New Project: Watercolor Blues Dress

Project Title: Watercolor Blues Dress
Short Project Description: White and Blue JSK with matching boucle bolero.
Projected Deadline: March 31st
Pattern(s) Used: For the JSK, the bodice pattern from Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing "Sultry Sheath", rectangle skirt. For the bolero, Simplicity 1780
Materials Needed: JSK: White with blue undertone fabric with a beautiful drape, dark blue satin for bow + cartridge ruffle trim + under trim, underlining fabric, white satin for cartridge trim. Bolero: light blue + white boucle. Sew in or iron-on pearls, standard notions.
Challenges/Obstacles: This one will most certainly be an uphill battle! Not to say that's a bad thing--- just that I'm absolutely certain that this dress is going to be a big one. I don't expect to find the right shades of fabric right away and will probably have to just worry about one piece at a time. I think the white dress fabric will probably be the most difficult to source. I'm looking for something with a solid, but beautiful drape with cool undertones... which are hard to look at in a fabric store if it doesn't have good lighting. The colors I'm looking for are more viewable in my Pinterest board dedicated to brainstorming on the dress~ you can check that out here.

I may end up settling for something white with a silver-ish brocade finish. The ruffles aren't hard, just time consuming, even with a ruffling foot. Also, lots of hand sewing in my future with a design incorporating pearl beading. The bolero is more of an after thought, I think... It would be a great addition to just my normal ward robe so I haven't decided the length of it yet. Plus I've never worked with something as un-ravelry as boucle, so it'll be interesting. That will need it's own lining and learning new finishing techniques as well.

I actually have quite a few things on my plate right now, so this is one of those projects I just want to work on with no pressure. I really would like to make myself at least two new pencil skirts (like my Speckled Skirt) for work and general use--- while working on this dress set. I also have some things I'm whipping up for the Etsy shop. The March 31st deadline is a good one because that gives me plenty of time to hand sew everything in and actually feel like I've redeemed myself from my Falling into Autumn disaster! I know quite a few people really liked that one, but I know I can do better and I've learned so many new techniques that will make the issues I had seem like a thing of the past...!

New Project: That Speckled Skirt

I'm very excited to start working on this skirt! I'm very aware that the skirt is going to be "straight forward"-- in some techniques. But certainly not all, I will say.

New techniques I'm trying:

• Underlining
• Lapped zipper
• Slip stitch
• Sewing with seam binding

It took a little digging around at a local fabric warehouse, but I found my fabrics! The teal is my underlining and the fabric on the bottom seems to be a wool-blend that is actually black with white speckles. It's classic without looking too "suit-y". I also ordered some neutral, warm colored seam binding from Etsy-- and wow, what a great set of colors are available for this stuff! I'll probably use the lightest color for this particular project.

This skirt requires a single button to tie up the back of the waist band and I'm actually really torn as to which I'm going to use! I know that sounds lame, but after lamenting not having enough buttons a few months back, now I have quite a collection!

5$ button grab bags at Britex Fabrics? Oh yes. I've gone in twice now in the last few months and bought two bags each time... and I'll just say it took me at least two hours to sort them all and get them properly stored by color! 

The button in the foreground, the off-white one with the 4 black hairline lines? That's the one I'm thinking for this project-- it'll match my seam binding! But who knows? Maybe I'll swing by Britex again before I finish the skirt and come home with more buttons to decide between.

But first up, toile (which I'd like to start using instead of muslin- so much more classy!). I've traced my pattern all ready but we'll see how the first version comes out. I all ready have a feeling I may need to move a dart or two around...

Watercolor Blues and Lush Textures

So now that my Falling into Autumn Dress is finally done, I'm starting to think about the sort of aesthetic I want to tackle in regards to a solid Christmas/Winter dress. I think I also really have to get better about stockpiling accessories and the things that make a lolita dress "complete". I've always somehow managed to be a seamstress that just focuses on the garment, accessories be damned!

Anyway, I've started a board on Pinterest for the dress so please feel free to follow it!

When I told an acquaintance that I wanted to do a blue/white color scheme the response I got was "That's very Jewish."-- and I get it- the colors are very Hanukkah. But that's not the blue I want to go with! I'm thinking something more like dark, deep blue, and like water color blue. If I could hand dye the fabric and make it look like sea salt and blue water color, it'd make me happy. Granted, I doubt I'll be able to do that for such a project and have it turn out well, the mental image is perfect.

There's really no snow in San Francisco... but I think cold, deep winter is the image I am striving for. And texture. Lots of texture. Gauze? Tea dyed eyelet lace? I don't want to go as so far as making it look too "period" or steampunk. But crisp white would be too "perfect". I want weathered and cold-- yet beautiful and delicate. This would also make the makeup fun to apply: a purple and blue toned ruby lip, like blood in snow. Silver grey eyes and a cold-kissed cheek with a pale touch.

Either way, I think I've decided on using Moi-meme-Moitie's general design from the Iron Gate OP. I'm not sure if I want full sleeves, but at the very least half sleeves. The more I think of it, the more the prospect of an off white, chiffon sleeved dress, with grey blue trim and ribbons sounds amazing. Blue lace tights and satin dark blue shoes and accessories.

Exciting!

Fall Outfit Planning

So since I'm planning on having all my outfits handmade/vintage/second hand, I figure it'd be fun to list out what sorts of things I'd like to do for the fall, including the patterns I would like to use and buy and blahblah. Though to be honest, the most annoying part of the entire thing is finding the correct patterned fabric... Hmph. I really just have to find cool places to source from.

Fall 2012 - Lemon Tree by aquavert featuring slip on shoes

How fun is that lemon print? I found a place in Berkeley earlier this year that has amazing fruit prints and I'm 99% sure they have something similar to this fun lemon-y print! With some cute flats, cross-body little bag, cardigan and scarf? Perfect for a day off. The pattern I found (McCall's M6557) is probably the closest that I could find that's still in print... with a modified pencil skirt piece, I think it'd be pretty simple. The trick might be after I my FBA, being able to add the keyhole zipper top... Not necessary, but I think it'd be adorable. Also, it fits in with one of my favorite colors from Fall 2012 Pantone color: Honey Gold.

Fall 2012: Blues and Greens by aquavert featuring high heels

I've never made anything with a collar so this one would be interesting, I think. Still though, for something a little more dressy, this one would be fun. Semi-dressy. And definitely not in khaki: I want Olympian Blue or Aquamarine Green. I think contrasting tights, shoulder bag, trench coat, little boots? It reminds me of rain, but in a happy way.

Fall 2012: Cool Weather and Cute by aquavert featuring oxford shoes

Not exactly the same, but I think a simple sash belt and matching peter pan collar is a piece of cake. I'm not sure I would add the contrast color to the button area, but more than likely would. The breast pocket flaps- no. I don't need more attention called to that area! As for the colors, Rose Smoke and French Roast! I think a beautiful fabric with a delicate design in those colors would be simple for me to match in my closet. Matching accessories like a (handmade!!) chunky cable sweater, fedora or felt hat, black tights and flats.

As of right now I have the sewing pattern from the last set-- so I'm really excited about that. Considering I have a lot of sewing projects going on, I won't be making that soon... but probably starting in September I'll start picking away at these ideas.

Ya, I'm Stressing.

Stress is no joke, and lately I've been under a lot of it. While I was in the shower this morning, trying to decompress, I figured this topic definitely needed covering because honestly, it's overwhelming. Not in a depressing way, necessarily, but in a way that asks: "what do I do?!"

My dad has ulcers so I know that for me personally, I have to watch out before something like that happens to me. But sometimes, my mind gets the better of me and I can think of nothing but that stressful thing that replays over and over in my mind. "Downward Spiral"! It's of course nothing like some drug induced melodrama, but for someone like me, it's serious enough for me to ask if I should have a systematic way to handle it; a routine.

Common activities people suggest:

• Yoga.
• Drinking soothing tea.
• Sleeping more.
• Meditation.
• Just Stop Stressing.

The last option always feels like a slap in the face for me. "Just Stop", my boyfriend says. But for someone as stressed out as I am, it's kind of like saying to someone depressed, "Get Over It". It doesn't help, doesn't make me feel better, doesn't make the stress and worry any less terrible. If anything, I feel it accelerates it. 

When I was younger I used to have panic attacks pretty regularly. I particularly remember one incident where my mom found me curled up against the wall of my room, breathing heavily, having a straight anxiety attack. I've mellowed out a lot since then (I think I was maybe 14 or 15 at the time)-- but the stress is still very real for me today. I've never gotten it checked out because I've only ever viewed it as directly correlated to my circumstances, not implicitly inherent to my physiology. 

Still though, the more time passes, the more I think I should probably be trying each of the things written in the above list. Stress is keeping me up at night, waking me during the night, waking me early. It's like I can feel my stomach in nothing but knots, all the time. So, no more mentality of yoga for weight loss-- I need yoga to de-stress. And less stressful situations in my life, as well.  

Reintroduction to Lolita + LOL LJ.

For those of you lurking, and following my posts for years, I'm coming forward and saying: I'm bringing it back! ...my LiveJournal I mean! And not because I want to become a regular blogger there again. Far from it, actually. I just would like to comment on communities now and again for shits and giggles (and to be honest, to drive traffic here as a by-product!)

What does this actually encompass? And why would I do such a thing?

Well, the first encompasses going back through 10 YEARS (holy crap!) of entries and marking them all as Friends Only. I never had an issue with people reading what I used to post, but in all honesty, I just want people to pay attention here, rather than there, which is why I'm closing off those old entries. I still want to keep everything at the old journal, though, for nostalgia, justice, and the LOLs. I still have a lot of housekeeping to do on that old account so no posts until I do. I know in reality it doesn't particularly matter what that old journal looks like, but to me, it makes all the difference.

I even went out of my way to give this blog a header image and a decent background so when its linked, it looks like someone LIVES here!

So again, why would I do such a thing?

I'm getting back into (classic) lolita.

:X

(I don't often use emoticons on this blog, but I felt this warranted it)

At the encouragement by several people I know both here in San Francisco as well as old friends back in San Diego, I'm doing it. That old 10 year love kind of came over me again with the quickness and I'm ok with it. I can kind of look at it with different eyes than when I did when I was younger and appreciate different aspects of it. Plus a huge sewing-kick is giving me a big head and convincing me that I can TOTALLY make some of those dresses with enough determination and patience. 

Anyway, LiveJournal comes into play with how I'd like to comment in communities every once in a while and I would like to do it without ads... Yup. Also, 15$ to rename an account? Honestly?

520 entries in and I've barely hit the 5-Year Anniversary post for my account. I had that thing since like 2003. Eep.

You know that you missed me.

One month later, the school semester is over and I'm home free....! Here are some images from one of my final projects for Knitwear which I've been meaning to post. Yes, I was inspired by food and I don't mind it one bit!

Knitwear was decent except for the time factor (never enough, not enough workshops, unclear guidelines...) and I absolutely loved History of Fashion. Looking forward to my classes in the fall!  

In that positive vein, I do feel better about where I am and what's going on in my world right now. I feel great about myself and some of the opportunities that are presenting themselves. With that said, it's officially summer time and I'm surprisingly excited about it... except the weather being shitty up here in The City. Who'd have known I'd have ever missed So-Cal's normal 70*? My legs do, anyway, and I'm very intent to make sure they don't look sickly and pale if I can avoid it! A cute pedicure and some new sandals have helped. Also, summer colors like the new nail polishes I've been interested in have kept things fun, in their own small ways.

OPI- Mermaid's Tears and Essie- Braziliant

To shake up my routine, I'm taking a tip from @NormalOriginal and have started to use the Pomodoro Technique to try and be more productive towards my daily goals. I'm so excited about it! So far it has only been implemented on domestic tasks (cleaning my room, doing the laundry, etc.); I'm looking forward to putting it to use with my hobbies and artistic aspirations. The technique outline says specifically not to use it for that... but I'm a Virgo who craves structure and actually LOVE how its set up so I don't mind one bit. Dedicated blocks of time to get things done? Makes my inner workaholic jump in excitement!

But all in all, this summer is starting to come together very nicely. The most exciting piece of good news is being hired by Apple and starting soon! Miserable days at my current job are nearly done-- I'm sticking it out until the end of the summer. A Vegas trip (hopefully!) on my 25th birthday is holding me there; I need a fun birthday to keep the positive vibes going.


Also, a dedicated blogging schedule will also help me rock the shit out of these next few months. Can't wait!