I'm All Red, I Am

in my newly made coat, and hat, with my new-to-me red boots.  tra-la-la-la-la.

~ nothing subtle happening here ~

Using up bits and pieces from the stash:  the yoke is brocade leftover from a coat last seen here; the grey linen patch underneath is from a tunic and pants seen here; and over that is an ombre wine abstract flower patch leftover from a kimono seen here.

~  some pieces were given to me ~

In fact, the sleeve tapestry was from Anne of Spy Girl during a clothes/ fabric swap at the Blogger meet-up in Vancouver several years ago.   The collar was a thick knit scrap from a sewing friend in Chicago.  And the assorted antique buttons from another Chicago friend.

~  it's a Koos pattern, of course ~

Koos Vogue 1146 coat pattern to be exact.  Yes, I've made it before as a Spring coat, here.  The new one is version A with a lining and a few more extravaganzas.

The main fabric is an ombre jacquard I got in a mystery bundle.  The yoke and the two rectangular pieces were samples I had laying around.  The round photographic rose section was leftover from a dress, here.

~ the other side ~

That's a bit of quilting cotton next to the sleeve.  Another piece of the photographic roses and the base here is a deep red canvas.   I think that about covers it.

~ except for the lining! ~

Yes, it's flannel-backed satin.  yum.  And I squished a strip of raspberry velvet in between the lining and the collar for some special effects on the inside.

Oh, I see I've forgotten to mention that front rectangular patch of wine linen with small handwriting on it (in French, no less).   I also used the lining to make bias tape to encase the hem of the outer coat, leaving the inner lining to hang loose.  yeah.

~ like this ~

What I'm wearing underneath:  Velvet pants from Tina Givens Phoebe pants pattern and the cut-off bodice made of the same velvet from her Bethany Dress made previously and seen here.   The stretch mesh shirt underneath is adapted from Vogue 8450.

~ aerial view of the hat ~

Hand-sewn with scraps of red fleece using Vogue 9235, view D.   It was a quick sew, cutting the circles of the pattern and then the fleece is what took time.  I eliminated the elastic called for on the brim as there was no need for it.

~ back view ~

Those aren't shadows, I used two different colors of red for the hat.  And while I was at it - variegated red thread for sewing.

~ last, but not the least, for sure ~

A glamour shot, a centerfold, a knockout view of my ebay doc marten boots.  whoa bay-bee.



Now, if you haven't jumped around enough already, here's some more links not to miss!  I'll be joining Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine at I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell, when they all go live.  Oh, and the hat.  I'll be with Judith, the Style Crone for her monthly Hat Attack!  Hope to see you everywhere!


Watch out for the 8 inches of snow we'll be getting later today/this evening - if you're in the Midwest.   There's nothing like sewing when snowed-in, I tell ya.

ed. note:  as of the next morning, we've been dusted with an inch.  The only thing blustering was the weather forecast.

Kimono on the Cityscapes

~ Yes, here we all are ~

The Kimono is from Koos of Vogue patterns 1493
and the Dress is from The Sewing Workshop Collection Cityscapes pattern.

I made the dress awhile ago and never wore it in public.  The original pattern calls for a jumper to go over it.  I tried, but it didn't work out at all.  But when I finished the Kimono and tried it on over the dress, I liked the vibe, especially with the dusty pink boots. 

~ I mean I'm having a flashback, man ~

 

~ check out that sleeve action ~

Okay, now this is something you don't see everyday.  In fact, this is something you never see on the likes of me.  Totally XXX rated.

I Say, It's A Spring Frock!

~ up close and with fabric scrap adornments by moi ~

Finished just in time for Sunday Brunch.   People kept smiling at me when they walked by.  Maybe it was the combination of my Koos Coat, the Spring Frock, Tangerine sox and Floral Mary Janes.  Or it was just a nice, sunny day... 

~ still waiting for that cup of chai ~

Meanwhile, here's the view of my camouflaged double pocket.  Can you make it out?

~ detail of the double pocket ~

The dress pattern is from Tina Givens, called Katarina and while I like it fine, there were some drafting issues with the pattern that need to be addressed. 

~ there's that pocket with my hand in it ~

I also added a fancy patch pocket on the other side because I'm a two pocket type of gal.

~ well, you can't see any of the back details... ~

So here's a close-up of the camouflaged elastic channels that run across the upper back giving the dress some design elemental action.

~ like my design speak? ~

And, of course

~ les sox and docs ~

Without further ado, I'm joining Patti and the Visibles at Not Dead Yet Style.  Then off to Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cherie's Shoe and Tell whenever they go live.  See you there!  Oh, oh, do you think I can pass for a bit of eggplant in Spygirls's 52 pick me up?  Let's try.

With the Fishes

What a difference a week makes!  More on that later.
Today I'm focusing on the inspiration for Style Imitating Art:   

David Wiesner, from his book, Flotsam

So here I am underwater again

wearing my newly made, Koos designed, kaftan

plus my nail polished, polka dotted, $ store reading glasses and my newly painted old sandals.

Darn.  I did it again.  Hit publish before I was finished posting.  sigh.  Okay, let me continue after the break.

Koo-koo for Koos

Here I am at the crack of dawn on our little balcony with my true love taking a few photos before he bikes off to work at the Chicago Reader.

I love this designer, Koos Van Den Akker.  His clothes are always so happy, architecturally designed, and crazy wild.  hmmm.  My first experience in sewing with him was my Spring Coat.  You really have to pay attention and plan ahead.  I even take notes and do a color sketch first to help me along since there are so many pieces and color arrangements to juggle.

Here's my second Koos extravaganza, the Big Dress:

As the Koos turns...

stops...

and comes around.

You probably can't tell, but this is made from 4 different fabrics, 5 counting the ribbon ruffle, with all kinds of appliques, inserts, bands and tomfoolery.  You can see it up close and in detail if you click on the bold items or go to Clothes for Spring page.

I'll be joining Les Visibles at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style and the crowd at Monday Mingle too.  Join us!

Is it Almost Spring Yet?

I've been working and working and working on my new Spring Coat.  And tah-dah, here it is!
 

ooo, and check out those new-to-me ebay boots...

I'm so excited about it.  It's made from the endless scraps of fabric I have about the place - including the vintage drapery ( the sleeves).  The base is some of what I scored when the fabric store down the street suddenly went out of business and everything was 90% off.  Can you imagine?!!  It's embossed velveteen.  I worked from a Koos pattern.  I love them, always so exuberant and complicated.

I'm going to visit all the wonderful women at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style that I missed last week.  And the crowd at Monday Mingle, and, of course, Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday.  Oh, and don't forget the Pleated Poppy.  Come join us.

Ed. Note:  A year later I'm connected up with Sheila's Shoe Shine and Sacramento's Share-in-Style: Autumn.   My lovely boots never got the chance to shine on their own and my transitional coat gets such short air/ wear time between seasons, it was a great chance to show them off together again.  Hope you don't mind...

See more views of the amazing Spring coat, after the break!