Friday, February 1, 2013

Time to Vote: Valentine Inspired Looks

Welcome to voting for Week 4! (Remember it's only 1 vote per IP address.)
This week our ladies each made a Valentine Inspired Look.  Each design is so different and unique---make sure you see them all before you cast your vote!
 
Little Kids Grow---Sugar & Spice


This week's Valentine's Day inspired look is all about things romantic, well, at least as much as can be expressed from the beautifully sugar coated imagination of a 10-year-old: lots of flowers, berets, and oh, yeah, "bonjour". I wanted to create something soft and feminine for a growing girl. I started with a floral palette of pinks, yellows, and gold accents. For the jacket I drafted a custom, fully lined "special occasion" piece out of woven silk (estate sale find, Woot!). It features a shawl collar and a single button closure. I added light padding in the shoulder area for shaping and then balanced the jacket's proportions with a bubble peplum.
 For the top, I drafted a simple sleeveless bodice. I wanted a high neckline without buttons or a zipper, so I used cotton shirting for the front of the top and a two-way stretch knit for the back. I love flowers on Valentines Day, so I cut out fabric flower petals and appliqued them to the top of the bodice. For the pants I created a straight-legged, high waist pant with a wrap around belt and fly front zipper. For a peek into my design inspiration, visit me at LittleKidsGrow.


Max California---Love Cats
Lovecats! As soon as I found out about the Love is in the Air theme, I knew I had to use this fabric. It's my favourite - little vintage kitties playing in heart-shaped blossoms. I made a two-piece outfit, both pieces can be worn together or on their own, and I made some little KITTY shoes. I made up a little pinafore dress from the kitty fabric, it features a heart shaped bib and a very full gathered skirt. There is a pink underskirt attached, and it has ruffled tulle stitched to the hem to make the skirt even more foofier! The bib has a halterneck strap that buttons on, and there are extra buttons along the length to make adjustments. I hemmed the skirt with a fancy heirloom stitch on my machine. It took f o r e v e r but it looks so cute and well worth it I think!
Underneath I made her a little romper. It is backless, because I love kissing those little back fat rolls! It features a wide collar and does up at the back with a small button and a loop. It's a lovely plain piece, perfect for mixing and matching with other items in her wardrobe or just to wear by itself. Of course you didn't think I could just leave it plain though did you? Heck no! On the inside I stitched a pink heart and used my machine to stitch her name. I dropped the feed dogs and took off the presser foot and then stitched the heart to the lining with free-motion sewing, moving the fabric in circles while I sewed to come up with this lovely lace-looking effect. After the third attempt at getting this romper right, and eliminating the gape that kept happening at the sides, I made it all one piece! There are just two seams to join the centre-back and the crotch! Out of the same fabric I made little shoes, using the Charlotte Mary Jane pattern. I lined it with white felt to make them a bit sturdier and when constructing them I stitched little ears on the outer fabric of each shoe. I hand embroidered a little kitty face on the front of each shoel, they look like bunnies, but I swear they are kitties!
For more pics, including Edison being very unimpressed with out real cats getting in on her photoshoot, check out my blog!

CathGrace--- Bows, Ruffles, and Rose
 For my Valentine's inspired look I didn't want to be too literal, as I wanted Emmie to be able to get lots of use out of whatever I made her, (beyond Valentine's that is,) so when I found a lovely remnant of a rose patterned corduroy in Emmie's favorite color blue, I knew it would be the perfect inspiration! I could only get  1.5 yards of the rose corduroy, so I had to be very careful with how I eeked it out. I decided to make 3 pieces for my outfit, since a blazer, a shirt, and a pair of jeans would be the most versatile.
For the blazer I began with Burda 9498, for the collar and upper sleeve shape, but I altered the sleeves to 3/4 length, added a slit and buttons to the bottom of the sleeves, and then ruffles to the lower back. I reshaped the front of the blazer to a curve, and added bows instead of pockets to the front of the blazer. Inside the blazer is fully lined in a cotton stripe, and there is a singe welted pocket, with a fun sequined detail just to add a little glitter just for miss Emmie to know about. The shirt is made from a white cotton knit, with a soft dotted lace over layer, I decided to use white, as a visual resting point amongst all the pattern and color. The neckline is the most special part of the shirt, there are 16 buttonholes, through which I chained a cord of cotton knit, creating a gather. I finished the shirt with a ruffle of dotted lace at the hem and sleeve edges.
For the Jeans, I used a glorious pale blue gray, stretch denim, that I found in the fashion fabric market in Seoul, it has a stunning rose print, that I immediately fell in love with, and knew it would look good with the jacket, (as the scales of the prints wouldn't compete with each other, but would compliment each other instead.) I made them just like real jeans, with the back placket, belt loops, top stitching, pockets, and a functional fly. on the front pockets I added a line of hotfix swarovski crystals, and on the back pockets I added my most literal Valentine's detail, crystal hearts (this is Emmie's FAVORITE part) I really love how on trend these are (since printed jeans are all the rage) but still not so trendy she will tire of them quickly. I hope you like my take on a Valentine's look, (there are more detailed pictures at my blog,) and I would love your vote!


Winter W3---Butterfly Kisses Past & Present

 If last week was an example of seeing your vision come to life; this week was an example of watching  a creative idea fizzle and die, scrapping the whole thing, regrouping, and starting from scratch to achieve something that was so much better than the original ever could have been.
I am not a huge 'holiday-wear' sewer, but I fell in love with the theme of 'love is in the air'.  Once I scrapped my original plans of WWII airplanes, I stumbled upon this gorgeous butterfly material while organizing my stash to make room for my best friend to come visit for the weekend, and the light bulb clicked and my 'Ah Ha'  moment made me smile.


You see, my grandmother always called me her butterfly and I never doubted her love for me, my daddy always gave me butterfly kisses before bed and I knew he loved me, and the material came from a skirt my mom passed to me for my stash - and there will never be a person who loves me in the same way as my mom.  My husband has recently taught our boys how to give butterfly kisses, and at night they will not let us leave the room without calling out 'fly, fly' as they ask for a butterfly kiss.  To me this is love; wrapped in one word, in one action, this is what I want to remember -  my cherub cheeked babies calling out for one more 'fly' and closing their eyes comforted in the sweet blanket of love.


This design is a nod to the past and present to represent these generations of love.  The base is a sweet empire waist dress with heart keyhole back, french seams, and flutter-by sleeves; and bloomers with bitty bows and hand stitched flying butterfly.  The 'past' look is a jacket with a nod to vintage patterns, fully lined with triple pleating in the back, gathered sleeves,  and little bows that echo the butterfly theme.  The 'present' look is a more modern cropped wrap sweater with fluttering butterflies on the shoulder.  I can't look at this outfit without feeling the generations of love wrap me in a hug, and I pray that my daughter will know that same feeling as she grows.
Come on by my BLOG to read more about the details of these pieces and to see more pictures!!!



La Inglesita--- To the Bone
Every night my daughter reminds me that she loves me "to the bone". We never knew where she got this expression from but she says is a lot more than loving to bits or to the moon and back. This week theme is all about hearts and pinks, at least on Pinterest, so I´ve tried to add these details on my design at a small scale: a heart shaped neckline and another heart to the front of the coat, only visible when closed. 
I made a linen dress lined in my daughter´s favourite fabric, with a coat inspired by the girl in the print designed by Aneela Hoey. I used the same lining for the coat except for the sleeves, where I used blue acetate lining to help putting in on.
The dress pattern is the Geranium by Rae except that it is not. I´ll explain. The largest size was tight on my daughter so I tried to enlarge it by using the Party dress by Cottage Home as a reference. I ended up using the Party Dress bodice and drafting the sleeves from scratch. I also used a different skirt pattern. I wanted a bubble look, like Oliver and S bubble dress, but didn´t look good on my daughter so I went for a balloon style silhouette adapting Burda 152 11/12. For the coat I used the same pattern remix and added long sleeves and heart shaped lapels.
Both the dress and the coat are fully lined. The dress is hemmed with a facing and finished by hand with lace.  This is probably my favourite part of the outfit!
You can read a bit more about this project at la inglesita
Have a nice weekend and enjoy your vote! You´re spoilt for choice here!!
María

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44 comments :

  1. So lovely the heart, the coat, the fabrics...
    besos,

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  2. Oh goodness, that little kitten romper made my heart flutter. ♡ Yay Max!

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  3. Oh goodness, that little kitten romper made my heart flutter. ♡ Yay Max!

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  4. I love how wearable it all is! Not one of us did something too costumey! {Well I certainly hope mine wasn't ahha} So subtle. So gorgeous!

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  5. I'm blown away by CathGrace's detailing...that neckline, that ruffle, the crystals! Wonderful job all of you!

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  6. CathGrace, your outfit is stunning! It looks like something you would see on a mannequin for a designer line in the Nordy's kids department-except more unique and perfectly tailored. So on trend! You sure know how to pick out colors that are just right for your pretty girl! Great job!

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  7. I just love the butterfly fabric, storyline and both looks of past and present! Go Butterfly Kisses!

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  8. I am really overwhelmed by your creativity, you all did an amazing job. Difficult choice indeed. Congratulations to all of you.

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  9. Oh, I love these! There's a lot to love on this page,well done ladies. I am really loving that kitten fabric. So retro and perfect for a Valentines theme.

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  11. Me encanta el look de La Inglesita!
    es muy muy San Valentín!!

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  12. Everyone did such a beautiful job! Each outfit has such beautiful details! Wonderful job ladies!

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  13. no way! Eddie is like the cutest, fattest little pinup girl!!! love it soooo much!!!

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  14. Mi voto párala inglesita y su Caperucita Roja

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  15. I like what I see of Sugar and Spice, but I'd like a full picture to know exactly what I'm voting for... Love all the looks!

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  16. My vote is for "La Inglesita"

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  17. Yo voto por "la inglesita", me gusta mucho el conjunto de su niña, con las solapas en forma de corazón. Suerte a todas.

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  18. El mejor sin duda alguna un 10 para la inglesita sin duda

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  19. El modelo de La inglesita es para enamorarse, pero de verdad.

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  20. so many good ones, its almost impossible to vote!

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  21. Mi voto es para La Inglesita.

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  22. OKay seriously...I am not sure I can choose! Well done all of you ladies!

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  23. SOOOO cute!! I love them this week, and now I'm in a real Valentine mood! Congrats, ladies!

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  24. Me parece maravilloso el vestido y el abrigo.
    Es fantástico también las otras creaciones.
    No conocia esta iniciativa.
    Una maravilla.

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  25. what a hard call! But I do love La Inglesita so much I can't help but cast my vote with it. What a sweet dress!

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  26. Love cats such a unique design !!

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  27. Love cats such a unique design !!

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  28. Sin dudas mi voto es para La Inglesita. Muy delicada y buen gusto!!!
    Hermosa ropita!!! Felicitaciones!

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  29. All these outfits are gorgeous but the romper suit by max California gets my vote!

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  30. My vote goes for La Inglesita - To the Bone; she has done a terrific job!!
    All projects are so lovely!!

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  31. My vote goes to La Inglesita- To the Bone! I love all the fabric choices and I simply love the heart shape on the front of the coat! So simple yet ingenious :)

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  32. My vote is for Love Cats. A very cute design.

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  33. Me encanta, voto por la inglesita.

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