About Me

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

Sunday, July 28, 2013

PHEW....!

A quiet week and weekend, compared to WWWWW last week! After doing 17 loads of laundry, I was able to escape to my studio and play around with the
StyleArc Barb's pants pattern that Shams and a few others have had good luck with.

Unfortunately, my experience was not so good; I made the first pair out of a cross-dyed stretch linen from Marcy Tilton (for those of you who wonder, a cross-dyed fabric has two different threads that make up the weave, one that goes across the grain, the other that goes with the grain). This fabric was black and ivory, but "reads" as a tweed.



The fit was so-so...I am very spoiled by the custom pants pattern Lynda Maynard made for me last year; it's hard for me to settle for anything less.

So here are the Barb's pants, worn with my Black TKO jacket from June.




       
                                                                      YIKES!

I tweaked the SA pattern a little and attempted a second pair in a stretch gray denim from EOS...they were worse than the first pair and went in the wadder
tub (the trash). So I'll stick to what works, for a change!

FYI, I have updated and reposted the SHOOZ page on my blog; it started out as a record of my Trippen shoes, but I have branched out a little and have added some other brands!

And here are some closeups of the jewelry I'm wearing above, from some of my favorite artists:


This is from savage salvage on Etsy...she calls it "mermaid farts"! It's made from recycled faux pearls...

This is a pair of earrings from Keith LoBue, an American artist based in Australia...I've taken 3 or 4 workshops from him in the past.  One earring says "Silenced", the other "Confused".    

And this is a wonderful bracelet made for me over a several-year period by the artist Charlotte Valestra; unfortunately she doesn't have a website.
This is based on a YA series by Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising, one of my favorite book series that I read over and over...


After being AWOL last week, I'm showing up on Patti's "Visible Monday" again; come over and see some beautiful, visible women!

TTYL

and I have a new camera lens!!!!
Posted by at 5:00 PM
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29 comments:

  1. Claire R.July 28, 2013 at 5:09 PM

    Oh Margy I should have known that you would also be a Keith LoBue-ite. It makes perfect sense! I adore Keith and his metal working and creative strategies! Not to mention his jewelry. I'm in serious withdrawal b/c I haven't seen him for a couple of years.
    I say stick with the pattern that you know works perfectly for you! B/c that pattern Lynda Maynard made for you is perfect!

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    1. MargyJuly 29, 2013 at 5:58 AM

      How fun to find another KLB fan! He is so talented...
      Thanks for visiting, Claire!

      Delete
  2. UnknownJuly 28, 2013 at 5:33 PM

    so talented, I love to see your creations

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  3. DianaJuly 28, 2013 at 5:39 PM

    The pants look very nice and I love cross dyed linen. That necklace is TDF

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    Replies
    1. MargyJuly 29, 2013 at 6:00 AM

      Hi, Diana, thanks for commenting. Isn't that necklace fun?

      Delete
  4. PattiJuly 28, 2013 at 6:13 PM

    Oh those earrings are wonderful! You look smart, and thanks so much for sharing your stories and creations with VisibleMonday.

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  5. VickiJuly 28, 2013 at 8:45 PM

    The pants look fine but when you have perfection already (perfect fitting pants pattern) why bother with another? Love your style - lots of fun jewellery to play with.

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    1. MargyJuly 29, 2013 at 6:03 AM

      Thank you, Vicki...PLAY is the perfect word!

      Delete
  6. shamsJuly 28, 2013 at 9:10 PM

    That is a shame about the Barbs. But, I had no idea about you loving the Dark is Rising! So do I!!!! I absolutely LOVE that series!!!!

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    Replies
    1. MargyJuly 29, 2013 at 6:04 AM

      Here's to another DiR fan! Thanks, Shams..

      Delete
    2. AlisonAugust 11, 2013 at 10:46 PM

      I just had to add my comment, that your bracelet is astonishingly wonderful... and I am delighted to know that two of my most admired women are also both fond of The Dark Is Rising... I re-read that book every winter on my birthday (the winter solstice) and have loved Susan Coopers writing for years!

      Delete
  7. MelanieJuly 29, 2013 at 12:30 AM

    I love how you have a story for each piece of jewellery.
    As for the pants, well, had you not said you are less than satisfied I would not have known by the look. Of course, after you experience the best, it's hard to go back... I need some mermaid farts(!?), laugh.

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    1. MargyJuly 29, 2013 at 6:06 AM

      Thanks, Melanie! I think you are definitely a MF kinda girl...

      Delete
  8. UnknownJuly 29, 2013 at 4:17 AM

    I found you through patternreview.com and I came to your blog because I was puzzled that you didn't love the pants you made when they look so good on you. But now that I see you have a custom pattern I understand...why mess with perfection?

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    Replies
    1. MargyJuly 29, 2013 at 6:07 AM

      Welcome to the blog, Nothy Thanks for the comment!

      Delete
  9. MaryJuly 29, 2013 at 6:49 AM

    Hi Margy, what a disappointment on the SA pants but of course, you have your custom pattern. I really enjoyed the closeups of your jewelry...I LOVE bracelets and earrings-necklaces are fun but bracelets are my fave. Your pieces are wonderful.

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    Replies
    1. MargyJuly 29, 2013 at 6:55 AM

      Thanks, Mary...I'm mainly an earring and bracelet girl, too.

      Delete
  10. MyrnaJuly 29, 2013 at 6:51 AM

    Can you use your custom pants pattern to adjust any other pants you want to sew? It would seem that working from the waist and knee points would be similar to working from the waist and shoulder points in Lynda's Demystifying Fit book.

    These look good. LOVE the jewelry.

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    Replies
    1. MargyJuly 29, 2013 at 6:57 AM

      Hi, Myrna...that's what I do, but the Barbs have negative ease, and that makes it harder to adjust. Thanks for the comment!

      Delete
  11. a little sewingJuly 29, 2013 at 1:32 PM

    Hi Margy,
    I am sorry your life was sprinkled with wadders recently, that is just not right! I wonder if you can use your perfect pattern made by Lynda as a base pattern? Then maybe you can somehow frankenpattern it together with the patterns you buy? Otherwise, just sew all of your pants from the Lynda pattern - it is a really fabulous fit. You look wonderful as always - LOVE the jewelry. You are a "more is more" girl!!

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  12. MargyJuly 29, 2013 at 1:45 PM

    Thanks, Robin...I do use my LM pant as a base for most of the pants I make...but I couldn't seem to make it work with the negative ease of the Barb. I'm not devastated...into each life a few wadders must fall...:) I confess I do not understand "restraint" as connected with jewelry...

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  13. pdiddlyJuly 30, 2013 at 12:28 PM

    I want to be like you when I grow up - I love the way you put your outfits together and just love your jewellery.

    Shame you didn't like your new pants, but I guess the other ones didn't leave them much of a chance.

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    1. MargyJuly 31, 2013 at 11:13 AM

      You can be me and I will be you, Pauline! Thanks for the comments...

      Delete
  14. UnknownJuly 30, 2013 at 7:57 PM

    I'm sorry your pants didn't work quite the way you wanted ... lovely way you styled them though. But you have some grand taste in jewelry though. I'll look out for the book series as well ... they sound familiar.
    So glad you joined Visible Monday!

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    1. MargyJuly 31, 2013 at 11:15 AM

      Thanks, Jan...I hope you find/read the books. I love the new people I've found on Visible Monday!

      Delete
  15. meriusaJuly 31, 2013 at 10:22 AM

    I am a new follower of your posts from far away. I admire most of all 1) your creativity 2) your lean silhouette and 3)your grey hair ( in very nice haircut ) Thank you for sharing .

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    Replies
    1. MargyJuly 31, 2013 at 11:15 AM

      Thank you, and welcome, meriusa! I hope you come back.

      Delete

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