Inspiration: Denim Skirt

I wear a lot of denim. Jeans obviously, but I've had a couple of denim skirts in my closet that have been long-time staples and that I can't stop wearing. I feel like it's a style that never really goes away, and I'm planning a jeans to skirt refashion to add another version to my wardrobe.

Currently the trend is for distressed - a new, classier twist to the grungy 90's. I like it for the bit of edge that it gives an otherwise classic piece. Without going as far as 5&6 below, I might give it a try on my next project...

 

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Random browsing find

I came upon this dress  a bit randomly (through this style blog that I really love), and thought it was funny how the bodice had the same dart details as the dress I just made...Just as I was saying that I havent seen this detail often...

Sleeveless Ponte Dress from Tibi

That means I could easily recreate it with my current pattern. This one is ponte knit and the skirt is a simple A-line...

You can see the "cross" effect of the center seam and bust darts...

I'm thinking a peplum top in knit fabric would work well too...

Burda Magazine September 2011

The last Burda Magazine I bought was May I think, and I was only attracted to a couple patterns (actually, this one is the whole reason I bought the issue).

I was just looking at the September Issue (the burda one, not the other one, hehe), and for once I thought some patterns looked interesting.

I especially like this one:

It looks so simple but smart, I could pair this with at least half of my wardrobe...

the dress made with the same neckline is certainly interesting and would be worth closer study I think.

This jacket looks effortless and with the right fabric, quite chic. Even with a nice drapy jersey for a more casual feel (and I'm a sucker for super-long sleeves).

The jumpsuit is also interesting. I've been considering making one lately, but it could be such a hit and miss affair, I would have to be really attracted by the pattern..

I find this picture quite...wrong (the colors, the styling, it looks so dated and... blah), but I like the jacket's wide "lapels" that turn into the raised collar when zipped up.

This dress is definitely cute, although it doesn remind me of patterns from earlier issues that I already own.

This coat is cute too (but maybe that's just the model's haircut distracting me)

And this top could be kind of cool in the right contrasting material...

Inspiration: Pinterest

Do you guys know about Pinterest ?

I stumbled upon it while browsing (I know I read somebody's blogpost about but I can't remember whom) and I fell in love with the idea right away.

Basically, it is a site that allows you to catalogue the inspiration you find on the web.
Once you've become a member, you add a "Pin It" button to your bookmark bar on your browser then everytime you come across a photo that inspires you, you can pin it and it saves it into one of your virtual "boards". It also creates a link to the website the photo is from. You can therefore also pin recipes, articles, tutorials, any type of content as long as there is a photo/illustration with it that can become part of your catalogue, and easily keep track of your internet finds.

You can also upload photos from your computer, and add a link to the original website in the description or use any image as illustration for any link you want to save.

Pinterest is also a community, and everything that you pin appears on the main page, so you can see what other members have pinned and they can "repin" your inspirations, etc...Therefore making it an amazing resource for visual inspiration.

I think it's a brillliant idea.
I've been collecting inspiration photos off the internet for months, storing them on my computer, but for half of it, I don't remember where it's from, and though they are organized in folders, I can't look at them as a whole.
This allows you to see all these inspiration as if they were... well, pinned on your wall, and it's nice to go back and rediscover things you'd forgotten about. Plus it doesn't take up any space on your computer...

My only comment so far would be that you can't organize your pins within a board (rearrange them together), or at least I haven't figured out how...That concept has already been in place with Polyvore, which is more of a "mood board" application, but I found Polyvore more limited in the type of photos you can use (mostly objects on a white backdrop, and it links primarily to online stores where these photos are used). The two compliment each other I think, and you could even pin a Polyvore mood board on Pinterest if you wanted to...

I already have 9 boards, and obviously there's one for sewing inspiration.
Check it out here:

Inspiration: Weekend Designer

Today while browsing my usual blog roll, I ended up on Don's blog Weekend Designer.

Don Morin, designer and instructor, very generously provides free instructions to draw patterns inspired from RTW. The instructions are very detailed, with the measurements to use for each line of the patterns, followed by assembly instructions to put your garment together.

This blog has been around for a while, so everybody but me probably already knows about it, but being fairly new to the internet sewing community, I am once again amazed at this odd thing the internet is, which allows people to share selflessly their knowledge with whomever is interested.

Anyway, I've spotted a few projects that I'm already itching to try and make (click on the photo to access the tutorial):

winter vest by Chulo Pony

a stylish double-breasted vest by Moloh

an easy ruffled top with bateau neck from Abaeté

a Cloche-hat ! (this one from Banana Republic)

Inspiration: Fantasizing about more projects

I've felt quite frustrated sewing-wise lately, because every morning at breakfast and every night coming home I see my dress form in the corner of our living room with my unfinished dress on it...Still no time to do anything to it, and so in the meantime, while reading about all the fabulous projects getting done out there, I'm making matters worse by fantasizing about all the other clothes I don't have time to make.

So here are some random inspirations, in no particular order. Note that non of them are recent so you guys have probably seen all of this already...

As my next project, I want to try this jacket (after the dress I might squeeze a quick and easy - instant gratification project though) :

It's from BWOF - April 2010 I think. I like the zipper details on the sleeves and the fact that it has a very simple collar. I would love to have it as a mid-season jacket, when it gets too cool in the morning to go out in short-sleeves...I actually already have fabric for it, a cotton/linen/hemp blend in a natural color. I am hoping it won't be too wrinkly though. I am considering lining it with a floral fabric or using a contrasting twill tape...

Going thtough my blogroll I noticed this vintage dress worn by Jessica from What I Wore. I love that it looks as comfortable as your favorite t-shirt. With a few minor alterations to the top (and length), I could use Simplicty 8749, purchased a couple months ago, to make something similar.

I also recently went through all the (free) patterns that I downloaded from Burda Style, and this is one I'd like to try in a near future:

This fitted top is by Ichigogirl. I really like the fact that it's button-down, and it could work in cboth asual and evening wear styles.

This dress by Anajan seams like a great go-to summer/work appropriate dress.

so could be this one:

And since we're in the HP patterns, though it is not as summery as above, I also kinda like this coat as a mid-season outwear :

Amongst the many beautiful projects getting posted everyday, here are a few I bookmarked lately:

I love this top by Ophelia K - another inspiration for the flowery fabric I purchased recently:

Also LOVE this dress:

reminds me of one that I wore as a kid...Brings back a lot of fun memories of summers spent on the swing in my backyard, pretending If I swung high enough I'd be able to fly...

and I've also been really inspired with the Sew Convert's recent Japanese book projects:

It's all so pretty and fresh !

As I was mentionning earlier, I need a (really) fast and (really) easy project to help get rid of some of that no-sewing frustration. This tutorial by One Pearl Button might just be it and I happen to have some end-of-roll fabric for it...

So this is it (for now anyway) for my current inspirations. Sorry if there's really nothing new here, just me helplessly fantasizing about my summer-wardrobe-that-could-have-been.
Actually some of you might have already completed one of these project. I'd love to hear about it and see how it turned out !

How about a list....

I Love making lists, it keeps my head from feeling all cluttered inside and from having to think over and over about things I have/want to do .

When it comes to sewing though, I so far never made an actual list, because in that area I for once don't really have a plan. It's usually my fabric finds that dictates my next project. However I did recently start a "log" of all the patterns that I've been wanting to use. It includes a small photo from the magazine/envelope, and the list of notions. Every once in a while I go fabric shopping and bring it along, and that way when I see a fabric I like, if no particular pattern comes to my mind I will go through the log and sure enough there's a style in there that's right for the pattern. Is it a bit overkill ? Maybe. But again it's all about keeping that clutter organized, somewhere else than inside my head.

But after reading Tasia's post, I realized I do have a few items that I have been longing to make for quite a while, regardless of my pattern or fabric finds, ever since I first started sewing actually and realized that instead of (hoplessly) looking for that perfect piece of clothing in stores, I could just as easily (um...) make it myself.

So here is a (short) list and as it turns out, these are rather wintery items (the overcast, windy weather and rather cool temperature out here probably also have a lot to do with me thinking about these right now - I'm sorry if you're reading this from a hot and dry place and you get cooked just by reading through this post) :

A long-sleeve (or 3/4 sleeve) dress that would be both comfortable and effortless. I could throw it on to lounge around the house as well as to go out for coffee or drinks without feeling under/overdressed.
Sibeli, who is featured on Burdastyle this week, made such a dress with a pattern I would have totally overlooked otherwise, thinking it looked too classic or "stiff" for my idea. I love how she turned the style into something fun, feminine and that looks both pretty and effortless.

A vest. It can totally pull an outfit together. It works on top of a tee with jeans, as well as with a blouse and skirt. I love the denim one I bought a few years back, and I would like to have an equivalent in a darker fabric.
I really like Tasia's because it's simple and totally versatile. I think this New Look pattern would be interesting to try as it offers either one or three buttons versions (not so crazy about the pink one being modeled on the envelope though).

A long(ish) skirt. I am tall (5'11) and I love the look of a long winter skirt with boots, and a short fitted jacket. That's most definitely one of the easiest thing to make, but I have yet to find the right fabric for it. Actually one of the garment I've had for the longest time in my closet is a long corduroy skirt from Zara. I have had it for over 10 years even though I haven't worn it much in the past couple years. I know it doesn't sound very modern looking but it was sooooo comfortable, and silly as it sounds, I just love the drapy sound of the fabric when I walked.
I wouldn't make my new skirt in curdoroy though, probably a drapy, heavy wool blend, and I would love to find a fabric with a border pattern.
I saw this one in Burda and this is exactly the look I would go for.

I actually woulnd't mind a summery one as well, in a nice solid color, or a very simple print, something light and flowy (this is not the best example, but I do like the shape ):

Since I just mentioned it, next on my list is a fitted jacket. In my mind, I have this fantasy of the perfect jacket, that I could wear with just about anything. It would be versatile and flattering and I would become my favorite item I ever sewed...
Well, I have yet to decide on a pattern for it for one thing, as well as find the courage to tackle it. I would most likely make a muslin first, which means it would take me twice as long to finish it as any other garments I made without one...And if the result isn't perfect I will be sooo disappointed...
But, I guess at one point you have to stop fantasizing and make it happen. So will 2010 be the year ? We'll see...
There are a few styles I like in my Burda stash, including this version from the latest issue, and I also have the Simplicity pattern with the No Fuss Fit instructions. I might give that one a try just to see what it's all about and practice.

A Trench coat. Another essential I have never owned (neither store-bought let alone me-made). I do have a refashion project planned that needs a bit more thinking. But I would love to be able to make one from scratch.
This one by Gina Sophia looks awesome, I love the shape and the color:

Finally I also have a very specific winter coat that I want to make, I've had the pattern for a couple years but I am definitely not ready for it just yet....once I've (hopefully successfully) finished all these items above then we'll see...

I don't want this list to become my "sewing plan" and put a deadline on it or anything, as there are a lot more specific patterns I also want to use. But I know that eventually the right fabric will come along for one of these and it will be time to make it....

Inspiration: Built by Wendy

Ok, obvisouly this brand has been around for a while and you guys probably know all about it already, but I don't recall ever hearing about Built by Wendy back in France...

I just found out about it today on Ali's blog the wardrobe, reimagined, and I've fallen in love with pretty much their entire summer 2010 collection...

I wouldn't mind emptying out a bunch of things from my closet if I could replace them by some of these:

This one would be perfect for my trip to the hot and dry Okanagan next week...

I absolutely LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE these two dresses. Don't know which one I love most. If I had them I'd keep changing back and forth between them...

I love black, but I usually wear it in the winter and prefer colors in the summer...but for these two I would make an exception...And the casual-everyday-jeans-and-tee gal in me is screaming for that fruit bowl shirt...

Feminine, simple yet beautiful....perfect.

Now that I think of it, I do remember reading about the "built-by-you" patterns, since I started browsing the sewing blogosphere, but to be honnest their pattern collection on the other hand doesn't inspire me so much...except maybe for this one....

ok, ok, that's enough drooling for now....