Stenciled Jacket

Dharma Trading company has a waterfall jacket that I thought would be fun to embellish. The first step is stenciling using paintsticks and a stencil from www. embellishmentvillage.com. I pressed the edge of the jacket to freezer paper for stenciling. It helps stabilize the soft-handed rayon.

Next step will be to add an elastic casing to the sleeves, they are way too long for me and my short arms.   Also this will make for a nice ruffled effect.

Final step will be to embroider around the edges with blue perle cotton; maybe a buttonhole stitch.

Who knows, if I like the way this turns out I might make a whole wardrobe of these. I think with the next one I'll try my hand at shibori!

Patching Jeans

Brand new jeans with holes in them are quite popular. Not so much with Daddy and the principal at school.

I patched the holes with some left over fabric. The patches are two layers fused together to make it more substantial.
I got the idea from some RL jeans in a fashion magazine. The ones in the magazine had a buttonhole stitch around the patches in a contrasting thread.  Reminded me of some I had in the 70's...

The Promise of Tomorrow

No art work this weekend, instead I'm making a jacket. Admittedly, I do not find garment sewing quite is not as fun as other artistic endeavours. However, selecting fabric, notions and patterns does provide some satisfaction. I could not find buttons that I liked for this jacket so I made some from polymer clay. They work pretty well but are somewhat brittle (so make a few extra just in case).

I am delighted that shows like Project Runway encourage the next generation to learn to sew. What wonderful independence to decide your own personal style and be the designer.

In addition to being grateful that I can sew, I am grateful for:

Easter Dinner that I don't have to prepare. My son-in-law is an absolute master on the barbeque grill and smoker: brisket, sausage, and jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped with backstrap! It was fantastic. I did contribute Red Velvet cake and deviled eggs.

My studio - with enough space and height to work. Do 8' ceilings stifle your creative spirit? Mine seems to need space to soar.

My spouse accepts my need for creativity - although he does not necessarily understand it.

Spring green - the color of new leaves in the spring time that is so bright it looks artificial.

The promise of tomorrow - another day, a fresh start. I guess that is what this time of year is all about.