My foray into Vintage Couture

Ok maybe not couture, but it is a vintage inspired cocktail dress from the 1950's. I had this lovely sage green brocade fabric in my stash for years. I never knew what I wanted to do with it until I came upon the idea of making it into a vintage styled dress.

The bodice has a boat neck collar and is fitted with waist and bust darts. It is fully lined for comfort as well as for shape. I chose to line the bodice with a really pretty cotton floral so there would be a surprise when moving or bending down, or hanging on the hanger. It went so well with the main fabric and I had to put it somewhere!

I also had a vintage barrette in my collection that I sewed to the waist as a focal point. I think it gives it just the right amount of interest without having to use a belt. The full skirt is knee length, and fun to twirl in!

I love how this turnd out and I can picture someone wearing it to a wedding, a shower, a summer party in the Hamptons, a matinee, or a special evening out with friends. Wouldn't it look equally great at the Kentucky Derby paired with a gorgeous large flora hat and a mint julep? Can you tell I must have been wealthy in a previous lifetime? Ah well, back to reality.

Off I go to the studio to create yet another fantasy in fabric!

It's Giveaway Time!

This week I am beginning a giveaway contest. One lucky winner will receive this beautiful quilted makeup bag in the cutest spring colors! Here's how you can win it!

1. You must go through my Etsy or 1000 Markets shops and comment back here on your favorite item.

2. Comment here on my blog with your name and contact info.

3. Winner will be announced March 5th, when I will contact the winner to get shipping information. If winner does not contact me within 3 days, I will pick another winner through a random drawing.

4. Blog about this give away and receive ONE extra entry. Just leave a seperate comment here with your blog link.

5. Twitter or Plurk about this give away and let me know and get One extra entry!

Why wouldn't you go for it! It's easy, It's Fun and It's FREE!

Good Luck!

New shop

I decided to open up some alternative selling venues as Etsy is just getting way too competitive and it seems like they only promote people with tons of sales. I have already opened shop on 1000 Markets and I am going to be checking out some others as well.

Please check out the new shop at http://bstauffdesigns.1000markets.com

vintage love

I'm am trying to get back to my original love and inspiration that started it all. Vintage Fashion. When I set up my studio, and got serious about sewing, my first love was sewing clothes for myself, my friends and my family. I began collecting vintage patterns and making reproductions of them.

Then I began making handbags and they were faster and seemed to be more mainstream marketable, and people wanted to buy them. I slowed down making clothes because I didn't have the time to do both and fitting issues for too many body types is hard to deal with.

Lately, I have really missed sewing clothes. I have all these great patterns and fabric that I never used! I had so many plans for the wonderful outfits I would make and the winter coat I wanted to try and create. I spent hundreds on fine quality fabrics and Italian wool blends. I have several U.F.O.'s laying around that never got completed because the handbags came first.

This weekend, I started on a new dress from the 1950's that I cannot wait to post pictures of. I am going to sell it on my shop as well as a few other items. I debated on whether or not to open up a separate shop for this but I decided to keep it all in the same family, just a new section. My idea is to offer women vintage fashion in modern fabrics that can be used today.

I realize that it will take longer to finish each piece, but that time will be a labor of love and open up a new level of creativity. Maybe I will even make a matching handbag with each outfit! Hey! there's an idea!

Featured artists

I came across a great painter on Etsy that I wanted to bring to everyone's attention. Her name is Tracey Nicholas and her work is beautiful. I love the colors and the way she makes the objects in her painting come to life. 4 of her paintings are in the etsy mini on the left but please stop by her shop to see her whole collection. http://www.traceynicholas.etsy.com/

The next artist is a wonderful photographer who captures the beauty and wild of nature. I love the detail, starkness, and emotions that these pictures bring out in me. Her work can be enjoyed at www.MNHPhotography.etsy.com She has a great shop and is a regular poster on the etsy forums so if yousee her tell her you saw her featured here!

New this week

This week was a good one. I have received a lot of great support from my fellow etsians as well as some great feedback on my new designs. Slowly but surely, my business is really taking shape and taking off. I am playing around with the idea of teaching sewing and advertising them on craigslist but I am still undecided. The extra income would help right now, but I still don't know what to charge.

I am currently busy making as many items as I can with the goal of going to several local shops that sell local artists goods and hopefully getting my items in their stores so more people can see them. I think all items sell better when people can see and touch them rather than just looking at a picture on the computer which distorts the true color.

I am also anxiously awaiting payday so I can go fabric shopping! I really need to get some more yellow fabrics as this seems to be the color for spring.