The Laurie Coat

Lesley came over for a jam making session and we got to talking about how we're going to use the "loot" we snagged at a yarn sale in Newberry Park on Saturday. She was talking plans for denim yardage and I mentioned a coat I'd seen and specced at an exhibition in Portland in June 2011.

click on the link above to see a detail

I sewed a version from sari fabric in 2012(?) and I don't think I ever posted it.

Here it is today:

I happened to have on this new abstracted leopard sweater and knew it'd look good with the coat.
Then, since the pattern on the sweater reminded me of the 80's Norma Kamali tights that I still have, I added those. (They're 100% nylon and no longer tolerable for daily wear).
And to finish it off, I dragged out my 80's Norma Kamali "elf" booties. (I no longer wear these either).
Voila! An olive casserole!

Linking with
Patti's Visible Monday
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

Slow Clothing and Mending at #CAFAM

Yesterday, I attended two related events at the Craft and Folk Art Museum that I found very transformative.

Here is what I took:

My huipil with the shredded shoulder and a [way too large a] pile of possible fabrics for patching.

Here is some of what I took in:
From Kath and Kim of The Possibility Project

From Ruth Katzenstein Souza

Along with her short slide lecture, Ruth brought along some examples of her Visible Mending to inspire us:

Jeans

Vest back and detail

Sweater (shown sideways)

I could have sat and stared at Ruth's huipil for a long time...

But it was time to get stitching!

I opted for the panty with a print that I designed and red embroidery floss.

Done! I call this Chaos Stitching -- decisions made in a flash, permission granted to dive right into it.

One of my main reasons for attending was to sit around a table with a bunch of others, stitching.

It was as wonderful as I'd hoped.

Feeling mended!

Final quote from Ruth:

Thank you so much, Kath, Kim, Ruth, and CAFAM!

I'm linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness
Catherine's #SaturdayShareLinkUp

Stripes and School

I've added more teaching to my plate and am adjusting to my new schedule.
Here's what I wore to work on Thursday (the print design job) and Saturday (teaching).

I'm still selfie sketching during lunch break Tues-Thurs.

These I post on Instagram.

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday
and
Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week

Striped Rejuvination

This piece of green-striped rayon has been through several sartorial permutations.
I'm too hot and grumpy to search for a photo of it's first incarnation today. 
Maybe I'll add it later -- it was a strappy empire waist undergarment for an olive green poufy skirt that I wore with a red Chinese dragon print corset-style top. Or maybe I'll sketch it for you. Later. 

Next, I turned it into a tunic and wore it. A lot.

Oh look, that's when I had pansies next to the metal tub!
And the old favorite clog-style mules!
(I just grabbed the first photo that popped up).

It was starting to irritate me this summer. I want to wear as few garments as possible and the narrowness of where it hit on my arms was NOT GOOD.
Layering was not going well, it was too long:

So in one of my trying to get an outfit for the day frenzies, I ripped 7" off the hem:

Aaaaah. Better proportions. AND NOW I had fabric to use for sleeves!
Yay me!

You remember my new mission to put sleeves on everything, right? 
This is the third revamp in three months. Slow going -- at this rate, Repair Mountain will recede in maybe five years. Ha.

In addition, new shoes:

Mexican huraches purchased on Olvera St, downtown LA. $22, new! Super comfy!

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday.
Because hidden biceps and visible knees.

52 Pick-me-up: Beige / Impartial / Fairness

••• 

Beige is this week's color? Really?
Are you ready for 7 weeks of neutrals, SpyGirl style?

Week 45/52, Beige. 

BOOM!
A Phillip Lim 3.1 x Target scarf that became the front panel of a tunic. 

I hear the Enid in you saying "I don't see any Beige, SpyGirl".

Oh yes there is!

Let's dance this mess around:

Dancing photos taken by Severo. He learned about the "Burst" feature on my iPhone.
Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday.

That's what I wore to my alma mater's Fashion Gala at the Beverly Hilton.
I actually paid for a night ticket this year, since Rosemary Brantley, the founding chair of the Otis Fashion Department, is retiring after 35 years. She was my boss twice -- first I was her design assistant for my initial job after graduation, then, a few years later, I taught digital design in the Fashion Dept. for 10 years.

I did my usual pre-show quick sketching at the Step and Repeat booth.
Here's a fast gif of the roughs:

Did you enjoy the seven-week PURPLE linkup party?
Now until June 25th, it's a NEUTRALS party. Can NEUTRALS party?
Let's find out!


Beige / Impartial / Fairness -- link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: I Heart...

CREATED/ PURLOINED/ 

Did you think this week is about Valentine's Day? I thought so, when I wrote up my list last December.
And maybe your link this week WILL be about V-Day, I have no problem with that.
Me, I'm is busy thinking up outfits for the Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, which starts with a gala VIP opening reception on Thursday, Feb 12.

Here's last year's look, with a lady I love:* 

I'm taking these two tunics, but won't be wearing them together! #wardrobefail 

Don't you love Leslie's jacket? I'll be staying with her again. So excited.
*To read my last year's PSFAF report click here. 

I'm taking all my favorite rayon tunics (that I designed/sewed myself) and pairing them up with modal lounge pants (that I purloined from the sample box at work -- working at a loungewear company HAS its advantages at times).
It gets toasty in Palm Springs in February, last year I overlayered. Rayon and modal are both perfect for the daytime desert climate.

Four tunics, all in a row:

So, I have my tops and bottoms figured out, I have from now until Wednesday morning to figure out the embellishments -- scarves, socks, maybe some necklaces or arm parties. (Arm parties: are those passé now? Who cares!)

I'm not just going to Palm Springs to swan around in floaty tunics. I'll be working.
10 of us from TAG Gallery (plus one guest artist) pooled our resources to get the largest booth at the fair, #111.
My art will be on a flywall, and I'll have maximum visibility for this piece:

Commuter Quilt, photomontage printed on vinyl, 51 x 35" ©2008

I was cogitating getting this printed on yardage, 

to be a matchy matchy walking billboard, but didn't have time.
I need minions, I tell you!

Our invite card, which I designed:

Here are some informative fair links:

Individual FREE one-day pass, includes hours open, maps and other important info.

[Almost] all the work I'm taking, on Artsy (a cool "Facebook" for art aficionados)

Maybe I'll see you in Palm Springs?
If not, I'll be all visible at Patti's joint, Visible Monday, later today.

Got any things that you love to share with us? Old or new posts, link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: Medieval

CREATED/ PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ GIFTED/  

Medieval brings to mind rich deep colors and gold:

thumbnails from Google Images 

Here's my version:

Have anything Medieval in your closet?
Link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: Plaid

CREATED/ PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ LINKS/ 

This coming Friday, October 3, is Plaidurday, a day to celebrate wearing plaid.
Why not wear it all week?
Here, I'm wearing a summer plaid, printed on cotton. It's still too hot in Southern CA to wear flannel or wool.

Have some plaid in your closet? Link and tell!

52 Pick-me-up: Back to School

CREATED/ PURCHASED/

My semesters start late at Otis College of Art and Design, where I teach digital design in the Continuing Ed Department. This fall, my class is Digital Design for Fashion. I have eight students learning Photoshop and Illustrator.
I do a lot of leaning over desks while teaching, so I went with this easy tunic over leggings.

I'll be joining Patti's Visible Monday later today.

How does "Back to School" look to you? No pop quizzes, promise!

52 Pick-me-up: Roaring 20s

CREATED/ PURCHASED/ LINKS

Once again, I face my closet with a retro quandry. I couldn't even find my sketches of 20's costumes that I did back in college (I'll keep looking for those. Now I have a mission). (Can't even find the post with a picture of one. This is getting ridiculous!)

From the archives is this:

originally seen here, July 2012

I refurbished that green/navy striped tunic the summer of 2012. I wear it at least once every two weeks. For yardage purchased for under $4, an excellent cost-to-wear ratio!

In the above-linked post, I'd promised directions on how to make the jacket. I made it from sari fabric, and it was created from two rectangles. I got the pattern from a Laurie Herrick hand woven coat that I saw at the Portland Museum of Contemporary Craft.

originally seen here, June 2011

I never followed through on that. Oops. Will rectify... sometime.

As a final flourish, here's a page from a 1920's Montgomery Ward catalog:

source: Dover

The above immediately brings to mind Ms Desiree, of Pull Your Socks Up. Click on over there and you'll see what I mean.
But before you go, how are you doing finding some 1920s in your closet? Link and tell!

An InLinkz Link-up

Shiny Objects Are Closer Than They Appear

CREATED/ PURCHASED/ GIFTED/ LINKS/

Severo and I both had Saturday off, time for a date!
The night before, I gave him parameters for our breakfast dining: within 3 miles radius of home and before 10am. (It gets crowded in eateries after 10 on the weekend, especially with this glorious weather we've had).
He found a new place, Cafe Buna, in Marina Del Rey. Their prices were a little higher than I like to pay (over $10), but our coffees and breakfasts were great. Only the grits were lackluster, we brought them home for doctoring. Service was fantastic.

After breakfast, Severo asked if it was OK if we made a detour before going home. It was to M Street Bakery on Main Street in Santa Monica for sweets. Let's just say M stands for Mmmmmmmm. The chocolate chip cookies are maybe the best I've had in soCal. They were REALLY good. If I get my act together, I'll go into more detail over on Dessert Safari. Note: we just ate the apple oatmeal cookie and that is great too. Two for two -- we'll be back.

Then we walked and explored Main Street.
Which is where the shiny objects come into play.

Giant shiny fork

Shiny script sign that has seen better days. Severo demonstrates.

We found the best shiny thing of all -- a Christmas tree formed out of shopping carts!

You can find it at the Edgemar complex, 2415 Main St. It was designed by Anthony Schmitt.
Read about it here.
 
Did I wear something shiny? Sort of.

The skirt with metallic threads that wreaks havoc at airports.
Subtle, to the naked eye.

Metal mix of
copper threads in the skirt and golden dragon brocade.
Dashes of leopard for extra sizzle.

I'm linking up with Patti's Visible Monday.

Meanwhile, Mixed Metals fortnight continues. You have PLENTY of time to join the party!
Have something shiny planned for a New Year's Eve party? Do share!