I have no idea why I continue to get excited about weekends, ’cause I still end up working through them all of the time. I should be more excited about Wednesdays, because that’s usually when I get my break, but then I’m always going to the doctor. P.S. I totally forgot to tell you that I passed that glucose test I was forever complaining about, so … CAKE!

Anyway, I’m rushing, but I couldn’t wait to show you this:

YES.

Wait until you see the rest of it. There will be lace. There will be chiffon scarves. And there will be love hangovers. Guaranteed.

Anyway …

At one point I promised to show you the outfit I threw together for our recent girls’ brunch, and I am proud to say I am finally delivering the goods.

Sadly, I appear to have sat on my a$$ all day, as I do, and so we really only have pictures of my gigantic bosom and the paper flowers I made to help balance them out.

*ahem*

So I’m going to do something I haven’t done in a loooong time around these parts.

Work it.

Just for you, tootsie pops.

So I didn’t really invest in this dress – I just used what I had around the studio one day – silk dotted swiss with a cotton batiste lining – and a bunch of elastic at the waist and shoulders for shaping. Nothing super complicated. I wanted an airy, comfy dress that wouldn’t require shoes, and this fit the bill perfectly. I think I could get away with floating around town in this as well, as long as I kept the accessories casual. At the same time, if Keith wanted to renew our vows in the next two months, I could totally rock this as a maternity wedding dress too. So it’s obviously very versatile. Every pregnant lady needs a dress she can wear to parties, grocery stores and her own wedding. Duh.

Okay, now I have something else to talk about …

Clearly I’ve had a hard time sitting down to write regular posts. It makes me CRAZY, but I’ve got so much work to finish before I go on “maternity leave” and I’ve had to set very firm, sometimes disappointing, priorities. This has also spilled into my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. Basically, I am the worst. But next week I am going to try to make up for it and I’ll be social networking like a celebrity. No really, like an actual lunatic celebrity. Imagine lots of selfies of me applying lip gloss and stuff like that. Anyone I see, anywhere I go will be documented. I’m hoping it will give me a little jump start. At the very least, it will be incredibly stupid. I probably won’t be able to get more than one blog post in, because duh, I still have lots of work to do AND I have to take pictures of all of my meals, but you will most assuredly be able to get your fill of me in those other places. So be sure to follow me now – this little project begins Monday – and … whatever. I’m still thinking of a hashtag, by the way – let me know if you have any ideas!

Twitter: @vsheaffer

Instagram: @vsheaffer

Facebook

Let’s do this.

In ohmigod-look-at-this news … this is what I’ve been working on the last couple of days:

I KNOW. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is not being able to try this on myself. It’s soooo preeetttyyyy. The lace is really incredible – it’s vintage, French, insanely soft and the most amazing peachy blush. I’m dying. Just wait until you see the rest of it. Cardiac arrests all around, I swear.

It is just as over-sized and silly as I had hoped.

I also made a dress, which I will share with you later. I used some of the ol’ dotted swiss and when I tried it on yesterday I realized one single dot had come loose. And it happens to be the dot directly over my giant belly button. Perrrfeect.

I’m a vision.

I’ll try to get some pictures so we can all laugh together next week. In the meantime, enjoy the weekend!! xoxo

Bam. Burp cloths.

I made five of them. I probably should have made like 50, but I got tired of cutting out fabric, so I just made five. And they are the CUTEST. Speaking of cutting fabric, I used a few “fat quarters” that I randomly picked up at Joann, and they were already cut to the perfect size (18″ x 20″), which could not have been easier. I then used those as a guide while cutting the flannel backings and the other fabrics. I already had the white flannel stashed away, in addition to a couple of the printed cottons, and the fat quarters were like $1 each, so … these were some cheap burp cloths, yo. They are also giant, but I like the idea of folding and re-folding to expose a fresh section of the cloth before I have to throw it in the dirty laundry. If you cut the quarters in half lengthwise, you’d get twice as many finished cloths.

Anyway, this is boring if you don’t need to use a dang burp cloth, but it’s really a super easy and inexpensive gift for a new mom or dad and could be quickly stitched up the day before heading to the hospital. Or whatever. I don’t know your life. I just know that I haven’t sewn for myself in such a seriously long time that this project was a thrill.

FAT QUARTER BURP CLOTHS

Materials:
Quilting cotton “fat quarters” or cotton cut into 18″ x 20″ rectangles
Flannel cut into 18″ x 20″ rectangles
Thread
Scissors
Ruler
Sewing Machine
Iron

Directions:
With right sides together (that means the nice sides), match the edges of one cotton rectangle and one flannel rectangle and stitch around the perimeter. I used a 3/8″ seam allowance, but do whatever makes you happy – it doesn’t matter at all. Leave about 5″ open on one side and clip all four corners away with your scissors, being careful not to snip through your stitches. This image, from Olivia Jane Handcrafted, is a great example of what I just described. Turn the fabric rightside out through the opening, being sure to pull out the corners, and press. The section without any stitches should naturally turn in to match the other edges – just press that section in place as well. Now topstitch all the way around using a slightly narrower “seam” allowance – I did 1/4″ – to be sure to close the opening. Press again and admire your handiwork. Someone will be throwing up all over it in no time.

Notes:
I ran everything through the washer and dryer first, to make sure I wouldn’t have any shrinkage later. Everything stayed the same size, I think, but better safe than sorry. I’m also toying with the idea of running a line or two of stitching through both layers down the centers to keep everything in place during subsequent washings. I have no idea if it’s necessary, but it’s an idea.

I told you this was easy! Just like making a pillow, but without the filling and junk.

It’s much better now, p.s. All sorts of weird things happen to your body during pregnancy – like your pelvis shifts apart (wha??) – and then other areas start to hurt in response. It’s LOVELY. But thankfully that pain was temporary. Anyway, it was also 90 degrees that day (our a/c isn’t installed just yet) and I was a hot, grumpy mess. I’m still a hot, grumpy mess, come to think of it!

I’m so tired of sweating. I can’t even tell you.

Side note: I really wish there were more inexpensive maternity clothes in cotton. Everything is stretchy and polyester and ohmigod that stuff does not breath.

Don’t tell me to start a line of maternity clothes.

Source

I also learned on Monday that I failed my 1 hr glucose screening. See, there’s this thing called ‘gestational diabetes’ and it’s the WORST. You have to seriously watch your diet, and deal with all sorts of other inconveniences, otherwise you could have a giant baby. Which on its own doesn’t sound that bad, but apparently it is. I don’t know. I DO know that if someone tries to take away my fruit and cake, we’re going to have SERIOUS PROBLEMS. Anyway, if you fail the 1 hr test, then they make you take a 3 hr test which involves eight hours of fasting followed by lots of sitting around (or fainting and vomiting, depending on who you talk to) and getting lots of blood drawn. I’m SO BUMMED.

And I am NOT dealing well with frustration lately.

I haven’t had too many hormonal issues so far in this pregnancy, but holy cow, I guess the third trimester is it for me. And poor Keith. I’ll go from super happy to furious in mere seconds, and nothing gets me going faster than bad parallel parking. No really. There’s been so much of it lately in our neighborhood, and it’s just the worst.

Side note 2: if you parallel park at an angle or a foot from the curb, it’s impossible for the next person to park properly in front or behind you. Also, if you find a huge spot, don’t park in the middle of it. That’s just MEAN. Pull all the way up to the car in front of you or all the way to the crosswalk if you’re at the front or back of the block. Just do it.

I admit I now spend a lot of time imagining ways to shame these people. It’s terrible.

But honestly, who are they and where did they come from? Did a dozen residents on our block just learn how to drive? Did one awful driver move in and make everyone else park like a lunatic (see side note 2)? Has everyone collectively thrown their hands up in the air and completely given up on life? Or was it like this always, and I’m only now noticing, because I’ve completely lost my mind?

What have I become??

Maybe I just need to get in an air-conditioned space. Or maybe I just need to eat a bowl of the amazing cantaloupe sorbet I made while writing this annoying post.

I seriously just did that, and it is incredibly delicious. Get the recipe here. So good!

Ohmigoodness, please let me pass that horrible glucose test. Don’t let them take away my sorbet!!

Anyway …

This is a busy week for me, you guys. Next week too. I’ve got lots of bridal appointments all in a row and lots of stuff to work on in between. It kills me that I don’t have much free time to check in here and show you the progress, because everything is SO GOOD. And so fun. And my ladies are the all the sweetest. And yes, I’m totally bragging, but I won’t apologize for it one bit. It’s exciting!

One of my sweet, adorable brides is a friend I’ve known for years and I was completely over the moon when she announced her engagement and asked me to make her gown. And then I totally lost my dang mind when she told me her inspiration: Downton Abbey. And not because I like costumes or whatever, but because nothing could suit this cutie more than that lean, drapey, Edwardian style. It’s SO PERFECT FOR HER. Plus, we’re not making a costume – we’re pulling the silhouette and feel from that era and keeping the focus on elegance and luxury. And it doesn’t hurt that we found an amazing, embroidered French lace to use here and there, but we’ll talk about that later.

Anyway, even though we’re being very particular about keeping things timeless and not costume-y, we still need to make sure the foundation is perfect. And what could be more perfect than a period-appropriate underpinning?

Technically, this is a girdle, but we’re saying “corselette” because it’s prettier. There isn’t a ton of boning – just a few strategically placed along the vertical seams and three at the front waist – and elastic panels in the back used to really hug and smooth the body. The point is not to enhance, but to flatten and straighten. And to be pretty. Duh. The best part is that the lace used over the front panel was taken from her mom’s wedding gown. So sweet, right?

I really, really love it. By the way, I used this 1920′s corset pattern from Reconstructing History as a jumping-off point. I had to make quite a few adjustments, but if you’re interested in making one for yourself, it’s a good place to start. I used silk satin with a stiff woven interfacing and lined it in silk taffeta – this baby gets the job done while remaining lightweight and delicate. Just what a lady wants in her unmentionables, am I right? Lace and ribbons don’t hurt either.

And since I only seem to get my a$$ in front of this keyboard once a week, let’s go ahead and make this post a doozy, shall we? I have bathroom makeover pics to share! Sooo … remember the before?

Well you’d better go get some plastic tarps, ’cause I’m about to blow your mind, Gallagher-style …

Can you believe it? Look at my bathrooooooom! I love it so much, you guys. LOVE IT. It’s so … clean. And not stupid-looking. More pictures and info after the jump …

Gah, I love it so much I want to stare at it all day. Yay for fancy rented bathrooms!

******************

Sources

Paint: Light French Gray by Behr

Tile: 12×12 white ceramic from Home Depot

Vanity: Home Depot (but with stupid cabinet pulls)

Vanity Hardware: Home Depot – originally in stainless steel, but coated in gold Rub n’ Buff

Bamboo shade: Home Depot

Rug: eBay (only $40!)

White curtains: Target (purchased years ago)

Hexagon side table: My amazing friend Dean who gave me two for our porch makeover. I’ve moved one in here to use as a stool during baby bathtime. The basket will later hold baby toiletries. Cute!

Chest of drawers: This may be the one existing piece of furniture Keith owned before he met me. Of course it’s been painted and wears new hardware, but we did that ages ago.

A dress from the new J.Crew wedding collection:

Totally adorable, right? I mean, of course I would think so …

The Camellia dress from my Fall 2011 collection, available in tea- or full-length. I’mma just saying …

Or passive aggressively not saying. Haha! Look, I’m so not going to make a big deal out of this – I mean, maybe I’m going crazy (although when I first saw the J.Crew dress on Pinterest I was like “Wait – which shoot is this from?” I thought it was actually my dress). I’m certainly not going to start an online campaign, asking everyone to boycott J.Crew or anything. I love J.Crew. I wear their clothes often (when I’m not pregnant). I also think their wedding line is a great option for brides on a budget. Which is what that dress is at the top. Because, look – mine is definitely more expensive, and it’s most definitely worth the extra money.

Forget for a second that the Camellia is super high quality, entirely handmade in Chicago and features a built-in crinoline and corset and is lined in layers and layers of silk taffeta and organza. Aside from all of those awesome things, ours is made to be as gorgeous inside as it is outside, featuring a lace-trimmed lining, small ribbon accents, and hand-stitched details that an off-the-rack gown just doesn’t have.

It was also agonized over during many sleepless nights, creating the perfect balance of simplicity and femininity, but you know, whatever. *wink*

I’m totally not upset over this, and it’s kind of embarrassing pointing it out, honestly. But I would just really like people to look at the J.Crew dress and say “Oh look! An okay copy of a lovely Veronica Sheaffer dress!” Hahaha

Also, if you’d like to grab the gorgeous original for yourself, contact my studio or the lovely ladies at VeKa Bridal in Brooklyn to schedule an appointment. We’d love to see you! And it really is so surprisingly gorgeous. Even J.Crew thinks so!

I feel like maybe I need to rearrange my schedule a bit or something. I have always, since the beginning, written my posts in the mornings before getting to work, but lately … *radio buzz*.

My brain isn’t really functioning in the mornings at present. Which is why I’ve cut back so much on blogging. I just can’t seem to make anything happen. I want to show you things, but then I sit down at the computer and I feel like slapping my hand on the keyboard a couple of times and moving on to something more exciting like cake. Not that you don’t excite me. I don’t excite me.

Maybe I need to come up with a new format. Like, the blog version of pointing at things and grunting. I’m gonna try it out today – you let me know if it works.

******************

See lampshade. Before:

Boring. Gray. Crooked. Lame.

See lampshade(s) with black spray paint:

Me like more now.

******************

I’m guessing that wasn’t entirely satisfying. But my lampshades satisfy me very much. And yeah, I just spray painted cheap Target shades, inside and out, and that was the end of it. Weee.

I have like two things left to do in this room and then I’ll give you a full picture show. I’ll say upfront that I think there’s a lot of wha? happening in here, but it makes me really, really happy nonetheless. I can’t even look at pictures of our bed without wanting to get jump back in. Those pillows!