thanks lauren! i think if we were in high school we would have (quite geekily) exchanged friendship bracelets by now. i hope you're not working too hard. i'm going to go finish off this glass of wine and hope my cat doesn't freak out again...

how was the gala? did you knock them dead?

oh no lauren!!! i was wondering where you were... i hope you're getting to enjoy a little bit of sunday... i will try and come up with a blog something to make you laugh--matter of fact, i should just post my cate. that'll kill ya.

well don’t worry, here is 90-92 even 93°F the hottest day, if we are lucky the temperature can be 83°F… so pretty hot. I saw the jumper how to, you were reading my mind, because i was planning to go tomorrow to buy some fabric for that dress, when i finished it, i'll post it. Although Panama weather is very hot, we have many beautiful places! and if you enjoy shopping you will enjoy malls here prices are the best! hahaha regards, karen

Hi Lauren, again I did something unconventional!!! It’s not a hem really(LOL) I just ran a patterned stitch in black contrasting thread, I was just being silly, but then I liked how it turned out ad left it. As for your gorgeous Cate, what a bout a blind hem? I'm a HUGE fan of the blind hem and use them all the time.

well, i TRIED to plant some flowers... but i bought the wrong sized pots! typical.

Hi lauren!, Believe me it’s a very nice dress. By the way, I don’t think you will like the weather of my country, Panama has a tropical weather, so usually the temperature in the day is about 31°C – 33°C, sometimes if we are lucky 28°C…. pretty hot.. hahaha! I have never been in New York, I'll like to go someday. Nice to meet you, karen

Hi Lauren! I just saw your casual cate..it’s beautiful. Sorry I haven’t posted a how to on my no pattern dress yet, but I'll run you through it here… Basically I do everything you're not supposed to when I sew!!!:) I haven’t sewn for over 13 years!!! and am relearning everything at once…So here I go..I hope I make some sense… I used a mannequin, I see you have one so that’s a good start.. you are gonna laugh at this I know… I just took a heap of fabric..can’t even tell you how much, it was $2 m. so I just bought heaps..and I used it length ways so that I could make it all in one long lazy piece..then using the mannequin I measured by eye where I wanted the pleats to start, just under the armpit, (and obviously left enough fabric to meet up at the halfway-point of the back of the dress) I pinned the fabric to the mannequin and started making pleats about the width of the pin held sideways, considering I did it all by eye I was amazed they turned out so even!! So I just continued the pleats all the way across the front of the bodice until I reached the other armpit. Once done I just ran a straight stitch through the top of the pleats to hold them in place. I left about 20cms(that’s a rough guess sorry) of fabric extra on each side of the back seam..(reason being I am flllaaaaatttt chested and used elastic, all that extra fabric kind of creates the illusion of a bigger bust:) Also I'm very lazy and only do zippers when absolutely unavoidable:D) but I digress….. So you should have basically a long piece of fabric with a section of pleats evenly set in the middle. This fabric I used was see-through, so at the last minute I had to add lining( I never do this either!!) But if you use something non-see through it will be much quicker and easier. Now for the easy bit… Just fold over about 5cms (another guess) at the top and then add elastic to hold the dress up!! Then just make a really long belt/sash to tie under the bust. Hem and off you go!! Although the dress looks really quite fitted, when you take it off of the mannequin it will look huge and frumpy..the trick is in the belt to pull it all in.

I hope you are able to understand my rambling..and if you need any thing just leave me a message or feel free to email me. Good luck can’t wait to see your version of my dress!!!

hey lauren, thanks for your comment on my danielle. wish i had the courage at the time to make a lining... i LOVE LOVE LOVE your cate!