Amiable's Blog

I cut my black with white stripes maxi dress into a skirt and tank top.  This is the skirt.  I tapered the hem to look like the lemming tube skirt. 

Here's my questions:  Is the shape correct?  Is the hem too narrow?  Is it too bottom-hugging?  How is the length? 

Nothing is cut yet - just basted.  So I can make any adjustments necessary.  

What do you think?  (I'll add a waistband after I'm sure I'm leaving the fit that way).

I have to run off, but I'll be back tonight, and sewing some night next week on this.  So tell me what, if anything, needs to change.  Thanks so much!

Yesterday, we "skipped" school and I took the kids to our State Fair.  We had a blast, and got rather sunburnt.  We got to ride in a combine, and on a mini Ferris wheel, paddle kayaks around a swimming pool, watch piglets be born and chicks hatch -- my kids will be talking about it for quite a while.

#1 and #2 are from date night the day before the fair.  I decided to combat the arctic A/C by wearing fall boots with my summer outfit.  It only sort-of worked.

I didn't get any pics of myself at the fair - I wore #1 with more practical black sandals and an orange tee.  (I made all the kids wear orange tee shirts too, so that we matched.  It was quite effective - everyone could tell we belonged together)

#3 is today - post fair, and feeling a little bit lobstery.

Suggestions for improvement?   

It's quite hot and muggy here (high today is 99, with the heat index about 5 degrees above that due to humidity).  I'm enjoying the heat, since I run chilly.  But seeing all of your fall capsules has me really itching to try on my fall clothes (and purge!).  But trying on a sweater just doesn't work at the moment.

Due to the heat, I'm wearing more skirts, but trying to keep a bit of "tomboy" anyway.  Does it work?

#1-3 Volume-over-volume worn to church.  Toughened up with boots.  This is my first time trying skirt with boots - does it work?  It worked for the frigid A/C at church.
#4-5 Worn to play at the park with my kids when it was a "cool" 93 out on Saturday.
#6 worn yesterday - it was nice and warm - just a simple gray cotton sack dress.
#7 wearing now.  (Yes, I'm barefoot) The skirt made from a men's dress shirt with a white tank. I'm hoping to replace this tank with a white non-lacy tee or tank of the same length.  (Ideally a bit more drapey).

What are your suggestions?  Do these work?  

As a side note, I really need to figure out something to do with my hair.

Still playing with the style descriptor "Happy Tomboy".  I'm not sure it's the end-all be-all descriptor for me (I almost wonder if a style descriptor for me is something that might change seasonally).  But I'm enjoying it for the moment anyway.

Here's today's tomboy outfit.  It's a bit warm for jeans yet, but it's been way too long since I dealt with my leg hair, and I had to go out in public.  So jeans it is.

I also dug out my fisherman sandals - they didn't get worn at all this summer, and almost got purged.  But they squeaked by as my only sandals that bookend my hair, and because they're so comfy.  I think I'll wear them coming into fall as it cools down - they really are too warm for sandals.

What do you think?  Ways to improve?  Ways to up the 'happy tomboy'?

Here's some decent pics of my Spiegel lemming that arrived yesterday.

I like it.

What do you think?

Sorry for the weird order of the pics. 

#1 back view, open, 
#1 front view open
#3 side view, snapped
#4 front view with just the top snapped
#5 front view fully snapped (it pulls - I won't wear it like this, I don't think)
#6 back view snapped
#7 just the inside snap snapped - this was my daughter's suggestion, and is her favorite way that for the jacket.

My larger-size lemming jacket arrived today.  I'd ordered both a 12 and a 14 after the 10 didn't fit.  But only the 12 came (yes, I was billed for them both though).  It's obviously a return (it's a tiny bit dirty, and the cardboard insert was thoroughly rumpled), and the leather is mottled, like Mo's.  BUT, I like the way it fits, and I think I like the leather mottled too.

What do you think?  Ooh - just noticed the terrible light.  Perhaps better pics tomorrow in better light.

I've also been playing with the 'Tomboy' descriptor - going for a 'Happy Tomboy' vibe as I think about what to wear.  Trouble is, I'm not sure how to achieve it.  Here's today's attempt - what would 'tomboy' it up some more?

Since I'm on Team Tough, I thought I'd try to come up with a nice 'tomboy' summer look.  It wasn't as easy as I thought.  I just wore my jean cutoffs, and they're not clean again yet, so I was left without using denim or distressed items to toughen up the look.  It's too hot for boots (or even shoes).  But in my experience, most tomboys are barefoot - so I figure that fits :)

So here's my idea of RATE without denim - linen shorts and a button-down sleeveless.

I should have added a fedora.

What do you think? Other suggestions?

I managed to go all day without putting on shoes.  So, while it looks unfinished, it's at least an accurate representation of what I spent the day wearing...

(#2 is actually more accurate, since I worked at a computer all day.  But my specs generally stay at the computer).

Thought?  Suggestions?  (Wear shoes - yeah, I know :)  )

We started our home-school year today.  It was tougher than I expected (we're charting new territory by switching curriculum and trying to combine four grades into a single History track - it was getting too complex to keep all the grades separate).

But, we made it through, and celebrated by spending the evening at the lake. This is what I wore for the day though, not at the lake (though I should take a pic of my new swimsuit).

Also, my new bag: a purchase from a friend selling bags to benefit a village in Africa (Swaziland).  All the proceeds go back to the women who make the bags.  The bag is even signed by the woman who sewed it.  I decided it was something I wanted to support, and I'm enjoying the bright shot of color that the bag has!

Suggestions for improvement?

I won this maxi dress recently, and am trying to decide whether to keep it as-is, or alter it (probably into a tube skirt, or maybe a maxi skirt?)

What do you think?