Time for..... LEOPARDY!

Here I am cleaning out the old motorhome so my Pop can sell it.  The other day, David said that my leopard print hat looked awful with my magenta silk dress.  Well, I explained to him that I wear animal prints as if they were neutrals.  If Betsey Johnson can do it, then so can I.  See!  (I don't know if my conservative guy is gonna go for that argument.)

The outfit I wore above, reminds me of this cute little guy that I bought for another cute little guy's birthday.  My little friend, Nathan, was so excited to get a Canadian coin in the mail from his grandparents so I told him I'd get him a bank to put his money in.

In the meantime, I'm working on duplicating this dress for a client, also known as my friend, Jen.  

She picked out a nice blue and gray large flower print and thankfully agreed to model it for us after I complete it. Yay!

(peach RL polo: Thrift Town, leopard skirt: Eco Thrift, Gold Flip-Flops: Ross, Bracelet: from Ethiopia)

Beefing Up

I've been working on beefing up my etsy store, Stormybelle Statement Shoes with some much needed inventory. Hee (embarassed smirk).  I'm focusing on special event shoes for Weddings, Parties, Dances, Costume Balls, and other unknown shindigs you might be attending!  They are all designed and hand-embellished by me and made to last.  Just right for other shoe fanatics, like me. Here are pics of the new ones so far:

Black Flight

"O, Pioneers!"

these are a work in progress

Thanks for looking!  Whew, so many projects, so little time.

"The Farm Theotime"

I read this "Prix Renaudot", award-winning book right after high school and loved it.  It's  an english translation of a book by Henri Bosco about the farm life in rural Provence.  I first fell in love with the cover, which is my favorite shade of magenta.  But the story leaves you with a quiet sense of the beauty of living from the earth. "Green Acres, is the place for me!"  I also have a romantic view of another agrarian culture; Mexico.  That is where I bought this beloved blouse.  If you ever go to Mexico, bring back a beautiful piece of traditional clothing or a striped blanket or pottery.  For me, those charming trinkets become more endearing over time.

(blouse:Mexico, belt:hand-me-down, shorts: thrifted hemmed up pants, shoes: Rite Aid, book: The Farm Theotime, from a Yard Sale)

Finally Done

Yay! I finally finished the Purple Pinafore for Miss V.  Thankfully she enjoyed wearing it, too. I didn't know that I had also designed swimwear. :)  She gave the piece it's maiden voyage today at the park.  Such fun!  Here she is modeling it for you:

(designed by me, no pattern used)

Evolution of a Sweater (semi-tutorial)

                                                            

            Cut sleeves.

Gather Shoulders.

Hmmm....cut sleeves shorter.

Gather waist.

Add a tie.

And "Voila'!", out the door you go.  That was fun, let's do it again sometime.

Surf Chips

I was having too much fun sewing things, like the baby bib above, to take pics outside.  So you get a silly montage of me eating potato chips in my surf tee, with Missy. Look at her licking the salt off her lips! lol

At least I was wearing my new favorite earrings.  They're actual paper cranes that belonged to my Grandmother.  She must've received them as a gift when she was in Japan.  I bought the vintage romper at Thrift Town and the bib I made, is from one of her tea towels.  It was nice to get so many little things to remember her by.  I didn't think she would've minded me using her towel to give to  a new baby at my church, and it makes it extra special.

(tee: thrifted, skirt: gift from my friend's trip to the Philippines, no shoes, of course)

Pool of Contentment

I love days like today.  I finished altering a skirt, sewing a bib, and unloading the dishwasher.  Tasks accomplished and 2 other tasks begun.  Thank you, Lord.  Since I was doing so well I took my new tripod out by the pool and took some photos.  I am missing the world of international dance and all my friends there.  That's why I put on my blouse.  And it's such a nice cool breezy day today that I didn't mind the long sleeves.

Well I have a utility apron to make for my friend, before her medical mission trip back to her homeland of Romania.  So I better get back to it.

(antique romanian peasant blouse: gift, jeans: thrifted, shell earrings: from Gramma)