My take on some Valentine's Day crafts

So, I took my own advice and made two of the crafts I recommended earlier.

First, I made this incredible ring out of paperclips. I was super easy and fast to make and my cat, August, loves it. Actually, he borrowed it last night and it has yet to reemerge.

Then, I made a heart garland by cutting out red, white, and pink images from Nylon Magazine and a Victoria's Secret catalog and sewing them together in a long strip. I hung three lengths of it in different places in my apartment. (August is also I fan of the garland, but I made sure to hang it higher than his little swiping claws can reach!)

Sewing a Valentine's Day Dress: Day One

Today I finally broke ground (sewing wise) on the Cynthia Rowley dress, which I'm now attempting to finish in time for Valentine's Day. I hadn't planned to make it a Valentine's Day dress, but I must have been in the mood when I picked out the fabric, because I realized the other day that it's perfect.

So, I waisted about an hour because I accidentally started sewing the wrong sleeves (the ones for a different pattern variation) and they were quite complicated with tucks and everything. See?

That was frustrating; I felt so stupid. But, once I got back on track, I was able to finish the whole bodice, which is fairly complicated and fully lined.

I'm going to try to make the bottom of it tomorrow, which shouldn't take nearly as much work as the top (although the zipper and pockets might prove a bit tricky). I can't wait to show you the finished project!

By the way, I'm not the only one excited about a new outfit for Valentine's Day! My dear friend, Sarah, just picked out a romper that she's super excited to wear.

More inspiration for Valentine's Day dresses

Want a bit more inspiration for what to wear for Valentine's Day? How about these romantic dresses from Modcloth?

Pink and red together is always a great choice.

Especially where flowers are involved.

Red alone can be gloriously romantic.

Nothing says "cross my heart" like a heart-crossing bodice.

Pink is sweet of course

So are hearts.

And lingerie-inspired dresses can be the perfect amount of sexy.

As for what I'll be wearing, I'm still undecided. But I might finish the Cynthia Rowley dress in time, in which case I'll wear that. I didn't really plan on it being a Valentine's Day dress when I picked out the fabric, but I must have been in the mood because I picked rosebuds and burgundy velvet.

Coffee and pattern making

I'm coming down with a cold or something, which is no fun, but I spent the morning making more dress patterns and cutting our my china silk, which was fun.

Making coffee (and tea for Ryan)

My cat August, wanted to help with the pattern making, but he mostly got in the way.

He's so cute, though, isn't he?

Coffee and pattern making... a perfect morning

Laying out the pieces for my "empress dress"

Making patterns and cutting our silk did a lot to raise my spirits, but as I sat down to write this post, Ryan walked in the door with a loaf of warm Italian break, and now, I couldn't be happier.

Cynthia Rowley dress: getting started

All day, as I sat at my desk at work, I thought about wanting to come home and cut out patterns. I spent three hours doing so as soon as I got home and then spent the next three hour lying on my back because it was so sore. (I tend to get up momentum and then obsessively keep crafting long after I should probably take a break, eat, pee, etc.)

Anyway, here's my progress. (I did some adjusting the the size/shape of the hips on the Cynthia Rowley dress, so that's what the brown paper pattern pieces are.)