Continuing on the Path...

I decided yesterday to re-start my dress project.

After promising a stop at Chipotle and to drive, Jeff agreed to make the trip to the material store with me. Since I ran out of material on my first attempt, I had to make sure I purchased enough this time. After opting for a light green and white design, which also happened to be on sell, we headed off for some quality time over Chipotle burritos.

In order to visualize the dress in my mind, I had spread everything all over the kitchen table. I decided immediately to change the pattern for my dress. I didn't think the new material would look as great as a pocket-ed summer dress as that bright yellow material did. I knew I had drawers full of vintage patterns, I figured I would find another that would fit me much better the the one I had previously selected. I did, almost immediately upon opening my drawer.

I loved it. I needed it. It was thee one.

Alas, it was not. Hence the penciled wording on the outside of the package, it did not contain the dress pattern, only the jacket pattern. The lack-there-of, of the perfect pattern was not the clincher. My shoes were.

A few weeks ago, before starting the original dress, I made a trip to the department store for one specific purpose: fire engine red lipstick. I had decided that red lipstick would be my (to quote Jeff) toe-hold on the horizon of my new life. It would be my inspiration. With my red lipstick in hand, while leaving the department store, these shoes called out to me. They were colorful, vintage, and on sell. Plus, they matched the yellow material perfectly.

With fire engine red lipstick and new shoes, I knew life was going to start going my way.

Until this whole dress-making crap.

It was starting to lose its initial spark. I lost all interest in it at that point. Did I need to make a dress, when I could go out or hell, order online, have it dropped off at my house, put it on and leave. No measuring, hemming, adjusting, making sure the pattern was on the grain when I cut it out, nothing. I could be sitting, quite contently and finish reading my book.

Instead of giving up like I normally would have, I decided to press on. Despite the original set-backs, the dress is almost completely finished as we speak. There is only one thing, the original pattern called for neckline and armhole facing, which doesn't fit. After another trip to the material store for even more material, the dress should be complete for Saturday.

On the Road to Domestic Rapture...

Every time I select my font Georgia, I have to sing it silently to myself, 'Georgiaaa.'


Every girl gets one shot at a bridal shower. Think about it, you only get one. Even if you remarry eighty times, you still only have the one, the first one. Baby showers aren't even that final; if you have three boys then a girl, I bet some family member or friend throws you a 'change of sex' baby shower. Bridal showers, however are where friends, family, girls in the wedding party, sisters and mothers throw the bride a party to 'shower' them with all the goodies that make for domestic bliss. Yes, let me tell you, a Kitchen Aid in green apple does make for domestic bliss.

On this note, let's look back on December 5th, 2008. The Lord and Lady were not engaged. An awkward moment was not exchanged between them; the one where Lord Derringer is on one knee, gazing hopefully into the Lady's eyes. Where the Lady, then overcome with surprise and emotion, begins to sob deeply and help the Lord off the ground.
Well, maybe that's not so awkward after all.
Anyways, a ring was purchased and they had plans to marry, eventually. Ofcourse, plans were made, ideas tossed around, and they ended up at the court house with rings in tow. Needless to say, the one shot I had at a shower was gone.

Well, was gone. My opportunity to experience domestic bliss through toasters, silverware, plates and Pyrex containers is only two weeks away.

I guess the other little thing I haven't mentioned is, I want my homestead to be like my mother's, grandmother's, great-grandmother's: where the wife cooks, cleans, quilts her quilts, embroiders her dish towels, makes her curtains. Oddly enough, the first thing I'm making myself isn't an apron or quilt, but my dress for the shower. I have boxes of vintage patterns and yards of extra material. I've opted for a dress pattern from the '50s and yellow eyelet.


Much to my surprise, I found I must of already attempted this pattern in the past because the whole skirt was cut out.


After the series of steps required in dress-making: cutting, basting, arm holes and hems; I faced another surprise at the end.


In my previous attempt at the pattern, I had only cut out one front side panel and one back side panel of the skirt. The skirt requires two of each. The worst part, I hadn't purchased enough material either. Look like the dress is going to be a little different then I had originally intended.