Make your biscuits light and fluffy in this 1950s holiday apron! December 2, 2013 02:10 2 Comments

Ahhhh . . . biscuits. Don't you love them? I do. His Bertness made these for dinner last night. I was an excellent instructor, and he was an ace student. These were perfect: light, flaky, lots of layers, crunchy outside, tender inside. Yum bunnies.

If you're planning to do some holiday baking, may I suggest Simplicity 4511? It has Christmas trees! Or if you prefer, you can have tulips, leaves, strawberries.

This would be an excellent pattern to purchase at our end-of-an-era sale! We'll be debuting the new and improved The Blue Gardenia website come January. Till then, the more you shop, the more you save.

Dress like Delilah, A Spear of Summer Grass's '20s femme fatale December 1, 2013 12:00

There was a period in my life when I read romances like a movie fan unconcerned with her health eats tubs of popcorn laden with gooey, urine yellow faux butter. Those days have been long gone. Since, romances have generally left me yawning. All those perky, perfect heroines and those men with six-pack abs. Not for me.

So I was delighted recently to pick up A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn. Her heroine is anything but perky and perfect. I'll let Delilah Drummond speak for herself through the pen of the ever-so-talented Ms. Raybourn:

Don't believe the stories you have heard about me. I have never killed anyone, and I have never stolen another woman's husband. Oh, if I find one lying around unattended, I might climb on, but I never took one that didn't want taking. And I never meant to go to Africa. I blame it on the weather. It was a wretched day in Paris, grey and gloomy and spitting with rain, when I was summoned to my mother's suite at the Hotel de Crillon. I had dressed carefully for the occasion . . . I put on a divine little Molyneux dress in scarlet silk with matching cloche . . .

If you would like to duplicate Delilah's look, I suggest 1920s Butterick 2070, available at The Blue Gardenia, of course. You might top it with this delightful Adrienne Henry cloche. I think Ms. Drummond would approve. Emphatically.

And I highly recommend this book. It's as addictive as that unhealthy movie popcorn. You won't be able to put it down.

And be sure to take advantage of our end-of-year sale! It's a dooz!

The countdown to our new site begins. Till then, a whopping sale! November 30, 2013 08:39

Dear readers, I have good news for you. Very. We hired a web designer to make the site easier to shop, including all the bells and whistles you wanted: a search engine, a shopping cart, automatic payment. (Yes, I can hear you saying it's about time. And you're right. But what can I say? I'm stubborn, and I love the way the current site looks. But out with the old, in with the new, all that.)

It took a bit longer for him to complete the job than we had anticipated, and frankly, that is why I haven't been updating the site as I have done since The Blue Gardenia premiered in 1999.

The new site will debut on January 1. More good news: We are having a sale that will run until 11:59 pm the last day of December 2013.

The details:

Spend $100 (before the discount) and get 20% off.

Spend $200 (before the discount) and get 30% off.

Spend $300 (before the discount) and get 40% off.

Spend $400 or more (before the discount) and get a whopping 50% off.

Isn't that fabulous? Now is the time to stock up on authentic and lovely patterns for the holiday season and for next year's projects.

For this sale, we will be accepting Paypal only, unless you are an established customer, and then we will happily take checks.

So, shop, shop, shop, my darlings!

And, yep, you may buy gift certificates for that special someome and the sales rates will be honored through January 2014.

July 16, 2013 July 26, 2013 17:33

Replenishing the soul: Aspen wildflowers. Lovely.

You saw Pink Martini. You saw my dress. Now, see the natural beauty of the Aspen wildflowers.

These poppies are huge.

That's the hand of His Bertness to give you an idea of their size.

My soul was definitely nourished by this minivacation. Yes, indeed. (And these pics were taken with my iPhone by the side of the road.)

July 15, 2013 July 26, 2013 17:33

My closet: Pink Martini, Aspen and a 1950s Vogue pattern.

Saw Pink Martini in Aspen Saturday a week ago (that's Storm Large, the girl singer, above), and I wore Vogue Special Design 4515. I confess: I did not make this. I had Leslie, my sewing teacher, whip it up, though she would most assuredly quibble with my descriptive verb "whip."

I have the pattern, but in Bust 36, so I started looking elsewhere for one in Bust 34. Found it on Ebay in condition descibed as good. Alas, foxing was so severe it was impossible for Leslie to locate notches as they had been lost to history. (This is why I refuse to use words describing condition on The Blue Gardenia. One person's "good" is another person's "horrid.") Anyway, Leslie thought the pattern was very poorly drafted, and she should know: she reviews patterns for Threads magazine. She'll be reviewing this for the blog very soon under Gardenia Garments. I'll share some pics with you, taken after the show, so the dress is wrinkled. Sorry. Better pics to come with the review.

The dress is made of silk shantung. I like it. Leslie wants to perfect the fit a bit more. She made MAJOR changes to the design to make it work. Bravo, Les. Here's the back:

If you've made this pattern, what was your experience?

July 02, 2013 July 26, 2013 17:32

And the winner is . . . you'll have to click to find out.

Erin! And Erin, please contact me, because I don't have your email or snail mail address. You have won a $35 Blue Gardenia gift certificate,

Claire Shaeffer's excellent book Couture Sewing, MAC RiRi Woo lipstick, and 2.5 yards of gorgeous rayon crepe fabric From Albuquerque's own Nob Hill Fabrics. So. Contact me. Do. And I thank everyone who left a comment and everyone who follows this blog.

June 30, 2013 July 26, 2013 17:32

A lazy Sunday afternoon at a favorite coffee spot in my new skirt.

We are having a heat wave here in ABQ. The weathercasters promised a cooling spell today. But the proof of their failure is all too evident in the numbers: It was 103 degrees downtown. Yeeeeoooowwwl. Dry heat or not, that is hot.

I did not, however, let the heat keep me indoors. I traipsed downtown, dear readers, just for you. Because I wanted you to see my new skirt. New to you, at any rate. I finished it several months ago. And I wanted to show off a bit of Albuquerque.

I used Simplicity 2758, a discontinued Threads design. I chose the partial circle skirt pattern, but left off the embellishments. No pockets. No tabs. Not my style. I picked a locally designed Silverado ikat that is luscious. It has a linen texture on the outside and a soft flannel texture on the other. The mural behind me is at the Albuquerque Convention Center, and it is a stunning tile mosaic. The other Albuquerque picture was taken from the second floor of the Flying Star downtown. Great desserts. In fact, everything is good there. I was quite pleased with the pattern. So much so, indeed, that I made another. And you'll be seeing that one after I make a blouse to wear with it.

The perfect dress for feeling irresistible, strong and independent. July 26, 2013 17:30

The perfect dress for feeling irresistible, strong and independent.

You've been dumped. Unceremoniously, as the ubiquitous they say. He didn't deserve you. That's what you say. Call it justification, if you must. You're not going to stay home and empty a box of Puffs. Not you. Not this time. You're not even going to call a girlfriend and go out for sidecars and a minute rehashing of the relationship. No teary "what did I do wrong" questions from you. You are going to do something different. You're going to put on your favorite dress, Vogue 8930, copyright 1957. You've made it three times. It really is a tried and true. You're going to slip on the cherry red shantung and go to The Artichoke Cafe and have steak frites and deconstructed lemon meringue pie and then you're going to come home, curl up in your favorite chair and read The Art Forger. To paraphrase Ms. Gaynor, you will survive. Happily and in style. The details, because of course you want to know: Vogue 8930 Dresses Bust 32 Complete Copyright 1957 $33. And yes, my lovelies, this chic pattern can be yours. Just drop by The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. (And, yes, we happily ship abroad for a fee — just what the post office charges, in fact.) So rush on over. Do. Snap this one up. Don't delay.

Replenishing the soul: Aspen wildflowers. Lovely. July 16, 2013 07:33

You saw Pink Martini. You saw my dress. Now, see the natural beauty of the Aspen wildflowers.

These poppies are huge.

That's the hand of His Bertness to give you an idea of their size.

My soul was definitely nourished by this minivacation. Yes, indeed. (And these pics were taken with my iPhone by the side of the road.)

My closet: Pink Martini, Aspen and a 1950s Vogue pattern. July 15, 2013 06:41 1 Comment

Saw Pink Martini in Aspen Saturday a week ago (that's Storm Large, the girl singer, above), and I wore Vogue Special Design 4515. I confess: I did not make this. I had Leslie, my sewing teacher, whip it up, though she would most assuredly quibble with my descriptive verb "whip."

I have the pattern, but in Bust 36, so I started looking elsewhere for one in Bust 34. Found it on Ebay in condition descibed as good. Alas, foxing was so severe it was impossible for Leslie to locate notches as they had been lost to history. (This is why I refuse to use words describing condition on The Blue Gardenia. One person's "good" is another person's "horrid.")

Anyway, Leslie thought the pattern was very poorly drafted, and she should know: she reviews patterns for Threads magazine. She'll be reviewing this for the blog very soon under Gardenia Garments.

I'll share some pics with you, taken after the show, so the dress is wrinkled. Sorry. Better pics to come with the review.

The dress is made of silk shantung. I like it. Leslie wants to perfect the fit a bit more. She made MAJOR changes to the design to make it work. Bravo, Les. Here's the back:

If you've made this pattern, what was your experience?

And the winner is . . . you'll have to click to find out. July 2, 2013 11:05 1 Comment

Erin! And Erin, please contact me, because I don't have your email or snail mail address. You have won a $35 Blue Gardenia gift certificate, Claire Shaeffer's excellent book Couture Sewing, MAC RiRi Woo lipstick, and 2.5 yards of gorgeous rayon crepe fabric From Albuquerque's own Nob Hill Fabrics.

So. Contact me. Do. And I thank everyone who left a comment and everyone who follows this blog.

A lazy Sunday afternoon at a favorite coffee spot in my new skirt. June 30, 2013 16:47 1 Comment

We are having a heat wave here in ABQ. The weathercasters promised a cooling spell today. But the proof of their failure is all too evident in the numbers: It was 103 degrees downtown. Yeeeeoooowwwl. Dry heat or not, that is hot.

I did not, however, let the heat keep me indoors. I traipsed downtown, dear readers, just for you. Because I wanted you to see my new skirt. New to you, at any rate. I finished it several months ago. And I wanted to show off a bit of Albuquerque.

I used Simplicity 2758, a discontinued Threads design. I chose the partial circle skirt pattern, but left off the embellishments. No pockets. No tabs. Not my style. I picked a locally designed Silverado ikat that is luscious. It has a linen texture on the outside and a soft flannel texture on the other.

The mural behind me is at the Albuquerque Convention Center, and it is a stunning tile mosaic. The other Albuquerque picture was taken from the second floor of the Flying Star downtown. Great desserts. In fact, everything is good there.

I was quite pleased with the pattern. So much so, indeed, that I made another. And you'll be seeing that one after I make a blouse to wear with it.

The perfect dress for feeling irresistible, strong and independent. June 27, 2013 01:57

You've been dumped. Unceremoniously, as the ubiquitous they say. He didn't deserve you. That's what you say. Call it justification, if you must. You're not going to stay home and empty a box of Puffs. Not you. Not this time.

You're not even going to call a girlfriend and go out for sidecars and a minute rehashing of the relationship. No teary "what did I do wrong" questions from you. You are going to do something different. You're going to put on your favorite dress, Vogue 8930, copyright 1957. You've made it three times. It really is a tried and true. You're going to slip on the cherry red shantung and go to The Artichoke Cafe and have steak frites and deconstructed lemon meringue pie and then you're going to come home, curl up in your favorite chair and read The Art Forger. To paraphrase Ms. Gaynor, you will survive. Happily and in style.

And yes, my lovelies, this chic pattern can be yours. Just drop by The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free. (And, yes, we happily ship abroad for a fee — just what the post office charges, in fact.) So rush on over. Do. Snap this one up. Don't delay.

150 followers! Let's take some time to celebrate with a giveaway. June 25, 2013 13:41 13 Comments

I am all atwitter. I am. Somehow, during my sporadic and dismal blogging habits of late, I hit the lovely number of 150 followers. Isn't that grand? Of course, 200 followers will be even better. (Yes, that is a not-so-subtle hint, dear readers.)

So. We're having a giveaway. First, a $35 Blue Gardenia gift certificate. Second, one MAC lipstick in RiRi Woo, a luscious red matte shown at left. Third, a copy of Couture Sewing by Claire Shaeffer. And last, the absolutely gorgeous floral rayon print fabric shown above from Nob Hill Fabrics, right here in our own fair city of ABQ. Owner Liz has generously donated 2.5 yards. We are so fortunate to have Nob Hill Fabrics, so if you live in ABQ, do stop by. It's conveniently located at 3810 Central, Suite B. You may also like Nob Hill Fabrics on Facebook, because Liz posts a lot of new fabric finds there, and she is most willing to ship.

To enter, just become a follower of this blog on Typepad or Bloglovin' and leave a comment below. If you are already a follower, simply post a comment. Deadline: Saturday, June 29, 11:59 pm PDT. Simple. Easy. Good luck! And thank you for following me. I am filled with gratitude. I am.

And the winner was . . . someone else. Oh, well. June 24, 2013 16:33 4 Comments

The truth has been revealed. I will hide it no longer. I'm a procrastinator. But you'd figured that out already. Right, dear readers? No flies, and all that.

So. The bad news is that my Gertie coat didn't win. I did get 22 points out of 25, and this was a first-place only contest. Still. I feel rather good about it. If I had made bound buttonholes and used narrower horsehair braid and woven bias interfacing on the collar, I could have taken home the prize. That's what the judges wrote. Oh, well. Live and learn, as some sage once said.

Here's the jacket that won. Chanel-style. Complete with chain sewn on the lining inside.

So. There ya go. Hope you're glad I'm back, readers. I do have projects to share, including draperies. Isn't that thrilling? And a different hair style. Aren't you all a quiver?

I completed a sewing challenge! Let me share my Mad Men dress. April 21, 2013 17:44 7 Comments

So. Here it is: My interpretation — or rather Vogue's – of a Joan Holloway dress, made for Julia Bobbin's Mad Men Dress Challenge. I chose not to make mine quite as figure-revealing. And I can hardly take credit for sewing it. My brilliant and patient sewing teacher Leslie did more on this dress than I did. In fact, if it had been left to me, it would have ended up in the trash long before it was finished. Thank you, Leslie. You are a big ole luscious Georgia peach.

The problem: the darts. The darts on the pattern are different than the darts on the envelope. The side dart on the pattern actually comes above the outside dart and stops just above the interior dart. Perhaps a bullet bra would make this design work?

We redid dart placement four times. Sheesh! What a headache.

This is the Joan dress that inspired me. Once upon a time. Even though I look better in red, I wanted to use fabric in my stash. I chose a stretch cotton sateen from Gorgeous Fabrics.

And, yes, Joan looks much better in this style than I do. In fact, she'd look better wearing a brown paper sack.

Sew how? Marie's odyssey has been successful. Absolutely. April 1, 2013 18:16 4 Comments

Marie of A Stitching Odyssey is as delightful as the blog she writes, as cute as the clothes she makes. And she was kind enough to share her experience. Take the trip with me.

How long have you been sewing?

I've been sewing for just over three years now, so not that long and in many ways I still consider myself a beginner . . . there's just so much to learn!

What inspired you to learn?

A friend of mine was giving me a tour of her new house when I spotted a dressform draped with a lovely handmade dress. Up until then I had no idea this was her hobby, or that a hobby like sewing even existed. My interest was definitely piqued then!

Did your mother or grandmother sew?

My mother was very good at sewing when she was at school, but she didn't really carry on with it afterwards. The most interesting thing I found out just a few months ago was that my great-grandmother not only sewed, she also spun and wove her own silk fabric. She even nurtured the silkworms herself. I never knew this before, and I was very moved when I found out.

How did you learn? A class? Your mom? Home ec?

I went along to a Sewing for Pleasure course with the friend I mentioned above. It was made up of 10 evening classes, and you literally took in anything you wanted to make and the teacher would help you. It was a really nice and informal environment to learn in actually.

What was the first garment that you made?

It was a dress – Simplicity 2591 – which you can see here).

Did you wear it?

I wore it a couple times, but as my skills improved I realised how many things were wrong with it — gaping neckline, uneven hem, generally a little bit wonky. It's now sitting in my scraps box, because I really like the fabric still.

How long did it take for you to get the basics down?

Maybe about 6 months or so, but I still find myself having lightbulb moments now. I'm still discovering better ways of doing things that I thought I was doing correctly. For example, up until this very recent post by Tilly (http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com/2013/01/before-you-cut-your-fabric.html), I was folding my fabric wrong sides together when cutting out patterns. Haha! It worked fine, but it's not the correct way, and it certainly makes transferring markings harder!

How long did it take you to feel confident of your dressmaking skills?

I think I must be a slow learner, because I'm only just starting to feel confident in my dressmaking skills now. The last couple of things I've made have been of a much higher standard, so I finally feel I'm getting there . . . only three years later!

Do you still make things that you simply won't wear?

Sadly, yes, but I've made a good start this year that I hope to keep up. I want to focus on quality rather than quantity in 2013, and I want to stay away from making things I know don't suit me . . . which is a trap I often fall into due to admiring makes on other bloggers with completely different bodies to me.

How many hours a week do you sew?

It varies a lot for me. I don't tend to sew much during the week due to work and other commitments, but I do make an effort to cut stuff out and generally prepare for projects. If I have a free weekend, I will spend most of it sewing, and if I don't, then I will try and sandwich a couple of hours in. So it will vary from 2-3 hours to over 10 hours on a good week.

What are your five favorite sewing books?

Hmmm, I’m definitely more of an online tutorial kind of gal . . . but there are a few tried and tested titles on my bookshelf.

The Colette Sewing Handbook by Sarai Mitnick

Sew U: Home Stretch by Wendy Mullin

Metric Pattern Cutting for Women’s Wear by Winifred Aldrich

Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing (mine’s the 1978 edition)

Are there any sewing DVDs that you like? If so, which ones?

I can't say I've ever stumbled across or used any sewing DVDs I'm afraid. I do keep meaning to watch the DVD that came with my overlocker though.

If you're a fan of free online tutorials, name five for the beginning sewer, please.

Am I!?! I absolutely love online tutorials, and I have the utmost respect for the talented people who go to the effort of producing such helpful materials. Anyway, I'm going to cheat as there are so many brilliant ones out there:

Zips can be really tricky, but these tutorials can invaluable to helping you master them – Invisible zips by Colette Patterns (http://www.coletterie.com/tutorials-tips-tricks/tutorial-installing-an-invisible-zipper)

Handpicked zips by Sewaholic (http://sewaholic.net/a-hand-picked-zipper-progress-on-the-picnic-dress/

Exposed zips by BurdaStyle (http://www.burdastyle.com/techniques/exposed-zipper)

Skirts are a fun addition to any wardrobe, and I personally love – Vivat Veritas Scalloped Waist Skirt tutorial (http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/free-pattern-month-day-18-vivat-veritas.html)

Elegant Musing's Circle Skirt sewalong (http://elegantmusings.com/10525/) / Tilly's Picnic Blanket Skirt sewalong (http://www.tillyandthebuttons.com/p/picnic-blanket-skirt.html)

General tutorials of infinite interest – anything by Elegant Musings (http://elegantmusings.com/tutorials-2/, anything by Colette Patterns (http://www.coletterie.com/category/tutorials-tips-tricks), anything by Sewaholic (http://sewaholic.net/category/tips/)

What garment would you suggest that a newbie make first?

When I first started I had naivity, and therefore lack of fear, on my side, and I got stuck in with a dress. It was brilliant making something so pretty, but I was being helped in a class. So if you're going at it solo, I would probably recommend a simple skirt or top, or even a cute little apron or some fun pyjama bottoms.

Second?

I guess this would depend on how you feel after your first make. You might want to move onto something more challenging, like a dress, or you might want to revisit something similar to your first make so you can perfect it.

What is the favorite of all the garments you have made?

I think it might be my Hazedale) — a marriage of the Hazel and Lonsdale patterns — because it's so pretty! The muslin for my Hazel was just terrible, so I was relieved that I was able to turn it into a success by combining two patterns.

What was the first item you sewed that made you beam with pride?

It absolutely has to be my Armistice Blouse! Aside from it being a gorgeous pattern, this make has great sentimental value, too, as I made it from the silk grown, spun and woven by my great-grandmother. It’s a really special make for me.

Name your five top tips for beginners, please.

1. Relax, enjoy the learning process and don't be too hard on yourself. You'll make plenty of mistakes, but learn from them and move on.

2. Don't rush your sewing, you'll only end up dissatisfied and probably never wearing your poor make. There's something to be said about breaking projects into nice bitesized parts.

3. Always prewash your fabric to prevent your make from shrinking after its first wash. It's a good idea to wash your fabric as soon as you buy it, so it's all ready to go when you need it.

4. Pick projects that excite you and don't waste time on something you're not happy with. And if you discover you really dislike a make halfway through sewing it, don't feel like you have to finish it . . . life's too short!

5. Take advantage of online tutorials and sewalongs, I really can't recommend this enough. Despite finding evening classes helpful to begin with, I can honestly say that I learned the best methods and techniques from other bloggers.

What's the last garment that you made and are you pleased with it?

I was actually a pattern tester for Tilly and the Buttons' first ever pattern — the Mathilde Blouse — which is pictured at the very start of this interview. I'm genuinely really happy with the result, even though I didn’t think white would be my colour.

Have you sewn with unprinted vintage patterns? If so, please share pointers for newbies who might want to try them.

Although I have many in my collection, I haven't sewn with the unprinted ones yet. I imagine they seem more daunting than they are though they have plenty of perforations, so you just need to make sure you transfer them all to your fabric.

How long does it take to get to the Vogue "Plus Difficile" rated pattern? (I can dream, can't I?)

We can both dream I think!

Share with me your funniest sewing adventure, please.

Oh dear, I knew this was coming! I wanted to make some sassy pyjama bottoms as part of Karen's Pyjama Party Sewalong (http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/tag/pyjama-party/) and I totally misjudged my fabric print. They turned out truly hideous . . . you literally can't tell me apart from The Big Lebowski's The Dude! If you fancy a good laugh at my expense, see them in the pic above. (Editor's note: I love 'em! She could go out and buy milk in them and give The Dude a run for his money, fashionwise.)

And your most exasperating or difficult.

Definitely the sad story of my very beautiful Lonsdale. I totally managed to perfect the fit at the muslin stage, but I must have accidently cut the bodice a size smaller in my fashion fabric, because when I finished it, it was too small. I had followed Sewaholic's sewalong closely, and a lot of work went into making this dress as lovely on the inside as it was on the outside . . . so needless to say, I cried when I made the shocking discovery. I've now learned to try on makes as I go along! And there was a silver lining to this story – the dress fit my mum perfectly, and she proudly wears it all the time!

What's your favorite pattern ever to sew, if you remember?

I don't have one really, ideally it would be a cute go-to dress pattern. However, I have made six Renfrews to date, which is my own personal record. It's such an easy and satisfying project to whip up when you want a quick sewing fix!

Do you sew vintage patterns?

I do, but not nearly as many as I'd like to. This year, I would love to make a dent in my vintage sewing pattern collection.

Do you find instructions easier to follow on vintage patterns?

In my experience, this totally depends on the pattern company, the type of garment and the year the pattern was printed in. I find that many vintage pattern instructions tend to assume you have a quite a good understanding of sewing techniques and knowledge, so I often find myself Googling and YouTubing a lot of it. It’s easy to be hard on vintage pattern instructions, especially when you compare them to the often more comprehensive modern ones, but at the end of the day you buy and use them for the unique and very beautiful details that are rarely found in modern patterns.

How many hours of sewing do you think it takes for the average person to become proficient?

Goodness . . . how long is a piece of string? Everyone’s definition of proficient is different – for some it may mean grasping the basics and for others it could well be conquering tailoring. I think a year is a good aim for mastering the basics, but the sewing learning journey never truly ends.

Now. Rush over to her blog and read every word. That is, if you haven't already!

Shame? What's that? It's my birthday. I have the cake to prove it. March 26, 2013 18:52 2 Comments

It is my birthday. It is. And I know I should be a quiet little mouse, and keep it a secret, but I love birthdays! And I love birthday blessings. So. I say, bring them on. Don't be shy.

I started the day making Vogue 1256, designed by Badgley Mischka. Perhaps I should clarify: I started it. Fabric: Scarlet bamboo knit. One day, I shall share pictures of my garments with you. Really. Truly. That day is coming! Soon.

Then, exercise. Marvelous dinner with both deconstructed lemon meringue pie and red velvet cake. Can it get any better? Yes. His Bertness gifted me with a lovely onyx necklace. That would be the one in the picture.

Yes. I know the picture is less than flattering. Perhaps I should reconsider growing my hair into Jane Fonda's Klute shag? And hide my bra straps like a proper southern woman?

Shameless plug: Pucci culottes, sassy shorts, bias slips, and more. March 25, 2013 16:55 2 Comments

It's true: We've been lazy lately. So very. But we finally took a break from eating chile cream chocolates and reading Ruth Rendell novels, and got together an update. Hope you love it. Hope, in fact, you just can't resist these lovelies. A few favorites (and there are many more!):

Vogue 9419, a luscious bias slip from 1943.

New York 1387, sassy pleated shorts with three blouse options and an overskirt for those demure moments, also from the 1940s.

Advance Import 76, figure-revealing jacket worthy of those days when you simply must channel Kim Novak.

Vogue Couturier Design 2249, the perfect culottes for those summer patio parties, courtesy of Pucci. Of course.

And, yes, these fabulous patterns — as well as many other new vintage additions — are available at The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling and domestic shipping is free. (We happily ship abroad, for less than the cost USPS charges us.) And do recall: We put new patterns at the start of each category. Enjoy!

Learning to sew: My Gertie coat. What do you think? March 3, 2013 15:56 9 Comments

Finally. My Gertie coat. Sure. It took time. But I am pleased with it.

It's made of wool flannel.

And lined in 3-mummy ice blue silk charmeuse. I did not make bound buttonholes. My one regret. My sewing teacher encouraged me to enter it in a local contest, and my bound buttonholes aren't quite up to snuff.

Well. There is one other regret. I was so busy sewing that I missed buying tickets for The Mavericks. By the time I realized they were going to be in Santa Fe, all the good seats were gone. Drat. I'll just have to settle for Raul Malo's voice on CD. See and hear what I'm missing? At least, we have Pink Martini tickets for consolation.

An overflowing cornucopia of style at the Oscars. Doncha think? February 24, 2013 17:12 2 Comments

As always, my favorite thing about the Oscar ceremony was the fashion. This year did not disappoint. My tip-top selections:

Perhaps not the popular choice — I noticed while trolling for pics that this made some worst-dressed lists — but this is my favorite 2013 Oscar dress. Donna Karan Atelier's design for Kelly Rowland simply stunned. It's sexy. It's unique.

I am also smitten with Fan Bingbing's Marchesa design. There are those who think it overwhelms the Chinese actress — and I admit it does indeed look better on the runway model. But Ms. Bingbing still looks lovely and smart. It's a perfect update of a 1950s look. Vogue, Butterick, copy this pattern, please. It's just the attire for my lifestyle. Perfect for reclining on the sofa or baking cookies.

Another favorite: Naomi Watt's armored column, courtesy of Armani Prive. Sophisticated. Strong. And she looks most fetching in it.

I also love the Valentino Couture frock of Jennifer Aniston. Gorgeous tomato red. And a style fit for a princess. She never lets me down.

So. If you could command a pattern company to make up one of the Oscar gowns, which would it be? Do share. One of these gowns? Or something entirely different? I am eager to know. I am.

I'm back. As Elvis and Chris Isaak say "It's Now or Never." February 21, 2013 13:33 3 Comments

I've rediscovered a truth about blogging for me. If I take a break, it's easy to procrastinate about starting again. So easy. Very.

I find there are so many things to do: painting my nails, rearranging magazines, making nearly every red velvet brownie recipe on Pinterest and not being pleased with any of them, watching crappy made for TV movies like Liz & Dick. That was the name of that Lifetime movie in which Lindsay Lohan was so miscast? Only Teresa Russell saved it for me.

Anyway, I plan to get back to the daily grind soon. Very, very soon. I have some fascinating interviews for you. And some clothes I've made. With my very own hands. Surprised?

I am. For now, enjoy this Chris Isaak version of It's Now or Never. It reminds me of Marticia, who used to play the Elvis version on Friday nights at the Prescott ballroom dances. I swear she did it just to watch us trip all over each other as we attempted to speed rhumba. She probably still chuckles at the thought!

Baby, it's cold outside . . . January 16, 2013 10:50 2 Comments

but, alas, you can't stay inside by the fire, listening to Johnny Mercer and Margaret Whiting. No. You have errands to run. Lots of them: Costco, Petco, Whole Foods. But you will be snug and toasty warm: jeans over tights, that fabulous cashmere sweater that your beloved wrapped up so nicely for you at Christmas, and your new coat, made from Simplicity 1278. You've made the version with the double row of buttons. You used a bee-yoo-tee-ful and oh-so-forties inspired alpaca blend herringbone from Gorgeous Fabrics. With the scarf and hat you knitted in November, you won't have to worry one bit about that chill wind blowing.

So. Rush over to The Blue Gardenia, where the patterns are counted, the jewelry is sparkling, and domestic shipping is free, and snap up this lovely. (We happily ship abroad, of course, although there is a fee, less than the postal service charges us. You may choose Global Priority or Global Express. We love them both. We do.) And we take American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Paypal and Visa. And cold, hard cash. Anything to make you happy, dears. Anything. Almost.

The countdown begins: The Blue Gardenia sale ends tonight! January 7, 2013 00:00

So. You have mere hours to take advantage of The Blue Gardenia's terrific sale. And you want to, don't you? I want you to, and so do our little canine pals. They like their treats. They do. Absolutely. And treats cost money.