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

HOME SWEET HOME!

SO glad to be home after 2 weeks on the road! We flew to Chicago for four days:

Beautiful spring plantings in full bloom...

The Trump Tower.....

View from the John Hancock building (which did not crack while we were there,
for which I'm very grateful)

Cloudgate, or "The Bean"....by Anish Kapoor, one of my favorite artists...

We joined Patti Ferguson and her husband, Norm, for an exceptional concert by
pianist Emanuel Ax, and a reception to meet the artist, afterwards...

We also went with Patti and Norm on a fantastic architectural boat tour with
their friend Harry, who is a wonderful docent.

Norm, Harry, moi and Dave...it was one of the highlights of the trip!

We rented a car and drove south, Kansas City being our interim goal. I made
a "pilgrimage" to Asiatica, that wonderful shop that I have gotten tantalizing postcards and emails from forever...I was curious to see if the shop was as 
fabulous as it looked...

It is, and I got to meet Elizabeth, the owner, and the "eye" who finds such glorious fabrics and items.

I also got an early birthday present from DH...

After Kansas City, it was family time...we drove to Des Moines where oldest 
grandson was running in the State track finals.

We took oldest daughter, oldest grandchild and her husband out for dinner.

Next day we drove to Pella, where DS lives with his wife and 5 children. Besides a successful run, GS was also graduating from High School AND having a

birthday, so there was a lot to celebrate.

and here is the birthday dinner!


So, the clothes...

This is B5954 in a pretty knit from my local fabric store. It has hardly been off my back since I made it...

This is M5433, an OOP pattern which I have made too many times to count, also
in a knit from local fabric store.

and finally, these pants, StyleArc Lola, in a just-the-right-shade-of-gray linen
to go with my striped tee I bought in Santa Fe...

The linen was purchased several years ago from Marcy Tilton.

I'm joining both "Visible Monday", where Patti of Not Dead Yet Style welcomes lots of visible women,
AND "Hat Attack", where the beautiful Judith of Style Crone gives us a monthly opportunity to
show what hats are in our closets...

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?