I love these gorgeous faux-gauge wooden earrings, but since the natural wood color was close to my hair, they tended to blend it. So I painted them.

Before:

The idea is “psychedelic rainbow peacock” so they fit in real nice with my wardrobe. I like that although they look like wings, they are vegan–-no feathers, or bones (which is often used for this style earring). I wear them backwards by the way, inserting the post from behind.

I painted them with acrylics, with no primer or sealant. They really stand out now, and I absolutely love them!

See it on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=5318

I’m calling it a miimii because, when it was on a hanger before the side seams were sewn, my husband asked “what’s up with that muumuu you’re making?” And since it’s smaller than a muumuu it must be a miimii.

I used Simplicity 3835, which is an out-of-print Built by Wendy pattern. Luckily I was able to borrow it from a lady in my sewing group.

My step-sister-in-law got the purple fabric in Hawaii years ago. It’s a mid-weight cotton with fabulous drape. The orange collar was cut from a scrap of my wedding skirt, and the gold/blue trim was in my stash. In fact, the only new material for the dress was the $.50 zipper.

I’m really smitten by the orange/violet combination. I was inebriated when I made the original decision, and I’m so glad I trusted myself!

I made many modifications to the pattern. The biggest change was that I lowered the neckline by drafting a new collar. Since the neck was lowered, there was less excess fabric to be gathered, which I might add back in if I make this pattern again. Instead of the back side darts I shaped the zipper seam, and added darts to the front.

I finished all seams with bias tape, cut from a random polyester in my fabric cabinet. I also made a belt, with orange stripes. I’m not sure if I prefer the dress to hang loose or to wear it with the belt. The belt has a tendency to create the illusion of a belly pouch…

more photos and words on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=5280

This is my second knit grocery bag. I decided to make two handles to more evenly distribute the stress, since the white yarn is a little thin. I think the mesh pattern for this bag (YO, k2tog for one row; k next row) creates a strong netting that works well with this yarn.

Let me tell you, the cashiers and baggers in LA love my rainbow grocery bags. I’ve gotten most compliments from teenage boys. They just love the knitting, and the colors. LOVE IT.

more words and pictures on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=5119

I made this bathrobe for a Mad Men sewing challenge. I think most participants will be submitting dresses, but I've always loved the clothes the ladies wear around their homes. Especially while chain smoking and drinking wine in the middle of the afternoon.

I used a vintage pattern from my Grandma and some vintage fabric from Hawaii that my step-sister-in-law gave me.

Here's an inspiration photo, from s05e13 "The Phantom":

I didn’t make any adjustments to the pattern (except the placement of the belt casing and using 4 buttons instead of 5). The arms are a little high, but that seems to be the style and I didn’t want to mess with it. I finished the seams with my serger, but I may come back with some bias tape. If I were to make this robe again (and had more fabric) I would make the skirt a little more flared in the back, to emphasize the cape.

Like so many of my projects nowadays, nearly all the materials came from my stash. The only purchase for this robe were 1/3 yd pink satin for the tie and button coverings, 6 yd pink lace, and blue ribbon binding the ruffle, for a total of $8.

I love that the shorter version of this robe is called “street length,” so that became the inspiration for this photo shoot.

more words and pictures on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=5197

This is the 'Cool Contrast Tee' from Twinkle Sews. The pattern calls for chiffon as the main and lining fabrics, but I knew that this design would be a great stash buster. Since I didn’t buy any fabrics and the book was a gift, this blouse cost me nothing.

I cut a size 8, which seemed pretty true to my measurements, although of course there were fit adjustments. Since I used so many different fabrics of varying weights, it’s difficult to make any fair judgments on the pattern. It was definitely too low and wide at the top. I took in all the seams about 1/2″ which helped with the gaping at the front and back.

I omitted the band at the bottom. Since I added 2" length to the panels, I didn’t need the band for modesty. But my main reason that I left off the band, and usually do, is because I feel that the bright horizontal stripe across my hips makes me look way wider than I normally do. It’s calling attention to the widest part of my body, and while I’m pretty comfortable with my shape I don’t feel like that’s a flattering look on me.

I love the princess seams and raglan sleeves–all those seams make fitting very easy! To showcase the style lines, I went for exposed seams serged with teal threads to tie in the bias tape at the neckline.

I’m happy with this blouse, although I had a hard time figuring out what to wear with it. Pants might be better than a skirt. I’d like to see the pattern made entirely in knits, as well as the double chiffon suggested by the book.


more pictures on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=5155

I made these pants for Burning Man 2013, but they have been awesome in the meantime.

The metallic rainbow fabric is just that, found in the clearance section at Joann, back in 2010. The teal waistband is a wonderful modal jersey that is now all gone from my fabric cabinet (but I also have two shirts and a turban from it).

I’d been planning on making balloon shorts out of this awesome metallic rainbow stripe, but felt that night-appropriate pants would be more spectacular. My #1 dream would have been to line the shorts with hot pink silk charmeuse to feel it sliding against my skin with every little step, but at night I tend to wear plain leggings underneath the genie pants for warmth, and so I simply used a striped cotton that was taking up space in my fabric annex (cardboard box under my desk).

I’ve been stash busting for a few months now, and I’m gaining a lot of momentum. And free space! Free space in my sewing cabinet, but not in my closet…

more on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=4835

There is also a tutorial: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=4901

Years ago I made a fabulous reverse appliqué of my sewing logo, and while I love the embroidery the shirt wasn’t that great. Some combination of the color, V-neck (often awkward on me), and clinginess of the fabric meant that I never wore the shirt. I don’t think I ever actually wore it out of the house after that photo shoot in 2010. That’s insane, because it’s a great design (courtesy of my husband Jason) and I put a lot of time into the stitching.

before:

http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=427

I had a really hard time making the first cut into the shirt, but I’m so glad I did it! This fuchsia and white jersey was about to be donated to the local Boys’ and Girls’ Club, but at the last minute I snatched it for this project. I whipped up the top in about 20 minutes, start to finish, and just cut into the fabric without worry about patterns.


I’ve been a big fan of kimono sleeves on knit tops for a while, and of stripe fabric, and it’s purely a coincidence that these two elements are a trend! right now.

more pictures and words on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=4503

First off, my husband would like me to point out that he asked me to make all of this for him.

These genie pants are perfect for Burning Man. You can layer warmer leggings underneath, and still be fabulous and comfortable.

He's so fabulous and funny! I love that he is so comfortable with himself that he wears these clothes, and that I can make them for him. It's not like he's wearing this outfit to the grocery store, but he probably would if I asked him too.

I also made his shirt and hat. The rainbow sequin tee is lined with neon orange jersey, because it was too itchy! The hems are bound in a lycra tape. The shirt's a little short, so maybe I will add a band of another fabric.

I hand-stitched the hat back in 2009, after Jason lost a similar hat when we met at Burning Man. I used compressed cardboard for the brim, and gave it to him the first time I came out to California to visit.

I just made a tutorial for these pants, so check it out if you'd like to make your own genie pants!

more pictures and words on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=5071

The colorful giraffe fabric is a quilting cotton I picked up at Joann last year. The fabric has absolutely no drape, and the pattern was rather shapeless. I added the bust darts immediately, and after some hemming and hawing about changing the vintage silhouette, I put in another dart at the center back.

Although I eventually deviated a lot from the pattern, I used Simplicity 7608 from 1976.

I love a single back dart, especially when I’m fitting a garment on myself. No worries about getting two darts even, and so easy to make adjustments.

All seams and edges are bound in this yellow bias tape. It was my first time successfully using a bias tape maker, and like everyone else I am smitten. I had to resist the urge to run to the store to buy one in every size!

I love these big nickel-plated buttons! The back wraps around the shoulders, and although this is one of the pattern’s features it doesn’t work so great on a directional print. I added the yellow band at the shoulder seam to make this overlap look more intentional.

I had been planning on adding the sleeves and Nehru collar, but once I pinned them on I felt overwhelmed by all the giraffes. Perhaps this pattern would work better with a less ostentatious print, in a fabric with more drape. In any case, I feel like this sleeveless top will be perfect with shorts at the beach.

more pictures and words on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=4898

I’ve always been enamored of net shopping bags, and now I finally have my own!

The bag is perfect over my shoulder, but if I hold it in my hand with my arm down the bag drags on the ground. I knew the bag would stretch, but I still wanted to be able to fit everything in it. Next time!

I call this jumbled area “the Mojito vortex” and it’s a fond memory of a new friend.

http://www.lemele.net/2009/09/its-been-interesting-week.html  This pattern was simple and easy to follow, but I was still able to pick up a couple new skills. This was my first time using m1 increases (for the base of the bag), which are easy but I’m not nuts about the holes they create. For future bags I guess I’ll use a different increase. I also got to bind off together when I joined the handle back onto the bag.

I used Red Heart acrylic for $3, and I loved seeing the colors change.



Since this is a good project to use up not-so-fancy yarn, and makes a useful gift, I think I will be making many more of these. Does anyone have recommendations for other bag patterns?


more on my blog: http://madebyjulianne.com/?p=4968