Sunday Night Reflections

OOTD and Thoughts On Me Made May

I can't wait to get dressed this morning! I've been waiting to wear this skirt and today is the day. The skirt is made from a beautiful piece of vintage jacquard that's also a border print.  

It has big hip pockets.

Front pleats that radiate from the base of the darts.

I underlined the fabric with cotton batiste, and finished off the hem with a piece of yellow bias tape.

The skirt is lined in an off white silk charmuese, which, needs to be pressed :/ 

I'm wearing a pair of black and white striped pumps. I like the unexpected combination.

I have decided to participate in Me Made May this year. I won't be doing daily posts here. If you would like to follow along, I'll be posting on Instagram. You can find me by searching Sewbussted. At the end of the month, I'll do a recap here on the blog and share my discoveries.

MeMadeMay began as a way for sewists to shout to the world, "I"m sewing!" And also to celebrate the incredible work that goes into a made by you wardrobe. For some, I think the experience is still the same, for others, it has morphed into something more, and that's me. 

Now, I've been sewing since Adam and Eve walked the face of the earth, maybe even longer ;), so a sewn wardrobe is nothing new. What I am looking forward to is scrutinizing my wardrobe, asking myself questions about what I have, and what I really need. I am also looking forward to discovering why there are pieces that I love, but just don't wear, at least not too often. And then too, being honest and getting rid of what I really don't like.

For many of us, May is a wonderful time of the year to do this. The weather is changing and we're looking forward to getting into lighter and brighter clothes. But, if you live in a climate like Chicago, there are days when you have to pull on something warm. Believe it or not, we actually had a freeze warning last night! So this time of year gives me the chance to actually look at my entire wardrobe rather than just a season. I think there is something to be said for doing this over an entire month. Our moods change, one day is not the same as the last, so it gives us time to really delve a little deeper than just taking a day to go through your wardrobe. 

I'm looking forward to a fun and informative month!

Monday Morning Inspiration

It's Monday, and it's also the first day of the month. May 1st is my personal kickoff to spring, so this is a very happy day for me. We had SO much rain over the weekend. My garden is quite happy, weeds and flowers alike ;) The blooms have finished on my cherry tree, but the apple tree is bursting with blooms. The squirrels typically eat all of my apples, but who knows, maybe there will be enough this year for me too. I'm not counting on it. Those little buggers snatch the apples off the tree, take a bite or two and then leave the rest. I don't mind sharing, but at least eat what you take!!! 

Last Saturday I added a new interview to the Sewbussted Material Witness lineup. What a fun interview it was to do. In case you missed it, I've added it below,



I had not met Pamela Vanderlinde prior to our interview, but what a great time we had together. So for a little Monday Morning Inspiration, I thought I would showcase some of her custom work. 

The 2 pieces below are by far my favorite. 

If you watched, or listened to the interview, you heard her say that her passion is coats and jackets. Look closely and you'll see the asymmetrical collar on this jacket. 

 The velvet roses on this coat are just exquisite.

Pamela enjoys taking a basic design and doing something a little unexpected.

This coat is a piece that she did for a class that she taught on pattern insertion. Really amazing!

Her new book on designing coats and jackets just came out in January, so it's quite new. A fabulous book, and one that I think everyone who enjoys making coats and or jackets should have in their library. You can find it HERE on Amazon. 

I thought I would share this picture from her blog, a picture taken in Manchu Picchu. In the interview we talk about her philanthropic work with the Andean women. On the Amawaki website, you can find info on how you can actually go and learn the weaving technique. While you are there, you will stay with a family and experience their life first hand. I SO want to do this!  

Now here's an opportunity!!!

If by chance you are going to be in Chicago on Saturday June 3, 2017, Pamela will be speaking to the Haute Couture Club of Chicago at our annual June Banquet. You can find all of the information in our newsletter HERE. 

I hope that the month of May will bring loads of happiness and opportunity into your life! 
Rhonda

Sunday Night Reflections

Pattern Making For Jacket and Coat Design

Earlier this past week, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and interview Pamela Vanderlinde. Not only is she an accomplished designer, she teaches at both the Illinois Institute of Art and the School of the Art Institute. 

She recently published a book on jacket and coat design. This is a book for the modern designer who would love to have the knowledge to create beautiful jackets and coats. Hear all about it in the interview below. 



Now that you've seen the video, you know that Pamela is not only making a difference in the fashion world, but reaching out and working with the Andean women of Peru. You can find their website HERE. 

Pamela's book, Pattern Making For Jacket and Coat Design is a must for anyone interested in developing and designing coats and jackets. You can find it HERE on Amazon. 

If by chance you can make it to Chicago the first Saturday of June, Pamela will be speaking to the Haute Couture Club at our June Banquet. Once the registration form is up on the website, I'll let you know. This is an opportunity that you will not want to miss!

Pamela hopes to get her blog updated soon. Be sure to pop over as there is more on her blog that we did not cover in the interview. You can find her blog HERE. You'll see that Pamela is truly a very deep well of inspiration. 

The Wednesday Showcase

It looks like the storms will soon be rolling in to Chicago. My Gracie absolutely hates rain, or being wet in any way for that matter, so she is safely sitting behind my chair, tucked into the corner. When Little Bit was still alive, and I would take the dogs to the beach, Little Bit loved everything about the water, chasing the little birds, running through the water. Gracie would be in the dunes, as far away from the water as she could be. God forbid her toes got wet! :)  

As I've said in the past, the Wednesday Showcase is typically reserved for those who are following my blog. Just a little way of saying thank you, thank you, thank you :) But, there are times when something comes up that I just have to share. Such is the case today.

If you don't know Tracy of Tracy's Sewing Studio, then you are in for a big treat! Not only is she an incredible sewist, she's an artist.

Her husband is a master brewer for Yellow Springs Brewery, and they recently rebranded their cans. Tracy was inspired, and you won't believe what she did!

She cut butterfly shapes from the cans. 

Made a dress and attached the butterflies. Amazing!!! 

Isn't this just lovely?!! 
The dress was entered into a juried art show. I hope she won.

On her post, Tracy included a video so you can see exactly how she attached the butterflies to the dress. So pop over, you'll find so much inspiration on her blog.

Next up is the loveliest lady. I met her when I went to the sewing expo in Puyallup to audition for the Sew It All program. As it turns out, we have many things in common, and one in particular is she too flies an airplane!!! In fact, she is super lucky as she actually lives at an airpark. Her name is Kathy and she blogs at Running With Rocket, named lovingly after her dog Rocket.

Kathy is so incredibly creative. Below is a clothesline bowl that she recently made as a gift at Easter. I just love how she used the thread to give definition.

There are so many tutorials on her blog, but I decided to showcase this one for baked potato bags. She says that these bags put out the fluffiest potatoes one could ever want.

Kathy makes the most incredible cards. On the left is a picture of a friend's horse, and on the right, the card she made for her. Look closely and you'll see an airplane in the background :)

On her blog, you'll find not only fabulous ideas, Kathy shares recipes AND her very green thumb! On the left is a picture of her blooming jade plant. I'm so jealous!!!

Kathy also has an Etsy store, so if you see something on the blog, love it, but would rather not spend the timing making it, you can most likely find it there. 

Have a wonderful day! I hope you are able to squeeze in a little time just for you :)
Rhonda

Fascinator and Fashion Show Fun

The Haute Couture Club of Chicago will host its annual fashion show on Sunday, May 7, 2017. It's always a fun event!

What makes the event especially nice is how so many members pitch in to help. I was given a sneak peak of our table decorations, so I thought I would share, tempt, whatever the case may be :)

Now, this is just a small sampling. Each is a full size hat/fascinator. There will be 22 in all. And...even better, everyone who attends the show will have the opportunity to win one, or more!

The hats will be raffled off. Tickets are a steal!!!
$2.00 per ticket
$8.00 for 10 tickets
$15.00 for 20 tickets

So for just a mere $2.00, you could actually take home a custom made piece.  

We are especially excited as we will also showcase the designs of 3 specially chosen fashion design students from The Illinois Institute of Art who will be the recipients of our scholarship awards. 

If you would like to attend the show, ticket information can be found HERE. It's always fun to be around others who sew :)