19 June 2014

Completion: Classical Floral Bustle Dress - It's For Sale!

And just like that, this lovely piece is completed! It took me a few weeks working on it off and on (I work full time, so I only have time to sew briefly in the evenings after work and sometimes on weekends if I'm not busy)

This dress as I mentioned before is 3 years in the making! I've had the fabric for that long! I designed the dress and let it collect dust for quite some time. I quit thinking and started doing, and this is what I have to celebrate.

Let's get right into the photos, I know that's what you are all here for anyway (or maybe you like my useless blabber? I applaud you.)


Details
This dress features a gorgeous Brown and Pink floral motif fabric from Shabby Fabrics. I highly recommend them for their quality cotton floral prints, many of which are imports from Japan. Since I bought this fabric three years ago, it's no longer available, but they have many comparable ones now in stock.


The bustle ruffles are made with ivory cotton/poly poplin fabric with a soft lace overlay. The front bodice also has the same lace overlay atop the front shirring panel. The dress is a raglan sleeve style that can be worn as a One-Piece dress or with a blouse underneath if desired.


A side view. The bustles are most dramatic at this angle.


And the back, which features center shirring like the front, except including corset lacing with ivory grosgrain ribbon. The waist ties are of course detachable.


Some closeups noting the ruching detail on the front bodice, trimmed with tiny pink satin ribbons. Also the delicacy of the ribbon lacing, the pearlized heart shaped buttons that attach the waist ties, and the off white embroidered tulle lace that peeks from the hemline. There is also ivory Cluny edging lace around the hem of the dress and on each bustle ruffle.

Additional images for your viewing pleasure.





You may also notice the small rosettes floating around on the bustles! I placed and hand-sewed each and every one of them (there are about 14) underneath the lace overlay on each bustle ruffle. I think it gives the most adorable touch. Definitely an idea to revisit on future projects.

And in case you were wondering what it looked like with a blouse underneath, I coordinated it for you!






Again, this dress is for sale! Here is all the info:

Sizing 
This dress was made to fit a US Size 4-8. US 10 is a maybe, but that would be the max.
Bust: 32"~36" Max
Waist: 24"~32" Max
Hip: Free
Length from Waist: 20" (+2" for lace trim)
(Note: This dress sits 1" above the natural waist)
If you would like additional measurements please comment and ask!

Optimally, I would recommend this dress for you lovelies who are not super busty, though the shirring will stretch to fit, I'm unsure of how flattering it may look with this particular design. Just a word of caution! 

I tried the dress on for size comparability and it's a comfortable fit with some ease. I am a US Size 4 (Bust 34", Waist 26") and about 5' 3" tall. I would suggest anyone up to the height of 5' 9" could wear this dress without the need of additional underskirts (but feel free to add them if you want!)

Pricing
$280 $250 $230 or Best Offer
**PRICE HIGHLY NEGOTIABLE!!** 
Feel free to make an offer! Highest offer gets priority.

I ACCEPT PAYMENT PLANS UNDER THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
3 Payments - First Payment $100 - Second and Third Payment - The remaining funds as desired.
2 Payments - Half and Half
All payments must be made in approx. 3-4 weeks post sale date, but we can discuss terms as you see fit. I am open to negotiation.
Anyone offering to pay in full upfront gets priority for the sale.

I have some sales feedback here if you would like:
(A bit outdated as I've been off comm for quite some time, but feedback nonetheless)

Shipping
I am in New York City. I do sale meets in the general Midtown area on weekdays only.
Shipping within the US - $16 including Tracking and Insurance
International Shipping - approx. $35 with Tracking and Insurance
I'm not responsible for loss in the mail. Please make sure your shipping information is as accurate as possible. I will confirm shipping before sending.

I only accept PAYPAL. No Personal/Gift Payments however. 
I will invoice you with agreed payment terms, feel free to leave your address in the comments or email me at punkneko66[at]gmail.

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON LACEMARKET!

HAPPILY SOLD!!

Thank you very much for viewing! I have been getting so many sweet comments and feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr. I really appreciate every last bit of it! It's what keeps me motivated to create more and more! Links to my Instagram and Tumblr in the blog sidebars if you would like to follow me!

I have another project in the works for myself! Looking to finish it up in the next couple of weeks! Stay tuned!

06 June 2014

My First Post of the Year in JUNE? I'm back again!

Shame, shame, SHAME on me! My dearest followers, who I do hope still exist here, I have returned after what, a 6 month hiatus? It was completely unannounced and I honestly did not mean for it to happen. But so much has happened in the past few months that I've neglected blogging, and I honestly regret it!

But, no more apologies, lets just get right back into the swing of things!

As many of you may know, with the help of my dearest friend Jennifer, we have successfully opened our Etsy Shop, Lilith et Adalia, where we sell one-of-a-kind Children's dresses. Read my post here where I first discussed it.

We worked on the collection for about 8 months and released it in March of this year. However, we have yet to make a sale since! We have gotten a lot of admiration, but the buyers just aren't coming in. Honestly, Etsy isn't the best platform for design businesses anymore (with the influx of factory made items consuming the webspace), but we felt that it was the best starting point for us. We hope to open our own website one day.

If you could all do us a favor and share our shop with everyone you know, it would mean a lot to us. Also, if you have any ideas for marketing strategies to target the proper audience, that would also be helpful! Feel free to also read through our blog and see all that we have done. You can see full photos of all the garments and read more about them all. It's been a slow start but this is only the beginning. We are optimistic.


Here's a screencap of our blog, click the photo or HERE to visit our blog, and please do check out all our other social media sites!


So, in the past month, I've also revisited Lolita sewing! It remains a true passion for me and it's definitely not something I plan to ever stop doing.

I've revisited an old project! Read here where I first ever mentioned this dress what, like 3 years ago? Crazy. I guess there comes a time for everything to eventually happen. I'm making two dresses simultaneously at the moment actually, this one and the Red Floral Dress I mentioned in my previous post.

Photo time? I think so. Taken from my Instagram, you can find my link on the blog sidebar, or check out the hashtag #dixmacabresewing

Fancy photo effects. I can't believe this dress is 3 years in the making.

Bustle coming to life.

I think I've finally perfected this shirred raglan sleeve style. I did it first successfully on two of the dresses I did for Lilith et Adalia, and now I'm pro at them all around I think I can say.

Collage time!

I love how it's coming out so far!

*_*

I'm so excited to complete this dress! Once it's finished I will be putting up for sale here and various places on the web. This dress will feature front and back shirring, back ribbon lacing, a front 3 tiered bustle, and more! This dress will be able to fit a US Size 4-8 approx. I will take more accurate measurements once I'm done. 

Now for project two, which is a dress for ME! So excited, I love this fabric!




I'm missing some components for this dress, I need embroidered tulle lace and I'm not finding the particular ones I like locally. I may poke around online for something. I wanted to do a self fabric ruching panel around the hem like I have drawn, but sadly I ran out of fabric! So I need to alter the design a little. I'll see what I decide to do.

I also have two new designs that I'm ready to start right after I finish these two. I've been on a roll! The dress on the left is a tea-length dress with a double ruffle in this lovely brown floral fabric. I'm debating on whether I want to do this in a bigger size (about a US 10-12) to cater to a different size range than I usually do, but I'm not sure if the bodice side panel lacing will lend itself well to a larger figure (especially if you're busty, I don't think it's the best idea) so we will see. If not 10-12, then 8-10? It will also be a nice dress for taller lolitas. This dress will of course then be for sale. 

The dress on the right is mines and it will also utilize the side lacing detail. The fabric is a beautiful lilac floral with a postage-like background. Very elegant. 


My goal is to finish off my fabric stash with various Lolita and Children's Wear projects by the end of the year. I have such a big hoard and it's time to make something of it. 

Thank you for reading! See you in my next post where I will have a completed dress to show!

(Oh and in case you are wondering what happened to this dress? Well, I had a bad zipper mishap and haven't touched the dress in months sadly. Hoping to go back to it one day but for now, it's shelfed.)