Friday Finds Aug 14

This week was Back To School Shopping week so I first went with my daughter and granddaughters to Target to pick up what they needed for school. While looking at children's clothing with them I noticed this moss green cardigan.


Friday Finds Aug 14Originally uploaded by Peldyn

On a whim I tried on the largest size and it fit! Whoo hoo! At only $12.99 it was a definite bargain! It looks ever so nice with the new purse I bought from Tarah Kins she has a shop on ArtFire.


Next was Kohl's for clothes for my nephew and this adorable little skirt for me. I love the ivory embroidery that is all the way around the hem. It was on sale for $23.20. It is also plaid which is touted as being really big for Fall. This would also pair well with the new cardigan!


Friday Finds Aug 14Originally uploaded by Peldyn

Lastly I had to nip in to my beloved Forever21 where I found this navy and beige silk blouse with lace inset neckline for $22.50. Perfect to wear alone now and to layer over long sleeve tees and under cardigans later in the season.


Friday Finds Aug 14Originally uploaded by Peldyn

I also shopped from one of the jewelry designers showcased on Amazing Artisans. I can't wait until the earrings I ordered come in!

Now to have another cup of tea and look at ebay. I have a hankering for vintage :)

Lucky Magazine Styles New Trends for Etsy

Jackie Nasser of Lucky Magazine held a show in the Virtual Labs this evening at Etsy to showcase the new Fall trends. This was a great opportunity to let buyers see what was on trend and available for sale on Etsy.

Many people would not think of Etsy as the go to place for fashion. It has had the image of the crafter who sits at home knitting toilet paper cozies or makes tatty stuffed animals. Well this showing definitely blew that image out of the water. The clothes were very beautiful and up to par with what you would find in any small boutique.

Here are what the big trends to look out for are:

Plaids:

Look for them in skirts, blouses, blazers, shoes, etc.

Big Florals:

These can be mixed with solids or smaller florals in coordinating colors. Keep the jewelry simple so as not to overwhelm the outfit.

Jumpsuits:

This look is still around and can be hard to style. I found this lovely option that would look great with a blazer or with a blouse underneath.

Blazers:

Whether going retro with the menswear look or rocking the brights a Blazer is a Fall necessity. The styling options are endless and it will keep you toasty warm!

Brights:

Neon brights from the Spring are still around. Why just wear one? Tone it down with jeans and maybe a nice jacket. Or not? If you are young you can really rock this look and go for a bright mini!

Big Cocktail Rings:

What every woman needs gracing her finger, a big vintage looking ring. Luckily I have my grandmothers stash, but for those not as lucky Etsy has a treasure trove.

Statement Necklaces:

Large necklaces, especially in the bib style are making a strong showing. Etsy is the perfect place to get a one of a kind creation.

Menwear's Inspired Style:



You can't mention menswear inspired style without invoking images of Annie Hall. Such a classic look!

Long Sleeved Mini Dress

Wore with tights, leggings or maybe skinny jeans if you are not comfortable with your bare legs. This is a classier take on the 60's mini dress.

Color:
While nothing much was said about color other than the Brights that are listed here, many of us noted that quite a few of the picks that Jackie had were in purple hues. She never came out right out and answered the questions on whether purple was the "in" color for fall, but it is safe to say that you can not go wrong with plums and lavenders when paired with the seasons greys and golds.

Why shop Etsy for your fashion? As noted by Jackie, many Etsy shops recycle/upcyle or use sustainable materials in their garments. This creates less waste and is easier on the environment So you are being kind to Mother Earth! It is also becoming a trend to have a connection to the person who created the item you are purchasing. Where better to be able to do that than Etsy?

So I know I have now been inspired to start my Fall shopping. My favorites list is now a mile long! Thank you Jackie and thank you Etsy for this great opportunity.

Anatomy of a Skirt Pt. 2

Now that all the pieces are cut out it is time to put them all together. First pin the darts together and sew them in. Start at the point reinforcing it well and sew out to the edge following the line drawn in dressmakers chalk.


Anatomy of a Skirt 018Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Anatomy of a Skirt 019Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Press them flat. Next step pin the skirt sides together matching the pattern of the plaid pinning precisely. This is important and makes a big difference in the finished look of the garment. Nothing says "home made" like a mismatched plaid at the seam line. Sew up the left side of the skirt and then sew the right side just to the notch, reinforcing.


Anatomy of a Skirt 020Originally uploaded by Peldyn


I prefer to serge my seams for a professional look. On the right side since a zipper will be going in I serge only the fabric edges and machine stitch the seam itself. Now I serge the top edge of the skirt to stay the fabric.

Pressing time! It helps to make the sewing go smoothly if you press your seams as you sew.


Anatomy of a Skirt 022Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Now to the ruffle. Sew the front to the back pressing the seams and them serge the hem edge and press it over once and then again.


Anatomy of a Skirt 023Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Anatomy of a Skirt 024Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Stitch it down with the needle over to the left so you just catch the edge of the fold. This gives a nice professional look and is called a shirttail hem.


Anatomy of a Skirt 025Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Anatomy of a Skirt 031Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Make small cuts in the upper edge of the ruffle and matching seams pin it into the skirt easing where needed.


Anatomy of a Skirt 026Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Stitch in ruffle. I finish the raw edge with serging and then after pressing the seam up I topstitch it in place.


Anatomy of a Skirt 027>Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Now for a quick try on to see how it fits! So I see that it is a little big in the waist and hip area so I take a seam in the center back that tapers down to the hem. After I try it on again it looks great!


Anatomy of a Skirt 030Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Don't forget to leave your name and e-mail in your comment for the fabric give-a-way!

***Saturday- Zipper and Waistband***

Anatomy of a Skirt Pt. 1

As promised I am going to walk you through the process of sewing a skirt. Of course the first thing to do is settle on a pattern.


Anatomy of a Skirt 016Originally uploaded by Peldyn


I chose this close fitting style with a deep ruffle that was higher in the front than the back. I took my measurements and decided that I was in between a size 8 and a 10. After reading the pattern it said the the garment was designed with 4 inches of garment ease. That is a lot of ease! I don't like my garments loose so I had to think how to go about this. Since I have chosen a lovely black and white cotton plaid I thought it would look better if it was on the bias. Being on the bias would give the garment more "wearing ease" so I could cut it closer to the body. Taking this into consideration I used the size 8 to cut the skirt out. You may notice from the pictures that I did not actually cut the pattern itself out as a size 8, it is merely folded under. I do this to give more options later on when cutting a different garment. I took pinches in at the hem to narrow the skirt both at the front and back as I wished it to be tighter at the knee.


Anatomy of a Skirt 013Originally uploaded by Peldyn


The ruffle had to have pinches taken in also so it would fit the narrower silhouette. I shortened the skirt by 2 inches as well. These alterations were all done using pins on the pattern.


Anatomy of a Skirt 014Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Ignoring the directions, I unfolded my fabric completely and took one corner and pulled it to the other edge creating a triangle.


Anatomy of a Skirt 005Originally uploaded by Peldyn


I laid the skirt front and back out on the fold. I took care to make sure that the pattern would match by cutting out the skirt front first and then laying it on top of the skirt back and shifting the pattern up and down until the pattern was just right. I then took off the skirt front, pinned the skirt back down and cut it out.


Anatomy of a Skirt 006Originally uploaded by Peldyn


I refolded the fabric again and cut the ruffle and waistband. Because I changed how the skirt is placed on the grain I used a lot less fabric then the pattern called for, only a yard!


Anatomy of a Skirt 007Originally uploaded by Peldyn




Anatomy of a Skirt 010
Originally uploaded by Peldyn


I cut a cute little head scarf for myself out of the scraps! Now I marked the darts with dressmaker's chalk and am ready to sew!


Anatomy of a Skirt 017Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Now what about that left over fabric? I am going to be giving it away! One reader who leaves a comment over the the length of this series will win 2 yards of black and white cotton plaid to make their own skirt with! All you have to do is comment on one of the articles to enter. I will pick a name at random and announce the winner when the series is done.

***Wednesday, Starting to Sew!***

Friday Finds Aug 7 A Day Late

Friday Finds Aug 7 067Originally uploaded by Peldyn

Sorry this post is late, but I was so exhausted from shopping yesterday I just couldn't get it together. Here are my week's finds for you now. Hope you like them!
Again I gravitated to Forever21. Their clearance section is jam packed right now and Tom, my husband, actually found this sweater as I was searching another section. It was only $11.80 and a perfect fit for my wardrobe! Up near the register they had a bin full of belts and I snagged three, the brown croco shown here, a grey croco and a super skinny black with brass studs double wrap belt. All for only $2.50 each! Even my husband was impressed. *smirk*



Friday Finds Aug 7 052Originally uploaded by Peldyn


Next stop was Target and there I went straight to Hosiery. I was looking for tights but unfortunately they had none. What they did have was a clearance on over the knee and thigh high socks! I nearly swooned! I have been having "sock dreams" for a while now but couldn't afford to pay the prices on some of the websites. Here were adorable socks and they were only $2.48 to $2.98 a pair! I felt like I had died and gone to sock heaven. I filled my arms full and the husband thought I had lost my mind. Of course once I tried them on he agreed that they were tres adorable. I am thinking of all the ways I will style them! So much fun *grin*

***Coming Up***
Don't miss next week. Coming Monday I will be doing a series of posts on making a skirt! What better way to be stylish on a shoestring than to make your own clothes? See how it is done and enter to win enough fabric to make your own skirt!

Channeling Alice

Channeling AliceOriginally uploaded by Peldyn

With the new Tim Burton movie set to come out next year it seems that all I can think about is Alice. The trailer just whetted my appetite for her gothic blue sweetness. I picked up this silk cotton blouse from Forever21 to help stave off the hunger for all that is Alice blue. It's puffed sleeves and shirred waist evoke another time and seem so very right. I paired it with a full black skirt, spectator oxford shoes and a little antique tapestry purse that belonged to my great-grandmother. My cat is a shoo in for Dinah *grin*


Artfire has a few shops that offer items that have an Alice in Wonderland theme. Maybe you can pick up some gothic goodness of your own.



Alice in Wonderland White Leather Charm Bracelet by Sunny Beach Jewelry


Gothic Black Lace Cuffs by maryandangelika


Poppy Longstockings Nautical Stripe by Poppy Clothing Creations


Quietly Waiting Hand Painted Accent Table by MadTeaPartyFurniture

The last is not clothing, but this shop is full of the most wonderfully Alice in Wonderland style furniture that all I could do was squeal with delight as I looked at each item! I want EVERYTHING!

Let me know how you have expressed your "inner" Alice. I am sure I am not the only one captivated by this trend.