7.25.2019

Simplicity 8635 Sundress (Literally)

Simplicity 8635 Sundress (Literally)

Hiya. How YOU doin' in the world? In our neck of the woods, every human is at the end of their rope. THE END, Y'ALL!!! Yesterday afternoon, a middle aged woman did that back-and-forth jig, you know the one, where you don't know which way to go? She had a bag of groceries on one arm, and although she juked to the wrong side of the street, I happily stepped out of her way to allow her to pass. She repaid the favor by yanking her elbow up into the air as if to strike me. As if to strike me. Which surprised me into laughter, because who does that?! I am sure this did not help her mood.  

Simplicity 8635 Sundress (Literally)

That evening, Rob & I took a stroll together, because, strength in numbers, and were ordered by a young stationary duo taking up a 15-foot radius of sidewalk to walk around them and their toy dog on a fully extended leash. Toy Dog Chick called us some names, we yelled back about the magnificence of her self centeredness, and continued our stroll.  

Simplicity 8635 Sundress (Literally)

And those are fairly innocuous blurbs, compared to the strangers we've been running up against. Racial stuff, that I honestly don't want to talk about. Everyone is raging against the machine by living their own personal life with extreme belligerence. 

Simplicity 8635 Sundress (Literally)

Later that night, huddled up on the couch with a nice big cocktail and a Rob-centric flick, I wondered if those exchanges might have gone differently if I'd been wearing my usual garb. Mostly everything in my closet is currently in the hamper, as I've been back and forth between jobs and trains since June, so it's been jeans shorts & a tee for me since Tuesday.

Simplicity 8635 Sundress (Literally)

Because really, how are you rude to a person wearing a dress made out of technicolor suns? At the very least you're maybe a little happier for the color!

This was a point of interest in my sudden flurry of summer singing. Theater rehearsals are pretty much a dressed-down affair, leggings and loose shirts being the easy choice for movement. My closet doesn't have a lot of that anymore. Mainly because I keep making stuff, so, erm, SOMETHING has to go, and given the choice between a sensible rehearsal outfit and a maxi dress, whaddaYOU think is getting the ax. So, I've been entering rooms in maxi dress technicolor, tying up the skirt portion to dance and twirl as needed. And lemme tell you what, IT FEELS SO GOOD! And it makes other people feel good! I lost count of the number of co-workers who wanted to change their closet game after spending a few days together! I may have agreed to teach several people to sew!! BECAUSE FOLKS LET'S SPREAD THE HAPPY.

Simplicity 8635 Sundress (Literally)

A literal sun-dress was all I could think to create out of this print, which was lucky for me, because I'm usually stymied by 100% cotton fabric. I know this makes zero sense, given my obsession with wax print, which is essentially 100% cotton with a wax finish. But give me plain cotton and I'll sit on it for a year. Even a vibrant print like this! That Alexander Henry sun dictated the dress, and I made it the day it entered my sewing space.

Simplicity 8635 Sundress (Literally)

Would that I were as quick on the draw blogging about it, because I have no earthly idea what I used for the bodice. Wait. Let me check Ye Olde Instagram and see if I left any breadcrumbs... AHA!!!! Simplicity 8635!  


AY QUE WRINKLY! Sorry! This is one of the many dresses that went to rehearsals with me last week. With a little more yardage I could have had a seamless sun across the back zipper, but c'est la vie. I've tried the bodice of this pattern in both the strappy open-backed view (C), and the plainer version you see here. I prefer this closed view, the open back was super gapey. I omitted the V at the top of center back, and did double shoulder straps. 


The skirt as-drafted is gathered, which isn't my jam, so I went with a super simple half circle skirt, with a 2" horsehair hem.


This means no room for pockets, as it only has a center back seam...but LOTS of room for twirl...


Simplicity 8635 Sundress (Literally)

#TWIRLPOWER


Well y'all, I wish you some sun as you walk through the world and into the weekend. I plan on getting this laundry done STAT and getting back into my technicolor armor. Maybe it won't calm the savage beast, but if everyone's determined to go off the deep end, I'm at least gonna have something pretty to look at during the mayhem.

This shoot, by the way, was a very wonderful day, with a very wonderful friend, who wanted to go behind the scenes and see me act foolish in front of a tripod. WHICH I GLADLY DID. We laughed for several hours. But despite my open-mouthed grins, I know there's a lot going on (to say the very least). So truly...how's the water in your end of the pool? How are you handling the general human climate? If you can find a way to move through the world with some goodwill, we'll be over here, trying to do the same. 

41 comments:

  1. Your dress is so beautiful, as are you. That's so hard for me to imagine - like seriously, you're smiling friendly at the people, and they act horrible to you? Very bizarre.

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    1. Usually when I'm in crazy color, people smile despite themselves! Almost...laughing? I'll take folks laughing at me over scowling generally.

      But then again...my NY gameface is definitely smile-less! Maybe I had it on that day!

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  2. I love your spirit as much as I love your makes. Don't let the haters get you down!

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  3. Oona, oh Oona,
    twirl day and night,
    ignorant pedestrians only fuel,
    Fool #1's delight.

    But he won't be around,
    for much more than a year.
    Those torches will dim,
    betrayal will sear.

    Their arms will tire,
    under the weight of deceit,
    their future's a prop,
    an illusory retreat.

    For they seek a world,
    which never existed,
    rage at strivers,
    for shortcomings twisted.

    T'was they who should,
    you're in their way.
    You took from them,
    through rage you'll pay.

    He stokes the fears,
    and soaks the rags,
    Hate burns brightest,
    before it sags.

    The ashes of angst,
    disappointment displayed,
    are the one's who can't skate,
    upon a misnomer mislaid.

    Double the straps,
    increase the views.
    Hems lilt with horsehair,
    feature stems and those shoes.

    Celebrate your love,
    in the most sidewalk of ways.
    Summer's made for the flair,
    of your swishes, twirls, and sways.

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    1. I read this at 1am last night, and almost shook Rob awake to read it out loud to him. You are an absolute GEM.

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  4. its a gorgeous dress - and lovin the twirls and swirls - sorry to hear about the incident on the street - it really is the same the world over, as there seems to be always one with a gradiose sense of self entitlement that will shoot off. I know I generally remind myself to feel sorry for these persons as I figure they are destined for a life of disappointment as life will never be good enough for them.

    delighted to hear you inspired your theatre colleagues!

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    1. We try to remind ourselves that you never know what's going on...but man, it's just nonstop these past few weeks. It's also made us really appreciate lovely strangers even more, which we happily had a few of last night.

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  5. I live in the town where the 1960 Woolworth sit-in happened. We've bumbled along with racial tensions simmering just under the surface, since then.

    It's much better now than when I was growing up. My first day of school was the first day of integrated public schools in the county. When I got home, the first thing my mother asked five-year-old me was, "Where there any black children in your class?" I had no idea what she was talking about.

    Now that several generations have passed through that school system, it is very refreshing to see that most young people would also be confused by my mother's question. We are all human beings, no matter the color of our skin.

    And all of us, brown, black, white -- or gray, I've seen someone with gray skin before, very sadly -- would rejoice to see that dress waltzing down South Elm Street, past the International Civil Rights Museum. It's not a Woolworth anymore.

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  6. well, its been an interesting few weeks here. I (in general) do not like people, preferring to stay out of crowds and have minimal contact with other humans. So what do I do for a living? Answer phones and get yelled at, or talked down to, or (on the other end of things) begged for advice, and cried on. All it does is make me want to live in a brightly decorated house in the woods surrounded by a 15 ft moat filled with gators. Your Dress is fantastic, as always. And your smile radiant, I would brave people, crowds, and the horrible city to be able to meet someone so full of light and love. Thank the gods for the internet, I can meet you, and avoid crowds!

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    1. Your house in the woods sounds like mine, only I have benevolent lions guarding our lavender walls;) And that's such a lovely way to think about the internet....especially as it can be a lot like the calls you have to handle. Sending you sunshine!

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  7. i love Shelley's poem! don't let the bastards grind you down. i don't have a poem, and i don't walk in your shoes. but i am proud of you in the shoes that you have selected, and for making a HUGE difference in the world. i am sorry that not everyone in the world sees you as the inspiration that you are.

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    1. This is so beautifully put. Your shoes must be pretty sparkly as well!

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  8. Omg I love this dress! I was worried about being in my first musical (community theater) and being the only person in the room in a dress because I just don't wear leggings? I'm glad you talked about this, it really makes me feel better to know I'm not alone!

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  9. Thank you for this. I plan to use your happy clothing for a contentious day next week. Power to the people who would rather love than hate.

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    1. I truly hope it gets you through the day! Technicolor armor, in my book.

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  10. OMG Who in their right mind could not look at gorgeous you and not feel It is alright in this world. Thank you for being you.
    I, too have experienced some real hateful behavior over the last couple months and I just wish I could go home with these people and tuck hem into bed with this Angel (you) of God to give them peace in their hearts and smiles to faces. We need more of you!
    With peace and love.
    Pegeth

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    1. what a lovely thought, thank you so much! Hope you can ignore the negative folks.

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  11. The dress is gorgeous and you are too! Keep on smiling honey.

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  12. It's not possible to see a dress like that and not have a smile on your face, surely? Thank you for spreading some joy amidst the gloom (I'm in the UK and Brexit is getting me and many others down...)

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    1. It's a weird time, to say the least. Hope you're finding some joy out there.

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  13. Ah love this. You truly make the world a better place. Thank you.

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  14. My grandfather, a 19th century kind of guy (literally), said "crazy world, crazy people". So true. Sigh.
    And can I use 💩🍽😁 ? Oh, I just did! Thank you!

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  15. Did you say they fabric is Alexander Henry? If fabulous I want to get it. You look amazing plus excellent work 👍on the dress

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    1. It is! And I believe it comes in a couple other colorways :) Thank you!

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  16. It's a bizarre and rather frightening world these days. Pushing out positive, happy and colourful vibes is the best kind of peaceful protest. Surely this tide will turn? Soon? Thank you for your consistent, happy approach to life and sewing.

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    1. It's got to turn eventually....let's hope it comes sooner than later. And you're very, very welcome :)

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  17. OMG, some people just SUCK. People around here are generally very nice, at least on the surface, but since I live in Oklahoma I'm often suspicious about what might be beneath that nice surface.

    But anyway... on to more important and cheerful things. Your dress is GORGEOUS as usual. Love the fabric.

    I'm having some serious closet angst myself. I have mostly been sewing for other people this summer so I don't have to get rid of anything. When the new house is finished I will have three times the closet space (literally) so I feel like I should hang on to all my beloveds since I will soon have room for all of them and more.

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    1. Lynn, you gotta STOP THAT TRAIN!!!! Sew up some wax print for yourself and use it as wall hangings till you move!!

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    2. Well, the "other people" I've been sewing for is mostly my granddaughter so that's fun but I am working on a dress for myself. Not wax print but it is colorful. I'm going to try to make at least two more before summer ends.

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  18. I'm SO glad I ran across your posting this morning....this world is SO full of negative, self centered and rude people. I LOVE that you choose to handle things in an upbeat, laughing and loving way. Good for you! That dress....how gorgeous, but I always say the absolute best accessory is a genuine SMILE! Have a lovely day! Deb E / CA

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i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!