It's Day 1 of MeMadeMay'19!

I, pao @ projectminima.blogspot.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May 2019. I endeavor to wear MeMade items everyday during May of 2019. I also plan to wear a different pair of new-to-me shoes with each ensemble worn during MeMadeMay'19.


And with that out of the way, let's roll.

~ 1st time wearing my newly made dusty mauve velvet coat ~

with a silver lining no less.  Made from Vogue 9340, which was a super easy coat pattern.  Although I complicated it up for myself by adding a lining, not to mention using velvet.  Anyway, after taking me months on end and many time outs for both the coat and I, it's done!  The pattern cover shows a much fuller-looking coat, but it's straight up and down.

~ hood up ~

I know, there's a snow white/ druid thing going on.

~ see?  There's that silver lining. ~

Just part of the magic, you know.  And what's that I have on underneath?  I've worn part of it before.  The pants here.  The reversible vest, who knows when.  And the stretch mesh tee...hmmm.  (I checked it out and it seems I haven't photographed or posted either of those items.  Memademay will remedy that.  Stay tuned.)

~ complete with rainboots from ebay ~

Until the morrow...

Ooh, and just linked up to Spy Girl's floral theme for May.  Check it out.

Spring Time Checked In

at least for one day in April... (today it's raining, and tomorrow, well, all week).

~ Can you tell I've lost weight? ~

It's been two years now that I've been on my exercise regime and I've lost a total of 26 pounds!  yea.  I kicked it up a notch over the last 3 months with an added food regime that helped me drop 8 of the 26 during that time.  Mostly it's healthy eating on a regular basis.  What a concept!

~ meanwhile, I dug this raincoat out of the archives ~

Finding 20 to 30 year old pieces that I haven't worn since then.  Such a flashback is in store for MeMadeMay'19, let me tell ya.  Well, maybe not, some of them go back far enough to be store bought!

~ ta for now ~

Beside the raincoat I brought home from a swap 30 years or so ago, and the navy Mary Jane Doc Martins from ebay, I'm wearing a dress I made you can see here, my hand sewn hat here, and my hand made fingerless gloves here.

See you over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like, Cheri's Shoe & Tell when they all go live, and Judith's Hat Attack! for April.

And I'll be seeing you every darn day in May.

Sightings of the Scarlet Sasquatch

and other shenanigans 'round Antarctica Lake Michigan.

~ shhh, there she is now ~

It must be disconcerting standing on what was once the lake, now covered with frozen piles of sand.  Beyond are huge chucks of ice floes stretching out to the horizon.

~ what is she doing now? ~

~ ah yes, tasting it ~

~ and Happy Valentine's Day to You! ~

Live, from the shores of Lake Michigan, in Chicago.

~ I gotta get out of this place ~

Please note for your viewing pleasure:  my Walking Dead Doc Martens boots from ebay, my Spirit Hoods fur hat also from ebay, the hand-knitted (or is it crochet?) scarf from a friend, and my Mom's old "shopping" coat.  All coming together for the perfect Scarlet Sasquatch ensemble as named by today's photographer friend, Sally.

~ with a parting shot of the break water (ha ha) ~

I'll be heading on over to Patti's Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like, Cherie's Shoe & Tell and Judith's Hat Attack.  Come on by.

Rip Roaring RRRed

and ready to celebrate the big thaw... now that freezing temps seem balmy...

~ compared to the POlaR VorTEX ~

Yes, where for as far as you could see, Lake Michigan was FroZen, I tell you.  Never seen anything like it.  Even now at 40 degrees or so, the waves of ice caps coming to shore are still frozen in the act.

~ the coat I finished while being house-bound ~

Even mail service was suspended for two days because of the arctic freeze.
   

I saw this incredible helmet/bonnet/hat on Secret Lentil's site while I was in the midst of making my canvas frayed red coat and knew it was mine.  I adore it.  Check out her site for the amazing, one-of-a-kind, pieces of clothing she designs like no other.

Don't you think I should figure out how to dye fabric so my coat doesn't look so pristine?

I was planning on making a bunch of shades of red clothes to wear with the coat/duster.  I had in mind:  velvet, faux leather, taffeta or satin, mesh.  But then I just couldn't wait to wear it when the weather broke.  

So I shopped my closet, as they say.  I found that really invigorating.  I've never put something together based on wearing all one color before.  I layered one red thing over another and poof.  I was a force to be reckoned with.

~ this is what I wore to school on Saturday ~

More or less.  I also had on my other red coat over it all cuz it was still cold out.

~ yeah, bay-bee ~

The top dress is a cotton blend made from Tina Givens Rosalind pattern.  The under dress is from a Katherine Tilton Butterick 5986 pattern made out of a thin slinky knit of which the scarf thingy is also made.

~ real redness here ~

~ xoxo shoes from ebay ~

I'll be heading on out to Patti's Not Dead Yet Style party, Cherie's Shoe & Tell, and Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like when they all go live.  Come on by.  Oh, oh, and Judith's Hat Attack for February.

ed. note:  I do believe I never credited the beautiful red coat I made here!  It's from Tina Givens Elena pattern made out of canvas.

Greetings from the Frozen Tundra

...located down the street at Lake Michigan.  Yea, just enjoying the sunny, 10 degree weather with a -6 wind chill.

~ Can't tell who that is? ~

I'll try zooming in

~ hmmm ~

Okay, what if I just enlarge myself all over the place

~ I'm actually getting hot now ~

Maybe you can get a hint by my ensemble

~ hey, flash you! ~

and now for the piece de resistance (spoken with a French accent)

~ my Geisha moon boots ~

Didn't I recently post about Surviving the Tropics in Chicago?   Well, that was then and this is now.  And by the way, I did make the vest I have on out of scraps of fabric I had on hand...

I'll be linking up with Patti and the Visibles and Not Dead Yet Style, Catherine's I Will Wear What I Like and Cheri's Shoe & Tell when they all go live.  Come on by.