MOTO MASHUP

I fell in love with this wine/black crinkled brocade from Mood Fabrics

and decided to make a jacket with moto influences. I didn't want to use my TNT Kwik Sew 3764 again, so I went hunting for a suitable pattern. I made a muslin out of the Quart Coat

pattern by Pauline Alice, thinking I could modify it to my liking. I couldn't...

My dress form isn't shaped like that, and neither am I (wide shoulders, nipped

in waist).

I liked aspects of B5822 (OOP) which I used when I was making "manteaux"

for our Iran trip...

so I put on my thinking cap and came up with a frankinpattern using parts of the Butterick pattern and parts of the Kwik Sew. And this is what I made:

I added a separating zipper to the front, shortened the jacket, and added sleeve and pocket zippers...

I used the sleeve from the KS and also the pocket placement, the rest was from

the Butterick pattern.

I lined the jacket with a dark red satin lining, also from Mood Fabrics, and piped 

it in black satin.

I accessorized it with some wonderful Gujarati bracelets I got in India some

25 years ago.

That's kept me pretty busy; I took some time out to have a wonderful lunch with long-time

friend Diane and her SO

The puppy? He had his first grooming appointment, we went to obedience class (THAT was

traumatic for both of us!), he now weighs in at 20 pounds, and every ¼ inch he grows

means another level of mischief he can reach. I took him for a swim again yesterday and he jumped right in. I think he's tall enough now to get out on his own, but for now, we keep a hand on his collar. But he loves to swim!

Like the kitty, he LOVES boxes...

begging to go in the door (damage on door done by his

                  predecessor, Paddywack)

and benches.

My kitchen activities are still centered on somewhat frantic enjoyment of the tomato season...

Caprese salad for lunch today. We're also cleaning out the freezer, eating last year's beans and soups, getting ready for cooler weather (hah! it's currently 95 degrees, but "feels like" 105).

I'm joining BOTH Patti's Visible Women and Judith's Hat Attack this week...come take a look!

TTYL

CATCH UP, PART 2!

Here is the REST of the story...

I have sewn 3 items of clothing recently...this is the jacket that I made for, and during, the workshop that Shams led several weeks ago...

It's M6293, OOP, which Shams made, that inspired the workshop. See hers here:

I totally fell in love with this jacket and her amazing recycling job for the Fabric Mart Challenge. I used the same pattern, but changed it a little. One of the things I wanted to learn at the workshop was how to do the spiral piped sleeves.

Voila!

The fabrics I used were ones from my stash from long ago. I lined it in a silver lame rayon from Emma One Sock. I have gotten quite used to using luxurious fabrics for linings, even if no one sees them but me!

The pants I'm wearing are another Lola Pant from Style Arc. They are in a drapey rayon/Tencel gabardine and are very nice in this fabric.

I also made a little tunic in my TNT M6607 at the workshop...I needed a pop of color!

The fabric is a burn-out velvet from Harts Fabric's online store.

I'll leave you with some more photos from our Amazon trip...

One of the most beautiful parts of the trip was going down a "black water" tributary in our little skifs...the water, which is very rich in minerals, is black as can be and acts as a perfect mirror for the banks and the sky. I think I could spend a lot of quiet time there...

We enjoyed beautiful sunsets from the deck...

On a side trip into a small town, we took a "tuk-tuk" ride to see the sights, including this beautiful small market

Here is my "great jungle hunter"... looking at

giant banyan roots...

Enormous lily pads...

and amazing pendulous birds' nests...

The fruit was delicious AND beautiful...

The meals were perfection...

 and Edgar, the bartender, was ready to fulfill any request!

This is us, at dinner, the last night on the boat. Goodbye, lovely luxurious cruise!

Today is our 38th wedding anniversary, so we're off (me in my new duds) for a 

special dinner.

TTYL...

ETA: I'm back on Visible Monday this weekend...thanks to Patti for hosting it!

LOOK AT THOSE PIGS FLY!!!

because...I made a dress!

I think it's the first time in 35 years that I've made a dress...i've been strictly a trousers/jeans/pants girl, with an occasional skirt, for a long, long time. 

I just had this urge last week to sew a dress...not being loaded with dress patterns in my stash and needing instant gratification, I resorted to downloading B4443

and made View C out of this knockout fabric from Marcy Tilton

This is the style of dress that was so popular for young girls in the '50's...my mother made many of them for me, and I made a lot, too. Binding the neck, armholes and hem with a contrast fabric took me right back to those days...

talk about deja vu!

Since I'm not that young girl anymore, I will wear this with a tie-top in black like this one... (yet to be made)

What about the MOB jacket, you might ask? Well, it's coming along fine; I'm just beginning to line it and am liking it very much. But a girl needs a break occasionally...

Yesterday I went to an indigo-dying workshop in Santa Barbara with my friend Joan...we had great fun learning how to dye and do shibori, among other techniques...

There were 10 of us in the workshop and these are some of our dyed items
hanging to dry in the sun. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of all of us with our blue hands...

This is one of my favorite times of the year to cook, when the produce is outstanding and so colorful. Tonight we are trying Sweet Corn Polenta with Eggplant Sauce from the wonderful recipe book  PLENTY, by Yotam Ottolenghi and Jonathan Lovekin. Everything I've ever tried from it is FABULOUS!

The fresh corn and tomatoes are from our next door neighbors, who have a wonderful organic farm, the eggplant and oregano are from Dave's garden.

YUM!

TTYL

110 degrees in the shade!!!

I'm in that part of the western United States that is SUFFERING from a big
heat wave...My day has been 30 minutes in the studio, with 3 fans on me, then 10 minutes here

See?

.

Then back to the studio, wash, rinse and repeat, etc....

I am ready to start my MOB jacket, but am waiting on interfacing from 

Fashion Sewing Supply...Pam is the BEST...super products and the very best customer service.

I finally got the time to watch my latest Craftsy workshop, "The Ultimate Tee

Shirt" by Marcy and Katherine Tilton. This is one I can whole-heartedly recommend. It's basic, yet I learned a whole lot from it. It's so interesting to 

discover how many little "tricks" there are that I haven't known about before. I totally enjoyed watching the dynamic between Marcy and Katherine...and seeing how there are MANY ways to accomplish various tasks. If you haven't signed up for this, do it now!

While waiting for the interfacing for MOB, I made a little Sandra Betzina jacket, 

V7281 (OOP) out of a black and white polka dot cotton. Can't remember where I got the fabric...it's a lovely weight, little bit of stretch. I hope I never get too old to love polka dots!

I made "stacked" buttons to go on this, as I couldn't find just the right thing.

My Canon SLR camera is misbehaving (gasp) so I didn't get many pictures on me...

I like the little top...it's quite fitted.

I've started participating in Visible Monday, a weekly celebration started by Patti, on her blog, Not Dead Yet Style...

"Visible Monday started in July 2011 as a way to celebrate our diverse beauty and love of style. (Here’s where I first wrote about it.) I came up with the idea of a "Visible Day" for us bloggers, in which we post an outfit, accessory, lipstick color, hairstyle, etc., that expresses our Joy of Being (Physically) Visible. 

Whoever wants to can join in, any given Monday. Just compose a post that includes any outfit, accessory, piece of jewelry, hairstyle, cosmetic or other adornment that makes you feel more confident, alive and visible that day. No restrictions, just share your beauty."

Come visit and see all the beautiful women...and join in, if you like!

TTYL