Friday, July 8, 2011

Take My Online Bombshell Dress Course (with 50% Off!)

Yay, the time has finally come! I can share all the info with you about my online course for Craftsy.

For those of you who have asked for an Alfred Shaheen-inspired sarong dress pattern: this is it! The course comes with a BurdaStyle pattern included for a bustier dress with a draped skirt, perfect for the vintage Tiki Bombshell look.

The video course shows you how to make the dress, from downloading the pattern to executing all sorts of couture techniques, like underlining, a waist stay, and a molded boned bodice. I show fitting techniques for large and small busts as well. You can customize your dress with removable straps and different skirt styles.
 Or make only the bodice for a cute bustier top!
Also, the Craftsy platform is really cool, allowing you to ask questions at exact moments in the video, upload pictures, and bookmark things you want to come back to. You can take it whenever you want and do the lessons at your own pace.

You can go watch a preview and register for 50% off here. It's a steal, if I do say so myself. Only $30 for 15 video lessons. (You have to use the links I give you in this post to get the discount price.)

I hope I don't sound like too much of a sap when I say this is a thrilling moment for me. I feel like this course really defines the work I've been doing on this blog for the past couple years. This dress is one of my favorite vintage styles and the construction techniques are the kind of stuff I love to geek out over. The folks at Craftsy took all of that and made it into a pretty, shiny package.

I hope you'll take the course! Please let me know if you have questions about it.



75 comments:

  1. When does the course start? How long does it run? I'm a curvy gal - will I be able to get into the dress when the class is done? Does alterations instruction include FBA + protuding tummy alteration?

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  2. I am so interested! What Burda pattern is the course using?

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  3. Just wached preview video, and love it. I will subscribe tonight after work and hope to get started this weekend. I am very excited! By the way, the preview looks very professional. Great job Gertie!

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  4. I love the preview. It's adorable. I just bought it. Hoping this dress will not look too skanky on my larger bust.

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  5. Your preview video is really great. I love the fact that you can make the dress in your own style. I hope to take the class soon, as I'm really into learning couture sewing techniques! Great job, Gertie!

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  6. Congratulations!!!
    Looking forward to some virtual lessons!

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  7. looks fantastic! Is the price $30 or $34.99? Its showing the later when I click through

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  8. DaneMum, you can take it whenever you want and watch the 15 lessons at your own pace. Yes, I cover FBA and fitting the skirt to your measurements. (Not specifically protruding tummy, but adding width at the hips.)

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  9. Oh, and I fixed the link so you'll get the $29.99 course when you click it. Sorry!

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  10. Nice job Gertie! I'll sign up, though I won't be able to start sewing for a while...
    C

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  11. Love this idea- but this dress isn't one for me. (I like to make things I can wear to work.)
    Gretchen, do you have more of these courses in the pipeline?

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  12. Woo-hoo! I've just signed up to the site & bought the lessons :)

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  13. Omg BOUGHT.

    THANK YOU for listening to us! :-) I am so happy that I can finally have a go at making this dress. I think I have the perfect fabric which I've been hanging on to for a long time just for this style of dress.

    You're the best! *hugs*

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  14. This is so exciting. I am so happy to know you. You are doing so many wonderful things for the sewing community. I adore this style.

    I have a question. My baby is due in the next four to six weeks, and I am very busy preparing for her arrival. Do you know if this course will remain available in the future so that if this is not a good time in someone's life, they can take it later? And one other question. When you sign up, how long is the course available to you. Like, if I signed up now, would I still be able to access it in six months or a year; or does it remain open for only a specified amount of time?

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  15. Esz, thank you. :) Your comment made me smile and I read it out loud to Jeff.

    Trudy, if you buy it the course is yours forever! It will always remain on the site for purchase too.

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  16. I love your preview video - so fun! I'm signing up today. Next, I think we need a class on making a custom fitted powernet slip to go under the dress:)

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  17. why did I just pay $34.99 and now its $29.99??

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  18. I just signed up. Hope I get it done in time for my vacation in Aug. If not I guess I'll just have to wear it to take the kids to the park. Might get some strange looks here is the suberbia but oh well.

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  19. Erika, that's my fault. I provided the wrong link. E-mail me and I'll make sure you get a refund.

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  20. Totally bought it! I think it's a great deal and the layout of the sight is so cute. I am excited!

    The only problem is: where is the dress pattern? Am I just not seeing it. It's probably right in front of me, right?

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  21. This is fabulous! I'm buying as soon as I get out of work...

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  22. This looks great Gertie, congrats!
    I'm balancing my checkbooks right now so I'll if I have any money leftover ;)
    Two questions:
    - until when is this 30 dollar deal valid?
    - which BurdaStyle pattern is this?

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  23. Bought it! Looks like great fun, and I am very happy for you, also!

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  24. I would love to take this course, lots of elements here that would improve my skills :) But I will have to wait til I have money! lol

    Thanks Gertie!
    Trish

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  25. Oh I'm sorry, one more question: how long is each video lesson approximately?

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  26. I love the preview opening, so cute! I'm not sure where I'd wear this dress, but I'm looking forward to learning those advanced techniques and having a sassy dress at the end of it. I need to move back to NYC - oh the Garment District!

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  27. P.S. To those who asked, Gertie provided the link to the Burda pattern in the blog post http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns/52011-bustier-dress-with-draped-detail

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  28. YES! YES! YES! I am SO in this course. I just watched the preview and signed up. I got chill bumps seeing all the techniques we'll learn. Thank you SO MUCH for offering this Gretchen. I can't wait to get started.

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  29. I just watched the preview video and I'm sold! I'm so excited to get started on this! I love the version with the green skirt and white bodice.

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  30. aw, i wish!!! $30 is a fantastic deal for this course, but unfortunately i'm in the process of moving & i'm about to pay close to $900 in deposits (plus i have household stuff i need to buy, like a washer/dryer) :( so money is suuuuper tight for me right now. wah wah wah woe is me blah blah hahaha.

    but hey, congratulations! it looks like it is going to be a wonderful course & you've already got tons of people signing up :) can't wait to see everyone's bombshell dresses!

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  31. Oh Amanda I'm a bit blind clearly... Thanks!

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  32. I just KNEW you had something up your sleeve when you were asking for dress ideas for SMS. Sneaky. I am SO excited for this course! And I love that it's flexible (such is life with kids). I am signed up and ready to go, except for one thing, and maybe I misunderstood, but is the pattern included in our purchase? THANKS for bringing us this awesome product, Gertie. Looking forward to your book and other surprises you have in store!

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  33. So worth getting kicked out of TSS Club for the filming. Congrats. I've signed up and can't wait to learn from you!

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  34. The preview is so enticing! I just bought the course (although it may be a while before I can watch it). Love that we can view it whenever and repeatly. Congrats!
    The $29.99 price came up but then changed to $34.99 after I registered at Craftsy. So I closed that page and I just went back and clicked your blog link again and the $29.99 showed up. (not that I wouldn't have paid $5 more!;)

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  35. yes! i'm so excited for this! i just went to craftsy the other day and read something about it. i started searching to find out when it started!

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  36. Just signed up! This looks so awesome Gertie, I'm excited! Thanks!!

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  37. Just bought the course!! I am stoked for the FBA and for learning the boning of the bodice. I am planning to make my reception dress and this could not come at a better time!

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  38. can you tell us what we are going to need for the course before we sign up?

    like a dressform or a serger ect...

    it looks great, but i don't know if my sad little excuse for a sewing studio will be enough for this dress!!

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  39. I'm in LOVE with your polka-dot bustier! The preview was fantastic, I'm definitely signing up, SUPER excited :D

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  40. Gertie, I have a dress that looks almost exactly like this (except strapless) that was my grandmother's when the family lived in Hawaii in the 50s! (in a somewhat cheesy but cute novetly print). I think I might have to sign up for this course so I can create something similar for myself :)

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  41. Kmax, you just need a sewing machine and basic pressing equipment. No serger. A dress form is helpful, but not required.

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  42. Hi, it's Lisa from Craftsy.com. I wanted to let everybody know that the BurdaStyle dress pattern is included with the course -- so don't buy it separately!

    Once you're enrolled, look on the left side of the course dashboard for a "course materials" icon -- click it to find the pattern and course packet PDFs.

    If you looked earlier and didn't see the pattern, look again -- we fixed a glitch. Thanks so much!

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  43. So excited, I had to sign up immediately. Now lets see if I can find time to "attend" class with a toddler and a 4 month old ;)

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  44. I am so excited - I just signed up and can hardly wait to get started! Based on prior experience with my short attention span, I know I'd better finish 2 projects in the works before I start on the bombshell dress.
    But that's not going to keep me from taking a sneak peek at the lessons and thinking about fabric choices, maybe printing out that pattern ...

    I am so glad you have an online course!!!

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  45. so excited i just signed up! I'm BrightonClaire

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  46. Yay, I've been waiting for this!! So excited to start my lessons :)

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  47. I've only been reading your blog for a couple of weeks, but the dress the class on is almost EXACTLY what caused me to find your site, LOOKING FOR HELP, au sweet synchronicity!!

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  48. Have signed up and am so looking forward to this! Won't be able to start until September most likely (as I'm just about to go off to a place with a really bad internet connection over the next 6 weeks...), but I've been really wanting to learn to make a dress with a boned bustier, so this is perfect!

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  49. I would love to take the class but the pattern does not go up to my size and I don't want to spend so much time and money on something that I can't wear. I wear a 16 to 18 dress depending on how tight the dress is on the hips.

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  50. This looks great! I had a question, however. Do you honestly recommend this class for beginners? And I mean, no garments under the belt (besides and elastic gathered skirt), but knowledge of the basic preparatory elements and sewing techniques. Do you think this is a project that a beginner should put on hold?

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  51. Trying to access the pattern but the icon isn't responding. Have we just crashed the site in our mass eagerness to join the course? If so, hurrah, this is wonderful news and and I'll try again later when things have calmed down!! If the site hasn't crashed however, am I doing something wrong or not clicking the right icon?

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  52. Hrm, I am currently in the midst of signing up but the website is very slow or laggy...hahah, maybe we did crash the site! I'm excited about this! I hope SBA is covered too! I have a similar bust shape to you Gertie and I'm stoked that the dress just looks so fabulous on you! (And hopefully myself when I get a chance to make it.)

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  53. I would love to take this course, but I am wondering how it would work out since I am deaf; I can't exactly benefit from audio, and I don't do well lipreading videos either... I doubt this is the case, but is there any chance there are captions or subtitles? If so... you will TOTALLY have my $30 and I can make myself a Shaheen-style dress!!

    Es

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  54. Oh my, Gertie... This looks like one fabulous video course! I just watched the preview as well as a few samples of the individual lessons and I am totally wowed by how much work that must have been! But the result is worth it.
    I am VERY tempted to sign up; the plethora of techniques used seem to make it worthwhile already. The only thing that makes me hesitate is knowing how precious little time that I have (not to mention how slow a sewist I am...) - and this seems like a huge undertaking... I'm not sure if I won't be taking on too much to handle! Will have to ponder over it a little more, I guess :-)

    It's also real fun to see you "talk and move", it adds a whole new dimension to the blog persona I've come to know :-) And, I was also very pleased to find out that I am able to understand you perfectly (I am not a native English speaker, and then there's the sewing jargon as well - seems I have picked up more than I thought by reading all those sewing blogs these past two years ;-) )

    I can see why you love your new freelance life so much - congrats!

    SabineC

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  55. The pattern stops at a size 12, and I'm a 22! I am not about to make it 5 sizes larger - that rarely works. Oh well, but it looks cute!

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  56. I just watched a couple of the preview videos and am so excited to get started. You have no idea how many UFOs I have because I get stuck! Having someone walk me through the pattern is more than I could ask for! I can't wait to get started!!!

    Nice job on the videos! Very professional and you seem even more adorable than your pics/blod suggests! Thanks for taking time to do that! Look forward to more.

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  57. I just watched some previews and signed up. Great instruction, Gretchen. I can't wait! Thanks.

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  58. Just signed up and I'm AMPED!

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  59. Oh my, this is so exciting. I'm trying to figure out if I think I could handle this dress or not, I'd love to take your video tutorial!

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  60. Awesome blog! Creative, interesting, with great tips ...
    Keep up the great work and positives vibes.

    Have a lovely weekend! =(^.^)=

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  61. Course cost - AU$28.71. Opportunity to hear Gertie guide you through making a dress = 'priceless'. I'm 38 years old but I'm running through the house squealing like a little girl!

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  62. Gertie I'm so psyched! Congratulations to you and I can't wait to start sewing!!!!

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  63. Is there a time limit on our access to the lesson? By that I mean, do we own a copy once we by it, or do we have access to the lesson for, say, one month, then it's gone?Sorry; I am completely unfamiliar with this site (and am not computer savvy!) Never heard of it before you mentioned it.
    Thanks for your time and all you do for us.

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  64. I would love to make the dress but I'm a size18.

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  65. I love this idea! I plan on signing up today!

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  66. I have been itching to make a dress like this for ages, so I'm glad I kept putting it off and waited until you released this course! :) So excited to be able to follow along at my own pace. Everything looks so amazing from the previews! Congratulations, Gertie, on your first online sewing course!

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  67. Congratulations! This is so cool. Just watched the preview video, it's so well done! I'm totally signing up even if I don't get to sew it right way. So excited for you!

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  68. Congrats! What a great course and price. I will def do the next one you put up - right now work is so busy and this style, though I love it, isn't so large breast-friendly. But I can't wait to hear about how everyone loves it and I know your tutorials are life-changingly useful.

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  69. Wow, I am so impressed! This video course looks so amazing, and I really think you have tapped into the future of sewing. I'm sitting here reading your post and making strange and bizarre sounds of delight, and my family thinks I'm nuts:) Your videos and instructions on projects have always been amazing(Lady Grey coat), and I'm sure these are too. I can't wait to sign up for this! I just need to find the right fabric...

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  70. Hi Gertie,

    Wishing you the best of luck with your online course, I hope everything goes well.

    Great video....

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  71. I am so happy I found your blog! I signed up for your course immediately!! I have long loved the Whirling Turban dresses....but having bought one and a romper now found myself just a bit disappointed in the fit....looking forward to making my own just to my figure!

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  72. The course is great! I just tried out the pattern and (basic) method for my flatmates's Halloween costume (the corpse bride) and it worked beautifully! I didn't try all the techniques, as it was only a costume, but I will be making another one for me at some point and I cant wait to try everything! I particularly love how much effort you put into explaining the FBA-I get so sick of doing them and your method was so easy! thanks!

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  73. I'm near the end of my class, I'm putting in the lining, and I'm dreading being finished. This class has been so much fun and I've learned lots of new techniques. Please do another dress class, Gertie!

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  74. Hi Gertie, I know this is a super long shot and super late in the game, but I'm about to start planning my wedding dress and I'd love to use the bombshell pattern for the bodice. I've followed your blog for ages, but I never had any occasion to wear such a special dress to before. I know that your craftsy course has expired, but I was wondering whether you know of any other way I can access your tips for the dress. Is it in any of your books? I'm not sure that the Burdastyle instructions will cut it. Thanks! Lara x

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

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