CATCH UP-A NEW TRAVEL TOTE

It's been 3 weeks since I've blogged...busy with puppy, daughters visiting, foot problems, sewing...the usual!

 Here is the travel tote I've been working on...it's the Professional Tote by Creative Thimble, and I've made it once before; it was for my very first blog post, 5 years ago! I've had this marvelous black and white sashiko fabric for a while...I bought it on Etsy. I added some faux leather from Emma One Sock,

 a marvelous stretch cotton dragon print from Marcy Tilton for the inner pockets

 and a wine-colored nylon Taslan for the lining...

I'm planning to take this to Paris, as my plane carry-on; it has pockets galore, (I added several more to the inner pocket for my iPad), places for passport and boarding pass, water bottle, etc. It also has a strap to anchor it to my suitcase handle.

It closes on top with a chunky zipper...

 Maggie and David came up for the weekend a few weeks ago...more swimming with Teddy, Sunday Brunch. Always fun!

The next weekend, daughter Janet flew out from Salt Lake City for a few days...
and, you guessed it, swam with Teddy. That seems to be #1 on the activity list chez Houtz...

With so much time spent in the studio, I've listened to several good books: Commonwealth, by Ann Patchett,  A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles, Nutshell, by Ian McEwan and just finishing up The Life We Bury, by Allen Eskens.

My favorite was A Gentleman in Moscow; Nutshell is beautifully written, but weird!

I bought a glass flask (borosilicate) to cook my beloved Rancho Gordo Marcella Beans, a la Romana...

They were delicious, of course, and so much fun to see them simmering away on the stove!

Here is where I got the flask.

Teddy is growing, losing his baby teeth (finally!), finding new ways to get in

trouble...we have a fountain in one of the gardens and the combination of water and mud is irresistable!

  
Supremely happy muddy dog...

and equally muddy kitchen floor! We had to drop out of Puppy Class; my injured

foot is very painful, and the surface of the class space, a rough dirt ring, was not good for the foot. I think we'll try again in 4 or 5 months. I'm seeing a chiropractor for my foot several times a week and am hoping for a miracle in the next few weeks. I leave for Paris on October 28.

I made a pair of pajama pants in a pretty knit from Girl Charlee and paired it with a tee from Uniqlo...

I used my TNT B5572 for the pants...for those innocent people who think a lifetime of sewing precludes foolish errors, my first attempt at pajama pants

(which are ridiculously easy to make) came out like this... (super high rise, super short legs)

and of course, by this time, I'd not only sewn the seams, I had serged them.

Live and Learn...NOT.

I think I'm almost done with Paris Wardrobe sewing...I have a pair of pants to make with a yummy cross-woven silk blend from Marcy Tilton called "Ruby Begonia"...and then the decision making/culling begins! I waterproofed my boots yesterday, so I am ready for whatever weather Paris has to offer!

That's it for catching you up...I will be joining Patti's Visible Women later this afternoon...providing she has power. She's in the path of Hurricane Matthew and 

my hopes are for safety for her and all the people in Florida.

TTYL

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

HI! AND 'BYE!

I've spent a lot of time in the studio since I last wrote...I had TWO "wadders"! Actually, only one was a wadder...a skirt that was a big fail. It went in the trash along with the pattern! The other one is more painful...a vest in a favorite fabric which suffered from sewer's error...I have put it in time out to see if I can come up with a way to save it.

The third try was a success...I have had this interesting fabric for a couple of months and have spent a lot of time coming up with a pattern to use it with.

It's my "Hol(e)y Vest"...The fabric is from Marcy Tilton...

Shams bought some, too, and blogged about it here. I decided to use a 

Cutting Line Design pattern, Artist in Motion. The fabric was difficult to sew, due to the big holes, but I was helped by Sham's post, Marcy's tips, above, and a review of the pattern by Terri K, wherein she added 6 inches to the length. After holding up the pattern to my body, I decided to do the same thing. 

It's a fun piece, and perfect to jazz up an all black outfit.

One of the most exciting things to happen lately was THIS:

After 20 years of sweltering in the summer, and freezing in the winter in my studio,  I now have heat AND AC! I wish I'd done it years ago. Oh, how luxurious!

We are off on Wednesday for 10 days in Costa Rica, to celebrate 40 years

of marriage...we are returning to the wonderful Bosque del Cabo where we took our children and grandchildren for my 70th birthday. Just the two of us...and how lucky we are to have found each other! I decided not to sew anything for the trip, as the ambiance is very casual. Having cleaned my closets a lot in the last year, I was short on linen, etc., so I bought some simple pants and tops

from Tender Treasures.

Of course, I have a few culinary triumphs to post about...still loving my Instant Pot!

This is Pork Carnitas, which provided two dinners, with leftovers to freeze for another night...served with warm tortillas, guacamole and salsa...yum!

This is Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken which we had last night and will have tonight, too as we watch Downton Abbey...

and last, but not least, an old favorite which I cooked on the stove/in the oven,

Braised Lamb Shanks with Gremolata and Baked Polenta

We're eating well!

We probably won't have internet in BdC, so I'll be back after our return!

I'm heading over to Visible Monday on Patti's blog...come visit the other Visibles, too! Thanks for hosting us, Patti. 

TTYL

CLOSING IN ON THE TRAVEL WARDROBE...

I've spent all week analyzing my clothing, gathering it together in my studio on a rack to make sure everything "goes" together. First off, I made a spread sheet to list my items on...

then, I started photographing groups of items, such as Coats and Jackets

Pants...

Vests...

Tees...

Tunics...

Footwear...

and accessories...

Not chosen yet are scarves, jewelry. I have 10 days to play with this, adding, eliminating, etc. We'll see what I come up with!

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