The Michelle Obama Dress

By now many of you have heard the hype behind the dress Michelle Obama wore on the view. It is a Donna Ricco Banded Waist Sleeveless Dress in black and white. Stores are sold out of this dress -- that's how popular it has become! The funny thing is the dress isn't some obscure or new design that no one has seen before. It is classically Michelle Obama -- chic, simple, clean lines and well tailored.

It makes me giggle just a little bit because it is a dress most of us could make with our eyes closed!

If you would like to buy the dress on back order.. Nordstrom has it for just under $100.

If you would like to knock this out yourself check out..

New Look 6457

McCall's 5094

Simplicity 2886

Simplicity 4531

New Look 6726

My 2 cents on some new patterns..

Okay I am just going to assume that some of the Big 4 pattern companies are working understaffed. I get so excited when Adrienne sends me an email saying new patterns are out -- and then all hope is lost when I see the selection. It isn't helping my lack of sewing mojo lately. Okay so here is my take on the good, the bad, and the what where they thinking?

First up I have to say that McCall's for me had more hits than misses!



Isn't this a neat and fashion forward little ditty. There are so many possibilities with this pattern.


*I call a time out on the further production any shirt patter like this.. I can count about 5-7 of them. The featured shirt should have been the aqua colored one at the upper left. Is is new and very pretty for fall.


I love this swing jacket for fall/winter! It is similar to some of the others already out but the bands at the sleeves make it fresh.


I heart this jacket because it sings to my inner Gordon Gartrell! The quirkiness of the lapels are great -- although I would modify mine to make that left collar lower (the shorter one).


Oh I think is SO cute. I am not feeling their busy plaid example but the red and black examples are very chic!


Simplicity -- if I see that purple dress pattern ONE MORE TIME!


Simplicity I think I am tired of this one too (although I am still on tap to make one. LOL) McCall's did it already -- let's switch it up people!


For the sake of sounding like a broken record -- can the Project Runway series actually look like something that would be on an actual runway?? Sometimes it feels like their back to school line. Which would be great -- if I were 12.


I really hope someone proves me wrong -- but this is one ugly blouse. At least in the black and white version here. She is ready to attend the 1980s church banquet.


Now this could be really cute in a black and white version. Sort of a play on a tuxedo shirt and high waist skirt in the version to the far left. I have my eye on this one!

Okay that is it. I am done being overly critical now... :)

Did you miss me?

Who do I think I am?? ...leaving for a 7 day cruise and then not having the energy to update my blog when I return?? Heeeeellllloooooo ladies!

I sure did miss you all but I had a blast being "boo-ed up" with my Mr. Right! So what I did was compile some of my favorite pictures of the more than a hundred we took.

This is my *sexy* dress! This is for one of the formal nights.

This little girl in Honduras was selling these beautiful tapestries that she, her mother and brother hand make. I thought I was the bomb with a sewing machine... obviously these folks are wonderfully talented.. They ran for about $100 to $500.

Have you heard of Hell, Grand Cayman. I hadn't but I couldn't resist taking this photo because I know my mom is going to be like "Why did you even get out of the van?!"

The photo says it all! This was in Belize.

This was the other formal night.. Mr Right has the cutest dimples!



I LOVE food art.. but this scared me! I mean really scared me.



This was at the turtle farm in Grand Cayman. I am usually not one to touch animals but I couldn't resist.



This is how I spent most of the trip. I was exhausted. Between waking up at 2:30am every morning and trying to battle sea sickness I was out like a light!



My FAVORITE part of the trip hands down was the towel animals!! OMG our room attendant kept laughing at my excitement. He kept grabbing props from about the room to put on the animal. It was the best!



and last... I felt like a diva the whole trip and this photo shows it best!!

So some of you are like, "Where is the Rihanna dress?" It is on the dress form needing to be hemmed. I put WAY too much on my plate to finish it in time. I will say this.. It looks GREAT!!! I am going with the short length -- while I still got it! The minute I wear it out I will post pictures! I promise!

I'm baaaaaack!!!

Hello dolls!! I am finally back from our 7 day anniversary cruise! When I get a second to breath tomorrow I will post pictures!! I also have the fate of the Rihanna dress to tell you all about!! I missed you guys -- heck I missed email and cell phone service!! I have a million blogs to catch up on!!!

TTYL

Why is sewing always down to the last minute?

*Trust me it fits just as snug as Rihanna's!!

I can recall many nights my mother working late into the night on an Easter, Christmas, Prom etc. dress.. It is no wonder that I am departing for a cruise in the morning and I am going to be working like a mad woman on my Rihanna dress!

There isn't *too* much to do. LOL

*Put in the self lining
*Put in the boning (which I have never done before)
*Shorten and hem

Which brings me to my next question.. Do you all think I should shorten the dress to Rihanna's length or keep it more a cocktail length? I think it would look cute either way. Remember this is for a cruise -- so I want it to be fabulous!

Sex and the Seamstress...

Okay talk about a weekend o' fun!! I will take you in the order of events!

Friday: Fell asleep watching TV -- it was the best part of my weekend....

Saturday morning: I got up did some cleaning and got to sewing!! Have you ever seen a dress that made you giggle with glee? Okay I saw this baaaaaaad deep silver dress that Rihanna wore to an event that I had to have..

Low and behold while at Joann I found silver linen fabric that was a dead ringer!! Next I found V8184 for the pattern -- and it was on!!!

Of course the dress is in its infancy but I really think it is going to turn out VERY well! Mr. Right is excited about this dress too. I wonder why? LOL I promise it doesn't look like tin foil!!

Saturday night: Mr. Right and I attended a wonderful gala thrown by the 100 Black Men of Greater Knoxville. It was fab-u-lous!

Can my smile be any wider? Seriously I think I may have been a Cheshire cat in my former life.. or a jackal. LOL

Sex and the City!!

Some girlfriends got together for a little big city fun!! A group of about 25 of us went to see Sex and the City!! Woo-hoo! I loved the movie for what it was -- a great chick flick to make you laugh and cry!

On the way in to the theater I ran into local TV critic Terry Morrow!

Talk about a GREAT weekend!!!