RTW Fast Interrupted

I might as well come out with it.  I broke my Goodbye Valentino RTW Fast.

I was chugging along just fine these past five months with no temptations.  Sure, I never found time to make a Linden sweatshirt or some basic knit tops, but I had enough clothes and determination to not be tempted.

Cue: work stress, life stress, no sleep, and an awesome and much-needed vacation to Alaska.

Result: I bought two activewear tops, a sweatshirt and one horrendously ugly pair of Lululemon pants.

So, how did I let this happen?   It was the perfect retail therapy storm and I should have seen it brewing.  After working late into the evening most nights the week before our first wedding of the season (Atlanta), I came home to my sewing machine and burned the midnight oil trying to finish the Anna.

I threw the towel in at 2am the night before leaving when I  realized that that the skirt seams didn't match up with the bodice pleats. This was AFTER I had french seamed 7 seams (x2 for the lining). Exhausted, I went to sleep in tears!  Yes, I cried over the dress and a thousand other things.  It was the classic "why [I] still can't have it all" pity party.

I wore my guipure lace Laurel dress to the wedding (originally worn at our rehearsal dinner)

Since the wedding was Sunday evening, we flew home at 6am on Monday.  I was on the road again within hours for a presentation at my company's Boston office.  Tuesday evening, with my presentation finished and a mountain of work waiting, I *somehow* found myself at the Boston Eddie Bauer outlet. I couldn't resist the 40% off sale and scooped up a Linden-style sweatshirt, long sleeve activewear hoodie, and short-sleeved workout top.

I felt a little guilty about breaking the Fast, but I was too exhausted to care.  These were all items I had wanted to sew, but never prioritized.

I returned to NYC on Thursday at 3am with just enough time to pack for Alaska.  In Vancouver on Friday morning, I spied the flagship Lululemon store across the street from our hotel and emerged with what is quite possibly the ugliest pair of pants on earth.  Lululemon's "Hot to Street" pants were on final clearance and I know why.



What was I thinking???  A bit too HOT for me...

With 10 wonderful days of vacation under my belt--including one 16 hour stretch of uninterrupted sleep--I'm ready to renew my commitment to the Fast and finish the Anna.

I leave you with a few pictures from our Alaskan adventures.

Harding Icefield Trail (Seward, Alaska)

Wearing my EB hoodie just before we trekked on the Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau, Alaska)

INSIDE an ICE CAVE on the Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau, Alaska)

                         

Wardrobe Planning for the Season of Love

With the Hallmark DAY of love behind us, I am starting to look forward to the real SEASON of love...WEDDING SEASON!

So far, we have three weddings to attend this year:  Georgia in May, Nantucket in July, and Alabama in September.  Here's what I have on the drawing board for my wedding guest wardrobe:

Dress # 1:

Pattern: Gertie's bombshell dress or bombshell bustier with silk organza maxi skirt.

Fabric: I am using my prized Thai silk, purchased on a work trip to Bangkok in 2013. 



Progress:
I have already muslined the bustier and cut and basted the underlining to the silk fashion fabric.  

Dress # 2:



Pattern: Anna dress

Fabric:  Baby blue lace from Metro, with ivory crepe de chine lining.

Progress:  None.  

Dress #3:




Pattern:  Gertie's Bombshell bustier + midi skirt

Fabric:  TBD --  Cashmerette's Jenny posted about this silk gazar fabric from B&J and I couldn't help but fall in love with it!  I went to B&J last weekend to check it out in person and am *thinking* of splurging on it for the midi skirt.  

Progress:  None.