I stumped when told about our Picnic Inspiration for October - Gothic Cemetery - and our picnic was to be located in a cemetery. The Mountain View Cemetery in Piedmont, to be specific. My daughter Emma had lots of suggestions, but when she told me I should dress like I was going to a funeral, it just clicked.
Read MoreMy Home and all the UFO’s are making me feel like I’m living in the X-Files of Project-land. Over the last year, it’s been a bit hard to keep my focus and I seem to get distracted with new ideas and projects at every turn. I’ve not finished much of anything lately, so I thought I would give you all a taste of the UnFinished Objects (aka projects) that are currently in the queue at HOME. These do not include the projects at my SHOP, some of which are mine and also some left behind by students. I’ll leave those for another post. Oh, and there are also those imagined (but un-started) projects lingering in the tubs of fabric - Ha! another post perhaps. In the meantime, this is what I have currently underway.
Read MoreThis is the second installment of Creating a Mini (Early) 1930’s Capsule Wardrobe. What is a “Capsule” wardrobe? It’s a group of pieces that easily coordinate with each other. This dress along with the dress from my previous post use coordinating fabrics as well as accessories. Next in the series should be some interchangeable separates. I have a few other items in the queue so those pieces will have to wait a while.
Read MoreIt’s been a long hot Summer around here. Well, not that hot really, but the temperature here is starting to rise and it’s time for a new cotton sun dress. August and September are the hottest months around here. I won this blue cotton swiss dot in a raffle at the Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild Open House, earlier this year. It’s the perfect weight for a Summer Dress.
Read MoreDo you ever have fabric that feels like it’s money burning a hole in your pocket? Well, I sure did when my friend Laurie Ann gave me this gorgeous polka dot viscose shantung. Oh, my, it was love at first site. And it was gifted along with a coordinating brown trouser weight fabric as well. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sew up a new outfit, perfect for our cool autumn weather.
Read MoreWith the Art Deco Society of California’s Gatsby Summer Afternoon right around the corner, I’ve been planning the outfit I’ll wear this time around. I’ve also been taking a little tour of Gatsby Afternoons I’ve attended in the past. They were filled with friends, fashion and a maybe bit of Champagne. I’ll warn you in advance, some of the photos are a little fuzzy. One can still see how much fun we had, however, so I hope you can enjoy.
Read MoreIt’s been busy over here at The Sewing Room and finishing this ensemble took some time. I think the blouse was one of my longest running projects in quite sometime. Partially, because of other projects that got in the way and also because I did a LOT of hand finishing.
Read MoreIt’s Fall here (finally) in Northern California and the trees are starting to turn. And by Fall I mean it’s gotten hot in the days (upper 70’s F) and cools off at night. Not quite jacket weather, in the daylight, but it feels good to dip into the fall colors.
Read MoreEvery year the Art Deco Society of California puts on the The Gatsby Summer Afternoon. This Gatsby Event is the highlight of my year, as far as vintage events go, and this year was no exception. The weather was perfect (high 70 degrees and breezy), the picnics were exquisite and the company eclectic and entertaining.
For this year’s ensemble, I chose to replicate a look that my grandmother wore (see photo above) in one of her modeling photos. I’ve admired this dress for years and have not quite had the nerve to re-create it until now. That front neck detail with the capelet and ruching really had me flummoxed.
Read MoreI’m getting ready to put together a Fall outfit and am very excited about working with some of the fabrics I’ve put aside - lots of luscious wools and silks in gold tones. And I bought a terrific 1930’s hat at the Alameda Point Vintage Fashion Faire, last weekend. So when Wardrobe Shop and Nataya approached me to do a sponsored blog post with this article, I couldn’t refuse.
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