Big, Baggy and Wrinkled

That's the way I like it.  uhuh, uhuh.  Maybe you have to age into it.  I dunno.  But I luv my linen clothes that way...and since I'm in the same shape/ state, what's not to like?

~ glamor shot in double linen ~

sweeeet

And layering?  Well it just comes naturally.  It was a bit chilly out so I added an underdress, or an overdress...hard to say. 

ooo, get your motor running...

twirl-o-rama

ahh, a still at last

Now you can see the gorgeous print.  The floral one is the same style as my previous post - a wrap around based on Simple Modern Sewing.

the big reveal

And the paisley print is a mash-up totally reconfigured from a Park Bench Pattern.

Thanks to you all that responded to my head post with such good vibrations.  It was really appreciated and helpful to boot.  I'll post more about the changes I'm making (or not - maybe they'll just appear).  First up my friend, Elaine, is taking some quick pix of me every Saturday when I have class.  That way I'm sure to get photos for the blog at least once a week.  Thanks Elaine!

Now I'm off to the last party of the Summer at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style for the Visibles.  I wouldn't miss that for the world.  yeah.

The Yellow Skirt Waves Bye-Bye

While on the last day, the lady bids adieu to her spirited companion - the Yellow Skirt - with a spot of hot chai amongst friends.

Cheers!

Ahh, and here they are now.

The motley crew

Some extra tidbits to notice besides her tie-dyed rainbow t-shirt with added sequins and refashioned teal suede with satin lapel jacket, are the lady's shoes and jewelry.

Elfin boots from e-bay

and necklace made from old earrings

Snow not only arrived for the first time this season, but continued to accumulate as the ladies made their departure from the cafe.   Thus, making the perfect photo op on the final day of Pao's yellow skirtness.

Flashing the Yellow Skirt on a snowy street corner

And finally, we find the lady at her doorstep, looking for keys...

Dear Reader, do you see Vix's sign?!!

Ah well, now we see Pao sitting on the porch.  Perhaps she's waiting for the door to open?

~ this too will pass ~

I'm sure it will all work out fine.

I'm going to be joining the Visibles at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style.
So come on over!

Acknowledgements:

Take Your Yellow Skirt to School Day

And so it was on this day, the Lady wore the Yellow Skirt to one of our City Colleges, wherein she facilitates a painting group for picture-makers in the making. 

Of interest to our historians, is the more subdued look Pao achieved by layering a black chiffon slip over the Yellow Skirt.

~ Pao poses amidst the student storage area  ~

It seems one of the group wore his St. Nicholas cap and a spontaneous re-enactment commenced that children of Pao-land recognize with glee.

Hee Hee Hee

Another treat, dear Reader, is a portrait of the picture-maker, painting the picture, after taking the picture of our lady posing for the picture for our Pao Calendar 2014.

Susan, painting and Pao, posing

Susan will send the painting group our calendars before the end of the month!

detail of Pao and the Yellow Skirt by Susan

and Le boots

...the last day cometh soon...

The Yellow Skirt at Sunrise...and Mom

Here in Pao-land, the elders gather together during their transitional phase at a place called Sunrise.  It is settled in the middle of town, amongst all the liveliness a thriving metropolis has to offer.  It was there, then, the lady and her Yellow Skirt went to visit her one and only mother.

The Lady Accompanied by Her True Love at Sunrise

The great hall was festooned with the ancient symbols of a life celebrated whilst dying.  A tree cut down in its prime and ornamented.  Nature uprooted, brought indoors and be-ribboned along with tiny specks of colors twinkling day and night.

This is the scene our picture-makers reproduce most often, wherein the lady presents the Circle of Life to her Mother.

The Giving of the Wreath from Daughter to Mother

In actuality the Lady's Mother had made this Circle of Life her very self years ago, although she no longer remembers the fact. 

Check out those matching yellow socks!

The Lady's mother introduced Pao as her daughter to all those around her, and told everyone the story of the Yellow Skirt.  She was said to be very happy and repeated herself endlessly.  Afterward, Pao placed the Circle of Life on the front of her mother's door along with a photograph of this picture.  All who saw it smiled.


and yes, there's still more to come...

oh, and a gratuitous boot shot

...and I linked up with Sacramento's Share in Style Christmas here

and Sheila's Shoe Shine (a year later)!

Bounce Back-Ability

Yes, I have it on actually.

It's called Bounce Back.

My newly created Dress-Ability.

And I'm showing this baby off at Patti's Visible Monday, even though it's late Tuesday night.  But I just finished it in the nick of time for all my deadlines.  whoo-hoo.

I wanted to embroider a title for each dress I make in this way to embody it's meaning to me at the time.  When Jan of Fort Smith Stylista made a comment about my bouncing back, I knew that was it. (Thanks Jan!)  So...the wearer will be fortified with the ability inscribed on the dress.  Dress-Ability.  Yeah, I could use that.

More details after the break...

Tripping Down Memory Lane

In my recent spate of organizing, I came upon some old photo/ scrapbooks.  This completely derailed whatever task I had going, of course.  But it was so cool.  The first things I found was a photo of me wearing that dress bought in Egypt and worn on a cruise down the Nile some 30 years ago.

See, I look exactly the same then as my recently
 posted "Starry Night with Van Gogh" seen here

Now the other totally awesome thing I had was an old scrapbook picked up at an estate sale in Saugatuck, Michigan for 50 cents.  I remember feeling so honored

On Site at Graceland

I'm posing...

Here I am at Chicago's famous Graceland Cemetery standing in front of one of the more unusual monuments that grace its grounds.  Our sketching club has resumed Saturday morning outings here when class is out for summer.  I swear the temp. is a good 10 degrees cooler, the setting is beautiful with a man made lake, island, old, old trees, and exquisite monuments.  Plus no one ever comes here.  It's always quiet and empty.  And right in the middle of the city, near my house, and you can park!!!

Meanwhile, I'm wearing my newly remodeled sandals I posted about yesterday.  And a top and capris that I originally made from scratch and then refashioned to fit.  (Click on the items to get to the particular post.)

To see the amazing mausoleum I'm standing in front of, continue after the jump...

Art About Town

Lately I've been such the fashion photo model (!) that I haven't had time to sew.  drat and drat.  I even received two new Japanese sewing books for my soon-to-be birthday from the True Love.  I have had fun with the background-finding for the photos and playing around with that.

Aline Smithson, photographer

But I truly can't wait to get back to my daily sewing routine along with the exercise.  I skipped a bit last week.  But I'm back on track now.  There's been some visiting too which is not something we really do and a road trip scheduled to Mom's for tomorrow.  Maybe I can figure out some hand sewing I can do in the car...

You can see all the latest photo extravaganzas on my clothes collage page

Less is More...

Ok just so you know, this is what I'm up for next Monday...this Picasso is the inspiration for the Style Imitates Art challenge, which is cool.   I have a blast doing it and I encourage you all to go for it!  But then I also signed on for This or That Trend:

~painting by Picasso~

~www.meganmaedaily.com~

I thought it sounded fun, but it happens every day this week!  I don't know if I will.  You know there's such a thing as too much...or too much of a good thing...whatevah.







 And of course, I'm way into sweet Patti's Not Dead Yet Style, meet-up every Monday:

~not dead yet style~

State of Project Minima - The First Year

Yes, a year has gone by since I decided to launch Project Minima and I'm still as involved as ever.  Let's look back and see if I accomplished my original goals and what other doors have opened along the way.  hmmm.

illustration by Clare Owen.

Well, the main goal I had written on Day One was: "...everything works, everything looks good, it all fits and I like it."  I would say I have achieved that - although in ways that I had not envisioned at the time.  In terms of my starting with the clothes list, I have favored the "play with to be altered" item rather than the "give away the not wanted."  The significant refinement came for me in my second post when I decided to go on a shopping free ban for the year.  I haven't bought a single item of apparel (new or used) in all that time.  This allowed my creativity to flourish -

Photo Shoot Out

Photo taken by Pat Otto

Well.  Today you might say I wasted my time in service to the blog.  I actually took some pictures of clothes!  (No, not like that - of the clothes I've been altering!)  This was something I had wanted to avoid, because it just seemed too boring - both to do and to look at.  The other stuff has been fun:  the actually work, and the write-ups and the art images.  Anyway, some friends said pix would be helpful...so...I did that instead of the fun altering stuff.  I did do a great piece of artwork though!  So all is not lost. 

Anyway, there's a few things up on the View Clothes page now and I put in supporting links.  It took a very long time and I don't know if it's worth it, or if I'll keep doing it.  We'll see.