Sew What?! Pineapple Princess

For as much sewing as I do, the sad fact is that I kind of hate it - the cutting, the pinning, the hours spent hunched over the sewing machine breaking needle after needle because I am too lazy to remove pins (which only results in more work/time changing the needle).  When the mood strikes, however, you will always find me hunkered down there in the "treadle trenches" armed for battle with my disappearing-ink pen and scalloped shears.  Never knowing when inspiration will come, I of course shroud surround myself with an endless supply of fabric, thread, and notions so that I will have everything I need (except, of course, that one thing for which I will invariably have to make a last minute run to the fabric store).

As organized as ever...

As reluctant a seamster as I may be, the prospect of designing garments is my ideal.  The challenge of designing/constructing something with very little time and very little material creates enough motivation to rouse a little fire in my evidently-dormant competitive gene.  Last Saturday we were headed to our pal Emily's birthday barbecue.  Having just created one of my floral, basket purses as her gift, I still had some residual creative energy and found a scant yard of vintage, pineapple-printed material that we had picked up in a homemade, roadside, thrift shop on one of our desert adventure days.  Confounded for about a year over what to do with the material; the answer was really a cinch - a gathered bra top and bolero!

The yardage was just enough to eke out the top and the outer shell of the
 short-sleeved bolero (I had to piece together leftovers to make the string halter).
  Wanting to line the bolero with a solid grey like the one found in the pineapple
 print but knowing that I really didn't have enough time to go to the store AND
finish the project, I lined it with a remnant of white cotton that I had on hand.

I can't show what she wore on the bottom because I didn't have time to make ANYTHING!!!

The teal, grey, and white color story was one I had never used before and
I quite like it.  Next up will be some kind of coordinating skirt, shorts, or
combination of the two - inspiration might have struck but the clock was
 striking too and we didn't want to be late for the party!  

It is often believed that Annette Funicello never wore a two-piece bathing suit but the clip below not only provides thematically-appropriate musical accompaniment but also proof to the contrary.  YOWZA!!!

"Pineapple Princess" - Annette Funicello

Cheers!

Mr. Tiny