Sunday Night Reflections

Sewbussted's Material Witness/Come Fly With Me!

A VERY HAPPY Sunday to all of you!

Well, I thought I would give something a try. I thought it would be fun for you to tag along with me and experience a takeoff and landing. So, with my I-phone taped above my compass, off I went. The problem is how the camera sees the propeller. At one point, it actually looks like the propeller stops and starts going in the opposite direction!!!!! Now, that would truly be an OMG moment!!! I am going to talk to a friend who does a lot of aerial photography and see if there is something that I can easily do so that the propeller doesn't look like a bent line running through the picture. 

It was a very windy day, so in the first portion of the video the wind is a factor. The video is far from perfect, but you might enjoy going on a little virtual ride with me. 

Enjoy :)

A Sewing Adventure!

I have some very exciting news!

Have you ever dreamed of getting away to a place where you can sew, learn, and rejuvenate? 

Well, today I have a little sneak peek at what I have been working on.

Helen Haughey and I have paired up to offer a unique escape to Winter Park/Fraser, Colorado. 

All who attend will need to arrive in Denver, Colorado on Saturday, June 10, 2017. From there, we will drive up to the mountains, about a 2 hour drive. 

We'll be staying at the Indian Peaks Resort. The condos are 2 bedroom/2 bath condos, with fully equipped kitchens. Each condo includes a private hot tub that is beautifully maintained.

For those who would like to join me, we will do invigorating morning hikes along the Fraser River. This is a flat trail, so quite easy to do, but a great way to start the day.

Beginning on Sunday, Helen will be teaching her class on making the Perfect Shift Dress. Class will be held at the historic Fraser Church. Transportation to and from the church will be provided.

On Monday, we'll take a break and head into Denver where we will visit the Tandy Leather outlet and have a private class on leather tooling. Tuesday and Wednesday, we'll be back in WinterPark/Fraser where we will continue the class with Helen Haughey.

If you are up for it, we'll take a break from sewing on Wednesday afternoon and head to the Bonfils-Staton Outdoor Center where I will lead a hike along the Jim Creek Trail.

   

If a less rigorous hike is desired, we can do the circuit that just touches on the Jim Creek Trail. Both are beautiful, especially in June.

On Thursday, I will be teaching a full day class on leather.

Included in the experience will be a relaxing massage for each participant.

We will also be offering an extra activity for those who would like to participate and do a piecing project. Tina from The Fabric Nook in Granby, Colorado will be teaching a class on doing her Row By Row Design. This is an optional class, and will most likely take place on Tuesday evening. 

The adventure will end on Friday when we will return to Denver and say goodbye.

Later this week, I will have the pricing together along with info on how to sign up. We will be keeping the adventure to no more than 10 participants. 

Doesn't this sound fun?!! I know I'm excited :)

Monday Morning Inspiration/The Beret

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine and I were shopping, not for anything in particular, just going in and out of some fun shops. We popped into a store that sold shoes (I can't walk past a shoe store without going in!!!), tights and hats. We both spotted the cutest little hat, more of a cloche style. She pulled it on, and it looked so cute. About that time, her husband walked in and said, "you aren't going to wear that hat." I felt like telling him to walk right back to where he came from. Rather than reply to him, she handed the hat to me and told me to try it on. Now, I love hats, and maybe it's because I love hats that they always seem to look as though they were made for me. As she looked at me in the hat, she said, "Oh, I love that hat, but I guess I don't need it." Since I too loved the hat, I decided to take a gamble and purchase the hat as I thought she would change her mind, and if she didn't, I had a super cute new hat. When we got back to my house, she walked into the bedroom and then came back out with the money for the hat. My gamble paid off :) And...she wore the hat a number of times before while they were with us. 

What is it about hats that draws us in, but then makes us hesitate? There was a time that we wouldn't leave the house without a hat on our head. 

A few weeks ago, I saw a delightful piece on a Sunday morning program that I enjoy. It was all about the French beret, and not just any, the Laulhere Beret. I've attached the video below. Take note of how the employees banded together to save the company. Just such an incredible story.



For most Americans, when we think of a beret, we visualize something like the picture below, a svelte Parisian woman in a striped top with a red beret.

Another lovely look, a sweet blouse, tweed trousers, and a plaid wool beret. The hat just seems to pull it all together.

Another lovely, polished look. This beret, if not from Laulhere, it's the type that they make. If you think you might like to have one for yourself, I found THIS SITE that carries the Laulhere label.  

Berets can be made in any type of fabric, even hand knitted.

They can be customized with a wide trim. You can find this hat HERE on Etsy.

If you enjoy needle felting, a beret will lend itself to anything the mind can imagine! 

The above hats came from a cute shop called Elves In Glass. Click on the link to see other delight concoctions.

And how cute is this?!! Is she a fox or not?!!! :) I found this hat HERE. Just so whimsical!

After watching the video, I too want a Laulhere beret. A hat company with that type of history is well worth owning at least one for myself. But...if you would like something a little more customized, you can find my free beret pattern HERE.  

I think berets are the perfect hat. They help keep your head warm when it's cold or chilly out. They look great with everything. And they can easily be popped off and thrown in your bag if you would rather not wear them all day. 

Oh, and one last thing...whenever I wear my berets, I get so many compliments. Nothing can turn a day around like a lovely compliment :)

Sunday Night Reflections

The Wednesday Showcase

We had some friends over for dinner last night. They lost one of their dogs a little over a year ago. Her name was Guinness, a great big black lab who lived to the ripe old age of 15. But as any of you who have had, and dearly loved an animal know, it's difficult to say goodbye, and the time that they are with us is never enough. 

Not long after Guinness died, they adopted the sweetest dog, a Newfoundland mutt. They only had her for a few months when she became ill and they sadly found out that she had a tumor on her kidney that was inoperable. They were heartbroken, but decided that they would take another chance and adopted a gorgeous, red coated coon hound. She is quite different from all the dogs they've had as she truly has a mind of her own. I had to laugh as they talked about her eating habits as I experience the very same thing with my Gracie. They talked about how they stand over the bowl and beg the dog to eat, even cupping their hands as if in prayer. On any given morning, I wonder if today is going to be a miracle day and Gracie will eat, or if I too will have to sit in front of the bowl and beg. The problem with Gracie is if she doesn't eat, she gets sick, so all the more that I want her to eat. If anyone has any suggestions, please send them my way.  

On a happier note, I have two ladies to introduce you to who no one needs to beg to see their creativity as it just seems to ooze from everything they do. 

First up is tpotty28 of Creates Sew Slow. She says that she's a neat freak desperately trying to be a more creative sewist. Well, take a look below and I think you'll agree that she's especially creative.

One of the many things that I like about her blog is that she explains in detail about her projects.

I purchased this Issey Miyake pattern a million years ago, but never made it.

If the pattern is sitting in your collection, be sure to check out THIS post as her coat is really incredible. 

As I scrolled through her blog, I was so impressed by her wonderful tops.

I love playing with and combining patterns. Such a sharp and fun outfit!

She went to the quilt festival in Houston last year and created this beautiful stained glass piece. How lovely this would be on the back of a jacket.

So pop over to Creates Sew Slow, I think you will truly enjoy her creative spirit. 

Next up is Claire of Ragbags and Gladrags. She has an incredible spirit which I think is so well depicted in the photo below. Claire is an artist whose creative spirit can be seen in everything she does. During the summer, she travels to China where she teaches creative art camps to children who are cared for by the International China Concern.  

Below is a self-drafted dress she did for a competition. She said that the drafting was easy, sewing all the curved seams, another story! You can find her entire post on this dress HERE.

Claire is so very generous with her talents. Doesn't this picture make you want to go do a little dying? Well, you can as she gives detailed instructions HERE.

In her bio, Claire talks about how she would love to combine her artwork with her sewing. When I saw this piece, my first thought was of how this piece needs to be translated into fabric.  

As you scroll through Claire's blog, you'll see so many wonderful examples of her artwork. Such a gifted lady. I'm hoping, keeping my fingers crossed that she'll soon have a line of fabrics. So pop over and help me encourage her!

Have a wonderful day, and remember that unlike my dog Gracie, or my friend's dog Lea, most don't need to be begged, they just need an encouraging word to reach new levels in their life. 
Rhonda

Patterns That Are Fun To Dream Over

Life has been a bit crazy lately, house guests, and then just stuff. Sometimes there's just no better way to describe the things we have to deal with than to just call it stuff. But all is beginning to return to normal, and I for one am very happy. So you'll be hearing from me much more in the coming days :)

Like many, or most of you, I received an email yesterday showcasing the new Spring/Summer Vogue Patterns. Last winter, I was so very happy when Paco Peralta was the new featured designer and I purchased the Assymetrical Jacket and Dropped Shoulder Top pattern. It's cut, not sewn, and I'm giving it a little twist that I'll share soon. This is a perfect piece for the Chicago spring and summer.

Paco's pattern was the first Vogue pattern that I've purchased in quite some time. There was a time when I couldn't wait for the new pattern book to come out. I would drool over the patterns, especially the Claude Montana patterns, and then write down all the numbers, just as if I was making a Christmas wish list. Sadly, those days have been gone for quite some time. More often than not, there's little that catches my attention...until last night.

I absolutely love this Rebecca Vallance dress. Unless you are going to a cocktail, or black tie event, the dress would not get a lot a of wear as is. But, the neckline would be easy to fill in. The armholes are also a little low, but like the neckline, could also be filled in.     

The pattern is really quite versatile as the skirt would be super cute all on its own. 

This dress from Tom and Linda Platt has a lovely vintage feel. It also has an elegant easy to wear look.

I love having a new dress for Easter, and I think that this just might be it this year. It's elegant from the front, and interesting from the back.

I still enjoy a two-piece swim suit, but I'm past wearing a bikini, way past ;)  This vintage suit pattern offers a fun take on a two-piece with the easy to wear shorts. 

Love everything about the pattern, even the cover-up. The only change I would make is to lengthen the cover-up and then make it out of a fun lacy fabric.

I was so happy to see a new pattern from Paco Peralta. My favorite version is the shorter tunic and the cropped pant.

For some reason, the top on this  Very Easy Vogue  pattern caught my attention. 

The line drawing is a better representation of the top. I'm not much for an elastic waist pant, but the pant from Paco's pattern would be the perfect substitute.  

I also received an email from Tessuti Fabrics. They have a new pattern out, the Yuki Dress. This is a super easy to wear dress that could easily be shortened and worn as a top as well.

From the photograph above, it seems that the neckline could be left ungathered and worn softly over the shoulders. I'll find out as I bought the PDF version of the pattern!   

I'm looking forward to some fun new additions to my wardrobe. And even if I don't end up purchasing all of the patterns, it was fun to dream :)