OOOOH, CLAUDE!

I'm back...and without the boot! My foot has healed nicely, I am walking again
(although only 3 times a week, so far), and am wearing pants again. Talk about comfort zone...

After my spurt of sewing skirts, I started a project which I knew would be longer and more detailed than usual. I have been collecting out-of-print Claude Montana patterns from Vogue (I made one here last April); I love most of his designs and find the superior styling worth the  problems of dealing with the bigger shoulder. Oh, how I wish Vogue would reissue some of them!


My favorite one is this, Vogue 2974.

I was looking for something to make with this luscious quilted fabric from

Marcy Tilton...

and my friend Shams suggested I dig into my Montana treasures. So I did! It was perfect to showcase both sides of this wonderful fabric. It was probably one of the most detailed patterns I've ever used, even though it looks fairly simple.
Lots of pieces, lots of hand work, etc. But I think the two and a half weeks of work was worth it...

I lined it with a gray bemberg and found some perfect buttons from my button collection.

There are zippers in the sleeves and in the side seams (!) and two double-welt pockets.

I'm very happy with it, and am trying to decide if it will go to Scandinavia with

me at the end of the month.

Yes, we are going on another trip, to Sweden, Norway and Denmark. And that

means, PUTTING TOGETHER A TRAVEL WARDROBE! Which is one of my favorite parts of travel.

What I do first is identify a key piece (Jacket, etc.) and then go play in my

closet and pull out everything I might consider.

As you can see, the color palette will be black, gray and red. My new jacket is roomy enough to wear sweaters under, and even my red travel vest.

Since there are so many pockets in the vest, I chose not to add any additional ones to the new jacket. I also found some red London Fly boots on eBay last week, and they will accommodate my new orthotics and are very comfortable to walk in, so they are going, too.

We leave on August 29, so that leaves me 3 ½ weeks to put together my wardrobe and fill in any "holes". You'll be hearing more about it!

TTYL...