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2.14.2014

Mailbox Surprise

Last fall, Marta and Marte asked if I'd like to join in on their series called Mailbox Surprise.  It's essentially a fabric exchange with other sewers from around the world.  You also agree to make something with the fabric you're sent.

It's fitting that I get to share my project on Valentine's day because I love the blogger who sent fabric to me - An, from StraightGrain!  I also love the fabric she sent.  (She blogged more about her package to me here!)  Three gorgeous yards of truly unique fabrics all from Belgium.  I can't wait to sew something in each of them!

mailbox surprise

Today, I am sharing my first project over on Marta's blog.  You can read about it here.

geranium bodice

20 comments:

  1. Thanks for creating this gorgeous dress! Your girl shines! M

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    1. Aw, thanks, Marte. What a nice thing to say! And thanks for including me in the series. :)

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  2. Gosto do vestido. Gostava de ter um para mim!
    My daughter Teresa wrote this comment about your dress: I love the dress. I would like to have one for me!
    She's right! This is such a cute dress...
    Thank you for being part of Mailbox Surprise Series, Rachel!

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    1. Well this is just about the sweetest comment ever! Thanks, Marta!

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  3. Hey, that's Pluk van de Petteflet!!! One of my favourite Dutch Children's books. It's really cool. Was that just a card or fabric too? Your dress is really gorgeous too. xx

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    1. That was a card. I loved the illustration so much, which is why I wanted to include it in the photo. Thanks for filling me in on who it is!

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  4. Oooooh, squeee! I want amazing packages like that to show up at my house (of course, my husband would look at me *very* skeptically when I said, "no, I didn't buy it! I promise!" hee hee)! The Geranium Dress is so perfect. Mustard piping! So great.

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  5. How fun! This is a great fabric combo. Sounds like making piping is easy. I need to get me some cording! It adds a nice touch.

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    1. Yes, it is so simple. I didn't have time (or maybe more accurately, the inclination) :) to run to the fabric store, so I seam ripped open some piping in a color I no longer cared for and used the cording from that piping.

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  6. How fun!! Good for you for taking part in this fun sewing exchange - and what a score with your partner and fabric gifts! This dress fits your aesthetic so well - perhaps you are part Belgian?:) Love that you used the bias tape to make piping - it really does make the dress (well, that and the awesome fabric!). And of course, Tarikua looks gorgeous as always in the photo shoot:)

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    1. Part Belgian! Ha! I love it!

      I actually decided to add the piping after I had sewed the bodice, including trimming the seams with my pinking shears. So adding it was - shall we say - character building. :) But I think it was worth it!

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    2. Love that- "character building"! What a good spin on a tedious task:)

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  7. What a nice dress! She really looks so cute with it.
    A bit of a strange question, but I was wondering what kind of hairproducts you use for your girl. My girl has the same type of hair and I really would like her curls to like as nice as this adorable girl's :-)

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    1. Oh, I am so enthusiastic about Tarikua's hair! We actually don't use any products at all. She had a style put in her hair called Sisterlocs. It's around 400 tiny dreads. It took about 25 hours to put in. Every 6 weeks she gets them re-tightened, which takes about 4 hours. This time, she has gone over two months because of some scheduling conflicts with the stylist so normally the dreads are less fuzzy looking than they are right now. We (and she!) love it so much. It is a completely natural style, so no more products whatsoever. We spray the locs with a small amount of water every morning and run our fingers through them to detangle them (takes only a couple of minutes). Every two weeks, we carefully wash them. And that is it! You can still do lots of styles with it, just like you would without the dreads. But she likes to wear her hair down, so usually we just go with that. It's so low maintenance and she loves not having to do the weekly detangling. She has sensitive skin, so we all appreciate not having to use lots of products in her hair. It is a permanent style, so once it goes in, the only way to get it out is to cut it out. But we all love it so much and don't have any plans of doing that. I would highly recommend it!

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  8. How fun that you got a surprise package in the mail from An, I can totally see An's style in it. And then you created a beautiful dress in your style. This is a fun series to watch unfold.

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  9. i just love this! that fabric is gorgeous and the geranium is perfect for it. the piping at the sleeves is a perfect touch, i want to try that next time!

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  10. So sweet! I love the colours together!

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