coffee's on me, debi.

eons ago, back when debi had her last sew grateful shindig, i made this dress.  it was one of several things i made in a desire to play along with my drinking buddy, and indeed it was inspired by a beverage.  or rather, the complete lack of color at my favorite non-alcoholic watering hole.  i wondered if i could make something suitable for the environment, sort of a hipster camo, but not utterly devoid of pizzazz.

enter this linen remnant found at international silks and woolens in west hollywood.  i stopped by when we first hit LA soil, not yet ready to brave downtown traffic.  the sticker shock should've sent me racing south.  man, their shit is 'spensive.  no seriously, they have mood beat, and they do not have the displays to make up for it.  but for the most part, they're very sweet.  well, let me amend that.  the gentleman working the register and naming the remnant prices is sweet.  the lady squinching her eyes and begrudgingly pinching out answers to "where are the multiple remnant boxes and sale fabrics the nice man behind the counter told me you have", not so much.

what can i tell ya, lady, point me to the deals.  times is tough.

so tough, i can't even buy enough fabric to make a proper back!  seriously, do you know how much a cuppa joe at le place du inspiration costs?!  this dress was cheaper than a large latte!  c'est tres cher!  but worth it, my friends. WORTH IT.

i actually cut the back out in a necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention moment.  i had traced out butterick 5032, one of debi's traveling patterns, before sending it on its way to the next owner.  y'all remember debi's brilliant dress, yes?  i was so excited to make my own and join in the sew grateful celebration, i sort of just held the tracing up in front of me and decided it needed no adjusting whatsoever.  conveniently, i come to this conclusion whenever i:

A)  have an impending deadline

B)  just want to get sewing

C)  am drunk.

hey lookie there at that bust dart.  that's not right at all.  nevermind, you, pay no attention to that dubious dart, i was talking about the back.  let's stay on topic here.

so!  i cut it quickly and sewed it swiftly and threw it on and ta daa, like magic, the back gaped and drooped and sagged JUST AS IT SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE I ALWAYS NEED TO ADJUST THE PATTERN BACK.

i knew i could tuck and fix my mistake in post, but visions of my botched pastille dress haunted me.  the horror. like the Thing Under The Bed, just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there.  while wrenching my neck out of whack trying to get a good look at the creepshow behind me, i realized it fit at the side seams... it fit at the waist.... why not just cut that big old gaping hunk out?

so i did.

and i have zipper earrings too.  i know.  i'm awesome.  you so want to be my best friend right now.  especially those of you named beangirl.

i actually had it done in time to play along, but wasn't unpacked enough to take a picture.  why is setting up a picture harder than setting up your sewing space?

"oh hai intelligentsia barista, i'd like a cappuccino!  why yes, i DID make this dress.  how intuitive of you to guess. bien sur, i made my own bias tape to enclose the raw edges, what an excellent eye you possess to notice!  my coffee is FREE?  because i am AWESOME?  why THANK YOU!!"

i don't know, i just kind of feel like that's what my face is saying here.   maybe i'll say it in about twenty minutes. i'm off to get some coffee, yo.