I have come a long way -- it took a long time, but it takes a long time to get here from where I started!  My first counterbalance loom. 

Stunning architecture, textures, materials and surface design.
Leather, lace, brocade.  Matte, shine, subtlety, excitement, at once unconventional and familiar.

Sneak Peek!

Sneak Peek!

  


Mood Italian Floral Brocade
Wedding guest dress





Midtown Terrace Pink

 
Perky pink.  Pink Midtown Terrace house with sculpted evergreen buttons, green velvet skirting and crisp white lapels.   DSquared2 pearly pink jacket with flower brooch, denim foundation and asymmetrical entryway.
 

   
My name is Beth and I sewed this pattern.
 
It was summer of ...... 1992? '93?
I was asked to sew this in exchange for a used window air conditioner.
Apparently, I was pretty hot.
View A in white cotton pique with light blue buttons,
ribbon trim and wider lace than was called for.


First muslin of 2014 -- a bust....in the bust.

I have been saving this pattern --


This week, I cut it from some fabric I thought would make some cute slacks but later decided I didn't really like....


It kinda fit, but I'm not sure I like me in something that doesn't have a shaped waist.  I don't really like a top/skirt/seam at the waist real waist, but I really do like a long French dart or a set of vertical shaping darts.  I think it gives actually a better shape and a little more room to the bust area.
 
This straight hanging shift style with conventional bust darts made me look like a green brick with a smashed chest.  I realize it was just a muslin and I should still try this with a FBA, of course!  But, it is pretty unattractive and I may just cut my losses with this one.....and, no photo, yuk!
 
But, I really, really, like this pattern and I have some navy suede - cloth to make it up in that will go so great with navy tights and my brown boots. 

 I'm going to switch gears and make a muslin for a yoked skirt and see where it leads me. 
 
Discouraged, yet hopeful.  Sewing trash can -- so pretty!
Vintage Sewing Pattern Mens Pajama and Night Shirt Simplicity 5039 Size Medium 1950's
Productive in PJs

Fun pattern illustration!  I live in a major metropolitan area and I'm a 30 minute drive to a bad selection of zippers and thread and 45 minutes from a real sewing store!  Fabric, forget it!  Online only for me -- unless I've been traveling.  Minor problem, I guess, but I miss running out for something I needed or at least having it available to 'stop for' while I was out and about. 

The guys in this photo obviously lost a bet and are wearing their pajamas for a day, working and playing golf.

TO DO: Inspiration

Thanksgiving  --  we were rehearsing these arrangements for the wedding.

Bedside table -- broken lamp, dusty crystal, old dried flowers (oops!), tv and my little bride.

Favorite bowl -- sometimes you just have to have dinner on the floor.

Inspired and getting to it!

New for 2014

My challenge begins in earnest today!


I've been to Mood;


I'm ready to sew!