Thursday, September 25, 2008

Doll House Parade

Lately I've been playing with a few new ideas. Here is one I am particularly fond of, thigh-high stockings! Here are my trial pair in blue and red iridescent stretch velvet. I am going to tweak the design very slightly, and then will be posting the next generation to the Etsy shop! I named them Slow Poison after this guy, whom I have been listening to a lot lately.

I have also been making doll underwear, of all things, and listing them in my destash store. The first set sold within an hour! Good to know there are other dolly-people out there.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

everything's coming up roses...

Well, we survived another fabulous vacation at the coast! It rained the WHOLE TIME, but it was great to be out of town for a while (I don't know how much longer than that I can go without the internet, though!). I collected seaglass on the beach, we went tidepooling, found some cute frogs in a pond, geocached, shopped for used books, slept in late, read a book about physics, and roasted our dinners over an open fire (I can even build a fire with wood that's been sitting in the rain all night, I am good!)
When I got home I set to work finishing the custom shrug you see here. It's the same design as the grey tweed Ascot shrug, but in a lovely pink and gold twill with little gold heart buttons on the sleeves (perfect for the December wedding it was made for, I think! I found the buttons at my favorite fabric shop along the coast).
I also worked on a few other crafts, including sea glass pendants for myself, repotting and decorating a beloved plant, and (the one I am most proud of) creating a prototype matchbook sewing kit to go along with the pink shrug. I have big plans for these, as soon as I get a paper cutter, at least!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

a cup of kindness, yet

Here's the latest and greatest, a holiday (maybe) party dress! About a year ago I had the idea for a... something... in tan or beige with a black lace and deep red ruffle. It went through several incarnations, from a skirt to a top to a totally different dress, but this is what I finally decided on and I am quite happy with the result. The neckline ties with a wide strip of silk used as a drawstring, so it can be worn high up at your neck or down lower as you choose (I personally like it high). It reminds me of the sun setting in Nevada or Arizona. Maybe a cocktail party at a swanky club overlooking the desert.
Tomorrow we leave for our beach camping vacation and our hopefully romantic second wedding anniversary (you never know, it could be raining cats and dogs the whole time)! I will post the Time Traveler vest to Etsy when I get back (I'm afraid of having too many custom listings active when I go out of town for a week!) and I will also be working on a custom order, a pink bridal shrug for a lovely lady back east. Hopefully I will have pictures of that to share before too long!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

like sands through the hourglass


The Time Traveler
Originally uploaded by I Will Fly design
Here is my latest made-to-measure item for the Etsy shop. I'm quite taken with the "steampunk" aesthetic, I just wish there was more variety in the offerings these days, so here is my little vest, inspired by Victorian men's waistcoats. I like the style so much I am sure to be making it in other colors and fabrics. I think silk dupioni would be fabulous on the collar, and maybe a white silk with a beaded collar? Lots of options here.
Another fun thing I wanted to share: for my anniversary gift this year my husband got me (okay, so I picked it out, contacted the seller, and dealt with all the details. It still counts!) a beautiful sterling silver wire wrapped ring set with faceted garnets the color of my wedding gown. It came in the mail today, and I attempted to take a photo of it stacked with my wedding band but had a horrible time of it. Here is a clearer shot, from the seller. Lovely Lori at lucie39.etsy.com made it just for me and I couldn't be happier. She also has some stunning pearl rings that I am in love with, as well as a watermelon tourmaline band that is so pretty it just kills me. Check her out!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

advertising!

I've decided to take this whole business seriously, including actual paid advertising, if you can believe it. So, keep an eye out for I Will Fly on the web! On Monday September 8th (actually 10pm Sunday til 10pm Monday California time) I have a spot on the Fall Fashion Showcase at Etsy.
Next up, ads on your favorite serial web comics!
I Will Fly: ask for it by name!

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Autumnal


Rainbow's End blouse
Originally uploaded by I Will Fly design
After two weeks of 100+ degree weather, yesterday was really rather pleasant. Breezy and cool enough that we felt fine turning off the window fans and baking potatoes for dinner.
Thank goodness, because I am ready for Summer to be over any old time, now!
Today it is back to hot and nasty, but with a promise of cooler times to come.
Right now I am working on Fall clothes for the Etsy shop, vests and shirts, dresses and tops to wear to holiday parties, warmer weather shrugs and such. Here is the first custom-sized item in the season's line, I call it Rainbow's End.
I discovered the fabric at a Jo-Ann's that was going out of business and had to get it, even though I didn't know what I was going to make with it. What I ended up with is this super cute 1986-esque blouse, which was designed as I went along.