knitting. Here's a preview of it.

And I also whipped up the red dress I wrote about
here>.
As it turned out it's neither of the two dress sketches I made (told you!). It's something in between. I just need to embellish it. Because it is dark now I'll take the pictures tomorrow. And while at this I had quite a pleasant surprise! While having my afternoon break with a cup of coffee in front of the world, i.e. the computer I saw that today Burdastyle launched a competition titled "Pink and Red" garments!
I immediately decided to enter my dress although I am not certain that it is worth to be entered because it is... well... a bit plain. But on the other hand I would really like to participate. If I had know about this upcoming competition I would have put a lot of more effort and made something proper and decent (not that this one's not) - I am sure you get what I mean.

Another thing.
I am over the moon because tomorrow night me and my sweetheart are going to the cinema to see Avatar! All by ourselves! Can't wait! Getting the tickets was very hard - all shows were sold. However, I managed to resist being influenced by the bombing critiques on the net and the papers in order to really (unbiasedly) enjoy the film. I hate when prior to seeing a film or reading a book my judgment is tarnished with what I find miniscule attempts of huge egos to criticize over one's hard work. I can form my own opinions, thank you very much! I hope the film is not going to betray my expectations.

I rolled up my sleeves...

and finished a couple of things. Leaving the kids with their grandparents leaves me a lot of free time on my hands to do things that have to be done and projects to be finally completed. I have a week to make 'several things' (including the dresses I wrote about several posts back, decide on which embroidered belt I am to use with the blue velvet, sew a dress for Iva and several necklaces I've been working on). The list keeps getting longer and longer and I keep adding things to it!
So, while sorting out through things I couldn't believe my eyes when I found this...

This is an embroidered pillow that I nearly finished (you'll see later why it is nearly finished) the week my daughter was born. And that was in 2001!! I just love looking at it - the colors as well as the whole composition of the wreath is so refreshing, relaxing and inspiring.

I can just kick my behind for being so forgetful of beautiful things around me.
The reason I said it is nearly finished is due to the two violets down bellow. See - their center parts are not done! Something that can be finished in a jiffy!

I also made some wristlets in black (which is not my favourite colour at all, and you shall not see many uses of it here on my blog. I had this ball of black wool scattered about and opted on getting done with it for good.

I embellished the plain ones with a burgundy red silk ribbon.

Walking by the lake...

we were greeted by an unexpectedly warm breeze for this time of the year, making our stroll quite pleasurable and the landscape was magnificent.

The vacation is in full swing and we brought the children to my in-laws' for a week's rest. When back home I hope to use the time to finish several of my projects and to work on my photos. I cannot wait to try the new tripod I received as a surprise gift from my husband and I want to explore it with no disturbances. Meanwhile, I brought here with me several fabric necklaces which I planned to finish and must admit that it is hard for me to work with all the hubub around here and besides the weather is not helping me at all. Here's a quick steal of what I've been up to.

Happy New Year!

May this year bring us all a lot of happiness, love and good health!
I will remember 2009 as a very successful and rewarding year both personally and professionally! And I can only wish and hope this one to be even better!

An early surprise

As an early gift I got these earrings from my sister. They are gorgeous! And this being one of my favourite colours makes them even more desirable and will be a great detail with related clothes.

Quite by chance and coincidence I bought myself this beautiful scarf! What can one say to this. We were intuitively led by the same thought!

Another dress or two will certainly do!

Last week I sneaked (again!) to the fabric shop. What I had in mind was buying deep green velvet for yet another dress! After making the one in navy blue I yearned to make myself something romantic and feminine! One may think that I am overdoing it with the dresses but to tell you the truth my wardrobe is void of such garments. My winter wardrobe consists of corduroy trousers in several colours, the inevitable pairs of jeans and a ton of thick-fabric skirts. I have two or three winter dresses (not taking the formal ones in account) and they are so old I actually don't remember when I bought them. I consider myself a dress person and my summer dress collection is stunning while the winter one is deprived of them.
Thus I set on making quite a lot - five to be exact - (to compensate for all the years back) and I made sketches what I want with the green velvet and the red thin woolen fabrics.

This is what I came up with. I cannot decide on the red one. I love both variations and I still don't know which one is going to prevail.

While for the green one I want to make this:

Speaking from past experiences these may turn out quite differently because not once have my sketches been just a starting point. When I start working ideas rush down and I usually end up with something else. Nevertheless I have never been disappointed with what I've made so I hope this shall be the case this time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Shamrock skirt

If you remember this dress then you know that when I got my scissors near it a large piece of fabric was left.

I played with it a little, pin it in various ways and the most favourable solution was this one with the two overlapping 'pleats'. Then I made two darts behind because it was still big and I added a zipper.

Since I haven't had any of the fabric left I couldn't finish it at the waist, so I used a black cotton fabric to make a belt which I sewed on the skirt and it ties at the back. I am quite satisfied with it and I feel I am going to wear it many times.
I also used the flower(pin) which I plan to make a necklace with, but used it as a brooch for the photo shoot.

My darling daughter took all the pictures and she did a great job! While we are here, my mother commented that I look like a Grumpy on my photos and that I could use a smile here and there. Of course I replied that my intentions are not be the blogsville's clown and that I am a "serious" woman (psst - don't take this for granted). However I am not Grumpy today - am I?
Are you happy now mom?

Let it snow, let it snow...

Well, after spreading away across the world - not surprisingly at all, and as a matter of fact being a bit delayed on the way (due to reasons unfathomable) Its Highness - The Snow - has finally arrived. The look on the faces of my children when they woke up in the room bathing in light from the whiteness outside was priceless.

Since Daddy was in charge of the snow day, they all spent the morning outside in play while Mum was stuck at home with orders! Not a very happy end of the week! Hopefully the snow will decide to reside in our city for a while so that I can enjoy it myself. I managed to make several photos later in the afternoon, but was not satisfied with most of them so I present only this chunk of freshness and beauty.

Cupcake dress

This is the second dress of the dress trilogy. I named it a Cupcake dress inspired by the lovely bibbed front which thanks to its appearance and the combination of colours and fabric reminded me of a delicious cupcake.

The dress is made of the softest woolen fabric. For the bib I used a contrasting piece of fabric left over from
this cotton beauty framed with ruffles of the same woolen fabric and adorned with a rose as a detail. I left the ruffles free to fray.

To complete the image of a cupcake I made a detachable pleated belt.

When I finished the dress I realzied that all the dresses I made this fall/winter are short-sleeved. But in retrospect I can't imagine the Bronte with long sleeves, as well as I can't this one. To be honest I wanted to make 3/4 sleeves for this one but that idea got lost o

n the way.

I had enough of this fabric to make Eva a pair of trousers which are also completely sewn but have to be photographed yet, and I guess that'll be a topic for another post.

Update: After posting it on Burdastyle it hit the front page again! Yay!