I'm Just a Little Crazy

A few months ago, I wrote that I was done with my huge batch of red outfits that I started last year.  That might not been the complete truth.

While I was cutting out the "Dial M For Murder" red lace dresses last year, there were a lot of leftover scraps.  Since one of my sewing goals is to use up all my fabric, I decided to make a bunch of different cocktail dresses with red lace bodices.

 

I ended up with 35 bodices.

 

Some dresses got white chiffon skirts, some red ones, I also made some of the dresses with tulle skirts.  I ended up with 13 different styles by the time I was done.  I had fun finding 13 dolls and 13 pairs of red or white shoes for the group shot.

 

 

This is a different version of style H.

Some of these styles are sold out.

If you are interested in purchasing one of these dresses click here.

 

Travilla's "Evita" Suit

Bill Travilla is one of my favorite Hollywood designers.  He is best known for designing for Marilyn Monroe.  I have recreated several of his costumes already and hope to make many more in the future.

This stylish suit was designed for the 1981 made-for-TV movie "Evita Peron", staring Faye Dunaway.  I never had the opportunity to see this movie and I couldn't find any pictures of it on the Internet, but his many sketches for this movie are wonderful.

I made a gray version of this suit too, I love how it turned out.

The "Frogs" are actually Lazy Daisy stitches.

photo by Maria Muljono

Maria gave me the idea of making the suit in gray.  The suit looks great on the Tonner dolls too.

I thought about making this suit in royal, forest green, and mustard wool.  I think it would look great in these colors, but I made ten red suits and five grey suits in this last batch and I am DONE.

If you are interested in purchasing this pattern, click here.

Grace Kelly's Beautiful Red Dress

When I first saw these photos of Grace Kelly in this dress I knew I HAD to make it.

 

I am not sure when this photo shoot happened.  If anyone knows, please let me know.

 

This is my version.

 

 

I ended up making a strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline,  jacket, and belt.

 

 

I just love using backdrops.

 



 

The dress is made of silk dupioni and lined in white.

 

 

 

I am so excited to finally have a Grace Kelly doll!  I met a lovely lady at my last convention, and we worked out a trade.

 

 

 

She can't stand on her own, so that is why the chair is there.

 

 These dresses are sold out.

If you are interested in the pattern click here.

 

"Rear Window" Green Suit

I am finally able to blog about this suit! I started working on a large batch of suits not long after I got home from the Gene convention. Then life happened; home improvement projects, internet problems, computer problems, Cub Scout day camp, I kept sewing during all of it, but I was unable to blog or participate much on my favorite doll boards. I have been going crazy! OK enough with the complaining Diane, on with the blog.





"Rear Window" is one of my favorite movies. I love Grace Kelly's costumes, and the story is pretty good too.



The suit is made out of green linen-like fabric. I wanted to use silk noil, but I couldn't find it in the right shade of green. Like before, I wish I had bought more of this fabric. I don't know why it is photographing so weird in the full body shots, it isn't shiny fabric. I was told it is probably the resolution of the picture.



The fabric photographs much better close up. I must say I am pleased with how the hats turned out, since I don't consider myself much of a hat maker, but I am getting better. The hat is made out of white ultra suede, I hope I can remember how I made them if I ever want to make them again.









The veil was the hardest thing on the hat to do. I made it so it can be worn down or flipped up.









I lined the jacket and made the halter top out of white silk dupioni. The halter top was a challenge. I had to keep the bulk to a minimum at the waistline, while working with a lot of layers of the dupoini.







I flipped the top snaps to add interest.







The next "Rear Window" costume is the black and white cocktail dress. I am working on a batch of them right now.