Dreaming about nightgowns

Posted by Alexandra at Studio Alexandra

I've been dreaming about making (and wearing) some bedroom pretties. Now, I'm not big on all the lace and long nightgowns with matching slippers, but I thought something more feminine and prettier than a T-shirt and a pair of boy shorts would be nice. As I thought about it, it dawned on me that I have no idea what real nightwear looks like because I never paid much attention to it before. So, I hopped over to Nordstrom and started looking. Interesting stuff, really, even though a lot of those things seemed designed to be taken off shortly after being put on.
Here are the winners - my inspiration.



I really like the shirts. To test the idea, I borrowed one of DH's long-sleeved shirts and have slept in it the last couple of nights. Quite comfy, actually. (I didn't think it would be, with the collar and buttons...) So, I'm thinking a combination of plain white and a black/white microcheck shirting, maybe with a narrow black lace at the cuffs and on the collar. I already washed the fabrics.

I like the dress-like camisole nightgowns, too. For those, I'll have to come up with a way to attach sleeves. Not long sleeves, mind you, just a cap sleeve, to cover my shoulders. I can't sleep when my shoulders are cold (and it would have to be 80F in the house for me to wear those spaghetti straps comfortably). Hmmm, maybe I could make a matching shrug.

Is this what people really wear to bed? And with what shoes? Because I'm imagining a pair of silver strappy sandals with marabou trim to go with these pretty confections.

Is it my imagination?

Posted by Alexandra at Studio Alexandra

First of all, thank you for the birthday wishes! We enjoyed our trip to Paris and my darling photographer husband took a lot of pictures. Alas, none of them show my new dresses because they are all covered up with the long cape that kept me warm the whole time. Oh well. When our schedules allow, we'll do some dress pictures.

And now, is it my imagination or are we suddenly seeing a proliferation of softer, rounded shoulders? This is what I'm talking about:

A small selection of recent Vogue and Butterick patterns

My recent projects have this type of shoulder. The 1950's dress has a kimono sleeve, the yet-to-be-photographed wool jersey dresses have dolman sleeves. I love the way these look on me. They make my square shoulders appear much less square (if you don't agree, please do not burst my bubble).
So, have they been around all along or are there really more of them now?

Mojo or not...

Posted by Alexandra at Studio Alexandra

A big "Thank You" to all who commented on my previous post. I feel better now, knowing that my sewing mojo is not the only one with a dubious work ethic.
Also, on the advice of several of you, I decided to just go ahead and sew, mojo or not. And guess what? I made three dresses in two days. Granted, they're all made of wool jersey and entirely on the serger/coverstitch combo, but really - three dresses! No pictures right now because my photographer had other husbandly duties that didn't allow enough time for photography. Oh well, next time.

It's my birthday today and in a few hours we will be off to Paris for the weekend to celebrate it (and DH's birthday, too, and our 3rd anniversary). Have a good weekend, everyone!

Dear sewing mojo...

Posted by Alexandra at Studio Alexandra

I'm not complaining and I promise not to nag but there are some things I have to tell you. First, I love you very much. You help me turn out lovely garments that bring me many compliments. You give me a sense of accomplishment with every new dress or top or pair of pants. You even help me keep my figure trim and slim because I usually forget to eat when I'm sewing.

However, last week Marji asked if her readers are planning to sew a SWAP and if not, why not. Well, I thought about it and had to admit that I'm definitely not doing the SWAP because it seems that every time I make any sewing plans, you make yourself scarce for weeks, sometimes even months, which fact creates a problem because those plans usually have associated deadlines that I can't meet without you. In the human world, we call this commitment phobia.

I know you like that old saying that goes "when the going gets tough, the tough get going". But next time, could you please get going in the same direction I am?

It might be helpful if you talk to the sewing mojos of prolific seamstresses like Marji, Carolyn, Shannon, kbenco, Faye Lewis, toy, and many others in my blog roll. Their sewing mojos seem to have no problem sticking around when their humans make big sewing plans, or even when their humans' lives get busy.
To help you, I will read their blogs regularly and also page through old issues of my sewing magazines to keep inspiration flowing.

You're a great sewing mojo. Thank you for all the beautiful things you help me create. Let's create more often now, shall we?