I've Been (Couture) Altered

It's the end of November, the end of my Fall season at Project Minima, and I've just finished refashioning a top this evening.  It was another Asianesque, made-from-scratch, blouse.  I spent some serious time on redesigning it to fit.

artwork by Moki Mioke

Seems to me I've had some major breakthroughs in my approach.  I credit it to reading Altered Couture (thanks Jean!) cover-to-cover, several times and to studying designer patterns a lot.  It's really opened my mind to alternative ways of thinking about how I want to construct clothes. 

I also finished sewing this great skirt from a Vogue pattern designed by the same person who did those pants I recently made, Marcy Tilton.  I just love it, it so architectural.  I'll have to get a pic of me wearing them, well both things, soon.  Meanwhile I do have pics on the Clothes for Fall page, if you'd like to check them out.  ahh, I'm tired...

Repeat! Repeat!

Seeing as I'm a bit late for the party at Not Dead Yet Style, I'm reaching back into the vault today.  Here I am wearing my hand-me-down flannel shirt...transformed into plaid pants!  Yes you heard right and here's the pic to prove it, y'all.

Before...

After!

I'm wearing a refashioned poet's top, the remade flannel shirt pants, and old platform shoe boots.  (Click on bold type to get to that item's origins.)  I was trying to finish my next corduroy project, but it's not going to be wearable in time, so hey, flannel's the next best thing.  Back to sewing.

Oh, I'm linking up with Patti's Not Dead Yet Style, of course.  And also the Monday Mingle.  Late.  Then there's Lakota's Ta-dah Tuesday.  And now Ethical Fashion Bloggers November's DIY challenge.

This just in:  I'm linking up to Spy Girl's 52 Pick-me-up: Honey!  Check it out.

Stop Shopping, Start Sewing

Remember Take Back the Night?  I say, let's take back our right not to shop, consume, over-indulge, etc.  Sounds good the day after Thanksgiving, or on the so-called Black Friday, or the __# of shopping days before Christmas, doesn't it?  Yeah.  Let's mark Today as Buy Nothing Day (Acquire Few Needs.)  How about the idea of wanting what you already have for a start?  Or being who you are so you can do what you want in order to have what you need.  Something like that, rather than the other way around.

painting by Ray Caesar

Anyways, not that I'm a saint about it all, but let's get it under some control already.  How much does a person really need/want/have to have?  Of any thing?  Breathe. 

Okay, here's what I made today and the week before (after the break)...

Let Me Brooch the Subject

Oh good, I've just heard the news: Une Femme wants to see our jewels!!!  Well, brooches really.  And I simply must obey, as I've been displaying mine forevah.

 painting by Pat Otto, Jewel, 1984

 
I have a pix of them on my Clothes for Fall page, but for your convenience, I'll place it right here...(after the break)

Real Styling, Real Imitating, Real Art

Now for the real Style Imitating Art Action.  The inspiration for today's styling is...

Rene Magritte, The Great War

Check out my monstrosity after the break.

Hanging Out with Frida - Again

Ethical Fashion Bloggers issued a challenge to Frida yourself, so I'm re-posting something I put together for Style Imitating Art way back when.  (cheater, cheater!)  Interesting how things you like all overlap, isn't it?

Self-Portrait ala Frida Kahlo by pao

Self Portrait by Frida Kahlo

more after the break... 

Quietly and Spot On

Let me tell you a little story about how the universe works.

~ artwork by Marieloes Reek ~

 
The other day I'm in my studio, and my true love comes in with a bag of stuff, dumps it out on the floor, and lo and behold... There are my red Doc Martin's along with some colorful socks and athletic shoes that I had donated to the Salvation Army over 10 years ago.  Apparently the bag ended up in the basement instead.  (what was I thinking?)

It's Monday!

And you know what that means...it's showtime at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style for all the Visibles!  Join us and start your week off right!

Here's looking at you, kid!

Check out the details after the break...

Young Girl and Her Mother?

Style Imitating Art is here again!  And this is one I couldn't get into, I mean literally.  There just wasn't any room for me in the painting.  So rather than force the issue, I stepped aside, and I do mean literally.  Here's the inspiration:

painting by Tamara de Lempicka

You can see how I interpreted the "Young Girl in Green" after the break...