I just bought four and a half yards of material

Because my fam hosts a dance in like a week and a half (link because: you’re invited) and you know what? I’m down for that challenge.

Why accomplish anything unless you have tight deadlines, right?

Jesus help us.

I went to one fabric store earlier this week. The stuff was okay, but not great. So then I pulled out the big guns. The fancy fabric store downtown. (Did I even go to JoAnn’s? No. Not this time. Ain’t. Nobody. Got. Time.).

Thing about the fancy stores is, all the stuff is expensive, you know?

This particular store, man. I walk in and it’s like the air is more expensive.

It sure is beautiful, though.

One time, when life was rough and full of stress (was I in college?), I remember that I came here in the dead of winter and sat in front of their remnants shelves and refolded all of their piles of fabrics for, like, a couple of hours, which sounds silly and stupid, BUT, in that moment, it was the only connection I had to beauty and I took it, man.

I ended up in front of the remnants shelves again today. I pulled out material after material, held them up, under my chin, in front of the poorly lit mirror in the back (I find that a huge part of material selection is…does the color look good?)

And I found one! A sweet vintage-y poly-mix print that’s a soft blue with a whisper of purple (shall we say…periwinkle? It’s fun to say, at least) and it has an abstract-like lily-of-the-valley print scattered all over it.

I’d take a picture but it’s dark out, ya’ll. And darkness makes not for good photos.

ANYWAY.

Now it’s time to pick a pattern.

(Did I lose EVERY MALE READER yet? Almost? A girl can try).

Want to look at patterns and vote?

LAUREN? DO YOU WANT TO?

Not saying your votes necessarily count because, it depends on the sales at JoAnn’s (*cough*) sometimes, man, but, here is what I like:

1. Full skirt
2. Fitted bodice

The classics.

I will also add pockets to just about everything I sew from here until the Lord takes me home. I have decided. I am an adult, I pay bills, and I have decided.

Other things that I think might look good with this particular vintage-y print:

1. Subtle sweetheart neckline. If done well, it screams vintage
2. Cap sleeves

ARE YOU READY TO LOOK AT PATTERNS AND DISCUSS IN THE COMMENTS?

I thought so.

Behold ye–in the order I found them, not in the order of favorites:

AND NOW I MUST GO.

Those hyperlinks take you to more pics of each dress, too. So, look, listen, access. And then comment. And I’ll see those in the morning when I wake up and from there prayerfully discern my future.

My future with the dress, that is. My future with anything else would take more prayers.

Other things that I will need to do, then: check the sales this weekend at JoAnn’s. 😉

Ya’ll are the best and that’s why I love you even if you were the worst and lived under my bed as a dust bunny.

<3,

Nelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll