That Kate Middleton is a Real Fashion Icon...

I have another Kate Middleton look alike today.  This time I made it for me!

That Kate Middleton, I just love watching her style.  She also just seems to exude happiness.  Doesn't she?  I think she is one of the best examples of Audrey Hepburn's quote "a smile is the prettiest thing you can wear".  She just seems lovely.

This dress I am sharing today I originally saw on her in a beige/ivory lace combination.  Her's was long sleeved and her sash around her waist may not have been sewn in.

I made it in black, with the satin sash sewn in to make it stay in place easier.  I also shortened the sleeves from long to half length.

Here it is!

This particular lace was a corded lace.  It's BEAUTIFUL!  If only all lace you find at fabric stores could be like this…

I usually wear it with my favorite green statement necklace you saw in the post about my striped dress.  

And I pair it with my favorite pair of green heels.  I love heels.  I love green.  I have a hard time finding shoes in my size.  I also have a hard time finding shoes I like the looks of.  So these have become somewhat of a staple for some of my nicer dresses.  

Here is the back.

I also had the lace extend past the lining at the hemline to help show off the pretty lace.  I did the same at the sleeves, just not letting the lace extend as far.

A little up close of the hemline.

An up close of the gorgeous lace.  I just love love love this lace!  A lot!!!

Sadly however, I guess this lace was a one time deal.  So the store I got it at can't order in anymore.  I am really very sad about this!  I would have considered buying a whole roll of it if possible!  It's just that great!

Thanks again for stopping by!  

I wanted to share something about an upcoming project!  

Would any readers be interested in hearing about my favorite trick for getting a professional look to seams when sewing with knits?  

Also I am kind of new with my blog.  I need your help!

What do you think you'd be most interested in seeing?

Modest outfit ideas?

Sewing ideas?

Tutorials?

Basic drafting your own pattern ideas?

Tips on choosing fabrics for sewing projects?

Here is where I am really hoping to hear from all of you!

What are your favorite things to see when you follow a crafting/sewing blog?

So if you would, can you all do me a favor, and leave me a comment telling me things you'd like to see!    I'd love to hear what you all have to say, and I'd love to hear what you'd all be most interested in.  :)

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

-Em!

Johannes

Saw this video on a friends facebook.  Couldn't help but share it.

Stripes!

I have a sewing/fashion design project to share today!

It's a striped dress.  I had seen a few striped dresses around on others, or in stores.  Usually they didn't have sleeves or enough sleeve though so when I saw this fabric browsing a quilting shop I knew right then and there that it was going to go home with me and be turned into this dress.  

The fabric is Riley Blake quilting cotton.  I got it in the "Chevron" collection area.

In all honesty, quilting cotton is not my favorite thing to use for clothing.

It wrinkles when you wash it and never fully presses back to being crisp like when you buy it.

You know what though!  I washed this fabric before sewing with it to see what it would look like when I need to wash it.  The bright white and grey keep the look crisp!  No it doesn't look the exact same as before you wash it, but after a press with my iron, I went ahead and made the dress.

It actually doesn't wrinkle as bad as I thought it would when I sit down, or use my seat belt.  Win for the quilting cotton!

I lined the dress in a plain white cotton I got at JoAnn's.  I am sooooo happy I took the time to line this dress.

One of my favorite features is that this dress has pockets!

A girls dress should have pockets you know?  You didn't know?  Well, now you do :).

A big BIG thank you to my sister-in-law!  Her business name is Becky Ann Photography (click on her business name to see her website) and she is the one who took pictures for me for this post.  She is a fabulous photographer who does an amazing job.

This dress is great for spring/summer weather.  Where I am today went from a snow storm to sunshine in a few hours!  It gives me spring fever and makes me all excited to start flower seeds!  However, we still have a few more weeks of temperamental weather and it's not impossible to hear of snow in June where I am from.  

Which brings me to how I plan to wear this until the weather warms up for good.  That is with a fun statement necklace, navy blue cardigan, a belt, and a pair of boots.

I got these riding boots from ebay of all places! I wear a size 5 shoe and for some reason it's hard for me to find.  So I occasionally take to ebay to see what I can find and I have had good luck finding deals on brand new size 5 shoes actually!

Along with the pockets I really like the sides of this dress.  Like I said I took inspiration from other striped dresses I have seen and one detail I have really enjoyed is the shaping on the sides of the bodice are princess seams and cut on the diagonal.  I love it!

The tulip sleeves are really fun too.  Though to be completely honest they were a big pain to design!  Worth it in the end though.

I always feel so self conscious when I make things for myself.  I am just not a perfectionist with items for myself.

I should have been more precise with my invisible zipper, I wasn't so you can see it peek through a bit.  Which kind of defeats the purpose of an "invisible zipper".

Honestly it didn't bother me enough to want to fix it before starting to wear it.  I may go back and fix it later.  I may not.  If I made this for someone else, I'd have done it right.  Since it's for me, I just enjoy wearing it as soon as I can :).

The wonderful thing about these stripes are that I lined them all up where they needed to be.  The fabric was printed straight (THANK YOU RILEY BLAKE!) making it easy.  It has gotten me wondering what other cute quilting cotton prints could be found to made into fabulous little dresses.

What do you think?  Are you a fan of stripes?  Until later!

-Em

Update: Just wanted to let you know I have linked up to share my dress with Ashley and her readers at make it-loveit!  Here is a link to see what other fun bloggers are sharing!  I love seeing different projects!

Just click on my link button below to visit Ashley's blog and see some other fun crafty projects!

Making Stuff for Friends!

I have a beautiful blond bombshell of a friend who asked me to recreate a dress she saw a picture of Kate Middleton wearing.  I was happy to!

I love the way it turned out!

I love the way it looks so chic on Natalie!

I love the way she looks so beautiful wearing it!

Let's be serious Natalie looks beautiful in whatever she wears!

Still I love the pairing of this dress and her!

I also just have to share something I've noticed about Natalie.

Natalie is a super kind, very supportive person.  I have watched her over the years I have known her, and have experienced her kindness firsthand.  She is always so understanding and I only hope I can be as kind and understanding and sensitive and aware of others struggles as she is.

She has an intuition for offering love and reaching out just when you need it.  I've experienced it, and I've watched her from a distance offer a kind word, or listening ear quietly when someone needs it and she has noticed.  It's just a wonderful part of Natalie that blesses so many!  It is one of her gifts.  She is just awesome!

Of course there is much more I could say but I just had to share this little tidbit because I wanted her to know how much I have appreciated her!  She also is one who helped me feel confident in sewing for others (there is that gift for supporting and encouraging others at work again, she just does it naturally on a daily basis! ) as she asked me right away when I started offering to sew for others to make her this dress.  I was nervous but was grateful she was willing to ask me!

Thanks Natalie!

About Me!

Hey all!



I am just starting a blog!



I am an aspiring fashion designer, and wanted a place to share projects and give ideas for fun modest outfits!



Here is a little about me!



My name is Emily!  My friends call me Em.  

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.



Since I am a member I have chosen to follow certain modesty standards in my dress and appearance.



Here are the guidelines I choose to follow:



No skirts/dresses/shorts above my knee.  I wear sleeves.  I don't wear things that are too tight, low cut, or midriffy (hmmm is that word?) or revealing.  I keep my hair and appearance neat and not too extreme in colors or styles.



I am very happy with choosing to dress this way as well.  However occasionally I find it a real challenge to find items within my modesty/style/budget requirements, and so have decided to take matters into my own hands and occasionally sew things up because I want a certain look and have been unable to find it in stores in my price range, or at all.  



Here are a few other things about me:



I love being with my family, being an aunt, sewing, being creative, cooking, playing violin/piano/cello (if I still had a cello that is… one day!), inspirational people and stories, almost all kinds of movies, reading books I can't put down, spending time in good conversation with friends, and those moments in life when you feel you've come to grips with a struggle and have come up with a plan to conquer it!  Ahhhh…. Isn't that the best!  I can just imagine feeling like that now.



I have come to learn we all struggle, we all make mistakes.



Because some of us struggle with things no one sees, and some of us struggle with things everyone sees.  Some of us struggle to know how to "fit in", some of us struggle with "feeling good enough", some of us struggle with physical limitations, some of us struggle with emotional or mental limitations.  Some of us struggle with learning to know how to overcome mistakes we've made in our past.



Simply because we all struggle, we still all need someone to be kind to us.



I also love seeing people be kind to each other.  There is just something I love deep down in my soul about it.  I am a firm believer that sometimes that is all it takes to help us make the decisions of how we will live our life.



For example my mom went to a live showing of Les Miserables this week with me for my birthday.  (I really had to twist her arm to talk her into it you know… Ha!  Totally kidding, I think she was just as excited as I was.)  That story is all about someone who chooses to show kindness and it changes someone's life.



I LOVE the story of Jean Valjean.  I love that the Priest in Les Mis is so kind to him.  I love that after Jean Valjean has been subjected to 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread to save his sisters starving sone, the Priest gives him a second chance.



I love that Jean Valjean uses that second chance to change his life and becomes such a good, kind, generous person, in turn giving others a second chance.



I love inspiring stories.



I love things I see or hear or read that I feel help the world be a better place.



So while I love to sew and craft and a blog is a fun and good way to share these posts, I have also found there are going to be other times when I feel there will be more important posts I will want to post.



So I think you'll find yourself inspired occasionally by an outfit, and occasionally in other ways here on my blog.



Thanks for stopping by, I am excited to share with all of you!



-Em



Have you seen this version of "Bring Him Home"?  It's a good one I tell you.  Enjoy!