Sewing Updates...Lots of Sewing Updates

Before I started blogging I was (and still am) an ardent "blog reader", and I remember visiting my favorite blogs and the disappointment I'd feel when there were no new updates. I'd be like; One month and no post? (with one eyebrow raised)  ONE MONTH???

The height of irresponsibility (Nose turned up), don't they know they have faithful readers eagerly waiting to read their posts? What could keep them so busy that they'll do the unthinkable? And I'd continue in my vexing until a new post goes up, then and only then would I forgive them. Lols.

Well today I am in those same shoes, and I have learnt the reason why blogs sometimes go "un-updated" for weeks on end.

Life!

Yes life, you sometimes get so caught up in the activities of your day to day life (I know I did/do) that blogging takes the back burner.

So to my hundreds of readers ( Only about five readers actually contacted me but I am prophesying hundreds and indeed thousands of readers "unto" this blog)...where was I?/ Ah yes, to my hundreds of readers who have missed my posts, I say a big, "I am Sorry" I shall try to do better going forward.

And to show how sorry I am, I'll be posting lots and lots of pictures today and less of words (Lol, the ones above don't count)

And in addition to that, the first person to comment on this post gets a FREE LACE PEPLUM TOP. Yippee. This is technically my first give away so I guess I should put a disclaimer and more deets.

• The top will be made to fit
• Winner will make arrangements for pick-up
• What else? Yeah my favorite, "Terms and Conditions Apply" (Just don't ask me what the terms and conditions are. Lol)

Without further ado, here are the pictures of about a quarter of the clothes I have made since my last post.

Apologies for the quality of some of the pictures...they are a "mismash" of pictures from my phone, Ipod Touch and Camera, some taken in the dead of night! 

Lace top: I made this to attend a wedding...one of those 20minutes rushed sewing that end up turning out great.

Tunic: made this for date night cos I felt like wearing a new dress.

Close up. 

Bridesmaids outfits. Also made my own dress the morning of the wedding...as usual (becoming a bad habit I say!) 

The Maid of Honor dress: This is a two piece dress as the flared part is detachable and can be used as a maxi skirt while the main dress can be worn as a simple straight "less weddingy" dress 

BM 1

BM 2

BM 3

And BM 4

This dress was inspired by the half yard of stripe fabric I had left over from making a jumper for DH. And was made on a Sunday morning before church (I know...chronic). Here's a close up pic taken before service. 

Bright sunlight.

Next up velvet dresses. My sister and her friend wanted to "wow" at the wedding they were attending. And I was given the near impossible task of creating these extra long dresses out of one and a half yards of fabrics each. Whew! Many a sleepless night later, I was able to meet their expectations (I actually cried at one point during the construction of this dress...velvet is a pain to make)

Back view

Full view

Tunic: This was a RTW order so I made several pieces and colors. P.s the back is green like the sash

And the babies weren't left out

Jumpsuit 

Skirt...with a matching top which I didn't get to photograph clearly

But here goes all the same

Tunic...ignore my tired face...I woke up early to make the dress in time for service

Dress with button details

Fooling around with instacollage

Lace top (And yes, the lace top to be given away will be similar to this)

Lace peplum top

Another lace peplum

Beaded jacket

Ankara and lace combo top

Close up of details

Exposed zipper 

Another exposed zipper dress 

Pencil skirt 

Pleated peplum dress with a belt

And finally, random RTW dresses made for a client.

I have a lot more pictures to post but I am already beginning to doubt if MTN will  even "agree" to upload these many pictures

Let me leave you with one final shot of my journey through "Internet Modems"

I searched all over...from MTN to Starcomms to Etisalat, even Airtel (not pictured) and finally realized that they are all the same! So I am back to MTN (far left) at least they give free data. Lol.

Until next time, remain blessed.

Love, Preye

Asos Inspired Dress

I first saw this dress on Girl With Curves and I knew right away that I was going to do a knock-off.

What I love about the dress is the fact that is suites just about every body shape there is. I am yet to see a picture where it's ill fitting.

It's the Asos Wiggle Dress with Border Print.

Source: Girl With Curves

Source: Asos

And here is my version

My contrast isn't as distinct as the original dress...but then, that's exactly the look I was going for.

And unlike the original dress which was done with a border print fabric, I had to create the border with the reverse side of the fabric.

I made some small changes as well. Didn't really like the "Buba-like" sleeves in the original so I opted for a 3-quarter sleeve...but that didn't work out as well so I ended up chopping it to the present length. And because I had to wait a bit for DH before heading out to the event, I started playing around and came up with the belt, fancy cuffs and buttons just to add some character to the dress.

Sleeve Cuff

Belt

Here are some shots of the back.

And of course, my favorite zipper; the Metallic Zipper :D. My back neckline is also a lot deeper than the inspiration dress - I love scooped necklines.

I am very pleased with my new dress. I don't get to sew for myself very often these days and I was beginning to forget the joys of having a dress fit the exact way I want it to; so this serves as a beautiful reminder.

Happy with my new dress

All in all, last week was a very productive one, I made five dresses (including mine) while still meeting my office commitments.

This week, I have as my target four out of the six Bridesmaids dresses, so I've got my work cut out for me. I am pretty excited and look forward to when I can look at the BM's wearing the finished dresses.

Until Later, God bless you.

Preye

Asoebi Sewing Rush

If you are Nigerian, then you are not new to the concept of "Asoebi".

Pronounced ASHO EYBEE: Nigerian outfits made from matching fabric to be worn by a group of people to a party, wedding or naming ceremony...Asoebi translated to English means "Family Cloth". It is a phenomenon seen at Nigerian events where groups of people wear similar clothes to indicate their close relationships

Source

I spent the last one week (Well effectively three days since I do an office job two days of the week) working on Asoebi outfits for a wedding coming up on Saturday and even as at yesterday, I still got a call from someone wanting a last minute dress. Sadly I had to turn her down because I still have my dress to make tonight (whew!)

So its been one busy week for me...busy, but fulfilling. Nothing like seeing a completed dress on a client - suddenly all the stress disappears and all is well in my world :D At least until I remember the next batch of clothes. Lols.

So without further ado, here are the clothes I made in no particular order.

Dress one is a sleeveless flared dress with a Peter Pan Collar and Lace/Button details.

Metallic Zipper

Piping Detail

 I piped the collar and hemline with Pink Bias tape, the Lace and buttons running down the middle were an afterthought (after the fitting she wanted some more oomph to the dress) But its turned out better than when it was plain.

Fit

Dress Two: A sleeveless dress with pleats, rhinestones and a matching belt.

Yeah, I do love metallic Zippers

Rhinestones

Belt

She Struck a Pose :)

 Dress Three: Similar to Dress two but with sleeves. Unfortunately I am yet to take any pictures of the Client in it so this tabletop picture (that doesnt really show anything come to think of it :D) is all I've got.

All the dresses were fully lined with a pink whatsitsname "polyesterish" fabric.

And Finally, dress number four; my favorite of them all and the one that gave me the most satisfaction and least stress :D A dress for a little princess :D

This was very simple and easy to whip up. I added the lace trimmings to make it more playful.

I am quite pleased with the amount of work I was able to squeeze into three days (My body isn't so thrilled though).

Next up, my dress for tomorrow which I am about 20% done with. I plan to finish it tonight after work...yeah, busy night ahead.

Until next time, be good and God Bless you.

Preye