The Blue Gardenia
Perfect hair. Perfect makeup. Perfect Lanvin-Castillo ensemble. September 2, 2010 13:25 3 Comments
I want her hair. I want her makeup. I want her dress. I want her coat. She is totally glamorous. She is totally elegant. And she is wearing a Lanvin-Castillo design, Vogue Paris Original 1082, copyright 1961. This is one strong incentive to learn to sew. Absolutely.
And, yes, as it happens, this gorgeous pattern is available at The Blue Gardenia. Can you resist? I hope the answer to that question is no. A resounding no. Truly.
Sewing spaces: Wanna see Diary of a Sewing Fanatic's room? I do. August 30, 2010 14:30 6 Comments
Today, let's glimpse inside the sewing space of Carolyn, who pens the fabulous blog, Diary of a Sewing Fanatic. DSF was one of the first sewing blogs that I discovered, and I am still quite fanatical about it. Absolutely. Carolyn makes sewing look so easy. She does. I am in awe. Totally.
Do you have a dedicated sewing space?
No. I don't. I sew in my bedroom, but I really don't mind . . . it's
convenient on Saturdays and Sundays. I can literally roll out of bed and
be at my sewing machine.
What do you like best about your sewing area?
My sewing machines!
What would you change about your space?
It would be a lot more organized. Every time I think I have enough organization going on, I buy too much stuff and max it out. It's at that point again . . . needing more organization.
How is your space organized?
Right
now, I'm using an armoire to hold trims, buttons and notions . . . several
drawers from plastic to hold patterns, those plastic car cases to hold thread
and a cutting table with lots of wire baskets beneath it to hold supplies too.
If you have a fabric stash, how do you impose order?
My fabric collection has its own closet and the latest of the season resides in a Rubbermaid bin in my bedroom. Again, though my buying habits mean that I do have fabric everywhere . . . *sigh*. . . all over the living room and even sitting on the couch.
How are your patterns organized?
Most of the ones in the bedroom are in the drawers, just in there. The newest ones are on the top, so if I want a new one, it's pretty easy to find. The older ones require some searching. All of the TNTs are in folders and stored in a drawer under the cutting table, so they are always easy to lay my hands on.
Are your patterns archived? How are they stored?
I do have several boxes of patterns in bankers boxes stored in my daughter's closet.
Do you have a mannequin made to measure?
I do have a mannequin . . . Lulu . . . who is presently missing her legs. I keep saying that I need to do something about that and never get around to it.
What do you cut out your patterns on?
I have a wonderful cutting table made from pieces from Ikea. I love my cutting table!
What is your most helpful tool? Why?
Mmmm, I don't have an answer to that one!
What tools do you recommend for the beginning sewer?
First, a good sewing book . . . then buy all of the recommended basic tools in the first chapter of said book!
What kind of machine do you use?
My sewing machines are Janome and Brother. My serger is a Babylock.
What do you like about it?
My new 6600 is a quilting edition, and I like that it stops precisely. I love the up/down feature, the scissors that cut the threads, the long bed and that the foot lifts higher to accommodate heavier fabrics.
Do you use a serger? If so, why do you like it?
I do own one and use it primarily to finish seams.
How long did it take you to develop your sewing space?
No matter where I've lived since leaving my parents' house and that includes college, I've managed to make a place to sew. Sewing is that important to me!
Ms. Longoria, Ms. Hargitay, go to the head of the class. August 29, 2010 18:46 5 Comments
Dearest readers, I let you down. I did. I apologize. I went to see Inception this afternoon, and I missed half of the Emmy show. Will you forgive me? Please do.
But. Because of the wonderful web, I caught up. It took hours, of course. I clicked and I clicked and I clicked. And then I clicked some more. Ever so much more. My neck aches. Really. I worked hard. I did. So. I'm tired. I'm sleepy. But before pulling back the covers, I'll share my judgment calls about the gowns. I will. Because I know you hang on my every word. I know you do. (And if you don't, please, keep it to yourselves. Promise?)
My favorite gown: The elegant dress designed by Robert Rodriguez for Eva Longoria. Little black dress? I don't think so. And the vintage-look earrings are perfect. Absolutely.
I am also smitten with the Vera Wang dress worn by Mariska Hargitay. The color is sexy. Pale skin. Love it. The hip detail highlights Ms. Hargitay's womanly figure. She is, after all, Jayne Manfield's daughter.
I would wear either of these gowns. Happily. Absolutely. Of course, the checker at the Safeway might look askance at my attire. Or perhaps be fooled into thinking I lead a very glamorous life. Or I could be the best dressed female at the farmers market. Mmmmmm . . . the possibilities abound.
January Jones' Versace proved controversial in our living room. Quite. I was rather taken with the sculptural New Look shape and the rich color. Royal blue is a favorite of mine. But His Bertness found this dress hideous. If I wore this dress, though, he would say I looked beautiful. He would. And the sweet thing is that he'd most likely mean it.
And the less I say about Christina Hendricks' attire, the better. So. I'll simply say it was designed by Zac Posen, who so often excels at dressing women. And I will add that Ms. Hendricks has luscious skin. And quite a lot of it was on display. There. That's it. No more. My pillow beckons.
Sewing spaces: Kristy of Lower Your Presser Foot passes the test. August 26, 2010 19:04 7 Comments
In today's installment of Sewing Spaces, we'll put Kristy Idle's sewing room to the white glove test. Kristy, of Lower Your Presser Foot, makes me green with envy on a regular basis. Why, you ask, dear readers? Because. Because she simply will not stop making fabulous garments. And guess what? I'll let you in on a little secret — her sewing room passes the test, and then some. Absolutely. So. Color me green. Again.
Do
you have a dedicated sewing space?
I sure do. When my husband and I recently undertook major renovations to our house, I insisted on building a special room for my sewing space since the recent birth of my daughter took away the bedroom I previously occupied.
Theoretically, the room is also supposed to be a home office and possibly a future playroom, but I can't see either of those things happening!
What do you like best about your sewing area?
My room is really bright and sunny, having windows on three walls, which makes it lovely to be in there. It's also mine, and only mine, which is great, too.
What would you change about your space?
A bit bigger room would have been nice, but council building restrictions made us scale it down. The only real downside to my sewing room is that it is separate to our house as it is built above our garage. Which means that when my daughter is having her lunchtime nap, I can't go up to my sewing room to squeeze in 30 mins of sewing time, and sometimes it's hard on these cold winter nights to leave our warm living room to go up there, too!
How
is your space organized?
In the centre of the room is my cutting/work table with storage underneath, along one wall is open shelving with my fabrics, along another wall is a built in desk for my sewing machine and overlocker, and along another wall is a bookcase that is crammed full of books, magazines and sewing supplies but not in a pretty way. I have my button collection stored in vintage kitchen canisters which are pretty to look at though.
If you have a fabric stash, how do you impose order?
I have a ginormous fabric stash, way more fabric than I could ever use in my lifetime, but I just can't pass by a beautiful piece of fabric especially if I unearth them at op shops or garage sales. I've been building my stash for about the last 10 years, and the majority of it comes from op shops and garage sales, but I have purchased a little bit of it retail, some inherited from my gran's stash, some stolen from my mum's stash and some gifted from others.
Shorter lengths are stored folded on open shelving lined up along one wall of my sewing room, and longer lengths are stored on cardboard rolls sitting upright in a drum. I have been thinking of covering the shelves with fabric to protect from dust, but I like to look at it too much to hide it away! It's ordered by color sorting, although I have started photographing new pieces and keeping a list of length, fabric composition and date of purchase.
How are your patterns organized?
My patterns are separated into each pattern company, and then in numerical order. For patterns traced from Burda magazines, I put them in envelopes the same size as sewing pattern envelopes, print out the technical drawing from the (now defunct) Burda website and glue it on the front so that I can store them the same as any other patterns.
Are your patterns archived? How are they stored?
My
patterns are sort of archived. I have scanned the cover of each and saved them
in files such as "dresses", "skirts", "childrens".
etc. This way, when I want to make something, I can just flick through images
on my computer instead of physically flipping through the patterns. The
patterns are stored in two Aneboda chest of drawers from Ikea. These fit
patterns in perfectly, even the big designer Vogue envelopes.
Do you have a mannequin made-to-measure?
I have a mannequin I bought in an op shop years ago. It's not made to measure, but it is adjustable to my measurements. I also have a plastic display mannequin that has a removable pregnancy belly that I bought off Ebay because I have been toying with the idea of starting a maternity fashion label.
If so, do you find it helpful?
I
can't say I do find the mannequin overly helpful, because its posture is so
much better than mine, and it also doesn't have the sagging lumpy bits I have
either! I do use it for pinning up hems after first deciding the length while
I'm wearing the garment, and then measuring off the floor to get the hem
straight. What I use it mostly for
is storage of works in progress. . . .
What do you cut out your patterns on?
I use my old dining table as a cutting table. I replaced the legs with taller ones so that the table is at the correct ergonomic height for me which happily also meant that my pattern cupboards fit underneath the table. Under the table is also a big trunk that my grandparents used when they emigrated from England to Australia 60 years ago that I use to store clothes for refashioning and UFOs (of which I have many). On top of the table, I just use one of those fold-up cardboard cutting mats with a grid on it, which is also a good surface for tracing out Burda magazine patterns using one of those spiky tracing wheels.
What is your most helpful tool? Why?
Hmmmm, my unpicker is my most utilized tool, but I would say that a thread snipper is my most useful tool, because before I bought one I would often nick my fabric when trimming threads using scissors and end up with small holes in my nearly finished garments, which was soooo annoying, as you can imagine.
What tools do you recommend for the beginning sewer?
A good quality pair of really sharp scissors for use only on fabric makes a big difference, I think. They may cost a fair bit, but if you look after them they will last for a long time and make it so much easier and more comfortable for cutting out your pattern pieces (which is the most tedious part of sewing, I find). I also recommend that beginners buy a mid-range sewing machine but the best they can afford, because the budget sewing machines are often lacking features that make sewing easier such as a one-step buttonhole. My previous machine was a basic Brother that had a four-step buttonhole process. It was difficult to sew a good buttonhole, and as a consequence, I hated doing them. Starting out sewing can be hard enough as it is, so why not use as much technology as possible to help you out?
What kind of machine do you use?
My current sewing machine is a Brother NS-30, which I only bought earlier this year.
What do you like about it?
I like so many things about this machine compared with my previous basic sewing machine. It has 70 stitches (most of which I don't use, but I like having the options), it does an easy peasy but beautifully perfect buttonhole in one step, it has a little thingy that threads the needle saving me from having to squint and poke the thread through the needle, and it also sews automatically via stop/start touch button instead of the foot pedal, which was useful recently when I was sewing long straight seams while sewing 20m+ of curtains.
Do you use a serger? If so, why do you like it?
I have a Toyota serger which I've had for ages, and until I recently had it serviced, I didn't like it all, but now we seem to be working through our issues.
I like it because it's the quickest way to neaten up the raw edges of seams and looks professionally finished like ready-to-wear clothing, although I do admit that Hong Kong finishes and French seams are prettier (but I'm too lazy for those).
How long did it take you to develop your sewing space?
I've been in my sewing space for about a year now, but it's still very much under development.
I'd like to personalize it a bit more with some more artwork, put in some better, stronger lighting because currently I only have those energy-saving lightbulbs which have a yellowish cast, and I'd also like to neaten up my storage bookshelf, too.
Next week, we'll peek inside the sewing spaces of Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) and Elaine (The Selfish Seamstress). Can you wait, dear readers? I can. But barely. I am goose-pimply with excitement. Absolutely.
Learning to sew: The darts are marked. Now, advice. Please. August 26, 2010 15:31 5 Comments
Yippee skippee! I marked the darts today. Using, natch, vintage tracing paper and wheel. I am using the actual vintage pattern, and, yes, I realize there are those who will frown at that. But. This pattern had been used before. So. Accept my justification. Please. And do note my dining room table under the protective board. It performed its duty as a work station well. Quite well, in fact.
I also marked the fold line on each dart. Is this a good thing? Or a bad one? Please advise. Because. You know I want to do it right next time. Absolutely.
(And, yes, I am still listening to Raul Malo. I found the dream that I could speak to . . . )
That Touch of Fashion: Be bubbly. Be witty. Be Doris. No? August 25, 2010 16:51 2 Comments
She can be effervescent. She can be sleek. She can be hilarious. She can be serious. But she's always engaging, whether playing an abused Ruth
"Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty." So said Ms. Day. So true. Though I admit to the occasional bout of complaining. I do. Really. I'm not proud of that fact. I'm not. But there ya go. Cold hard truth. And all that.
At the moment, I'm very grateful for For You by Raul Malo. (Thank you, Marticia, for playing his music today. I scrounged around my piles of CDs, and there the Malo/Mavericks CDs were.) I want to be your story. I want to be your glory. The secret that you're keeping that you can tell no other. Oh, Raul. Raul. That is so fabulous. I feel a teen-age girl swoon coming on. I do. So. Excuse me, dear readers, excuse me. I must hit replay. Absolutely.
Sewing spaces: Erica B.'s D.I.Y. style. (Martha is smiling!) August 23, 2010 21:04 6 Comments
Dearest readers, I have been pondering sewing spaces. My machine is in my office. I cut at Marticia's. I need organization! I do. I need inspiration. Absolutely. (And I could do with some extra energy, too, oh great sewing genie!)
So. I decided to query other sewing bloggers about their sewing rooms. I did. And today is the first of a series on the spaces where my blogging dressmaker idols sew. I hope you find this info as helpful as I do. Really. Truly. Sometimes, I am so unselfish.
The first glamorous blogger: Erica Bunker of Erica's D.I.Y. style:
Do you have a dedicated sewing space?
I do!
What do you like best about your sewing area?
That it's mine! It's my own personal space. It's the only room in my home that is completely mine. If I'm working on a project, I can just stop and leave everything as is, cut the lights off and return the next day.
What would you change about your space?
I'm currently adding more storage space and my cutting area. In my next home, the space itself will be much larger to accommodate those things.
How is your space organized?
When I worked in corporate America, I worked in a cubicle just like a lot of people. I grew accustomed to having everything at arms length. I wanted my sewing area to reflect that as well. I can just turn in my chair and have access to everything I need. It's a small space, but functional.
If you have a fabric stash, how do you impose order?
I really don't maintain much of a stash. If I see something I love, I'll try to visualize what I'd like to do with it and by yardage based on that. I'm really not that good at predicting a future project, so I really don't buy fabric to stash. But the small stash that I have is folded in a large RubberMaid bin.
How are your patterns organized?
My patterns are organized by pattern company in numerical order. I've been saying that one of these days I'll sit down and create my own database or spreadsheet, so that I'd be able to do a query or sort based on category. That day has yet to come!
Are your patterns archived? How are they stored?
Yes. And they are stored in small filing cabinets. But since my pattern stash is growing by the moment and every sale at Jo-Ann's and Hancock, I'm looking into something larger to store them.
Do you have a mannequin made-to-measure?
Not "made- to-measure. But I have a PGM-Pro that is very close!
If so, do you find it helpful?
Yes, I love her and couldn't sew without her.
What do you cut out your patterns on?
I use a Sullivan Home Hobby Table - 36" x 36" x 59.5" and a rotary cutting mat.
What is your most helpful tool? Why?
My iron! Next to my sewing machine, it's the best tool I have! It's a Consew Silver Star CES-300 Gravity Feed Iron. When sewing, you spend just as much time (if not more) pressing your garment as you do sewing . . . well, at least YOU SHOULD! You have to have a quality iron.
What tools do you recommend for the beginning sewer?
A great reference book! I recommend The Complete Guide to Photo Sewing - Singer. It tells you everything you need to know to get started. I've been sewing for years, and I still refer to it.
What kind of machine do you use?
A Bernina Activa 130.
What do you like about it?
She's a little workhorse! And the stitch quality is impeccable!
Do you use a serger? If so, why do you like it?
Yes. I have a Brother 1034 D serger. I'm really anal about the inside of my garments. When I sew something, I proudly show the interior. I always want the inside of my garments to look "finished". . . never the homemade look.
How long did it take you to develop your sewing space?
I would call it "still under development," LOL! But I've been developing it since around 2006!
Channeling Catherine: Be a strong yet gentle dance partner. August 22, 2010 19:18
Care and concern for your dance partner: Desirable.
Pesky paparazzi: Nuisance.
Black silk charmeuse at Gorgeous Fabrics: Beautiful.
Simplicity 5611, copyright 1973: Beneficial.
Love Carey Mulligan's glamorous sheaths? Then get the look. August 21, 2010 20:10
I shall keep this brief, dear readers, because you are probably as sleepy as I am and just as eager to cuddle up in bed with a warm glass of milk, a trashy novel and an organic bon-bon. Or two. But. I had to share before pulling back the covers and nestling inside.
I watched An Education tonight. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Indeed, so much I had to wonder why I didn't see it in the theater. Oh. Yes. No theater in my lovely little town. I would have to drive twelve miles to the next town. We simply can't have that. Not when I can wait a month or two or three and drive a mere two miles to the locally-owned video store.
So. I won't spoil the plot for those of you who haven't seen it. Because. I am kind. I am considerate. I am all that. But here are a few details — just a few: The year is 1961. There's an innocent. There's a cad — whoops! Have I gone too far?
At any rate, dear readers, the clothes are luscious. Carey Mulligan as Jenny sheds her schoolgirl duds for elegant sheaths. Odile Dicks-Mireaux designed the clothes for the movie. And they are so right, from the dull bookish uniforms to the smoky nightclub brocade sheaths.
If you want to emulate Jenny's sophisticated chicklet-about-town look, might I suggest McCall's 7007? It can be yours, and you can make it for day, for night, again and again. And did I mention it's a Quickie? How marvelous is that? And, yes, we do have it at The Blue Gardenia. You guessed. Didn't you?
Canine cutitude: Henry loves the smell, the feel of clean laundry. August 19, 2010 08:26 3 Comments
Monday night, His Bertness tossed the laundry on the sofa, so that he could fold while we watched The Closer. However. He left the living room for a second, and Henry, who never misses an opportunity, even it's the size of a gnat, immediately nestled among the freshly laundered jeans, towels, socks and shorts. We're still puzzling: How did he manage to get socks draped on top of him? He is one talented dog. No doubt.
Sometimes, your dress is more successful than the dinner party. August 17, 2010 17:09 1 Comment
There are dinner parties. And then there are other dinner parties. The dinner parties you'd, well, rather forget. Quickly. Take tonight's. A flop by any method of measure.
You had the food prepared on time. The table set. A first for you. You're usually late with the appetizer. Late with the salad. Late with the entree. You're usually still putting flatware on the table when the doorbell rings. Not this time. You were ready.
You knew something was up when the first guest arrived without his significant other. He was on time. Early even. He said his woman was at the hotel, doing laundry. With another guest. Fine, you thought. They'll be here soon. You thought. Ha. The significant other arrived, with male friend in tow, in damp clothes. Two hours later! Yes. Two.
And all this time, the gumbo simmered on the stove, the shrimp getting tough as a pair of work boots. Sigh. Double sigh. Deep sigh.
The two late guests were picky, too. They pushed all the artichokes to the side of their plates. Since the salad only consisted of fava beans, artichokes, lemon, olive oil, this was not a good sign. They picked all the andouille out of the gumbo. You watched, amazed. Absolutely. And they weren't hungry for dessert. Which, if you do say so yourself, was incredibly delicious. Pecan pie. Rich, gooey filling. Flaky crust. Mam would have been proud. Ever so.
And conversation wasn't much better. Oh no. The high point was when hubby and one male guest spoke with immense passion about gout attacks. You get the picture. I know you do.
Yes. You are glad it's over. Truly. This is not a dinner party you want to repeat. Absolutely not.
But you looked good, wearing Your Pattern 3133, circa 1960s. You are quite pleased that you stitched it up last weekend, just for this dinner. It's fabulous. It is. Truly. The sea green linen was an excellent choice. You can wear it for day. For night. You'll get so very much use out of it. It's going to be a staple that you pull out of your closet again. And again.
And, yes, it is available at The Blue Gardenia. It's a Bust 34. And it costs a mere $33. And it will be worth every penny. Yes indeedy. It will.
Sewing spaces: Would yours make Martha Stewart smile or sob? August 15, 2010 09:59 6 Comments
Today, I'm overwhelmed. Well. Not really. I'm exaggerating a bit. But only a wee bit.
As you probably recall, dearest readers, I want to finish my Mad Men skirt. I want to wear it. I do. It's cut out. Completely. And so I face my next task: marking all those darts. All 10 of them. Gulp. Now. This must be accomplished on my breakfast table. And that is why I am demoralized. Because. Because my breakfast table is a mass of magazines, bills, flyers. And let me not forget the salt shaker. Obviously, the table needs to be cleared anyway. It does. It's a mess. But tackling the darts and the table in the same day? Oh, fright.
So, dear readers, here are my questions:
Do you have a designated sewing space?
If so, how did you organize that space?
What do you like about your sewing space?
If you don't have a designated sewing space, how do you cope? How do you keep from pulling every hair out of your head?
Please share your thoughts on this. Do. I beg you.
(And, alas, the pink sewing room featured above, in all its girly glory, is not mine. It belongs to the Domestic Diva. And I am green. I am. Absolutely. The Anthropologie shot is likewise courtesy of DD. Gorgeous, but perhaps not so practical. I love those high ceilings though! Truly.)
That Touch of Fashion: Annoyed, yes. Stupid, no. Glam, you bet. August 14, 2010 08:48 4 Comments
She's feisty. She's ethical. She's independent. She's a career woman, most definitely
not a career girl. And she is dressed for success. Totally. The movie: 1961's Lover Come Back. The character: Carol Templeton.
Duplicate the look with Advance American Designer 6952, designed by Stanley Wyllens. And, yup, it is available at The Blue Gardenia. But you knew that. You did.
And you may get a kick out of this quote from Ms. Day — I know I did: "Any girl can look glamorous . . . just stand there and look stupid."
Playsuits. Picnics. Fried chicken. Does life get any better? August 10, 2010 17:54
Yesterday, it was there. Definitely. Inescapably. Teasing her. Courting her. A little coy. Yet. There it was. That hint of fall in the air. The coolness on her arms and calves on her walk. Yes. Yes. She loves autumn. Her favorite season. Bar none. The color of the leaves. The nip in the air. Beautiful.
But.
First. There is an end-of-summer picnic. And she wants to make the most of it. So. She'll wear the playsuit and skirt she made from McCall's 6624, copyright 1979. Designed by Krizia. It is indeed playful. And sexy, but not threateningly so. Not in-your-face-don't-you-want-me sexy. Nothing to make the other women uncomfortable or the men lustful. She loves it. She does. She made it out of lightweight robin's egg blue linen. And she can't wait to wear it. Absolutely.
Now. What to bring? Cherry pie? Pumpkin bread? Brownies? No. Fried chicken. Yep. That's it. Calories. Grease. Yum bunnies.
Channeling Catherine: A bad hair day? I don't think so. August 9, 2010 11:50
Looking this good after a wild party: Fantasy.
Exceptional cleaning crew: Necessity.
Dior Fuseau Suede Pump: Desirable.
Butterick 5988, with lengthened sleeves:
Beneficial.
Are you a Carole Lombard or a Rita Hayworth? Or maybe both. August 8, 2010 15:44 2 Comments
We've added patterns at The Blue Gardenia. Yes. We have. I hope you are as excited as we are. I won't waste your time. I'll get right to the nitty gritty with a few favorites from this huge update.
Oh, it was your fabulous idea. It was. Have a salon. A pianist playing Chopin. A flamenco dancer and guitarist. Canapes on silver (well, silverplate) platters. Oh, brother. The people that came! Too many to count. Too many that you've never laid eyes on before this night. And they show no signs of leaving. How will you get rid of them? How? Well. You aren't going to fret about that now. You're going to grab a plate of those miniature frosted brownies, cuddle up in one of your wing chairs, and giggle over the latest Carl Hiaasen. You know your guests will forgive you. Because you look so fabulous, so Carole Lombard, in your 1930s silk charmeuse pajamas, Butterick 6537. You do.
Which view of Butterick 3896, circa 1940s, will you make first? You love them all. Perhaps you'll go with View B. It's got that gypsy flair. Yes. That's the one. It will look amazing with your black crepe trousers and your new red wedgies. You'll pincurl your hair for Rita Hayworth waves. Yes. Absolutely. The cat's.
You are feeling so sophisticated at this moment, as you turn this way and that in front of the mirror. You adjust your hat. Tilt it just so. Smooth your hands over your hips. You love Vogue Special Design S-4460, circa 1953. It is special indeed. From the bodice details to the flaring back panel. Wow. This will give you an extra layer of confidence. Just what you need to meet his sister for the first time. Yes. Yes indeed. Now. Deep breath. Deep.
So. Hurry over to The Blue Gardenia, and shop, shop, shop. You'll find something you like. How can you not? And now for the fine print: New additions always go at the beginning of each category. And we take Mastercard, Visa, Discover and Amex, as well as Paypal to make it easier for you. And, of course, checks, money orders and cold hard cash. Actually, we take warm soft cash, too. We are so agreeable.
Last night, I dreamed of Don Draper . . . August 7, 2010 15:37 5 Comments
I was on a
train, dark with mahogany. The windows shaded with green. We were in a southern
city, hot, humid, the skies white with haze and smog. No birds flew. The
landscape pocked with silver skyscrapers and gray freeways.
We pulled into the station. People stood up, waited to disembark. I remained seated. I waited and read and occasionally noted the people around me. Milling. I saw Betty Draper. Her hair daffodil yellow. Flipped. She wore a coral suit and a white blouse with coral polka dots and low-heeled leather pumps the color of spring. Like Jackie. Classic. Dull. Two men were with her. I read and waited, surrounded by the mahogany dark of the train, the windows shaded green.
I was the last to leave. I stepped down from the train. People scurried on the platform. I had no luggage. I carried a handbag of petal leather. Ruched. A tote. A trenchcoat over my arm. I walked. I walked. I entered a mall, fraught with people. Scurrying. I walked and walked. No birds flew. How long. How long, I wondered.
I entered a tower of corrugated steel and glass. It felt temporary, a scaffold. People scurried. I was calm. Calm. Even though no birds flew. I climbed the stairs. One after the other. Flight after flight after flight after flight. I did not tire. I was not faint. I looked out the windows as I climbed. The city white with haze. No birds flew. How long. How long? I wondered.
I stopped on a
landing, leaned against the window, cool as an Alberta wind against my face. I
placed my hand against the glass, felt the chill, refrigerated
air. Men rushed up and down the stairs behind me. Impatient. Fraught. I climbed
higher. Higher. The city white with haze. I wondered how long. How long?
I stopped again, high above the city, white with haze, gray with freeways, silver with skyscrapers. I watched. I was not faint. I was not weary. A male voice on a loudspeaker urged people: Go underground to be safe, hurry. I did not care. I felt free. An uncaged bird in a city white with haze where no birds flew. I felt a breath on my neck, warm. Fingers on my waist, gentle. I turned. Don. His arms enclosed me, crushing, wrinkling my suit, Vogue Couturier Design 753, copyright 1953, so carefully made. I did not care. I did not. Our lips met, tender. A 1960s-era Harlequin Romance. Yet. Yet. The voice on the loudspeaker urged everyone to go underground to be safe. Safe. Don raised his head. He looked at me. I shook my head no. No. In the city white with haze, pocked with skyscrapers, where no birds flew, we had wings as eagles.
You are all wrapped up in comfort. Aren't you? You should be. August 4, 2010 15:14 2 Comments
You kick off your shoes. Leave them by the door, you naughty homemaker, you. You can pick them up later. Maybe. You are exhausted. And you're no Martha Stewart, anyway. You're even too tired to cook. You can have cheese. Grapes. Some rice crackers. But later. Much later. For now, you take off your suit. Snuggle into Vogue 9726, circa 1943, the cute and comfortable wrapper you made last month. Now to find out what's on TV. What day is it, anyway?
And, yes, Vogue 9726, is available at The Blue Gardenia. The details: Dress or Housecoat "Easy-to-Make" Bust 36 Complete Circa 1943 $37. So. There you go.
Channeling Catherine: I'm too beautiful for you. August 2, 2010 18:48 2 Comments
Reserved, self-confident gaze: Necessary.
Elegant updo: Cool.
Nars Belle du Jour lipstick: Perfect.
Vogue Paris Original 2248, circa '60s: Beneficial.
That Touch of Fashion: A lace top to spur howls at midnight August 1, 2010 12:30 2 Comments
Who can forget the sexy lace pant suit thatBut. Down to brass needles. Absolutely.
This enticing set can be yours. It can. First, get Simplicity 3703, circa 1950s. (Mad Men alert! It's that day, after all, and this pattern is very cuspy; it'd look right at home in the '60s. Absolutely.) Get it at The Blue Gardenia, of course. But you knew we'd have it. Didn't you? Thought so. Use View 2, but trim the bottom of the blouse straight across. Forget the point. Save that style for later. It's casual. It's cute. But it's for a barbecue, not an after-hour seduction. (Yup. This is a multipurpose pattern. Make it once. Make it twice. Make it once again.)
And might I suggest Gorgeous Fabrics rayon Chantilly Lace for the top? Luscious. Line it in nude georgette for modesty. Or just wear a black camisole underneath. Your choice. Either way, the wolves will be sniffing around your door.
Damp tissue dramas: I'll stop sobbing to share a kittycat moment. August 1, 2010 07:25 2 Comments
Thursday, I had a total meltdown. I was a puddle of goo on the kitchen floor. Yes. I was. What caused this damp tissue drama? Well, as I was biting into a ripe and oh-so-juicy peach, I bit my lip — hard — and an incisor shifted. I ran to the mirror, carefully felt my tooth, and it moved. And it was totally out of alignment. A trip to the dentist revealed an unpleasant truth: the tooth, which has been brittle for years, had fractured. Horizontally, right under the gum. Oh, joy. The dentist also revealed another unpleasant truth: The two fixes — one temporary and one permanent — are expensive. Pass those Puffs, please. Thank goodness I have a few boxes left from a recent trip to Costco!
But. Enough whining. Let me share a photo of Sulis, the Tim Gunn of felines. Yes, Gunn, as in male, which Sulis happens to be. Yes, I know that the original Sulis was a goddess worshipped at the thermal spring of Bath (info courtesy of Wikipedia). She was nourishing. She was life-giving. Now. I can't say whether Sulis, one of sewing goddess Marticia's kitties, has ever given life, but he does freely give fashion advice. Thank you, Sulis. And I hope he likes my new Mad Men pencil skirt, which I plan to finish this week. Really. I do. (All those darts. Well, I am armed with my tracing paper and tracing wheel, and I will show them who's the boss. I will. Yes indeedy.)
Inspirations: Step outside in 1930s boxer shorts. Do. July 31, 2010 08:20 1 Comment
It's raining. A light drizzle. Gently falling all day long. All morning. All afternoon. You hope all night, too. The mist is on the butte outside your sewing room window. It's a perfect day to stay inside. You didn't even venture out to the farmers market. To get the mail. You're staying inside. Like the sugar cube you are, you melt in the rain.
You were tempted to stay cuddly-snug under the covers and finish Therese Raquin. Yes. You were. Oh so. But you didn't. You got up. Got dressed. Did footwork on the reformer. Stomach massage. Eve's Lunge. Leg circles.
Now. You're sewing. Absolutely. Why waste a day stuck inside? Simplicity 1335, the boxer shorts, circa early '30s. Terrific details. Love the back gusset. So much. You've chosen linen the color of a blueberry smoothie. It is lush. Ever so. Just the attire for the farmers market next week. Can't miss those freshly dug taters two weeks in a row. No way. No how.
The only question now is: What top to stitch up? Mmmmmm. You can think about that. Tomorrow.
Channeling Catherine: Airport casual perfected. July 26, 2010 08:16
Sassy Stuart Weitzman Acrostix platforms: Dangerous.
McCall 5760, copyright 1944, Ilsa-on-the-tarmac interpretation of the trench: Necessary.
Plane ticket to exotic locale: Desirable.