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Tuesday 22 April 2014

Billie Jean Dress + Vintage Brooch GIVEAWAY!!

Ok firstly, it is IMPOSSIBLE to make this dress with out having Michael Jackson stuck in your head for over two weeks.

You're singing it now aren't you ...

You're welcome.
Julia Bobbin - Billie Jean Dress by Blue Ginger Doll Patterns

A while ago the wonderful Abby from Blue Ginger Doll Patterns sent me this fabulous Billie Jean dress pattern to try out. I loved it as soon as I saw the cover image. A vintage dress reminiscent of Mad Men times? Yes please!

Julia Bobbin - Billie Jean Dress by Blue Ginger Doll Patterns

This pattern was extra special for me because not only is this pattern company an indie company, the owner creator is from the same area that I grew up! True story! Since this pattern was released Abby has been busy creating a whole bunch of other gorgeous patterns (the girl clearly doesn't sleep). I'm lusting over this one at the moment.

Julia Bobbin - Billie Jean Dress by Blue Ginger Doll Patterns

Details:
I made this dress in a lush jacquard that I purchased from good old Spotlight a zillion years ago. As soon as I looked at this pattern I knew I was using this fabric.

The dress has princess seams in the bodice and a scoop neck on the front and back.

Julia Bobbin - Billie Jean Dress by Blue Ginger Doll Patterns

Changes:
I had some fit issues on the bodice which I worked out, though I really should have done a full-bust-adjustment (FBA) as it's too tight across the centre of my boobage which is giving it a bit of square shape. Meh; the pattern of the fabric helps to hide it. Though I am counting on the ol' bobby-ta-ta's getting smaller once my 15 month old stops breastfeeding (yes, that's right).

I used an invisible zipper down the centre back as that was what I had in my stash.

I also used pleated the skirt waist instead of gathering it so that it would be a little flatter on my belly.

Julia Bobbin - Billie Jean Dress by Blue Ginger Doll Patterns

I love the cut of this dress and it's classic style. If you're a lover a vintage it's a great easy pattern that you can dress up or down. I wore a petticoat underneath to give the skirt some fooph and I love the 1950's effect!

For endless vintage inspiration, you can check out my Mad Men Challenge post here.

VINTAGE BROOCH GIVEAWAY


To WIN one of the three brooches above from the Ruemiraldi store simply comment on this post.

All people who leave a comment will be in the running to win and three lucky people will be announced the winners.

Entries are open to everyone from anywhere in the world
Entries close on Friday, May 2nd, 2014
Three random winners will announced in a blog post on Saturday, May 3rd, 2014.



Thanks for stopping by; I hope you all had a lovely Easter!

112 comments:

  1. What a fantastic dress. the fabric suits it so well

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  2. Darling! The fabric choice was perfect.

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  3. Looking fab as always, my darling! Love that colour on you!

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  4. I'm just blown away over this dress. It is gorgeous. Jacquard was a wonderful choice.

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  5. Looks lovely! But of course it does, it's a JuliaBobbin creation :)

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  6. Ooh pretty!!! It makes me think of this dress of Betty's actually: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130401111750-mad-men-11-season-4-horizontal-gallery.jpg

    I recently got Boyfriend into Mad Men so I've been binge-rewatching it all over again. I love the later seasons too but the clothes in the first few just make me swoon. What are we going to do after this last season??

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  7. I love your dress! I just started sewing for the first time a few months ago, so I'm still scared to try clothing just yet. I would love this to be something I sew soon though! Count me in and thanks so much.

    tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

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  8. Love that dress, it is a real beauty! It certainly says Mad Men era and that is a great thing. The fit is perfect. You have awesome sewing skills!

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  9. Very beautiful dress! Looks great on you! And brooches wonderful.

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  10. You don't need to enter me in prize draw BT I just want to say GORGEOUS dress

    SSB. https://facebook.com/sassysewingbees

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  11. Beautiful dress and stunning fabric

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  12. The dress is beautiful and fits you really well - good job :-). I'd love to win a brooch

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  13. It's a lovely dress. I love the brooch on the bottom right, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

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  14. Perfect match of fabric and frock. Just goes to show sometimes Spotlight can deliver......

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  15. Stunning dress - the fabric is gorgeous too - well done you!

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  16. The jacquard is gorgeous and the skirt look so nice and full. Love the boatneckishy neckline!!

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  17. You look lovely, and this jacquard is soo beautiful.

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  18. That dress is divine. I can never find anything this beautiful in Spotlight, so you did well.

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  19. Gorgeous dress! The colour looks stunning on you. Brilliant idea pleating rather than gathering, I find gathers are not always flattering on a more curvy shape! Did you pleat all the way round or have you left the front section flat? Whatever.......you have created a stunning, head turner of a dress.

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  20. Aahh that fabric, that dress!! In love!xx

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  21. Beautiful fabric choice! Far out those shoes are lovely! From Sarah. (splarose@gmail.com)

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  22. LOVE the dress AND the fabric you chose! The brooches are beautiful too!

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  23. I love everything about this dress - the colour, the fabric, the 50's shape! It's suits you perfectly. *^o^*
    Please count me in the giveaway, the brooches are lovely.

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  24. Stunning dress. I can never find fabric as gorgeous as that! I am bery much a brooch person!

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  25. Wow your dresses always look like a million dollar.
    Love that purple brooch. But would settle for the green if I must. :)

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  26. Your dress is lovely as well

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  27. Absolutely adorable! And beautifully reminiscent of Tara Moss' ABA Rose launch dress ;)
    A magnificent effort all round - you're amazing!

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  28. A stunning dress and beautifully made. I love the brooches.

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  29. Thank you for helping me discover Bluegingerdoll patterns! I see a new blouse in the near future. :)

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  30. Absolutely stunning dress! Looks beautiful on you. With three weddings this year i may hvae to bear this pattern in mind. Thanks! :-D

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  31. Love this dress! Going to give it a try myself I think

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  32. the fabric is just perfect and reminds me of a dress my mum had back in the 70's when I was little

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  33. Wow your version of this dress is the best one I have seen - although not surprised, you have a knack of making patterns look amazing. I am tempted by the Winifred right now, I didn't like it at first but have since seen a few that have made me change my mind :)

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  34. Working on a similar dress, it's looks so beautifull I am even more determant to finish it now!

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  35. MARVELOUS! And a great color on you!!

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  36. love the dress and the fabric - very dramatic. definitely will be checking out this pattern.

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  37. Brilliant as always! The design and fabric choice is sexy and demure all at the same time! One of your broaches would look very fine on this dress! I am attending a Summer Garden Party where this design made in a light summer floral will be perfect!

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  38. Gorgeous dress as always!! Feeling your pain on the old booby ta-ta's ;)

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  39. Gorgeous dress which looks beautiful on you. Wonderful fabric too

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  40. Gorgeous as always! Good idea to swap the gathering for pleats - I like pleats sometimes better with thicker fabrics as well ;-)

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  41. Gorgeous dress! And that fabric is stunning!

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  42. Ok, Julia, you seriously have to be my absolute favorite sewing blogger in the world. I look forward to your posts in my email and I always open yours first. You are not only adorable, but you crack me up! I wish we lived closer 'cuz I'd love to hang out with you. Beautiful dress as always and your photos are great!
    Happy sewing,
    Beth

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  43. Love this dress! I already have a line up of 11 dress to make for my wedding in Sept. but I may have to fit this one in somewhere.

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  44. I'd love to be entered into the giveaway.

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  45. Beautiful dress. I like your version much more than the original.

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  46. What a beautiful dress Julia!
    Please put my hat in the ring for one of those lovely brooches!
    Jenny xox

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  47. I love this dress and the material

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  48. Goodness, the brooches are beautiful

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  49. Precious dress!!! Looks lovely and old fashion...which is awesome. I want a brooch!!!

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  50. Gorgeous dress! Love the details of the dress and the fabric is awesome! And ohh... what a pretty brooches, I want one :-)

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  51. That dress is just utterly fabulous (and, yes, now I have MJ stuck in my head!). Thanks so much for hosting such a great giveaway, too. I love brooches, I wish more people wore them these days (or maybe I don't, because then there's more for me! LOL).

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  52. Gorgeous! I once owned a 50s haute couture Jacques Heim dress made from a very similar rose print on silk.

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  53. The dress looks gorgeous. The perfect colours for you^^ And those shoes are awesome.
    Love the vintage booches^^
    Greetings, Sandy

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  54. I always admire your ability to match fabric and patterns together. Everything you choose looks so perfect!

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  55. This pattern is lovely and the fabric is gorgeous. The colour is perfect for you. Ann x

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  56. So lovely in that fabric! What a perfect Mad Men dress...I'm guessing you will see a few of these next year if you do your Mad Men challenge again!

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  57. That is a beautiful dress. It really suits you!

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  58. Gorgeous dress. The warm colour looks perfect on you. I can imagine you want to throw lots of parties now to wear it to :-)

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  59. The dress is really lovely and as always you look beautiful. The jacquard definitely adds to the retro vibe. I have a very small collection of vintage brooches which I wear often so I would love to win one. Thanks so much for the giveaway.

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  60. Amazing what you can find in Spotlight in between rolls of dubious quality. Your dress is really beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  61. This fabric is amazing! And the brooches too :)

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  62. Gorgeous fabric and dress and yes can't get the song out of my head.....

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  63. That is a beautiful dress! One I would love to own. And the brooches are just gorgeous and would be a wonderful addition to my jewelry collection.

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  64. Just a lovely dress, and you look so happy wearing it! Good work!

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  65. That's a stunning dress! And thank you for the giveaway.

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  66. Abbey makes such wonderful patterns, and I simply adore your version!! Thanks for the giveaway - I have it in my head that if I had brooches, I would wear them so hopefully it'll all work out since I can't find them in stores! ;-)

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  67. Love that dress! Good ol' spotlight indeed! Beautiful brooches too

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  68. Well Julia you did it again. Just lovely!

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  69. Beautiful dress! Good tip re: pleat vs. gather. Don't let anyone bust your chops re: your 15month old breastfeeding! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  70. Beautiful dress...hoping to win one of the brooches. =)

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  71. Gorgeous fabric. Looks so darn cute on you too!

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  72. This is absolutely fabulous! It's so luxe and beautiful! You look fantastic, as always! You can leave me out of the giveaway as I'm too much of a tomboy for jewelry, but I just wanted to say how much I love this dress on you!

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  73. the dress and brooches are lovely!
    cookiesmasher5@yahoo.com

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  74. Great tip re the gathering and pleating, I shall take heed! Loving you in red.

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  75. love the colour of the dress. the brooch also looks lovely.

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  80. The brooches are one of a kind! And by the way, I just love your dress!

    Doris
    mamansmart@yahoo.com

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  81. So classy! It's great to see more of those beautiful 50's styles. Your rose fabric looks quite rich. Your giveaway brooches are beautiful prizes

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  82. Would be a great gift to my wife! Thanks for the chance!

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  83. OMG! I want that dress and the green broach! lol

    Mariam


    mariamt38(at)yahoo(dot)fr

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  84. The dress is so classy! I am taking up sewing, and hopefully, I will be able to make one like that soon!

    Thanks!
    Linda

    mom_of_elijah@hotmail.com

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  85. Enter me, pleaseeeeee

    Wade
    email: errt2002@aol.(dot)com

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  86. Pretty dress. Love the fabric!

    kastrophona at hotmail dot com

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  87. I looovvveeee the brooches! xx
    katch05 at gmail dot com

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  88. Love the Dress & brooches!

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  89. Lovely dress. I love your style! And the brooches are beautiful. I especially love the purple one, as purple is my colour (hint hint!).

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  90. Looks lovely

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  91. Wow, what a beautiful dress. It is lovely and the colour suits you so well.

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  92. Your blog is a motivational force - thank you. Can you blog more? Even though I could never be able to wear your clothes that you make I do love looking at them.

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  93. the dress is so beautiful like a rose. omg it'd make any girls look so pretty!

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  94. Love the silhouette and that fabric us to die for!

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  95. I am new to your blog. Loving your creations. :)

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  96. Very pretty photos! Would love to win!!

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  97. Very pretty dress and the color is divine on you. I would love to see a FBA on a princess seam some time. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  98. That dress is a fantastic advert for the pattern, it looks amazing. The adjustments you made work so well.

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  99. Beautiful dress and wonderful brooches!

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  100. I love this dress, it's so Mad Men. I'm adding the pattern to my wishlist.
    Would love to win a brooch as well, although I'm not sure if UK is allowed to enter.

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  101. Love the dress. The fabric is fabulous!

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  102. love the lushness of the fabric and the shape of the skirt! nice work.

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  103. Hello, bombshell! You look amazing! And the broaches are very pretty. I have a couple of dresses that are way too v-necked, and I'm always wishing I had a pretty brooch for extra security!

    msmaryjenkins@gmail.com

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  104. This looks absolutely gorgeous! It definitely inspired me to attempt to start my late 50's vintage dress patterns.

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