Which Dress is Best?

Below are the two dress options I am considering for my class project.  Make sure you read my ideas along with looking at the pictures - it will make a huge difference!  I hope you are able to "see" what I see - my vision for these dresses.  We don't need to have our patterns picked out for at least a week or two because we are going to start working with these fabrics to give us a better idea before we decide exactly which dress to make.  Who knows - maybe I will change my mind completely after working with lace next week! 

Let me know which dress you like best!

OPTION #1:  Vogue Dress: Badgley Mischka
First of all let's talk about the fact that it is a Badgley Mischka design.  That, in and of itself, is enough of a reason to make this dress!  I think this is a gorgeous dress, but I am uncertain of where I would have to wear it.  The only change I would make on this dress is probably to bring the bust together so it is a little less low cut: a little less "J-Lo", if you know what I mean.  And I don't know what colour I would make it in either.

OPTION #2:  McCalls Dress

This one is going to need a little more imagination on your part.  My idea is to make the dress out of a really beautiful fabric like a dupioni silk or a silk faille (trust me - very nice, and structured) and then add a layer of lace over the bodice of the dress (top half).  Then perhaps I would add a lace trim along the bottom of the skirt.  Version A is the one I would make, but it has the entire dress with a lace overlay - I would probably just do the top half.  Or perhaps I would add version C's sleeves.  How beautiful would a textured dupioni silk with a french lace overlay be?  Plus, I love how the dress has the side slant pockets, which makes it a bit more stylish.  The only pattern change I might make would be to make the neck line a bit lower - a deeper scoop.  As for colour, it would likely be in the grey or champagne colour palettes.  It would depend on the lace colour, but I wouldn't want the underlining to contrast too heavily - moreso just complement the lace (not match it).  This would be a much more "wearable" dress, especially because it isn't a floor-length gown.

Class is in session...

I started my class on Tuesday.  As I have previously mentioned, I am taking courses at Mohawk College in Hamilton in dressmaking.  I am working towards getting my Dressmaking Certificate:  it is eight classes in total, and this one will be my sixth class.  I take one class per semester, and each one is 10 weeks long:  it's a lot of work considering I am working a full time job, plus the rest of my life.

I have been looking forward to this particular course though.  It is the evening wear / special occasion outfit class.  We learn how to work with specialty fabrics (e.g. lace, satin, silks, etc.), boning, beading, shirring, etc., and then we also sew an outfit for ourselves (from a pattern).  I am excited to learn a lot in this class, because every other class thus far has dealt with fabric that is quite easy to work with.  Moreso, I would really like to start sewing more with delicate fabrics:  I love the idea of designing and creating beautiful gowns and dresses.

But because I haven't learned yet how to take my own ideas to the fabric, I am stuck using a pattern!  I have narrowed it down to two patterns, I think.  One dress is gorgeous but I would have nowhere to wear it, and the other one is less fancy, and definitely more wearable (but still would be beautiful).  Perhaps I will post the two options, and see if anyone else has an opinion?

Not what I had thought...

There is one truth that has been glaring me in the face lately, as I have embarked upon numerous renovation and design projects for our home over the last year.  Brace yourself:  it is a sad truth, and one that many of you may be avoiding in denial.  Or perhaps you have already realized it, and now you are wallowing in a deep design depression.

And here it is:  completing a project from design concept to final details never happens like it does on tv.  Darn you, HGTV, for making me think that a renovation or design project can be finished in a reasonable amount of time, with minimal mess.  You have real nerve to make me think I can pull it all together, including accessories, and find exactly what I'm looking for from two or three stores in a week and a half.  Of course I don't just blame HGTV - that would be very narrow of me.  I blame all design shows, and I blame my naivety and my unbridled sense of hope.

One down...

I am happy to say that I have finished the drapes!  Grommets and all!  This is now one thing to cross off my list of projects (sidenote:  I'm a list maker by nature, and the thought of crossing something off a list is so appetizing.  Even if I didn't have it written down somewhere officially, I would make a list just to cross it off!  Right now Tim is somewhere shaking his head in disbelief).  I just looked back at the list I had blogged in August and really the only thing that is unrealistic to get done at this point is reupholstering the chair.  I will have to put that aside for a few months until after my dressmaking class concludes (it starts next week).  The kitchen cupboards are in process, as we all know, and I have plans for the china cabinet.  I will be able to complete that once the cupboards are out of the way: I need the space to work in the garage!

I will post a picture of the drapes when I hang them, which will be after I buy a rod to hang them on.  Simple logic, isn't it?  But I had promised my friend Frankie I would post a picture of the fabric after I blogged about it awhile back, and I never did (and she reminded me of that yesterday).  So for Frankie, and anyone else who was curious to see what I was attempting to describe, here is the fabric that will soon be hanging in front of my windows!

Kitchen Cupboard Woes

There is one reason, and one reason only that I haven't written in awhile.

I got mad.

As I previously mentioned, I was on vacation for a couple of weeks. I decided that this would be a strategic time to paint my kitchen cupboards, because I calculated the time it should take and it didn't seem like it would take up a lot of my vacation-resting time. It all went down hill from there. Actually, someone we know who paints as his profession had offered earlier in the year to paint them for us, and then he totally bailed on us. In reality, I think it went all down hill from there.