About Me

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Los Olivos, California, United States
You can reach me at fool4fabric (at) gmail (dot) com

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Catch Up!

I've been MIA on the blog, but busy as a bee in my studio. I made a surprise birthday shirt for Dave:
On my recent trip to Northern California, I went to StoneMountain Fabrics with
Shams and JillyBe and found this gorgeous Italian cotton in Dave's favorite color (sort of a gray-green-blue), and he had been wanting some new short-sleeved shirts, so I made it , using M2447 instead of my TNT M4079. What a mistake! The button spacing is wonky and I don't like the collar as well...memo
to self...TNT's are TNT's for a reason! However, Dave thinks it's PERFECT, so
I'll chalk it up to experience!
We have made plans to go to Sicily in September, so I get to plan a new travel wardrobe! This being my favorite kind of sewing/planning to do, I got right to work and made M5433, View D, in a beautiful Japanese cotton purchased on the
same No.Cal. trip at Piedmont Fabric, another one of Sham's favorite stores.

Both Shams and I fell in love with this fabric, and despite our combined many  years of experience, had the salesman cut our fabric before we asked the price...this is a BIG mistake, and you would think we'd know better...so I kind of felt like I was sewing with gold on this one.

Wanting to use this as a travel piece, I lined it and put my customary pockets in the lining. I'm not sure it'll make the wardrobe cut, but it's a fun addition to my closet.

This is a ghastly picture of ME, but it shows the pockets I added to the lining of the jacket; the one on my left is sized for a boarding pass, two others on the right side...
Then I made the first Style Arc pattern in a long time, the Abby Cardi in that beloved red/black ponte from EOS

I'm just getting started, so watch for more to come!

45 comments:

  1. Very nice, Margy! I especially like the long jacket you made with our expensive Japanese print. It will definitely be hard to cut into that one!

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    1. I can't wait to see what you make with it!

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  2. Forget the expense. That is one cool jacket! The red ponte wrap should be a very wearable travel piece.

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    1. Thanks, Ann...I've aready forgotten EXACTLY how expensive it was!

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  3. Love that Japanese fabric! - you deserve the luxury ;-)
    They all look like successes to me, and I agree that the red wrap should be a perfect travel piece.

    It's nice to see you blogging again...even though time in the studio takes preference ;-)

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    1. Thanks, Jilly...it's hard to balance it sometimes, isn't it?

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  4. Love the Japanese print jacket! I would have snapped up that fabric as well without asking about price. It's stunning!

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    1. Thanks, Martha...I knew there were some like-minded sewists out there...

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  5. I know this may sound crazy, bu I want to BE YOU! Your flair, your zest for life, your fun with fashion , and that jacket in tht fabulous fabric. wow!!!

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  6. You made the most of that beautiful fabric, the whole outfit is great!

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  7. Oh, that Japanese fabric is to die for! You did it justice with the shirt you made. What a great layering piece that will be! And the cardi is just luscious in that gorgeous red. Your true colors are showing again!

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  8. I agree with all. The perfect application of this divine Japanese cotton. And I'm sure you kept every scrap for little details in future projects!

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    1. You better believe that not ONE scrap went in the trash!

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  9. The Japanese print is absolutely gorgeous! And what a brilliant idea to put pockets on the front!

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    1. Thanks, Irene...the more pockets the better, IMHO!

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  10. Margy, Wonderful start to your travel wardrobe. I love the choices of fabric and pattern. The pockets are a good idea-and on the inside also? I am loving your style!

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  11. Thanks, Mary! I love putting pockets on the inside of my jackets for specific things, like airline boarding passes and passports...

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  12. I can't imagine taking a trip without that beautiful Japanese print jacket. It is stunning and just your style. The idea of an inner pocket is wonderful and I would appreciate more info on adding that to patterns.

    Deb

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    1. Thanks, Debbie...I just added a picture to the post that shows the pockets...

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    2. Margy...you never disappoint! You have a wonderful sense of style, and each of your creations has it's own special panache.

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    3. Thank you, Pam...this is high praise, coming from you!

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  13. Margy - love the Japanese print - and I can imagine the $$. But it's beautiful and looks fabulous on you. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful trip to Sicily, just wish it were earlier or later and once again we will miss each other when I travel West. Planning to come for Artistry in Stitches which I know you always attend. Next time.

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  14. Thanks, ReAnn...yes, I'm so sorry to be missing AIF and seeing you IRL. We'll get together one of these times!

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  15. I'm on board with that Japanese grey and red fabric. The jacket is simply gorgeous and you look like a million bucks in it! So per wearing it's well worth it. I cannot BELIEVE there are no cool fabric stores in San Diego. . . sniff sniff sniff. I never have the opportunity to buy expensive fabric w/o asking the price!!!!

    Travel wardrobes are my favorite! Looking forward to seeing The Sicily Wardrobe shape up!

    All the best Margy!

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    1. Thank you, Claire...I have to travel to NoCal to find cool fabric, too!

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  16. Margy - welcome back, and ditto to all the comments everyone else has made,you are one stylish lady. I have the PP pattern too but haven't made it up yet - you have inspired me with your beautiful print. From one frequent traveller to another, I am sure your pockets will be very useful for the boarding passes and passport.

    The Abby cardi is so cute and I can imagine you getting a lot of wear out of that.

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    1. Thanks, Pauline...I am still trying to negotiate with DH re "payment" for shirts...:)

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    2. ha ha - I need to get my last two out of the way - that bag is calling my name lol

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  17. What lovely pieces. The man's shirt looks very smart. Your print shirt/jacket is gorgeous, and the travel specific pockets are so clever. It would make a terrific travel garment, as would the tie cardigan. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the wardrobe.

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    1. Thanks, kbenco! I love to make traveling easier, if I can!

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  18. I love the jacket! The pockets inside is such a good idea. And Dave's shirt is very nice. Don't see a thing wrong with it. By the way, husbands/male love ones tend to be very happy to receive anything from a sewist hands. We may think that its off, to small, to short, but they don't see the faults. At least mines doesn't. He is alway thankful for anything made for him. And come to think of it, I made him a quilted jacket years ago with some very expense Japanese cotton.

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    1. You're right, Karima...he's thankful for anything and everything!

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  19. I love the Japanese cotton jacket. I'm wearing a shirt from this pattern today, so may copy your idea.

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  20. Beautiful work on your Japanese fabric jacket; your travel wardrobes are extremely inspirational!

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  21. Ditto all above! I esp love those lovingly piped inside pockets.
    PS, I never travel internationally with anything very expensive (makes me feel like a target) - except great luggage, which I love looking beat up (and it never requires finding binding rope -no duct tape available - ask me why). Please don't mind if I copy your great ideas. Thanks so much for your posts.

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  22. Love, love, love both garments and I need a shirt with those pocket too. Such a nice inspiration and you look fantastic.

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  23. Well, i think the fabric was worth it! It looks wonderful made up in that simple pattern. Really flattering. Great idea for the pockets.

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  24. What is TNT? I just bought the M2447 pattern, but haven't opened it. If there's something better, I'd like to get it. So damned hard to find patterns for men's shirts. I'll end up modding it anyway for my frame, but, would rather start with something better if possible.

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    1. TNT means "tried and true"...a pattern you have used at least a few times, and worked the kinks out of ...a pattern you can rely on. My TNT for men's shirts is M4079, as I've made it for DH 3 or 4 times and I know it fits. I should have stuck with it. However, everyones' experiences are different, as are bodies, so this may not be true for you.

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