9.26.2012

witchy woman

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Oof! I swear the sewing blogger gods did not want me to get this post up! They were just throwing me one curve ball after another. However, I'm trying to do less whining in this space so I won't really go into detail...

Oh what the hell... I'll just tell you the worst of it - my bike was stolen yesterday (this is the 5th bike in the matter of two years...seriously) and my bike was my number one source of transportation (and I loved it) sooo... boo!

Alright! Thats that off my chest! Lets talk about this dress shallll we? This is the Satsuki Dress from Victory Patterns made up in black silk crepe de chine.  When the new collection of Victory patterns came out I, like many other sew-ers out there, kinda went apeshit. I seriously felt like Krisitann had been digging around inside my brain, making notes on my deepest wardrobe desires.  I believe I even uttered the following phrase aloud, while gaping at my computer screen: "Holy shit,Victory Patterns! Get outta my head!!" I am, if nothing else, extremely eloquent.


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Oddly enough, the pattern I was most drawn to was this simple, kimono inspired dress - labeled for beginners. You guys. I can't even tell you how many little mistakes I made while sewing this up. Like, so many. Which is ridiculous because the pattern was printed perfectly and the instructions were beautiful and clear and easy to follow... basically my difficulties were in no way the fault of the pattern - I'm just really dumb sometimes.  I'm blaming it on it being that time of the month and moving on. Are you with me on this one?

Since I've been living in Texas I've found autumn to be a very difficult season to deal with.  I feel that growing up in the northeast I've been hardwired to think in terms of four seasons, and there seems to be some seasonal depression thats just in my bones.  Here in Galveston the weather has certainly cooled off some, but its still hotter than many places get during the height of summer. I mean, I spent both of my weekend days at the beach...

I'm really not complaining about the weather - I love the balmy falls and mild winters of East Texas. And for the first time in my life my feet are actually warm(ish) for the majority of the year! But what I'm trying to get at is that I'm struggling with incorporating a fall feeling into what is essentially a summer wardrobe. I feel like this dress hits the nail on the head for me. It's still light and breezy (thanks silk!) but there's a certain moody quality to it that seems far more appropriate for October than it does June.

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And having nothing to do with any of that... If you've ever looked at my pictures on this blog and wondered if I just wander around posing in front of other people's houses... you would be absolutely correct! I've pretty much overcome my awkwardness at being spotted preening by myself in front of a camera, and on the rare occasion that someone actually asks what I'm doing I usually just mumble something about being a photographer and give them a stink eye of such magnitude it could fumigate an entire city.  

But every so often I get caught doing something totally weird that even I have to slink away from with my tail between my legs. These photos, for instance, were basically taken in someone's driveway. No, I have no idea who's house it was - I just liked their trees, okay?! The owner of said house opened his front door to let the cat out and spotted me crouching in his driveway, right by his car, fiddling with my camera settings. It was my turn to receive some serious stink eye. I tried with all my might to look like it was the most natural thing in the world for a girl to be squatting in someone's driveway, dressed like she's got a hot date (at 5pm on a Wednesday) and taking photos - presumably - of some gnarly bit of curb as I grabbed my stuff and scurried away.

And on that note, hope you're all having a lovely week!

xx

56 comments:

  1. hahaha, I love the image of you posing in someone's random front yard! I'm not quite brave enough for that, yet. I'm strictly an indoor-posing-camera girl. :)

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  2. Gorgeous dress Sallie - I too absolutely adored all of Victory Patterns' most recent offering. Shame its generally too cold for me to gal avant about in such garb, but then I get to admire you doing it instead! hehe... I totally take all my pictures in my street and in front of other peeps houses... although I'm still in the 'quick, somebodies coming!' phase. :P

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  3. Uhhhgggg sooooo pretttyy! Stop it! Just stop it right now! ...no just kidding. You're my sewing/trespassing-photography-delinquent inspiration ;)

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  4. Hee hee, love it that you can go pose anywhere you like :)) I seriously can't do it. So respect!

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  5. Cute dress and I love your shoes!

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  6. You are too funny! I had to chuckle at the image of you squatting in someone's driveway. This dress is perfect for you, you seem to know instinctively what type of clothing suits you and go with it. I'm still trying to figure it out for myself :)

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  7. stunning as usual! very sleek in black. and as a fellow texan I feel you on the fall-but-not-really-fall fashion dilemma. also, i admire your bravery for taking pics alone, in public, in front of random houses. i have a hard enough time taking pics in front of my own house. people honk at me :(

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  8. You and your dress are lovely, and you always crack me up! How was sewing those shoulder cut outs in the silk?

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  9. Bahaha! I laugh because I can relate. Its good when you can go about being photographed posing in public places like that is exactly the most appropriate thing you could be doing at the time. You gotta give people something to talk about. And for the most part they were probably thinking...smokin! Lovely lovely dress, any thoughts on the sizing?

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  10. First off, I just don't know how your husband deals with this level of babiness 24/7. As for your dress.... it's funny, I was totally meh about this particular pattern (though I loved the other ones) but your version is totally changing my mind. It's so sleek and minimal and TOTALLY perfect for autumn in a hot climate. I'm really feeling black this season - normally I'm all, "ALL OF THE COLOURS" but sometimes you can't beat the NYC vibe of black silk. Regarding the awkwardness of photos - I hear you sister. I once had my new neighbor and his gf sit on their balcony and watch my photoshoot in the alley like it was TV. She yelled "Do you have a blog?!" I murmered assent. She demanded the title, and I mumbled it. She promised to check it out. I muttered, please don't. I do this for YOU guys, not those guys. The idea of non-sewing people/best friends seeing my blog kinda gives me the deep heebs. But the photoshoot weirdness is totally worth it for these witchy magic vibes dude.

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  11. 1. I'm sorry to hear about your bike! Bike theft has been terrible around here and we've been victim at least three times in the past two years. It's such a bummer!
    2. You are stunning! Beautiful girl, beautiful dress. I love seeing this pattern made up.
    3. The story of the home owner is too funny. That's basically my worse fear - being caught by the owner while I'm posing in their yard. So embarrassing!

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  12. Stunning dress, it looks like the pattern was made for you!
    I often make most mistakes with easy garments, I guess it's because I lower my guard and get distracted more easily when things are supposed to be simple.
    The stink eye story is hilarious. You should be proud of yourself to have the cheekiness to take photos in public, I'm still way too shy for that. Once, my neighbor passed by in the woods while I was taking photos in full makeup and heels, and he usually sees me in sweat pants and super messy hair. I was tomato red in my face for the next fifty photos or so...

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  13. Hilarious about the dude's driveway!! I've recently taken to posing in front of a temporary board my neighbours' builders have put up front of their house...! The builders seem to find my "shoots" pretty entertaining, but what am I going to do when they finish their work and take the board down??


    Secondly, blaming everything on that time of the month is the way to go - because we are quite clearly perfect creatures the rest of the time...


    Finally, what a beautiful dress! I am salivating over that delicious silk and exposed shoulders... Simple, sexy and stunning!

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  14. asewingodyssey.blogspot.co.ukSeptember 27, 2012 at 2:09 AM

    Oh Sallie, your storytelling skills are ace! You had me giggling like a chimp at my work desk with your driveway story...highlight of my day! That aside, you looking stunning as ever, this dress is so simple, yet so perfect on you! Your fabric choice certainly is 'moody' but in the best way possible...love it! Oh and sorry to hear about your bike :o(

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  15. This is so awesome! I really love it. And its perfect in a simple black.

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  16. god i wish we could go on a guerilla photo shoot together.

    i LOVE your version. now i'm kicking myself for not buying a pack of 3 (i bought one, then another, and now i must haz this gem...). i truly admire your style so much!

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  17. Oh! Excellent question! I made this up in the smallest size - even though I am not the smallest size. I just felt like the finished measurements for this size would be enough for me and would work with the style.

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  18. Thanks Abigail! They weren't as bad as I thought they'd be, actually. I wish I had mitered the bias binding, however, because it does that weird thing where it kind of sticks out a bit instead of laying totally flat.

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  19. A beautiful slinky dress just right for a hot fall Sallie. Sorry to hear about your bike though - filthy thieving pigs! Frightened at the thought of you looking furtive in OTHER PEOPLE'S driveways - there are guns in Texas ferchrissakes - don't you get scared of angry homeowners?!

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  20. I'm so sorry your bike was stolen!! People who steal transportation are my least favorite kinds of thieves... like, cool NOW I CAN'T GO TO WORK OR EVEN GET HOME THANKS A LOT. Arghhhh that makes me so angry on your behalf!


    But... at least you have a totally gorgeous dress. I love how floaty & dreamy &, yes, witchy it looks. Love!! I know what you mean about the weird in-between season feeling... I am drawn to snuggly autumn looks, but it's still pretty warm here in Tennessee. Not as warm as it is in Texas, I'd assume - but it's 85 degrees today. And all my pretty fall/winter clothes are wool, and I dunno... I just feel wrong wearing bright summery colors/patterns when it's practically October. Black is a good compromise.


    Also, I love that you shot those pictures in your neighbor's driveway. Haha! I need to grow some balls and start shooting in different locales too... I just feel so AWKWARD. Me & my tripod and my cheap point-and-shoot haha. But you're right, those trees are totally gorgeous.

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  21. I know! So not only did you steal my belonging - which I spent money on - but you freaking stole my ability to go about my daily business! Transportation thieves ARE the worst kind of thieves! Its like a double whammy.
    I feel like I'm always adjusting to this whole "living in the south" thing - yeah, wool seems pretty out of the question for these early fall temps - so it seemed like the only thing I could change up was the color palette.
    And shooting photos of yourself - by yourself - will never NOT be awkward. End of story!

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  22. Oh Joanne! You sweet, sweet Brit! Here in the States we laugh in the face of gun-totin' Texans! After all, they wouldn't need an entire armory to protect their land if there weren't snot nosed liberal brats like me that think they can trespass wherever they damn please! See - its just all part of the system... I'm just upholding our good, American values!
    Just kidding... this guy looked like more of a burnt-out beach stoner than a Yosemite Sam. I think he was very, very confused...

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  23. Thank Oona!! The admiration is mutual, I can assure you! I think I'm going to be in the same boat as you - this feels like the first of many Victory makes...


    And you just say the words and I'll be trespassing ALL OVER with you!

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  24. Hehe!! Thanks! So glad I could make for some awkward work giggling!

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  25. Ha! Excellent point about "that time of the month" - yeah, I only make mistakes every 28 days... obviously...
    Maybe you can sweetly ask the builders to donate the board to your blogging cause - I bet that would really befuddle them!

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  26. Oh man! I totally feel your pain - trust me, if I had some beautiful woods to take photos in - relatively undisturbed - like you do I'd be ALL over that! Its the worst when you see someone you know - I'd prefer that no one in my "real life" know about my blog!

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  27. Thank you Lizz!! Getting your bike stolen is a major bummer - it feels so darn personal!
    I can't even imagine what I looked like to this guy - he just seemed so confused and I was so SO embarrassed!

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  28. DUDE!! We are SO sympatico! I'm also weirdly feeling all black this season! Also, I think one of my favorite things about sewing blogs is seeing people make up the patterns that I totally passed over and seeing how awesome it CAN be. I mean, its not good for my wallet...but whatever...
    And yes - totally get you about the non-sewing/"real life" people seeing my blog really skeevs me out. Usually people are really nice when they find out about it - but its still not something I'm very comfortable talking about - especially not YOU, strange person creeping on my photoshoot!

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  29. Ohhh god! Some dude in a pickup honked at me yesterday! Yeah... this whole taking pictures of yourself thing never really gets any easier!

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  30. Wow! Thanks Jillian! Yeah, I'm starting to wonder if I'm stuck in a rut though? I think I might need to work on some more tailored elements to keep things interesting...

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  31. Thank you, Lena! Sometimes you just have to own the fact that you're going to get weird looks...

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  32. Aw! Thank you, Rochelle! I wish I had some sweet Vermont-y woods to hike around in to get some pictures like you and Lucille!

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  33. Thanks Melanie! I always think that one of the nice things about all these blogs is that we get to live vicariously through each other's makes! I had to give myself a little *slap slap* after seeing your coat because I was dreaming of making my own... but really...it never really gets cold enough for one! So I'll just admire yours, thanks ;)

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  34. Oh its always so awkward!!

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  35. Thank you Kelli!!

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  36. I had the opposite problem as you. When I moved to the northeast from Florida, I didn't know how to dress for fall let alone winter! But I think you're figuring out a new mode of dress for your new location and I like the way it's going. The black of the dress makes it feel fall and holiday-ish but the lightweight silk doesn't have you sweating balls. Also, this dress will last you year round.


    And lots of mistakes on a rather easy project? Yeh, I've been there and done that!

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  37. I'm surprised that you still feel awkward taking photos, but really it's good to know since yours look awesome! And I love how you find new locations. I have to get out the camera and tripod here, I'll probably stick to my yard/my parents' yard, but you're inspiring me to find somewhere more interesting . . .

    Sorry about your bike, that is the worst! One time someone stole a bike that was part of a free bike rental program from in front of the apartment we were renting in Madison - people, honestly!

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  38. Fantastic dress. I love every single Victory Patterns. Of course from the latest release I bought a pack of 3 which didn't include this one. Leave it to you to tempt me with the one I didn't get. Where I live in Central California we have the same weather issues as you. Its going to be mid to high 90's for another entire week before we get ANY 80s tempts for christsakes! So I am still sewing up some of my summer projects that will totally be fine through October.

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  39. I bet the guy was checking out your cute new dress! :)

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  40. Oh my goah, this is BEAUTIFUL! I love it so much!! Oh, Victory Patterns... you make my heart race!

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  41. AHHH silk cdc is DELICIOUS. My absolute favorite. And this dress is freaking chic. I totally admire the fact that you take photos in people's driveways, by the way.

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  42. This dress is awesome. And the photo shoot especially! I don't think people give enough credit for self-portraits, as a general rule...

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  43. As usual, you hit it out of the park. Lovely photos. Sorry about the bike! I wish someone would invent a bike that senses its true owner and gives electrical shock to nefarious strangers. your photo shoot is just gorgeous. well done!

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  44. I was just taking pix for last post and remembering when I was a photography student back in the 90's and self portraits was my thing. Now I just feel awkward and try not to look too stupid while showing off the garment. But I certainly don't have the cojones to do this in public. Loved your story. Love the dress. Love your blog. Oh yeah, and I always screw up the easiest patterns. As someone else said, I think it's because you think you don't have to pay as much attention to an easy pattern. But sewing is sewing, easy or hard, it needs to be paid attention to...

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  45. This garment is just oozing drama. You look brilliant! Bravo!

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  46. Omg, this dress is insanely beautiful. I'm kind of obsessed with it.

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  47. That dress is absolutely gorgeous. I must admit I was very amused by your blogger adventures while taking photographs, but I guess they are worth it (as long as you don't get into any trouble!) because I love the backgrounds on your photos, you always pick beautiful spots.

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  48. As usual, struttin' your stuff looking like a supermodel! I love this dress... and i LOVE silk crepe... what a glorious combination! You've done it again!! ^__^ I bet that person who's yard you were standing on was wondering if he was gonna see his house front in the next issue of Vogue! ^__^


    Sorry to hear about your bike!! Karma will prevail.... maybe the chain will break and they'll go flying into the nearest mukky ditch ^__^

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  49. I can totally relate! Although here in NYC everyone is shooting something or the other, so they leave you alone pretty much. I love this dress, btw.

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  50. How fun! Easy drama. I didn't notice all their new amazing patterns. I love your backstage stories. It's getting easier to slink around and find good photo spots but I admit I still end up trying to pass off what I'm doing as "oh I'm just taking pictures of your building".


    So sorry to hear about the bike. Here in the Bike Theft Capital, we have lost a total of 8 bikes in five years right out of our garage and it really really stinks and sends me crying every time. It's a serious problem in Texas in general, and most of the bikes leave the country. Our smarter neighbors bring their bikes in the house and one built a superhero-proof bike rack on his porch.

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  51. HA! This made me laugh and laugh... 'I'm a sleuth.... yes. I. am..... " slink away! Love the dress sis. Its gorgeous.

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  52. Also, how do I get MY picture to show, so that I'm not the shadow man?!?!

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  53. I think you might have to make a Disqus profile (you could also switch over to using Disqus as your commenting platform on YOUR blog so I don't have to type in the evil unreadable text and blurry photo number thing that is recaptcha.... just a suggestion... you know I'll always leave you a comment no matter what - because I LOVE YOU!)

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  54. that was EXACTLY what I was doing - I even made "the eyes" !!

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