Manic Pop

So I wanted to post a Burda jumper-dress I finished the other day.   I am definitely doing to need go back in and pull in the bodice a bit! So frustrating. I don't know why I insist on using the poly-poplin for most things, but it crinkles easily and doesn't look.... professional.   The pattern I used for this jumper-dress was Burda's Retro Dress . I made it according to the 36 but should have used the bust from the 34 and the skirt from the 36.  Technically my bust IS a 33" but apparently not in Burda sizing though I suppose that could be due to ease included. Also, this jumper was supposed to be ALL mushroom print but I realized later on that I would need about 3 yards of printed material versus 2. BAH.  I was impatient to sew, so I colorblocked as always.  I did an inside lining for this but only on the top. Otherwise, I serged the edges like I usually do. In

And now.... a very special blog post!  Back in about July me and Tanith of Tanith Rowan Designs collaborated on a maternity dress! I was up for the challenge: I had never made anything maternity before and I am still in early stages of using stretch knits for designing.  So I devised a version of my Sunrise Panel dress just for her based on her measurments and specifically for a stretch knit.  Dummy me didn't take photos with my DSLR like I usually do (or maybe I did but deleted them accidentally because I ran out of room on my SD card?) so we'll have to deal with in-progress photos from my phone.  I think the hardest part was deciding on colors. The fabric store I went to in Chicago can be hit or miss with stretch knit and being a little less knowledgeable in stretch knit, I wanted to see all the weights in person at the store before I bought it.  This is also the first garment I have sewn entirely on my serger - but it wasn't without

It has taken me FOREVER to complete this dress.   Aaaaand the photos I took today are all blown out, edited as best as I could. I think something is wrong with my camera. It looks perfectly exposed on the screen but really bright when I get it onto the computer. Such is life.   But I couldn't resist snatching up this print! It's technically a quilting fabric from Joann's... which is also why it wrinkles so damn fast. I love novelty prints and cotton wovens but I think from here on out, I will be designing my own prints for the most part.  This will allow Manic Pop to be more cohesive as well as me always being able to order more print of a fabric depending upon what I make. I think it will work out in the long run!   Funnily enough, halfway through sewing this I had to take my Huskystar 224 into the shop for repairs. I've had it for about 9 years myself (its about 11 or 12) and never have ever had it serviced. Whoops. The lady at the sewing mach

I had planned on spending some more time with "Niko" and taking some more photos, but my life got very busy very quickly (something I don't take too kindly to) and lost track of being creative for a little bit. I wanted to do ONE more setting in this series after these photos but I literally haven't had the time to do anything. I just worked a 9-day stretch and the timing of my scheduled work hours are insane and allow minimal time for creativity.  Contrast: Books important now and then - my sewing books are constantly being used/looked through and in high school my "notebooks" (the rest of the world calls them journals) were my world. I actually took these photos right outside of my old high school.  It was funny because I was certain I was going to get yelled at somehow by someone for taking these photos, setting up my tripod nearly in the middle of the street but not even the guys cutting the lawn that day at the school cared!  I ha

There were lots of things in Chicago I am more than glad to leave behind.... but I still occasionally miss the house I lived in for 5 out of 10 years. Located in the Portage Park neighborhood in Chicago (a heavily populated Polish neighborhood!) it was quiet, tree-lined and had rows of bungalow houses. Bonus: I had an international market just blocks away that I shopped for all my groceries. I was super-spoiled. Ok, so I stole this photo from the internet. This is what my neighborhood looked like though! My neighborhood was even named one of the top 12 neighborhoods to live in Chicago last year. So here we are - step into my little retro bungalow, just for old time's sake. Everyone knows I love orange. These photos aren't 100% spectacular but they are all I have that are this comprehensive and recent of the house. Taken in February 2014. Living room looking to the road.  That couch got so destroyed by the cats!  Archway t