August

Second Time Around – The Little Dress that Could

Blog, Creatives Create, Style & Fashion, What I Sewed

So let me start off by saying I’m OBSESSED with Cynthia Rowley. I do NOT have CR money but her simplistic cuts, luxurious fabrics, her keen sense of when to puff or ruff(le)… my eye is always drawn to her looks. It’s something about the way she makes bolds look like neutrals and everyday wear. I’m sold. But like i said, she is COMPLETELY out of my price range. When i saw this dress i was sick!

It’s sooooooo cute and quirky. But irl I knew I’d need it a bit longer cuz… booty; so then it became me on a hunt for a similar pattern. Simplicity pattern S8909 came through like a trooper.

Y’all… dress A is practically the Cynthia Rowley dress sans the ruffled hem. AND ITS RAGLAN SLEEVE AND I LOVE A RAGLAN SLEEVE. So in my mind I was like BET! So I had some “tester” fabric in my stash I was willing to make this dress with.

😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐

So…

A few things…

    Prints are tricky. In theory they work on paper and swatch and coquis but irl WHOLE OTHER BEAST
    I’m not a huge pastel girl so this was overwhelming
    Construction was simple enough
    If you’re focused; this dress can be completed and finished in 5 hours

And then this happened. Sizing for your shape is real and this is why pattern grading is clutch. The first run this was all bulk and the hem was entirely too long. This was the antithesis of a vibe and extremely discouraging BUT you gotta learn from your mistakes and often try again. So that’s what I did.

  • I shortened the hem AND bottom ruffle.
  • I went for a more easy bold pattern and made sure it was something I’d be more inclined to wear.
  • Created darts in the back for a more complimenting silhouette

This was it! the second try was a hit.

Though different; you can definitely see the influence and I love that!

What are your thoughts? Would you sew 🧵 this? Would you use a bold pattern or keep it simple?

I hope you enjoyed! Happy sewing!!!

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Almost 40

Lifestyle, Uncategorized

On Wednesday I’ll be the big 4-OH.  My boss poignantly stated that this was the last week of my thirties and asked how I felt… I felt okay until it was put that way! But seriously.  This is just a few notes to encourage those leaving one decade for the next and wondering if they missed their “marks”

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  •  I LOOK GREAT

I know it sounds vain, but with God’s grace and some serious self care, I honestly look better leaving my 30’s than I did entering them.  The take away? Its never too late to make lasting changes that affect you for the better.  To date I have kept off the 20 lbs that I lost and i’m just striving to keep a healthy balance and yes, I still have dreams of a six pack ;-).

  • I AM WALKING OUT MY DREAM… JUST NOW

Have the world tell you, I’m too old to pursue a career in fashion; and even more so as a designer.  I won’t lie; I’ve been on this journey since my 20’s and allowed life and fear to dissuade me from really giving this thing a go.   But right now, on the brink of 40 I’ve never felt more ready.  I truly feel a resolve about the skin I am in and the steps I am making.  My clothing line is authentically me and I needed this time to realize that.  Prayerfully next year you will see The Style Co-op’s debut resort-wear line and the timing couldn’t be better.  The take away? Do it.  Afraid, bold, right now, later… The only thing you’ll regret is the regret from not moving.

  • I AM STILL SINGLE AND CHILDLESS

LOL Job 3:25 says: “For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.”  I laugh because this is me. I kept thinking God would “ram in a bush” me.  SURELY God has at least a bae for Jai at 40.  LOL nope. Nah. Nada. Nothing. The thing I feared the most.  No man, no hint of marriage, no children… and I’m pretty much 40.  It’s the worst and best thing to happen to me.  The worst because, I mean I want to be in a healthy, happy, thriving relationship filled with purpose and I’m not.  The best because 1) It didn’t happen and it not happening didn’t kill me 2) I’ve stopped holding my breath.  3) We don’t always get what we want and this is a great example of “losing” gracefully. aka not acting out or forcing something just to say I have. 4) I. DIDN’T. LOSE.  The take away? Points 1 & 2.

  • ORDER COMETH

Listen.  I saved the best for last!  I’ve always felt like I was juggling life.  That in order to take care of one thing, I had to lay another down.  Also a reason that delayed me from fully chasing my dreams.  Then one day this year I was like “self…How can you want more in life when you can’t handle what you have now?”

My mission then became to master the “little” that I have.  Create routine and habit and ORDER.  It’s a lie to think that in order to be a free spirit, your life has to be chaotic.  I’ve never felt freer and its due to creating order and structure.  Days no longer slip away into weeks and months of would’ve, could’ve, should’ve.  Now, if this “man” ever comes along… I know I won’t put my life on hold to tend to him.  When the time is right I’ll actually be able to have a healthy relationship.  But for now, I enjoy the fact that my house isn’t a whirlwind of fabric, patterns, Netflix and lost time.

  • THE TAKE AWAY

Things not happening in the time that you want them to happen doesn’t always mean that you missed the mark; It just means it didn’t happen.   Focus on what did happen.  Focus on the steps (of the things you can control) that you have made.  And for the things you cant control… find the blessing in the pause.

Life is STILL good.

God is STILL good.

40 is STILL coming.

Happy Birthday to me.

And if you want…. cash app me $40 for 40 

Cash app: $Jaikeyl