Planet Gear $50 Giveaway

I have a great surprise for you this morning! Planet Gear is offering one lucky Grosgrain reader a $50 credit to use on their online shop!
 
At Planet Gear the world's best gear, apparel, and travel destinations are up to 70% off on most leading outdoor brands. Sale events start daily at 8:00am PST and last up to 72 hours. All sales are on a first come, first serve basis with NEW ITEMS EVERY WEEK! Trips and vacations coming soon! So visit early and have fun shopping! 

PlanetGear  is passionate about people, the outdoors and the world we live in. And to preserve our world, they will donate to grassroots environmental groups through 1% for the Planet (Planet Gear gives 1% of their FTP for grassroots non-profits that are dedicated to improving the environment).

Also! Give a $10.00 credit to friends you refer and get a $10.00 credit when they place their first order of $50 or more.  Membership is free!

Grosgrain Giveaways can be entered by any ONE of four ways 

1) By linking about this giveaway (to your blog, facebook, or any other site) button is below.
2) By leaving a comment about something you liked on the Planet Gear site.
3) By FOLLOWING Grosgrain using this link. If the link is not working please use THE LINK IN MY RIGHT SIDEBAR.
4) By following me on Twitter 

Just remember to please leave me a comment telling me what you did so that I can go back and look for your entry. Either give me the link that you posted for the giveaway to or tell me that you began to follow me.

If you are leaving a link just use the 'create a link' at the bottom of this post or simply creating a post on your blog and including this link.If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would.

Create a Link

This Day's Threads 6

Dress: H&M

Belt: Vintage

Hair Comb: Hand made

Tattoo Love 2

Love this non-tacky tattoo. 

I know I've posted this on my Tum Tum Tree site before but I wanted to share it with Grosgrain as well.

I wouldn't even mind having it without the birds. Very pretty.

Source: tumblr.com via Rachael on Pinterest

Inspiration 17: Lace

Who says lace has to be strictly for weddings?

I love the way it's mixed with a mod-like collar and faux placket.

Source: flickr.com via Julie on Pinterest

Hats of the Royal Wedding

One thing I never mentioned about the Royal Wedding were the hats! I overheard many commentators saying that they enjoyed looking at the hats more than the actual wedding dress! Here's a collection of just a few of the amazing hats featured on some of the most famous faces of Europe.

Free Pattern Month Day 8 - Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: Half Slip Pattern

Please give a warm welcome to today's guest, Gretchen, from Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing.


(Today's featured pattern after intro)


I found Gretchen's blog after a fellow blogger recommended it to me. But I've also seen her via Burdastyle as one of their very prolific members! 


Her blog began in a sort of Julie & Julia style. In September of 2008, she came across Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing: a guide from 1952, that, through the completion of 14 Vogue patterns, promised to make one an expert home seamstress. She decided to track down all the patterns from 1952 and make them, documenting each on a blog. Then on June 22nd she wrote her first blog post and hasn't looked back since. Read her entire story here.


For all her sewing projects from the book see here.

See some of her projects from Vogue's New Book for Better Sewing below.

Gretchen's site has since grown into more than just a sew and see blog. If you enjoy my 'Frock by Friday' sewalongs you should check out Gretchen's most recent 'Lady Grey' sew along. The pattern (by Colette Patterns) is moderately difficult but Gretchen takes you through each step, describing the RIGHT way to sew a complicated coat.

Admittedly, I have a tendency to short cut my way through sewing at times, Gretchen shows you the RIGHT way ie. the better way;) 

See all her finished projects here!

Just love the retro style!

Love this red lace dress as much as I do? It's modeled after a dress worn by Michelle Williams.

Gorgeous!

But one of my favorite parts of Gretchen's blog is her talent for explaining techniques. Like I mentioned earlier, Gretchen is fantastic at explaining the right way to sew. In fact she teaches sewing classes in New York and is currently authoring a book out Fall 2012 from STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books!

See a full list of her techniques here.

In fact, she recently won the Burdastyle talent search for a guest apperance on the new PBS sewing program  
'It's Sew Easy'.
But now, let me allow Gretchen to show just what I mean when I say she's amazing. Here she is, explaining her half slip pattern!

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 This was one of the very first tutorials I offered on my blog,
and I still think it's one of the most satisfying projects to make if you just have a
hour or so. I came up with this half slip project after I realized that most vintage
patterns aren't lined. What did ladies wear under their dresses? Why, slips, of
course! In my quest to understand all the intricacies of home sewing in the 1950s, I
decided that I needed some slips.

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Tutorials 24 - Modern Crepe Paper Lanterns

Heh-low! Is this not the loveliest thing you've ever seen? It's just crepe paper and IKEA lamps.

A group of these would look amazing for a wedding dinner in an outdoor tent. 

Courtesy of one of my longtime favorite bloggers, Chelsea Fuss of {frolic}. See tutorial on Project Wedding.

Source: projectwedding.com via Angela

So clever 4

Love these reusable felt envelopes.

Can be used as gift wrap for smaller items such as jewelry or as a pouch to keep tiny treasures in.

Source: twigandthistle.com via hanna

Wedding 7: Kate's Dress Knockoff Revealed

Kate Middleton's wedding dress is now being frantically replicated by gown designers everywhere. 

Brian jokingly said I should sew a wedding dress like hers to giveaway on the blog. 

I was like, "That's a great idea....... it's too bad I'm not qualified for the challenge."

I think it is a very close replica. The roses in the lace are a bit larger than Kate's dress. The material also seems a bit more shiny. Here's a photo for reference. And I guess, Kate's looked more well fitted in the bodice (ie smoother). But again, overall very close.


ABC News shared designers Michelle and Henry Roth's replica this morning. Tthe Roths have been working on every detail of their "Kate Dress" that they plan to sell as part of their collection at Kleinfeld Bridal Salon (gosh I wish I could shop there for my gown). Via abcnews:

"Like detectives, the Roths examined every detail of Kate's dress -- from the neckline to the sleeves to the pleats in the skirt. Nothing was overlooked. With sketch in hand, they then rushed to Lace Star in New York's Garment District to find the perfect fabric.
Out in the store, women were already waiting breathlessly for a chance to try on "The Kate," while seamstresses worked around the clock, carefully hand-sewing and applying every piece of lace."

Weddings 6: DIY Ribbon Party Chairs

Totally easy ribbon DIY for wedding chairs.....or any kind of party.
Would be a good idea if you had simple chairs that looked rather plain.

Source: turquoisetulipsandbliss.blogspot.com via Courtney

Free Pattern Month Day 7 - Stories of A to Z: Curtain Apron

Today's guest, Beth of The Stories of A to Z, is the craftiest gal you'd ever hope to meet. Her specialty is creating home decor on a budget but every so often she makes a cute piece of no-sew apparel out of some everyday object. Like this cute apron for instance!
(Today's featured pattern after intro)
I came to know Beth's blog through meeting her in person! She and I attended the same local mother's group. Imagine how excited I was to find out that someone else at our table blogged for a living and not just a hobby! You don't find that often especially in everyday life.

 As I mentioned earlier, Beth writes about decorating your living space on the cheap! She bought her city townhouse as an abandoned property and totally gutted and built the interior up from scratch. She had the opportunity to design the floor plan, every fixture, every piece of hardware, every knob. So you can imagine how deep her passion for her home lies.

 All of that board and batten (second photo) was installed by Beth and her husband. Cheers for having the patience! See the tutorial here.

If you too love a good budget DIY follow her blog too!

Her ideas are so inventive and creative. And of course her home is just the same! I love how Beth takes these ordinary rather outdated or drab pieces that you would find on the curb and turns them into something really worth complimenting!

I thought her recent Pottery Barn look alike coral tutorial was just so genius!
Materials from Walmart!

 And her lighting solutions are so inspired!
Above and below.

As I got to know Beth over the past year I've come to know her as not just a blogger but a friend. I am so lucky to have someone like her living so close to me. 

But please, let me allow Beth to take it away!

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 Making Curtains into Aprons

When Kathleen asked if I'd like to participate in her Free Pattern Month, I might have looked over my shoulder to see if she was actually talking to me!  My sewing skills are not exactly what I'm known for on my blog.  I'm notoriously more comfortable with hot glue and hem tape than with needle and thread.  

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Photo Shoot Concepts 15

Glow paint splattered inside mason jars.

These would be fantastic to photograph at night while catching fireflies!

Source: weheartit.com via perry milo

Gift Ideas 1

Do you have a friend who is constantly saying "I NEED to start learning how to sew". Well, give her (or him) a push in the right direction. Make one of these lovely sewing kits in a jar! Wouldn't this be the sweetest thing to give to a friend for no reason? Just to stop by and have lunch?

Photos from Under the Sycamore

Tutorials 23 - More Anthro-like Duvet Love

I love the look of a white bedspread. I just don't have the clean kiddies to pull it off:P
But if you do, here's another great anthro-like duvet tutorial courtesy of Kojo Designs.
Looks super easy!

Source: kojodesigns.blogspot.com via Leeluu

Inspiration 17: Polyvore

Surely, you have all heard of Polyvore by now but I don't think I've ever mentioned it on Grosgrain before now. 
Stuck in a fashion rut?
They have THE BEST resources for putting together just the right pieces to make the perfect ensemble. It's a stylist's dream! Complete with sources and inspirations!

You can make your own board! I urge you, go, try it for yourself. Can be completely addicting!

Some of my favs:

Source: polyvore.com via Macey

Source: polyvore.com via Stacy

Source: polyvore.com via Heather

Source: polyvore.com via Elissa

Source: polyvore.com via Cacophony

Source: polyvore.com via Sara

Source: polyvore.com via Caimbrin

Free Pattern Month Day 6 - The Sew Weekly: The 1940s-inspired Floral Pom-Pom Faux Tilt Hat

Today's guest will make you wish you emptied your lame closet and fill it with vintage inspired pieces so you can look as stylish as she does. At least, that's how I felt when I first discovered Mena's blog, The Sew Weekly.

(Today's featured pattern after intro)

I had asked another stylish blogger in the blogosphere for some sewing blog suggestions. Mena's blog was one of the first on her list. And I immediately saw why.

Photo sources Eat Local Dress, I see Paris skirt top.

The first thing that will catch your eye is her retro style and yummy photography. Even the layout of her site is good enough to eat! Someone please get me her html template! Love, love, love. Seriously, it's everything I want Grosgrain to be!

Photo sources: The You Can Do It Dress, The Gidget Ensemble

But I'm getting ahead of myself! First let me tell you about how 'The Sew Weekly' came to be.

The Sew Weekly first began as an attempt to document Mena's journey into sewing ALL her own clothes. Literally, ALL of them. 

Photo source
When I first visited her site she had them all lined up on the front page and they were quite a sight indeed! Like I got in a time machine and set the clock to 1955. Just wonderful. Said Mena....

I hope to have a closet filled only with clothes that I have sewn myself (with a few exceptions). This project began in Fall of 2009 but I began documenting it in January 2010. The Sew Weekly is all about my attempt to meet that goal by sewing something, well, weekly.

She documented every pieces from price of vintage pattern to price of fabric. Often her dresses were under $5 total including pattern and material! Now, that's a feat!
Photo sources: The "I Don't Do Aprons" Apron, The Cocoa the Sailor Outfit
Then in 2011, a large mission of the site is to get more folks involved in sewing and provide a community to share the results. Each week, Mena sets a challenge and the sewing community follows in perfect form! This week, seamstresses are picking a character or illustration from a particularly significant children's book and using it to inspire their weekly creations.
Even more interesting, Mena has started 'A Common Thread' project. Being lucky enough to score awesome deals on thrifted and vintage items ($1 and get 400 yards of lace) she used her finds and send a card of 5 yards of that lace to all her favorite sewing bloggers to make something with it.
Photo sources: The Petit Trianon Dress, The Little Lumberjack Outfit
Says Mena, "I just love the idea that we'd all have garments that were all joined with this element. It's kind of like organ donation* (in the sense of one source, different recipients) meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling pants. But not really at all. :) I'd love for you guys to be part of the first project! *but of course, not at all as important as organ donation."

Photo source
If this is your first time being introduced to Mena and you love sewing as much as I do, her blog is a MUST read! Seriously, wished I lived closer so we could be real-life friends!

Photo sources: The Yellow Rose of Texas Dress, The Obedient Seamstress Dress
So, please let me introduce the woman behind all my gushings.....Mena and her "1940s inspired floral pom-pom faux tilt hat" pattern!

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Since sewing my own clothes is "my thing," a garment tutorial is probably expected of me. However, since I rely heavily on patterns myself and don't experiment with drafting, I decided that an accessory would be a bit more in my comfort zone. And because (1) with the Royal Wedding, I have hats on the brain (2) I've been obsessed with hats from the 1940s, it's fitting I present my 1940s-inspired, floral pom-pom, faux tilt-hat tutorial.
Now, I love sewing but I'm not ashamed to use a glue gun when the moment dictates. There's no shame in that. With this "hat" (it's really a headband), I wanted to create something incredibly easy but also somewhat true to the era. Sewing is minimal (and could be cut entirely). The real fun will be in the embellishments that you decide to add yourself.
Thanks to Grosgrain (and Kathleen) for inviting me to share this pattern with you!

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