Waiting

Even though I usually work during the spring on my summer weddings, it's hard to hold all those beautiful designs till the happy day actually occurs.  This means I can't post any of my beautiful brides till after the happy day during the summer - so I have to wait.  I'm not good at waiting. That leads to something completely different!

I had purchased a beautifully painted piece of fabric at Fabrique in Dallas (a great shop that is not hard on your pocket book, unless you have a terrible weakness for fine fabric, then watch out!)  The fun thing about these panels is to plan out the cut-out.  I had long wanted to try this Burda pattern

So I thought nothing better than this hand-painted fabric, although the back would have to be altered.  The back had to be all one piece, which was fine, and I left the small "v" at the base of the back for interest and to keep with the front.  As usual, there was a lot more to this pattern than the envelope lets on.

Here it is all finished

Isn't this pretty?  The best part is in back (later).  I put two buttons (and probably need another one at the waist, just for modesty sake, but all you really need is that one shown on the pattern.  That line across the bust - you think it's decorative huh?....well, think again - it's a dart - those sneaky little people from Burda were sneaking in all that fit to make this a fab pattern.  Can't wait to cut this out again and use it.  I have a bunch of sarongs I've purchased on my dive trips, just for this sort of thing.  Might make them a little longer.

But back to the project at hand.  As much as I tried, I couldn't get all the little flowers just exactly where I wanted - you never can...so here come some paints - Fabrico Markers.  They are fabulous.  I have all the color groups.  And just had a little "artistic license" and drew some more flowers on the (my) left side with the large sunflower on the right....and something fun on the right cuff. 

One small design alteration - I did slim the sleeve to just above the wrist, and then flared out the line, but opened the seam about 1 - 2" above the wrist, with the cuff hitting pretty far over the thumb.  When I do this again, I will make this split further in back rather than on that seam - where jacket cuff is located.

Ok back to more pics

This is the back of the beautifully hand-painted panel.  It's just gorgeous.  I did make a pair of solid pants to go with this outfit and the whole outfit is wonderfully comfy and very fun to wear. 

I'll do it again, but probably make the tunic part longer and make it to wear with a pair of knit knicker-ish type pants I have.  I wanted to use this out fit something to wear "apres dive" however it's turned out way too nicely, and I use it to entertain when I have friends over.