suesells

My vote goes to Anglomania for being true to the inspiration with excellent use of the plaids. The color block dress ran a close second. Sometimes our enthusiasm runs away with us and we lose our sense of what might make these dresses extraordinary. In the remaining 3 contenders, exquisite workmanship counts, but the fabrics, colors and final results can look good on paper but be unflattering to the wearer. The ivory strapless dress is fabulous except for fabric -- the solid color is unflattering to almost everyone except as safari wear, and beautifully executed trim in muddy brown flannel plaid? No, thanks. The flowing gown based on Audrey dress back mixes up the original's clean design lines and uses inelegant fabrics. The fun spring dress print fabrics work beautifully together, but the blinding white above provides too jarring a contrast to the other fabrics and the wearer's exposed face, arms and back. With a more flattering solid bodice color, it would be a winner.

Uses for round or squared plastic bottles:
I cut off tops to use as funnels for pouring soup or stew into quart jars for freezer.
I cut off tops and use bottoms to root airplane plants or other greenery over the winter. Easy to see when they need water.
I made drawstring bag using bottom & sides of old bleach bottle, make it twice as tall by stitching band of fabric together, drawstring at one end. The other end is machine stitched to the cut edge of the bottle. It holds craft supplies or hair curlers or small toys. Machine washable.