Elisalex Dress Hack

I love the Elisalex dress. There are so many fabulous versions of this dress on the blogosphere....here, here, here, and here... and so many more....
I just wasn't sure how the skirt design would look on me... So I used the Elisalex bodice- with the By Hand London ladies' sew-along, it was a breeze, even for a beginner like me.
I just love the back neckline of the dress.
For the skirt, I used BHL circle skirt calculator. Super easy!
The fabric is a cotton linen from Mood. A bit heavy, but with a lovely texture.

After looking at the 3/4 sleeve Elisalex on the BHL website again, I think I want to try the original skirt.
Have you made your Elisalex?

By Hand London Anna Dresses

These two Anna dresses have been finished for a while. I just needed to take pictures since I just figured out (sort of) how to use the remote. So, here you are.

I just love the Anna pattern. It is very easy to make even for beginners like me :) I made a size 6 US without alterations. I even made an Anna for my sister, in the same black and light green fabric I used for my long Anna. 

This dress makes me want to twirl

I will keep working on my pictures. It is SO hard for me... Any suggestions are welcome :)

So, what is on your sewing table?

Sewing for fun

I just realized that my first sewing post is on my old website. I can't cut and paste it from my iPad, so here is the link:http://onceuponabag.blogspot.com/2014/02/sewing-for-fun.html

I have been sewing quite a bit this past week- lots of fun stuff, still need to take pictures...

See you soon.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year all!
After an amazing week on Maui with the family over the holidays, I am rested and ready to sew :)

I gathered a few ideas while lying on the sand on my pestemal. Stay tuned for handpainted pestemals with lovely, Hawaiian inspired designs in my new Blanc et Bleu shop on Etsy- all set up, but not yet open.

Last Spring, after poring incessantly over Natalie Chanin's three books (Alabama Stitch Book, Alabama Studio Style, and Alabama Studio Sewing + Design), I finally jumped over the fence, so to speak, and made a couple of outfits I could actually wear OUTSIDE the house. I made a sleeveless top, a bolero, and a skirt. I actually received a lot of compliments on those...

While looking for fabric last week- what else?!!!- I came upon this lovely dress pattern by a duo of very talented British designers - By Hand London. 

I spent a lot of time (A LOT) looking at pictures of this beautiful dress, and finally ordered the pattern, along with another one...why not...

Sadly the pattern is on back order, but this is an opportunity to look for fabric...I am leaning toward a black and white rayon for the maxi, and maybe a linen blend for the midi, and...

Apparently, you can't just make one of this dress... Yes, I have caught the By Hand London bug :)

Can't wait to show you the results. 

Happy New Year!