Ah, is there anything more luxurious than rubbing your furry butt all over hundreds of dollars worth of fabric? Pip is one smart cookie: she has an uncanny ability to know when I've pulled out my best fabrics and to promptly plop herself down on them.
I've been dreaming of holiday dresses lately, and I treated myself to some outrageously decadent French chantilly lace, inspired by this Erdem number, as worn by Michelle Williams:
My first thought upon bringing the lace home was "
Note to self: do not let Pip sleep on this fabric." Ha! I should have known there was no escaping it. I left the room for a couple minutes and came back to find her posed regally atop a mountain of red Chantilly lace, rose-printed silk organza, and coral-y pink voile. She knows the good stuff; I'll give her that. Anyway, it was far too adorable for me to be mad at her.
As for the dress, I've been working on the pattern. I draped a basic dress pattern and then made the design details by flat pattern-making. I'm working out the design and fit issues through a simple cotton version that's almost complete. I am so excited to start working with the lace!
You know who else can rock some red Chantilly?
That's right: Lady Gaga, Michelle Williams, and Pip.
P.S. I'll be back this weekend with a sew-along post or two!
Lovely! I guess the viedo outfit was made with the remnants of the stage outfit lol! Can't wait to see what you make out of it!
ReplyDeleteCat's certainly have a propensity to hone in on the good fabric! ;) Thankfully, pet rabbits are a bit easier to shoo (and keep away from the fabrics!), but they still have a taste for the good pieces. haha. I love the inspiration dress--I can't wait to see what your version looks like!!! :)
ReplyDelete♥ Casey | blog
Can't wait to see more. Michelle Williams dress is awesome. I'm sure you will create a stunning dress!
ReplyDeleteMust be something about fabric, patterns and cats. Whenever I whip out some fabric or a pattern the cat goes on this destructo binge. I see that a lot of 'sewists' have cats too.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, your kitty has good taste and love of fabrics. It takes a long time with you ..... Everything is spread ...
ReplyDeleteRed+Lace=legen-dary
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if you showed a few tricks on how you do seams with the lace, or darts. I am doing a Beignet from Colette patterns with the yoke in lace too, and I am a bit clueless on the methods that have to be used...
hahaha my cat does the same thing as soon as you start sewing he seems to want to get involved
ReplyDeletePip must be a Big Bopper fan! I've been thinking of lace myself and I'm eager to reap the benefits of you sewing with it.
ReplyDeleteCute kittie and scrumptious looking fabric. Looking forward to seeing this dress take shape!
ReplyDeletegaaaaaa..... lady gaga on the brain before i've finished my coffee!
ReplyDeleteI would have done exactly what pip did. Loving the cloud of rosey flowery fabric! Can't wait to see the finished product and I second Laurwyn... working-with-lace tips would rule!
My cat does the same thing! She also likes playing with pattern pieces so I always have to shut the door when I am sewing.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see your version of the red lace dress! I also think it will look better on a brunette! LOL
ReplyDeleteAs for Pip... such a darling! How can you say no to a face like that! LOL
OMG, this will be BEAUTIFUL!! Cannot wait to see it.
ReplyDeleteThe red will be lovely on you! Can't wait to see the finished product.
ReplyDeletemmm i know what you're talking about! My cat was also an expensive fabric detector:)) greetings to Pip;)
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ReplyDeleteToo funny! And you're so right... I think cats have homing magnets in their butts for the fabric. Mine will be nowhere to be seen and if I leave the room for a second they both will be sitting or grooming themselves on my fabric when I get back. Haha :)
ReplyDeleteLovely lace! Can't wait to see your creation!
(sorry, spelling error. Note to self to not type before tea)
I decided to leave my comment here since I can't find a guest book :)
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog last week and I am totally in love. I have been wishing for some information on practical sewing advice from someone who actually knows what they are doing! I am a beginning sewer but I am signed up for a class at the community college in the spring.
I love your sew along posts. They are the best I have seen on the internet yet, because you actually *help* people and walk them through the methods of sewing a pattern they may otherwise not have tried because it seems to complicated (like me!). Please keep doing them. I'm currently on the market for a good jeans sew-along (to make bell bottoms...a bit too close to the 21st century, but still retro, right? :P)
Just wanted to say thanks and still have not discovered all there is to see in your blog!!! Thanks to you, thinking about sewing keeps me up at night! :)
Absolutely LOVE that Michelle Williams dress. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHey Gertie
ReplyDeleteAm new to the blogosphere, and still pretty new to dressmaking. Every sewing blog I come across seems to reference your tutorials so I thought I'd stop by and have a look! All I can say is fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. (Saw the GaGa at the O2 in London by the way. Ferocious!). I feel like I've discovered a valuable new resource for my sewing studies. Thank you!
Miss P
xxx
I loved that dress Michelle William's wore! Do fantastic!
ReplyDeleteMichelle Williams looks incredible in that shade of red! Wow. Now I want to dye my hair platinum all over again. I feel in love with red lace recently when I saw Megan Washington (Australian singer) on the red carpet in this dress: http://www.fabsugar.com.au/Megan-Washington-red-carpet-2010-Aria-Awards-Sydney-Opera-House-11863700
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be one fine dress. Can't wait to see it!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Vogue 8615 would work for this pattern. The dress looks like a similar cut.
ReplyDeleteMichelle's dress is stunning (as are her platinum locks!); I can't wait to see your version - the fabrics are totally gorgeous. Cats are always puffin' up the good stuff. At this very moment I can see my little friend Quincy poking her head into a bag full of fancy eyelet cotton I picked up the other day. Tellement mignonne!
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