An update and some housekeeping

Most Januarys I restock my notions, lining & underlinings, interfacing and thread supplies. Last year though I went a little overboard so I didn't really have to restock as much this January.

However, as previously noted, I am a color coordination disciple. When going through my serger threads this weekend, I realized that I don't own any serger thread to coordinate with the yellows and green fabrics in my new wardrobe plan.

So I placed a smallish order with Atlanta Thread and Supply - one of my favorite online notion suppliers. BTW, ATS is offering a 15% off discount on many of their items. Maxi-Lock Thread is $1.80 per spool and Gutterman Thread - 1100 yd spools - are $2.51. I know that this is a much better bargain than your local craft/fabric store offers!

Can I take a minute here to say something...often I speak of a purchase that I made from an online or bricks 'n mortar store on my blog. When I post about them, I am sharing MY experiences with the supplier...and most of the time the reason they receive a mention from me is because I had a good experience with them, or they were offering a great product, or amazing customer service. I've purchased from them several times because I was satisfied with the serviced I received.

However, if someone else has a different experience with any recommended supplier...I'm sorry...but I really have nothing to do with that. I can not make a supplier ship faster, replace a product, etc. I also will NOT put a supplier on blast because someone else had an issue with them...especially since I'm only getting one side of the story and in my book there are always TWO sides to every situation.

Also I am loath to blast a supplier because many of them are small businesses with staffs of 10 people or less. In these perilious economic times, there would have to be major maliciousness and deceitfulness for me to blast an online sewing supplier...so please know from the get-go...I don't VENDOR BASH. Not when so many households could be in jeopardy and NOT when I've seen so many of these bashings almost wipe out a sewing companies business.

I will now apply a disclaimer...the above mentioned supplier provided wonderful service to me. I am expecting quick delivery of said product and this is JUST MY experience. I do not know what your experience will be if you decide to use said supplier.

NEXT - Chadwick Dress Update!

The dress shell is completed. The lining has also been sewn together but it still needs a hem before I insert it into the dress. The dress needs about 2 hours of finishing which I hope to work on this weekend so that I can wear it to work next week.

There was a comment posted that this dress is similar to my Menswear Lace Dress...ummm, no it actually isn't. It has the same bones but the details are different. The Menswear Lace Dress (MLD) has a pleat in the front with the lace sewn to the pleat. It also has a conventional zipper in it...yes, I'm going to go on and on about my invisible zipper challenge! *LOL* The Chadwicks Dress (CD) has a round yoke neck insertion and a center front panel, as well as, separate side fronts. Of course, the CD has an invisible zipper insertion that is okay...not perfect but not bad.

As an aside...Marji assures me that I will get really good at these after about 40 or 50 insertions! *LOL*

The dress is hanging and looking at me every day. The color makes me happy and my version will definitely emulate the original...but it will be slightly different since I have no idea what the back of the inspiration dress looks like...so I'm going with what I like. I've also added extensive amounts of topstitching and a lining to the dress which has given the fabric some heft.

As previously stated, I hope to finish this up this weekend and then I have two skirts that I want to work on before making the jackets. I'm not really sure if I'm on track to get this wardrobe finished before July 4th but I'm definitely enjoying the journey...

...as always, more later!