Dress Shopping with eShakti FX

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It's no secret that I like eShakti!  I love how they give you the ability to customize your clothes.  It's possible that I even suggested to my sister that she check out eShakti when she was looking for dresses for her wedding.  She did ultimately decide on a dress from eShakti for her bridesmaids, which was awesome because we were all able to chose a neckline, sleeve length, and overall length that best suited us individually.

The Chelsea Knit Dress has been on my wish list for a while.  I love the ease of a knit dress. Now, earlier I mentioned how I loved the ability to customize the clothes from eShakti, but they now have a new feature on their website that shows exactly how the customizations that you make will look!  This is called the eShakti FX.  When you see the little FX in the top right of an image that means that you can use this handy feature!  (Not quite all of the clothes have this option, but so many of them do!)

Here are some of the awesome customizations that you could make using my favorite, the Chelsea Knit Dress:

This shorter skirt could be really cute for a night out!

This length would work perfectly with some tall boots.

This is such a classic winter weather dress! 

Here's another great dress for winter weather!  (It's that time of the year here!)

This version (cap sleeves, boatneck, and floor length with heels) would be great for Christmas! It's so elegant!

And that's not even all the possibilities!  You really can make the dress perfect for you!  After all, you know what will work best for you!



I've just been having so much fun with the FX feature, I just have to show you a few more!

Both of the black dresses below start with the same base, the Cotton Knit Maxi Wrap Dress, but look how different they are!

Here's another great Christmas dress!  This one is the Floral Print Dupioni Belted Dress.  One dress, two very different looks!  (And there are so many more possibilities!)

I'm not sure when you'd need to order to have a dress from eShakti in time for Christmas, but I'm sure it's soon!  Even if you don't get a Christmas dress there are literally thousands of options for the rest of the year!

Which dress catches your eye?  

What options do you like?

Crochet Pattern Review: Sunrise Sunday Dress

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Sponsor: Little Abbee Patterns

Doesn't Samantha look lovely in her Sunrise Sunday Dress?  This might be my newest favorite pattern.  I certainly think it's my favorite crochet dress pattern.  It doesn't take much to start crocheting this beautiful dress!  The materials that you'll need are:

• 250 Yards Fingering Weight Yarn #1 
• Crochet Hook Size: D/3-3.25MM 
• Sharp Needle for sewing and weaving in your loose ends 
• Four 1/2" buttons

This adorable crochet dress has a square neck and short sleeves.  While I made slightly modified dress this pattern also includes written instructions to make it as a top.  Since it is crocheted from the top down it is easy to adjust the length.

I had a little fingering weight yarn left over from a previous project, my light and lacy infinity scarf.  It's a gorgeous hand-dyed coral colorway in a 75% Superwash Merino Wool / 25% Nylon mix.  I've been hoarding this little bit of yarn for a special project.  When I saw the Sunrise Sunday Dress I knew they would complement one another perfectly.  I didn't have quite enough to make it a true dress length, but I love it anyways!

My sweet model showing off the light and lacy scarf. 

I used some mother of pearl buttons from my stash.  (You can get similar ones on Amazon.)  I think they offer a lovely contrast to the coral yarn.  (Is it just me, or is it near impossible to photograph mother of pearl?)

I highly recommend this pattern. The pattern is very well written, and has helpful photos, which make it easy to follow. There are quite a few steps, so I recommend printing it off so that you can mark exactly where you are for when you need to put it down.  Also, I think that it is important to note that Bailee offers full support on her patterns.  This means that you can always send her an email and she'll help you out!  That is absolutely amazing customer service. 

Little Abbee is generously sponsoring a giveaway for this dress pattern. (Ends 9/7/16.  US only.)

Crochet Pattern Review: The Selena Dress

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Sponsor: Little Abbee Patterns
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The Selena Dress is an absolutely adorable crochet pattern designed to fit 18 inch dolls, such as my American Girl Samantha.  I think it's a great pattern!


With just a few supplies you'll be able to crochet your doll a beautiful dress.

Here's what you'll need:

• Fingering Weight Yarn #1
• Crochet Hook Size: D/3 - 3.25 MM 
• Needle for sewing buttons and weaving in the ends 
• Three 3/8" Buttons 

I used some of Michael's Loops and Threads Woolike Yarn in Ivory from my stash.  The price is great for fingering weight yarn, especially when it's on sale, but it's an average yarn at best.  For my finishing touches I used buttons from my stash and a little bit of the 24/7 Cotton Yarn in Rose  that I received from Lion Brand for the belt. 

This pattern is listed as an intermediate pattern, and I fully agree with that assessment.  There are quite a few crochet skills that you will need under your belt before you begin.  I really love that a chart is included for the beginning rows.  I will admit I goofed the count in the bodice more than once.  (I was watching the Olympics.)  In all honesty, I just forged forward after a few froggings and worked it out.  That is NOT something I recommend doing, but sometimes a girl has to to what a girl has to do, ya know?

I'm loving this All Dolled Up series!  It's been awhile since I when through my Samantha trunk.  (Maybe not as long as one might think for a thirty something year old woman . . . but it had been too long.)  I thought the original Tea Dress white shoes worked really well with the dress that I crocheted.  What do you think?  (Of course, some fun silver sandals like these would be cool too.)

Little Abbee is sponsoring a giveaway of one of her patterns.

(The giveaway ends September 7, 2016.  US only.)

Blue Stripes Knit Dress

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Last week was Selfish Sewing Week.  I was hoping to sew last week and blog about it . . . but that didn't happen.  Today I am sharing the Blue Stripes Dress that I made a couple of weeks ago.

I used this New Look pattern.  Overall the pattern is pretty easy to follow.  The band that goes around the neck is too short.  Or at least, I did something wrong and just don't know what.  I also goofed a bit on the front.  I was supposed to have more darting and draping, but I think it's still alright.   (I also ditched the ties.)

I love the knit fabric!  It's from Girl Charlee when they had their awesome Black Friday sale (or was it Cyber Monday?).  It's the Navy Blue Tonal Stripe Cotton Jersey Knit Fabric.  It really is quite a deal, even at regular price.  (Especially because it's 66 inches wide!)

This dress was a stretch of my skills.  I've only worked with knits once before -- ages ago at a 4-H summer program.  And, just for fun, it's a striped fabric.  Badly cut strips can look ridiculous.  Also stripes that don't match up look sloppy.  I am so happy that my stripes (pretty much) match up!  I was also excited to discover that my sewing machine had a "honeycomb" stitch just for knits.

I have such a terrible time trying to photograph myself, so I had Catherine, age four, take these pictures. How do you think she did?  While it was a delightfully warm spring-like day it was quite windy while we were attempting our photo session.  

I have the sewing bug again!  I am going to attempt Mother and Daughter Easter dresses.  (Which I need to get started right away!)  We shall see what new skills those bring!

Thank you so much for visiting!  I'd love to have you follow me by email or Bloglovin'.

     

What I Wore Wednesday: Paris Dress Photo Shoot

This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.

If you're a long time reader, and have a fantastic memory, you might remember me showing you this dress.  It's the Paris Dress that I received from eShakti.

While this technically is a summer dress I thought it was warm enough the day after Christmas to pull it out.  Of course, it might have also had something to do with the fact that I had my sister around to take photos for me.  She is an amazing photographer and I don't get to take advantage of her skills often enough, since we live so far apart.

Sadly, It doesn't look like this particular dress is currently available.  I suppose that isn't surprising, since it really is a pretty dress.  Don't worry though, there are tons more options at eShakti!

I like the Paris Dress paired with this open front cardigan from Old Navy and these grey boots.

The pretty flower necklace really makes a statement doesn't it?  I love it.  It was a Christmas gift from my sister.

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All opinions are 100% mine and were not influenced in any way. Facebook, Pinterest, Google, Twitter, and any and all other social media are not affiliated with this review. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Linking up at The Pleated Poppy.

My Dress from eShakti

I received the below dress in exchange for my honest review. 

I must say, I was very excited when eShakti contacted me to see if I'd be interested in a review.  At the time I was nine months pregnant and very much in the mood to look at pretty non-maternity clothes!

I chose the Paris Dress.

The eShakti experience is a pleasant one.  I really like how they help you customize and make sure the dress really fits!  They have measurements clearly listed for the size on the same page as the dress.  They also ask for your height.  Additionally, it's easy to customize the sleeves and the dress length!  (I love that they offer the length option.  As someone on the *ahem* shorter side it's nice to be able to make sure the hem will hit on a flattering part of the leg.)

I love the full and flowing skirt!  The v-neckline is flattering, and so pretty with the feminine ruffles.  The side pockets are handy, and they're deep enough to actually be useful.  (If you aren't a pocket person, that's alright, because there is a free option to remove the pockets!)  The dress is machine wash and dry -- which is always a plus in my book!

Officially the color is "yellow", but in my humble opinion is has a bit too much green to call it a true yellow.  The picture of the dress online is much more of a yellow color than the dress that I received.  If you have kids (or just like to color sometimes) pull out the box of crayons and the color is pretty close to "Green Yellow".

The dress comes with a sash, which is a great length to tie in either a square know or a bow; however, there are no belt loops of any kind on the dress.  Personally, I like that the option is there to wear the dress sans sash, but when I want to have the sash on I'm afraid it will shift a bit.

Honesty time.  You probably noticed that while most of what I say here is positive, I'm not actually wearing the dress in any of these pictures.  I'm a month postpartum with my son and (even though I'm below my pre-pregnancy weight) my body isn't quite ready to do this dress justice.  Once it is I will be sure to share some pictures!

Here is a special coupon code for 10% off: pwrfes. It is valid from now until 05/09/2014. Here's all the fine print and other details: Code has to be entered in the ‘promotional code’ box. It is not case-sensitive. Code can be used any number of times until the validity period. It can be clubbed with any other promotional offer, gift coupon or gift card in the same order unless explicitly specified otherwise in the offer conditions. This discount code is not applicable on clearance/sale, gift cards & overstock categories. Not applicable on previous purchases.

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Shop now!

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All opinions are 100% mine and were not influenced in any way. Facebook, Pinterest, Google, Twitter, and any and all other social media are not affiliated with this review. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

THE Dress

One of my (many) guilty pleasures is TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress".  We don't have cable, but I recently stumbled across it on Netflix.  (I should admit that my first introduction was when we had free cable--and yes we told the company that we got it, we didn't want it--I mean we didn't want to pay for it, and they should take it away.  They said it would take a few days, which in reality was almost two years.  Sigh, I miss HGTV, the Food Network, and USA.)

The amount of money that some brides are willing to drop for a dress sometimes truly astounds me.  Some of these women spend more on their dresses than our little house in South Bend cost!  (Granted, it was a very small house in a very sad and dejected market . . . but still!)  Almost all of the dresses on the show cost more than our current Ford Taurus; and I think I've only seen one dress cost less than my first car, the Hyundai Elantra.

I can't find a full length picture that is already on the computer to
show you the awesomeness of my dress, so here's a sampling.

Don't get me wrong, I totally understand wanting the perfect dress for your wedding day.  It is a once in a lifetime experience.  The feeling of walking down the aisle, feeling your best, with the man of your dreams waiting at the foot of the altar is almost impossible to describe.  It is an amazingly special day and your attire should reflect the awesomeness that is happening.  But, the dresses the cost as much as a house or car don't really seem that much better than an . . . gasp . . . off the rack dress.

Personally, I loved my dress!  I was able to find almost exactly what I wanted at David's Bridal and a very talented friend of mine was able to add gorgeous straps--with beading to match the rest of the dress!  (She really did a fantastic job!)  I could gush about it for a long time . . .

_________________________________

I have a quick rant before I finish.  It bothers me when people refer to the wedding as "the best day of your life".  It certainly is ONE of them, but the implication that it is all downhill from there is just wrong and downright depressing!