Spring Ahead

All about the green!
New Gudrun Sjödén colorblocked cardi:

Go on, EAT THE CUPCAKE! ;-)

Linking up with
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

#MendMarch 2021

Happy March! Have you started your mending yet?
I got a jump start last month by stitching up the front of this Ketzali "kimono" that I got off of Poshmark last April (!!!).

It was a super quick mend/ refurbish. Why did it take almost a year to accomplish? WHY?

This is the reason I participate in #mendMarch. 

I require a good Instagram challenge.

Whether you follow the IG prompts or not, do join in the mending circle below:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Linking up with [when link parties go live]

Shelbee's On the Edge

Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

Mend March is coming!

Here are the Mend March prompts from Kate Sekules of @visiblemend

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kate Sekules (@visiblemend)

Oh do I have things to mend or refashion. The piles get bigger and bigger!

I've included three things in the link party below that I abandoned last summer.

Let's have another virtual mending circle -- add future, in progress, or completed mend links below: 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Linking up with 

Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

Out-fit and Out with COVID Hair

I've gone on THREE errands this week. Shocking! Severo is our official designated errand person, especially now that he is halfway inoculated.

Today, I wore my recently upgraded inside outfit (fun leggings vs saggy lounge pants) with an additional "skirt" (really it's a cowl thing that Jean made from a sweater) and turned it into an outside outfit:

We went out together to get breakfast-to-go from EggSlut.

Yum!

I figured out the recipe and you can find it here!

About that COVID hair:

Fresh cut!

I seem to have finally emerged from my Fall/ Winter hibernation.
You'll be hearing a lot more chatter from me!

Linking up with

Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week

Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

Bad Ass Lumberjack

I wore my Fluevog Tates on Saturday for the last on-campus session of my Digital Design for Fashion class at Otis:

The campus is now closed and we're transitioning to eLearning over Spring Break.

This is the Bad Ass Lumberjack look.

Or is this? I saw this guy in Rumford, Maine

As I stomped around in my boots, I thought of my friend Shelbee and I thought "What would Shelbee wear?"

Shelbee has been blogging "inspired by" posts, and a while back I challenged her to do me.
She came up with a great SpyGirl outfit [she'll give us the link in the comments, I'm sure. I don't have the patience to look for it. #sorrynotsorry].
Anyhow, my boots inspired me to return the favor:

Link to Shelbee's post about her look

I couldn't find her wearing all the elements that I chose in one outfit.
This is my compilation of the Shelbeest of Shelbee. UrShelbee, if you will.
Flannel shirt, band/graphic tee, denim cutoffs, tights, bad ass boots, beanie, pose.
BTW, I totally forgot I had the blue beanie. I found it in the hat drawer. Shelbee, do you want it? It's new!

Stay healthy everyone!

Linking up with
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

It's Mending and Make It Yourself March!

Today as I was #slowly (Prompt #1 at @visiblemend) working my way through "Stitching the World", it came to me that today is March 1st and the Mending March Instagram challenges commence.
I interrupted my stitching, brought my threaded needle with me to the computer room (so I wouldn't misplace it),

and checked out the prompts for today.
Visiblemend has daily prompts:

View this post on Instagram

MendMarch! It’s on. Here you go, all the prompts—and I think this year, year three, they all make sense? Maybe not the 10th. Anyway, as before, you are welcome to—you must!—mess with them as you please. If you’re new here, this is technically an instagram challenge but really it’s an excuse to mend, share mends, make mendfriends, force yourself to face your mend pile, etc. It is fun. Do as many or few as you like, but do note that this year I am prizing you. Some lucky mender who manages ALL 31 wins a box of fabulous vintage mend supplies ie #haberdasheryporn Are you in? Tell me tell me! And ama if not making sense (ps when will dumb phone /instagram overlords stop autocorrecting “mends” to “men’s”?) #mends #itsmends #mendmarch #mendmarch2020 #visiblemending #darning #stopfen #repriser #raccommodage #zurcir #slowstitching #handstitch #slowfashion #instagramchallenge #igchallenge

A post shared by MendyKate (@visiblemend) on Feb 13, 2020 at 12:15pm PST

Wendy Ward, the creator of "MIY [make it yourself] March" is doing a slower approach this year.
She has a thought-provoking questionnaire in the above linked post which I stopped answering midway to write this.

Actually, I came over to SpyGirl to find some outfit links to add to the above answer and then realized I should be writing a post!

The green tunic:

I sewed this in This first appeared on SpyGirl July 2012 and was sewn before I was blogging for an Otis Fashion event, so I estimate 2005? I bought the fabric in downtown LA, at one of those $1/a yard places when Otis had its Fashion Campus located in the Cal Mart. It's that overdyed stripy rayon that was so popular in the late 80s.

The Italian rayon tunic:

I obtained this fabric when I was a Sample Cutter at Warren Z in 1986. It was sample yardage.
I sewed the tunic in January 2013. (I love the fact that blogging enables me to date things).

I've been doing my work-day outfit posts on Instagram. I've come up with a system for avoiding too much outfit repetition (I would be judged by the office-mate) and a key component is the phone app that I use to create the outfit/textile collages: Instasize.

I check the App to see what I've worn the past three weeks or so.
I also hang garments the order worn.

Here's another good question:

I answered with the tunic that I made in May 2018 at a workshop with Amy Bond:

I'm not sure if it's statistically the least worn me-made garment, but it's perhaps the most disappointing.
The base cloth is so scratchy and stiff. I even tried "softening" it by using it as a couch cover, but it was too scratchy for even that.
Sigh.

OK, gotta get back to stitching!
I gathered 93 answers to my 4 questions at the stARTup Art Fair two weeks ago.
That's a lot of journeys to stitch!
There's still time to join in, click here.

Linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday [maybe. Last one].
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

An Over the Top Outfit, Deconstructed

I'm going to a Zandra Rhodes book signing on Wednesday.
On Friday I road tested an outfit.

Let's study what's going on.

The pink fluffiness is a rectangle of Mongolian Lamb. Maybe originally intended as a rug?
It was displayed on the floor at the Flitterman Collection studio sale:

It was love at first sight, but it took me several circuits of the room to commit.
No regrets!

Next layer is the pink mystery fiber sequinned ombre scarf that I got at a Tibetan shop in Williamsburg, NY in January 2012. That MIGHT have been the moment I was finally comfortable wearing Barbie Pink.

On my extremities:
chenille armlettes cut from socks,
striped socks from Uniqlo (obtained at a store opening on deep discount).

Neon Yellow Fluevog Aimees on my feet.

Base layers: royal blue cheap Chinese high-low dress:

And last but not least, the Crazy Legs Leggings from Society6!

Somebody (on Facebook? on Instagram?) wanted to see a closeup of the print on the leggings:

It's a digital composite of three 60's prints which I insterted into the Crown of Thorns quilting pattern.

Let's continue deconstructing!
I couldn't find the red ground paisley vest (in a box somewhere), here are the other two sources:

Pink, mustard, and white smock that is "in work" (I cut off the yoke).

You've seen this neon shirt before!

All three garments came from my friend Larry's stash. Thanks Larry!

Linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike
Ageless Style

[3.13.20]
Winner, winner, chicken dinner
This post was featured on Links à la Mode fashion roundup by Independent Fashion Bloggers.

More fashion articles:

• How Natasha Ndlovu Made The Jump From Style Blogger to YouTuber by IFB
• How to Start a Fashion Blog by IFB

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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

FierceCon 2019 -- the Power of Kindness

What? FierceCon was last weekend? Where does the time go?
WHAT is FierceCon? The tag line is "It’s not a Conference. It’s a Connection! Celebrating and empowering women at Midlife & Beyond." It's the brain child of Catherine Grace O'Connell and I encourage all of my over-40 female friends to consider attending in 2020. It was amazing. Yes, I've imbibed the Kool-aid.

I will probably [read hopefully] write more about my experience eventually.
[Including my project to sketch everyone that attended].
This post is about what I wore, as documented by others [credit given if I recall photographer].

Friday. The Fluevog Dress.

With Rena Perez of Fine.Whatever
We are brandishing the mini cards I had printed of the sketches I'd completed in time for printing.

I had a professional photoshoot with Courtney Paige Ray and wanted to have photos in The Dress, wearing Fluevogs, and showcasing my Fluevog Shoe Art.

photo by Courtney Paige Ray

Saturday day. The Kimono fabric Tunic

We are the Leopard Squad!
Lana Lindgren, Jill Lorentz, Amy Kennedy, Deb Gutierrez [shoes, can't see]

Saturday Gala. The BOOM! tunic.

In the hotel bar before the "Gala" party.
photo by the bartendress

Barbie Holmes, Sophie Davies, BOOM!

Sunday. The "tribal" tunic. The one I hand sewed on a bus.

photo by Paula Griffin

With Theresa Martin and wearing her super light leather earrings [gifted, link to similar].

The Faces of Fierce on Sunday morning. Catherine is reclining center front.
photo: Mike Castagna

Looking at these photos brings back the super fun time that I had and all the new friends that I've made. Really, consider joining in next year! I'll sketch you!

Linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

Off Duty in Houston in Selfies

My last post showed you what I wore during my exhibition in Room 400 at the Hotel ICON StARTup Art Fair Houston.
What did I wear during my leisure time?

I didn't plan this well:

Thursday afternoon, cold brewing teas in the bathroom.

Thursday night. In the main lobby with the StARTup signage.
Can you tell that the hotel's ground floor was originally a bank?

Friday morning. 4th floor landing.
Wait, isn't that the same outfit as Thursday night?

Saturday morning, outside the ICON's main entrance.
Those weird steps over my shoulder almost did me in, I slipped on them
but was able to grab onto the decorative architectural element to avert a face plant on the bricks.

Sunday morning. Trying to dry my one pair of socks that I hand washed the day before.
I wore them damp.

Monday morning, elevator area in lobby.
Here you can see the entire "chilly weather" look:
Flannel shirt
Patterned scarf
Red Fluevog Creepex Tee (you can't see the graphic in my pix)
Leggings (second of the two)
The Socks
Leopard Clogs

I packed a tunic and the Fluevog Dress, and I never wore them.
Used the red tee as my night shirt as well. Could have used a second tee!
Really glad I took the clogs (chiefly for airport TSA. Did not want to be barefoot through security). I needed them!

I have an Excel chart that I use for packing and if I'm super organized I'll make notes on it after a trip of what I didn't need or wear. It helps a lot when space is at a premium. This trip, I need all the space possible for art.

Do you have any packing rituals?

Linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

SpyGirl: The Case of the Mistaken Identity

Melissa thought she was going to visit Anne Bray at the stARTup Art Fair in Houston at the Hotel Icon. She found it curious that during their most recent phone conversation, Anne hadn't mentioned that she'd be in Houston. "Well, I'll just go surprise her," she thought.

SURPRISE!

She got me instead! Anne M Bray! It's all in the M, folks.
I had to start deploying my middle initial when I learned of my name double, who is also based in LA.
There is also Anna Bray.
We A Brays are legion! Well, legion in LA, anyway. Haha.

Melissa and I had a great meeting of the minds.
It was probably my best experience of mistaken identity!
Melissa is a professional photographer, as you can see from this great portrait:

StARTup Art Fair Houston was a grand experience. Maybe you caught some of my Instagram posts.
There's a great video interview posted on Facebook shot by Ray Beldner, the fair director (which I don't know how to post anywhere besides Facebook. Sorry. It was one of those Facebook Live things).
I'll be writing more about it on the On the Edge blog eventually.
Right now I'm supposed to be doing my taxes and then go to the day job.
Sigh.
Reality bites.

Linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

#SecondhandSeptember My Local Flea Market

All hail the Santa Monica Airport Antique and Collectable Market!

View this post on Instagram

Sparkle on! At the Santa Monica Antique Flea.

A post shared by anne m bray (@annembray) on Apr 23, 2017 at 12:50pm PDT

I love this market and I could even walk to it if I got myself a granny cart to tote my loot home. Therein lies my problem. I ALWAYS find stuff to buy. I try my utmost to "shop with my camera" . but then I'll see some irresistible object. And then I have to impose a shopping ban upon myself.
Things. I hear their siren call.

The time I ALMOST successfully shopped with my camera. (1/2019)
Another time (2/2018)
Both times, bought things. I am so weak.

Another great find:

Ungaro silk shirt: $6.
link to post about it

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike

Rainbow Connection

I donned all the Rainbow Things:

And went over to bG Gallery to hear a talk by Lynn Segerblom aka Faerie Argyle Rainbow, the woman involved with the creation of the original Rainbow Flags flown for the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Parade in San Francisco.

Lynn doing a mock [waterless] dying demo. Prints of her paintings are on the right wall.

Explaining how she dyed the stars.

Small mockup.

This photo from 1978 shows the scale of the flags -- 30 x 60 feet.
They flew for just one day for the parade.
Lynn's Star Flag (on left) was stolen in 1979 and has never been seen since.

Link to an LA Times article from 2018.

The rainbow theme is carried throughout bG Gallery, with the sixth annual Spectrum Gestalt exhibition, up until July 6, 2019. The salon-style group show of 80 artists has the art arranged chromatically. View the artworks here.

Linking up with
Patti's Visible Monday
Shelbee's Spread the Kindness
Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike