This is 40.

The big Four-Oh. 40 years of being a daughter and a sister. 28 years of sewing experience. 20 years since I met my husband. 15 years of marriage. 16 years of being a teacher. 10 years of being a parent.  Wow. Makes me tired just thinking about it! Earlier today, my husband sent me some stats about 1974...
Cost of a gallon of Gas 55 cents
Average cost new car$3,750.00
Average Cost of new house $34,900.00
Average Income per year $13,900.00

 My mom told me once that she was watching the Mary Tyler Moore show when she went into labor with me. Yup, that pretty much fits the bill, huh?

So, here we are in 2014, and while I didn't have anywhere to where it to, I'm sure I'll find something will come up soon! Like I said in my earlier post, I used Vogue 8766. In hindsight, I wish I'd altered the neckline. There's just something too "round" about it that is bugging me, I really do prefer the boatneck style that the designers used.  2 yards of tropical wool (I think from Gorgeous Fabrics, like 2 years ago), 2 yards of nude poly lining (Joann's), 2 yards of Venice lace and 2 yards of faux leather trim. Lining with the opaque nude was darn-near brilliant, as it totally blocks any possibility of "see through".

 

 

 

 

Inside of front bodice with neckline facing and armhole.

 

Placing the lace flat edges together was a great way to fake a double-scallop edge lace! I zig-zagged it together, then hand-stitched it to the waist seam. The leather trim was made like a single-fold bias tape, so I opened up one fold, stitched it down, flipped it over, and top-stitched along both edges. The bow was handstitched at the center front. I came so close to the pattern repeating perfectly at center back, but was just a smidge off!

The dress went together very easily, I followed the instructions and just had to get creative and think through the lace application. I can't decide if I like the black heels or sand ones better. Opinions???

 I tacked the lace down by hand, at the peak of each scallop. I let the bottom edge hang loosely, but I may need to tack it down a little. It's riding up on the sides here, making it look weird. Here's the back view.

Overall, it's a nice dress. Almost too nice! Paired with the black jacket, it still seems too dressy for work, so I'll hang onto it until the right occasion comes along. Little Man is making his First Communion this spring, and it seems like a good dress for that event! 

My only complaint about the pattern is the sleeve. I don't understand why they chose to use 3 darts instead of easing it in like normal. It gives the sleeve cap some stiff fullness that has an 80's vibe to it. No? Do you think so? Also, there was too much fullness in the sleeve width for me. I took it in about an inch at the hem, grading it in to nothing where the sleeve seam meets the bodice.

In the end, it's a pretty dress. I'm not sure if it turned out exactly how I expected. When I put it on, I'm not sure that it's "me". Maybe it's that funny thing that happens at this age, the discrepancy between the age you feel, the age you look, and the age you actually are. Right now, I wish I had the energy to put this dress on, head to the casino, and play some roulette or craps. But, actually, this cozy couch and blanket are feeling fantastic, and I'm getting more tired by the sentence! I'll close with this wonderful quote by Sophia Loren... “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age."