Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Garden Tuesday: Azalea!

It has been incredibly cold and windy here since Saturday afternoon. We were "fortunate" yesterday to reach 53 degrees, albeit with a vigorous wind. My azalea is so bright and cheerful that it belies the weather we've had.

On Friday afternoon, I made another summer dress, this one A-line, from the same eyelet fabric I so loved. My dearly beloved said he's not sure he can tell the difference between this and the princess seamed one. I laughed at him.
I am pleased by both this one and the princess seamed dress. Until 2 summers ago
, I couldn't make spaghetti straps!

I cut out the yellow dress for Jeff's graduation, but it turned cold, so Ins
tead I finished the eyelet version of the Daisy Lace dress. My sizing is perfect, and now I need to really hunt for just the right fabric. This fabric does have the right "feel" to it - floaty and light. I'm really pleased with myself for the zippers in all three eyelet dresses. When I was 10 years old, I taught myself the geometry of installing a centered zipper, and I've never done any other type of zipper. Last summer, I made myself learn the invisible zipper installation and lapped zipper installation. I am proud to say that I remembered how to do this without referring to my book! This is a close up of the zipper, which shows a good look at the fabric. One of these days, I'll even get a picture of me wearing the dress.

I hope you all are having better weather than we are. Tomorrow, I'll be bringing you Starbucks on a Plate! See you then!

15 comments:

SissySees said...

I'm bundled up in the office, and honestly, just looking at such light, summery dresses made me pout! ;)

Lapdog Creations said...

Gorgeous! But I have to agree with Chan- brrr.. its frigging COLD up here!

Paula said...

The first thing I thought to myself when I saw that first dress was "how did she make those straps?"! Your engineering roots are being put to good use with both the straps and the zippers. The sun is actually out here as I'm typing this; however, the furnace just kicked on. I am soooo ready for summer. Let me clarify my idea of summer: Warm, sunny skies, brilliant sunshine, light breeze, no pollen to make me sneeze (non-sneezing garden growing pollen is okay), comfortably cool evening temperatures, and once a week nighttime rain to keep everything green and growing. *sigh*

gMarie said...

Fabulous Dress - it's lovely. I love a lapped zipper. Don't know that I've ever put in a center zipper - but I'm pretty impressed with your lapped zipper.

I do love an invisible zipper though. g

Diane said...

The weather here is ****, my azalea looks like a lost cause. It has one bloom and many buds that I suspect may not open, it is just too cold. My internet has the wobbles and I can only get a technician next Monday. In other words I feel generally cheesed off. Good job I like cheese! Your dressmaking is excellent, well done. I don't know how you find the time. Diane :-)

The Blonde Duck said...

I LOVE eyelet lace!!!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Zippers have always given me fits. I used to take whatever I was making to my Mom so she could install the zipper. I admire your tenacity at teaching yourself and doing a beautifully professional job!

pam said...

It's cold here today! I love white eyelet, it is my favorite fabric!! And I would never, ever, ever show a close up of my zipper construction!

buffalodick said...

You couldn't wear that here right now- Imagine the freezer section of the grocery store with no bra on!

Pam said...

I think both dresses are lovely - you are so talented Marjie.

Sarah said...

I am jealous of your azalea! Not to mention that you can wear minis! Beautiful stitching.

Pam said...

Great dress! It's very chilly and stormy here and the azaleas make me homesick for Louisville. I had so many there and fed them coffee grounds. They were great and so are yours, so pretty!

Mickle in NZ said...

Crazy weather everywhere - today we got to 67F, even now at 10.30pm it is only 59F - its Winter here next month.

The azalea a blooming wonderfully, and super well done with the dresses. Jeff will be so proud to show off his Mom!

Kapitein Haakje said...

so nice flowers! we love this time of years wen all the blossems are in the tree

well go did a very very good job on the dress

Kissslobbers
El'bow & Hauwii

Claire S. said...

I like both dresses. The eyelet is very pretty.

As far as warm weather - we're still waiting ! Hopefully it shows up before September.