Advance Pattern Co Vintage Dress

It was some sad news to hear Hancock Fabrics went bankrupt recently. It's currently the only fabric store within 30 minutes of where I live. But—looking on the bright side—everything in the store is almost 50% off, so I got some great fabrics and notions yesterday to keep me busy for awhile!

I started with this dress by Advance Pattern Co. (it looks 40's—maybe?) and I think it turned out super cute! Of course I brought the length up...into the 21st century...but other than that, it's the vintage style. Originally I thought I'd ignore the shoulder pads, but it would definitely solve the alignment issues I'm having with the waist and armpits, plus I think it might look kinda sharp anyway, so I'm going to try those (plus, they're easy to take out if I change my mind).

Of course I'm still learning, but I get better every time. The zipper didn't baffle me much this go around, and the button holes were a breeze after I discovered my sewing machine had a nifty little foot that literally did the whole thing for me. (I geeked out over that for like 20 minutes, haha!) I also took it a lot slower than usual and tried to think through how something would work before I started sewing. I didn't cut any corners this time. Like, you know, not forgetting to hide the raw edge or gather with a basting stitch. (I know, I know.) I will say one thing though—collars are the WORST. I spent a few hours trying to figure that one out. And most shirts now don't make them this way (at least most of the ones I had in my closet). It helped when I finally found one I could look at as an example.

Overall, I am really happy with the way it turned out! Can't wait to wear it AND to make more dresses with this pattern!

Our Vintage Travel-Themed Wedding

Our wedding was so much fun. People are right when they say it flies by, because we wish we could have partied longer with our friends and family! We were lucky to have a lot of people willing to help. I wish we could have more parties like that!! I also highly recommend all our vendors to anyone in the Atlanta area; a little more info below.

Reception Hall: Mary Gay House

Highly, highly recommended! This is right across the street from the church (but even if you don't have your wedding there, they have an agreement with the church to use their parking lot). It was built in the 1820's and has quite a history to it. During the Civil War, enemy soldiers took over her home and forced her to live in the teeny tiny space where we had our buffet. The ballroom was added in the 1970's and overall it holds about 100 people (not including the outdoor patio). Tables and chairs for 100 are included too. You are required to work with one of their caterers, unless you provide documentation and an extra fee, but they do their best to work with you on other things as much as they can.

Flowers: Candler Park Flowers

I love this place because they have really exotic flowers. The arrangements are beautiful, and they are willing to work with you to create something unique that also fits into your budget. 

Caterer: Farm Burger

I can't talk up Farm Burger enough. They have a few restaurant locations in the Atlanta area which are already great. But a few years ago, they delved into the catering business and offered a few extra items up to their usual delicious standards. At our tasting, everyone was so friendly. Even a few cooks came out to greet us and give us wedding encouragement. They were really generous with the amount of food we got to try too. We ended up with burgers, coleslaw, deviled eggs, pasta salad and chips with onion dip. Their service was amazing and they even made sure to bring out two plates for us during the reception. 

Dress: Sweet Elegance Bridal

I found my dream dress: an a-line, tea length with lace, and I found it at Sweet Elegance Bridal, a mother/daughter owned shop offering designer dresses at more affordable prices. 

Cake: Icing Cake Design & Sweets

These ladies are amazing. They are two graphic-designers-become-bakers. I went in knowing what I wanted but from what I've seen, I would completely trust them with full creativity on a cake as well. Their icings and cakes are all made fresh.

DIY Balcony Herb Garden

My husband and I have a really small porch. Great for a view, terrible for...just about anything else. But we knew we wanted to have our own garden so we came up with a space-saving solution that worked! To create something similar, here is what you need:

• From the Craft Store:
• Aluminum cans—Michael's sells them if you're not a canned food person
• Large popsicle sticks
• Sharpie
• Spraypaint—We used Valspar's "Devine Color" Paint and Primer in Devine Apple

• From the Home Improvement Store:
• Twine
• Potting soil (optional)
• Transplants—These were a little over a dollar each at Home Depot. They're easier than having to nurture seeds, and already have leaves you can use. Ours came in peat pots, which don't have to be removed when you plant. Get whatever spices work for you of course, but here's what we picked up: sweet basil, parsley, greek oregano and cilantro.
• Hammer and nail
• Small garden trowel (optional)

We started by hammering three holes into the bottom of each can for drainage and two holes on either side for the twine. Then we spraypainted them with our paint+primer, which is great because it only takes one coat (and costs $6 at Target). If you're buying regular spraypaint, I recommend coating first with a white and then with your color, otherwise you're going to be starting with a gray base. Since our transplants were a little big, we carefully removed the peat pots and pushed them into each can. If your transplants come in a plastic pot, try not to force it out. Put your hand over the open end and and flip it over. Tap the bottom and sides to loosen it up and it should then slide right out. This protects the roots and stems from breaking. If you have small transplants, you can always add a little potting mix to the bottom of your aluminum cans to raise them up. After that, all there was left to do was tie the twine around the cans and railing and violà!

We had just enough space to add some regular pots too, so we threw in some Marigolds (because they repel bugs and, well, they're pretty!) and some jalapeño peppers (but my husband can have those...). Also, these pots are great because they're lightweight, come in fun colors and have a self watering disk at the bottom. 

Well there you have it!