(I’m still here) BurdaStyle March 2012

Oh hai *waves

I’m still here, just chilling and counting down the days until super-amazing-sewing-room-move-in-day…hehe

I picked up the March BurdaStyle a couple of weeks a go but I haven’t had a chance to scan it until today.

Just like with February I purchased March purely for one dress but there are a couple of other pieces I like too. Let’s start with the dress, I’m sure you’ve already guessed which one:

I saw a pattern very similar to this in one of my foreign sewing magazines aaaages ago and loved it but it wasn’t in my size and I wasn’t game enough to try resizing it, plus the instructions we incomprehensible so it went in the too hard basket.

Also in this issue I like this twist front skirt and the casual top and shorts next to it.

Two great jackets are next. Love the upstand collar and zipper on the blue jacket below and I’ve seen some amazing Chanel inspired versions all over the web of the pink one too.

This month also includes a wedding section. It looks like Burda have had a go at Pippa’s dress, a little slow on the uptake perhaps and not as good as the Style Arc version for sure but still quite an elegant dress.

I also like this wrap top and the second version of jacket 115 but this model FREAKS me out, especially on the right, I’m not sure what it is about her but am I the only one expecting her head to turn a full 360 degrees and smile back at me?!

The DIY Trend section is cute, I think those birds would look great graduating from bigger to smaller up the side of the dress as they “flew away”.

There are still a couple of lazy drafted items in this issue, reminding me not to give in and re-subscribe for another whole year.

This one in the wedding dress section (on the right) is particularly bad, they even admit in the description that you need invisible snaps at the back to “control the fullness”. I think what really happened is that they realised how terrible it looked at the photo shoot and tried to save it with those snaps. The close up photo does not help. Seriously, would you wear this to your wedding?

At first I thought they just tried to sneak it past me by presenting it along side the wedding version of my favourited twist front dress  but then I spotted the pink broderie anglaise version. I guess at least in cotton is drapes slightly better. I do like the overlay of the dress beside it but again, another oversized, shapeless sack.

And that’s it… I have a Manequim magazine to scan next so until then, happy sewing xx

BurdaStyle Magazine February 2012

You already know that I don’t subscribe to BurdaStyle magazine anymore. The last few issues have been much better but I don’t trust them enough to re-subscribe. Besides, I can buy single issues for NZD$13.00 each at Magnetix in the city.

I’ve been waiting for February to come into stock (they are about 2 months behind current but I don’t mind) and the other day it finally appeared so I snapped it up.

This is probably old news to most of you but here’s a reminder of what’s inside.

I bought this issue solely for the dress below. I am sure you are all familiar with it, it’s been EVERYWHERE on the internet, we all gushed and ohhed and ahhed when we saw the preview. They also did it in black and while it’s still an amazing dress the colour-blocked version is my favourite, it has birthday dress potential written all over it.

There is also a skirt version which I like too and this aqua and purple dress that utilises both sides of the fabric.

$13.00 for three patterns isn’t bad I guess and next month I’ll probably go and get the March issue as well.

Almost sewing…

I have had a busy two weeks and if you’re interested in how the relocation is going have a look at the re-blogged  link below.

Hello from the (shaky) Land of the Long White Cloud I have had a crazy few weeks but today I am finally feeling settled. You can read about our last few weeks in Perth and our arrival here in Wellington on my blog. But today I thought I’d share with you what I’ve been up to the last two weeks…like digging out the necessities ;) We got the keys to our house the week before our container was due but I managed to get some pseudo sewing done before … Read More

via BurdaStyle Sewing Club Perth WA

Things are almost back to normal which is great, even Burda seems like it is back to normal service. I cannot comment on May since I never received it but has anyone else seen the June offerings? Probably the best issue I’ve seen in quite a while…and it is the last issue of my subscription. But I won’t be swayed, I’m not that trusting. I’ve already found a retail source at my local shopping center so we’ll see what the July online preview brings…

Anyway, here are my picks:

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The first section has a distinctly 60s feel, some of these items are quite basic patterns but it’s good to have a few of those in your collection and if you are lacking then this is the issue you should go out and grab.

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There’s also a beautifully feminine wrap dress by Anna Molinari, I just wish the model filled it out a little better.

Dear BurdaStyle magazine

Dear BurdaStyle magazine,

I received my April issue today and your accompanying letter informing me that I had only two issues remaining. Thank you for the heads up, I knew our time together was coming to an end. “It’s not too late, but soon it will be” you said, to re-subscribe for a special price of 86.06€.

Your offer is generous, at the current exchange rate that is $177.74 AUD or approximately $9.81 per issue. Since you are $18.00 at the newsagent you tempt me and I have thought long and hard about it.

I hate to tell you that recently, when your issue has arrived, I take a quick look though, then put you straight into my bookcase and I never feel like looking at you again. I admit I have hocked off several of you on eBay, breaking my neat collection which I never imagined I would do.

My pattern love has shifted, now I long for the next issues of Patrones and Manequim, even with their non-English instructions, they excite me, they get me sewing, they show me trendy future fashion and I crave it. I flick through them over and over and they sit out on my cutting table for weeks on end.

You had your chance to win me back but you failed. BurdaStyle magazine, I am sorry, but I must make a stand, our love affair is over. Goodbye my friend.

Melissa xx

 

There are a couple of items I like in this issue but apart from the dress (which I’m 50/50 for) and the neat idea for a “craft bag” there is nothing I don’t already have a pattern in my stash for and they are not so amazing as to replace those patterns. Here they are:

Burda December 2010 Mash-Up

I’m just not feeling it with this month’s Burda. I’m not sure if it is because my sewing brain is elsewhere at the moment and I can’t focus or if there really is so little in this magazine that appeals to me…hrmmm…maybe when I pick it up again nearer to Winter I’ll see a few more but for now here is my sparse looking selection:

Burda December 2010

A new strategy: November 2010 Burda Mash-Up

I’m getting desperate now, my November Burda arrived but still no Manequim or Patrones (although they did send me a renewal notice asking for money!)

:(

So not much magazine love for me this month.

I’ve been flicking through the newest Burda over and over instead and it occurred to me that I always see patterns I want to make then forget about them. I’ve flicked through a few other magazines recently and found myself thinking, “Oh yes, I remember wanting to make that dress!” Part of the problem is that my magazines arrive in the wrong season, it’ll be 42 degrees outside (that’s about 107 degrees Fahrenheit) and the issue is full of (beautiful) wool coats, ugh. But the main reason is that I can’t sew anywhere near as fast as my magazine addiction’s growth rate.

So I’m starting a new strategy, one that won’t be help me much until I get back from my honeymoon but I am putting it in place now, and I’m going to share it with you.

It’s not the usual Burda review, there are plenty of blogs doing that already. No this is going to be a quick and dirty snapshot of my favourites for the month from each magazine and we are starting with November’s Burda issue, since it is the only new magazine I have right now and the internet makes it so easy to acquire the images.

This is not a promise that I will make every item, by the way, just a way to help me (and maybe you) to remember them all. Something I can pop back to when the appropriate season rolls around.

Here we go:

Burda November 2010

I had trouble liking this issue when I first saw it, it’s all a bit gypsy for me to be honest. But when I look at my selections like this I can see that I do like quite a few items from this issue.

So did I miss anything that YOU love?