Stitchfix #2!!!

It's Stitchfix day!!! I tell ya what, when you get a Stitchfix box in the mail, you do not want to bother setting up the tripod and getting your camera ready, which is why this post contains *gasp* iphone selfies of me in my Stitchfix items. Please forgive me. When you sign up, which you can do with this link:
https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3384131
then you will understand.

Stitchfix, for a super fast recap, is a service where you fill out a fun style profile, pay a $20 styling fee (which later goes toward your purchase) and a stylist sends you 5 high-quality items to try on. You pay for what you want and send back what you don't, in the prepaid envelope. Easy and FUN!

This box was waaaaay more my style than my first one. I can really tell that my stylist got the gist of my Pinterest board (which I linked to in my profile), as everything in this box was very "me".

First up, a striped knit top and some orange shorts:

 It is SO funny, I have seriously been wanting some orange shorts! I just told Casey a few weeks ago, some orange shorts would fit nicely into my wardrobe. I even attained some orange fabric to make some, but I won't be able to sew after the movers come on Monday for several weeks, so I was beyond thrilled to find these shorts in my fix and even more thrilled when they fit perfectly! I absolutely love the color, they go with soooo many of my handmade tops, which is why I was wanting orange shorts. I really love that top too, it's very soft and fits great and I do love me some nautical stripes. But, living in Hawaii, I don't see myself getting much wear out of it since it has longish sleeves :-/

 This blue top was beautiful and the back was really pretty, but it gives me a bit of a maternity vibe. Sending this one back.

 Next up, a knit maxi dress. I like this dress in theory! The lace at the top is a nice unusual touch and I love lace. However, the fabric is thin and clingy and the stripes through the hips aren't hitting me in a very flattering spot. Furthermore, as a seamstress, the non-matching of the stripes on the side seams bug me A LOT! I would never make something that looks like this! Big stripes are easy to match so it's clear there was no trying here. I don't think I would choose this particular thin fabric for a maxi dress either. Who wants to wear a full slip with a dress that's supposed to be a cool summer outfit? This dress is going back too.

 The fifth item in my box was this great canvas tote! I'm pretty sure I'm keeping this, I think it will be great for the beach, but even more so, I think it will be great for all the travel I have coming up. It's very deep, so nothing will be spilling out, but things will still be accessible.

So this time, I am keeping the orange shorts and the tote. And I'm thrilled with my second Stitchfix experience! I always actually hope I won't like all five pieces 'cause I probably couldn't afford them all and I'd have to choose and that would just be traumatic, ha!

To make up for the cell-phone pics, I took some actual nice camera/tripod photos of my new shorts with the top I was working on as this Stitchfix arrived.  Spooky.

 My friend Jenn in Reno went iphone fabric shopping for me again (she takes pics at her fabric store and shops for me) and this knit was one she sent. It is the softest knit fabric I have ever had! When the box came, I was on my couch draped in lovely fabrics, feeling them and smelling them, knowing they'll be going in boxes come Monday. But, I just couldn't resist sewing this one up before I left. And I cannot believe how perfectly it matches my shorts. Crazy!

So, again, if you decided to sign up for Stitchfix and give it a try because it is just SO MUCH FUN, you can use my link and I get credit! And you can can get credit when you sign up and tell your friends too and they sign up. Sweet, right!? https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3384131

Cheers!

My first Stitchfix

Stitchfix is SO FUN! I have been wanting to try this service for quite some time now. I finally made the plunge and scheduled my first fix, just to see if it lived up to what everyone says about it. If you haven't heard of Stitchfix, it's an online service and after you pay a styling fee of $20 (which goes toward your purchase later) and fill out a fun style profile, including a link to your Pinterest style board if you have one, a stylist sends you five items to try on in the comfort of your own home. You keep and pay for what you want and you send back what doesn't work in the prepaid envelope. Easy.

This being my first try, I wasn't expecting it all to work out and I was right. I only kept one thing, but that's all I was really aiming for, so I was happy. I didn't take pics of myself in the clothes like many reviewers do, sorry. Here's the cute little style sheet that was in my box, though:

 I ended up keeping the wine colored cardigan. The rest I sent back-one top I just hated (although Casey LOVED it, lol!!), the pants were awesome, but a bit too low-rise, one silk top was a little big and the other was a big snug. I left plenty of feedback, though, and if the reviews I've read are any indication, each box will get better!

Back to that cardigan, though. This is a color I never would have bought for myself! I don't know why, it's a pretty color on me! I like the 3/4 length sleeves and the fabric is soooo soft. I can tell that it's high quality and won't pill like my other cardigans from other places (ahem, Target and Old Navy).

While I was debating, I walked into my closet just to see what I had that it would go with. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it goes perfectly with a ton of my handmade things!!
These are not all, but I got tired of taking pics, ha! These are all dresses and tops that I've made.

This piece was just what I needed to carry me through these last weeks of winter! I'm not ashamed to say I've worn it four times already and I just got it last Friday. I lack basic pieces and this opened my eyes to what one good quality basic can do for my wardrobe!

Bottom line, this is AWESOME! I don't have very many shopping choices where I live right now. And I'm a bit of a quality snob (as people who make their own clothes and know good fabrics when they see them tend to be ;) I thought it was something I'd just do once, but I immediately scheduled my next fix--for 2 days before the packers come, eek! Time is fleeting.

SO, if you want to give Stitchfix a try and wouldn't mind using this link:
https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3384131
I get credit when you sign up for a fix! Which will make it even more awesome, obviously ;)

my absence explained in iPhone pics

We had company last week!! My parents were visiting and we were out showing off this beautiful island. Beach, eat, shop, eat, shave ice, eat, shop more, eat, etc...

I didn't take my big camera along on any of our excursions and I don't really regret it because I made a conscious effort to take plenty of phone photos. Plus, the sand and the DSLR do not mix. I feel like I have to be too careful with it when I have the big camera and I don't always feel like being careful!

 Watching the Apple announcement:

 Look at my Mom, you guys! Classy Granny:

 My fave:

 Had to get some Matsumoto's shave ice!

 Mom helped the girls embroider.

 Once they got the hang of it, they went to the park with a picnic quilt and taught allll the little neighbor girls how to do it too. It was adorable.

Granny babysat so we could go on a date! I wore my newest Stitchfix dress! I haven't managed to blog my Stitchfixes in months, I know. I'll try this week, I promise.

And now, it's Monday and we are back to our routine. I really like Mondays. Weekends are relaxing, but Monday feels like recovery from the weekend, haha! I think that's what breaks are for, to help you desire your routine again, don't you?

basic black

I've been thinking a lot about wardrobe planning. If you've been following me here for awhile, you might know that we started a serious overhaul of our "stuff" maybe a year ago. I honestly believe at this point that we have pared down by half. It's a good thing, too, because the amount of junk we had room for in our old house would have made us crazy living here.

My wardrobe did not escape the purge. I recently did yet another clean out of my closet and gave two huge bags of clothes to a friend who wears them and loves them. Even a few of my handmade things--out the door. That was hard! But, she's wearing them and I wasn't. So, really, it's better.

That said, I think this is the smallest my wardrobe has been in my adult life. But, somehow, I feel like I have more to wear than ever. Isn't that funny!? Part of the reason is that I've been focusing on making pieces that go with other pieces. Having a color palette in mind, with a couple go-to neutrals (mine tend to be black and navy/denim) and then a few color genres. I gravitate toward two color palettes usually. One is a nautical look with blues, kelly green, some coral and white. Another is pink, gray and plum. Pinterest has come in very helpful in this effort to pinpoint what I like. Looking over your style board, you might notice some trends! My mom reminded me that wine is considered a neutral, which explains why that wine colored Stitchfix cardigan matches everything!

Anywaaaaaay, with all this in mind, I've wanted a basic black dress for awhile. Not a fancy LBD that works for cocktail parties, to which I have never been, but an everyday black dress that can be styled a myriad of ways. I finally landed a great knit at JoAnn's last weekend when all the clearance was half off.

I used McCall's 6744, one I've made a couple times before:

 After the dress was completely done, I had to take it apart to take huge chunks out of the sides. I think the bodice is supposed to drape, but this look was not working with this knit, it's too substantial. In the end, I'm glad I made the effort to get it right. The fabric is a perfect weight, with a crinkly texture.

 This purple wrap cardigan is one a made months ago and had literally nothing to wear it with. Dumb! It's such a soft rayon knit and I love the print so much, so I'm glad I finally have way to wear it.

 This button down plaid top is one I just made! I'm really proud of it and it matches several other things I've made, so I'll give it it's own post soon.

 I wore the dress with a simple cardigan yesterday.

I've been sewing fool this week! I whipped up a very simple top yesterday, can't wait to show you!

Cheers :)

makes and remakes

I am happy to say, after a brief hiatus, my sewing mojo is back. I have quite a little stash to sew through before my machines get packed up for a few months (!)

I pulled several things out of my closet that needed changed or mended. They were handmade things that I was just not wearing and I wanted to figure out what would make them wearable. This skirt came from that effort:

This was actually the bottom portion of this dress. It only got worn once because those sleeves were just too much. They broadened my shoulders and they required a cami under the dress, which I don't love for an easy Summer dress. I really love the fabric, though, and the shirttail hem and the cute orange buttons. So I cut off that bodice about 5/8" above the drawstring. I serged around the raw edge and turned it under and hemmed it, leaving a cute tiny ruffle at the top. So the skirt now slips on and has a drawstring closure. I love it, I've already worn it three or four times because I have several styles of tops that go with it. Since it's pretty high waisted, it even looks cute with a knotted tee. 

So glad I didn't give up on this! Mission accomplished. 

 Next up, I have some fabrics that my friend Jenn shopped for on my behalf. I was lamenting my lack of fabric store choices here and she offered to go to her awesome store in Reno and we could have a texting/shopping session and I would pay her back. It was super fun! This is one of the knits she found.

This is one of the new Simplicity patterns, 1463. I liked it for the back, I thought it was interesting and I love interesting backs of garments :) The top is a little shorter than I'd like though, so when I put it on with jeans, I just wasn't comfortable. I'd be afraid to lift my arms! I was bummed. But, I tried it on again  a few days later, this time with my New Look 6228 black sweatshirt knit skirt that I never blogged (super soft and comfy and goes with everything, I highly recommend that pattern) and since the skirt is high waisted, the top worked much better! It also works with a denim skirt I have. It might not be my favorite still, I think it maybe broadens me a little in the back. Am I wrong? I am surprised at how much a like the front, though, since I usually really hate dolman sleeves. But these are conservatively dolman, haha. 

 I was lucky to have enough fabric left to whip up my favorite tank (A frankenpattern that I made myself out of wrapping paper). I've already worn it twice in the last week and look, it even goes with my Stitchfix cardigan, surprise, surprise, hehe. (Weird sun flare, sorry).

I have some more to share soon! I made the best pj pants EVER over the weekend, just wait til you see. And I'm working on a black knit dress that I finished and then took completely apart to take the bodice in like five inches. Grrr. If I didn't really want a simple black knit dress in my wardrobe, I might not have bothered. But, I think it will be worth it. 

Annnd, just for grins: 

 Happy Monday!! :)