spring/summer 2013 preview

I'm making several different tops and dresses for the shop (along with a lighter denim skirt). I'm still working on a few more things and then I can take pictures of everything and update the shop. It has taken a little longer this year, but I'm not going to stress over it. We are planning a big move at the end of the summer so I have a lot to do between now and then! I hope to gradually update the shop with new items throughout the summer months. I don't have a definite date yet to open shop for the spring/summer items, but...soon! Enjoy this little preview until then! xo

lately on instagram

Spring is finally here and I am loving it! I've been inspired to sew with lots of different pretty floral fabrics lately. I am so close to finishing some new spring items for the shop. Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll update the shop and show you everything I've been working on. In the meantime, you will notice I've shared some sneak peeks on instagram. I also managed to make a little spring top for myself to wear, just in time for an afternoon at the botanic gardens! xo

the yardsale continues...

 I found more things in my closet! I splurged a bit the other day on a few spring wardrobe staples, so I decided to clean out a few more things from my closet. Let me know if you are interested in anything! I will probably continue to update the yardsale as I keep finding things I don't wear anymore! And I'm trying to really only keep things I actually wear. Hope you enjoy the new selection! xo

YARD SALE!

playing dress-up

 

Today I just sold a wedding dress I designed and made years ago. It is kind of bittersweet because I spent a long time making it and it took so much fabric! But it has been sitting in a plastic bag in my closet for years. I finally brought it back here to Evanston so I could try selling it. Today someone was interested in it and decided to buy it. I'm so happy that it is going to a good home! I just had to try it on one last time. Here are some quick photos Jed took with my iphone. My hair isn't perfect or anything, but it will at least document this dress that I made. Kind of makes me want to dress up more often! xoxo

new spring dress / sample dress for sale

 

 I have been working on a new dress for the spring/summer season and it's just about ready. However I decided to make a few minor changes on the final design. So, I'm selling this sample dress in size small.  There is a piece of elastic in the center back, which I actually plan to change on the final design. I also decided to make this dress more fitted than my other designs. In case you are interested, I put it up for sale in my Etsy shop. More to come!

xoxo

{pictures by my husband! bass sandals and lipstick by revlon in "stormy pink," although you can hardly tell i'm wearing any.}


p.s. Just wanted to let you know I added a new item and reduced prices in my yardsale.

spring yardsale

Hello! Here to let you know of a little yardsale today on my other blog. We are moving this summer and I would like to get rid of as much stuff as I can. I may do another sale later as I have some fabric I may want to part with. This sale is mostly shoes, a 1930's evening gown, a handmade silk wedding gown with a large train for a wedding business that never took root (thank goodness) and various other clothing items that either don't fit me or I never wear anymore. I would love if you would take a look. Please let me know if you would like something (include your zip code so I can calculate shipping costs): gracefullady [at] gmail dot com

YARDSALE!

a favorite children's book: miss hickory

One of the things I am rather passionate about are old children's books. I absolutely adore them! There are so many classics that I grew up reading that I hope to share with my own children someday. I do think that I am a child at heart. These books still make me so happy and inspired every time I read them over again. I used to imagine that the apple trees in our backyard could grow a little Miss Hickory. I even planned to make my own Miss Hickory doll, but somehow that never happened. If you are not familiar with this book, it is about a doll whose body was made of an apple twig and head of a hickory nut. How charming is that! It tells of all her adventures throughout the changing seasons. In the end she falls happily asleep into an old apple tree, becoming one of the branches and blossoming into spring. It is the cutest story with lovely little illustrations throughout. My copy is quite old and worn; you can tell many have enjoyed it through the years, which makes me quite happy. Do try to find a copy of this old classic if you can. I know that you will enjoy it even if you are no longer a child.

P.S. I found these instructions on how to create your own Miss Hickory doll! It looks just like the illustrations!

new prospects.

Hello everyone! That is, hello to the few of you who are still out there reading this space. I have felt like I haven't had a lot to blog about lately, so I have been a really bad blogger! Jed and I are going through a transitional period and there are a lot of decisions that need to be made soon. Jed decided to apply to other grad schools and got accepted to a few really great ones. One is in Houston, TX and the other in Boulder, CO. Pretty opposite places! And on top of that, Jed is being interviewed in Madison, WI for what looks like a pretty amazing job. I'm here now with him for the interview. I think I would love to live in Madison, but I also know that getting his PhD is probably a bigger priority right now. So we aren't really sure yet what we will do. But it is nice that we can both figure this out together! For now we are enjoying the ride. I must say, though, I could be very happy here in Madison. It is gorgeous. I've never lived in a place where the lakes freeze over solid enough that you can actually walk across it in the winter. Iowa always had cold winters, but not quite cold enough to freeze over lakes. The drive from Chicago was also really lovely with all the white snow covered fields. At least we have a little while yet to figure out what we will do.

In the meantime, I'm busy working on a new pattern for the shop! Yes, I've decided to branch out into making sewing patterns. I have been quite slow on it right now, but hoping I can have one ready for the summer, at least until we move to our new location! For those who are wondering, I'm getting this dress from the spring/summer 2011 collection ready and it will be available through PDF download. I still have a lot more work to do before it is ready! Also, I'll continue to sew items for my shop, but I am very excited to branch out into the pattern making world!

P.S. It's Jed's birthday today! He is at his interview at the moment, but we are planning a big celebration tonight. I'm so proud of him. He has been working so hard! I love that man so very much.