Yet ANOTHER Ikat Jacket!

Did I mention how much I love ikat?

This is my first (but not my last) iteration of Sandra Betzina's new Vogue 1385
with the lovely neckline. I will make it in a softer fabric, and perhaps skip the interfacing, as it seems to be prettier that way. But, I'm very happy with this
jacket...I lengthened it, removed the pleats from the sleeves and lengthened them, added a pocket and a narrow piping around the edges. The fabric is a stretch cotton jacquard, the reverse is as pretty as the chosen side. It is from
Emma One Sock.

It can be worn open, as shown, and also buttoned up as a light coat.

(Now I'm showing off my roses...)

These are the buttons I used

and this is a close-up of the pendant, by the artist Charlotte Valestra...

We're hosting a birthday dinner for a dear friend next weekend, so I don't know when I'll get back in the studio...Have a great week!

OH, DEERE! ™

OUR biggest news in the last few weeks, is that we replaced THIS

with THIS:

Our old Honda ATC, seen in this post, was more than 30 years old, and dangerous to drive. Our cute little John Deere Gator CX will be much safer, not to mention HOW CUTE IT IS!!!!

Here I am in my latest pair of Lynda Maynard pants, in that lovely windowpane check fabric...(which I am aware you can't SEE)...

Also wearing my new United Nude black and white sandals...

 The shoes are darling, but what I REALLY like is the writing on the box:

In my fashion wanderings on the web, I found this picture a few weeks ago:

and thought it was pretty, albeit a little bland (for me, that is). I ordered the lace top from Nordstrom and made pants and a tank top to go with it. The first

tank I made was from the same fabric as the pants (high-tech matte hybrid in

cream) from Emma One Sock, but it needed a little zing, so I made a 

Kwik Sew 3462 in black Parisian Microfiber Knit from Marcy Tilton and liked it

a lot better.

My many wisteria vines are in full, fragrant bloom, and the roses are beginning to pop...

 it's time to welcome spring, although we never really had a winter.

You'll find me (and my Gator) over at Patti's Visible Mondays a little later

today...

TTYL....

IKAT

I have always been attracted to ikat designs...it's an instantly recognizable type of weaving..
"The defining characteristic of ikat is the dyeing of patterns, by means of bindings, into the threads before cloth construction, the weaving of the fabric, takes place. " 

In my textile-oriented travels, I have seen ikat weavers in India, Southeast
Asia, Central Asia, Indonesia. In Chiang Mai, Thailand, I went to a cooperative
called Studio Naenna, begun by the woman who was leading us on a private textile tour of VietNam, Laos and Thailand. I watched the women dye the threads and then weave them in various ikat patterns...

I was able to buy several pieces of fabric (one shown in this post, which I unfortunately RUINED). I finally gathered the courage to try again, with this
lovely design.

I was smart enough this time to use a TNT pattern, M5433 (OOP) 

to make this long jacket...

I made the pants, too, out of a lovely drapey denim-y fabric...I think I might like the jacket better with slim black pants... I lined the jacket with a silky satin, so it goes on easily, and used an oversized hook and eye tape I picked up several years ago. I also added a mandarin collar, which seemed to be just the thing for this fabric.

I'm joining the Very Visible women over at Not Dead Yet Style today, where Patti

provides us with a place to be seen!

P.S....I have a new favorite shoe brand...

This is the Yoko Wedge, by Fly London...cute, no?

RAIN!

For those of us in drought-stricken California, the last few days have brought us 4 inches of rain, a blessed gift, although not enough to bring us out of the current 3-year record dryness...

Instead of going in my studio on Friday, I sat in front of the window and reveled in that glorious downpour.

I have been doing a lot of cooking lately...from my favorite Jerusalem cookbook, of course...

Baby Spinach Salad with Dates and Almonds

Very good, with unusual flavors...

Lamb Koftas with Pomegranate Jam and Tahini

Outstanding...the Pomegranate Jam is wonderful and could be used in many ways

Roasted Broccoli with Tahini Garlic Sauce

This one is from the NYT, also Middle Eastern. Very Good!

Friday, we went out to lunch in the pouring rain...I got to wear my new Polish

Gray Fedora, which I'm using to link to The Style Crone's monthly Hat Attack...

The lovely Judith shares her love of hats with us all...

Back to the studio today, where I'm working with a special fabric from Thailand which I've had for 10 years...

TTYL...