Greetings from a (near) future dressmaker

Hello all! I've been inspired to start a blog of my ventures in learning to sew. I know that most ladies pick up their sewing skills at a young age from family, but I will break that mold, as usual.
I have absolutely no experience with a sewing machine or tailoring clothing to fit my body, so this is as close to scratch as you can start from! My wonderful Aunt is letting me use a her beloved sewing machine that she has been quilting on for years and years, and I am starting a class this coming Saturday to get down the basics. It's all so exciting! I have been reading the Sew Retro blog for a while now, getting up the guts and inspiration to make a project and join. But I must say that Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing is what really snapped me out of my hesitation. I sometimes go in craft stores to mosey around and oogle the fabrics, dreaming of what I could make with them, but thinking that sewing was for the young, who learned with their mothers, or the old, who had done it their entire lives. I am usually the only 20-something in the store, and feel very much like a "stick in the mud" for spending my Saturday afternoon there. But then I happened across Gertie's blog. She is young, beautiful, tattooed, loves vintage clothing and patterns, and has such an intriguing blog that it is usually the first thing I read in the morning. She is not a stick in the mud at all! I thought to myself, its never stopped me before to go for something that may not be the popular choice of my peers, so why should it stop me now? I love clothing, I love creating things, and I love putting my personal touch on everything I own, so how could I not love sewing? I know it may try my patience, and I know it may boggle my brain, but I really think this will be something I will be doing the rest of my life. I can just feel it!

So here's to a new venture down a path I've been glancing at from afar. And this blog will be my place to share the frustrations, triumphs, and (hopefully) awesome finished projects!

I think this will be my first project:

I fell in love with this dress the moment we found each other. I've been told it will be relatively simple and will look impressive for a first finished piece. So now I ask you this: What colors and fabrics? I want something retro, but something wearable. Any suggestions??