Monday, September 30, 2013

Boden Weekly Review Roundup: Heritage Hummingbird.

Happy Monday (said only slightly sarcastically)!

Two items of note:

1. Sale started today, ends Wednesday, 20% off winter warmers.  More info here at this post.

2. Page idea for reviews...would you like to have a page here on the blog where any pending reviews from blog friends can be posted?  It would have its own tab (like my "Blogs I Love" tab), and would be very easy to find right under the blog header.  The comments would be powered by disqus, so you could hyperlink to any photos that you have of the item being worn (obviously not necessary).  A benefit of this could be that pending reviews could be viewed before the BWRR by anyone and that would allow some folks an early peek at what will be upcoming in the review roundup.  Once a new BWRR is published, I would delete the comments and a new crop of pending reviews could be posted.  :-)  I figure this is easier for a lot of you since I sit at the computer and e-mail infrequently (tends to be during Angus's naptime, and that is hard to gauge when it will happen).  Although I would be more than happy to receive e-mailed reviews, I understand that for some of you an option like this may work better!

Regular Boden:
Heritage Sweater.  Size 6.  Original (brief) review of the sweater was here at this BWRR. 

The weather cooled down *just* a bit and it allowed me to wear this pretty little sweater out and not completely melt.  Granted I still had to wear shorts and bare legs, but it felt fine, comfort wise.

It runs true to size, if a touch loose in the torso, but nothing that takes away from one's shape.

There was one con, and that is that I noticed some pilling on the surface at the end of the day but nothing coming close to the pilling I have seen on my J. Crew sweaters, so take that for what it's worth.  Nothing that can't be fixed with a good wash, line dry, and pill shaver.

Info on the whole outfit is in the photo, btw.  Also, another shot of Angus photo-bombing.

Heritage Sweater
Heritage Sweater.  Not selling out, at all.  Maybe critters aren't for everyone, lol.

Glam Sneaker

Glam Plimsoll (Called the Sneaker Stateside).  Lou shows off these glittery animal print wonders here.  How freaking cute are they?

Must Have Tunic
Smock Top
Must Have Tunic and Smock Top.  Egyptomaniac breaks out the tunic in this post and the lovely smock top here at this post.  :-)

Johnnie b.:
Leggings.  Size 16+.  Yes, I am wearing leggings, in public.  The horror.  (That cardigan is mighty long, people.  No one saw anything offensive, hand on heart.)

Love these.  I have them in the printed floral version from last spring, and felt that while the 15-16 fit fine, I wanted just a little bit more room, and the size 16+ gives me that.  They are definitely baggy through the waist (the elastic barely stretches since its length is about the same size as my actual waist measurement), but I love the length in this size, and I love that they feel even more comfortable than mine from last year (which is saying something).

The Penny Loafers are currently in the clearance section.  I did a more in-depth review of them here.

Leggings
Penny Loafers
Leggings and Penny Loafers.  Leggings are on a substantial wait for this color, 6 weeks.  The loafers are still in stock in many sizes and colors.

mini Boden:
Button Pinafore Dress.  Size 6-7.  We already own this in the Navy/Scandinavian Floral color, and the review written here is the same as I would say about this one now.  :-)  Definitely a winner, and fits true to size (we size up to make the dress work for more years).

Button Pinafore Dress
Button Pinafore Dress
.  Not selling out, but the navy is on deep backorder, and I could see this darling woodland scene version also selling out/going to backorder.

Okay, that's it!  Thanks again for the reviews from my blog friends!

Below is the current coupon from the affiliate.  Eventually I will receive a new one with womenswear on it, I am sure.  For now you can use this one for discounts on everything, not just mini stuff.  (Bonus, if you are a new customer, you will receive free bunting, so woo and hoo!)  ;-)

Boden: 20% Off Winter Warmers!


Good Monday morning, all!!!

Even if it isn't quite cold yet where you are (we are still in the 70s and 80s here during the day), maybe you get a little chill in the air at night and can appreciate the fact that the weather will be turning chillier and staying that way soon.

(Or you could be in Florida or Australia right now, lol-ing at our inevitable suffering in the cold winds and driving snow/rain/ice while you sit there knowing you still have months of warmth ahead of you.  Have you guessed I really don't like cold?)

Anyhow, Boden has a ton of items on sale this morning for all members of the family for the cold weather.  Of course I have only had the briefest glance, but I did spy the luscious Ingrid Coat in the mix, along with some winter staples like the Chunky Knit Tights, the Cashmere Crew Neck Sweater, and the Leather Gloves.

The 20% is not stackable, darn it, but if you use the coupon at the end of this post (or in the sidebar), you can get free shipping with you purchase, which helps a bit.  :-)

I would LOVE to get a picks post done, but I think the BWRR is probably more pressing, so I think I will focus my energies there instead.  Do you all have any picks?

Okay, that's it for now!  Enjoy (sale) shopping.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

For Sale: Skirts...Boden, J. Crew, Loft, Target, Izod, and Lands' End Canvas.

Prices (which include shipping) are listed below the photo.

The sizes are in the photo, click on the photo to see the info more clearly.

Some rare skirts are in this group, including some older Boden, and many old school J. Crew--including the very popular Ischia printed mini from 2008.

E-mail me at dinagideon AT aim DOT com if you are interested in purchasing any of these.  :-)

Swishy Cotton Skirt.  Worn here.  $25 Shipped. 

Tulip Print Skirt.  Worn here.  $25 Shipped.

Printed A-Line Skirt.  Worn here.  (SOLD.)

Stitched Hem Mini.  Reviewed here.  $25 Shipped.

Textured Cotton Skirt.  (SOLD.)

RARE--Jaipur Mini Skirt.  I wore this a lot, once upon a time.  In fact, one of you all offered to buy it from me a couple years ago and I wasn't ready to let it go.  Now I am!  $30 Shipped. Photo of an easy summer outfit with this skirt.  Reviewed here.

From 2006, so this size 10 fits a bit more tightly than size 10 today.  This skirt is pretty straight from waist to hem, so it may suit someone with less definition between their waist and hips.  The skirt is made from a very nice, soft, medium-weight white denim.  $25 Shipped.

RARE--Fresco mini skirt.  $30 Shipped.  (SOLD.)

RARE--Ischia mini skirt.  $30 Shipped.  Worn here.

Velvet Mini.  Collection piece.  $30 Shipped.  (SOLD.)

This Target skirt I bought hoping the 6 would work, but it was too small, and the return window expired before I remembered to bring it back.  Ah, well.  Anyhow it is a dupe of this skirt from J. Crew (seen on the fab Tabitha here) with a little Boden thrown in for good measure (here), and a very comfortable one, made from a stretchy cotton sateen, and is fully lined.  $20 shipped. (SOLD.)

Sequin Mini.  Another "didn't return early enough" bites me.  I kept the 8, which you last saw me wearing here.  $25 Shipped.

Black/White Mod Plaid Print Skirt.  $15 Shipped.

Seersucker Skirt.  $10 Shipped.

Dot Skirt.  Worn here.  $20 Shipped.

Okay, that's it.  I have at least 15 more skirts ready to sell, but I only have so much time in my day, so that will need to wait a week.  :-)

P.S. Boden fans, there is a sale starting tomorrow, so be on the lookout for my post on it in the morning.  ;-)

Friday, September 27, 2013

OOTDs/Made by Me Files: Tangled Birthday Edition.

The ootds will be first followed by the "Tangled" made by me file (yes, it references the movie, and no, the outfit made wasn't for me).  ;-)





Day: Wednesday, September 18, 2013.

Where: CW's Birthday night with a trip to Whole Foods (Winesday), followed by her birthday dinner at El Paso Cafe. 

Ease of Wear: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  This beautiful Boden dress of mine from a few years ago is comfortable, but I wasn't over the top happy that it was so wrinkled so quickly.  Maybe the last time I wore it to a stand-up party, lol, and there were no wrinkles, but more than likely I was more sensitive to it this time.  ;-)

But I could be wearing a itchy burlap sack and feel great since Winesday is so much fun.

Cool Factor: (2.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  Nah, I looked exactly like what I was, a happy and proud momma of a now *five* year old girl.  Not especially cool, but the broderie on the dress is pretty and unique, and that is enough for me.  Plus there was wine...and later margaritas. 

Anecdote from the Day:  The people at the Winesday were thrilled that CW had turned five.  One of them gave her a gerbera daisy (in pink!), another gave her a VERY big cupcake decorated with flowers and leaves, etc., and one gave her two desserts from the dessert table.  She also got lots of, "ooh, look it's a princess," since CW insisted on wearing her Ariel costume to the store and then to dinner. 





Day: Friday, September 20, 2013.

Where: American Girl Store for a special birthday girl dinner followed by surprising CW with Kit, the American Girl she had been eyeing for about a year.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  Oh this Anthro skirt is so comfortable, with its super soft jersey fabric and deep pockets.  The sequin tee from J. Crew was way more easy to wear than I thought it would be, but I did size up to a small, so I suspect that may have contributed.

Cool Factor: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  I really liked this outfit and feel like it looks decently cool.  I loved how the pieces all worked well together, both in silhouette and in color, with no one piece taking center stage.  Even the cool Ghanian-made necklace looked like a natural, even though I don't know that wooden beads and plastic sequins are meant to be next to each other.

(The necklace is from my father-in-law who has now gone to Ghana twice on mission trips.  I am very happy for him, and kind of jealous, too!  I have a lot of friends from Ghana and would love to see the country they are from.)

Anecdote from the Day:  It was exactly like you would think it would be...a five year old in an American Girl store surrounded by dolls, pink flower lamps, and little itty bitty dining pieces for the doll that comes with you to the store (we brought Caroline, her other doll).  In other words, CW was overstimulated and over the moon.


Day: Saturday, September 21, 2013.

Where: CW's birthday party.  I promise this is the last event celebrating her birthday.  I don't do much for the kids when they turn one, but five is a pretty big deal, so I definitely indulge.  I bet #10, #16, #18, and #21 will be similar.  

Ease of Wear: (5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  I have written enough poetry about the Garnet Hill jersey dresses in the past.  I love this dress so much, if it were human, I would have a big, fat crush on it.

Cool Factor: (2.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  I have always loved resort wear and the "hostess" gown, which is what this reminds me of...a hostess gown.  But instead of being many hundreds of dollars and from Milly, it was far less.

Anecdote from the Day:  In addition to crafting a Rapunzel dress from scratch, I also had to get all the party favors and food ready for the party.  I almost did it all, but I finally had to break down and ask for help with the favor bags since I didn't have enough time to get those filled.  Thank goodness my good friend from bowling, S., and her daughter, I., helped me in my time of need.  Are any of you all like that?  You don't ask for help unless you desperately need it?  Why do we do that to ourselves?

I wrote more about the creation of this pattern ( Simplicity 2065) here at Pattern Review.  You will be able to see it for six months without joining Pattern Review, but past mid-March 2014 you won't be able to see it anymore.  Hopefully I remember to update this post with more info when that occurs.

Detail of the lace embellishment that I added to the sparkly purple tulle.  Like I mentioned over at Pattern Review, I was glad to have a walking foot on my machine because that helped me control both the velvet (the white skirt was made from that fabric) and the tulle.  Both velvet and tulle are such a pain to sew, and the walking foot keeps the fabric nice and smooth and even when sewing.

On CW.  She is holding her Rapunzel doll, natch.  :-)

Can you believe that I took out parts of the pattern because I didn't have quite enough fabric?  Yeah, I thought so...this pattern was supposed to have one additional skirt and overskirt piece, and some tulle lower sleeves.  Oh, and I was supposed to make an underskirt that would have added poofiness.  I think the dress looks more than poofy enough as is, thank you very much.

She *really* enjoyed posing.  Such a little ham.

The tank underneath is an addition since the bodice turned out to be too big.  Part of that is because I made the size 6, which is a bit big anyhow, and part of that is because I didn't add a zip to the back of the dress and had some extra ease (about 1.5 inches) added since the extra ease was supposed to be used to add the zip.  The plus side is she can wear it longer, but for now, she will have to have something under for modesty.

This is my favorite photo of her wearing the dress since it shows the full of effect of the time consuming details...the gathering of the waistband on both the tulle and velvet skirt, the application of the various trims, like the cord at the waist and sleeves, and the lace on the overskirt, and the insertion of the very puffy sleeves (setting in sleeves can be its own challenge).

Anyhow, I am glad I spent the week working on this dress, since it made her so happy and it allowed me to take on many new sewing skills that I hadn't tried before.  All in all, I would call this a success...but please, don't look to closely at the hem or the eyelets.  LOL.

Alright, that's it for now.  Thanks for reading all about my "tangled" week.  

If you are one of my readers who comes her for Boden stuff, I have a quick question for you.  How would you all feel if I created a page within my blog where comments would be allowed and you could post reviews of items you have received?  Since it would be powered through disqus, you could also add links to any photos you wearing them (photo sharing sites, facebook, etc.), which would add an extra layer to the review, if you have them.  (They aren't required, btw.)  I know that my BWRR is a big hit here at the blog, and as much as I can, I try to have it appear at least once a week, but as we know, I am very backlogged, and a page like that could help keep the reviews coming while the BWRR is written.  Once I am able to use your review in a BWRR, I would delete the comment from the page, and a fresh set of comments could be posted for the next BWRR.  Do let me know if this sounds like it work for you!