Longtime readers will know I have a deep and abiding love of Anthropologie. I can’t seem to ever really hate Anthropologie; even on off years (like 2009) when nothing really interested me. This spring I’ve been adoring some of the softer, more nostalgic pieces Anthropologie is carrying; a recent trip to the store downtown last week pretty much sealed the deal for me this season! Plus, it plays into my romantic mood lately–I seem to be gravitating towards a lot of soft colors and styles that are whimsical and pretty at the same time. (Never fear: I haven’t abandoned my love of the 40s; I’m just going through a bit of stylistic expansion and discovery right now!)
No matter than Anthropologie is continually out of my budget; they’ve always been the perfect place to gather a little bit of inspiration for my own projects…
[ 01 . 02 . 03 ]
Stripy things! I have been scheming to make a striped skirt for ages, and as of yet have not found the “perfect” fabric (mostly because my idea of said fabric changes from week to week). I love the pockets on this skirt. Striped shorts are also tops on my list of “must makes”. The love the shaping of the front of the bottom pair of shorts. I’m still not a shorts gal, but there are several styles on the site right now (including some printed ones) that are catching my eye!
[ 01 . 02 . 03 . 04 . 05 . 06 (no longer on the site) ]
Blouses of every shape and color. I am especially loving some of the collar details this year! The top on the lower left isn’t really a blouse: it’s actually in the “intimates” section of the website; but after seeing it at the store last week, I think it’d make a lovely bustier style top (maybe paired with a super long skirt…).
[ 01 . 02 . 03 ]
Accessories! The cardigan is a lovely, easy idea to add a bit of pizzaz to just about any basics-style sweater. Just add a crocheted collar and some vintage millinery leaves and voila! We won’t even get started on the shoes… lol. I really love this rope belt; would be easy to make a version of, don’t you think?
[ 01 . 02 . 03 ]
Finally, dresses. The first two I love for the back views; so often it’s easy to forget about making the back of a garment just as important as the front! The first one has one of my favorites: bows. A big, sash that ties in a bow can be too precious on some designs, which is why I love the balance of simple lines and a neutral palette on this piece. The second has a really fun open/tied back–isn’t that the cutest?! The lobster dress is one of those wacky pieces that I adore so much; I saw it in the store and completely fell in love with the madcap novelty print.
So what things fashion-wise have been inspiring you the past week?
April 13, 2010 ·
8 lovely thoughts
posted in casey's musings,inspiration
· tags: inspiration
[ another blue skirt! ]
I don’t know what prompted me to name this skirt the “potting shed skirt”. Maybe it’s the yearly urge (at it’s strongest right about now) to grow things (being cursed with a decidedly brown thumb, it never quite works out!)? Or perhaps the big pockets just seemed rather utilitarian and perfect for toting around gloves and little garden tools while rummaging around my imaginary garden? The recent trip to Anthropologie may have had something to do with it; I have always had a soft spot for their whimsically-titled garments. Who knows though… I sometimes wonder how my brain comes up with these things. hehe!
[ potting shed skirt. more photos here. ]
This skirt was inspired by a picture (left skirt) in the 1947 McCalls pattern book in my collection. I really loved the way the front was shaped with the gathers, although at first I was worried this could be one of those styles that could go horribly, horribly wrong. I based the pattern loosely on a mid 40s Hollywood pattern for an a-line, gored skirt. A few tweaks here and there and the additions of a new waistband and pockets, I had a similar skirt! Of course, it’s not a carbon copy, but I’ve decided that I am incapable of copying anything verbatim. I get too distracted by the possibilities of making a small addition here, or changing a little bit there. lol. It did have a few hiccups along the way: namely the proportion of the front gathered section and the side panels; at first the sides were a bit too wide at the waist, compressing all the gathers in to a tighter bunch than I had envisioned (or was flattering), so I had to play with that a bit. Overall though, I’m quite pleased as punch about this skirt and it’s ginormous pockets! (Have I ever mentioned my secret preoccupation with big, functional pockets?!)
[ back view of the potting shed skirt. ]
The fabric is a medium weight linen with the loveliest, slightly nubby texture. (Probably another thing that prompted the “potting shed” title: the fabric texture reminds me a bit of burlap used to wrap plants.) Yes, I realize it’s blue. This is the third blue skirt I’ve made in recent weeks. I think I’m done for now! But, I have to admit, the blue skirts have been working their way seamlessly into my existing closet. I added two buttons at the pockets (and am kicking myself now for not making these functional–with actual buttonholes in the pockets!); matching ones that I just happened across in my stash! I love when things come together like that…
Yikes… so much rambling about a silly ol’ skirt! lol. Hope you are having a lovely Monday!
April 12, 2010 ·
47 lovely thoughts
posted in casey's musings,sewing
· tags: 2010 sewing, sewing
[ click for a larger view. ]
Please excuse a bit of a different post for Friday this week. Having been without my computer for most of the week, I didn’t keep up with my blog reading/bookmarking enough to be able to put together an Inspiration Week post for today!
After a few months of becoming painfully aware that the current state of jewelry “organization” was woefully inadequate (e.g. things piled into a small, vintage lotus bowl and stuffed in an organizer in my closet), I knuckled under and did something about it last weekend! A few years ago I had made a jewelry organizer from an old frame (hanging on the right), which worked for a time and still is in use now. But, not only did it need to be updated (new paint job), but I had outgrown it. I don’t have a huge costume jewelry collection, but it’s large enough and if I don’t have it out in the open I forget what I have.
[ click for a larger view. ]
So I decided to make a two piece set to house all my jewelry that could be hung to store it (necklaces, hook earrings, non-bangle bracelets) as well as a place for all my brooches. I used the smaller frame I already had and another I had picked up at a yardsale a couple months ago. Both were painted with a glossy black paint (leftover from painting our dining room chairs), and then I stocked up on silver tone nails, hooks, wire and window screening to add the storage capacity to each.
[ click for a larger view. ]
The larger frame got the screening for storing pins as well as a series of hooks to hang necklaces on from the bottom edge (tacked to the backside of the frame). The smaller frame was fitted again with wire (suspended between nails) to hold earrings. For less than $15, I have loads of storage space for my jewelry! For the first time in years, I’ve got almost all of it out on display so I know what I have and can actually wear it. lol.
How do you store your jewelry? Do you have an elaborate system, or something much more simple? I’d love to hear your ideas!!!
[ click for a larger view. ]
April 9, 2010 ·
31 lovely thoughts
posted in around the house,casey's musings
· tags: creativity, playing house
[ this year's Easter dress. ]
Thank you for all your sweet words of sympathy over computer drama! Thankfully, my geek husband was able to fix the issue after consulting a few friends who are equally computer savvy. So no files lost (even though I had backed everything up on my external drive, this incident reminds me I need to do it regularly!), no untimely computer death, and a very happy Casey! hehe! Now just to catch up on everything… *sigh*
[ more pictures of the dress here. ]
A handful of years ago when my family took a vacation to Charleston, SC, I fell in love with southern sweet tea. We ate at a variety of different, local places throughout our week long stay, and I made it my mission to taste as many varieties of sweet tea as I could! Even though I haven’t really had any since that trip (I already have enough of a sweet tooth without indulging it more often!), once the weather gets warm and the afternoons long and sunny, I always think about how a glass of cool sweet tea would be just the thing to make the day even better. This dress, which I made in time for Easter last weekend (so it became my unofficial “Easter dress”, I guess!), reminds me of the sort of dress I would have loved to wear sipping sweet tea during long lunches breaking from wandering around Charleston.
[ more pictures of the dress here. ]
The pattern I used is one that has been in my stash for quite a few months, and I just hadn’t gotten around to making! It’s Colette Patterns Parfait Dress. The fabric is actually two pillowcases I thrifted while Mom was visiting last month. Once I opened the seams, there was just enough fabric to make a dress! I flatlined the entire thing, since the pillowcase material was sheer.
[ more pictures of the dress here. ]
As with all the designs from the Colette Patterns line that I’ve made, I’m very pleased with the fit and the way all the pieces come together. However, that being said, there are a few changes I’d make if I sewed this up again (mostly personal preferences): I’d lengthen the midriff pieces about 1″. Even though the pattern is supposed to be a slightly higher waist, I have a long torso, so the “waist” sits around my stomach, which can sometimes be uncomfortable for me. I’d also lengthen the shoulder straps (again, that annoying long torso!) about 1″. Finally, the skirt was a bit too short for me (even when accounting for if I were to length the bodice midriff). This was an easy fix on this project: I just bought a couple yards of embroidered eyelet and tacked it to the hem. But on another incarnation of this pattern I might prefer to forgo the additional trim!
I hope you all are having a lovely, sun-filled week thus far!
April 8, 2010 ·
67 lovely thoughts
posted in casey's musings,sewing
· tags: 2010 sewing, colette patterns, sewing
Well, my dears… despite having a bunch of posts planned for Monday and Tuesday, my computer decided to have a meltdown and I am right now without any of my pictures or such to post! Grrrr! Thankfully, Sailor Husband is letting me use his computer, but I am without any of my files, emails that I received over the weekend, unable to post new listings to the shop… Is it just me or is it somewhat humorous how reliant we are on these little machines? hehe! Anyway, my apologies if you’re waiting for a reply from me; hopefully my computer will be up and running again soon!
So… Major frustration going on here, but oh well! I do hope you all are having much better (technology drama free!) weeks! Hopefully it shan’t be too long ’til I’m back to my normal posting schedule!
April 6, 2010 ·
6 lovely thoughts
posted in casey's musings,life
· tags: life
