If you’re ever feeling down, bring the sunny side up. The hard times will be over easy.

If there is one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that everything changes.
Hair.
Shifts.
Sewing plans.
As much as I try to be a well-organized person, I just can not seem to get it together. I guess that’s not a horrible thing, though, when inspiration hits and all that.

Or should I say EGGSPIRATION?!

Yes, yes I should.

I previously wrote about my Kimspiration to make this dress, and I followed through with so much eagerness, that I made two.

I learned a couple of things about myself with this dress pattern.
1.) I am DEFINITELY a waistband girl.
There is just no reasoning with a dress without a waistband. Unfortunately for me, most dress patterns lack this feature, so I have to add my own. Luckily, it’s a pretty simple thing to do. When I first started making skirts way back, there were a couple blog posts on how to insert a waistband, but I can say with absolute certainty, that the “Perfect Waistband Tutorial” from the ladies over at By Hand London was my favorite.

2.) I’m not ready to give up circle or dirndl skirts.
The Pattern featured an adoooorable tulip skirt, which I love. However, I am not ready to make a skirt that doesn’t hide my pooch belly as adequately as the former. I will get there, though. The pattern also had somewhat of a full skirt for an option, but I had bought this fabric so far in advance with no real project in mind, that I just didn’t have enough to do it.

I am also now in LOVE with invisible zippers. After about 1 or 2 tries, (who am I kidding? I’ve failed invizzy zips around 5 or 6 times), I have finally got it down. The one on the dress above was hand picked, because I was deathly afraid of my new zipper foot, and ruining the dress. Hand picking also allowed me to pull in the top of the dress a little more to control back-gape.

WAISTBAND

Blue Dress/White Dress, anyone?

I hand stitched down the lining and hem on this dress, which is crazy relaxing. Put a little Louie C.K. on the TV, pour myself a small glass of wine peach moonshine….perfect.

As if I couldn’t be any more EGGstatic, I had to make another one, and fast.
So, I popped myself on over to Joann’s to participate in their 60% off Easter fabrics sale, 2 days before Easter, and procured this sweet pastel dream:

I’m not usually one for all pastel everything, but I couldn’t help myself. If there’s one day of the year to be covered in baby colors, it’s Easter.

I made this hem a little shorter, but I’m still happy with it.

So, funny story about this wasitband. If you can’t already tell, There’s a little secret hidden. See it?
There’s a little free advertising for Joann’s any time I wear this dress. Great job, Jen. You win.
Also, pattern matching is for the birds. Nope.

Desperate to find a color that wasn’t hot pink or muslin and lured in by the giant sale sign, I wandered over into the bottomweight section and found this really pretty purple….stretch denim. Oops. It’s pretty heavy, but I like the way it makes the bodice feel more structured. I won’t do it again, simply because Florida weather.

I was brave enough to use my invisible zipper foot this time! …..For the fashion fabric, not the lining. I still hand picked that sucker, as well as the hem. This time with Maron on the TV and some water in my glass.

Side note:

I’m now obsessed with his too-old-to-be-hipster self.
Don’t judge.
Don’t.

Back to the dress.
I love the sweetheart neckline, they have always been my favorite.

Excuse the poor quality, as this was taken in my extremely poorly lit hallway.

Paired both dresses with Pinup Girl clothing cardigans, this one with the Ice Blue, and the other with Mint.

My search for the perfect cropped cardigan came to a grinding halt when I found these, and they come in EVERY COLOR I COULD EVER WANT. I bought those two, as well as a black. There will be more in my future.

I have so many more plans for the Kim Dress, but there may or may not be a detour to hang out with Gertie.
I can’t fangirl By Hand London all the time, right?
Maybe.

Side Side note:

Happy Riot Grrrl Day.
The impact that this term and way of life has had on me, starting at my formative high school years and on through my adult womanhood, is immeasurable. Kathleen Hannah and the ladies of Bikini Kill, as well as other visionaries such as Sleater-Kinney, Bratmobile, Heavens To Betsey, Babes in Toyland, etc, saved me. They have helped mold me into the strong, independent, thoughtful, and confident woman that I am today. Teaching me that there will always be obstacles, and always a way to overcome them, is definitely a lesson that I hope to share with other young women in the future. Love yourself, love other people, be happy with who you are, and who you will grow into be. I could write a dissertation on the subject, but for now I leave you with a song I have stuck in my head at least once a month.