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Archive for the ‘dresses’ Category

2013 Strapless Dress Revolution … aka. $35 strapless dresses …

Posted in dresses, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 3, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Despite the crazy cold weather we’re having, I’m feeling pretty confident that summer is just around the corner.  I would love for my afternoons to be filled with linen ruffles, pique fabric with strawberries, and all kinds of new dress patterns.  I’m pretty sure  that my afternoons will more likely consist of water bottles and kid conflict resolution.

In light of that – I should probably cram as much sewing in this month as I can, right???!!!

$35 Strapless Dress Revolution…hollah!

Here’s how it’s gonna work:

All dresses will be this style. Some will have a matching sash if no coordinating fabric is available.

All dresses will be this style. Some will have a matching sash if no coordinating fabric is available.

Here are the rules:

1. Purchase HERE via the listing in my Etsy Parsimony Shop.

2. all dresses will be the style you see here.  Dress and matching sash.  You may request a coordinating sash…if possible I will accommodate, but not necessarily.

3. I pick the fabric.  You may give me some guidance (i love cool colors, no black please, etc, but I get to choose.  Don’t worry – I don’t like ugly fabric!)

4. yes, I’ll make it your size.

5. all dresses will be approximately 30″ from underarm to hemline.  This fits pretty much every size/height.  If you need it shorter, let me know.  I cannot, at this price make it longer.  But I still love you.  =)

If you’d like something more custom, please feel free to purchase one of the regular listings in my shop – I’d be happy to create something very unique just for you.  However, if you’d like a darling, versatile, breezy strapless dress for summer – I think I’ve got just what you need!!!

Offer good from May 2, 2013 – May 12, 2013.

PS: I reserve the right to end the sale sooner if my load gets too full.

LYLAS y’all!

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Dress Revolution (aka. CHEAP DRESSES!) Round #3

Posted in dresses, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on August 14, 2012 | 5 Comments »

Hi friends!!!  Even though I have been saying this for EVERY post the last 6 months, it makes me feel better to say it again …

Gosh, it’s good to be back!

Right now, I’m escaping the heat of Austin AND the tight quarters of our temporary housing by vacationing in the AMAZING Beaver Creek, Colorado!!!!!  It’s okay to drool over this y’all.

I”m going a little crazy not being at all creative…except that one could argue the creativity of creation can speak for itself, right!?!  Still, with an urge to create after having my shop on vacation all summer – I thought it might be time for another round of Dress Revolution!  Holler if you hear me.

Three Options this time around!!!  You’ll want to read all of them, I’m pretty sure…

Option #1

$5 Lined Zipper Pouch – perfect for makeup, traveling, school supplies, etc.

These are so fun – I love making them, I love receiving them!  For your $5, I’ll pick out your fabrics but you can give me some ideas … like “for a boy”, or “no green please”, or “I love pink.”  You get the picture.

Click HERE to order.

Option #2

$30 Strapless Tunics (just a little shorter than a dress…perfect with jeans, leggins, or as a mini dress for those of you will killer gams!)

This photo shows how cute these are with button-ups underneath which make them very versatile for cooler weather….. I hear there are parts of the world that experience this. I wore my christmas plaid version this way, and I got RAVE reviews. Just sayin’.

For this round – if you’d like a print, I do the picking but you can offer guidelines as mentioned above.  ALSO – A Facebook friends suggested doing these in  your favorite sports team colors….GENIUS!  I’m up for this!  If you choose to go this route, you can pick two colors if you want – a main color, and a color for a contrasting band along the bottom and for the sash.

Click HERE to purchase.

Option #3

$49 Team Spirit Dresses!

Super cute in solids OR prints!

For these dresses, you can pick your color!  If you’d like a print, I get to pick but again, you can give me some guidelines.

Click HERE to purchase.

**********

Why oh Why do I get to pick the prints???

Well, it’s just SOOOOO stinking hard to coordinate what prints are available because there are a million options.  Then, I have to keep up with what’s sold out, what’s been discontinued.  Trust me, it’s a nightmare!  I will definitely consider your guidelines and do my absolute best to send you a pouch and/or dress that you LOVE!  How’s that!
Okay y’all … I hope you can find something you like because I’m going to be pretty bored once I get home…Keep me busy please!!!

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Vogue Pattern 8684: a Drop-Waist pattern that you should make!

Posted in DIY, dresses, Giveaway, patterns, tagged , , , , , , , on May 15, 2012 | 2 Comments »

On mother’s day, I had a sick child and a sick husband.  So I spend the morning cleaning the house, doing laundry, and cooking.  Dreamy, right!?!  WRONG!

It was also our 12th wedding anniversary, so Jonathan was working as hard as he could to get better by the evening.  We had a date planned, and he really hates missing out on babysitting.  Lucky me!

Soooo, while he napped in the afternoon, I have no shame in announcing that I put my children in front of the television so that I could enjoy some ME time.  Yes, this is also known as “sewing time” around the rest of the world.  Don’t worry, I’m sure the television program was completely educational and changed their life in a millions ways for the better.

I knew I only had about an hour or two, so I hurriedly shuffled through my pattern stash to see what I could come up with in time for our date.  I wanted a dress pattern, of course.  It had to be casual, fast and festive.  Also, in honor of my 95 year old Memaw passing away this week, I wanted to use a fun vintage-inspired floral print for the fabric.

I chose Very Easy Vogue 8684. I have been dreaming of that awesome drop-waist silhouette since I first saw it on the runways a few months ago.

As luck would have it, this was the only day ever in the history of me having children that they did NOT want to watch television!!!  Curses.  Why can’t I have one great day of bad mothering???  Anyhoo, I somehow managed to whip out the dress, and this was with a 6 year old standing on my fabric asking me questions every two minutes, and with a 5 year old pulling out all my fabric from my fabric armoire.  Happy Mother’s Day to me – I really WILL miss these days, right!?

I bought the pattern for the modernized drop-waist … but I love how just by using a vintagey floral, the dress transformed into a very vintage vogue!

I really love these easy breezy sleeves – can you see the slight gathering there? I also LOVE that the pattern calls for bias binding along the neckline instead of a neck facing. I loathe facings so I almost always make that substitution myself, so it’s nice to see it actually called-for in the instructions. I chose to use a bright binding so it will stand out. (PS: my husband commented on how much he liked the bias binding – SCORE! )

Here you can see the drop-waist … have I mentioned that about this pattern yet?! You can also see how simple the sleeve hem is – I just serged and sewed up a very narrow hem.

And here it is on a living, breathing person. Super simple and easy to wear. I wore it that night with some oxford shoes (Fitting for our anniversary because that’s my Maiden name!). I am wearing it again today with some two-toned shoes that are brown linen with blue toes. I also wore it part of the day with wellies. SOOOO fun!

So, now for the little “review” part of the post – How do I feel about this pattern?

I really LOVE it.  It’s super easy and fast.  It only takes just a little bit over 2 yards of fabric.  The look of the dress can easily be transformed by whichever fabric/print you choose.  In fact, I’m looking forward to making this again in a solid so that I can have a more modern representation.

NOTE: the dress has a 22″ zipper in the back.  Don’t let this scare you – you can do it!!  I would really recommend this pattern for someone who wants to up their skills with zippers because the rest of the construction is so easy.  You can really focus your attention on the zipper and not get worried about the rest of the dress.  GO FOR IT!

Here’s the lowdown:

TIME: This took me somewhere between 1 and 2 hours.  Since I had those lovely distractions, I can’t really say the true time frame.  I know I started at 3pm and was finished/wearing it by 5pm.  For those of you who are newer to sewing, I think you can really  make this dress in under 3 hours, including cutting out the pattern.  Let me know if you try it!

COST: This dress cost me…. $5.50!  I found the fabric for $1.50/yd at Walmart, and I needed about 2.5 yards.  Then I needed a zipper.  That’s it.  I had the thread on hand.  Oh, I suppose I should add $3.99 for the pattern that I got onsale at Joann’s.

This is me saying to you – MAKE THIS DRESS AND SEND ME A PHOTO!!! please, ma’ams.

Okay y’all – continuing my desire to be more generous in 2012 …. I will send everyone who sends me a photo of your own version of this pattern a set of embellished bobby pins!  (tutorial coming tomorrow!)

…(sorry, I have to have a cutoff date, so free bobby pin offer expires in one month – June 15th.  Send me your address along with your photo … I’ll compile the photos and do a blog post, how fun, right!?! )

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One More One Shoulder …

Posted in dresses, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on April 19, 2012 | 3 Comments »

Well, I suppose it’s better late than never.  Although, I’m not sure I’ve ever experiences the opposite, so I can’t say from a well-rounded position.

Anyway, I digress.

I was asked a while back to create a one-shoulder dress that would be fun for a bridesmaid’s dress.  Well, that’s pretty much ANY one-should dress in my book … but alas, I decided to create one from seersucker.  Why?  Because I love it…and, to be more specific, I had enough in my stash to make it.  =)

I decided to mimic my Seersucker Sailor dress except add a sleeve so that bridesmaids wouldn't have to keep pulling up their dresses during the ceremony, and it's a maxi dress. My camera's battery died right after taking this photo, so right now this is the best I got. Gee - I wonder why I've never auditioned for Top Model!?! (this is a joke people. don't send me a list of reasons!)

I like it okay.  It’s still growing on me.  I don’t love the kimono feel to it, but I don’t hate that either.  I think I need to play around with belt options … and maybe make it slightly fuller.  What do you think???  Ideas???  I’m also thinking of making another version as a drop-waist dress with a full skirt … one of these days!

I’m pretty sure I’m too late to create these for my friend’s wedding – but I’m delighted to have been given the challenge!

Happy one-shouler-dress-wearing-days-ahead for you all!!!!

 

 

 

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Killer Dress … apparently!

Posted in dresses, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on April 16, 2012 | 8 Comments »

Well, up until today, I had not decided whether or not I was going to offer this dress to the proverbial “Public”.  I absolutely LOVE  it … but I haven’t gotten fully confident I can create it adequately for people all over the world whom I’ll never size in person.

recognize that Amy Butler Soul Blossoms fabric??? I have finally gone through all 15 yards I purchased!

Well, today I have made the leap and said YES to that inner voice saying, “Make this for other people, you freak!”

Why????

Because I was standing in the parking lot at a grocery store (YES – texting!) when I heard a stranger’s voice yell:

THAT’S A KILLER DRESS!!!

To which I gratefully replied, “Thank You!”

and he said:

NO, THANK YOU!!!

Well, I may pay to be blonde, but I don’t pay to be stupid!  I can tell when there’s a good thing going on!!!  Earlier this morning my husband sent me off for a manicure and pedicure … and the technician couldn’t stop talking about my dress.  She didn’t call it “killer” but she did say it was “fabulous” … in come cultures those words are interchangeable!

Soooooo, here is a sneak peak at the first One-Shoulder dress being made available in my Etsy shop.  Hereafter referred to as the Killer Dress!

Here is the dress shown with a funky chunky feaux turquoise necklace from my pal over at Polished on Etsy. It's a very slimming a-line silhouette. Very fun and versatile to wear! I started with a Burda pattern, made a few tweaks, and the rest is "killer" history.

And here's the back - equally simple which keeps it so easy to wear! You'll notice the zipper on the right hand side - keeps it formfitting without the need for elastic.

In case you didn't notice, it's a one-shoulder dress! (I've made a million of these, but this is by far the simplest and most universally flattering that I've made so far. If you don't like your arms showing - you can add a cute cardigan and just show off the asymmetrical line of the bodice across your chest/neckline.)

Here is how I wore it today - funky necklace, fun belt, wedge sandals. I did not, however, walk around with my arms like that. Or my lips. (I also wore it this way last Tuesday and Wednesday ... maybe this is quickly becoming my 2012 wardrobe!)

So000, if you dig this dress and would like to order one – feel free to thank the random Randall’s parking lot guy!

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SOHO & Color Blocked dresses & … GIVEAWAY!!!

Posted in dresses, Giveaway, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on April 10, 2012 | 9 Comments »

Greetings friends and sewing fans!!!

As I was finally rounding out the race known to me as my first Dress Revolution, my husband and whisked ourselves off to New York City for six days…without kids…SIX DAYS!!!  (read: six gloriously wonderful exciting fun-filled days to do whatever we want with absolutely no chocolate milk anywhere to be found!)

So, of course, I visited Bryant Park. A girl can dream, right!?!

MOOD FABRICS!!!! The dream continued!

One of those six days consisted of a whole day for me BY. MY. SELF. in the the city.  It was wonderful!  I love a great party and I love people…but I have this weird reclusive tendency in me that likes to hide away and be completely anonymous.  This happened wonderfully in my day away as I was able to spend THREE HOURS in Mood Fabrics.  It was dreamy (except for the high prices, cough cough).  Can you imagine if I had taken Jonathan there for three hours?  We’d certainly have ended up in the emergency room trying to diagnose a never-before-seen fabric rash that creeped up all over his body.  Anyway, where was I?  oh yes…

Lots of y'all out there are addicted to chevron patterns, and I totally get it. I, however, am addicted to houndstooth ... and this place had the most wonderful stash ... look at the scale on those teeth...DREAMY!!! At $30 a yard, I decided to just appreciate the fabric as I would the Mona Lisa.

Here's a very friendly sales associate cutting my first bolt ... this is just the softest cotton in the world, I love it!

Yes it was expensive ... but even for this annoyingly frugal girl, It was worth it! I got a free tote bag after all. Thanks Mood! (please tell me you read this using your best Tim Gunn voice!)

Well, let’s move along.  While enjoying my day away, I also strolled around SOHO.  They have some the cutest and most fabulous boutiques you can imagine.  I didn’t get a photo, but in one of the windows was this most darling dress.  Very simple.  Navy blue mostly with an emerald green skirt front.  In other words, a simple navy and green color blocked dress.  Their cost: $800.

My cost ... are you ready for this ... $7.50! (confession: found the fabric on ridiculous sale!) Oh, and someone please pressure me into using my "real" camera, this is getting stupid!

Well, that’s it.  That’s a quick synopsis of my time in NYC – atleast the fabric portion.  I’m sure I’ll be showing you projects made with the fabric I purchased.  For now… since you read all the way down …. Let’s do a Giveway!

WHERE WAS I IN THE FIRST PHOTO?

First one to comment with the correct answer wins a ZIPPER POUCH!

I thought you might like to see a photo of my hubs ... he's so hot! Here we are at a coffee shop on the upper west side. I think it was called Cafe LaLa. SO YUMMY!

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Hooray for Houndstooth! …. and easy patterns!

Posted in DIY, dresses, kids, patterns, Scraps, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on March 23, 2012 | 5 Comments »

I’m really getting worried about myself.  I use Exclamation Points like they’re evaporating!  I really really do!!!

Anyway – I digress.  Enough about me.  Let’s talk houndstooth.

I seriously have an addiction.

In my fabric stash, I have about 20 yards of various shades and weights – green and ivory for a dress for Rosamund, pink and ivory for Ellie, navy and green, gray and white, brown and white, and of course black and white.  Most recently, I added mock canopies to Owen’s and Ellie’s bed using extra large black and white. I’m even getting texts of houndstooth fabric photos from my friends when they’re out at fabric stores!

Sooo, the other night when I was just oh-s0-tired of sewing for THE OTHERS, I reached for none other than houndstooth to create a dress for my Rosamund (now 11 months already!!!) (uh, more exclamation points!).  She is outgrowing everything everyday, and I needed to make her something to wear the next day!

Here is what I came up with. I just LOVE this combination of fabrics!

I used this VERY EASY pattern. It’s McCall’s 6015. If you have this pattern, for Rosamund’s dress I used bodice E and skirt C. The pattern calls for a zipper, FYI.

I think I could have my entire wardrobe out of soley these colors!

I'm not happy with the zipper completion - I was lazy and sewed it up in a u-turn direction (rather than sewing down one side and then going all the way back to the top and sewing down the other side). Hence, the two sides do not align at the top. boo hiss.

In the end, despite the zipper dilemma, I love it!!! (I wanted to give the dress a tiny bit of flare, so I made a ruffle and sewed it from shoulder to shoulder to give the effect of a necklace.)

The result: PERFECTION! (I feel like this photo could be labeled, "If you give a baby a strawberry...")

Again, this is an easy breezy pattern.  It’s just about fool proof, so please make one for some lucky baby!

Here are the details:

Time: I am guessing anywhere from 45 minutes/1hour to 2 hours – it all depends upon how comfortable you are with a zipper.

Cost: about $5.  $1 for the pattern, $2 for the zipper, and I got the fabric 50% off of $4.99 a yard.  I used about 3/4 yard total.  (but of course, in reality, I used scraps!)

There you go…a project idea.  I’d LOVE to see what you’re making!

Oh…and I thought you might like to see the canopies…there they are:

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Paint Your Town Parsimony! Creating a $35 Dress Revolution…

Posted in dresses, Uncategorized, tagged , , on February 13, 2012 | 13 Comments »

What does  a dressmaker do when she’s desiring to move to new home and needs a little nudge in the down payment department?

Think. Think. Think.

Hmmm.  Hmmmm.

SHE MAKES DRESSES!!!

And she sells them for $35!

And she calls for a Dress Revolution!

That’s right friends … I’m hoping to sell 100 strapless dresses … for $35 (or cheaper!).

Here’s how The Dress Revolution works:

1. You can simply contact me to order a dress for yourself.  All $35 dresses will be the style shown above unless it’s made from seersucker, then it will have a wider sash.  You can choose from fabric and colors  you see in my shop or you can choose from these fabrics I have on hand:  (NOTE: I make the dresses after payment is received.)

This is a preliminary list of fabrics - it will change as these sell out.

2. You can get your dress for cheaper, only $25, if you send me your own fabric.

3. You can get your dress for slightly cheaper, only $30, if you let me pick the fabric.

4. You can share this Revolution with your friends … by hosting a Paint Your Town Parsimony Dress Party where your friends pick out dresses and you get points toward free dresses for yourself.*

5. You can share this Revolution with your friends via social networking and get points toward free dresses for yourself.*

*Be sure your referrals let me know that you referred them when they order!  I’ll keep a tally.  Each dress earns 3 points.  Thirty points equals a free strapless dress or $30 towards any other dress in my shop.

I had a day of experimentation, and have sold 5 dresses so far…. 95 to go!

Also…..once I make 100 – I’ll switch the dress and offer a different garment for dirt cheap!  So Let’s Get This Party Started!

Please start by clicking on the “share on Facebook” link!!!!

Y’all are great!

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2012 … What to sew…or should I say “Giveaway?”

Posted in dresses, Giveaway, Uncategorized, tagged , on January 11, 2012 | 16 Comments »

Well HELLLOOOOOO fellow sewing and fabric addicts!  This is my first post of 2012 – it’s good to be typing after all these days away!

I hope you all had a ridiculously wonderful Holiday Season – I’d love to hear about all the handmade gifts you receive…and, if you read all the way down, you’ll see that you just might get rewarded for sharing…. oohh, how enticing right!?!

Well for me, I’ve been thinking.  (well, sewing is more accurate but thinking happens during sewing so it counts!)  Every year I make a big fuss with myself to figure out what should my New Years’ Resolution be.  I am opposed to weight loss resolutions and clean house resolutions.  I mean come on, we only live once.  My resolutions are never earth shaking but I do try to make them thoughtful and serious.

Oh, are you just so totally hooked…dying to hear what I’ve come up with for this year????

This year I decided that the worst thing I can do is try to change something about myself.  I’m not really capable of doing that and, furthermore, I just don’t like to think about things of that nature for too long.  My three lovely offspring keep hijacking my thoughts so it’s pretty futile to think too deeply at any given time!

What I CAN do, however, is improve something for other people.  I’m not talking about changing the world – although that would be awesome once I’m able to think deeply again.  I’m talking about spreading more joy and being more generous.  I was inspired by Ginger Nixon’s guest blog post about GIVING.  I was inspired by Tiffany Schwedland who often shows up at my house with a fun yard of fabric for me.  I was inspired by the truth that it’s better to give than to receive.

Sooooooo….in 2012 … it is my hope and intention to GIVE MORE AWAY!!  And this applies to my blogosphere pals just as much as to my family, friends, neighborhood and city.  I’ll try to keep you posted on what that looks like. ..but for today, for my Generosity 2012 hopes, I’ll start with you lovely people!

Generosity in 2012 Giveaway #1

One of these bookmarks...

...these fun kitty cat bobbies ...

...and this Strapless dress! (Size M/L - fits 10-14)

I have these lovely pieces in my possession right now.  I decided that I’d much rather have one of you lovelies wearing them than I would rather just having them sit around and collect dust!

How to win this set?

Tell me about the best handmade gift(s) you received for Christmas/Holidays.

I’ll pick a winner on Friday night, January 13, 2012.

Oh…I’m getting excited about the new year already!!!

(Oh, and yes – this generosity thing WILL INCLUDE lots of new free tutorials!!!)

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Inventory Clearance … $35 Dresses! gasp. $3 Accessories! double gasp.

Posted in dresses, kids, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Okay.  I did it.  I broke a cardinal rule of mine.  NEVER EVER EVER do a “show” where you have to create inventory.  NEVER EVER.

Well.  I did.

It was fun.  I enjoyed an excuse to cut up fabric that’s been sitting in my armoire.  I love playing with glue.

I did NOT, however, get rid of all the inventory.  Alas, it is stationed (neatly and packaged) all over my house … just waiting for a rightful owner!

So, here on the 20th of December, I thought there might be some of you out there still needing that last minute gift.  Look no further!  What you see below is priced DIRT CHEAP and is READY TO SHIP IMMEDIATELY!  If you see something(s) you like, email me or contact me via Etsy convo and we’ll go from there!

For starters….Strapless Dresses for $35!

This combination is a size "Normal!" fits size 10-14 beautifully. $35. shuh.

This combination is also a size NORMAL (10-14) $35. crazy good price!

SOLD! This dress is a size SMALL (4-8) $35!

Besides dresses, I also have accessories …

ONLY HAVE THE BANDANA ONE LEFT. Tissue pouches - great for friends with allergies! $3 each or 4 for $10!

Here's a better photo ... each tissue pouch is lined in coordinating fabric and includes a set of tissues. dreamy.

SOLD OUT. Elastic headbands with large covered buttons. $3 each or 4 for $10!

SOLD. Reversible Cowl Neck scarves - soooo fun to wear! (HINT: a tutorial just might be on the horizon!) ... $8 each or 3 for $20.

SOLD! cowl neck scarf options...

SOLD!...and more options ... oh the joy!

Rings - adjustable, sooo cute! $3 each for 4 for $10.

And lastly…

And finally, I have lots and lots of sets of Bobbies! tons of colors ... $3/set or 4 sets for $10!

There you go peeps … lots on sale…. the sale will extend throuh New Years Day … or while supplies last … feel free to make me on offer for EVERYTHING!  =)

Regardless friends … please be striving to rest.  to relax.  to enjoy yourself.  See Christmas through the eyes of a child – it really is magical!

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