So I didn’t get around to making the two summer dresses I wanted to while I was on my PNW vacation. Who am I kidding? I should know it’s not really a “vacation” when I go there. It’s more like a workcation, where I’m working on my client work and hanging out with friends and family in my off hours.

But I couldn’t let this awesome fabric just sit there! It was screaming to be made into a dress.

When I got back to Brooklyn I decided to stop lying to myself about making the dress. I didn’t have the time or the space. But the dress had to be made!

I remembered a cute boutique in South Slope that offered private lessons in their sewing studio in the back of the shop. At first I thought about going that route, but when I found out that they also do custom work I decided to let the experts handle it. I handed off the fabric and pattern to Patti at Flirt Brooklyn and she whipped up exactly what I wanted. I almost squealed when I saw the dress hanging up in the dressing room for the first fitting. It’s so awesome working with someone who can execute your vision perfectly.

Having the dress made by a pro not only saved me time, I’m sure it saved me a lot of frustration. It also satisfied that constant craving I have to collaborate with others on creative projects that live outside the computer. Plus, I love supporting local small businesses and creatives who are doing fantastic work.

It’s kind of awesome to think that this dress, from concept to completion, was created entirely in the USA:

• Coney Island fabric design by La Sirena (me), available at Spoonflower
• Myrtle Dress Pattern from Colette Patterns
• Sewn by Patti at Flirt Brooklyn

Here are the patterns from Colette Patterns – the cutest patterns I’ve ever, ever, ever seen.

Me with my freshly opened package of performance pique fabric from Spoonflower.

The storefront of Flirt Brooklyn, where they have their shop and sewing studio.

Did a mini shoot at Coney Island with some of the hand-painted signs that inspired my design.

More sign inspo.

More signs! I love Coney Island. It was so hard narrowing down which ones to use in the pattern. I might have to do more.

This dress has pockets!!!

We opted for a little black button detail on the shoulder.

I love the art walls at Coney Island too. So good.

I was a little nervous that maybe I made the dress too short and it would blow up in the wind, but it was totally fine.

Did I mention that this dress has pockets?!

Wanna get your hands on some Coney Island Sign fabric? You can order pink or beige in my Spoonflower shop.

I want to see what YOU make with it. Follow and tag me on Instagram.