I Am Magical Dress

i am still not entirely sure about the mock-up of this "i am magical" dress. 

is it magical as in: i am in a circus...yay?!  or magical as in: i ate magic mushrooms and this is what i choose to wear today to prove it?!  or magical as in: life's too short to care what others think and i need to be colorful/magical sometimes....(ok, lots of the time!)?!

it is a VERY different look from the one shown in the book...

this is the book the pattern came from and yep,

that is the "i am magical" dress on the front.

and i love the version they show.

and another view.

my version is REALLY different, right.

I know.

the pattern had obvious measurement flaws right off the bat.

so i corrected those and decided to use an old indian bedspread fabric for the body and some odd crocheted/knit(?) pieces for the bodice front and the arms.

use what you have, i figured.

especially for the first go round.

and especially if you are feelin the magic...

i had some orange butcher paper so i used it to make the pattern.

my friend uses old wallpaper to trace out her patterns and if i come across some that is wide enough and isn't too brittle, i will too.

this is the back of the dress pattern piece

here is the dress/tunic without chest and arm pieces.

i rather like it just so.

in the construction of this, i found a few more flaws, or at least instructions that didn't account for the very "finished" way i like my garments to be.  a once turned hem just won't do...nor will a once turned neckline...

i guess i was just anxious to find a use for these odd crocheted/knit(?) pieces...and so here they are.

i guess i need to come to terms with this just being a mock-up and nothing more. 

it is what it is.

yes, i've tried it on.

and it is kinda cute.

maybe its all the colors that throw me off.

i feel kinda clownish...

or magical....

is it bad or is it ok?

be honest.

see.

i can't decide.

usually that means: not so much.  not so good.

i will forge ahead and try again. i made several notes on the pattern pieces so that i can make it better next time. 

i do like the cut and "style" of it so i am going to try making it totally opposite of the first attempt in some very opposite colorway and material. and make it as a dress, not a tunic.  gotta remember to cut it much longer next time...

here's to being magical, in all its shapes and forms,

xoxoxo

jennette

Snake Skin

i was going thru a bunch of our books and came across this one with a snake skin print on the inside cover!

it came from this vintage book, First Book of Snakes.

and i was thrilled to make some copies of the snake skin print to use for projects, notes, letters, paper airplanes, origami, etc!  i made some colored and some black and white!

i heart snake skin and have also been wearing a silk snake skin print shirt lately.  i am all about the transformative and mythic powers of the snake!  watch out!

in shop news: our seating sale starts on Wednesday January 11 and goes to Sunday January 15th

all seats, chairs, chair frames, stools, benches, etc will be at least 20% off during this time!

i will also be having daily sales on random items. 

you can stop by to check them out or if you "like" the Smashing Rubbish page on facebook or follow me on twitter, you will get to know what the random sale items are each day!  Check it out! 

thinking about friendship and unconditional love,

xoxoxox,

jennette

Studio Fort

There is a fort set up in my studio space.  Jasper has slept here the past two nights.  The first night he fell asleep watching Secret of Roan Inish and the second night he fell asleep watching Whale Rider.  Two of our favorite movies.  The fort has to come down today so I can get some work done.  Lots of sewing needs to happen.  I have 27 new/old patterns I have picked up in the last few weeks of zigzagging across the state.  Love me some vintage patterns.  And I have scored a ton of new/old fabric.  Projects galore coming up, folks.  Lots in the pipe line.  Be on the lookout!

Off to pick our late blueberries and check the bees.  Wish me luck!

xo-Jennette