Collection: For Sale

Good Evening, may dears!

As promised, I listed some of my collection on eBay

(at the disbelief of my mother, I might add, who called and said,

"What? No way? You absolutely CANNOT sell those dresses!")

But the thing is, I don't really need more clothes, I just really like building them,

so if you want a chance at these particular dresses, click on the link under

the pictures to get to each listing.

I'm not really looking to make money on these.

I started the price out at what it cost me to make them,

so I can turn the money back into more fabric for more new dresses for more

fabric for more new dresses for more fabric, uh...you get the picture.

I've already started collecting the most

brilliant fabrics for my next collection to

arrive on the blog hopefully by the mid-June or so....super excited!

Thanks to all of you for the enthusiastic response and e-mail/FB love.

I wish I could provide you all with a new wardrobe each season...

Aahhh...wouldn't that be fun?

(Oh, and for the general eBay public, the listing says I don't accept returns,

but for you, the most awesome readers ever...

if you win a dress that just doesn't work for you,

of course, you can return it, and I'll contact the next highest bidder.)

Joanna Dress

Holly Dress

Andrea Dress

Mandy Dress

G'night...and much love...as always...xoxo, KristinaJ.

Collection: The Megan

--A Collection by Kristina J.--

It's the Megan...

definable only in the sense that she's a chameleon,

never going for the obvious cliches.

There's no one else quite like her,

with such a unique way of expressing herself.

You don't define her--you don't try to put her in a box.

She twists and folds and shares a different side of herself

with you depending on the circumstances.

She maintains the classic silhouettes of a

circle skirt and jewel-neck blouse, but she's different--

coloring outside the lines with trimmed-out

tuxedo ruffles and sunburst pleating.

She's smart and sharp and has more than a vague idea

of what she wants to accomplish in life.

She knows a vague idea is like a snapshot that's out of focus.

She possesses a quiet confidence beyond her years, and focuses

her mental picture until it's crisp and filled with details.

She's the girl most likely to shoot the moon--

go for broke--on your friendship.

When you think she's given everything there is to give of herself,

she wraps her arms around you and

steals your heart with the faith she's got in you.

She's versatile...extraordinary--a starling.

She's elegance and magic and mystery.

She'll never move on from you...she's present...

even when hundreds of miles away.

The Megan...

she embraces the details that make her different and special,

and in doing so, she gives the world a wonderful gift.

Collection: The Amanda

Designing a dress inspired by a girl I've known since I was five

had to be a special occasion dress...bridal, even.

That kind of history requires some extra special treatment.

I wasn't gonna get away with a simple shirt-dress on this one

(though it could be argued that a best friend

brings the same level of comfort as a shirt-dress).

So, I decided to go for it...to go this direction because...

well, because...it's a challenge.

And I love a challenge.

--A Collection by Kristina J.--

Meet the Amanda...the bestie...

the one you want present with you on the most special occasions.

In the jigsaw puzzle of your life, she is in the curve of every piece.

She is the Diana to your Anne, the humor to your seriousness,

and more times than not, the tissue to your tears.

She is complex...an enigma. Her details pull it all together,

but are too intricate for you to figure out--a heady combination of

gold filament woven lace and free-flowing tulle netting...

hints of shimmer and understated glamour.

She, more than anyone, makes you laugh...

all smiles, secrets, tickles, and dreams--

all of your favorite things, wrapped up in one.

In the Sunshine Club, she's the sunshine, and everyone else is the club.

She is rare...not to be found just anywhere.

She's one of the few people you can talk to after years apart

and pick up the conversation right where you left off.

She is the nicest thing you could ever do for yourself.

With her, you never have to laugh when you feel like crying

or be quiet when you need to talk.

She gets you through every emotional crisis by telling you,

"Don't worry what people think...they really don't do it very often."

She can give it to you straight...

She's a master at concentrating on your good points

while helping you improve on your flaws.

She's important in your life and you'd be so much less without her.

The Amanda dress--

Her presence alone makes every day a special day...

the one dress you'll never get rid of,

'cuz it weighty with a lifetime of memories.

Collection: The Holly

I knew this piece would be constructed from merino wool,

but sometimes I get my hands on these really amazing fabrics

and can't decide how I want to work them.

The challenge of editing a look is the most difficult aspect of design for me.

I'm always asking myself, "Is this too much? Is it not enough?"

I originally made a sweater and a skirt, but wasn't

happy with the way the skirt executed and it

didn't really seem to inhabit the spirit of the girl I was inspired by,

so I thought, Wouldn't a sweater dress be even more fabulous?

And that's how this dress came to be.

I included pictures of the original look so you could see the progression.

--A Collection by Kristina J.--

She's known as the Holly--the self-assured athlete...

calm, cool and collected under pressure.

The girl who makes a simple pony-tail look glamorous.

She possesses the uncanny ability to slip

into something simple and completely inhabit it.

The dress adds nothing to the girl.

She is already so clearly defined...so comfortable in her own skin.

You always know where you stand with her.

She doesn't waste time trying to make everyone happy,

instead she embraces the joy of being who she is.

She's not easily intimidated and because of that,

you're free to be yourself with her--

free to be broken or exhilarated or talented.

She's the big sister you always wanted.

When it comes to being a friend,

she's determined and relentless...

as blunt and real as she is empathetic.

She cares deeply and loves generously.

When you most need comfort she'll fold you in warmth and acceptance.

She's as soft as the merino jersey from which she was made.

She's understands that this life, this day,

is not the last inning...it's not the final lap or the last goal.

It's all a journey...the end of one chapter begging the beginning of another.

With her, it's not about being at rest, it's about freedom of movement.

My tutorial for this flower embellishment here.

Photos courtesy of LookNook

The Holly dress--

with her, things are easy and effortless.

She pulls it all together, but the end result is never overworked.

Collection: The Andrea

Hey there, dahlings!

I used my own slopers for the pieces in this collection.

However, when I came across this Donna Karen pattern,

I knew it was perfect for this dress...exactly what I needed.

I constructed this dress off of her design.

--A Collection by Kristina J.--

So, I call her the Andrea--

the free-wheelin' ball of fun.

She's the opposite of fussy and high-maintenance.

She's the one who gets in trouble with you,

and the one most likely to get you out.

Her skirt flares with godets because she's anything but straight-laced.

She keeps you laughing from a platform of sarcasm and realism...

She is both a whirlwind of adventure and a calm place to retreat.

When you're on top of the world, she's satirical--

bringin' ya back down to where you belong.

When you're miserable, she makes you laugh.

Time spent with her is the best time.

She's not completely carefree,

but she takes only the heavy things in life seriously.

She won't come untucked, unpinned or unbalanced,

'cuz she's tough enough to get you through the day.

She's up for anything, but most especially, she's there for you.

There is a carefree attitude about her.

You have to take her in from all angles to get the full effect.

It's hard to absorb her, to know exactly where

one element ends and the other begins,

because her intricate details lie beneath a smattering of polka-dots.

Photos courtesy of LookNook

Corvette courtesy of John Sproles

The Andrea Dress--

She's snarky, sarcastic and a boatload of fun.

She keeps you grounded...

helps you sweat the small stuff ('cuz sometimes you have to)

and when the days are long, she goes the distance with you.