And now for my next project...

A few months ago, I posted a blog entry called My Inner Suzy Homemaker Confessed, where I divulged my secret desire to become a fabulous maker of dresses.

Not just any dresses either. I wanted to make my own couture.

For any of you males out there who think couture is a funky foreign way to say "culture" (like Will thought), here is what couture actually means:

cou⋅ture  /kuˈtʊər; Fr. kuˈtür/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [koo-toor; Fr. koo-tyr]
–noun 1. the occupation of a couturier; dressmaking and designing.
2. fashion designers or couturiers collectively.
3. the clothes and related articles designed by such designers.
4. the business establishments of such designers, esp. where clothes are made to order.

–adjective 5. created or produced by a fashion designer: couture clothes.
6. being, having, or suggesting the style, quality, etc., of a fashion designer; very fashionable: the couture look.

So yes I do realize that my goal is sort of like someone waking up one day and deciding they want to be a concert pianist without ever having played the piano before.

But you see, I only want to make these dresses for myself, for the purpose of having my dream-dresses to wear for my concerts. So the only person with expectations will be myself.

I have myself a nifty little Amazon gift certificate by winning a little 1st place prize for a song I wrote, and so with said gift cert., I have ordered the following book as part of my master plan to design my own couture dresses.

The next thing on my wish list is this busty looking lady:

She is fully adjustable for different sizes, and pin-able. She doesn't even say ouch.

I don't want to sew quilts, pants, blankies (okay maybe for Preston), or shirts. I just want to sew dresses.

I have very little experience, so this project of mine is me starting from scratch, basically. (I did sew myself a midevil Halloween costume a few years ago, and when I was 18 I designed and sewed a dress with the help of my Mom, who, um, did most of the work).

I have however, sketched dress ideas since I was a little girl, am constantly thinking of dresses I wish I could find in the store (but never can), am constantly wishing that modest also meant classy and fashionable without looking stuffy or homely. So I think with my ideas and willing to learn, I might be able to catch on. Hopefully.

I do need to get a sewing machine too, that might help I think.

And no JoAnn Fabrics for me here. I want to find a fabric warehouse in Seattle with lots of options.

My first project is to design my own version of a Valentino Red dress. The style of dresses that I think of are a mixture of his detail, with the Regency era (Jane Austen).

If only Valentino designed dresses with modesty in mind. *sigh* I. Love. His. Dresses.

So I'll post again when I do more with my project!