Animals and Angels

~ artwork by Emile Morel ~

...were just pouring out of me in the jewelery-making scene.  But that's it for awhile.  I've cleared off the table in my studio and am ready for a sewing bout again.  Meanwhile all the jewels-to-be are now organized to the max which delights me to no end.

Without further ado, here's my latest playthings (after the break)...

Some Bugs and Barbie

Alrighty then, we have a combo for you today.  Yesiree, step right up and see three of the most unusual  pieces...

artwork by Maurizio Anzeri

....yes, of Maurizio's embroidered photos, but also dah, dah, dah, dahhhh,...

(more after the break!)

From the Treasure Trove

I've been assembly bits and bobs together to make some jewelry lately.

painting by George Gower

Oh, and I received a Sunshine Award from the loverly Vivienne of Thrifted Shift: 

Thank you.  While I will always appreciate a bit of sunshine sent my way, I really do loath all the Q&A that tag along with those awards...so I shall make up my own rules and repeal that aspect.

I'm going to award some sunshine pick-me-ups to a couple of bloggers who could use it right now.  Vix of Vintage Vixen who has a bit of pnemonia and Lakota of Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping who is nursing a cold.  Enjoy your Sunshine Award and do with it what you will!

Now back to my treasure trove...after the break

Tulle Time & OMG I Bought Something

Well I don't have any, tulle that is, nor do I have a tutu, ballerina outfit, can-can slip or the like.  The closest thing I can come up with is all these pantaloons I've been making with organza and lace.  Does that count?

Here's to all my sistah bloggers who have transcended time and space in tutus on stairs with tea!  If you don't know what the #@% I'm talking about, Miss Simmonds deliciously spells it out with pictures and links in her post, I am doll parts.

Please remember, I'm doing the best that I can with what I've got...drumroll...

ta-dah!

Yeah, I know.  What a let down compared to all the other groovy ladies.  But let me tell you, try putting on multiple layers of pantaloons sometime, yeah.

Maybe if you let me say a bit about the pieces I can get extra credit for effort.

Shoe Be Do Be Do...

what were the chances...I'd be re-do-ing shoes...before the night was through?...ah, yes.  I have had a serious case of shoe lust lately.

shoes designed and created by Lloraine Neithardt

So to keep myself in line, I've dived into the depths of my closet to reclaim some lost soles.  Surely no one needs sooo many pairs of black and/or brown shoes!  Where are all the beautiful colors I crave?!

Just check out these gems after the break, my dears...

What's Going On?

I found myself in the supply room spontaneously doing some artwork at the little table by the window.  It used to hold my sewing machine.  With all the re-organizing, a lot of my art supplies are now lying around in boxes on the floor, but still organized within them.

painting by Leslie Lee.

It happened because creativity has got to come out somewhere I think - and I've banned myself from sewing until I get the studio, supply room, and dressing room sorted out.  Anyway, it was fun, low-key, satisfying - in the midst of everything going on - or not going on.

Well, I'm going to have to lift that ban soon if I don't get moving with the tasks at hand.

You know, you just can't block the creative spirit.  (thank goodness!)

More Shoe Re-Do's

sculpture by Gwen Murphy.

Aghh...not that extreme!  More of the wearable kind. Like a pair of heavy-duty brown suede sandals - nothing wrong with them except being boring as all get out.  I thought my iridescent acrylic copper paint might pull them out of the doldrums.  Rubbed it on with my finger to get a more antique look.  Yep, they remind

Spring Shoe Review

image from microgardner.com.

It's a new season so I've been going through the back of my closet to find all those old shoes I never wear.  That self-imposed shopping ban really has me looking at every thing with new eyes.   

Two pair of shoes were selected for a quick make-over and came out the better for it.

State of Project Minima III

artwork by Sebastiaan Bremer.

Nine months into the project and still going strong.   Can't see myself stopping sewing, mending, creating and/or making do - why would I?  And I certainly no longer have an interest in shopping for stuff that I don't need, crave or want.  How cool is that?!  What I'm doing is way more satisfying...and fun too.

Anyway, let's tally up.  I've completed &/or reworked approximately 29 pieces this quarter,

Process Pending

artwork by Cecilia Paredes.

Wow, what a whirlwind I'm in.  I rediscovered some pattern pieces I had cut out for a vest a long while ago and never sewed together - 3 of them actually.  It's a really cool kimono-type thing that is now a wee bit small but easily adjustable.  I decided to go ahead and put them together with minor additions.  I'm having fun exploring all the fabric mix and matching.

Once I got going I kept changing things up, what with the additions, and then deciding not to line it, but go reversible while I was at it.  Each piece is made up of a front, back, side panels and collar, plus tie fasteners.

Take an Ordinary Coat...

Takashi Kawada, designer

...and do something with it.  I removed all the buttons that made my old camel coat double-breasted and changed it into a single row of buttons by replacing them (both in terms of style and location).  I actually chose plainer buttons that were the color of the coat, but I used a pinkish-coral color thread to sew them on and changed the direction of stitches from x's to +'s, if you get my drift.

Transparency in Sewing & Art

artwork by Matthew Cox.

Practiced french seams and making my own bias tape (!) with this number - a black nylon shell, I guess you'd call it.  I plan to wear it as a layering device, you know, over or under things, especially since it's transparent.

I used the Happy Homemade Vol. 1 Japanese pattern book as a basis for it, but strayed so far from it, I doubt you could tell it's from blouse S originally.  I thought I graded the pattern to my measurements, but it came out far, far too big.  Thus the cute plackets at the neckline center front and back, not to mention the 4 inches taken in at the armhole sides.  But hey, it's a learning experience and causes me to do things I wouldn't have thought of otherwise...

Cut the Shift!

drawing by kt small.

Just finished a linen vest that I converted from an old mini dress/ jumper.  The kind of jumper that you wear a blouse or sweater under - not the English version jumper.  It had a deep V-neck and over-large armholes, straight and short...remember that style?  It practically looked like a vest already.  It's a very light weight linen, light in color too.  I cut in straight down the middle, smothered it with laces and textures, and put gigantic pockets on it.  Just luv it now.  Like a smock I can work and play in.  oooo.  And then in the middle of it all, I made a detachable feather boa collar for it.  Well, for anything really.  Check. it. out.

Over, Under, Sideways, Down

 Patti Smith & Robert Mapplethorpe c.1969,
Gerard Malanga, photographer.

That's the T-shirt skirt.  And it's reversible - in theory at least.  I think it turned out pretty neat.  Nice weight to it with that lining.  Anyway, I was given a men's dark gray T.  I thought I'd try my hand at making a skirt out of it...and then along the way decided to make it reversible using this light pink T I had.  Liked the combo.  I used the waistband of some old yoga pants that happened to be the same color as the gray shirt.  Lucky me.  Then I thought, why not use the T shirt sleeves for pockets.

Warning:  what follows is a blow-by-blow account of the making.

A Sewing Rebellion Production

painting by Mary Jane Ansell.

Here's a little ditty I worked on at the launch of the Chicago Chapter of the Sewing Rebellion.  Actually I'm thrilled about it.  Not the camisole so much, but getting the Sewing Rebellion going.  And it was fun too!  I'll stop at that because I could go on & on.  Check out the SR site if you're interested,

Add-To Re-Do

photograph by Rosie Hardy.

Decided to add to a redo the other day.  That long white embroidered tunic top where I removed most everything - collar, cuffs, pockets, etc.  But I had been over zealous in my remodeling, and there were consequences.  The chest pockets with buttoned flaps had been emphatically sewn in and required amputation at some point, leaving small holes in the fabric.  I had mended them with

An Accidental Turtle Neck

photo by Cubist Literature

Actually plenty of them and just in time for winter in Chicago.

Previously, I had cut many of my old tights into stockings (hence all the garter belts) since they no longer fit.  And I saved all the top portions (because that's what I do).

Then one cold day, I suddenly realized they

Black Holes

artwork by Anselm Kiefer

Long underwear time.  But the sheer black silk kind.  And mine had a few teeny, tiny holes in the top.  So I cut out some small rosettes from a scrap of black lace I had on hand, and fabric glued them in place.

Note to self:  next time hand sew them on since the glue makes it a little stiff on such fine fabric.

But it still worked as the largest florette was only the size of a nickel...

State of Project Minima II

artwork by Louise Tidd

6-month status report on Project Minima:    Approximately 65 pieces completed.  Joined Refashion Coop, contributing twice a month since October.  Starting Sewing Rebellion Chicago Chapter in January, to meet monthly.  Re-organized work space.  Received 2 sewing/ design books:  I Am Cute Dresses by Sato Watanabe and Design-It-Yourself Clothes by Cal Patch, pouring over them constantly. 

Pant Skirt

Tube Spant by Y-3 brand

Remember gauchos?  Or culottes...maybe palazzo pants?  All variations on a hybrid pant/skirtish thing.  Wonder what the au current terminology is... 

Anyway, I had some, have some, and remade them into a longer version.  Mine were very comfy and draped well  - a stretch jersey that recovers its shape instantaneously.  I added an extra 6 inches in length using a paisley lace-like suede fabric from my stash.  Now they almost look like hippy bell-bottoms, but thankfully, not quite.  I think I'll call them...skants!