I Love Paris in the Springtime

Finally!!!  I have finally finished my Michael Miller Paris print dress that I started dreaming of and bought fabric for in 2016.  It's done and I heart it so much!  Of course, anytime you're doing something that Bernie Dexter's already done, it's going to be fabulous.  I'm also sporting one of those monogram sweaters from Old Navy that I picked up at thredUp.  This one actually has my initial on it, so that's even better.

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Michael Miller Essentials Paris Ville Multi$10.41 per yard, Nila Anthony purse from ModCloth, HEELS FROM BY BAMBOO, oLD Navy sweater from ThredUp

Succulents Out of Season

The other day I wore my cactus dress to work.  Most people either said nothing or said, "pretty dress."  But one dear sour patch remarked that she just didn't agree with my choice of dress.  That print is totally out of season.  To which I my heart warmed and I smiled deeply as I replied, "sometime you can wait on better days, you have to reach out and grab the best of summer and bring it to you."  This dear little woman has never been friendly with me, but the way she smiled and laughed and then spent ten minutes talking home decorating with me brightened my day more than a summery print ever could.  Not only that, but she's had a big smile and some friendly conversation for me every time I see her now.

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Dream of the Crop Cardigan in Sunset from ModCloth
Dashing Darling A-Line dress in Succulents from ModCloth

The Best Way to Bronze

They say no tan is a healthy tan and that's probably true.  The good news is that I've found the best way to bronze:  this gorgeous bronze dress from Stop Staring!

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Rust Bow Dress by Stop Staring!
ModCloth Heels

Another Unicorn in the Stable: Clear as Day Off Dress

    I've long searched for this dress and now it is mine!  The Clear as Day Off Dress by Fervour and from ModCloth a few years ago.  I missed out back then, but I didn't give up hope.  Thank you resale sites and thank you to each dear person who takes good care of their dresses and then sends them out into the world to a new home.  Now this lovely is mine and I have worn it twice already and received tons of compliments.  Yay for this dress!

A Fox in the Foxglove

I love foxes; I don't know why.  For the last four years or so, I've been gradually building a collection of fox themed clothing items, like a hobby within a hobby.  I came across this Fox in the Foxgloves print on Fabric.com and knew I could make something stunning out of it.  How could it not look great with a print this gorgeous?!  So, with three yards of  this fabric and my trusty Simplicity pattern 1873 by Cynthia Rowley, I created this dress in about a week.  It took me longer to finish this dress than it has to complete most of the others I've worked on lately because this dress has sleeves.  Each sleeve has multiple pleats and a sleeve lining with a equal number of pleats.   I paced myself so I wouldn't get overwhelmed, but I still did.  After being able to turn out a dress in 6-8 hours, I felt like giving up after working on this dress for several days.  But, I stuck with it and I am ever so happy with the finished product.  I haven't made a sleeved dress with this pattern since 2016 when I hurried to finish it before the movers came to pack up our things and my OCD nagged me that there was an unfinished project waiting for me in storage.

 Outfit Info:

Cloud 9 Organic Fox in the Foxgloves, Beret from Japan, Belt is old, Heels from Payless

Sleeping Deer

Maybe this is a Christmas-y dress, but I really didn't see it when I bought this fabric.  I saw sleeping deer and thought awwwww, and that's as far as my thinking process went.  I knocked this dress out in about three days.  It shouldn't have taken me more than 8 hours to complete, but I'm really feeling the winter laziness.  These sewing projects have been a great cure for cabin fever, but now it seems like winter has been going on For-Ever, and nothing seems to be helping.  Anyway.  The point is the dress is done and it was my first time to do this particular top for this same Simplicity pattern 1873 that I've used ever so many times since I started sewing.  (Yes, I can do other patterns, but this one is so easy and uses less than 3 yards of fabric!)  Even though I've made this pattern so many times, I mess the pleats up every time and this time I didn't realize until I'd sewn the skirt to the bodice and had to take the whole thing out and start over.  I may have just put the dress away at that point determined to take care of it tomorrow, but then I spent the whole night dreaming about finishing it.  That happens to me a lot.  When I start a project, it's better to just see it through rather than have my OCD haunting my dreams.  Since it's so lovely and frosty this morning, I decided to don my newly made, non-Christmas deer dress for a little morning stroll in the icy wonderland that surrounds me.  Even thought I am a die hard fan of every other season but winter, I do love these kinds of days.

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Flats and bag from ModCloth
Dear Stella Pine Grove Sleeping Deer $10.23 per yard