by andrea on December 28, 2010
Here is some exciting news for me and my clients. I’m moving my work room downstairs, where I have a ton more room. This will help immensely with keeping my materials organized, having room to work, have consults and fittings, and the general ability to walk on the floor. If you had seen my first room, you would understand…. The “organized chaos” was slowly becoming less and less organized, and more just plain chaotic.
I am currently transporting my fabric collection, trying to organize as I go, but I will post pictures of my new space very soon!
by andrea on December 8, 2010
This jacket is made from a woven stripe wool, and is lined with black satin, so it feels so nice to wear. It reminds me of a smoking jacket because of the low, unnotched, satiny lapels, but I think the double breasted buttons make it more business than lounge.
If you are interested in buying this piece and are between size 8 and 12, drop me a line to come try it on! I would sell it for $150.
by andrea on December 2, 2010
I’ve saved a pair of jeans!
I bought these second hand and like them because they make my bum look nice. I disliked them for many other reasons. The fact that the zipper wouldn’t stay up required constant attention, they were stretch denim so I was always hiking them up, and too low rise so I had to wear them with long shirts only. (After having two kids I am no longer comfortable showing my tummy skin to the public…)
Problems solved! Since I was able to pull the jeans up without undoing the button and zipper, I just sewed the darn thing SHUT. Zipper never to open again…. Then I proceeded to attach a wide waistband with a front invisible zipper. This helps them to stay up AND covers the goods. If I were to do this fix again, I probably would have used a regular not invisible zipper. Though the result is good looking, it is not as strong as zippers designed for jeans/pants.
When I put these on for the first time after fixing them, I was elated with how good they felt. They are 100% better.
by andrea on December 2, 2010
Here is a silly little (big) brooch I fashioned out of scrap fabric, a button, and a safety pin. I also used a starchy spray to get the fabric to not flop over so much. I like all the different textures and how it’s so flamboyant.
by andrea on November 7, 2010
What a fun project this was! I love making all sorts of different things. Kim had been planning another project for me to do, when she was distracted by this beautiful gold and black geometric brocade in the fabric store. So we put the other project on hold while constructing this unique 20’s inspired coat.
I love how it turned out, and I think Kim is also pretty pleased. Check out the stand up collar with the pleats. I’m sure it feels nice to nestle your face into such luxurious fabric. We both love piping, and the tuck detail in center front. And such extravagant sleeves! Thank you for employing my services Kim, it was a pleasure to create a garment with a fellow vintage lover.
by andrea on November 3, 2010
Here’s my family all dressed up for our favourite holiday!
I didn’t make most of the costumes, because Value Village has such deals. Bert’s monkey costume was only $6 which is way less than the materials and labour would cost. I made Ruby’s cowgirl vest (to be like Woody’s) and I sewed fringe down the sides of her jeans like Curious George had. She helped me cut the fabric into fringe, and let me tell you she loves to use scissors (just like her mama). My husband Don had everything he needed for his Fidel Castro costume in his wardrobe already, except the cigar. He usually bases his costume around his beard. I am not in the photos this year (my mom’s holding Bert), but I was also a cowgirl on Ruby’s suggestion. She likes to dress up so we match. 
by andrea on October 26, 2010
I can’t believe I haven’t posted these pictures yet! It was my huge project this year. Lauren’s wedding was July 23rd, and I had been working on her wedding dress and her bridesmaids for a year before that. Actually, I made her sister Carmen’s bridesmaid dress (whose grad dress is a few posts back), Roberta’s bridesmaid dress, and Meredith’s groomslady top (her pencil skirt is bought). Lauren’s third bridesmaid Katie lives in B.C. so she got her dress made there, but I still needed to alter it to fit her when she arrived a week before the wedding.
I was super pleased with my work here, especially for the lacey wedding gown. I love sewing for this family! They always bring me interesting ideas for dresses to create, and are a joy to work with. I might even say that Lauren’s dress is the most beautiful thing I have ever made. “More beautiful than my own wedding dress,” you ask? Some reasons for this: 1)the fabric is more fancy and expensive than I could afford for my own, 2) it fit her like a glove because I didn’t have to worry about her body changing shape from just having a baby, and 3)it was more perfectly made, as things usually are when I sew for people other than myself. All said and done, this wedding dress is something I am still really proud of. Mostly because of Lauren’s reaction when it was all finished and done and ready to take home. She was so giddy and excited and appreciative, I was really touched. It is sooo important to me that the client is happy with what I’ve made for them.
Sorry the pictures are not in any kind of logical order. If you’ve read my posts before, you know I am technologically impaired and just barely know how to make a post. The professional shots at the wedding were taken by Jeremy Hiebert, who has his own photography blog.
by andrea on October 19, 2010
I met Kim this summer past when she contacted me to get some dresses made for her Wiccan practice. Shown here is the dark green velour gown with “chain link” sleeves, as she calls them. It has two rows of genuine moonstone beads sewn to the neckline. I also made a black velour hooded mantle lined with green satin to go with it. I have already made a short sleeved white velour version of the gown that i failed to get a picture of. And she tells me there are more to come! Her goddesses contact her and guide her in what the gowns should look like, and she communicates the idea to me to make it a reality. I’m glad to help yet another client find the specific garments they need that are not available in the mass market!
by andrea on October 11, 2010
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Internet world!
I am thankful for my beautiful family and friends and for doing work that I love. I am thankful that I can work at home, that I am my own boss, that I can be heavily tattooed, and I am thankful for my clients that seek me out for my services and afford me the opportunity to create something beautiful and personal, and always one of a kind. My heart really goes into everything I make, so it’s a personal experience for me too.
I am thankful to be living my life.
by andrea on September 23, 2010
Hey, here I am again! Did you think I was out of commission?
No, I have been busily sewing and taking care of my children. The computer is usually quite low on my priority list, sorry to say, but I have resolved to put in a concerted effort to better maintain my blog! Starting fresh, staying on top of things! These are nice notions to entertain.
I will start by posting some pictures from long ago (Nov 2008) that I recently found.
Materials used include a couple old sweaters and skirts, scrap ribbon, and buttons (and some fresh purple knit fabric). All things lying around my workspace. As I like to give my creations weird little names, these two are called Flapper Nerd and Grapes of Rad respectively. I put them up for sale at Sew Dandee for the 2008 Christmas season, and I believe they both found homes. So long lost dresses, I remember you!
