Rachel Red Lips vs. Pattern Making

Good morning, seamsters! Rachel Red Lips here with a little sneak peek of my recent sewing venture. Have any of you dabbled in pattern making? I recently started a class and have been completely enchanted with drafting my very own retro inspired dress. First, I sketched out a basic dress on a croqui, but I added a sweetheart neckline, fitted bodice, and adjusted it to meet at my true waist with a semi-full circle skirt.
Croqui
The actual pattern making required a lot of mathematics (something I haven't done much of since high school) and while I made my fair share of mistakes, the second draft of my bodice looked like this...
Basic Dress Bodice
Instead of using a muslin, I made the dress out of this canary yellow vintage fabric I thrifted months ago. I gathered the skirt (only the front is shown), added a facing to the bodice, sewed darts, sewed my straps, and then...well, to put it plainly, I got stuck. My front and back bodice pieces don't match up and my darts go too far beyond the apex. But, it's totally okay! I am completely prepared to trouble shoot with my teacher and am excited to see how tweaking my pattern will result in a better dress. I'm still going to finish this little yellow number though... 
Dress made from my first pattern
Basic Dress...
Little Ocean Annie
My plan is to add ruffles onto the bodice inspired by this pretty vintage dress! What do you think? Can I pull off a canary yellow dress with ruffles? A little too girly, or just right? Either way, I'm excited to see the finished result! 

Love,

The above dress was modeled by me for the little ocean annie vintage shop.