Out in the Garden
Halloween -Time to Ride High
California!
Friday, October 30, 2015
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Edgewood - Western Style Autumn Colors (Hiking Edgewood)
Our version of fall
Toyon berries in orange and red
California!
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Ench By Sew-37: Savage Beauty of Alexander McQueen (Halloween Style)
October is a month when many of us in the Western Hemisphere get in touch with our own emotions and comfort dealing with
Listen directly to this audio/podcast on the web by clicking on this link OR.... to download the show from iTunes Click on this link to iTunes ,
In our neighborhood we put out beautiful pumpkins, scary dancing skeletons and bright lights. Then we celebrate our connection to another world, by welcoming in the trick or treaters- be they costumed beautifully, colorfully, or gruesomely - by handing out free Halloween candy.Fashion designer Alexander McQueen focused on designing beautifully romantic, avent garde fashion. He also had a strong interest in the macabre. His masters fashion exhibit “Jack the Ripper Stalks His Victims”, was a hint that this emerging designer was not going to be run-of-the-mill when it came to setting his artistic tone. Other chilling exhibits followed. “Highland Rape” and “The Widows of Culloden” , among others, carried McQueen’s historically inspired fashion artistry farther into the dark side of the human soul.
Morose? Yes – often- but his work was also drop dead gorgeous. Many of McQueens materials, embellishments design lines, colors, technology and elements inspire my arty-romantic sewing nature, even as I am frightened by other aspects of his work.
As you accompany me in the show, I’ll share the beautiful, and the colorful as well as the scary. Because that’s what this time of year is all about, where I live.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Halloween Trouble Doesn't Come Cuter!
The raccoon tribe have been slipping through the pet door flap again lately. Heard that the kits (baby raccoons) are likely growing up and becoming more demanding of their Ma. So perhaps that's why Mama has been chancing it coming to visit us early, before we block the door for the night.
Western Winds Hanky (Green Sewing)
Scraps make some of my most useful sewing creations. Last time I posted bout my Western Winds princess-seamed sleeveless shirt. That shirt has been seeing a lot of use, perfect for our early fall warm temps. In the spirit of using up those scraps a.s.a.p. (and what could be more green?) I appliquéd a few other sraps to the remaining remnant of shirt fabric, hemmed the whole with a decorative stitch, and - presto change-o I had a useful new bandana. My kerchief has been seeing a lot of use as well. Very handy for moping my glistening brow when I'm walking or hiking. Also useful when there are no paper towels after washing my hands away from home!Monday, October 12, 2015
Western Winds Princess-Seamed Sleeveless Shirt- Terminado/Finished!
I talked about the process of altering the princess-seamed shirt, commercial pattern M6076, back in Fitting Western Winds . I used my sloper to work in conjunction with the pattern.Fitting + sewing made it such that I put off finishing the project. It means the project took a little longer. And yah know how 'tis.... when I don't sew every single day a project looses it's oomph. I wanted to get going with something else new when I had time to sew.
Good thing I had a trip to visit with my dear cousin in San Diego motivating me to finish my Western Winds shirt. I loved wearing it on the trip, and have worn it several times since. It's still summer-warm in my part of California. Aren't I glad this good warm weather basic didn't become a UFO, because it's been adding a lot to my just-doesn't-feel-like-fall-yet wardrobe.
BTW I simply used bias tape to finish off the inside of the armscye. Por que no? It works great and I had it already.
Fabric was from the "Japanese Cottons" section at Stone Mountain and Daughters in Berkley (in my materials inventory for about a year and a half) Horsey buttons were in my buttons inventory - scored them free somewhere. They give it that true western feel, don't you think?
Western Winds - Terminado/Finished!
I talked about the process of altering the princess-seamed shirt, commercial pattern M6076, back in Fitting Western Winds . I used my sloper to work in conjunction with the pattern.Fitting + sewing made it such that I put off finishing the project. It means the project took a little longer. And yah know how 'tis.... when I don't sew every single day a project looses it's oomph. I wanted to get going with something else new when I had time to sew.
Good thing I had a trip to visit with my dear cousin in San Diego motivating me to finish my Western Winds shirt. I loved wearing it on the trip, and have worn it several times since. It's still summer-warm in my part of California. Aren't I glad this good warm weather basic didn't become a UFO, because it's been adding a lot to my just-doesn't-feel-like-fall-yet wardrobe.
BTW I simply used bias tape to finish off the inside of the armscye. Por que no? It works great and I had it already.
Fabric was from the "Japanese Cottons" section at Stone Mountain and Daughters in Berkley (in my materials inventory for about a year and a half) Horsey buttons were in my buttons inventory - scored them free somewhere. They give it that true western feel, don't you think?
Balboa Park San Diego (Field Trip)
Franklin Roosevelt
Climbed these stairs to see Expo
Panama Canal!
Panama Pacific Exposition, San Diego, Balboa Park, 1915
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Retro Threads - Trousers - Born to Dance - Blue Sky Sewing
Who says Ladies didn't wear trousers back in the 30's?
Not Miss Lucy James, a leading hoofer in "Born to Dance" (along with Fred Astaire) - that's for sure.
Wouldn't it be fun to sew up a trouser, shirt, and scarf outfit like this in dotted silk?
And how 'bout that offset button closure on the belt?
I love blue sky sewing, especially when it's retro.
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