Tag: lifestyle

Contests, Events

Giveaway of Cloth: 100 Artists Contemporary & Heritage Techniques by Lena Corwin

Artist, textile designer, and author Lena Corwin showcases the creativity of 100 diverse and talented American fiber artists in her latest book, Cloth, celebrating the timeless crafts of weaving, quilting, dyeing, and other heritage textile techniques. Cloth highlights contemporary artists who are thoughtfully reviving and reimagining traditional methods. Corwin introduces artists from a vibrant array of backgrounds, each uniquely influenced by their cultural heritage and … Continue reading Giveaway of Cloth: 100 Artists Contemporary & Heritage Techniques by Lena Corwin

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Junk Drawer

StyleWe.com: A Review

Have you heard or visited the clothing site StyleWe?  Is it worth it to spend $$ here? Is it legit? Read on for a review.

StyleWe has a beautiful selection of modern fashion clothes. But, if you visit their Facebook page or SiteJabber you’ll notice a lot of negative complaints. Here’s my experience with StyleWe. Continue reading “StyleWe.com: A Review”

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History, Junk Drawer

Making tutu’s for professional ballet companies and other behind the scene peeks

I worked in theater and costumes BM (before marriage) and one of my favorite jobs was at the Pacific Northwest Ballet Company in Seattle, WA.  I loved being back stage watching the ballerinas dance and hearing their shoes strike the stage. I was enthralled with the dancers during warm up and, completely entranced as I watch them dance en pointe.  I worked up in the … Continue reading Making tutu’s for professional ballet companies and other behind the scene peeks

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Finished Projects

Anthropologie Hack – How to sew an Anthropologie dress using sewing patterns

I love Anthropologie. I am a total sucker for their stylish content marketing, I fall hook line and sinker. Well, not exactly. I have gone to their brick and mortar stores to look at the quality of their garments and frankly, not impressed. On average an Anthropologie dress can cost from 120-348.00, basic Made In China ‘stuff’. So, what is an Anthropologie lovin’ woman to do? Hack it together herself.

In the 2014 fall/winter catalog there are many dresses I would love to have and so I shall by making them myself.

My first hack is this one. And, for some reason it is no longer on their website. It is made of rayon jersey, 3/4 sleeves, scoop neck in a soft grey with a black contrasting fabric and gathers at the waist. Full price was listed at 148.00. Fabric is listed as ‘imported’. Unless it’s from Italy or other more ‘luxurious’ places I’m thinking ‘imported’ generally means China.
Dress by Anthropologie

Here is my hack and how I put it together. Continue reading “Anthropologie Hack – How to sew an Anthropologie dress using sewing patterns”

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Reviews

Butterfly Kimono from Butterick 6065

Well, this was unintentional, me posting a kimono right after Jamie. Plus, we’re having a Kimono night at the Denver Sewing Collective’s next meetup. I’ve got kimono on the brain. This was an super easy jacket to make. Basically a rectangle folded over and the side sewn where your arms go through. I like the drapey band that Butterick has here. I bought the fabric from … Continue reading Butterfly Kimono from Butterick 6065

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Junk Drawer

Operation: Core Wardrobe – No Pain No Gain – Editing the closet

Still moving forward on my core wardrobe. This is the tough part, editing the closet. Twice a year I change from a spring/summer wardrobe to the fall/winter. And, every year I put a few things in the ‘Donate’ pile. Well, it’s about to get a bit ugly this year. With my goal of sewing a core wardrobe it’s important to get rid of things that … Continue reading Operation: Core Wardrobe – No Pain No Gain – Editing the closet

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Junk Drawer

Operation: Core Wardrobe – What shape am I?

The idea of sewing my core wardrobe has been growing for the past year.  I’ve taken the last 6-9 months or so to plan for it.  Not that it needs to take that long to plan for a wardrobe, it’s not like we’re climbing Everest here. Or is it? The first steps in sewing a Core Wardrobe that looks and feels smashing is to determine … Continue reading Operation: Core Wardrobe – What shape am I?

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On The Road

Sewing On The Road (In A 1962 #Airstream)

Sewing On The Road - Denver Sews

I own a 1962 Airstream. We bought it on a whim, literally drove by it and stopped to inquire and wrote a  check. I love the Airstream, but it really is a money pit and we’ve often thought about selling it. But, then when we take it out, we vow to hold on to it and keep working on it. And, it needs work.  EVERY year something goes wrong. Like this trip the toilet didn’t work and we didn’t have hot water. We usually stay at RV parks surrounded by very upscale RV’s.  As in $300,000 kind of upscale. And, there amid all the glitz and glamour sits our very old Silver Twinkie. But, I love it.

I’ve always wanted to sew in the Airstream and this year I did. Here are a few pointers for sewing on the road.  I am no expert but if you decide to sew on the go these might be helpful. Continue reading “Sewing On The Road (In A 1962 #Airstream)”

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Finished Projects

Making Pants That Fit

Image from Pattern Patter
Image from Pattern Patter

On a Saturday while the kids were helping feed the homeless, (the homeless can wait, I’ve got pants to make) I made a plan to make pants. I made pants all day long. Here’s the result of my labors.

B4998

This is from a OOP Butterrick 4998 pattern that I getting to almost perfection. The fabric is a green something I got in a discount bin. Nice for muslin. Works better than muslin actually. See the wrinkles at the bottom, I can’t tell if that’s just the way I was standing, the fabric or what. Plus, the fabric IS kind of wrinkly.

green pants
The alterations I made: Continue reading “Making Pants That Fit”

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Denver, History

The Lost Art of Dress by Linda Przybyszewski

Linda Przybyszewski was in Denver at the Tattered Cover bookstore doing a reading and book signing of her book The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish. Linda is a wonderful speaker, has a doctoral degree from Nortre Dame with an emphasis on law, history, culture and dress. She teaches a class called We Are A Nation of Slobs: The Art, Ethics … Continue reading The Lost Art of Dress by Linda Przybyszewski

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History

Vogue Covers – Then & Now: It’s not about art anymore

If you haven’t heard Kim Kardashian made it on to the cover of Vogue magazine April issue (with Kanye right behind her). The cover has generated more negative comments then one can shake a tube of lipstick at.  (Full disclosure, I’m not a fan of any of the Kardashians, nor of reality television. ) The photo spread was done by Annie Leibovitz but her signature … Continue reading Vogue Covers – Then & Now: It’s not about art anymore

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Finished Projects

Sewing the perfect T-shirt = A surprising amount of work

perfect t shirt 2
I am working on the perfect t-shirt. One that fits like a glove. Ultimately I want to use a cotton blend fabric with modal that is somewhat sustain-ably made if possible.  My goal is to make all my t-shirts from here on out and build on this must have Wardrobe Basic.  Continue reading “Sewing the perfect T-shirt = A surprising amount of work”

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History

Born in this month – March

March has so many notable fashion and design related birthdays. I could write a blog post for every day of the month showcasing one stellar fashion icon or grand designer. Let’s just look at a few notable births this month. Plus links for you to explore more.

March is the month that Barbie was born. Love her or hate her the girl’s got staying power. Barbie is actually German by birth. If you look at the German dolls and then the US Barbie it’s not so much that Ruth Handler invented Barbie but rather she saw the potential in the German Bild Lilli dolls and ran with it. Just say ‘in. Bild Lilli dolls in good to great condition can fetch upwards of 4000 dollars or more.  Continue reading “Born in this month – March”

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Junk Drawer

The luxury of sewing all day

Denver Sewing Collective had their first Saturday Sew-In on January 25th. And, boy was it a glowing success. Lynne was able to score her housing development’s club house that had lots of tables, natural light a kitchen and even a fire place and couch. At one point there were 16 of us sewing away like so many mad seamstresses. Lynne’s husband Frank even brought his … Continue reading The luxury of sewing all day

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History

Born on this day – Christian Dior

christian_dior po

Christian Dior, always a favorite among the sewing and fashion set, was born January 21, 1905 in Normandy, France.  For fashion historians and lovers of vintage style Dior is best known for his “New Look” which emerged right after World War Two. The “New Look” was presented in 1947 and was seen as a fashion revolution that brought women out of the boxy, rationed designs from the war years into voluptuous, excessive glamour. Dior is cited as being the designer who brought fashion back to Paris with his “New Look”. Continue reading “Born on this day – Christian Dior”

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Reviews

Wardrobe Wakeup by Lois Joy Johnson – A Review

wakeup review

“The Wardrobe Wake Up” by Lois Joy Johnson.
I love books on wardrobe building so I loved “The Wardrobe Wake Up” by Lois Joy Johnson. I thought it brought forth a lot of sound and moderate advice. For anyone who sews, this information will work as a guide to help you find the right patterns to build your wardrobe from scratch. I did think the book could have used more detailed photos – like on how to tie scarves. I also think many readers would have loved to see some of Johnson’s ideas in plus sizes, i.e. the cropped pants. Continue reading “Wardrobe Wakeup by Lois Joy Johnson – A Review”

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Humor

7 Reasons Sewing Is Better Than A Cinnabon

youre-not-welcome-in-Cinnabon-ever-again
Image from http://www.sodahead.com

The last time I had fun at the mall I was with my boys. We were looking for back-to-school clothes for them. They were obnoxious on the escalator and we stuffed our faces with fast food. I got a coffee drink at Sbucks and I let them wander around unattended for an hour. So, the mall was fun on that day. And it was fun because I was shopping for them, not for me. Continue reading “7 Reasons Sewing Is Better Than A Cinnabon”

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Finished Projects, Reviews

Tessuti Fave Top – Jill’s Favorite Free Sewing Pattern

tessuti belted 2
I love the Tessuti top! It’s a free download from Tessuti Fabrics, a fabric store based in Australia. All levels of sewers will love this top. It sews up quick and provides lots of opportunities for customization. On mine I lengthened the sleeves about 3 inches and didn’t interface it or even do bias binding, I just folded over the edge and stitched. I wrote a bit more on this top HERE. All in all I love the top, belted or not, and it’s one of the tops that I reach for time and time again. What do you think? Love it or not so much? Continue reading “Tessuti Fave Top – Jill’s Favorite Free Sewing Pattern”

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