Ciao!

Ciao for now my friends! I am off to Italy next week, and sadly will not be posting for at least 8 days.... Hopefully I will come back with tuns of sewing inspiration. I do plan on visiting the Mariano Fortuny Museum in Venice, but happily just as Lucy Honychurch says in Florence, "I am here as a tourist", I will be able to say the same. I will not be attending any classes while I am there, what a difference from my studious trip to Paris! Wishing you all a sewing filled week, can't wait to check up on your blogs when I get back! If any of you have any recommendations for Venice, Florence or Rome, please leave a comment.

Regency Style

Recently I have rekindled my love for all things Jane Austin, re-reading all of her novels and

re-watching my favorite Austin films. This mini Jane-fest has given me the hankering to make a regency

style dress, they are so completely romantic. My only worry is I would not get the chance to wear

it, being that the empire waist silhouette is not really in vogue right now, (too bad it's not the mid 90's again..)

If you are looking for an all out historical regency era costume check out
this website: Sense and Sensibility Patterns.

 If you are interested in following my regency era addiction on Pinterest, here is the link.
Also the book Patterns of Fashion 1: English women's Dress & Their Construction C. 1660-1860
has been a much recommended book for patterns and vintage construction of the Regency times.

Natural Dye Workshop

 Last night was the last class in the Midsummer Night Craft series at Shelter Half. Krissy Morrison taught a 

natural dye class.

These are the vibrant colors that our dye created.

The dyes included Elderberries, Scabiosa flower, Walnut and Sour Grass.

These are the tools we used for tie dying and Shibori.

Our teacher Krissy demonstrating how to strain the plant pieces to create the dye.

 Naomi of Smile Heart Love, holding up my first test.

Everyone came up with such beautiful projects!

 Fellow student Juan and his lovely piece.

We all thought the splattered table was pretty cool as well.

Lili, Cheri and Lauren, check out their blogs, amazingly creative and talented girls. What a fantastic evening!

Don't try this at home...

Lovely fresh figs from a friend's tree.

Fig mixture.

Here is yet another reason that my sewing is not done yet. I went to a fig picking party, I picked figs, then of course I had to make fig newtons! Friends, fig newtons are not the easiest of cookies to make. You have to
bake the bottom layer, then cool the fig mixture and roll out the top layer and freeze. No biggie.... Here is the recipe I followed if you dare give it a try...

Why I didn't finish my sewing this weekend...

 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Beasts of the Southern Wild

It was too hot to sew! However I did manage to start my Derby Dress and should

have the finished product for you to see tomorrow.

Instead of sweltering in my sewing closet we chose to hit the movie theaters and

watched these two wonderful but very different films. How could I resist the Best

Exotic Marigold Hotel, with a cast of British actors including Judy Dench and Maggie Smith?

(The only thing missing from the movie was consuming tea and biscuits while watching..)

Along with the colorful, alive setting of India, the Marigold Hotel was worth

it for the cast and performances. Beasts was also excellently performed, with a sparkling

Quvenzhané Wallis playing the young Hush Puppy, who faced with the inevitable loss

of her sick father, goes in search of her lost mother while contending with prehistoric beasts. 

Hope that everyone survived the heat wave this weekend comfortably. Cheers!

Kokedama Workshop

 These are the lovely plants that we got to choose from to make our hanging plant (Kokedama).

Fun string to tie up our hanging plant.

Lili from Tigers to Lilies was hosting and teaching the class. She is a serious plant expert.

The first step was to remove the plant from the pot and expose the roots.

Next step was to wrap the roots with water soaked peat moss.

As Stefani from Observation Point has so brilliantly done, the next step is to make a snow ball of soil

around the peat moss roots.

The final step is to wrap peat moss around the ball of soil and add a string for hanging.

 Ava from Your Friend Ava demonstrating her adorable Kokedama.

The finished product.

We listened to some lovely Francoise Hardy. What an amazing evening with wonderful friends! Happy weekend everyone!

PS. there is only one more craft workshop left at Shelter Half, the Natural Dye Class on Thurs Aug. 16th.

Lula

 Lula Magazine issue 11.

Designs by Vivian Westwood.

French Filmmaker Agnes Varda

Charlotte Gainsbourg in Rodarte.

Few magazines and images truly inspire me but I find myself reading and drooling over Lula Magazine time and again. Besides capturing very magical and whimsical shots, Lula has the some of best most intriguing interviews and stories. I have blogged before about Lula, mentioning Lula Scrapbook, Lula Magazine's blog. Do any magazines in particular inspire you? I would love to hear!

Prom Night

 My lace prom dress. Don't let the picture fool you, the side invisible zipper (hidden by the enormous rose)

was horrendous.. even the hem could have been better, but hey for a self drafted pattern, not too shabby...

The fun and sweet gals that I met, Leah and KC from The Sewcratic Method.

 

 One of the fabulous teachers at Sew LA , Devon of Miss Make, and her fantastic Cambie dress!

 Leah's home grown corsage..

Another group of talented sewistas. The sweet girl in the hot pink on the end is the teacher and author Christine Haynes.  Miss Oona made a dress from Christine's Derby Dress pattern and could not be looking more stunning! I met so many wonderful sewers, if only I could remember everyone's names!

Oona was the true queen birthday girl of the night. What an amazing party in honor of an fantastic gal!

For more pics check out Christine's blog here.

Sketchbook Friday

Happy Friday friends! Last night I did a bit of sketching, imagining what I might make in the near future.

I have a small roll of blue and white seer sucker to use up, as well as a lovely tan and lavender floral

print silky goodness. I hope that everyone in the area can make it out to Prombaloona Sunday night, if so I'll be seeing you there!

Over-Dyed

 Over-dyed Shabby Chic Fabric fashioned into a girly gathered sleeve dress.

 

Sara from Road to the Heart overdeyed this lovely vintage frock. I love how she

kept the peter pan collar un-dyed!

Today I wanted to talk about over-dyeing prints and how it can breath new life

into a fabric. I am sure that many of you out there have experimented with Ritt Dye.

It is a pretty easy at home remedy to drab fabrics and unfashionable prints.

It is great for the recycle re-use movement, even an old sheet can be made

fabulous with just a bit of dye. Above is a dress I made out of some Shabby Chic

fabric, it was a white ground and looking a bit night gown-ish before I gave it a dye bath.

And I think that the dress Sara from Road to the Heart over-dyed is super cute!