i am the proud maker

...of three CROP TOPS. Made 'em last week. That word, though, is starting to creep me out. 'Crop top'. It could be the fact that the definition includes the word 'midriff', not quite sure.

So, I need a new word before these items are released.

Ideas: cropped blouse, cropped tank, belly shirt (haaa, no), short shirt?

Ehhh, any of you have some wonderful suggestions?

crop top.

According to Wikipedia,  'A crop top (also cropped top, belly shirt, half shirt, midriff shirt, tummy top, short shirt, and cutoff shirt) is a t-shirt or blouse with the lower portion cut off, resulting in the exposure of some of the wearer's abdomen.'

And, did you know that the style became a men's fad first? Originally based on American football jerseys which were cropped above the navel to make them cooler in hot weather, it became popular to cut T-shirts above the midriff for daily wear. I'm pretty sure my brother sported a few back in the day. 

Very 1980s sounding, no?

Well, they are so back (really!).

I'm loving crop tops these days. And although some girls/women can get away with showing a little 'midriff', I prefer to go the less exposed route (with a tank underneath).

So, in light of my inspirational Nana, I copied a top I bought at TJ Maxx yesterday (and I plan to make a few more today). It was very easy. And I am very proud of myself!

my best friend's wedding [a short digression from my etsy posts].

Two of my dear friends, Lisa and Dom, got married last weekend. Well, two weekends ago (I guess I had that opening sentence in my mind for a while, and it took me a little longer than a while to write this).

It was phenomenal.

Here's a little history: they grew up together! They lived (just about their whole lives, or as long as I can remember) just 1/8th of a mile away from eachother. ON THE SAME STREET! So cute, right? Well, it gets better. Dom's a musician (and a great guy, of course); he had his own band and I can vividly remember his amazing Pearl Jam solo from our high school talent show, and Lisa is potter, design major and creative soul.

So, when they told me that the wedding was to take place in an empty lot across the street from Dom's childhood home, I instantly knew it would be a success. A blank canvas; it's what I always dreamed of.

It was so (so so so) much more than a success. I found out the day before the wedding that Dom had built an irrigation system out to the bathroom and they had a homemade sink. PHENOMENAL.

[picture to come]

I'll narrate the day properly though (in chronological order, that is).

Around 2pm I arrived to a fabulous cocktail.

(the bridesmaid: prosecco, gingerale and raspberry sorbet)

And then I toured the ceremony site (Lisa's parents' backyard), which was even more fabulous than the Prosecco cocktail that accompanied me (one would hope so, I guess).

Gazebo, along the Charles River marsh, in an impeccably landscaped backyard, with every detail mulled over, VERY CAREFULLY. It was a rustic-chic fairy tale.

Here is a picture from afar, followed by a couple closeups. My favorite (if you dare ask) is the mauve-colored hydrangea hybrid. I'm a sucker for hydrangeas; when eyes caught it paired with the vibrant green bottle, I got a little weak in the knees.

So cool.

And, in case the guests were a bit parched...

Now on to the fun part, though. The reception. It was just a short stroll up the street, from Lisa's, to the said vacant lot across from Dom's house.

They thought of everything. Didn't miss a detail. The reception included it all: homemade wine (picture quality not great, so I won't bore you with the image), fabulous centerpieces...

Complete with favors (mixed herbs in mason jars), wine in an awesome rustic basin AND lighting. Now THAT is a package deal!

...cute signs...

 

(please disregard the plastic cup that someone so rudely dropped on their way to the john)

...decor around the tent pole (loving the silver pots and the simple flower arrangements) which includes PEONIES (love, sigh)...

and the awesome, awesome, awesome BATHROOM (drum roll, please)...

I love everything about it, especially that rustic basin they used for the sink. And I must admit that I adore animal prints, so the towels easily stole my heart. 

Here's another shot....

I will say it again, PHENOMENAL. PHENOMENAL. 

I think that concludes my narration. It was a fantastic evening. After some good old fashioned dessert...

I crossed the mini bridge (handmade, of course) and left wholly satisfied (and quite impressed)...

 

Congrats, friends.

been [too] busy sunbathing.

New rule: two posts per week (if you couldn't tell, I've been bit of a slacker, especially since the weather has been nice).

Three items (to sell, that is) per week.

Maybel and I have been enjoying the sun a bit too much...

ode to my wonderful nana (and her wonderful sewing machine)

My grandmother was a wonderful woman. Formally named Carmela, she was known to most as Nana, Mom or Nellie (there was also a period, while in kindergarten, that she inconspicuously changed her name to Carol, because of her dislike for the nickname 'Nellie', but that's probably another story, for another time). Not only was she amazingly beautiful, nurturing, fun-spirited and loving, she was a woman of many many talents. She could cook (obviously). She could garden (I guess I didn't get this gene). She could put a smile on your face. AND, she could SEW. I owe her a lot of thank yous (I think we all do). So, thank you Nana. Thank you, first and foremost, for being you. And, thank you for teaching my mom, who later taught me, to cook, garden, and master the art of the sewing machine.

But back to this 'ode'. My grandmother could sew anything. She'd pick out a dress, a pair of slacks, a jumper, you name it, from Filene's (which she pronounced 'Fill-eens'), bring it home, copy it to the TEE, and take it back (cutting the cost by at least half). I have a long way to go, since I can't even thread a bobbin without doing it manually (yes, pathetic, I know), but Nellie is my inspiration and with her on my side, I can conquer the world. She did.

So, last week, I found myself down in her basement, helping my uncle clean out some old stuff. I found a lot of junk, a few little treasures. And one BIG treasure: her 'Dressmaster' (yes, that is the brand) sewing machine. It's not just a sewing machine, like the white, plastic, boxed machines made in today's era. It's a piece of furniture.

(this picture was taken, at its most open position)

And, then I got a bit carried away...

(all folded up, posing as a vanity)

(the ABC's of White Magic Sewing. a booklet including patterns for dress up vestees, if you're ever looking for such a pattern!)

The machine is made of steel. It's heavy. It's beautiful. It is timeless. And it will last forever. My grandmother was made of steel (I mean, she had to have been. the things she could complete, in that little body of hers. she was a force of nature). She was beautiful. And the imprint she left in my heart will last forever.

I am forever inspired.

sneak peek.

The unveiling time has arrived. For the one piece that I've finished (man, I need to get going here), at least. So, here is a little sneak peek. Not completed just yet. And I know it doesn't look like much, but it took a large orange extension cord (I realized that my sewing room only has one plug. ONE. In the entire room.), a bloody cuticle and a trip to the convenience store (well, a trip for Tom), only to realize that they don't sell bandaids (next time I'll use a thimble), to get this far! So, positive feedback only, please.

With an abundance of this tried-and-true, steal-of-the-century, flea market found- fabric, I was in luck.

Strings still attached. Button not sewn on just yet. But, I think it's a good start. It may not make it into the final cuts for my Etsy store, but, I'm learning each and every day.

and...I'M BACK.

Well, hello there. I am greatly sorry for my two-week hiatus (or longer), but not that you really care (I understand that my dinky little blog isn't really at the top of your to-do lists each day, although it would be really cool if it was). I promise not to leave you for that long again. It's one of those things, like going to the gym, that once you stop, it's very easy to continue stopping. Like, when I stopped writing in my blog, I also took a gym hiatus, and well, I haven't been back since.

So time for blogging and gymming starts up AGAIN, today. I swear.

In light of wedding season, and wearing all different dresses that require all different purses, clutches, etc., today I will be sewing a clutch. A simple clutch, that can be made and remade in all different colors. Because I, for one, have some crazy colored dresses to wear this summer.

See you soon.

Sincerely,

your favorite blog-author - Dena