ADDITIONS TO MY FALL WARDROBE...

Despite being temporarily slowed down by a traveling cold, I've been productive in the studio and online, adding to my fall wardrobe.

In an interesting and mostly successful trifecta, I combined V8929, V1034 (OOP) and my custom pant pattern by Lynda Maynard, and made a pair of jeans in a beautiful red/black denim from Silhouette Patterns.

I need to change the waistband to a contoured one and take a few tucks in the back leg, but I'm pretty pleased with them. I am pairing then here with a TNT
B5954, a tunic in a pretty paisley in red, gray and black from Fabric.com.

I made the same tunic (can you tell I like it?) in a cozy sweater knit with polkadots from Marcy Tilton, this time without the cowl collar and with a contrasting neck binding.

Paddywack approves...AND matches!

I couldn't resist a long sweater jacket from Orvis in a black and gray houndstooth...

And, a fun, funky short pullover taffeta vest with a wire collar from Sun Kim,
a division of Comfy.

So, that's what I've been up to! I'm off to Artistry in Fashion next weekend, to

see old friends and meet up with new ones, and, just maybe, do a little shopping...

TTYL

MOB, DECONSTRUCTED...AND SOME NOSTALGIC NOTEBOOKS...

I promised to share my MOB details and decisions...so here they are!

The jacket pattern is V2607 by Guy Laroche, which I made last year...

The fabric is "Sun and Shadow", a gorgeous French silk brocade from Marcy Tilton...

When I saw this, I knew I had to have it for my MOB jacket...it was WAY out of my comfort zone on color, but I had to have it anyway! It is a lightweight fabric, and much more complex than photos show; it has some interesting reddish "splotches"  which are hard to show...

and of course, the wonderful silver circles which made it possible for me to wear it!

I asked Pam Erny, AKA The Queen of Interfacing,of Fashion Sewing Supply, what she would recommend for this fabric/pattern duo. Pam is the epitome of good customer service...she recommended using her Pro-Sheer Elegance Light 

to interline the entire jacket; this was used instead of silk organza. It provided the perfect weight to "beef up" the lightweight silk brocade; then I used her 

DISPARATE DOINGS...

It's continued to be HOT (105℉) here, it makes my studio uncomfortable to be in, especially in the afternoon. But that hasn't stopped me...

I made a jacket from TNT M5433 (OOP) using a gorgeous brocade from Emma One Sock.

I snatched up this fabric as soon as I saw it...MY COLORS!

I lined it in a gorgeous red silk charmeuse (because I can...one of the many reasons I sew) 

 and paired it with some special buttons AND some of my beloved Indian jewelry

I also made the denim ankle pants (my custom Lynda Maynard pattern) in an
off-black denim from Marcy Tilton.

I had the distinct pleasure of hosting two darling 10-year-old twins (and their mother) who are both taking sewing lessons here in the valley. They had heard about my 
"Star Blogger" turn in Vogue Pattern Magazine and wanted to visit my studio and see what I do and where I do it.! I set them loose and let them wander around, inspect some of the clothes I've made, check out my inspiration wall,

and ask me any questions they wanted. It was so much fun! Thrilling to see young girls interested in sewing. I hope it's a trend!

This is the very brief season when fresh figs are in the market...so I took advantage of it and made Chicken with Roasted Figs

Oh, so good....

and (be still my heart/stomach) Halloumi with Honey-Grilled Figs

and with that, I leave you for now!

TTYL

WARM AND COSY AT 90°F

We here in central/southern California are in the middle of a heat wave...it will reach 98° in my area by Friday. And, September and October are historically our hottest months. So, why am I sewing fall clothes? Because:

1. I LOVE fall clothes. It's my favorite fashion season.
2. It is my way of being in denial about the climate I live in.
3. Yummy fall fashions are on the runway.
4. Gorgeous fall fabrics are in my go-to fabric sources.
5. I am going to Portugal in late October, and am hoping the weather will be cool enough there to wear my fall clothes.
6. Yada,yada,yada

Here is a new pattern from Marcy Tilton, V9140, 

I made it in a double-sided ponte knit, gray with black dots on one side, plain gray on the other. The fabric is also from Marcy. I cut front facings and welts from solid black ponte, and trimmed the front and sleeves with a trimming I love.

The fabric is not that heavy, so IF WE EVER GET ANOTHER WINTER, I will be able to wear it here, as well.

Back to the studio...

TTYL

KEITH AND ME!

Another fruitful week in my studio...my sewing mojo is strong!

A potential travel wardrobe vest...done in a wonderful knit ponte from Marcy Tilton (sold out, unfortunately). She calls it "Keith Haring"

and I think you can see why I snapped it up! MY colors! I made it up as a vest in Sandra Betzina's new Vogue pattern, V1425.

I'm very happy with it...the fabric is wonderful and the pattern is interesting.

The cute little purse came from the shop at the Portland Art museum.

I can wear it with gray AND red, and it's a perfect weight for my taste.

 Close up of the fabric...

I had to take these pictures EARLY in the morning, as it's supposed to get close to 100 degrees today; not the time to be so covered up!

Back to the studio I go!

TTYL

STRIPES!

I've been blissfully busy in the studio lately, summer travel over, no houseguests  expected in the near future, leaving me free to do what I love: dream, create, sew and "putter". 

I've wanted to duplicate the striped pants on the pattern cover of V8929 for a long time...I've made the pattern half a dozen or more times, but not in the stripe as shown on the envelope

Both pattern and fabric are from Marcy Tilton. So I finally did!

(Unfortunately, stripes DO emphasize tummy curves...) but the pants are fun and comfortable and Paddywack loves them!

Then, with potential candidates for a travel wardrobe in mind, I made V1453,
by Sandra Betzina.

I decided I wanted a more body-conscious fit, so I darted front and back and recut the side seams, to make this:

I made it out of black taffeta and trimmed it with black and silver striped silk dupioni...I didn't really mean to be so matchy-matchy, but, oh well!

The pockets are cute and practical on this vest...

So, I'm in the middle of doing one of my favorite things...making a travel wardrobe. We are going to Portugal in October.

TTYL!

A BRIEF HIATUS...

is what I took...I didn't plan it, but somehow 6 weeks have gone by since my last post!

Those 6 weeks included:

1.  A birthday celebration (mine)

with my best boyfriend...

and dear long-time friends.

2.  An opening of a photography show by DD Maggie in Los Angeles...

Maggie and Kelly preparing for the opening reception...

(can you tell I'm a proud mother?)

3.  A trip to the Mid West to see family...

Daughter Linda and granddaughter in Salt Lake City...

 Picnic in the mountains to celebrate DD's significant birthday (Dave and
Janet relaxing before dinner)

Picnic table set up in a mosquito-proof tent as we were next to the river...

and the birthday girl, herself!

Then it was on to Pella, Iowa to catch up with son Doug and his family...

celebrate a birthday and high school graduation

(look at those handsome Houtz men!)

and enjoy the green green landscape before returning to ever-browner California...

We celebrated Dave's birthday...I made him a shirt from Liberty of London fabric

and had lunch with a way-back friend from Hawaii who I hadn't seen in probably
57 years...we spent a couple of hours catching up!

So, that's what I've been up to since my last post...

TTYL!