The June & June Project Review

It feels quite bittersweet to wrap up this project. Way back at the end of December 2009, I was hit with the inspiration at a friend's dinner party. After some thinking, the project evolved, and I narrowed down what I wanted to recreate to 4 outfits: The Poppy Dress, The Wildwood Flower Dress, The Pin Dot Dress, and The Dutch Boy Outfit. So, how did I do?

The Poppy Dress

Rather infamous for the scalloped neckline that almost did my head in, this dress has a special place in my heart. The more I wear it, the more I love it and embrace its flaws. (I still need to find a red belt, though.)

The Wildwood Flower Dress

This dress was a joy to sew and is fast becoming one of my very favourites. It was a bit of a saga to track down just the right fabric and pattern, but I'm very glad I took the time to do so. It's twirly, floral, and quite feminine. I simply love it!

The Pin Dot Dress

Work on this dress came to a screeching halt when we received the news that Mr. Friday's Grandfather had passed away. It will remain unfinished.

The Dutch Boy Outfit


I found the ideal fabric for this dress on Etsy and paired it with the leftover fabric from the Pin Dot Dress to make an outfit I love! Together with a refashioned petticoat, it makes a fun statement! Pin dots, roses, and pink? What more could you ask for in an outfit? ;)

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Despite finishing three out of four planned outfits, I am really pleased with the outcome. I set myself a good challenge to recreate these outfits from 2-dimensional images and a lot of guesswork. This project has really cemented my love of vintage patterns and sewing.

Thank you to everyone who followed my progress, left encouraging comments, positive comments, and tips and tricks. I appreciate it so much!

Be sure to come back on August 15th, where I will unveil my fall/winter sewing project. This one's going to be exciting!

The Dutch Boy Outfit: Finished!

My inspiration for this outfit came from just a few peeks at June's (Reese Witherspoon) beautiful roses skirt. I think my love of the outfit not only came from the fabrics, but from June' s attitude and actions when wearing it. You've got to admire a woman who stands up for herself and has a great pitching arm!



The name came from the June's declaration that she 'would not be like the little Dutch Boy with [her] finger in the dam.'

I made the blouse using McCall's 5451, which I've used here and here. The fabric you'll recognize from my Pin Dot Dress which, unfortunately, will remain permanently unfinished. I love that fabric and was really happy to discover that I had enough for a blouse and matching belt.

The skirt is a simple twirl skirt, like this one, and is made from beautiful vintage fabric with huge roses on it.

This is one of my vintage petticoats that I refashioned to knee length. I love how it looks with the skirt!

This is my last outfit for my June & June Project. It seems funny to realize that I'm finished, as this has been a long project and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

Details:
Peasant Blouse: McCall's 5451
Twirl Skirt: Self drafted
Pin dot Fabric: Flame Cranium
Roses Fabric: Sew Mrs. P
Button: Stash

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Black Floral Sundress

This dress started out as a prototype, but it's fast becoming one of my go-to pieces for the summer.

The bodice is from Butterick 4443. The rest is self-drafted. It's a very simple dress with button straps and a side zipper.

100% cool and breezy cotton.

Perfect for smelling the lovely flowers Miss Friday picked for me.

Or flirting with Mr. Friday... ;)

Details:
Fabric: Sketchbook by P&B Textiles. Purchased at Hawthorne Threads.
Pattern: Butterick 4443 (bodice only); rest self-drafted
Notions: Stash

Deja Vu: Cherries & Blue

After much hemming and hawing and digging around in my fabric stash, I made another pair of the Butterick 7762 shorts. I had just enough medium weight dark wash denim left. These shorts are super comfy and I love how the high waist looks.

The peasant blouse is made from Simplicity 4678. I had made this months ago, but I had fiddled around with it until it was All Wrong. In the spirit of Make & Mend Month, I brought it back out and undid my silly changes and now I love it!!


Check off another two items to be added to my Summer Essentials Sew-Along list and My Handmade Closet.


Details:
Simplicity 4678: Finicky Finds
Butterick 7762: Bluette Court
Cherry fabric: iggy, frankie & cab
Denim fabric: Stash
Notions: Stash

The Finished Wildwood Flower Dress

The Wildwood Flower Dress is finished! I had finished it a few weeks ago; however, this is the first chance I've had to photograph it. (many thanks to Mr. Friday and his awesome photography skills!)

This was my inspiration:

June Carter Cash (Reese Witherspoon) in Walk the Line

I loved this dress from the first minute I saw it. Finding the right fabric was an exercise in patience, finding the right pattern was even more so.

American Weekly 9104

Once I had both in hand, the dress came together beautifully. The one thing I found surprising was that I needed to shorten it by 12 inches! It was practically a maxi dress on me. I am quite short, but even so I found it interesting that a dress from the late 1950's would be so long.




I love the details on this dress: the softly gathered neckline, the button tab shoulders, the self-made bias tape, and the matching belt.


It's extra-twirly, too! :) It's not an exact copy of June's dress, but I really love it. The colour palette was a bit unusual for me (matches my purple hair, though!), but I'm really glad I went with it.


It's fast becoming one of my favourite dresses.

Details:
Fabric: Sien 211-E by P&B Textiles
Pattern: American Weekly 9104 from Chigal's Patterns
Buttons: Stash

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This week, I'm working on my last item for the June & June Project: The Dutch Boy outfit. This month, I'll be wrapping up my both June & June, as well as the Summer Essentials Sew Along projects and moving on to Self-Stitched September.

I'll be unveiling my fall/winter project on August 15th. I hope you'll come by to see what it is!

White Peasant Top & Polka Dot Shorts

I had 4 solid hours of sewing time yesterday and it was bliss! I made both the peasant top and the shorts and I love them both. The peasant top is View A from McCall's 5451. I used white cotton gauze fabric I had in my stash. It's really light and comfortable; perfect for the super hot weather we've been having lately.

The fact that I'm wearing shorts, never mind a handmade pair, is a surprise in itself. I normally detest shorts, but Butterick 7762 caught my interest.

I made view C they fit like a dream! The wide legs are so comfortable and the high waist feels very feminine. I love the button detail , too.

I wore this outfit to a concert and they really went the distance. I liked the shorts so much, that I cut out the bra top in the same polka dot fabric. I think it will be a cute and comfortable outfit to take on my cruise.

I am definitely going to make another pair of the shorts, but can't decide between red polka dots or lightweight denim. Thoughts?

Details:
White gauze fabric - stash
Polka dot fabric - Timeless Treasures
McCall's 5451 - stash
Butterick 7762 - Bluette Court
Buttons and zipper - my stash

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I have been sewing like mad, lately, but have not had the chance to take photos and post them. I have several sundresses to share, as well as my finished Wildwood Flower dress. I'll also be wrapping up my June & June Project at the end of this month.

Vaudeville Tattoo's Psycho Beach Party

My favourite cabaret and burlesque troupe, Vaudeville Tattoo, has an amazing summer show planned for August 7, 2010. From their website:

"The naughty ladies of Vaudeville Tattoo have put together an evening of sand, surf, psycho ladies, and mental men. Come and join us at This Ain't Hollywood and turn up the heat of your summer nights....if you dare.

From Vaudeville Tattoo:

Shy and refined Vanity Boom

Insolent minx Chaos Divine

Delectably mysterious Miss Savoy Truffles

Dangerously sexy Stella Semiautomatic

Feisty fatale Dolores del Fuego

and introducing our man-about-town, Patrick a-go-go!

We are delighted to be performing with:

Fionna Flauntit, she's got it and she does flaunt it!

Neytiri, her snake-like moves will hypnotize you!

Special guest - the fabulous DJ Pam DeSadist.

Your host and singing sensation for this event is the man we all love to hate - and hate to love - 70s pop icon Vance Vallance!

The evening will be broadcast LIVE on ArtLive.tv.

Where: This Ain't Hollywood, Hamilton, ON

When: August 7, 2010

Time: Doors open at 9:00 p.m. Show starts at 10 p.m.

Cost: $12 at door; $10 with beach attire"

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