Before heading up to Montreal to meet with my PatternReview friends, Kathi and I spent a couple of days in NYC.  One of the days we went to the garment district to shop for fabric.  I was a bit disappointed and think that Los Angeles has a much MUCH better selection... at least what I could find.  But I did manage to pick up a few things, albeit, not the best pricing, but had to buy something.

I got some black and some white rayon knit, invisible zips, and a La Mia Boutique pattern magazine (haven't found a place that sells those in LA).

While in Montreal we went to St. Hubert's street and they had several shops or beautiful fabrics.  I picked up some batiste, rayon knit prints, another pattern magazine, and some linen border print. 

We also had a fabric/pattern exchange where I brought some of my Japanese cottons I "inherited" to exchange, and picked up a couple of vintage patterns which I can't wait to look over this weekend.   I will definately be making the dresses on the bottom row!

Posted by sue at 2:28 PM PDT

Updated: Friday, June 25, 2010 2:38 PM PDT

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During my recent trip to NYC we went to the  Brooklyn Museum to see the exhibit:  American High Style - Fashioning a National Collection.

Here's some of my favorites

this shoe, I love the way it folds over and think this would make a great pocket on the front of a skirt or dress!

the side seam detail on this jacket was wonderful the way the seam incorporates a dart not to mention all those front darts!

I love the bodice on this blue dress.  However, I would add some silk organza as a modesty panel.  

Here's a collage of some of the museum's collection

Posted by sue at 2:56 PM PDT

Updated: Thursday, June 24, 2010 3:08 PM PDT

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the first week of June I went camping in Yosemite with 2 of my nieces and my friend Denise.  Denise and I have been friends since 6th grade! She has been coming with me to Yosemite for the past several years.  this year, she celebrated her 50th Birthday... so to surprise her, I brought up 200 kazoos.  I passed them aruond to the other campers and at 7PM on June 10th, her birthday, 100+ campers played "Happy Birthday" on their kazoos.  Yes she was embarassed, but she was surprised!

 The first night we were evacuated due to the river cresting 10' over but by the second day we secured a higher campsite and all was well. I have to say the camp hosts were very nice and accomodating and this was just another adventure.

The Falls were full, the mosquitoes were NOT biting and we cycled everywhere.   It's a beautiful place, so much to see all around, I'm always in awe.   

Posted by sue at 12:41 PM PDT

Updated: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 12:47 PM PDT

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time flies and I haven't blogged.  My sister borrowed my camera to go with her daughter's class to Washington DC, so I haven't taken any photos.  I'm working on a Christmas Quilt!  Each year, I wish I had a Christmas quilt to substitute in place where another quilt hangs, and each  year passes and no quilt.  Well, this year I'm gonna make one.  I've embroidered out 12 blocks... The Twleve Days of Christmas... and now I need to pick fabric for the borders and sashing. 

But first, a much needed vacation. Next week I head up to Yosemite for my annual trip.  Can't wait.  then I come home for a day and fly to NY and Montreal to meet up with PR friends!  Those two weeks couldn't contrast more!  

This past weekend, I finally, redid the patio.   Argh, hard work, but so worth it.  My neighbor helped... well, actually, I helped her, take out the grass, dirt, and then level and install 100+ pavers. Now, I have a nice place for my patior furniture.  Here's a photo from my cellphone

Posted by sue at 2:12 PM PDT

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Another dress....  this is one of my favorite patterns.  It's quick and easy and makes a great summer dress that can be worn to work with a sweater, a party, a picnic, wherever!  I wore this Saturday night to a surprise 50th Birthday Party at a neighbors.  

This is a buck a  yard cotton fabric which I purchased during my last trip to  FIDM.   That trip I picked up some beautiful cottons... all for dresses!  I'm slowy wadding through the pile and hope to have a few dozen new dresses for this summer!  

Here's my review:

Pattern Description: Misses summer dress with back zip, bodice and shoulder variations.  Optional waist tie.

Pattern Sizing: Misses 8-18  I made my standard size 12 and took in the CB seam about 1" on each side for a snug fit.

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? yes.  My fabric is even pretty close although that wasn't my intention.

 What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I think New Look has some nice, easy basic summer dresses and their patterns are reasonably priceed.  I generally look to New Look first for anything basic. I can wear this to an evening party, summer picnic, or with a cropped jacket or sweater to work.

Fabric Used: 100% cotton floral print that I picked up for a buck a yard. I lined the entire dress with a pimatex cotton I purchased online from Dharma Trading by the bolt. I love to line my summer dresses with this stuff!  It's a great fabric to have around as it comes in handy on all sorts of projects and washes and wears nicely. 

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Some simple fitting because I wanted this dress to be snug. I also lined the entire dress which basically just consisted of cutting out each piece twice (1 with fashion fabric and 1 with pima cotton) and sewing them right sides together and treating as 1, except for the skirt which is separate inside except attached at the waist.  I find that if I sew the skirt separately it usually guarantees that there will be no tugging or puckering on the seams if one of the fabric later shrinks more than the other.

I have some other dresses (made from my $1 yard fabrics) I sewed up these last few weeks, that I will post here this week!

Posted by sue at 9:07 AM PDT

Updated: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 11:19 AM PDT

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