Saturday, May 7, 2011

Gertie's Week in Review {5.7.11}

Happy Saturday, friends! Are you enjoying your weekend so far? Well, let's get right into the weekly review.

On Tuesday, I met with my editor and talked deadlines for finishing up my book. While this was terrifying in a way, it was also really good to get everything out in the open. Today I'm finalizing the list of illustrations and photos needed, which is IMMENSE. We found an amazing illustrator, and we'll get her drawing soon. We're also looking at photographers. Have I mentioned that I'm modeling all the garments for the book? I need modeling advice. Has Tyra Banks written a book, with "smizing" advice and stuff like that? Because I'm gonna need that. Otherwise, I might start taking all my modeling cues from LOLVogue.

Hey, I did something really fun and spontaneous this week! So, I teach my intro to sewing class on Thursday nights at 7:00. Because I have a little time between work and my class, I usually bring some sewing to get done for the book. But I forgot to do that this past Thursday. And friends, I suddenly got the urge to sew something just for fun. No muslins, no fussing, just spontaneous sewing. I had just gotten this McCalls pattern in the mail from eBay.
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A couple of you suggested this pattern as the perfect thing to help recreate the Nanette Lepore we talked about a couple weeks ago. And you were so right!

So between work and class, I made a mad dash to Mood and bought a couple yards of black eyelet, some bias binding, some super wide grosgrain ribbon, and a zipper. And before class, I had the dress cut out! And last night I sewed the whole darn thing. Readers, it was liberating. And I love the dress. I'll take some pictures this weekend.

Okay, back to that illustration list now. Have a great weekend!

17 comments:

  1. Ooh, I can't wait to see the dress! I love eyelet fabric :)
    Ashley x

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  2. That dress sounds great! I can't wait to see it. And for modeling, I'd say don't forget your feet. Tyra always talks about modeling "H to T" (head to toe). That and "smizing" is all I've learned from Top Model.

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  3. Wow, sewing just for fun - does that really exist? I can't wait to see your dress! It's prom season, so I'm buried in frou-frou! Check out my post on just that if you have a free minute! http://www.learnhowtosewnow.com

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  4. It seems to be easier to model someone else's stuff than your own. You could tell someone else what you want the photos to be like, then get that person to direct you.

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  5. Oh great I can't wait to see how yours came out.

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  6. Nice! That is a great style for a "breather" project. I need one of those soon... I'm deep into sewing up a wedding dress, and I keep eyeing my cute cotton prints and thinking about whipping up something fast like new grocery bags as a break. ;)

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  7. I love me some LOLcats, but LOLvogue is teh funneh.

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  8. I can't wait to see your eyelet dress, its the kind of style I love. Wish I was accomplished enough to finish a dress as quickly as you, I'm a newbie to sewing so the simplest projects seem to take weeks!

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  9. I've been looking at a Derek Lamn denim shift-dress with orange topstiching, a cool $600.

    This pattern would be perfect -- and since the DL/$600 dress didn't go past a size 10, it might even fit!

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  10. I always find that playing music helps me to relax and be more natural before the camera when modeling. Another helpful thing is having someone there that can make you laugh.

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  12. Nothing is more creatively motivating to me than having a bunch of great things I am "supposed" to be working on! Bravo. Looking forward to seeing it. k (ugh, typo)

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  13. The dress sounds amazing. Can't wait to see it!

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  14. Oh and I don't know a thing about modeling, but a former beauty queen once taught me how to stand for a photo to make myself look thinner. She said it's important to keep your arms away from your sides. This is why models so often have their hands on their hips. And she said sucking in my gut and sticking out my boobs wouldn't hurt either. ;)

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  15. Ooh, I have that McCalls pattern and just love it. I did have to alter it though as the 'scoop' in the back was far too low for me. I made it with a really full skirt in a bright blue cotton that had smallish white polka dots. The bodice is so flattering and provides perfect real estate for a broach or two :)

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  16. Gertie, did you out bid me on ebay for that pattern? >:-O It's ok, the seller had more and I got a second chance offer. ;-) I can't wait to get mine. I am still tossing up between the black eyelet lined with electric blue or the red lined with red...maybe I need both, hmm. Please take some photos and any tips?

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  17. It's great that you could do a little non-obligatory-just-for-fun sewing! I envy you for being able to put a garment together so quickly. I'm terribly slow, it's very frustrating.

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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