Back to Shirtdresses

I swear I was going to post about something other than shirtdresses today, but Mary Fran sent me the link to this one, and I could not resist. It's up at MOMSPatterns and it's only $8.50. (And it's only not MINE because it's a B39, and if there's anything I hate more than grading UP, it's grading DOWN.)

I love the little pointy collar, the front skirt seams just scream "pocketize me!" and those gathers at the shoulder just make me swoon. I should add "shoulder gathers" that to the list of my "triggers"—isn't it true that once you're aware of your triggers, you can change them (if you want to)? My trigger list would probably read "penny loafers, robots, sarcasm, Peter Pan collars, synthesized handclaps, Adidas Gazelles (on guys), books that smell like old books, red lipsticks (which I never wear) ..." Actually, looking over that list, I don't think I want to change any of those triggers. (Except maybe to start wearing the damn lipstick.) Oh, well.

Before I forget I should let y'all know that Janet at Lanetz Living is going to Mexico. Why should you care that Janet is going to Mexico? Because she's using it as an excuse to have a sale! You can take 25% off on all orders from now until she comes home next Tuesday. The sale will end at Midnight (CST) on 5/6/08. Use the coupon discount code "Mexico25". It needs to be entered on the shipping page as one word. (If you try to put a space between Mexico and 25 it will not work.) And, as always, Janet offers free shipping with 3 or more patterns ... and patterns will continue to ship out while Janet's on the beach.

Oh -- I really like the idea of Sept. 1 being "wear a dress day," as proposed in the comments on yesterday's post. Let's start working on the logistics, people!

I can't believe I missed this one.

I can't believe I missed this one. I know I can't be everywhere at once, but this is the kind of thing that makes me want to write a PatternML language so that I can persuade all the vintage pattern sellers to make a single giant RSS feed which I could drink from, like some kind of immense vintage-sewing firehose. Wouldn't that be great? A simple tagging language that would let sellers mark their patterns consistently and upload them to some kind of Giant Awesome Database and then they'd all be out there, right where we wanted them. (I'll put it on the list, with the other kazillion projects I have going on right now.)

If I had been PAYING ATTENTION, like I should have, I would have seen this pattern at Out of the Ashes Collectibles and it would be mine. Now I just have to sit here alone with my bitter, bitter regret. (Ashes, indeed.)

But let me be a lesson to you, and go check out the site. There's some really cute stuff still around!

And while I'm wallowing in regret, it seems I let this incredible Alexander Henry fabric sell out while I wasn't looking. Anyone know who's still got, oh, four or five yards?

just fyi ...

I think I have mentioned here that I'm running this conference, but I don't know if I mentioned that I'm also blogging about it on my OTHER blog, Dictionary Evangelist.

So if I don't manage to post here tomorrow, that's because I'm busily posting over there. Don't worry, I'll come back .... but in the meantime, feel free to check out Something Completely Different!

Oh, and enjoy this eye candy, courtesy Nora Needles ... click on the image to visit the eBay auction.