Category Archives: spring

spring, wedding

The Dress

White cardboard box with a green and pink label reading Dolly Couture

My wedding dress arrived yesterday. It came WAY earlier than I was expecting it, and when I pulled it out of the box, this whole wedding planning adventure jumped to another level of real-ness.

Dolly Couture Garment Bag

I’m not going to show any pictures of the dress. Sorry folks, but I think Sean occasionally reads this blog, and he’s already said he doesn’t want to see it. I will assure you that it’s a beauty. I tried it on yesterday, and it fits perfectly. I will admit, I stared at myself in the mirror for a weirdly long period of time. I’ve never worn such a beautiful dress.

I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait until October to wear this thing!

 

 

recipes, spring

Roasted Carrot and Avocado Salad

A white bowl filled with salad greens, roasted carrots, and other vegetables, drizzled with yogurt dressing.

You guys, I made this salad last night, and I think you should try it immediately. Sure, it’s a little fussy for a salad. But it is worth it. So worth it.

First, you poach some carrots. You make a vinaigrette of sorts, with dried chiles, cumin, and garlic, and then you drizzle it all over the warm carrots, and toss them in the oven to roast, along with an orange and a lemon (what?!). You toast some crusty bread, and slice up an avocado. Then, you make a simple, simple dressing with the roasted citrus, and you assemble everything into a big ol’ lovely salad, and you eat it, blissfully.
Continue reading Roasted Carrot and Avocado Salad →

sewing, spring

New Patterns!

New patterns

Whenever the McCalls/Vogue/Butterick site has a sale for club members, I get a little giddy. Getting a $30 pattern for $3 feels like quite a deal (although I don’t imagine people often pay the $30 list price). So this week I splurged a little on a few things I’ve had my eye on.

I love the Vintage Vogue patterns. The packaging with the old school illustrations makes my heart swoop a little bit. Of course, looking at the required yardage for those beautiful full skirts makes my heart swoop in a different way. But that gorgeous silhouette is worth it. In the pattern above, I think I’m going to make the B version first. I haven’t yet reached a sewist’s mind frame where I can already picture it in a particular fabric or color. But I’ll keep my eyes out for something that seems right for a lovely summery dress. Perhaps something in the type of floral print I usually shy away from.

New patterns

Then there’s this beauty. The pin tucks on the bodice are swoon-worthy. I might even have to get myself (make myself?) at big ol’ Sunday hat to go with it.

New patterns

I also bought my first of Gertie’s Butterick patterns. I couldn’t resist. It might, just might, end up being the dress I make to wear for our rehearsal dinner (although I already have something in mind for that particular event, fabric purchased and everything). I don’t have much occasion to wear fancy dresses like this, but I can’t seem to resist them.

I also picked up a pattern for a little girl’s dress that might end up being my niece’s flower girl dress, if I can find the right fabric.

Despite having all these shiny new babies in my possession, I believe my next project will be from a pattern I’ve had sitting around for awhile:

New patterns

In LA’s fashion district two weekends ago, I bought a navy blue cotton with an embroidered border. I think version A of this dress will make a great summer dress. I don’t have a plan for the little bolero jacket yet. I may or may not make one to match the blue dress. I actually bought this pattern FOR the little bolero jacket, but I have another fabric in mind for it, and not one that will match a blue dress. I’m all over the place in my plans for this pattern.

I did just finish another pencil skirt last night, and I’ll share it as soon as I can get some pictures. I think it’s the best thing I’ve made so far. The fabric is to-die-for, a super soft Italian wool I bought in Seattle, and I hemmed the thing by hand, and put in a lining (first time ever!), and I guess I’ll save all the details for later.

Any new patterns in your collection lately? What sewing projects are you dreaming about now?

goals, Right Now, spring

March, You are Mine

I don’t know what it is about February, but it always feels interminable. I used to assume that it was related to winter in Massachusetts: By February you are more than ready for winter to be over, but you know you still have two more months of the awful. However, here in California, February was beautiful (sorry to rub it in, folks). And yet, it still felt like it lasted an age.

I found myself feeling lackluster. Sluggish. Depressed. I did not want to do anything.

But now it’s March, and March, I am going to own you.

I already feel an extra little bounce in my step. And I’m feeling positive about some of the goals that I’ve set for myself this month. Most significantly, I am going to push myself to write every single day. So you might actually see some posts here, whoo!

I’m heading to LA this weekend to go wedding dress shopping with my Ma, and I’m looking forward to the awesome adventure. Aside from visiting an awesome dress shop (Dolly Couture), we’re planning a visit to the Garment District, and I’m hoping to hit up Mood Fabrics. To top it all off, I get to visit, too, with my brother, sister-in-law, and my girls! I’m looking forward to some baby drool up in this business.

So March, I’m so glad you’re hear. February and I don’t always get along, but you, you and I are going to be tight. I can feel it.