This month stared with great expectations and lots of hope, the fact that the nation has turn a new page in its history; a turn, that not only will change what we think about ourselves as a nation, but also how the rest of the world would look at us.
As we all know, now we have a new president, the first african-american man sitting on the oval office. Needless to say, there were lots of celebrations, parties and get together. Take all the parties, some cold weather [the temperature went down to 33 here in Miami] and what do you get? A COLD!!
I don’t get sick with colds that often after I moved to Miami; I have not had one in 3 yrs. But boy, when I get them I get them!!! I was in bed, for a week, my back is killing me, I’m tier of drinking soup; I made pancakes on Monday night, [comfort food??] Finally, I’m coming out of it.

THANK GOD!!

While all this was happening I had two great gifts; first on the 20th of January [Inauguration Day] right on cue one of my orchids had bloom for the first time. I had forgotten what color it was, and to be honest I was worry it would never bloom. To my surprise, it was a beautiful Golden yellow.

The next great event was finding out I was nominated by Cindy and Christina
for a Kreativ Blogger award.

Thank you both for such an honor, and liking my blog.

PLANS FOR THE NEW YEAR

I hope every one had great Holiday season. I wish I had gone to NY this year and spend some time with my Family and Friends, but in the other hand I’m glad I was in Miami where it was warmer…
Thank you all for the comments on the Valentino Dress. I much appreciated.

Going forward, I had some things that I would like do work on, so here it is my year plan [lets see how much I get to do].

Since I had some time to kill, I thought on making some dresses using some design details I found on the net.

1. I saw this very nice weave make out of bias tubes [yes I’m still fascinated by them]
I love this detail as soon as I saw it, it is simple, just a lot of hand work, and you could see I like hand workmanship.

I want to make it into a wedding dress, having had so much silk duchess satin, I don’t see why not. I do need to make some new samples, why not doing something that I like.

2. There is another dress that I would like to work on, I would like to make in Black silk georgette and chiffon… I wanted for this dress to have an evening coat, but I realized I don’t have the black Duchess Satin that I was planning on. Then it took second place.

Also, it is about time I also make something for me. Have not made me a thing in years, it so easy not to, specially leaving in a semi-tropical weather, just jeans and a T, once in a while a Jacket and you are done. But I need to make me some things.

I started with these two Burda Patterns. I will post as I progress with them:

The shirt; this I will be making about 5 on different fabrics I had already put aside to make . I do love this cut.

The suit is nice also, it comes with a long jacket [Which I prefer, but I’m making the shorter first, the fabric would be best on a shorter jacket]

And thinking about Fun, I have to star working on my Halloween custom, as any one in the USA knows, Halloween is not just for kids anymore. There are the Parades, fests parties all over. I do get into the Halo’s eves spirit once in a while, and this year or better yet last year I wanted to dress as the ‘”Let them eat cake” Queen; Marie Antoinette.

Last year I did not had the time do make it, I was really busy and I thought the summer was going to be slow, but it was not!
So I better get star it with this, I want to make it as authentic as I can make it, and it is not an easy costume to make, lots of pieces to make, thank God I have most of the fabrics.

Lets see how much I get to do.... is all good.

Making a Valentino Finished

Well the dress is finished. I’m please the way it came out, although there are some things I would make different next time.

Oh, yeah!! As I was working on it I thought “this would make a beautiful wedding dress”. Of course it would be a more sophisticated dress; I already start it working on it, just have to make sure I have plenty of the silk 4 ply crape. Will see! Like I said in the past posts I’m not busy at this time, so is time to play lololol

Here are the pics of the dress I hope you enjoy!

Final note; like I said I’m please with the dress and plan to make it again, but, is it just me? …. I can't help the feeling after I finished a project that the “Love is gone”… does any one else feels the same?

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!

Making a Valentino "Final Details"

After the break, I decided to do the ruffle at the waist. Luckily I had some fabric left [remember I ‘m using some pieces from my stash] to cut some bias band to make it.
I cut some wide enough to make it double to have the ruffle have a soft feel to it. Using the ruffle foot, I gather some of it to the waist size, and then I sewed it to the bottom seam of the bodice, before joining the skirt.

Now, with both bodice and skirt joined, it was time to sew the zipper. Using a traditional zipper in beige [flesh tone] I sewed it using the prickstitch, changing the color of the thread as I was sewing the different fabrics; i.e. green for the charmeuse, beige for the organza.

In addition to the prickstitch, I slip stitch under each bias tube making sure not to catch then with the thread.

I totally forgot about the little bow I made, I think it would give a final touch to the zipper.

Blue Dress

I would like to take this time to give thanks all of you that have left some comments on the "Making a Valentino" project.

I also wish all a happy and safe Holidays. A New Year fill with much joy and prosperity.

I took a brake from the “VALENTINO” dress. Looking at the pics I notice a little ruffle on the seam that joins the Bodice and the skirt together, I was not sure about it. I look and look at the pic to have a clearer idea of what it really was, not sure, I decided to leave it aside and do something else.

Well, I thought, let me try a Burda World of Fashion pattern. I had a Cotton Twill that would be great for the dress feature on the April 2008 magazine.

Here is my version of the 101 dress.

I like this pattern a lot; it is my first time using the BWOF patterns, so far so good. The dress is size 34, (size 2 American size).
I still have to make the strings for the closure. The twill is too heavy for it; I will need to find a piece of fabric that would complement the blue twill to make them.

Making a Valentino "Almost Done"

With the top part of the bodice done, it was time to sew the yoke. I cut two yoke pieces out of organza; a top, where the bias tubes would be sewn, and a bottom piece which would be use as a lining.

Joining the bodice with the yoke took a little planning; I wanted the joining seam to have the same clean finish as the sleeves.

I sewed a piece of the bias tubes right side out, leaving the seam allowance free [I use the fold on the inside while it was being sewn, this way I could make sure the tube would measurement would be the accurate]. This seam allowance would be hidden with the bias tube itself when folded over.

The two yokes were then sandwiched between the bodice, lining and the bias strip from BACK ‘S DART to BACK ‘S DART. From CENTER BACK TO DART, I left lining as well as bottom yoke free. This two would be joining later; leaving this part free for lining the zipper [I have done this finish on wedding dresses when a crinoline is sewn to it].

Leaving the seam allowance showing at the right side of the garment trim some off, the bias trim is then folded up and tailors baste.

With bottom yoke piece hanging free, I was read to pin and baste the bias tubes in place.

With all the tubes basted, and hand sewn [slip stitch] to the bodice, I placed both the bodice and the skirt [the skirt was piece together previously] on the mannequin to take a look.

So far, I like the way is coming out.

Making a Valentino "Test"

With the design lines changed on muslin and transferred to the pattern … is time to “test” it. I used a left over silk charmeuse for this.

Sewing the pattern with a similar fabric, helps testing the fit as well as any construction techniques.

Taking a closer look at the pic, it is apparent that the body of the sleeves was made on silk organza, [look at the closer pic of the dress], the bust dart was change to make 3 smaller darts

I cut and sew the sleeves body, use bias strips to clean finish both the top and bottom of sleeves. The other bias strips were basted in place.

The bodice was cut in green charmeuse, sleeves and bodice were pin, put on the mannequin to see and make any corrections if need it.

The white organza is not the right one for this. I need something in a flesh tone. I dipped a piece in tea to see if that would work [an old trick use to dye lace and silks]. The tea was too light; I dipped another piece in coffee. I was please with the color, so I went ahead and dye the fabric.

Here is a pic of the bodice on the mannequin. The sleeves and lining are sewn. I baste the lining a fashion fabric together.

Now it is ready to be sewn to the lower part of the bodice