The key to deciding whether to choose a natural fabric or its synthetic mate depends on a number of factors.

One of the biggest is cost. Silk is a prime example of this. Making a blouse or dress of silk can be quite an investment, a really nice blouse could cost about $60-80 just for the fabric depending on the style. A similar weight in one of the new polyester blends that is quite similar to silk will cost less than $15 for the same amount of fabric.

Care is another consideration. Many natural fabrics – again silk comes to mind – require professional cleaning. Over the lifetime of a garment, that cost can add up if the garment is worn frequently – and a good classic silk blouse would be something you would want to wear often with a lot of different looks. A similar polyester blouse could be washed and dried in your normal laundry without much special care. And while this blouse may not have the long life of the silk one – the low initial cost and low maintenance costs would allow you to replace it should the need arise – or you could purchase two or three of them and rotate to add length of wearability and still save money.

Finally, another consideration is allergies. Some individuals are allergic to the lanolin that is in wool. Lanolin is a natural waxy oil that keeps the fibers soft and is made by the sheep. Lanolin is such a good softener that it is used in about 90% of all skin lotions and creams! But if you are allergic – you can’t use the lotions. Or wear wool. So substitutes are necessary.

There are philosophical reasons for choosing natural fibers – avoidance of anything made from petroleum is one – and yes, polyester, rayon, viscose, and nylon are all made from crude oil.

There are also philosophical reasons for choices involving natural fibers as well. Traditional cotton farming is very hard on the environment. It takes a lot of water, and chemical fertilizers and pesticides are routinely used. Organic cotton is starting to be more of a market-share but at a high cost premium.

There has been interest in bamboo – it makes a wonderful yarn and interesting thread with a lustrous sheen that dyes into soft colors. But bamboo plants are actually endangered during certain cycles of growth, and since severely endangered Panda bears depend on bamboo as their only food source, the booming interest in bamboo flooring, fabric, disposable chopsticks, and other items is putting a lot of pressure on this resource.

So…fabric choices come down very much to personal preference in the end. It comes out to your choice of cost, ease of care, philosophy, and your skin! There are a myriad of choices – and the number of different blends of fibers, the colors and textures and prints, the weights, the drape and hand, is what makes shopping for fabric so much fun – and so dangerous! It is how those of us who sew usually wind up with piles and piles of fabric – fabric that we bought because we just couldn’t resist and now, can’t remember why we bought it, what we thought we were going to make out of it – but it was just so yummy we had to have it. Enjoy!

Paisley Snails Hat

We have a new Paisley Snails Wee Girl’s Hat up on the Wee Girls Page!  It is modeled by our dear little friend Margot.

You can check out this darling little fleece hat and get one for your little one for only $12.00!  We’ll have some for boys too real soon.

Keep those little ears warm this cold winter with the Paisley Snails Wee Girls Hat or one like it in another color or print!

Available in a wide variety of colors and at a knock-out price of only $99, check out this Renaissance Maid Dress here !

A wired sleeve cap gave an almost fairy wing-like appearance to the top of the sleeves.  Beaded lace cuffs were added to the sheer sleeves to match the lace on the bodice.

A dear friend did all the hand beading on the lovely lace bodice front. A similar beaded edge lace was added to the bodice bottom edge.  The back closing features an invisible zipper covered with a line of pearl buttons.  The bodice is boned and fits and supports like a corset.

The separate skirt is attached to a wide elastic band that is hooked in the back for ease in dressing and comfort for the bride.  The satin train is pleated onto this elastic band to reduce bulk under the bodice.  The train also has a beaded lace along the entire edge.  The tulle skirt has a posh lining underneath.

This dress is not for sale.  It will not be reproduced exactly.  However, if you would like to have a dress that is somewhat like it in design or using design elements similar to it, please feel free to contact us to discuss it.  We will be happy to consider your ideas for the Princess Bride gown of your dreams.

How to Wear Velvet

From left, printed burned-out velvet at Anna Sui, red and ruffled at Zac Posen, and long and flowing at Ralph Lauren. Photos: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for IMG; Stefan Gosatti, Getty Images for IMG; Fernanda Calfat, Getty Images for IMG

You don’t have to be in the holiday spirit to wear velvet. Dozens of designers — think Anna Sui, Alexander Wang, Zac Posen, Nanette Lepore and Ralph Lauren to name a few — sent the supersoft, luxe fabric down their runways.

“Velvet really speaks to luxury and it is just classically understated,” Gregg Andrews, fashion director at Nordstrom, tells StyleList. “It has this amazing plush texture to it, yet it’s not ostentatious. It has this lovely subtle sheen, but it doesn’t draw a whole lot of attention to itself.”

Stylist Bridgette Raes, author of “Style Rx: Dressing the Body You Have to Create the Body You Want,” agrees, saying velvet is dressy, but still looks warm and winter appropriate.

“The beauty of velvet is there really is something for everyone,” she tells StyleList. “It’s all in how you style it, the colors you choose and the silhouettes in which you choose to wear your velvet.”

Andrews says some people used to associate velvet with being very old-school, “a little bit Grandma.”

“But now, because it stretches, you can get great body-conscious cocktail dresses in velvet,” he says. “You can get all of these panne velvets and these crushed velvets that look really boho and have almost a hippie chic to them because they’re very soft, they’re very fluid. Velvet can be very sensual because of its tactile nature. … Velvet is not always a heavy upholstery fabric.”

So how do you make velvet look new and not like it belongs to Granny? We asked our experts to offer tips on what to wear the fabric with, how to accessorize it and how to make it look chic, not cheap.

Invest in a jacket: “Every woman should have a great velvet jacket in her wardrobe,” Andrews says. “She can wear it almost like a tuxedo jacket with a ruffled blouse or very crisp white shirt. But she can also take a velvet blazer and team it with jeans. … When you take velvet and you team it with denim or you team it with a menswear-inspired fabric like a tweed, it’s that high-low unexpected mix that makes it look really new.”

Beware of velvet pants: “Velvet pants are lovely, but you need to be careful about the friction caused between the legs when walking,” Raes says. “It can ruin the nap of the velvet.”

Beyond black: “Velvet is fantastic in rich gem tones,” Raes says. “This winter, with all the reds, plums and pinks, velvet is a perfect fabric for those classic brights.”

“This year, we saw a lot of steely gray velvet that looked really beautiful,” Andrews says. “When it’s in that gray tone, it almost has a metallic-like quality to it. Gray looked exceptionally new and really fresh. I can’t recall seeing gray velvet before. (Also look for) navy-blue velvet, velvet in a berry tone, in a wine or cranberry shade.”

Accessorize it: “I think velvet has a dressier, more refined look, so I love dressier, more vintage looking accessories,” Raes says. “Imagine a great string of pearls, some vintage Art Deco jewelry, big rings, marcasite and strands of long necklaces.”

“Velvet is rich and it makes a pretty strong statement on its own,” Andrews says. “So, a simple string of pearls, a simple pendant on a chain. Keep the accessories simple.”

Pair it with other fabrics: “We’re talking about a contrast, whether you’re wearing velvet in a new high-low way or you’re wearing it in a more traditional sense, where you’re teaming velvet with satin,” Andrews says. “Or you’re teaming it with something very delicate like lace, or transparent like an organza or a chiffon. You’re contrasting that thick, plush texture against something else, and that’s really what makes velvet work, whether you’re going to go more traditional or wear it in a new, more contemporary way.”

“I think silky, sinewy fabrics are pretty when worn with velvet, but velvet also looks great with jeans or tailored clothing,” Raes says. “Picture a tuxedo pant with a velvet blazer or a velvet skirt with a silky top, for example. Additionally, a great stand-alone velvet blazer can really elevate the look of a pair of jeans and a basic button-down shirt.”

Look luxe, not cheap: “What makes velvet rich is the pile — it’s the depth of that pile and how thick and how plush it is,” Andrews says. “It’s also how it feels to your hand. It should be very silky-smooth. You don’t want the backing of the fabric to feel stiff or coarse.”

“There is extremely expensive velvet and extremely cheap velvet,” Raes says. “Usually, very expensive velvet is made from cotton and very cheap velvet is made from rayon, along with varying qualities in between the two. This is not to say that you can only wear cotton velvet, but really look at your velvet, and if it looks cheap, then it will look cheap on your body, no matter what you do to it. … What you wear with your velvet is equally crucial. The worst thing you can do is choose a cheap velvet, in a cheap color, and then partner it with cheap accessories. You’re better off wearing something else.”

Lavender Cream

The Lavender Cream dress is available in size 5-6.  This dress is a one-of-a-kind as the fabric was a kind of heirloom that was given to me by Jenn’s paternal grandmother many many years ago.  There was only enough for a small dress like this and it would be perfect for someone’s darling granddaughter.  The dress is $29 including shipping. *    Now is the time to purchase this charming wee girl’s dress.

*Continental US only.  Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping extra.

If you would like to have a dress like this but in a different color or print or size or all of these choices, just contact us and let us know what your choices are and we’ll be happy to fulfill your wishes!  You can let us choose using your guidelines or we can send swatches.  Once the choice is made – you can expect delivery in approximately 14 days.

First, take a deep breath.  Then, find some tape.  One important thing – make sure it is the shiny, clear kind.  The milky so-called transparent tape leaves a very stick residue behind.  The shiny clear kind does not. 

Take the garment off – it is much easier to do this with the item lying flat than twisting around your ankle or your leg.  Lay the section flat on a counter.  Using short sections of tape, carefully place along the hemline.  The short sections will allow for the slight curvature of the hemline.  Extend the tape slightly beyond where the stitching ends at both sides.  Using your thumbs, run along the tape several times to make sure it adheres well to the fabric.  Allow it to rest for a couple of minutes before you re-dress.

As soon as you get home, remove the tape immediately – and call your seamstress for an appointment to make the repair.  Oh, and good luck on the interview! 

And that’s what you can do when your hem just ripped out.

Click on the ‘shop’ button to see some selections and click through to the etsy full listing of items for sale.  Otherwise be prepared to be transported by her pictures and her weekly blog exploring life with her family and pets.  You will fall in love with the beauty she sees in every day things and her ability to see those things through the eyes of her children as well.

This is a wonderful young mother who is a textile artist, gardener, and mother of two very young children.

She makes a line of clothing featuring appliqued maps, vegetables, and other wonderful stuff on t-shirts, hoodies, and onesies mostly for toddlers but also has adult sizes as well.  She has a great eye for putting unusual colors together, and is constantly coming up with new designs for her kids clothing.  The latest two are snowmen and “choo-choo” trains for the winter season.

You can go on her site and specify a state or country map, pick a fabric and t-shirt combo, order and expect delivery in about 10 days.

Great site and great business from a creative mom who gets to stay home with her kids and believe it or not is sewing on her grandmother’s Singer sewing machine!

Photo: Pantone

It may only be early winter, but it’s never too soon to start thinking about spring. If you’re among the trendsetters who like to keep things “au courant” in your interior, take a look at the spring fashion color report, courtesy of the expert forecasters at Pantone.

Each season, Pantone surveys the designers of New York Fashion Week to identify the most directional colors to guide the season. Take a look at these hue choices — and what inspired them — then pick a hue or two and start thinking of ways that you, too, can get inspired and revamp your style for the coming seasons.

Photo: Pantone

Honeysuckle
Picked by: Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney, inspired by upbeat, new-wave French electronica music.
We Predict: This hue is definitely chic and sexy — even in small doses it can be powerful, which is why we’re certain it’ll be seen making small (but important) appearances in new textiles and wall dressings. We’re especially loving this Amy Butler wallpaper pattern!

Peapod
Picked by: Erin Fetherston, inspired by a “sense of wanderlust this season.”
We Predict: Soothing yet refreshing, this is the perfect color for a kitchen revamp. Paint an accent wall or, better yet, give your old cabinets a face lift with a dose of this hue.

Lavender
Picked by: James Coviello
Inspiration: 1950′s garden party.
We Predict: Always a standard color for pretty, feminine bedrooms, it’s high time for this hue to move into the bath. This will be the “it” color for creating modern spa-like spaces.

Blue Curacao
Picked by: Carmen Marc Valvo because “blue has great social significance.” It’s the signature color of colon cancer awareness, the platform of his spring 2011 collection.
We Predict: This turquoise hue is the perfect accent to brighten any room via small accents. We predict it’ll be “the hot” color for kitchen accessorizing this year. Just take a look at the new hue for Le Creuset cookware!

Beeswax
Picked by: Tibi, inspired by a modern take on the spring season.
We Predict: This sunny orange will find its fans in those wanting to welcome guests with a cheerful entryway. It’s the perfect color to paint on an entry wall behind a sunburst mirror!

Photo: Pantone

Russet
Picked by: Charlotte Ronson, inspired by “the vibrant romance of Spain paired with the minimalist androgyny of ’90s grunge.”
We Predict: When opting for richly hued walls, we’re certain we’ll see a return to brown. It’s the perfect universal color — great for dining rooms, entryways or even accent walls for a dramatic living room.

Coral Rose
Picked by: Christian Siriano, inspired by African, Indian and Asian influences.
We Predict: It may seem like the standard color for fall and winter, but we’re certain this sophisticated orange will stay strong throughout the year in accessorizing. Just check out the new colorway of West Elm’s popular Zig Zag rug.

Regatta
Picked by: Lela Rose, inspired by textiles and clash of cultures in Lima, Peru.
We Predict: Blue is a class color, but this particular hue adds an air of opulence. We predict it will have a strong presence in modern accessorizing.

Silver Cloud
Picked by: Ella Moss by Pamela Protzel Scott, inspired by modern bohemia.
We Predict: Gray is the new go-to neutral, but it’s especially lovely for modern spaces. Jonathan Adler’s new Hollywood and Yellow Flame bedding collections prove this color has staying power.

Silver Peony
Picked by: Monique, inspired by “a dreamy state of mind,” she says.
We Predict: This will be a color of choice when it comes to achieving just that. Think pretty silk throw pillows and creamy window coverings.

For more trend spotting, don’t miss:
- Oversized Nailhead Trim
- Learn the Ropes

Thanks to Monster Vintage for image

The truth is that the size on the tag is not your size.  It is whatever the particular manufacturer or brand company wants it to be.  It can change from year to year.  Or even season to season.  It can depend on fabric costs, or on utility costs, or on labor costs.  Or just on whims.  It has nothing to do with you.

You are not your size on the tag in a piece of clothing.  That number is just a reference used by a clothing company to differentiate between a bunch of other similar clothing ranged from a smaller size to a larger one.  Nothing more or nothing less.

That is why you should ALWAYS try on clothing you intend to purchase.  Take the “size” you normally wear plus the one above and below into the dressing room.  And remember – you are not the number on the tag.  It is not you.  Wear what fits, not what the number says.  Look good in what fits.  Don’t look less just because the number says something different.

If you don’t believe me – try this.  On a single day, go shopping.  Pick a particular style and cut of garment.  Then go to a bunch of stores and try on the same garment.  Go to low, middle, and high-end retailers and try them on.  Try on the same number at each store.  Be amazed at what you find.  Have fun!  Realize that you are not that number.  And that number is not you!  Wear only a garment that is just my size!