Q and D

After finishing my leather skirt the other day, I made a quick and dirty dress (not really dirty, just wanted to say that for some reason. Kinda like down and dirty, but the sewing version.) Quick and dirty to me = TNT since I don't know what TNT stands for.

I've made this dress four times so far. Once for a multi-season LBD. The other versions are packed away waiting for the Chicago weather to settle into a real spring/summer (they actually may get unpacked today!)
This is the first time I've made this dress in a patterned fabric, and I'm loving it. AND, this fabric was remanents from a dress a friend of mine made, so this dress was absolutely FREE - 99! Additionally, I didn't do the double layer/lining that the instructions called for (I didn't think it was necessary on such a casual little summer dress)  and instead used self made bias tape. I also didn't include elastic at the waist since I will most likely wear a belt anyway.

I also completed this self drafted skirt for my friend and co-worker. I think she looks fantastic. I ended up taking the hem down 2" since she felt that the length was a bit too provocative .

Taking down the hem also reduced that bulky hem that you see in the picture. It wasn't noticeable IRL, but in the photo it looked horrible. Any tips/tricks on how NOT to have that problem?

I've been sewing up a storm and now I'm afraid I may have blown my sewjo. This feeling started creeping up on me yesterday (Saturday) so I dug through my stash (which usually helps) and switched my fall/winter immediate use fabrics (every couple of months I go through my seasonal fabric bins and determine what I think is "immediate use" and put this into a special bin. The thought is that I will use these fabrics first because they inspire me, or because in that moment the fabric is especially beautiful. The only problem with this logic is that the fabric in that bin is always changing, especially after a good fabric store run, or after being inspired by something else...) I felt the sewjo rev up a bit when I came across these beautiful hand created embroidered panels that I picked up at a designer fabric sale that happens at the Merchandise Mart a couple of times a year.

This is the panel with the largest embroidery design. I have three different panels in different sizes. The other two are actually mirrors image designs so there are two mirror image patterns on either side of a thin strip of fabric. Also, please excuse the wrinkles. This fabric is a nightmare to iron. Luckily, I only plan on using the embroidered parts. 

I love how you can see the actual design of the embroidery sketched onto the fabric. 

Even after (re)finding this beautiful fabric, I can tell the good ole sewjo its not at 100. I'm hoping its just that I need the right pattern to magically appear. Or maybe its that I need to work on the jacket I want to self draft. Or maybe I need to make something AH-MAY-ZING for a benefit dinner I'm attending on the 8th of May. Well, I have to make that since I can't go buy anything. :-)

I'm off to style.com to see if I can generate some energy to create...
Wish me luck!