6/22/10

Belted

I found this vintage dress in Elsie's stash and decided it needed a little work before I wore it out for date night. I took in the sides a few inches, as it was really wide, and took about four inches off the bottom before hemming it. Being just 5' 4", I needed it a lot shorter. It's been fun to experiment with sewing and reworking stuff for myself again. Here's another little dress I made from a denim jumper.

Don't mind the awkward facial expression. I think it must've been the pre-vacation crazy in my eye! This one was about six inches higher on top and too narrow around the chest so I cut it down and made a casing for a piece of elastic that only connects from shoulder to shoulder so it doesn't gather in the front. I used some scrap from another denim jumper to make a belt and gathered it in a little for some shape. The sides still have a nice shape to them and the denim is pretty sturdy so it's flattering for the most part. Now I just have to find it at the bottom of the clean pile.

In other news, I'm offering a summer discount on all ad sales! You can sponsor Smile And Wave at 20% off the regular rate for July, August, and September. With over 115,000 page views a month, summer rates are well below competitive prices for similarly sized blogs. If you're interested in getting in before spots fill up, e-mail Leigh-Ann @ FreckledNest (@) gmail (dot) com.

xoxo,
Rachel

23 comments:

Roxanne said...

I love that first dress! I'm really short also (5'1") and always have to hunt or hem or take a nip in here or there.

AlliT said...

SO cute!!

Gussy Sews said...

love your sassy expressions.

Anonymous said...

Love these! You are so cute! -Katie

Joyeful said...

So very lovely! I love that first dress with the red belt! I have stack of dresses I want to remake and I'm just dying to get them done now!

Sonya said...

The color of the first dress is awesome!!! Great accessories too!

Angelica said...

What talent! Great job on the dresses.

Alice said...

Loving the first dress! Great job! (and you're really making me want to take sewing lessons!)

prashant said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

Your hair is gorgeous! I'm naturally curly too, and love seeing other curly's styles for inspiration! :)

KRags said...

Loving the first dress!! I have been looking for one to take maternity pictures in. So jealous!

lisaroy said...

Love both of these! I'm 5'4" too so I know where you're coming from with hemming! : )

Rubyellen said...

happy 8th anniversary to you both! you are brett are so darling. you make us want to get a vespa. :)

love them both! that blue is so so fun!!! i just refashioned a recently thrifted dress two days ago and it is the best feeling!

question- how do you breastfeed with both dresses? i am always wearing shirt or wrap dresses because of the whole breastfeeding thing. i miss wearing dresses that don't open up easily! haha...

your miss ruby is so cute! i really can't believe how time is flying for our little two. it seems just like yesterday we were both pregnant. if we could get our two little misses together, they would be scooting about together everywhere! it would be fun and make for good pictures! soul is crawling fast everywhere that we are constantly chasing after her and she is always crawling to get to a place where she can pull herself up to stand! oh how i miss those newborn days!!! don't you?

Anonymous said...

these both look fabulous! :-)

thrifty-fox said...

Adorable!!! Some of my favorite pieces are thrift store finds that I have reworked. I like cutting of long skirts and making them into cute mini's well not that mini.. I am 35! ;)

Unknown said...

cute dresses! i LOVE that orange chair and cream couch! and the wire basket full of yarn - great idea! i am totally going to advertised with your this summer if i can get in! :D

Holly S said...

Love that you take what you have and rework it without fear! It's the fear of messing it up that stops me in my tracks!

lili est folle said...

i loove the first dress!! You are so lovely Miss in blue!! ;)

Unknown said...

Great re-dos! I love the idea of elastic around the back and not in front -- gives it a more finished look from the front. Nice work!

Anonymous said...

so very inspiring! i'm always a little timid in chopping up vintage clothes, but the little tailoring on the first dress is aahhmazing! thanks for sharing :)

http://www.stuffyoulllove.com

Kristen said...

Rachel you looked super cute for your date night!! Love both dresses, im so jealous I have a sewing machine but have no ideas how to use it yet..

Big Yellow Dog said...

They both look great!
Margaret

Anonymous said...

i love them both! so very cute!! (you and the dresses :)