Le Modiste: Summer Frock in the planning

A couple of weekends ago one of my best friends and her husband came up to the Bay Area to attend an Art Deco Society of California event.  The day after the event we got up early - an amazing accomplishment after a night of Art Deco partying - and went off to the Alameda Flea Market.  alamedapointantiquesfaire.com.  Not planning to buy anything, I scored at the last minute 7 yards of fabric for...wait for it!  $7.00!  It is a narrow width fabric - cotton/linen blend and printed.  I couldn't believe my luck!  Here is the fabric:

34" width

The fabric doesn't have any manufacturing information on the salvages which I understand only came into recent habit after 1979 or there about.  However, I would probably date this to be 40's to early 50's.  What do you think?  In any case, I immediately thought a nice summer frock would be a great idea for this fabric. I came home and started rummaging through my pattern stash and came up with a few possibilities:

I have made this one before and I like the fit and look.  But perhaps this is a little too tailored?  How about something very feminine?

 I like the one on the right  but if I made the one on the left I would want to make a matching bolero to go over it.

 I like this one especially the back detail.  However, I am not sure I will have enough fabric for the skirt which is a circle skirt - that would be a great deal of piecing that I am not sure I am up for that.  Could I use the bodice and put a slimmer skirt on it?  Or would that kill the over all look?

I like this one but I worry about the gathers across the bust.  Not always a good idea for busty ladies.

Still trying to figure out what to do,  I went to the fabric store and found that Vogue has released two more vintage patterns that might actually work with this fabric. I didn't get them as I wanted to wait till I got to Joanne Fabrics where I can get them discounted.  As soon as I get them I will add them to the next post.  So if any of you want to weigh in on the conundrum of what do with this fabulous fabric, please post a comment! 

Oh, Happy Mothers Day to all you ladies out there!  Not a Mom yet?  No worries, cheers to you any way, we all mother in our own ways either as an aunt, sister, cousin or godmother.  So enjoy a beautiful day and share the art of living with someone you love.

1940's Day dress

The Art Deco Society is having their membership appreciation party on January 24th in Alameda at the Elks Lodge.  I have several garments in my closet but....yes, a new one is on the cutting table.  I am using the Decade of Style pattern, #4007 1940s New England Dress.  The fabric is a charcoal grey closely woven linen-like fabric with a chalk white grid pattern.  I have some vintage buttons as well - part of the collection of many bits and pieces I use to detail even modern clothes to make them interesting.  


I have used Decade of Style patterns before with mixed success but I find that may be more my fault in plowing ahead and not making mock-ups, etc. The last garment, referred to in my previous post, came out perfect.   In any case, I have the fabric cut and I just need to get the machines ready to rock and roll and have at it.  

Here is the link to Decades of Style:  http://www.decadesofstyle.com
Also here is the ADSC calendar page: http://www.artdecosociety.org/calendar/index.htm


More to come.