52 weeks, 52 dresses.

Week 52: Dress 52 [01/07/12]

It's official!! I have consecutively made one dress a week for a whole year!

This week (definitely the most expensive), I used about 6 yards of an ivory satin bridal fabric, about half a yard of ivory floral lace, a 12" ivory invisible zipper, and 12 half circle buttons. Design details include: a double darted bust, floral lace contrast yoke and slitted back, an empire waistline with lace highlight, a center back zipper closure, center back accent buttons, fitted gown with mermaid flare, and a bridal circular train! Also made the bouquet by hand using two sets of 6 two-tone daisies, pearl accents, and ivory ribbon. (':

It has been an AMAZING experience and I wanted to thank you all for the support and messages I've been blessed with along the way! To all 2000+ of you, whether you started following from the beginning or just an hour ago, thank you so soo much!! I started this project blindly with simple hopes of making 2011 a big year (it was also the year of my 18th birthday, my high school graduation, and start of college!). All of the new relationships and collaborations were an incredible plus to this project. Given that there were tough times though, nothing compares to this overwhelming feeling of support from everyone and actually reaching the finish line. I swear I had so much more to say, but I'm choking up just knowing this is the last post of my project. I'm grateful for 2011. Happy 2012! (': 

Credits to Brian Dublin for these photos && my cousin, Blessie Millare, for helping with the windy & cold photo shoot!! http://bdubzphoto.tumblr.com/ http://briandubz.tumblr.com/

Week 51: Dress 51 [12/31/11]

This week, I made this bridesmaid's type of dress using about 3 yards of a salmon glitter satin fabric & a 16" zipper for side closure. Design details include: a mermaid flare, fitted waist with a zigzag design, and a one shoulder neckline.

Credits to Brian Dublin for these photos! http://bdubzphoto.tumblr.com/ http://briandubz.tumblr.com/ & also thanks to abby & christina for helping him edit (:

Week 50: Dress 50 [12/24/11]

This week I used about a yard of a grey chambray cotton fabric and a 12” beige zipper to make this dress. Design details of this dress include a fitted waist, a square sweetheart neckline, & a skirt pleated at the seam.

Credits to Derick Olson for this week's photo! (: http://www.flickr.com/photos/derickophoto & don't forget to like his fb page! DLO Photo 

Hello! I just answered a good handful of messages privately, but sorry to those I haven't gotten back to yet! Anon questions were really starting to build up so I'm just gonna go ahead and answer these in one collective post. (click the picture to zoom in if needed). These are variations of the most frequently asked questions currently in my inbox, but feel free to send me a message if you have any more questions!

(order: upper left corner to lower right)

I started two years ago when I got a sewing machine for my birthday (or christmas... i can't really remember) & just figured things out for myself. I also ended up taking a fabric arts class when I was in high school.

Thank you! Unfortunately I’ve noticed that I tend to improvise dress designs along the way. Especially with the t-shirt to dress designs. As much as I’d love to share how-tos, it’s a little tough considering I don’t like to remake or retry my designs. (I don’t have that much time to spare) :/ (answer copied & pasted straight from my FAQ)

Ahh thank you! Refer to answer 2.

I learned by myself at home!

Why are you yelling at me, anon ): but thank you!

The @ronpalustre type of guy... or Adam Levine. Mmph.

Thank you! I learned at home in front of some machine I thought hated me.

It actually varies. Most of these dresses I make without drawing out any certain design. I've always found fabric that ends up begging me to make it into something & go with that inspiration. Basic process would probably go like.. Shop for fabric. Awkwardly talk to fabric (outloud or in my head). Buy it. Set up my table & sewing machine. Cut pieces that would possibly make something. Sew and be surprised. 

Jo-Ann's is the only store I can easily get to, but I have gone to Discount Fabrics with some other designer friends!

Hahaha, I'll try! However, I'm missing a few of them because I either sold them or they were made for other people.

For almost all of these dress designs, I don’t use patterns. I based a lot of the fabric pieces on dresses I’ve seen before and my own measurements. (I've used patterns for weeks like my sister's halloween special) I have also used patterns for other projects though, like a few dresses for my little sister (: (this answer was also from my FAQ)

Week 49: Dress 49 [12/17/11]

Week 48: Dress 48 [12/10/11]

Week 47: Dress 47 [12/03/11]

Made my second gown of the project this week! Used about 2 yards of a black ponte fabric, a 20” black zipper, & tedious-to-get fitted measurements for this one shoulder full length gown.

Credits to Julian Zabala for these photos! (: http://julianxzabala.tumblr.com/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/showmeyourmoves

Week 46: Dress 46 [11/26/11]

This week I used about a yard of an olive green cotton weave fabric with beige polka dots, a beige ribbon, and a 12” beige zipper to make this dress. Design details of this dress include a fitted waist, a square sweetheart neckline, & a skirt pleated at the seam.

Week 45: Dress 45 [11/19/11]

With little to no time this week, I got my hands on a crinkled, mock suede fabric and designed these high waisted shorts before I left for LA/SD. Now I'm currently rocking them at Disneyland & thanks to @ronpalustre's help, I am able to reach my post time while I'm here! (:

Week 44: Dress 44 [11/12/11]

This week, I came across this fashion suiting fabric with a small houndstooth design & was completely inspired to make another business-like dress. Fell in love with the sophisticated look & super proud to say this dress has the cleaaanest hem job I've ever done (:

I am SELLING this as my first Jams52 exclusive dress!! This dress was made with a little less than 1 1/4 yards of a brown houndstooth fashion suiting fabric and a 22” beige zipper for center back closure. Design details include a fitted waist, a pencil skirt (pleated at seam), two functional pockets, and a darted bust.

Week 43: Dress 43 [11/05/11]

Hello again! This week, I used about a yard of a red cotton weave fabric with beige printed leaves/flowers and a 12" beige zipper to make this dress. Design details of this dress include a fitted waist, a sweetheart neckline, & a skirt pleated at the seam.

Week 42: Dress 42 [10/29/11]

Halloween Special #2! I promised my little sister I would make her halloween costume this year.. Soo, everyone, meet Megan as a 50's ice cream parlor waitress! (:

I used about a yard of a white cotton weave & 3/4 yard of a checkered fabric for her blouse & hat, 3/4 yard of a white cotton weave fabric for her apron, 20" of elastic, & about 1 1/4 yards of a mock silk pink fabric for her skirt.

Week 41: Dress 41 [10/22/11]

Halloween Special #1! This week I made three poodle skirts in the spirit of halloween! Simply made from a few yards of felt, a checkered ribbon, and pom poms. The poodles were individually cut & glued, as well as the pieces of ribbon. 

Week 40: Dress 40 [10/15/11]

This week, I just couldn't pass up the chance to grab onto some holiday printed fabric and make a cardigan/sweater out of it! I've never been a fan of making/sewing sleeves, but I was more than inspired to make my first cardigan. Very pleased with the results btw (:

So pleased that I am SELLING this as another Jams52 exclusive piece!! This 3/4 sleeved cardigan was made with 1 1/2 yards of a holiday fashion knit fabric, 4 black buttons (hand sewn), and black hemming to secure the buttons & buttonholes.

Week 39: Dress 39 [10/08/11]

Week 38: Dress 38 [10/01/11]

Happy October! I've got countless of messages asking if I were selling my stuff, & because I am still not completely confident with my dress designs, I made a fitted business type of skirt this week that I am confident with AND SELLING as the first ever Jams52 exclusive piece. 

Design details include: black 7" zipper & hook closure, two functional pockets, front pleats, and back darts. Fabric used: dark heather gray fashion suiting. 

ALSO! Since I am selling it on my bow tie bigcartel, I thought it would be fitting to make a bow tie from the excess fabric (now on sale too!) Help a broke, college student out? Ha..

Week 37: Dress 37 [09/24/11]

This week, got my hands on about 1 1/4 yards of a white floral cottonweave & about 2/3 yards of a chiffon like fabric in the remnants racks & used a 12" zipper for back closure. Design details of this dress include a sharp sweetheart neckline, darted bust, a skirt pleated at the seam, and a chiffon one-shoulder sash.

Credits to Julian Zabala for these photos! (: http://julianxzabala.tumblr.com/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/showmeyourmoves