Tag Archives: stash

ZIPPERPALOOZA

9 October 2014 by Julianne

My friends Maria and Patrick of Adorn and Conquer are finally opening their own store in New Orleans! They are also carrying pieces by many artists and makers, including yours truly. The first merchandise order I shipped out was all zipper bags – 27 of them!

zipper bags, made by Julianne

They are almost entirely scrap fabrics, lovingly saved for years. Every bag is lined, most have a loop for attaching a clip or wearing around the wrist.

zipper bags, made by Julianne

You know I’m usually about getting as many different colors onto one piece as possible, but I totally love these all-green bags. They each have both of the above fabrics (one on each side) and even the lining and zippers are green. I hope at least one of them gets used for some stylish stoner’s smoking kit.

zipper bags, made by Julianne

These embroidered fabrics were saved by my step-sister-in-law Ilaan (who also provided the fabric for my sofa, psychedelic bathrobe, and Miimii dress). They were such tiny scraps! These bags are backed with solid fabrics.

zipper bags, made by Julianne

You’re never too old for a fabulous pencil case! zipper bags, made by Julianne

I totally gasped when I found this amazing blacklight sequin fabric. It’s just too perfect! I look forward to making a few fabulous pieces from this. Any suggestions?

zipper bags, made by Julianne

I made them in so many different shapes and sizes, which was dictated by the individual remnants. They’re each the perfect size for something! I envisioned the smaller bags as the perfect wrapping for a jewelry gift.

zipper bags, made by Julianne

Y’all know how I’m a sucker for projects that use up those wonderful little scraps. On one hand, I try to resist hanging on to “someday could be” materials. Sure, someday it could be used for whatever project I have in mind, but it’s more likely that stuff will just clutter up my life until eventually I get so frustrated that I just want it gone. On the other hand, I love using up every bit of possibility, and some fabrics are too special to let go, not matter how small the pieces are.

I’ll also have turbans and a special new shirt design in the store, but that’s for a special post. Congratulations to Adorn and Conquer on this exciting milestone!

MOODY HOODIE

20 September 2014 by Julianne

My adorable little niece has been at it again, always growing up! She’s almost 13, and exactly like her momma has entered the somewhat moody ‘my favorite color is black’ phase of her life (and is just as sweet and funny as ever, but now with added introspection and an Instagram account).

I should have been working on projects for clients, but one morning I came across these gray and black remnants and dropped everything to whip up a hoodie for my little brooding ray of sunshine.

striped hoodie, made by Julianne

I wanted the hoodie to feel like a cocoon, something she could retreat into, something that would make her mother say “I can’t see your face!”

striped hoodie, made by Julianne

So it’s all remnant fabrics, and the silver zipper was also from my stash. I had purple and blue thread in my serger, which happens to be Allia’s current favorite color besides black and gray. I used a vintage raglan pattern as a base, and added the hood and pockets.

Of course now her little brother wants one too, but his should be green and blue, and he drew me a picture of poop as payment.

striped hoodie, made by Julianne

Don’t let that look on her face fool you, she’s just as weird and silly as the rest of us.

NEW PANTIES

24 June 2014 by Julianne

If I’m going to navel gaze, at least I’ll do it in style.

Living in Los Angeles has been hard for me. Although I’ve made a few new friends here, and my sewing business has slowly but steadily grown, and the weather is almost always delightful, and can we talk about the avocados… I miss my home. Every day I think about New Orleans and wish I could be there. Without indulging in too much trendy self-diagnosis, I do think I’ve been dealing with some mild depression for a while now. And if I haven’t had a legitimate mood disorder, my underwear certainly has. We’re both trying to crawl out of it!

These panties replace my black set from 2010. Those were good undies, and have lasted me for four years, but they are starting to get threadbare! I’ve made a few supplemental panties since 2010, but this is my first bulk addition since the original post.

All the fabrics were from my stash, and most of the laces were bought new. Apparently I’ve run through my hoard of lingerie elastic! It feels good.

Remnant from leggings.

Tiny scrap from un-blogged shirt.

Remnant from this shirt.

Fabric from tiger leggings.

I do also have a couple pairs of plain tan panties to be worn with light unlined dresses. When I was buying elastic for them, Nhi scoffed at my boring selection (I think she may have even been slightly offended). But there can’t be a party in my pants all the time!

They’ve got a higher rise than bikini cut normally would, and that’s how I like it nowadays. The wide elastic keeps them up, and hides my butt crack. Granted, sometimes the lace peeks out from my lower-rise pants. But you know how people layer shirts, and let a camisole peek through? Why can’t I do that with these? I’m not walking around with a crop top and butt cleavage, but I’m also not worried about people getting occasional peeks at the top of my lingerie lace. High fashion or low standards?

I’ve always had a weakness for brass animals, especially if they are fixtures.

Although this is my website, I don’t really like to talk about my personal stuff. It’s not so much about privacy as it is about resisting self-indulgence, or maybe avoiding self-reflection. This post is an exception, because I was feeling introspective when I started writing (3 weeks before I finished writing), and I am trying to be more proactive about my life in general. I guess that means my underwear drawer is a metaphor?