Greetings Minerva Makers!!

My name is Monica and this is my first ever Minerva make! I screamed with delight when I was approached this year to be a Minerva Maker. In the middle of a pandemic and quarantine where I was isolated with my sweet husband and our cats I was keeping myself busy crafting and creating since my subbing job as a special education educator was canceled for the unforeseeable future. What could be more perfect than a new collaboration and challenge to work with different fabrics?

I waited, holding my breath to see what they would send me! I received an email not long after with a huge, I mean HUGE list of fabrics to choose from! Major choice anxiety set in. After it passed I could look excitedly at what was sent to me.

I perused the list of fabrics and looked on the website at the ones that truly caught my eye!

I narrowed it down and then sent my choices in! I had no idea which one would be chosen or available.
About a month later I got a parcel in the mail. Mail was quick considering the pandemic and being shipped internationally! I was getting ready for bed when Mike (my husband) brought it in and said is this what you have been waiting for???

I screamed again! I could barely wait to open it up and quickly I opened the package to find that the floral John Kaldor fabric in burgundy was the one that had been selected. Such a lovely choice!

I wanted a fabric that would still be wearable here in Southern California where summer seems to run until November !

Now what to make with it. I had approximately 2 yards of this chiffon fabric and at first I thought another caftan since I had been making caftans for the last month and a half.
Then I thought maybe a peasant blouse ? Finally I decided it needed to be bigger but with more definition. Soooooo I chose to make a skirt. A nice volumonuous skirt. I hadn’t made myself a full skirt in a while and it was high time I did! I wanted a skirt that would be fine wearing in the spring and summer and then into fall! All by changing the accessories. With layering it would work in fall and winter. With candles and a sleeveless top it would be great for spring and summer.

I washed the fabric and then hung it to dry. Once it was carefully cut and pinned I sewed it up using my preloved Singer serger and then made the waistband and hemmed the skirt. Once that was done I had to choose what to style the skirt with in temps that were still triple digits I choose two sweaters for my fall styling. A burgundy one and a beige one. I wanted to keep the tops simple to highlight the skirt and let that be the accent piece!

I was happy when I saw them on my dress form.

I got dressed in the first ensemble and went outside with my husband to take pictures in our large backyard here in the country. I love this fabric and how well it flowed naturally in the wind. I was living my childhood again in a dress that I could swish and twirl in! The fabric was easy to work with and sewed up without a hitch! It would be lovely for a full dress or blouse or some boho style pants!!!
Whatever your pleasure I am sure you will have it satisfied by this lovely John Kaldor fabric! I know that I did!

Happy creating,
Monica @monicaruedesigns @monicasmasterpieces.

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