OMGAH I am so happy to finally be done with Me-Made-May! I loved participating, but MAN taking pictures of myself every day got real rough, real fast. Let’s round up the past week, yeah? Also, fair warning: I just had 4 cups of coffee and I’m real jittery and I kind of hate myself right now.
5/25, Saturday
Shirt: Megan Nielsen Briar top
Shorts: Sewaholic Thurlows
Necklace: Fire Finch
Shoes: Keds
After a 7.5 hour drive, we made it into Florida! Yeah! This is the balcony of our condo; we were waiting for my parents to figure out the lock situation so we could get inside. Landon took this picture, btw- he took all the pictures while we were in Florida.
5/26, Sunday Part 1
Sunglasses: Pangea
Bathing suit: Can’t tell you just yet! It’s a pattern I tested that will be available soon, though 😉 (and yes, I got permission to post this from the patternmaker! I won’t say what it is, but if she wants to announce herself in the comments…)CAT’S OUTTA THE BAG!! Check out this post if you want to see a sneaky peek of the swimsuit (and reveal who is the mastermind behind this gorgeous pattern!). I’ll have a review post up after the pattern launches, fo sho.
This is the first bathing suit I’ve ever made! This is also the first time in a LONG time – like, years and years long time – that I’ve gone out in public wearing a handmade something and worried that it would fall apart at some point. I’ve been wearing my me-mades for so long, I don’t even give them a second thought… I trust that the construction is well-done, and that I won’t have any wardrobe malfunctions. But a bathing suit – that’s a whole different ballpark! I was almost afraid to go in the ocean, oh god what if I didn’t sew something right!?!
Spoiler: It held up fine 🙂 For both swimming AND sunbathing. Win!
5/26, Sunday Part 2
Dress: Sewaholic Lonsdale
Shoes: Born
I LOVE this dress and I’ve been dying to wear it since I first made it! Since I wanted MMM to not involve any outfit repeats, I hoarded it until my vacation. Worth it, although I’m excited to be able to wear it, like, once a week now 🙂
5/27, Monday ~Memorial Day~
Top: Thrifted, recostructed by me
Shorts: Papercut Patterns Rite of Spring shorts
Necklace: Flea market
Shoes: Born
Spent the day wandering around Seaside (no bikes this year – I ran a couple miles that morning and I was TIRED because I am a BABY), and then drinking on the beach in the afternoon 😉
Sorry this picture is so dark – I had to lighten it considerably to get anything to show up! Totally felt like a babe in that outfit, btw.
5/28, Tuesday
Shirt: Megan Nielsen Briar top
Shorts: Sewaholic Thurlows
Necklace: Fire Finch
Sunglasses: Pangea
Flip-Flips: The Children’s Place (yep, I have small feet haha)
Last day on the beach 😦 I miss the ocean already 😦
5/29, Wednesday
Top: Colette Patterns Sorbetto
Shorts: Sewaholic Thurlows
Shoes: Born
Belt: Thrifted
Sorry for the shitty picture! We got home Tuesday evening, and Landon left for a business trip early early Wednesday morning (ew). I did take a couple of days off to get some work done around the house – and to take a SEWING VACATION fuck yea – so this is as good a picture as you’re gonna get.
5/30, Thursday
Top: Megan Nielsen Cropped Briar
Skirt: Megan Nielsen Cascade Skirt
Shoes: Franco Sarto
Necklace: Fire Finch
… and here’s the result of my sewing vacation! A whole new outfit, hahaha!!! I’ll write a proper blog post about this next week, but here’s a sneaky peeky for now 😉 What you should know is that this fucking skirt makes me feel like Shakira, and I mean that in the best way possible.
5/31, Friday
Top: Papercut Patterns La Sylphide
Skirt: Megan Nielsen Kelly skirt
Shoes: Sam Edelman
Just kidding, I made another shirt on Thursday. Ha! Expect a blog post on this next week too 🙂 There *is* a peplum on this, it’s just tucked into the skirt. Also, I realize that I’m teetering dangerously into Canadian Tuxedo territory, with the denim skirt and a chambray shirt, but idgaf. You’re just lucky I didn’t put on my denim jacket too.
And that wraps up Me Made May ’13! For the rest of the weekly recaps, check here:
Me Made May 13 Week 1
Me Made May 13 Week 2
Me Made May 13 Week 3
Me Made May 13 Week 4
I had a lot of fun participating this year, but as I mentioned before – taking pictures is a PITA. Glad that part is over! I also got a little burnt out on trying to figure new outfits… since I’ve lost weight this past year, I dropped a couple sizes and most of what I made last year is too big now. I figured a lot of this out as I was getting dressed in the morning which led to some frantic scrambling around (I’ve developed this weird aversion to wearing stuff that doesn’t fit perfectly. I can’t do it! I’ll sit and fuss with it all day and be uncomfortable), and occasionally wearing stuff that just made me feel blech. I really need to purge out my closet.
I also really missed wearing some of my clothes – my vintage dresses sat unloved all month, and my very favorite outfits only got worn once due to the no-repeats. I’m glad I branched out, but man, I really just want to wear the same thing every day for a week now!! Haha!!
Also, speaking of branching out… I need to explore other shorts patterns. I love love love my Thurlows (clearly), but maybe I should give some other shorts a try, yeah?
To everyone who participated in Me Made May – YAY WE DID IT!! Aren’t you so glad to be off picture patrol now? 😉
Now I leave you with one last picture of Florida… the view from our balcony.
This is supposed to make you jealous. Did it work?
LLADYBIRD 
Definitely jealous, lol. A question though: I am trying to make a skirt, but although my sloper is perfect, my straight skirts have too much bunching when I sit, especially when it’s in minimum-stretch bottom weight. So much that I feel like I’m wearing a mini while sitting down? It’s ironic, especially since I’m basically as small as you. Not trying to flash anyone at work in my me-mades! Any tips?
Hm, I’m not sure! If it makes you feel any better, my straight and slim-fit skirts always ride up quite a bit when I sit… because my butt pulls them up. You may not have enough room in the butt to compensate for that, or your skirts might be too short to begin with (not too short to wear normally, but if they’re mid-thigh and they ride up, they become mini REAL fast haha).
1. YES!! the picture made me jealous (even though I only live 1hr 45 min from Gulf Shores…does that make YOU jealous?)
2. Okay, okay quit complaining already about losing 2 SIZES!!! 😀
3. Seriously, I love your blog! And I love that you took time out to email me info about Nashville a few months ago (hubby couldn’t get off work so sadly we wont make CMA fest).
AANNNNDDD
4. Do you have an suggestions for a v neck sheath dress pattern that would be a good base for an Elizabeth McKay knockoff (standup ruffle around v neck)?
Ok, yes, I am jealous! 7.5 hours, woof, I hate sitting down for that long! I’m stopping by YOUR hours next time I go to Gulf Shores, ha!!
And yeah, I realize I am talking about size loss a lot. I’m sorry 😦 I keep getting a lot of questions about “why haven’t you worn xxxx yet?” and I can’t because most stuff doesn’t fit anymore. Or else people will see that we are size twins based on old posts and I want to make it clear that sizing last year and this year are NOT the same size (I do that with my size twins – cut the same size as them. They’re already done the work for me, right? But I’d feel so bad if someone cut the wrong size based on something they saw last year, and their shit ended up too small, you know?). Just trying to head that stuff off. Now that MMM is over, I guess I can stop beating that dead horse 🙂 TURNIN A NEW LEAF.
Dude, there’s always the Hot Chicken Festival! 7/4/13, haha DO IT!
I haven’t made a V neck sheath dress, personally, so I don’t have a pattern I can recommend that I’ve actually tried. I will say that Vogue has a lot of good patterns like that, though, some with ruffles. There may be a one there that will make your dupe super easy 🙂
Love it all! Do you think the Briar top (and t-shirts in general) could be made without a serger? I want to dabble in knits… just to make basic, soft tops mostly. That said, I’ve been on a sewing hiatus for months and need to just bite the damn bullet already.
You can totally sew knits without a serger! Most people do, I just use my serger because it’s there 🙂 There are lots of blog posts full of tips and checks, check out this round up at Sewaholic and also this one on Steph’s blog (click around on that one, she has multiple posts on sewing knits, with and without a serger :))
Sounds like I need to get shopping!
And on an earlier comment… Hot Chicken Fest?! I love Nashville.
Fuck yeah, you better plan on going! Music City Hot Chicken Festival
I’ve been wondering the exact same thing about the Briar top, so thanks guys so much for posting the question and for the links! 🙂 Am going to check out the links and then get started, yay!
LOVE the bathing suit! Can’t wait to see the pattern when it comes out….
Cuuuute swimsuit! I love it!
Ahhh…. I’m jealous too. I just had two days camping and the first was spent in the tent due to heavy rain. The weather in Florida looked as beautiful as your you made clothes.
I’m jealous – not only of your vacation but also of your skill. I have been working on one dress since January. Someday a fairy may grant me a wish and I’d wish to be as productive as you.
HONESTLY, you are the reason I have spent all of my fun money this month on indie patterns… Stop making everything look so cute!!! Now it looks like I’ll have a swimsuit pattern to order too… hope it comes in my size.
I love all your outfits and great photos of your vacation.
I’m pretty glad that MMM is over too, but for different reasons, LOL!
Dying to find out what the swimsuit pattern is! I have a red one that’s similar that I adored but was never comfortable wearing because…well…I’m not a B cup.
You always look great, but I super love the Memorial Day outfit. Those shorts rock!
Love your outfits!! and looking forward o your future posts!
And I am not jealous of your Florida view cause I happen to live in S. Florida so there are you jealous??? LOL
I AM JEALOUS!! South Florida is so beautiful, argh!
That bathing suit looks amazing!
I’ve been dying to make a swimsuit, but all the patterns I’ve found are blah. Can’t wait for more details on this one!!
I am hoping SO HARD that the bathing suit is the next Colette release. Its stupid awesome on you.
Lauren, you did an amazing job in MMM 2013, very impressive and love your newest outfit.
Loved your MMM photos, The bathing suit is gorgeous on you, can’t wait to see who releases it!
Ugh, that swimsuit is beyond gorgeous! I diiiieeeee!!!
OOOOh I soooo want that bathing suit! I think I would be terrified to sew it though, but it looks gorgeous, cant wait for the details!
I was terrified too! But it’s not hard, promise! The worst part is doing all those gathers… and by “worst,” I mean it really wasn’t bad at all. Just time-consuming 🙂
Your holiday location looks glorious – very jealous! I have to say that all your outfits look amazing – so flattering on you and beautifully coordinated. Can’t wait to see you La Sylphide in delicious detail 😀
Louise x
Is that the suit I saw a sneak peek of on Heather Lou’s blog? I love the styling of it 🙂
I can’t wait for the release of the swimsuit! Looks great on you!! I keep stalking her blog hoping it will be out any day now. 😉
Can’t wait for your post on that swimsuit, it looks pretty amazing!
I’m dying over that bathing suit, really. So freakin’ cute. And girl, the beach pics, uggggh. I live in SoCal, but hate the beaches here. I grew up on the NW FL beaches (pensacola) and soooo excited cause I’m going there next week, huzzah! Now if only I had a bathing suit like that!
Great round up. I must make those shorts and that bathing suit! I am doing cartwheels. I haven’t bought a swimming suit in years (four babies, 10 years) and was horrified at what I saw earlier this spring. The fabric is super cute too.
LOVE the swimsuit, very jealous of the beach, BUT what the heck is a Canadian tuxedo? I’m Canadian and I have never heard of that before.
Hehe! Some people call it a “Texas Tuxedo” too 🙂
In New Zealand, we call it a ‘Gore Tuxedo’. I love that everywhere has its own name for that outfit 😉
…..Nevermind… I googled it.
Hooray on that swimsuit! (Pattern testing means the pattern is coming soon, right? Because I started coveting it the second I saw the first samples, and your gingham-y version is just too cute.)
Also, your Lonsdale is fantastic — the fabric/pattern combo is just perfect, and it looks so at home in Florida!
Oooh that is the exact swimsuit pattern I want! I see similar swimsuits RTW that I just can’t shell out $80+ on…keeping my fingers crossed – having said that I still only consider myself a beginner, maybe an advanced beginner but still…i’m not sure I should be venturing into swimsuit territory! (though it wouldn’t hurt to hoard the pattern until i’m a bit more confident!) 🙂
Yup. That swimsuit is just the kind I search for, but cant find (in a reasonable pricerange).
Sewing swimwear scares me, but I guess I need to face yet another fear of mine in a short time 🙂
Yup. Definitely jealous by that picture. And that bathing suit is gorgeous!! All of your outfits look great. Very summery. Hope you had a fabulous vacation!
Yup. Definitely jealous by that picture. And that bathing suit is gorgeous!! All of your outfits look great. Very summery. Hope you had a fabulous vacation!
your memorial day outfit— KILL MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
so freaking good. and that bathing suit is ballin’!
Oh that swimsuit is divine! (sidenote, we call them togs in New Zealand). And I love LOVE the pink skirt you made on your sewing holiday! (sidenote 2, we call them holidays not vacations and typing vacation feels fraudulent).
Haha, well, holiday sounds weird to me! That’s what you say when it’s like, Christmas. Although, spending your holiday on holiday sounds awesome…
How are you always so cute? Looks like you had a nice vacation. Your swimsuit is adorable. Can’t wait to see more photos of your new makes!
I’ve scrutinized the comments, mystery drafter pelase reveal yourself! I need to get that swimsuit pattern now or I’m going to have a total titty attack.
Awesome work, as usual, Lauren!
Haha. I’m releasing it this week (hopefully!) http://closetcasefiles.blogspot.ca/2013/05/sneak-peek-bombshell-swimsuit.html
YAY! thank you! it’s stunning!
Oh yeah, the cat’s outta the bag on my baby. No more hush hush. She’ll be ready by the end of the week if all goes well. Thanks for giving it a twirl for me Lauren! If anyone’s interested my sneak peak for the Bombshell swimsuit is here: http://closetcasefiles.blogspot.ca/2013/05/sneak-peek-bombshell-swimsuit.html
YAY I’m gonna edit it into the post, then!
Love all the outfits in this post. Vacations are that much better when you’ve got cute clothes to wear. The bathing suit looks great.
Man, those are some fun vacation outfits! Makes me want to plan a beach vacation!
Hooray for June! Impressive the whole lack of repeat outfits though, i definitely repeated!
If you’re thinking of branching out shorts wise, I made these shorts and they required very minimal alterations to fit (and thurlows fit me with no alterations) – http://www.burdastyle.com/pattern_store/patterns/ruby
I have the pattern from when they were still free on the burdastyle site, I’m happy to email it through to you if you’re interested. I’m madly in love with this version and reeeally want to copy them: http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/nattys-coin-button-shorts
Ohhh, I remember these shorts!! Yes yes! Emailing you now 🙂