Skirts!

I've been on a huge Etsy kick lately (it's about time!) and have been trying to list things regularly. For now, I'm succeeding! A tripod has now cured my photo-taking woes, so no longer will I be perching a camera precariously on a stack of books and boxes with pillows on the floor in case it falls. (Yes, most of the photos on this blog have been taken like that. And yes, my camera is still in tact, thankyouverymuch.)

I love skirts. Who doesn't? For a period of time (see: ages 8-14) I stopped wearing skirts for some insane reason, but now I adore them. I really only get to wear them on Sundays due to practicality issues, but I have a fantastic excuse to make as many as I like because of the shop.

I do NOT love tulle, however. Sure, when the it's already finished and made into something, it's fantastic, but actually working with it is painful.

The first skirt pictured below was ridiculously time consuming and extremely difficult to make, simply because the tulle would NOT cooperate. Honestly, I sewed it on and took it off three separate times (and pinned it in several other ways, trying to make it work) before I gave up and made an underskirt. I think I spent at least ten hours on this. It's when you do the math and realize you're paying yourself less than three dollars an hour for something that you know you're doing it because you love it. Except, unfortunately, I didn't love making this skirt. I loved the outcome, though, and that makes it all worth it!

I LOVED making this skirt, though. I've been hoarding the fabric since early September, not able to decide what to make with it. Finally, I had an epiphany and realized that a two-layer circle skirt would be amazing. Everything else, bows included, came in an afterthought of "hey, wouldn't this be cool?" just like most of my designs. I love spontaneity.

Lemme tell you, this skirt is wonderful. It twirls so awesomely (see first picture), hangs even better, and did I mention that it's silver? (Oh, yeah. They're both for sale. http://www.etsy.com/)

In other, non-sewing related news that I'm sure you all care SO much about... my room is green! I'll get a progress-picture up later, but you can see a wall in some of these pictures. The green is so much more green in artificial light, but I like it both ways. Although, it's much prettier in person.

Clearly, I'm procrastinating on my novel. But with a new CD (Taylor Swift's new album Fearless! It came out today and it is AMAZING and you should go out and buy it NOW, okay?) to listen to while writing, I should be alright...

More updates soon to come!

Edited to say: HOLD UP. Did I just update twice in the span of one week? Is the world going to stop revolving around the sun or something? Because posts that often have got to mean something life-altering!

Sailor shirt

I can't write much right now, but I am finally getting my shop in order and listing items. I would be modeling things, but my set up is a little difficult and it's just easier at the moment to have Doris do it.

Sailor shirt out of striped cotton jersey. Tabs, pretty buttons. Particularly proud of the even stitching on the neckline. (Check out the listing at http://www.mateycouture.etsy.com! Shameless plug? Me? No way. :P)

Sorry, I know this is a pretty impersonable post, but all of my words have been going towards my novel. 6444 words and counting! Oh, yes, I'm two thousand words behind where I should be. You can check out my profile: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/139532 The excerpt is... well... unconnected to the rest of my book, but I wrote it on the first day before I even thought up a plot and yes, I realize it's extremely angsty and emo. No, despite appearances and the title, the novel is not actually like that.

Yet.

Off to write--wish my luck!

A sheet dress

So a few weeks back (or longer, haha), I posted a medieval style dress I'd made out of sheets. Normal clothes, too, can be made out of sheets too, as you will see below.

I love this dress! It's a crossover-styled top with elastic in the back for a variable fit. My favorite part would definitely be the long sashes, because it can be worn in totally different ways. It's like an infinity dress out of non-stretchy material! Oh, and do you happen to recognize the material? Back... um, February? March?... winter, at least, I posted about how I'd dyed some sheets. That's right, this is the top sheet!

I know, I know it's low cut and shorter than something I'd normally wear, and it's certainly the wrong time of year to be making a sundress, but it's so cute and worn with, say, a slouchy cardigan, tights, and knee-high boots, it's perfect for fall. Or winter, if you live in one of those crazy places where it doesn't snow much, and it gets warm and spring-like in March. Trust me, that never happens in Minnesota!

Anyway, onto pictures:

Empire waisted:

The back, with elastic:
This is my favorite way to wear it-- it's quite Grecian and waist-defining:

Although this one is for me, I am planning on making a few to sell on Etsy (which I'm going to update any day now, I swear!)-- some out of sheets, some out of this lovely printed rayon I picked up sometime during the summer.

Also any day now, I'll be taking proper photographs of a few things I keep meaning to list on my shop, so I'll be sure to show you those. And, of course, my lovely jeans (which, while styled to my specifications, stretch out right away and get really baggy, haha).

During the next month, I promise I'll try and post more often (I always say that!), but if you only get a post with pictures, you'll have to excuse me: all of my writing will probably be going towards my novel, as I'm again participating in National Novel Writing Month (http://www.nanowrimo.org/). For the sake of my fingers and the carpel tunnel I'll be getting, don't complain! Just kidding. :)

Ron Paul shirt & Wrap skirt

September 2 I went to the largest Ron Paul event thus far-- The Campaign for Liberty held its Rally For the Republic, an all-day event with many notable speakers and entertainers that all led up to Ron Paul speaking for liberty and about his campaign, what he stands for, the grassroots supporters, and how the C4L will help restore the GOP to its roots and bring back constitutional values in our government.

It was awesome and I'd post pictures from the actual event, but I forgot to bring my camera with me! I do, however, have pictures of the shirt that I made specifically for the event. It's a t-shirt recon, with puffy sleeves, a v-neck, and hand-stenciled text on the front.

I also made the skirt (not to wear to the event) that I'd been planning for a couple months. I saw this amazing, flattering wrap skirt in a store, but it seemed simple enough to made so instead of buying the skirt, I bought fabric. :) It's a light rayon and is extremely comfortable to wear. It also doesn't really wrinkle, so it's perfect for travel! It's huge; it goes around my waist twice.

Photos of newer stuff will be coming soon. Not to hint or anything, but I made jeans. And they pretty much rock. =D

Typical Busy Fall

During which my laptop needs a clean-up and is therefore currently out of service, I decide to again participate in National Novel Writing Month (http://www.nanowrimo.org/-- that's for YOU, Dana! I'm just in the planning stages right now...), I work on bringing my Etsy back to life, store up some stock for the holidays, and we decide to paint the entire upstairs of our house. (My floor and walls are going to be GREEN! It will be amazing.) Oh yes, and I also muddle through my junior year.

Because my laptop is waiting to be picked up from the technician's, I won't be able to show you pictures until after Sunday. But I figured I would quickly update at least to let you know what's been going on. And when I do post pictures I should have some good shots from a photo shoot with fall colors, along with my lovely low-quality self-timer ones taken with a sheet backdrop in my sewing room-- don't we love those?