i mentioned last fall i helped a friend style a photoshoot for his magazine. the link to his photo site is on the list on the left panel. here are some enlarged preview pics for your perusal. make sure you pick up a copy of ariztos mag to check out the full spread (and other insightful articles!)

hi. i'm back =) just had a nice weekend and i'm here to give some updates.

no, i've not yet completed dh's jeans. it's not complicated, i just got sidetracked =) i mentioned i had paper stuff to do. i'll write more on it towards the end of this post. anyways, i told my mom to bring some native fabric for me whenever she comes to visit and last time she came she brought a whole bunch of them.




i really liked 3 out of 5 of them. you can always find uses for fabric. anyhoo, i really wanted to make something for myself since the last one did pan out so well and i wanted to give my upcoming side business some pr. my fave ankara was the black and red one. so i picked that and waded thru my pattern stash (yes, i do have one now =) and settled on mccall's 5094.


so, i didn't like any particular one of the views so i had to mix and match. loved the wide straps cause i don't do spaghetti straps. loved the sweetheart neckline and the triangle opening in the back. added the ties (my idea, the pattern's is sew on) at the back so i can enter into the garment with ease and moved the zipper from the back to the side. finally, i made the gown floor length and the skirt much narrower with little flare. i must say, i am very, very proud of the final result.


here's me wearing it in full force =) with dh and me. didn't get a sharp full length pic but this one with my sis will have to suffice. then i like the one picture of me doing the face powder dance. hehehheee.



my friend now wants me to make a whole bunch of stuff for her. here's to getting my first client =) i'm going home in august and the ladies in my sewing group want some fabric and headties. so i'll be doing a little intercontinental trading or just some intercontinental errand running! lol.

so, the event was the wedding of a couple who are friends of ours and also a client! yes, i was hired to make the place cards, church programs, menu and reception programs. i got great feedback and people apparently loved it so i may just be getting more business coming my way. yay!

a couple months ago, i found a cool print in the sale section at joann. cidell used it as a muslin for her cropped pants. i wasn't sure whether or not to get it. and when i decided to go back for it, it was gone. so it was there and then i decided, if i see some fabric i like in the clearance aisle, buy it! it's clearance for a reason. it would have made a nice shift dress like they have in h&m stores this summer.

fabric:
green paisley on white cotton twill

the dress is completed. it was a fairly easy project but the armhole piping was very tricky and the instructions weren't so helpful. each time i sew, i figure more and more that we sewists are a very smart and patient bunch because there are some things that are just beyond regular human comprehension. but the plus side is if you do something once, it'll stick with you. so, here's to that. this is what the completed dress looks like. if only i can get my sis to try it on! the joys of sewing for your siblings....


fabrics:
embroidered red cotton twill

when i originally wrote up this post, i was completing my second project. another red dress. but a bit more complicated. invisible zippers and princess-style darts. i should do a better job of documenting as i sew. but i like pictures of finished items and i'm not yet at the point of giving tutorials so i think this would do for now. i'll put this up a review of the construction on patternreview.com and here also.... whenever i get to it. i got a whole bunch of fabric at joanns from the sale section. i plan to browse that area once a week to look for fabrics i like for cheap! the last one, brown and black print, i got from my sisters wardrobe. "ankara" is what we call it and it was a remnant from some outfit she had sewn 2yrs ago when we traveled home.

my lack of proper fabric description made me learn to photograph the info on the bolt so i always have that with me as a reference. my camera is always in my bag so it works out just fine =) here are my finds:

fabrics:

embroidered brown moleskin	stretchy, patterned and textured cream fabric
black knit with floral print	black woven fabric with red, pink and cream flowers
brown and cream paisley suede	black and brown ethnic print cotton (ankara)