Seminar Time

Back in Carmel for a wonderful four days of sewing at a Loes Hinse seminar. I'm excited to try new patterns and to be inspired by the goodies at Loes's boutique.  The weather and scenery are delightful as well...be back after the fun is over!

Broken Scissors

Just posting a photo so I can request warranty coverage on my broken favorite scissors.

Style Arc Willow Pants

Just a quick post to show the Style Arc Willow pants I made today.  I love this pattern--I made a couple of simple tweaks (shortened length about 2 inches where indicated on pattern and lengthened the crotch curve about 1/2 inch) to the pattern before I cut out the first pair and I have not had to make any other alterations!  The fabric is bengaline suiting from local JoAnns Fabric.  I bought several colors and plan to make at least one more pair of this same pattern!  I am going to go examine other SA patterns to see which will fit my lifestyle and my style choices.  The top is a Loes Hinse Perfect Tee I made a couple of years ago.  It has been worn to death, but I really love this pattern too!

Travel Photos

These photos are for documentation--certainly not for style!  LOL!  We walked an average of 12-15 miles per day, so you can see the results in the photos!  It was a wonderful trip and we had the very best time. Most days were quite warm so short sleeves and crop pants were worn more days than I had planned!

 These are Style Arc Tory crop pants--made from a JA stretch woven in a size 12--used 5/8" seam allowances and they fit great.  Location is the balcony of our hotel in Montone, Italy. 

 Style Arc Willow pants after a long day!!!  Made from stretch twill and worn with an Ann Taylor RTW tee.  I know the jacket-around-the-waist accessory may not be the most flattering, but it was practical! These pants grow during a busy day, but they were comfortable and warm on a cool day.  The lovely boar is on the side of a restaurant in Orivieto letting diners know that entres using this specialty are available within.

 Style Arc Tory pants from same fabric as Willow pants above.  These were worn and washed several times during the trip.  Lovely site is Porto Venere, Italy.  We took a boat from this delightful city up the Cinque Terre coast to Montorosa. 

Worst photo--cooking school on an agroturismo in Tuscany.  Under the stylish apron is a Christine Jonson cross over tee.  Nice pattern.  Lovely hat, eh?  We made and ate a delicious feast here!

Loes Hinse Bilbao pants and C Jonson Vee Neck Tee

I finally got a photo--not of travel clothing, but of some pants I made this morning and a shirt I made last week or the week before! 

Pants are the Bilbao pattern--the wide leg version modified to be narrow.  I could not put my hands on the pattern so could not trace the narrow leg view.  Sometimes I hate having two separate homes!  But, a friend helped me out by measuring the lower leg of the narrow version on her master pattern.  I used a ruler and my eyeball to narrow the pants down to the indicated measurements (10" front and 10.75" back, includes seam allowances).  I used a piece of fabric from the stash.  I did put in the zipper per instructions but left the pockets off this pair.

The top is my first try at the V neck top from CJ.  I really like it!  Fabric from Michael Levine Loft in the LA garment/fabric district.  We finally have a day that is cool enough for long pants and long sleeves.  Note, October 12!  This top is a medium with no alterations.  I also made her cowl neck top, an epattern.  I made a medium in that as well, but I think I am going to try a small just to compare.

Enjoy your creative crafts!

Souvenirs from Travels

DH and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Italy--specifically to Umbria, Tuscany, and the Ligurian Riviera regions.  We had a relaxing and replenishing trip.  When we travel, we always take lots of photos--rather DH does as he has the eye, the talent, and the camera equipment necessary.  We also look for European sewing magazines and other sewing related gems that I can bring home but not be overburdened by the mass of my purchases.

I found a wonderful little shop in Lucca, Italy where I purchased the buttons.  It is called Casa del Buttone and is located on Via Michele Rossi.  The shop has a floor to ceiling supply of buttons, stored in boxes with the buttons shown on the end. The friendly clerk who assisted me brought out samples of black and/or silver buttons for me to peruse.  LOTS to choose from.  I bought 5 each of the three shown in the photo.  I am planning to make a couple of jackets in the near future and can hardly wait to put these on a garment!  DH even helped me to select these from the large selection I was shown.

My other quest is always to find local sewing magazines.  I bought the top one in Padua--the September Burda in Italian.  What a wonderful surprise to find that the patterns are NOT the cramped version I get in the US, rather the type we used to get.  I will enjoy tracing from these less crowded sheets.  I have already selected a couple of garment to get in the queue.

The second is a La Mia Boutique, an Italian sewing magazine.  It isn't inspiring me yet, but I often return to these magazines for inspiration or ideas after some time has passed.  I bought this in Orvieto where we spent a couple of fabulous days enjoying the Umbrian hill towns.

The final two are Patrones magazines I picked up in the news shop at the Madrid airport while waiting for a connecting flight.  Score!

I am sewing--I have begun my Willow pants in a Theory wool/rayon/lycra.  Only the zipper and hems left to do!  I will share some photos--maybe a few of me on vacation wearing garments I made prior to departure.  It is great to be home!

Sewing--not blogging...

I got a camera for my birthday, but I haven't mastered it and I am having more fun sewing than trying to learn to use the camera.

So--hopefully time will balance out these things and I will sew and share.  I do want to post at least a list of what I have done as a personal record for me to remember how I spent this summer:

Style Arc Tori crops--tan/white stripe and black solid
Christine Jonson crossover top--turquoise/white/grey print
Cutting designs Hearts A Flutter shell--brown and white stripe
LH crops--brown linen

Cut out to sew
Style Arc Willow pewter pants
LH Perfect T--teal rayon jersey

Be back soon!  Almost time to leave the beach and return to the desert!