Autumn Joy!

I am just giddy with delight at the completion of this dress.  Without exception, this is my new favorite dress, and my floral 60's dress has taken a backseat to this new darling.

I picked up this fantastic pattern at a garage sale, and it has been on my must sew list since early spring of this year, I was just waiting for the perfect fabric.  Shortly after selling our old house, I made one last stop at my fabric store, knowing that my five minute drive was about to become more than ten times longer.  The icing on the cake was finding this belt which was a perfect match to the fabric.

Recently, shirt dresses have really caught my attention and I want to add a few of them into my wardrobe.  With the help of a lovely blogger, I was able to narrow my selection to this dress and one other one.  We will be sewing up another shirtdress together in the coming weeks.

While I more often than not choose to line my handmade clothing, I decided that I liked the lightweight feel of this cotton lawn.  But the lightweight fabric also lends itself to being rather sheer.  Luckily, the slip that I sewed up earlier this year works perfectly under this dress.  I think a crinoline or petticoat would actually work better under this dress, but I'm working with what I've got.

These pictures were taken right as hubby and I were leaving to attend his grade school reunion.  It was so much  fun to wear this dress, as it got lots of compliments and made a great conversation starter.  (Which I needed, since I did not really know anyone there).  I even met a woman who still has all of her mom's old sewing patterns and has offered to lend me some!

I really know that I've got a successful project when my dad is making suggestions for another one.  Yup, my dad likes this dress so much, he is suggesting I sew up another in a wool gabardine.  Well, I happen to have a stash of wool and love sewing with it.  I'm thinking this dress may have a twinsie in my closet soon.

Live in this moment and love life!
Annabelle