Manekineko dress

I made this dress a few months ago and had totally forgotten about taking pics of it, which is a shame since I've worn it a lot! I used my NHK book pattern and excellent Japanese cotton from Nippori with the nicest shade of beige, lucky charm cats and other Japanese symbols and seals ever :)

I love this pattern so much, it's simply magic: it takes 1.5 yard of fabric and 1.5 hour max to make and it's so comfortable, cute and 60's looking! Also for this one I had bias tape, seam binding and ricrac remnants that matched the fabric perfectly so notion stash busting checked:

Asagao top

I found this gorgeous Morning glories fabric in Japan and paired it with the G design from the Sweet Dress Book and I got this awesome top:

The neckline and sleeves are finished with self-made bias tape and I added a tiny pocket with a pink glass button on the front, not that it really shows but it seemed like a good idea then^^:

The back has a straight center seam that ends in a slit and closes with a button and a loop, it's a cute detail but if you want to simplify things you can just cut this piece on the fold, you'll still be able to get in and out of the top!

And yes, I believe that when getting dressed you should be able to ask yourself "Does my outfit match my window?":

The feel good top

Since I'm still lacking time for ambitious sewing projects these days, I'm sticking to TNT patterns and the quickest, most satisfying one for me is still my loose, kimono-sleeved top so yes, I've made another one! BUT this time it's a tunic length so that's totally new -I admit I had one like this but I gave it away so not only am I generous but that also resulted in an intolerable gap in my wardrobe.
Plus the (Ikea) fabric I chose has a multitude of adorable animals/flowers/fruits scattered on it and I wanted to keep as many as I could, hence the longer length :)

That clothes hanger pic is horrible but I wanted to make it very clear that there's a dark green frog on the front, at the bottom and a light green one on the back, at the top^^ I had bias remnants in my stash that matched the colours of the garment so I finished the necline in black, the sleeves in white and the hem in green. It's so comfortable and cheerful, I spent a great day wearing it -and it almost didn't wrinkle!

A wintery outfit for Marie

I've just realised that her dress looks like a tiny Cambie, how cute! I drafted a simple bustier bodice with a heart shaped neckline, the skirt is gathered with some leftover broderie anglaise at the hem and the tiny sleeves are made out of white ribbon. Her jacket is a bunch of knitted rectangles sewn together and she's wearing the same black ribbon shoes from a previous outfit.

I need to discover how to make tights for her because some white ones would have looked adorable with these garments!

Sweet Easter top

I'm totally on time with this one^^ I really wanted to post about it sooner but I have been super busy with work lately so the only little free time I get is for sewing and hiking, I never think about taking pics -btw that's also why I'm not documenting my Me-Made-May this year!
So let's talk about this top, first the fabric:

Yes, it's that awesome! It has eggs with chicks, bunnies, daffodils, daisies and other spring flowers on them, ribbons and all possible shades of pink, in other words it's perfect. It's quilting cotton but it doesn't make a difference to me, as long as it has a cute print I'll turn it into something to wear :)
Now for the design, I'm obsessed with simple tops and babydoll shapes so I joined these two styles into one, using a Japanese pattern that I altered -ie I cut it short under the bust and added a gathered skirt- to get this:

Awww I LOVE my top, it is exactly the sweet and casual mix I was going for! I can just pull it over like a regular tee and enjoy the comfort and look of the twirly skirt while the upper part retains definition thanks to the bust darts. Once I had altered the pattern it took me less than 2 hours to trace, sew and finish it -I used lilac bias tape for the neckline and sleeves and made a simple folded hem. Of course I'm planning others and maybe a dress version with longer sleeves :)

Marie's latest outfit

She is wearing a popelin A-line dress, a denim bag and off-white sandals. The dress is lined, it has trim embellishment and it closes at the back with snaps, I used a variation of her green dress for the pattern. The bag is also lined with light blue piqué, the strap is bias tape folded in two and I added flowers that I cut from a piece of trim to make it a little more interesting :) I'm quite happy with the shoes, as usual I used fleece and fused cotton for the sole and some ribbon I had left in my stash but I think they look really cute once worn.

And after seeing Rachel's post on her adorable rag doll I can't wait to buy this book and start making mine!

Couture Vintage

It's the name of a great sewing book by Tonje Thoresen I bought last year and today I'm presenting the first dress I made using it, the "Robe Princesse", which is kind of strange considering that it has regular darts and no princess seams at all:

So here are the pic and drawing of the dress from the book:

 

I muslined the bodice only, I raised the neckline by 2cm because it was too deep for my taste and that's it, I made a French size 38 which is very comfortable but next time if I want a more fitted look I'll definitely make a 36. Also I didn't put the bow because I'm a little fed up with them -I can't believe I've just written that!
I stole that AMAZING fabric from my mama's stash, it's "Garden" by Hokko, a Japanese brand and I know she bought it in Tomato but I can't remember how long ago. It's soft cotton and the print is to die for IMO! Since it's getting slightly colder here I could wear it with my trusted refashioned denim jacket:

I also made the romper or "Combinaison Brigitte B." from the book a few months ago using black linen, it's cute but I don't really like the photos -they lack essential pink hair:

It was too plain so I added an iron-on appliqué from some 100 yen shop, it's a cute little girl ready for the rain:

 

To sum it up I think this book has some really cute and cool retro garments to offer so if you're into that style go and buy it :)