Violette

I never intend for so much time to pass between postings, but alack-alas they do, and before I know it a few days have gone by in a wink.  I really appreciate all who still stop in and drop me a note though.  I read them and I smile.  My heart is happy.  Some of you guessed it was me over here.  Like most people, I don't like having my picture taken, even when I'm the one taking it.  Which I never do, obviously.  Still, I did this awkwardly with my left hand, keeping all vanity intact, to get my good side, but couldn't quite get the angle, which explains why I cut off my chin.  It's a nice chin, but I'll just save that part for another time.  Oh, well, still fun to peek out a little from the shadows after nearly two years of sharing this blog.  When others have done this I've always been surprised by how different they look from how I've imagined them and wonder how I've been perceived: an old wrinkled, white-haired granny sitting in a rocker with her embroidery hoop, maybe?  Well, maybe NOT entirely false.

So.  Anyway. Now that you've seen my face (well, part of it) you may or may not be ready for the rest of me.  But, here she is.  May I introduce you to Miss Violette, my no-hold-bars nemesis!  She arrived yesterday in a great big box that had everyone around here speculating about the contents and when she (literally) popped out of the box, and nearly poked out eyeballs, she was not exactly what they were expecting.  (I'm sure the neighbors were wondering what was going on over here, with all the hootin' and hollerin' emanating from the premises.)  Actually, I found her sort of shocking myself at first, but now we're old gal-pals, Vi and me.  She's my Uniquely You dress form, that lets "You See Yourself as Others See You", good or bad that's the deal, and she's here to help me style some new duds.  Does anyone else have one of these?  I can't believe how much I love her!  She's made out of soft polyurethane foam and comes with a "cocktail dress" that zips up the back.  You pin it snugly onto your body to conform to your shape, sew it, and then fit it on the form.  The neat thing is, you can refit the dress if your shape changes, or buy additional sizes to alter for another person in the same size range.  Grace helped me pin and fit it, which was a little weird, and humbling, because Violette didn't hold anything back.  Big reality check ladies.  And, to my eye, we are looking rather matronly.  But I suppose, that is as it should be and I'm really OK with that.  Still.  Have to have the robe for modesty sake, cuz I'm not ready to let anyone else see me standing naked in the middle of the room.  Let's spin the old girl around and take a gander at the backside.  Hmmm...so that's how it is.  I always wondered.  Interesting. 

Well.  If I can cover a chaise, I should be able to do this, right?

Comments

[Denise]

I'm envious! I've always wanted one of these. To be able to really "see" what I'm sewing looks like from all the angles without the neck-twisting and using two mirrors that sort of give you a picture but not really.
I'll admit I was slightly shocked when I scrolled the page down a bit and saw Miss Violette! But with her robe on she looks quite proper. ;-)

Enjoy, Enjoy! and I hope we see Miss Violette again sometime!

Denise

[Kim]

Thank you! Your blog made me laugh, not at you or Miss Violette, but at your candor. I think your "Missy" is great, and someday after all the kids are born, I think I would like to get one, too. Have fun with your new twin!!

[sarah]

I've always wanted a dress form. At least now you can see how your butt will look in those jeans from a rather impressive vantage!

[Old Round]

I can't imagine the shrieks of dispair if I had to confront my own form.

[June]

Miss Violette is wonderful! I didn't know you could get a dressform that actually represents your true body form (the idea of getting one with my shape kind of scares me). I can, however, see the benefits of such a thing in terms of sewing and designing so maybe I'll get over myself soon and seriously consider this idea.

[pam]

Wow, I don't think I'm that brave!

[judy]

Oh...I could NEVER order one of those.

You are brave and I admire you.

[Dannielle]

Well, isn't she the perky sort!

I'm impressed, too. You are braver than I.

[tinker]

Miss Violette is certainly a clever gal! How 'fitting' the two of you should get together :-)

(that really is a great idea - I didn't know they had such lifelike dressforms nowadays - I'm really out of touch!)

[paula luckhurst]

I was wondering if it was you! But I thought you were older because of all the wisdom in your blog. I always look to you as an example, an inspiration.I thougt it was you daughter in law, maybe, not a mother in law. How would we think, looking at the picture, that you have a married son already - you have, haven't you, or am I making a bit confusion?

About Miss Violette: not matron at all. Very well shaped and with a big and nice breast.- mine is smaller so I was a bit envious.

[Tracy]

WOW--I've always wanted a dress form, too! I recently made a skirt for myself after a long 10 yrs of no clothing sewing. I'm very petite, and most patterns just don't fit me well without lots of adjustments...Maybe a Miss Violette is an idea...Although mine will have apricot-sized "girls"--LOL! Happy Days! :o)

[Violette]

She has a lovely name !!!

[carol]

Vicki,
I must say that you look exactly as I imagined you would.....from the chin up that is! I hadn't given a thought about below that. If I knew my dress form would look as good as yours I would get one too, for now I am quite content not knowing how others see me.
Have a lovely day!

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

Too, too funny. Miss Vi is gorgeously endowed. Do they make one with saggy skin and stretch marks?..LOL..I enjoy your blog so much. I have it in my favorites. It's nice to put a face albeit missing the chin with your delightful blog. Thanks so much for letting us peek in your window.

[cindy]

first, i thought your picture was pretty! next, the dress form...i don't think i want to see mine! i was looking for one for a while, and bidding on e-bay (always losing! i finally bought one from the shop i work for...she is useless for sewing for myself though. she is only a size four!

[Di]

I think Miss Violette is divine! She looks like she has settle into her new home quite well. Looking forward to what you make using Vi as your assistant!

[Rebecca]

I've always wanted a dress form and now I think you've inspired me to stop putting it off. A question: When I looked at the linked web site, it seems like all you use to choose a form is your measurements. How would I reproduce all the little ideosyncracies like a saggy, post-2-kids, bustline? Or the poochy fanny all the women in my family are cursed with?

[tinker]

Just thought I should let you know - you've been 'Blogtipped' on my blog (which is a better thing than it sounds, lol). xo

[Debby]

What a great dress form and fun post. And yes, you are brave.

[Vasilisa]

Your blog is lovely, esp. the vintage treasures! Cheerful colours, nice reading on a foggy day!

[Michelle]

It's great! I want one. On a similar note, it reminds me of my belly cast from my last pregnancy. I thought I wasn't that big -- I'd only gained 20lbs. What an eye opener! I was huge. :)

[Allie from Minneapolis]

This post was sooo funny! Thank you for sharing yourself with us. I've never heard of those dress forms before and enjoyed seeing yours. I do really like coming to your blog and seeing everything you've been up to and been making :o)

[bitter betty]

What a handy tool...
And she is so pert!

If you sew something from vintage patterns won't you please share it on the flickr group I started for those projects?? I am sewing one new item every other week ( or more) from vintage patterns. It is a hoot.

http://flickr.com/groups/newvintagewardrobe/