Sweet Treats Sale on All Knits at Gorgeous Fabrics!

Heads up kittens!

This week is Halloween! All the little ones will be knocking on my door looking for treats on Friday night, while DH is playing disco and funk with Booty Vortex. But why should they be the only ones to have such fun? I say let's have a great sale this week and give our customers grown-up (and non fattening!) treats of our own. So to that end, all knits are on sale for 10% off our usual fantastic prices! Jerseys, ITY's, even our wonderful double cloth knits!
Click Here to Shop the Sale!

And to tempt you with sweet deals, check out these little lovelies:

Maldives Memories
Regularly: $10.00/yd
Sale Price: $ 9.00/yd











11 oz. Rayon Jersey
Regularly: $14.00/yd
Sale Price: $12.60/yd











Pebble Print Silk Jersey
Regularly: $30.00/yd
Sale Price: $27.00/yd











Lots of New Fabrics Coming!
Last week I entered all sorts of great new fabrics, and this week I'll be adding
more! Silks, knits, woolens, and beautiful fancies for the holiday season. So keep
an eye on the site. Here's a beautiful example.
Silk Twill in Black/Butter Yellow
$18.00/yard


Shipping Costs in 2009
I just received notification last week that UPS will be raising their ground shipping rates 5.9% effective January 5, 2009. The good news is that 5.9% is far less than I was afraid the new rate might be, given the wacky prices of oil this year. Nothing will change before January 5. Starting January 5th, our new shipping rate for UPS ground delivery will start at $9.50. Two-day and overnight shipping will also adjust proportionately. International shipment costs are not affected by this change. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to send me an email.

I hope you all stay well, stay warm, and until next time...
Happy sewing!

Pattern Review - Silhouettes Ann's Top

What a great weekend. Emmett did a fantastic, informative and funny talk to the New England ASDP chapter, the Patriots made a solid win, and I finished my "Ann's Top". So does that make it Ann's Ann's Top? Or Ann's2 Top? Either way, when I saw the name and the picture I figured I just had to make it. And I am glad I did - read on...

Pattern Description: Cowl neck long sleeved top for stretch knits only.

Sizing: Well, bizarre. They have you determine your size based on the finished garment measurements. It's one approach. I neither like nor dislike it, but it can be kind of awkward. They tell you to measure your favorite garment of similar type and pick your size based on that. The size ranges go from 1-4 Misses and 5W-8W. For reference, I made my version in a size 3. One thing I really like about Peggy's patterns is that she drafts the fronts in B/C/D cup sizes - no FBA, yay!

Did it look like the photo or drawing when you got through? Yes

How were the instructions? I honestly didn't use them. But I did read through them and they were great. I really do like Peggy Sagers' instructions. She lays things out really well for beginner/intermediate sewists.

Fabric Used: Cotton/Rayon/Lycra jersey in tan from Gorgeous Fabrics.

Any changes? None. I wanted to try this one straight out of the box, as it were. I used the C-cup version. I was quite pleased with the results.

Likes/Dislikes: I really like the cut of this pattern. The pattern also has modified French darts, which both allow it to be fitted nicely and give a nice line to it. The neckline is very flattering, IMO. The pattern is very well drafted and pretty much falls together. I also have to say that I just love this fabric. It's like wearing jammies, it's so comfortable.

Would you do it again? Would you recommend it?Absolutely! This is a fantastic wardrobe builder. I have to admit that in the past, I have been less than impressed with the Silhouettes patterns I have made. But I only made jackets, and they have huge shoulder pads, which don't work for me. I decided to take a chance when I saw the pre-order for the new patterns. And I am glad I did. This top is a total winner. It's comfortable, it goes together in an afternoon, it's well drafted and it is stylish.

One other construction note: I decided to try something different and I sewed the darts with my industrial serger (it was running, I hadn't had coffee, I was yawning... you know how it is), which resulted in a passable but not couture finish. I also got to use my new coverstitch machine! I finally got around to having my dealer send me three sleeves of ballpoint needles. With an industrial, it really does make a difference which needles you use - the sharps were skipping stitches like crazy. Oh boy, I just lurve my industrial CS!

Conclusion: Two very big thumbs up! I do have a picture of me in it, but I have to wait until DH gets home to post it. He had the camera cable last and I can't find it for the life of me. I'll add it later this evening. And here it is...



Happy sewing!

Gifts By You Contest

Gather 'round kittens! I got an email today that announced a sewing contest that might be of interest to some of you. Here's the email I got:
Holiday Gift Ideas: Sewing, Hobby & Craft

Enter a contest this holiday season to win a featured sewing, embroidery or quilting machine and a $1,000 shopping spree.

To enter the GIFTS BY YOU contest presented by SVP Worldwide and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO), upload a photo of a sewn project at www.marthastewart.com/sew between November 17, 2008 and December 31, 2008. Images of the uploaded sewn projects will be displayed on the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia website at www.marthastewart.com during this time. Entrants will be asked to enter their project to be judged in one of the following four categories: home décor/crafting, fashion, machine embroidery and machine quilting. Each person who uploads a photo of their own project will receive a $5.00 gift card they can use at authorized and participating SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING and PFAFF retailers throughout the U.S.-it's SVP Worldwide's holiday gift to sewers.

One project in each category will be selected by a panel of sewing experts from MSLO and SVP Worldwide. The winner in each category will receive the following gifts:
Home décor/crafting category: SINGER® CONFIDENCETM 7470 sewing machine
Fashion category: PFAFF® EXPRESSIONTM 2.0 sewing machine
Machine embroidery category: HUSQVARNA VIKING® DESIGNER DIAMONDTM sewing and embroidery machine
Machine quilting category: QBOTTM-the robotic automatic quilter, Imperial Quilt Frame, and the PFAFF® Grand QuilterTM sewing machine.
Grand prize: The Grand Prize Winner can choose one of the three featured sewing machines plus receive a $1,000 shopping spree to their local authorized SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING or PFAFF retailer, and the winning project will be featured in one issue of Martha Stewart Living in 2009.

It sounds like a pretty cool contest. They sent me a picture of the prizes:
Now, let me just say I have no affiliation whatever with these folks, but anything that promotes sewing is good in my book, so I decided to post it here. And a Thousand Dollar Shopping Spree? I'd go for that! Besides, we all know I have a soft spot for Martha Stewart. So put your creative hats on and see if you can win the grand prize. And if you do, send me a picture and I'll put it up here.

Happy sewing!

Next Up - Silhouettes Ann's Top

Now, how could I pass up a pattern that was named for moi, right? To tell the truth, when I ordered it I just did the special package order without checking out what was in it. But hey, bonus!

So I'm making this top in this Cotton/Rayon/Lycra Jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics:


It's about 2/3rds of the way done. I should have it finished and posted tomorrow. In the meantime, congratulations to Matt Cassel, QB for the Patriots, who won this week's AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. I wasn't able to stay up to watch the game, alas. I was fighting off a cold so I turned off the TV at halftime. Oh well. More tomorrow!

Happy sewing!

Mark Your Calendars, Ladies!

How excited am I? If you are in the New England area listen up, please... The New England Chapter of ASDP is hosting my BFAM Emmett McCarthy Next Saturday October 25. Emmett will be talking about his experiences, design inspiration, and what is happening in the design world. He will also show examples of his work and will be (get your checkbooks ready!) holding a trunk show! Can I tell you fabulous? FABULOUS!!! The program is free for ASDP members. There is a $20 fee for non members to attend the talk. But all proceeds go to ASDP efforts to promote sewing and programs in New England. Here is the official announcement:

Association of Sewing and Design Professionals Presents


Emmett McCarthy
October 26, 2008 1pm – 3 pm
Berlin Old Town Hall 12 Woodward Avenue, Berlin, MA
Google Map to Old Town Hall

Immediately following his stint on Project Runway , Emmett McCarthy launched EMc2 and opened his flagship boutique on Elizabeth Street in Manhattan’s chic Nolita district. The EMc2 store established itself quickly as destination shopping for New York's fashion cognoscenti and celebrities from Debra Messing to Heidi Klum.

Emmett is going to talk about his history, his design style and inspiration, and his experiences as a designer both in large companies and in his own store. He will present several of his garments as examples. After his talk, he'll be holding a sample sale, and will be available for pictures.

Free for members of ASDP -- $20 for non members payable to NE ASDP. Advance ticket payment deadline: October 17, 2008. Remaining tickets, $20.00 at the door. Please Respond ASAP as space is limited
Contact:
Jo Frongillo
Email: jofrongillo@yahoo.com
Phone: 508-528-2348
Mailing address: 519 Coronation Drive, Franklin, MA 02038

Directions to Old Town Hall: From 495 take route 62 exit 26 towards Berlin
Turn left at Central street (route 62) towards Berlin and continue for aprox 2.0 miles.
Turn right onto Woodward Ave. The Old Town Hall is the first building immediately on your left. It's the big white building with the long wide stair case going up to the front door. There is also a ramp in the back for handicap access.
Google Map

So come on down, meet Emmett, and get inspired all for a great cause! Please RSVP to Jo Frongillo (see above) and we will make sure you get in. This is going to be lots of fun, and I hope to see you there!!!

Pattern Review - Jalie 2805 Tee Shirt

I've been pondering knit shirts lately and trying to decide what I wanted to make. I haven't been in love with any of the Big Four patterns that I have in my stash. But then I was so impressed by Sewing Diva Phyllis' Polo Shirt review that I wanted to make something similar. I had this pattern in my stash and pulled it out.

Pattern Description: From the Jalie website: "Choice of t-shirts with 4 sleeve lengths and 4 neckline variations: Jewel neck (A), Mock turtleneck (B), V-Neck (C), overlapped V-neck with decorative buttons (D)." I made View D.

Sizing: Every last one. I made a size U (a 12-14 Big 4 equivalent)

Did it look like the photo or drawing when you got through? Yes.

How were the instructions? They were great. This is a basic tee with a really nice neckline variation. The only tricky part is the neckline, and the illustrations walk you right through the process. I'm very impressed with Jalie (NAYY, I just am more impressed the more I sew them).

Fabric Used: A (sold out, sorry) jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics. If it helps, here's what I'm going to use for the next one, and it's not sold out: Love That Pompidou Jersey. I trimmed it with Extra Wide Rayon Jersey in Black.

Any changes? I did a FBA after doing a quick tissue fit. Other than that, nothing.

Likes/Dislikes: I really like the lines. I really like the look. I also love the fact that Jalie shirts are cut long. I usually add an inch or even more to many patterns, but with Jalie I don't need to.

The only thing I didn't like had nothing to do with the pattern. I used a no-name tricot interfacing on the neckband. That is not part of the instructions, but I wanted to add some body to the band. Unfortunately, it was stiffer than I wanted and caused slight ripples at the curvature. And drat it all, what arrived today but the good tricot interfacing I ordered from Sew Exciting. Oh well. Next time...

Would you do it again? Would you recommend it? Absolutely. I will make it again. I'm going to wear it to New York tomorrow when I meet up with Carolyn and Lindsay T. More about that later!

Conclusion: A great pattern. A great top, with lots of variations. Here it is on Shelley.



And borrowing from Summerset, here is my parting shot. This is the view of the trees in our yard while waiting for the school bus this morning. I do love October in New England!

I Could Never Give Up...

There was an interesting and slightly amusing article last Thursday in the Boston Globe, which asked people, "What can you not bear to give up in this economy?" The answers ranged from highlights to Creme de la Mer to Botox and beyond. I read it with a mixture of amusement and wry recognition. There are certain things that I just could not give up. I'm talking non-necessities. If tomorrow I stopped being able to earn a living, what would I be unable to part with? Here are my five things:

Hoover - we rescued him from a shelter and I would never give him back.
Sewing - of course!
Physical Sunscreen (titanium dioxide) - it's a lot of $$ ($29 for a tube) but it protects better than any chemical sunscreen.
Singing - it doesn't cost me anything anyway
My Steinway Piano - I bought it with a bonus from work. It's my prized possession, and I would find a way to keep it

How about you? What are five things that you could never do without?

ETA - it's 10:51, it's 30-3, not the Pats. I'm going to bed. Good night...

Pattern Review - Vogue 8131 Pants

All done! I wanted to make another pair of pants using a stretch rayon woven that I absolutely adore. And I wanted them in the style of my Rich & Skinny Jeans (No, I didn't pay that much for them). I debated between this pattern and Vogue 1035 from Alice + Olivia, but this won out.

Pattern Description: From the Vogue website, "Mock fly, slightly flared pants have yoke waistband, side seam pockets and hem variations. B, D, E: belt carriers."

I made View A (non pleated, plain hem) but added the belt loops from View B.

Sizing: 6-22. I made a size 14, but ended up taking it down a bit (see below)

Did it look like the photo or drawing when you got through? Yes

How were the instructions? They are your typical Vogue Pants instructions, which means they are perfectly adequate. In reality, I never use their directions, just because, 1 - I have them committed to memory and, 2 - because I don't really need them.

Fabric Used: Italian Stretch Rayon Sateen from Gorgeous Fabrics (natch). I just love this fabric. It has a great hand, it's machine washable/dryable, and it feels fantastic!

Any changes? Because this fabric has a fair amount of stretch (3% elastine) to it, I ended up using 3/4 inch seams at the sides and center back. When I made my Alice + Olivia pants in the spring, I found that they would "grow" with wear. That's not really surprising when you think about it: the Lycra relaxes with your body heat and movement, and if you have a high percentage of it in your fabric, then you'll end the day by tugging your pants up or having to buy a belt (hence the reason I added belt loops). It's not just this kind of fabric, either. I find that with my Citizens stretch jeans, I can only wear them once before I have to throw them in the wash to bring them back down to size. And I have had lots of stretch wovens that act the same way. By nipping in the seam allowances a titsch, I remedy much of that problem without distorting the fit. Which brings me to another thought: these babies run large. Even with the amount of SA I took out, they are not tight. So if you are making these pants, check the fit on them. You may find that you need to adjust it a bit.

The only other adjustment I made was to change the rear crotch from a J to an L. It fits me better that way.

Likes/Dislikes: I like the look of these pants, of course. They have a pleated version too, but I prefer the flat front. No real dislikes, other than the fact that the sizing isn't really true. BTW, I have noticed this seems to be common in Vogue's patterns lately. I don't know if they have changed their slopers or if there is something else going wrong. But this is the third Vogue in a row where I had to take in the seams a bit.

Would you do it again? Would you recommend it? I'm not sure I'll make these again. I might try the Alice + Olivias that I passed on this time instead. It's a good pattern though, and I do recommend it.

Conclusion: These will work well in my purple themed colorway for fall. I got a picture on Shelly. I think I may wear them when I meet up with LindsayT and Carolyn in New York this week. If I do, I'll see if I can get a picture on me.


Next up I think I'll make another Jalie top. Maybe I'll try the 2805 Tee Shirt Pattern this time (long sleeved, of course).

Happy sewing!

And Now for Something Completely Different

Here's a little piece of trivia you don't know about me. I had a part time gig for about 5 years rewriting lyrics to songs for corporate functions. It was goofy fun and I could do it while I was on the plane going somewhere for work. "We are Family", "Celebration", "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" were among many that fell victim to my pen. Well, on the way home from the gym this morning, listening to the news, I was inspired again. So here is my ode to the current financial situation. Sung to the tune of Frank Sinatra's classic, "My Way":

My stocks are in the tank
The market’s crashing all around me.
My 401k’s blank, the money's gone, to fund AIG
The Footsie dropped 10 points and Paris Stock Exchange is burning
But even through all this,
The world keeps turning

I made it through Bush one
And when Bush two came in I thought I’d
Be okay in the end, but now my credit cards are all fried.
I hope that history will castigate this bunch of losers
That crew down in DC act like they’re boozers.

(now onto the bridge…)

We’ve all gone broke, for stupid wars
And managed to slam all the doors
On all our friends and allies too
They say “It's all your fault. F*ck you!”
But we’ll all make it in the end
And bill our children!

Lyrics copyright 2008, Ann Steeves. All rights reserved.
Use of these lyrics is strictly prohibited unless you pay cash, Euros or gold.


BTW, the pants are all done - I just have to hem them, then I'll review.

You Have GOT to Check This Site Out!

I read three newspapers per day now. I added Women's Wear Daily to my roster. And given the depressing headlines stalking the other two, I'm glad I did. Though I must admit, lately the gloom has spread to the front page of WWD.

But you know what? This post isn't about that. This post is about fabulousness in its purest form, available for free online. To whit, WWD had an article on Tuesday about the latest offering from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. They are placing their entire catalogue online! And my favorite part?

The Costume Institute

Oh. My. God. How happy am I?? Want to see a Chanel Suit? Here you go!


Or a stomacher from the 18th century? Have at it.


Or how about Alexander McQueen's Oyster Dress? Look all you want.


Yes, I'm in heaven. I have a new fave rave site. Check it out, get inspired and have fun!

Happy sewing!
All photos: The Costume Institute

Yup, That's About Right....

Here's the upcoming cover of "The Economist"

Please note: do not open this link if you don't like bad language, if there are kids nearby or if you're at work and your boss/coworkers don't have a sense of humor...
Economist Cover

I'm back off to the sewing studio. Happy Tuesday!

Alright Boys!

These days it isn't always pretty. You have to remember that before last season it was never pretty. It's no longer taken for granted. But it wasn't taken for granted until about mid-last-season. But boy, does it feel good when they pull it out! Congratulations to the Patriots. They worked hard for this one and they did it against a good team in San Francisco. Now I can breathe again.

The pants are about halfway sewn. It was a beautiful day and we had to get some stuff for the house. They should be done tomorrow and I'll review them then.

Happy Sunday!

Organic Balloons

I promised you pictures of the Performance Art Balloons at the MAD opening, so here you go. Talk about taking the balloon doggie to a new level. First we have the "Anemone":

Then there was the "Boy Balloon"

And of course, the complementing "Girl Balloon"

Tell me those aren't, um, evocative...

Happy sewing!

Pants are Cut Out

Let me tell you, I am so glad it is the end of the week. This week does not go down in my history as one of the best. It started off great and just went down from there. But hey, next week is another week, right? It's Friday and I'm just about to pour myself a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. So things are already looking up! To whit: I decided on my pattern for my pants and cut it out. It's Vogue 8131:


It's very similar to the Alice + Olivia pants, but the legs are about 2 inches less around. It reminds me of a pair of favorite Rich & Skinny jeans I own, so I'll have a go at it. Because the fabric has about 10% stretch on the cross grain (3% Lycra), I'm going to use 3/4 inch seam allowances on the side seams. I'll hopefully finish them this weekend. I'll keep you posted.

Happy sewing!

I'm a Talent

Who'da guessed?

I'm a Talent!

You're a risk-taker, and you follow your passions. You're determined to take on the world and succeed on your own terms. Whether in the arts, science, engineering, business, or politics, you fearlessly express your own vision of the world. You're not afraid of a fight, and you're not afraid to bet your future on your own abilities. If you find a job boring or stifling, you're already preparing your resume. You believe in doing what you love, and you're not willing to settle for an ordinary life.

Talent: 79%
Lifer: 26%
Mandarin: 38%

Take the Talent, Lifer, or Mandarin quiz.

Well, I'm not alone. Apparently 50% of those who take this little quiz fall under Talent. But it's a fun little diversion for a Friday.

Happy sewing!

My My My, How Time Flies!

Photo: Museum of Art & Design

Goodness, it's already Thursday. Where has the week gone? I don't know about you, but I find that the first two months of the school year are crazy with a capital CRAZY. In my town, school starts the Wednesday before Labor Day. And here is one thing that drives me crazy: Staff Development Days. These are days during the week when the kids are off school so the teachers can have meetings and training and such. On the surface, it's a good idea. But we had one this past Monday. The kids haven't been in school for 5 weeks yet and we're having a staff development day? WTF??? Couldn't they have just added a day to summer vacation?

But, wanting to make lemonade from that sack of lemons, DH and I decided to take the boys and head to New York on Sunday. Last week I was in New York and I wanted to spend 2 days there to get business done. Unfortunately, there was not a room to be had in New York City for under $800 last week, thanks in large part to the opening of the UN session. Bush, Palin, and a boatload of heads of state and their entourages were there. What a difference four days makes! We were able to get a great hotel room for a great rate. So we headed off.

Before we left, we heard that the new Museum of Art and Design was holding their grand opening. MAD is located at 2 Columbus Circle, and it is chock full of arts and crafts from American artists. There is furniture, jewelry, and all sorts of stuff. My personal favorite piece was a portrait of garment workers made from clothing labels. It was very cool! DS the youngest was a blast to be with: "Mom! Come and see this!" "Dad, you gotta come over here and see this!" Both the kids love museums, and this is a particularly fun trip for families.

While we were waiting in line to get into the museum, they had some performance artists in some, um, organic balloon outfits outside. DH got a picture, but he hasn't sent it to me yet. I'll try to put it up later. Let's just say that I never imagined balloons could be so, well, arty! After we went to the museum, we had dinner with DH's cousin and her son. It was a lovely day.

Sunday was rather dreary. Hurricane Kyle was going by, but Monday was simply spectacular. I got to do a bunch of work (the fruits of which are on the What's New page at Gorgeous Fabrics. Monday was also a rather subdued day in New York. I can imagine that it may have had something to do with the Wall Street/Washington machinations. While I was meeting with vendors, DH took the boys to Toys R Us, the M&M's and Hershey's stores, and ESPN Sports Zone's arcade. A good time was had by all.

This week's project is a pair of pants made with this fabulous new Rayon Stretch Sateen:
It's in keeping with the whole purple theme I have going this fall. I haven't made up my mind which pattern to use yet. I'll let you know.

As a parting shot, here's a picture of me and the boys on Central Park South. It was after we went to MAD, and it was late in the day, we were all tired and it was slightly drizzly, but we had a great time!

Happy sewing!

Thanks Robin!

Wow, I feel so honored! Robin nominated me for an excellent blog award. Thanks Robin! Let me see, there are some rules I'm supposed to abide by here so let's copy/paste them blatantly from Robin's blog have a look:

1. Select 6-10 bloggers to whom you would like to give this award.
Hmmmm, who hasn't been chosen? This is always the toughest one, especially since I am usually the last one ever to get any of these awards...

Project Rungay, aka my darlings Tom and Lorenzo - If you are a fan of Project Runway, this is a must read. I feverishly check for their new postings every morning, and I can frequently be found laughing my a** off at their witty, pithy commentary and dead-on satirical "replays". Best not to drink coffee when reading their blog, or you may spew it all over your monitor.

Sew Random, aka Lisa's Blog. Lisa is a great lady, and she sews wonderful clothing. And she's in her church choir - a singing sewing stylista! No wonder I love her!

The Mahogany Stylist, aka Cenetta - She's gorgeous, she sews killa stuff, she has a sense of style that is transcendent and she has amazing taste in shoes. The whole package, I tell you.

The Sewing Divas - Four fabulous fashion mavens, all of whom have sewing skills to die for. They can dissect the latest fashion trends whilst sewing couture level garments, and they are generous to a fault with their knowledge. Oh yeah, and they are all friends of mine. Viva las Divas!

Current Sewing Projects, aka Heather - Heather claims to be an intermediate level sewer. Wrong! Girl's got style, and is utterly fearless (Marfy Patterns, anyone?). Plus, she sews the most gorgeous things (and I know from Gorgeous Things) for her daughter. Oh yea, and she's a math whiz. Did I tell you my major in college was math? I'm just a pretender to the throne. She's the real deal.

Cat Fur Studio, aka Barbara - Just the name deserves a great blogger award! I've gone shopping with Barbara for fabric in New York (gotta do that again soon). She has style, poise, and is funny as all get-out. And she has a most excellent blog.

Paco Peralta I know he has been nominated by, well probably everyone. But Paco's blog is THE most informative, interesting blog about haute couture (I mean that in its truest form). To quote Wayne's World "We're not worthy!!!" Paco, you are a treasure.

2. Put the award - prize on your blog and indicate who gave it to you by identifying her/his blog. check

3. Paste these rules on your blog check

4. Write 6 of your most important values and 6 negative points you condemn.
Okay, I'm not really good at this kind of thing. For the positives/values: Fearlessness
Integrity
Balance
Empathy
Inclusiveness
Optimism

For the negatives: you know, a lot of people who don't know me think I'm arrogant (oh, the stories that get back to me!), and if I list things I condemn, that just gives them ammo. So I'll just leave it on the positive note.

5. Inform the recipients by leaving a comment on their blog. On the to-do list

Okay, now I'm going to steal an idea that I've seen on several blogs: the Parting Shot. When I was at Emmett's store on Wednesday, I fell in love with these slingbacks. How totally gowachuss are these? And you know what's even better? They have huge amounts of gel cushioning at the balls of the foot. Emmett told me that his goal was to make them comfortable enough to be able to walk/stand in for the day. Trust me, he succeeded! I love the higher vamp, too. I don't look good in low cut shoes. These are perfect.
Happy sewing!

A Little Trip to New York

Yesterday I spent the day in New York. I was "on assignment" for an article I'm writing. More about that later. Suffice it to say it was a lot of fun and I got to fondle fabulous fabrics. I also visited BFAM Emmett while I was down there. If you get to Nolita, you have to go into His Store. His fall line is T.D.F. Here's a picture:

Ian, the store manager, is on the phone in the back. I love, love, LOVE the dress on the mannequin. And look! Emmett did a fichu-type treatment too. His isn't a design-save, though.

I love the trench coat and the dress in the window. That's Emmett on the phone outside.
While I was there, who walked in but Chloe Dao, Project Runway Season 2 winner! Chloe is exactly the way she came across on TV. Incredibly competent, fun, sweet - all superlatives. And the wonderful thing about Chloe is that when you chat with her, you feel like you have always known her. She's got a great manner and personality. Like Emmett, she's not only a top notch designer, but she's a very savvy business owner as well. She's going to continue to do really, really well, and I can't say enough nice things about her.
I feel positively amazonian next to her! BTW, Chloe is selling a very successful line on QVC, in addition to her Dao Chloe Dao line (available at her boutique in Houston, TX).

Lots more to come later. And don't forget! Mark your calendars for October 25 at 1:00. Emmett will be talking/selling at the ASDP meeting to be held at Berlin Old Town Hall in Berlin, MA (near Interstate 495 - directions to come). The cost for non ASDP members is $20, to benefit the New England Chapter of the ASDP programs. You'll need to RSVP to moi to reserve a space. I'll put up the details later.

Ciao for now, Chloe Dao!

They're Writing Songs of Love, but not for Me....

That's how I feel about this Burda World of Fashion dress. So here's the story. I went back and forth. The dress in its Burda incarnation looks spectacular, right? (That's it up at the top here). So I figured I would make it. Then I got a note from my friend Camille, who made the dress and whose work and taste are impeccable. She cautioned that it was so low cut as to be unwearable, and that it just had an unflattering side view. Then I got a directly conflicting email from Christina, whose work and taste level are also impeccable, saying that it looks fantastic and that it's not too low cut. So after sleeping on it and flipping a coin, I went to work on it.

Changes I made to the pattern:
I drafted 3/4 length sleeves. It's a better look and length for Boston this time of year. I also did a FBA. Both changes worked well and fit great. No problems. I also shortened it by about 12 inches. All was good so far. And then....

Holy Crap, Batman!

You may not be able to tell precisely where that neckline falls on Sharona, but trust me - it was at the bottom of my bra band. I will admit there are times when I like a little cleavage, but this dress gave waaaay more than a little cleavage. I debated the options. I could put in a self-fabric modesty panel, but that looked like the dickeys' we used to have to wear as part of my high school uniform. No, that was not going to work.

I had some extra fabric left over from my Tricot shrug, so I cut a couple of strips and applied them to the bodice, much like a Fichu. That worked well and didn't look as much like an afterthought.


Once the fichu was in place, I figured I was good to go, so I tried on the dress. True to Camille's warnings, the dress looks decent from the front. It's actually a bit too sacque-like and would benefit from two back darts, but that's for a later incarnation not going to happen. And here is why. Look at it from the side.

This makes my size 6 Wolf dress form look like she's trying to hide a pregnancy bump. I already did that - twice. Thanks, but no thanks. This one is going into the Goodwill box.

On other, happier notes, the Stitch 'n B*tch on Saturday was a total blast. It was so wonderful to meet 3 new S&B-ers! We sewed and had fun, and I can't wait for the next one! That will be in October, but I don't have the date yet. I do have the date for a really exciting event, though!

Emmett is Going to Speak at ASDP!
That's right. Emmett McCarthy, my BFAM, is going to speak at the ASDP meeting on Saturday, October 25th at 1:00. Details to follow, but he is going to talk about his experiences, put on a trunk show and (drum roll please...) hold a Sample Sale!!!. So mark your calendars for the 25th of October. I'll post the specifics here. You will need to RSVP.

Ooops, Dancing With the Stars is on. Ciao for now!

Happy sewing!

Sniff...

Congratulations Miami - great job.

I have nothing else to say.