 2023 Stanislaus County Fair; Textile Arts Exhibit. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel Summer, Central Valley California Beautiful fields of fruit trees, towering stalks of corn, and twisting trunks of grapevines spread far out into the horizon. On the country roads and back highways, large trucks drive off the farmlands carrying loaded trailers overflowing with ripe tomatoes and ripe pumpkins. These trucks, filled with the fruits of California’s Agricultural Industry, are headed to nearby canneries ready to be steamed and canned, then shipped to grocery stores all over the world. It’s truly a sight to enjoy, one I admire each and every year. On this particular highway, trucks pull a different load. Disassembled carnival rides and attractions are folded up like mechanical origami, traveling to its next destination: The Midway of the county fair!  Stanislaus County Fair Gate. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel, 2023 Each summer, Californian counties host an annual fair. The fair is a place where the local community can gather together to enjoy food, entertainment, agriculture, technology, share knowledge and expertise, as well as showcase local farmers, bakers, and artisans. Local businesses can set up vender booths promoting or selling their products and services, while the carnival lights up the night sky. The sounds of thrill induced shrieks fill the air as fair-goers are twirled and tossed about on their favorite rides.
Creating a California Day Dress: Poppy Inspired
As I held the 2023 Stanislaus County Fair Contest and Exhibit Handbook, gazing at the numerous sewing and textile categories, I knew I wanted to create a day dress that reflected the very land it was made on for my exhibit entry. I chose the magnificent poppy, with a contrasting grassy green, as my subject, and began to conceptualize vintage dress silhouettes for this design.  Behind the Scenes: Creating a Hand-Painted Textile. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel When making artsy dresses, I love using a simple muslin fabric as the base. For this dress, I envisioned hand-painted techniques, as well as fabric appliqué and beadwork. I wanted the green paint to drip UP the dress, creating the illusion of wild poppy stems! I began to prepare my painted muslin fabric.  Behind the Scenes: Fashion Sketch and Fabric Preparations. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel I painted my drippy paint design using diluted green fabric paint, then satin-stitched orange fabric shaped petals. I hand-stitched beads in both the poppies as pollen detail, as well as on the green dripped paint, like beads of morning dew…  Behind the Scenes: Fabric Preparations: Applique. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel  Behind the Scenes: Fabric Preparations: Applique and Other Details... Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel The result was exactly as I envisioned! Once the fabric had been prepared, I began cutting out and sewing together my Vintage Inspired Day Dress.  Behind the Scenes: Dress Construction Begins! Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel The Finished Dress!  Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel California Day Dress, 2023. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel  Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel California Day Dress, 2023. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel  Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel California Day Dress, 2023. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel At last, my dress is completed! Back At The Fair: Contest and Exhibits:
In addition to my dress, I also entered my Blog Article, Rendez-Vous: Lee Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray -The Crocker Art Museum- Sacramento, California, into the Best Blog Contest… I was amazed: Another Blue Ribbon!
 Thank you for reading my Blog! I hope to see YOU at the next Stanislaus County Fair, this upcoming July!  Dress Maker, Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel with Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel California Day Dress. 2023 Stanislaus County Fair- Professional Clothing and Textile Contest. Related Links:
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 Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel, wearing bold color, as often as possible! Years ago, I came across a quote from the famous (or infamous), fashion icon, Wallis Simpson, who once said, "I am not a beautiful woman. I'm nothing to look at, so the only thing I can do is dress better than everyone else." Although Simpson was a very wealthy woman, who had access to high-end fashion (she was the wife of the United Kingdom's Prince Edward), this quote always stuck with me. Every woman has their own insecurities regarding their individual appearance, some of our features may be out of our control, but we all can control what we wear on a daily basis! I have found that just wearing skirts, and dresses, incorporating bold color, and feminine silhouettes with my outfits, has gained the attention of many fellow women, who often say to me how much they love my outfit, and wish they could "pull off'' more skirts and dresses for everyday wear. I honestly believe that any lady, with any figure, and with any budget, can pull off wearing bold color and feminine silhouettes! For those ladies that might need a little inspiration, I have put together this brief article highlighting some of my favorite easy to wear daily outfits, that I wore over the past month. The key to my fashion success is the development of my own personal style. For my personal style, I enjoy vintage silhouettes that incorporate fashion elements from a wide range of decades, including modern clothing. I have found that collecting classic pieces, such a wide variety of skirts, graphic tees, dresses, blouses, sweaters, and accessories, has allowed me to mix and match my clothing collection for a unique "Vintage Inspired" daily look. Mixing bright bold colors, or combining patterns in unusual ways can make any wardrobe feel fashion forward and interesting year after year! Bold Color
Skirts are a game changer when it comes to creating a truly feminine look! The great thing about skirts is they can be paired with different tops for endless combinations! One constant source of my daily outfits is my combination of graphic tee-shirts and skirts... Graphic Tees and Skirts: Endless Combinations!  Pop Culture Screen Tees, such as this 1990's Dr. Dre T-Shirt, pair great with vintage inspired skirts, for a fun, fresh look! I love Graphic Tee-Shirts and how well they represent pop culture, which I equally love! Graphic T-Shirts can often add an element of humor to an outfit, which is fun! I have been enjoying wearing novelty tee-shirts since my baggy clothed, tomboy days in the 1990's. Since then I have a huge bin in my closet over-filled with folded graphic tees! I have found that tucking my shirts into my skirts creates a more flattering waistline for my body type, as well as a more complete "Vintage Inspired" day look. I love the appearance of high waisted skirts, which would be lost on a blouse or t-shirt left untucked. Here are a few combinations of this style that I wore this past month:
Blouses and Dresses for an Elevated Every Day-Wear When I want to elevate my day-wear look, I grab a blouse instead of a Tee-Shirt. Using the same concept for a flattering, put-together look, as I consider when I wear a graphic tee, I always tuck in my blouse, and accessorize! I realized when compiling my photos for this blog, that I did not wear many dresses during the past month. So I have featured only one photo here. This charming bright lime green dress, paired great with turquoise accessories!  Skirts and dresses of various lengths are my favorite fashion items! I have curated an amazing skirt collection over the years, including this lovely multi-colored vintage skirt, far right.  I like to pair skirts with flats or heels depending on the work I am doing that day. Skirts can be paired with a wide variety of tops, and the tops can be paired with a variety of skirts, creating new looks everyday! Featured here are typical outfits I would wear to work as an Alteration Specialist, or an afternoon at the park with my kids.  Crop Tops over 40?! Why not! This look can be classy and age-appropriate in my opinion! It is no secret that this past month I slid into a new decade, and entered, fashionably, into my 40's! Recently, I have been enjoying a body confidence that I didn't always have in past decades. The increase in my body confidence isn't solely based on my age. A huge factor comes from the results of an entire year of focusing on my fitness. I have slimed down and toned up since having my babies, and I am really excited about that. I have always loved the vintage crop-top look (featured in my own past fashion collections), as well as the 1990's crop-top look represented by some of my favorite 90's fashion icons: Aaliyah, Gwen Stephani, and Selena! But can women in their 40's still pull-off crop-tops? Heck yes we can! A great way to increase confidence, and feel great about pushing your own boundaries regarding fashion, is to exercise regularly. I am a firm believer that all woman's bodies are different, but we can all maximize our bodies potential by eating healthy and incorporating some form of daily exercise! Braided Up-Dos and Accessories!
I hope the styling of my recent outfits gives you inspiration to add more Bold Color and Feminine Silhouettes to your daily outfits! Let me know what outfits inspired you, by commenting below! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, I hope you have the most Fashionable Summer! Related Links:
Hello my dearest darlings! I hope Springtime 2021 is finding you well! My Blog has been on my mind for sometime, as has about 20 personal sewing projects, that I have yet to even start. So, today, I thought I’d start somewhere, and get you an update on some recent happenings, and workroom photos of completed, and not-so-completed, projects! This is me, Roxanne, enjoying the fresh blooms of Spring, one of my favorite times of the year!  I recently found this lovely dress at The Salvation Army: It’s Vintage, a Perfect Fit, and... has Pockets! Since I Left You Last... I have been buzzing around like a pollinating bumble bee, juggling several side-hustles around my most important job: that of a Homemaker, Wife, and Mother. That may sound a bit old fashioned, but it is totally true, leaving me creatively drained with little energy for fashion design projects and sewing on most days! Although this past year has been spent mostly homebound for myself and children, we were able to safely travel to the Las Vegas/Henderson area of Nevada in January 2021, and we had a lovely time visiting our family there! Summer activities are already filling our schedule, including a camping trip this July!  The Rangel Family- Las Vegas, January 2021 Work! I am still working Saturday’s as an Alterations Specialist with the clothier, The Buckle, and am currently creating a Blog Article all about Jeans, which I surprisingly found quite fascinating! I can't wait to share that soon! I am still busting out Alteration Services from my sewing room at home. My Dad’s Boat Upholstery Project was delayed due to fabric sourcing, but new fabric has arrived! Check out this photo of the old upholstery fabric, next to the new upholstery fabric, for one of my Dad’s boat chairs! I will be sure to continue to keep you updated on this project, in future Blog Posts, as I expect this project's completion to go fast at this point!  Adventures in Upholstery Project: side by side comparison of old and new fabric. Now, let’s get to even more SEWING! Toddler Sewing Time My two youngest daughters are no longer babies, and are now on their way to becoming capable young children. My second to youngest daughter, SkyLynne, is expressing interest in learning to sew! Since SkyLynne is almost 4 years old, I’m starting her with hand-sewing lessons. So far, I’ve been teaching SkyLynne to use a large embroidery needle and yarn to get used to hand-stitching. I draw dots on the fabric as a guide for her needle, and she is doing great! We also started another Sewing Project together...
A Moon to Cuddle My two young daughters love the Moon (who doesn’t!). My youngest daughter, Minnie, is particularly obsessed, so when SkyLynne asked for “a Moon to Cuddle”, I decided to make a stuffed moon for each of them!
I have not made very many stuffed animals during my design/seamstress career, so these guys are definitely not perfect! Together, SkyLynne and I drafted a simple crescent moon pattern, with a night cap and star, as well as machine stitched face details! Although they could be better, I learned stuffed- toy-making tips & tricks for next time, and my girls now each have a cuddly moon to sooth them through the night! Priceless! Work in Progress... I love to visit thrift shops as often as I can. While shopping, I not only keep my eyes peeled for Vintage Clothing and Vintage Kitchen Wares, but also for... fabric! These recent acquisitions left me feeling inspired! Check out this yellow and green fitted sheet set, and lace curtains I bought for mere dollars! I will be creating something fantastic soon with these lovelies! Blog Post coming soon!  Vintage Bed Sheet Set (Left), and Lace Curtain (Right), that I will be using to create new dresses! 2021 Goals
I would love to hear your thoughts! What have you been up to this year? Do you Sew daily? What projects are you working on? Do you Sew with your children? What are your Creative Goals for the remaining 2021? Are there any Fashion or Sewing related topics that you would like me to write a Blog Article about? Leave me your comments below! I appreciate you! Have a fantastically fashionable day!  My beloved Grandma Minnie, San Francisco, California, April 2009 In Loving Memory of Mrs. Herminia “Minnie” Rodriguez 11/02/1941- 06/28/2020 Related Links:
 Close-up of carded Vintage Buttons that were my Grandmas! Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel I once sifted through hundreds of vintage buttons, that a dear friend of mine had collected over the years. Gazing upon the uniqueness of each button, the art and craftsmanship of something so small, with a purpose so simple, had me wondering, "Where had these buttons been, and where will these buttons go?" It seemed as if these precious buttons had such a long life before making it here, to this pile before me, and would continue to exist, long after my friend and I... Taking this photo of my friend's buttons, I began to reflect on the mysterious lives of buttons...  Vintage Buttons, photo by Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel Buttons are the oldest clothing fastener known to mankind! Ancient buttons, made of sea shells have been found that date back many centuries. In today’s clothing we have alternative clothing closures such as zippers, snaps, hooks & eyes, even elastic, but the classic button still prevails!  A few favorites from my Button Collection... Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel As I began to create clothing myself, I also began collecting buttons. If ever I am in a fabric shop purchasing fabric or notions, and I find some interesting buttons, I will most certainly buy them, even if I do not have an immediate use for them. In addition to solid colors of every sort and size, I now have a few jars full of buttons, both unique, and standard. Having this unique and quirky stash has proven fun when I need to fulfil the task of a button! Children too take delight in buttons! How fun it is to sit with my daughters and look through a poured out pile of color, design, and texture! My children love exploring the treasures stored within my button jars just as much as I do!  A few of my Button Jars!  Selected Buttons from my Button Collection... Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel A few years ago, my dear Aunt Patty sent me a box of Sewing Notions that belonged to my Grandma Marcia. To a sewing enthusiast such as myself, it was exciting to find so many Vintage Buttons, still on their original packaging cards! Not only are the buttons delightful, but so are the lovely illustrations and graphics found on the cards! Here are a few of my favorites:  These Vintage Snaps and Button Card were once my Grandmas! Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel
Do you enjoy the unique designs of buttons too? How do you store or organize your button stash? I’d love to hear your experiences or button memories! Leave me a comment below!  Tailor Shop Buttons, photo by Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel Thank you for reading my Blog!  A favorite button... Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel Related Links:
 My FaceMask Wearing Family Portrait- The Rangel Family- Coronavirus Pandemic 2020 (My one year old baby wouldn't keep a mask on long enough for a photo!) Last week, my sister Desiree, tagged me in a Facebook Post that was created by her friend who works at UCSF. The post was searching for people who can sew in hopes that they could make Homemade FaceMasks for Hospital workers, who are running low on their supply. Currently, most of the world is on some sort of Shelter In Place or Home Quarantine requirements, due to the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Oddly, this is tale we’ve seen or heard so many times in futuristic, science fiction, or horror films, and novels... Schools and places of worship have shut down, more businesses continue to close, and home goods and groceries are flying off the shelves quicker than they can be re-stocked! For many of us, this is a surreal experience... Sadly, the shortage of supplies, especially Face Masks for Hospital workers, is all too real. In intense times as these, it is important that we continue to come together as a community, and do our part to help others when able. As a person who can sew, I decided to help these Front-Line Medical Workers as much as I can, by sewing Fabric N95 Style Facemasks to donate to those in need of them. My sister, Desiree, donated material, and ribbon, and I completed the sewing on 24 Face-Masks as a donation to the hospital at UCSF!  This is me, Roxanne, and my 24 FaceMasks that myself and my sister, Desiree, sent to UCSF for front line hospital workers.
Mask Making
It's hard to believe that just a month ago, Face Masks were something I never would have imagined I would be producing in large quantities today. Just one month ago, I was consulting with one of my clients about creating a custom ball gown, for a now cancelled formal event. I was preparing an upcoming fashion collection for the now cancelled Oakland Fashion Week 2020. I was working Saturdays as an Alteration Specialist for the retailer, The Buckle, which is now temporarily closed... but then I posted a few photos of FaceMask Making... since then, I have received numerous messages, phone calls, and text messages, asking if I make FaceMasks, and if I sell them! The overwhelming need of the community has been keeping my sewing machine running non-stop!  Work in Progress: Making Homemade N95 Facemasks As the past week continued, I have sold many FaceMasks! I have at least a dozen orders prepped and ready to be made as the next few days unfold. Everyday I have received more orders! Check out a few photos of some of my completed orders:  A few orders of FaceMasks that I made and delivered this week... Do Homemade Face-Masks Work? Over the past week, I have seen and read many articles and links posted on social media and news pages about the effectiveness of Fabric FaceMasks. Some of these articles will tell you that Fabric Face Masks are at least 50% effective against creating a barrier of germ protection, while other published statistics quote higher or lower effectiveness depending on the material used, and the amount of layers of fabric. Most Fabric Mask Making tutorials, or patterns, recommend use of 100% woven cotton. Other articles encourage everyone to wear FaceMasks, reasoning that wearing them protects others from your germs. If everyone in the community is wearing FaceMasks when conducting "Essential" business out in public, than it could, possibly, drastically reduce the spread of the virus. Regardless of what you might believe regarding the use of FaceMasks, I believe FaceMasks made of fabric is better than nothing. Some counties across the US are now requiring the use of FaceMasks when out in public.  This is my husband, who is an "Essential Employee" Here he is wearing the FaceMask that I made for him. I have made FaceMasks for a few of his co-workers, as well as many other "Essential Employees", such as those who work in grocery stores. #SewingTogether I follow many fellow Fashion Designers and creators on all the social media platforms... over the past week my newsfeed is post after post of photos and videos of everyone who can sew creating FaceMasks of various styles. It is amazing! I love that we have many talented and skilled persons who can sew right here in the US! I also love the support of the community in shopping from their local FaceMask Maker! In addition to the individual Mask Makers, there have been some big names who have began producing FaceMasks, such as Fashion Designer, Christian Siriano, as well as Nordstrom! How inspiring! Although these times are unexpected and kinda crazy, I strongly feel that this is the beginning of a new Zeitgeist: bringing Production back to the The United States!  A full sewing pattern of a Pleated FaceMask as well as Sewing Instructions were printed in The Modesto Bee this week. If you are interested in joining the Sewing Production of FaceMasks too, You can Download this Free PDF Pattern for a Fabric N-95 Type Face-Mask HERE. HERE are the Pattern Sewing Instructions. If you would rather donate material to be sewn into FaceMasks, I am accepting donations of fabric, ribbon, or elastic, and thread. All donated materials will be used to sew donated masks that will be given to our front line workers locally. You can contact me many ways, so check my Contact Page, and send me a message in whichever way is most convenient to you! Sewing and Shipping
Each day I am working to finish my FaceMasks Orders, and am completing them in the order received. I am trying to get them out as quickly as possible, but because I am only one person, my production is limited. Every day, I am sending out the orders finished the day before. It has been crazy how many orders I have shipped out or delivered in just one week! I expect that in the following weeks I may even see a surge in orders, as more people need them.
I wanted to write this Blog Post as a continual series of articles documenting my FaceMask Making Memoirs! I expect that FaceMask Making will continue to be needed in the upcoming weeks or even months ahead, and this platform is a great way for me to combine my photos and experiences together for your reading pleasure! I appreciate all of your support! Whether you have purchased a FaceMask from me, or just shared a FaceMask Making Post that I have published, you all give me the energy I need to keep on keeping on! If you need me, I will be right here, at my sewing machine!  Thank you all for your support in my Face-Mask Production! Thank You for reading my Blog!  Some Face-Mask humor for my Movie Lovin’ Readers! Related Links:
On March 10th, 2020, the winner of a Facebook Group Art Contest was announced... and...Surprise! My artwork was the grand prize winner! Check out the drawing I created specifically for this contest:  My First Place Winning Artwork! A "PEZ FOR SALE" Drawing in ink and color pencil, by Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel. Two weeks ago, a contest was published on a Facebook Group that I belong to called, "PEZ For Sale". This group allows group members to sell or buy PEZ Dispensers. PEZ Dispenser Collecting has been a lifelong hobby of mine, I currently have over 1000 PEZ Dispensers along with other PEZ merchandise and memorabilia! You can check out my growing collection HERE. As a member of the "PEZ For Sale" Facebook Group, I have purchased some great pieces over that past year or so, and have gotten some great deals. When the contest was announced, I was very intrigued, and definitely wanted to participate! Landon Proctor, one of the group administrators, posted a video on the "PEZ For Sale" Group Page, explaining that he wanted to hold an art contest so that group members would create an art piece that he could use as a Cover Photo for the Group's Page. All entries must meet the size requirements of a Facebook Cover Page, and include the words "PEZ For Sale". Other than that the artwork could be created in any way, it could be a digital artwork, a photograph, a drawing, anything really. The contestants were given several days before the deadline of submission. Once the deadline approached, Landon Proctor would judge the entries by choosing the art that he liked the best as The Grand Prize Winner. The grand prize would be two (one red and one blue) of the NEW Disney Parks Monorail Pez Dispenser Display! Click here to read an article, about these new displays, published on WDW News Today's Website: New Disney Parks Monorail PEZ Dispenser Display As you can imagine, I was super excited to have an opportunity to win these unique PEZ Displays! I do not plan on visiting Disneyland soon, and the California Park is the only place these are currently being sold. I immediately began brainstorming ideas, knowing I would draw something by hand for my entry. I then busted out my trusty pencil, eraser, sketch pad, Copic Multiliner Ink Set, and my Prismacolor Color Pencils! Work in Progress...  I drew my "PEZ For Sale" Sketch first in pencil, then in ink. I later added the PEZ Girl and PEZ Boy to the sides, to make the drawing fit Facebook Cover Photo dimensions. Here is my drawing in just ink. I love drawing, and find PEZ Dispensers especially fun to draw the likeness of! I decided for my entry I would draw something festival inspired, with a carousel, that had (instead of the traditional horses), PEZ Dispensers! I also thought it would be cute to add a festival inspired banner with the words, "PEZ For Sale", along with some iconic and newly released dispensers. I particularly loved drawing that (oh so cute) Hello Kitty Llama PEZ Dispenser! I then added a PEZ Girl and a PEZ Boy to each side of my main drawing to widen my artwork so it would meet the dimension requirements for a Facebook Cover Photo. I spent a good several hours on my drawing over the span of two days... then I uploaded it to the entry site...
My Prize Arrives!  My NEW Disney Parks Monorail Pez Candy Dispenser Displays, shown here with my charming Vintage Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse PEZ Dispensers... www.instagram.com/ultimatepezcollector Today, Wednesday, March 18th, 2020, a package arrived from Burbank, California! It was my fabulous Grand Prize from Landon Proctor of the "PEZ For Sale" Facebook Group! My two oldest children huddled around me anxiously, as I opened the box revealing these lovely Disney Parks Monorail PEZ Candy Dispenser Displays! It is so exciting to add these unique pieces to my collection! I am so grateful to Landon Proctor for choosing my drawing as the winner, and for offering such a generous prize! Check out a few photos that I took, using my Vintage Mickey and Vintage Donald Duck PEZ Dispensers as models!
 The back of the Monorail box! www.instagram.com/ultimatepezcollector.com  A lovely card included in the package from Landon Proctor! Surprisingly, there are many contest that I have found on Facebook, and other Social Media sites, through various pages that I 'Like" or groups that I am a member of, especially in the PEZ Collecting Community! In the past year or two, I have entered several contests. Check out a few of my past Contest Entries:  Envelope Art that I created for The Portugal Pez Gathering. This is the Envelope Art that I created in May of 2019, and submitted to an Envelope Art Contest held by The Portugal PEZ Gathering. Contestants were invited to participate from all around the world, and were asked to send their entry by mail all the way to Portugal! I thought it was such a clever idea to have entries arrive this way! Imagine the interesting effect of postage and post office stamps on the Envelope Artwork! Although my envelope was not a winner, I was sent a participation gift, along with someone else's Envelope Art that was created at The Portugal PEZ Gathering of 2019. This was a really awesome contest to be a part of!
This is my entry into a Funko Pop! PEZ Photography Contest, with a prize of a Gold Huckleberry Hound Funko Pop! PEZ Dispenser, sent to the winner directly from Funko! For my entry, I used a mixed media approach, and re-created a cover of a Huckleberry Hound Comic Book! I drew the cow, moon, and spaceship, and then I cut them out, suspending them with thread, over blue fabric, with my Funko Pop! Huckleberry Hound PEZ Dispenser inside! I was really happy with the effect, but unfortunately, this was not a winning photo... In the future I plan to continue to use my artistic abilities to enter as many contests as offered! I have found it extremely fun to create art for these contests, even if I have only won once (which is awesome enough for me!)! Thank you for reading about my Winning Artwork for the "PEZ For Sale" Art Contest! I look forward to sharing with you many more art and fashion projects in the months to come!  This is a Screen Shot of the "PEZ For Sale" Facebook Group Page, that now has my artwork as its cover photo! My drawing will be displayed as the group's cover photo for one month! After the month is over, all other entries to the contest will be rotated as the group's cover photo. Have a very PEZZY Day! Related Links:
A Fashionable Motherhood! Part I- My Breastfeeding Friendly Wardrobe, with Ease and In-Style9/3/2019  Myself, and my two eldest children, in Las Vegas, Nevada- September 2016 Hello Readers! Welcome back to my Blog! If you have read any of my recent Blog Posts, such as "A Fashionable Pregnancy: My Maternity Style-Part I" (and Part II), or if you follow me on any social media outlet, you will know that in the past two years, I have born two new children, both lovely little daughters. The last two years have been a challenge in the sense that all of my time literally goes into caring for my young babies, as well as my two older children. I have cut back on my personal career pursuits, such as creating fashion, participating in fashion shows, and writing for my blog (but I am so grateful to be able to spend that time with my wee ones!). However, as the children grow (way to quickly!) I am slowly getting back into the swing of things! (I even read a few books!) Growing a family not only brings changes to the current family dynamic, but it also brings changes to a mother's body! And with body changes, comes... New clothes?
Although there is not too much change I hope to achieve in regards to my body, the weight I have gained, and the task of breastfeeding, have left me looking in on my wardrobe, wondering, ‘What am I going to wear today?’  My Husband, Javier, Myself, and my second to youngest daughter, Skylynne- Summer 2018 What to Wear? Most of the clothing that I wore pre-pregnancy does not fit me properly. My waist line has expanded, my chest has grown larger due to breast-feeding, and my clothing size has increased from a size 8 to a about a size 14 depending on the brand or style. Because I am still nursing, even dresses, or blouses, that still fit me, don't allow access for baby-feeding. I had no idea, prior to giving birth to SkyLynne, that I would be perpetually confined to blouses or dresses with front buttons, front zippers, or elastic necklines that can easily be pulled down... But that's Motherhood: we sacrifice our own preferences for what we hope is best for our children... but, does personal style have to suffer? In my experience, I have found that dresses that require little effort, and allow access for breastfeeding, help me to still feel like myself, while accommodating my mothering needs. Honestly, on most days, my daughters look much more fashionable than I do! But when I leave the house, I try to look somewhat decent!
As a person trained in Fashion and Sewing, my mind is full of clothing that I would love to create for myself (I even have the fabric!). Now that I am done making babies, I will be creating several new garments made to fit my new clothing size, and offer the function that I now need. Until then, I have made some mostly online purchases, of several affordable dresses, and separates, that serve my needs terrifically, and were very reasonably priced. Now, let me show you a few of my new outfits, and, as a breastfeeding mother, how I felt about wearing them! JCrew V-Neck Tee, with a Denim A-Line Skirt  Here I am wearing a V-Neck T-Shirt made by J.Crew, and a skirt by Cellabie, paired with Peruvian Earings, Kate Spade Sunglasses, and All-Star Converse.
I love the lace-up detail at the front waistline. To complete this look, my accessories include my trusty sunglasses by Kate Spade, Green All Star Converse, and super cute Peruvian Novelty Earrings. Multi-Color Butterfly Dress
This dress, which features a lovely loose stretch-fabric, in both the bodice and the skirt, as well as a multi-color butterfly print, feels great on, and provides a body flattering look. Interestingly, this dress has no labels, so I am not sure which clothing company made it, or the exact material it is made of. I was gifted this dress by my Mother-in-Law, prior to finding out that I was pregnant with Little Minnie. I found the stretch in the neckline and bodice does allow me to pull it down to feed my baby. Although pulling down the neckline isn't as easy as I would like, it is possible.  My Vintage Clip-On Earrings. Following is a photo of myself wearing this dress, paired with a coral sweater, holding my baby Minnie. This dress has a lovely spring look, and the multi-color butterfly textile allow for a wide range of matching accessories.  Little Minnie, at 5 Weeks Old, with myself. Floral "Chiffon" Wrap Dress, by Surplice I love an online Flash Sale! When I see a "Now $9.99 and Above" in bold print across my Smartphone Screen, you know I am scrolling through those dresses, looking for the styles that open in the front (if any!). I was pleasantly surprised when the web-site Zulily offered several Flash Sales over the summer, allowing me to purchase a hand-full of "Made in China" Dresses for little money. One such dress was described as a "Floral Chiffon Wrap Dress" made by a company called Surplice. I ordered the two colors on sale, both the Green and the Yellow, which were advertised as regularly $40.00, but now only $9.99. Both of these dresses are made in the same floral fabric, with different background fabric colors.  Here I am wearing the Green Floral "Chiffon' Wrap Dress by Surplice, holding my baby daughter, Minnie.
I really like the ease of wearing both of these dresses, but the fabric is definitely not Chiffon, based on the feel it is more likely 100% polyester (these dresses have no fabric labels!). I have found that wrap dresses are perfect for breastfeeding, because they are easy to open in the front, without the hassle of buttons or zippers. I have since seen these dresses offered online in both a light blue, as well as a black fabric, both with the same floral print. If they go on sale, I will definitely add them to my virtual "Shopping Cart" ! My Jewelry Storage Tip For easy access and organization of earnings, I use thin multi-compartment storage boxes, that I bought at The Dollar Tree. These storage boxes hold 12 or more pairs of earrings each, which are easy to view at a quick glance. Three of these boxes fit perfectly in just one of my Jewelry Armoire Drawers. I find myself no longer wearing bracelets, broches, or necklaces, which tend to dig into my little babies sensitive flesh as I hold them close! One day I will wear those pieces again!  Some of the earrings within My Earring Collection White & Blue Stripe Collared Button-Front A-Line Dress, by Sacrefas  Here I am wearing the White & Blue Stripe Collared Button Front A-Line Dress, by Sacrefas. This White & Blue Stripe Collared Button-Front A-Line Dress makes me feel sporty, like I am ready for a game of Tennis! The lightweight fabric is perfect for summer. The fit is flattering! I found these buttons are larger, and easier to fasten and unfasten for breastfeeding, then the other button up dresses in my collection.
Navy & White Gingham Shirt Dress, by Sacrefas Next up is a lovely Navy & White Gingham Shirt Dress (with pockets!) that I purchased on Zulily, by Sucrefas. This dress is a size 3X, and is a little big, but paired with a belt, I found it looked great! In the first photo of me in this dress, I am wearing the dress as is, with only a slip underneath. In the photo to the right, I am wearing a Petticoat underneath to maximize the fullness of the skirt. I like both looks! The Petticoat was purchased online through Wish for a mere $4.  Here I am wearing the Navy & White Gingham Shirt Dress by Sucrefas. Pictured here without and with a petticoat underneath. Which look do you like better? Light Pink Floral & Foliage Dress  Here I am, wearing the Light Pink Dress, gifted to me by my Mother-In-Law.
V- Neck Button Front Tea Length Vintage Fit & Flare Dress, by Sucrefas  This is me, wearing the Orange V-Neck Button Front Tea Length Fit & Flare Dress by Sucrefas, along side my daughter, SkyLynne. The next three dresses are described as the "V-Neck Button Front Tea Length Fit & Flare Dress" made by Sucrefas, and was purchased online through Zulily's Flash Sale. I found that the size XL fit me perfect. These dresses are simple, yet offer a flattering fit. The button-up front allows for a somewhat easy breastfeeding experience. However, the buttons are many, and the button holes are a tight fit for the buttons, making it a little challenging to unfasten when holding the little one, so I have to either sit her down, or ask my Husband to carry her while I unbutton the bodice. I will most likely buy a few more colors if they go on sale again! So far I have purchased the "Pink Stripe Floral", "Blue Floral", and "Orange". The delivery of these dresses did take some time, as they are made and shipped directly from China.
Shoes!
online, before Payless Shoes Source went out of business, and Brown & Navy Saddle Shoes, that are perfect for many different outfits, that I purchased at Ross several years ago. I also have these leopard print and black Ballet Flats from Tahari Girl (not surprisingly, leopard print matches everything!). In addition to these lovelies, I own dozens of more pairs of flats! Scoop Neck Tee by Wet Seal, with an A-Line Embroidered Skirt, by Sunny Leigh  Here I am, wearing a Black Basic Scoop Neck Tee, by Wet Seal, and a thrift store find: a Black Floral Embroidered A-line Skirt by Sunny Leigh, that I bought for only a few dollars!
Wet Seal, may seem like a Teeny Bopper's Store, but I have found some great finds, at thier retail locations, over the years! One such find are Basic Scoop Neck Women's Tees, that are relatively inexpensive, and offer enough stretch to breastfeed in. For this look, I am wearing a Black Scoop Neck Tee, from Wet Seal, paired with a Black Floral Embroidered A-Line Skirt that I found at The Goodwill for only a few dollars. Many of the skirts within my massive skirt collection have been acquired from thrift stores. I love finding charming, and unique clothing, for a fraction of the price, at second-hand stores! However, I find myself not shopping in stores as often as I would like, do to juggling the two little ones! Thankfully, I found this one! Check out the Floral Embroidery Design on my Sunny Leigh a-Line Skirt, in more detail:  The embroidery design on my Sunny Leigh Skirt A-Line Skirt. That completes my review of My Breastfeeding Friendly Wordrobe! I hope that you have found the information I have included, both insightful and informative... especially if you are a new (or experienced) mother hoping to breastfeed with ease and in style! It is possible! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my article! I look forward to you reading my next article in this series, where I make, and finish, designing and constructing, a few more new outfits! Please leave me a comment below on your favorite outfits that I featured! I would love to hear your feedback, personal experiences, and opinions! Until We Meet Again!  No Filter, No Make-Up (Just a Blurred Background)= Most days of Motherhood Have a magnificent day!! Related Links:
Iyska is a fantastic student, she learns quickly, and has a natural artistic talent and creative mind. Teaching her was a joy! In the past, Iyska has drawn her own Fashion Illustrations, which are adorable! This past year, she participated in her annual school play, and took the time to design her own costume, for her character, "The Historian". After Iyska completed her illustration, I created this look for her, using fabric I already had on hand. Here is her Fashion Illustration and the final costume, that I created for her.
Teaching Sewing I began Iyska's Sewing Lessons by teaching her the basic functions of my sewing machine, how to thread the machine, and how to use the machine to stitch. Iyska was a natural! Soon she was perfecting straight stitching, and using her creativity to create patterns and shapes using thread and machine stitching! As Iyska continued to get familiar with the machine functions, she was soon ready to create her first sewing project! For her first task, I recommended creating a simple tote bag or purse. Iyska looked through my fabric bins, and chose a lovely tealish colored stretch taffeta, which she then used her new-found stitching skills, to create a sea-themed motif made with machine stitching. Iyska spent a lot of time on this project, and it really shows! I then taught her how to turn her decorated fabric into a bag, by stitching the side seams, and then adding a strap, hand stitched lining, a zipper, and her own label! Fairly advanced stuff for a beginner! Check out her finished Cross-Body Purse: (perfect for Field Trips, or day trips to her Grandparent's House!)  My oldest daughter, Iyska, posing with her first completed sewing project: a lovely Cross-Body Purse, with a machine stitched sea creature motif, hand sewn lining, zipper, strap, and label!
What was the hardest thing about sewing that you have done so far? And, what was the easiest? The sleeves on the dress was hardest, because I had to be careful not to mess up, especially near the shoulder. On the bag that I made, the decorative sewing, the squid and the fish that I put on there, was easiest, because I could make anything that I wanted, and couldn't really mess up. What did you find different in constructing your two recent projects: the Purse and the Dress? The dress was so much bigger, with way more fabric. We did more stuff with the sewing machine, because on the bag, I hand sewed, but the dress I used the sewing machine more. I had to sew on each circle to the skirt. Especially the skirt, when we did that weird thing where we pulled the string... Oh, when we gathered the waist? Ya, when we gathered it, it was different then the bag was, a lot more steps. What other things, related to Sewing or to Fashion, would you like to learn next? Making pants. You have to make pants more to the shape of your leg. It can't be too tight, so I think it would need to fit perfect. Now that you can sew, are you inspired to create more sewing projects? Yes, because now that I know how to do that, those were the more basic steps to making other stuff. Like, learning to sew a hem. It isn't only used for dresses, you can hem pants and skirts, and all kinds of stuff. A lot of the things that we did, like the zipper too, you can put it on a lot of stuff, not just only the projects we did. What will be your next Sewing Project? I think either I will make a jacket or another bag... but if I do another bag I would want to add pockets. Is there anything you would like to tell other people who are learning how to sew? Perhaps people who have never sewed before? Well, if you are learning, it is best if you learn from someone else, and not teach yourself. There is a whole bunch of techniques that you might not have even thought of, like... If you just don't know how to sew at all, and you put the fabric together the wrong way, you might not know, and your project will turn out weird. You might not know you did a mistake until you are already done!
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If you have experienced pregnancy, you know first hand that it can be a challenge to wear clothes that make you feel confident, when your belly is growing with a baby inside! As that baby and belly grow, outfits that fit during the beginning of pregnancy, may no longer fit towards the end of it! During my second pregnancy, it seemed that I had a noticeable "Baby Bump" quicker than I did with my first. Which I have read is common. Towards the beginning of my pregnancy, I was still able to wear skirts that I already owned, together with basic knit tees that offered stretch to accommodate my baby bump. Here I am, in the 5th Month of my 2nd pregnancy, wearing a Maternity Tee by Motherhood Maternity, and a skirt that I’ve owned for many years. I found that I could still wear some of my pre-pregnancy skirts if I wore the waistband under my belly, and then rolled the fabric up, so the skirt wouldn’t appear longer in the front!
In 2017, when I was pregnant with my second to youngest daughter, SkyLynne, I didn't invest in too much Maternity Wear (you can check out my Pregnancy Looks during that pregnancy by clicking here: A Fashionable Pregnancy: My Maternity Style, Part I), so I decided to buy a few more dresses this time around. With my typing little fingers, to the Internet I went! I got a great deal on this white A- Line Maternity Dress from Motherhood Maternity, paying only $15 (regularly $45), through their Online Clearance Sale! I love sales! In the following photos, I am wearing my London Fog Coat (which is not maternity wear), and my Salvatore Ferragamo Italian Flats! I am 26 Weeks Pregnant here, which is somewhere in the 7th month of pregnancy.
I also purchased the Mimi Rib Knit Maternity Dress from the Motherhood Maternity's Online Sale (pictured below). It has a strange mustardy-brown color stripe, but I loved how comfortable this dress was! This form fitting look worked well with Maternity Shape Wear, called "Maternity Shaper", from Motherhood Maternity, that I also loved! It is like Spanx for pregnant women. Not only does it smooth your shape, but it also gives that heavy belly much needed support!  Here I am with my family, during my eldest daughter, Iyska's Band Concert, I am 7 Months Pregnant! As the months of my pregnancy progressed, my little baby, and my belly, were growing rapidly! I continued to wear pre-pregnancy coats and sweaters, but left them opened and unbuttoned! Here are a few more Maternity Dresses that I own: a White and Navy Polka Dot Maternity Dress by Kimi and Kai Maternity, which I found at Nordstrom Rack, and a flowy Maternity floral dress, by Motherhood Maternity, from Macy's. Both of these dresses are very comfortable.
Soon, I reached the end of my pregnancy, and my energy had dwindled down substantially. I also have a toddler child at home, which took the remaining energy I did have, from me. My Belly was huge, and no pre-pregnancy skirts I owned still fit me. The following photo is of myself wearing the same white Maternity Tee by Motherhood Maternity that I wore during my 5 Month Pregnancy Photo above. Notice how it is being pushed to its stretchy knit and ruche limits! I am also wearing a 3x, elastic waist, pin-striped skirt, that was given to me. I was able to wear this large, comfortable skirt over my massive belly, paired with my (now tiny) corduroy black jacket!  Here I am 37 Weeks Pregnant. I had my baby a few days after this photo was taken. She was born two-weeks early! On February 23rd, 2019, my Husband, Javier, and I's daughter, Little Minnie, was born. Like all newborn babies, she was a beautiful miracle! I had a challenging time during recovery for the first few weeks after her birth, but soon I was back to my self again! Check out this photo of me and my two daughters about 2 days after returning from the hospital to my home. My hair looks tore-up, and I look like a hot-mess. This is to show, that sometimes, it's ok to be a hot mess! Especially soon after having a baby!  Looking like a hot mess, 2 days after getting home from the hospital! During my pregnancy, my hair grew long, but would get so dry and tangle into huge knots! Whoever said they had healthy, luxurious hair when they were pregnant, is blessed, because this does not apply to everyone, and certainly did not to me! When my darling newborn was about a month old, I cut off my long locks, and in return was granted a much needed, manageable hair-do! Here I am, looking like Rapunzel, prior to cutting my hair to a shorter length:  My baby and I, she is about a month old or so, prior to getting my long hair cut off. It wasn't long, before Baby Minnie was old enough to make her Debut out in Public! After almost a month and a half cooped up indoors, it was nice to dress-up and attend a meeting at our local Kingdom Hall. The dress I am wearing in this picture is not Maternity Wear, but has a stretchy neckline, allowing me to Breastfeed with some ease. It is made of a stretchy material that is comfortable, and perfect for after-pregnancy wear! Now, although I no longer have a baby inside my belly, I still have another wardrobe dilemma! Breastfeeding! And Breastfeeding in Style! I will address this topic in an upcoming Blog Post!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about A Fashionable Pregnancy: My Maternity Style: Part II! I hope you will read my next article in this series (which I am still working on), titled: A Fashionable Motherhood! Leave any comments below! I would love to hear your feedback, and personal experiences! Have a great day, Dear Readers! Related Links: My Whirlwind Engagement: From The Cliff House to Las Vegas, in 4 Months and 3 Dresses!
 Cal State Sacramento Signage on campus. Photo: Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel Yesterday, Thursday, June 28th, 2018, I had the privilege of being a guest speaker to a class room full of high school students, who were taking the summer course: Summer Fashion Academy at California State University Sacramento! I was invited by College Professor, Mrs. Esther Amato, to guest speak at the Cal State University Sacramento: Summer Fashion Academy, and to share with the students my fashion designs, my design process, and my inspiration! The Summer Academy is a week long course for High School Students that focuses on various specific careers. Sacramento State offers Summer Academy courses for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Future Teachers, Cyber Security, Democracy in Action, Coding, Engineering, Robotics, Fire & Emergency Services, Forensics, Health, Law Enforcement, Biotechnology, Multimedia Journalism, Theater & Performing Arts, and... Fashion! These courses offer hands-on, real-world projects, an introduction to the college experience, and career opportunities in the field studied. The Summer Fashion Academy teaches students how a concept becomes a product, as well as fashion illustration, marketing, and merchandising!  Here I am (fifth from the left), with the Summer Fashion Academy 2018 Students! Their projects are displayed behind us, as well as a rolling rack with my designs that I brought! The Summer Fashion Academy took place during the week of June 25th, through June 29th. Each day students attend an all day class, broken up into two segments. From 8:30am until 1pm, they are taught by the amazing Dr. Ernie Olsen. While I was going to Fashion Design College at The International Academy of Design and Technology, Dr. Ernie Olsen was a substitute teacher for a Fashion Illustration course that I was taking. He is such a talented illustrator! I learned so much from him in just one day! The afternoon segment of the Summer Fashion Academy, takes place between 1:30pm and 5pm, and is taught by the fabulous Mrs. Esther Amato. Mrs. Amato was also a college professor of mine during my college days at IADT. She herself is a former fashion designer who specialized in Designer Denim. Her clothing featured intricate design details and were sold in high-end retail stores like Nordstrom. Mrs. Amato knows the 'ins and outs' of the fashion industry from concept to design, as well as apparel production, and marketing! She too is a wonderfully talented fashion illustrator and instructor! These students will surely learn so much!  Here I am (Right), with the fabulous college professor, Mrs. Esther Amato (Left). During the week of learning, Mrs. Amato brought in several guest speakers, including Carolyn Hearn, a Jewelry Designer, Garry Simpson, a Fashion Designer and Artist, as well as a local stylist. I was excited to be included among the presenters to speak to the students! Yesterday, I brought to the classroom several looks from my current and past collections, as well as a skirt that I had made in college. I wanted to emphasize the artistic embellishments that I enjoy adding to my fashion creations, such as hand-embroidery, hand-beadwork, and hand-painted motifs. I explained how I am inspired to create my collections, how I choose fabrics and findings, and how I create patterns for the outfits. I brought a pattern that I had drafted, as well as the skirt I had made from that pattern. I explained how I drafted the pattern, then I passed around my garments and the pattern, so that the students could see up close the design process and the final product. The students were very interested in how to participate in fashion shows, so I gave them some tips for networking, and shared with them some runway photos of my designs. I also passed around the new magazine I helped to create, Oakland Fashion Week Art & Style Magazine. I wanted to show them that there are many avenues within the fashion industry that they could pursue. I told them how by creating this fashion blog, it opened up the opportunity for me to become Creative Director of Oakland Fashion Week Art & Style Magazine!
I was very impressed by the completed projects that the students had made during their week of participating in the Summer Fashion Academy! I can tell that these students have a talent for design! I sincerely hope that they are continually inspired to pursue education and a future career in Fashion! Here are a few photos of my presentation!  Here I am, speaking to the students about pattern making. Photo: Esther Amato
 A student looking through a Look Book of my past designs. Photo: Esther Amato While visiting the university campus, I learned that Cal State University Sacramento offers degree programs in both Fashion Design & Merchandising as well as Apparel Marketing & Design! I did not know that previously! Learn more about the Summer Fashion Academy by watching this video clip from Good Day Sacramento! Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience as a Guest Speaker to the Summer Fashion Academy at Cal State University Sacramento! Keep reading my blog to stay updated on the future events I participate in!  Here I am, on campus at Cal State University Sacramento . My Outfit of the day included a skirt made in Nigeria! Related Links:
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AuthorHello Readers! Welcome to my Blog! I am Roxanne Rodriguez Rangel, a Fashion Designer from Northern California. I love all things Fashion, particularly historical fashion! Join me, as I take you around Northern California, covering fashion events and related topics! 
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