Travel Companions

 

Just got back last night from a trip to Washington, D.C. What timing! The government shutdown had just started the night before we left so I felt like an "eye-witness to history".  More about that on my travel blog tomorrow at

 http://cheryl-susan.blogspot.com/

 

I had recently bought a new camera strap because the connection to the camera on my old one broke. I bought what seemed a fine one for cheap at Target but it proved to be stiff, clunky as well as ugly.

 

 

 The pocket is supposed to hold an extra camera card but and there is another on the other side,  but is so bulky as to defeat the purpose. I cut off the parts that actually attach to the camera and re-created the rest in a nice black and white print that I machine quilted. Mr. Thimble occasionally lugs it for me and he said this wouldn't make him uncomfortable to "wear".



The back of this is lined in a black rip-stop nylon. I just sewed it right to right sides and turned it. Then  stuffed the connection pieces into the folded in ends and sewed top-stitching all around.

 

My only addition was a loop sewn on near the shoulder to slide my lens cap older on to. 

 

 

But the camera needed a companion, too. Therefore, this tote bag. I never walk around with a bag this big on a trip except in transit. This one held snacks, reading materials, emergency stuff, and the ever-present ipad.

 

 

Notice the color below on my ipad cover. I mentioned batteries before. Well, this tiny little bag holds extra camera batteries. Yes, I have a Kodak that takes 4 AA rechargeables

 

 

But, we are not done yet with the color-coordinating. Behold the ensemble of dots and stripes worn with black pants.

It could be worse! I used to have bright
chartreuse green glasses before these pink ones.

I took some pics during the construction of the bag but apparently erased them. It is simple strips so super simple. I boxed off the bottom and put a stiff board in between the outer quilted and the liner bottom for stability.

Sewing in Time

Sewing is my passion and fulfillment at this time in my life, but as a former librarian and book lover I also like reading and seeing what the sewists of the past were doing and thinking. The art major (under grad) in me is drawn by the illustrations in the books and on patterns.

That is what drew me to buy "Making Beautiful Clothes" from Garrison House Ephemera, The Past on Paper. Disclaimer: Tess of Garrison House is also a friend which is beside the point of this post. But just saying.

This is actually a 48 page pamphlet describing a mail order course in dressmaking and designing from the Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences. Since I bought it from a friend she generously threw in one of the monthly "Inspiration" magazines that enrollees received which had some damage to it.

The illustrations are so charming. 

Great little history of fashion here about how everything old is new again.

I thought these little items were probably pretty obscure and rare and perhaps these original items are, but the person behind the Woman's Institute is not quite so unknown. An online search of Mary Brooks Picken, the Director of Instruction pictured in the pamphlet turned up quite a list.

Blogs:
Burda Style
Amy Barickman
Past Perfect Vintage
The Sewing Loft
plus more I did not list.

Also the ubiquitous Wikipedia plus her New York Times obituary so I am a little late to this party!

But does anyone know about the illustrator(s) ? This one is real charmer.

American Fashion

This week I am stepping out of the sewing realm into the fashion world. I have always been interested in beautiful clothes and my fantasy was at one time to BE a fashion designer. Thus, my fascination with dolls and paper dolls especially. I spent hours tracing their paper bodies and drawing outfits in colored pencils.  My ideals were the designers of the forties and fifties whose clothes I saw in the magazines during this period.

When I found  my bookseller friend (Garrison House Books) had this book I HAD to have it. Today I am going to show you what I love about the clothes of the era.

 Adrian (Adrian Adolph Greenburg) was a designer for theater and film before stepping into business in 1941. America had been cut off from Paris due to the war, thus the timing.

An Adrian suit was the "uniform" of the day

The puzzle-like arrangement of stripes is a tour de force.

Subtle and timeless

The taffeta prints were also designed by Adrian and printed by Bianchini

Born Main Rousseau Boucher he pronunced his "stage name" Maine Bocker.

Polka-dot chiffon 1932

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

This is a white pique jacket over a silk organza skirt

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Maibocher designed the wedding dress for this famous woman but I like this dress much more. Do you know who

she was and why she is known by anyone of a certain age? Answer at the end.

From the 1930 collection when he introduced the strapless evening gown. The fabric of cotton plaid and Lurex was also innovative.

He did costume but never ready-to-wear.

Finally a woman!

Claire McCardell brought  the AMERICAN LOOK with sportswear that stands the test of time.

The less daring could rope it in with the belt the

model is holding.

Wouldn't you wear these today?

A dress that can go almost anywhere



          From Claire's last collection but with the same ability to adapt to the occasion as the dress above.

1949 Revolution turned Classic in wool jersey

1956 spring and summer evening look with a skirt of cotton calico.

Norman Norell began as an assistant to Hattie Carnegie who visited Paris each year and bought in all the custom salons and his task was to translate them into "American terms".

 In the early fifties he showed master tailoring

He called this the "little overcoat".

Do you love this coat as much as I do?

 I'm always a sucker for a classic nautical theme.

Notice the photographer's name on the lower left. He didn't find these on the street!

The last collection in 1972 in all beige, grey and white.

Every one has a quirky side.

Another great female designer, Pauline Trigere was born in France but never a "French" designer.

A signature town coat

Tweed done well in 1965 and wearable now.

I can't stop admiring the incredible lines and tailoring.

Fuzzy pic of a great dress. Not real sure about that scarf at the waist though.

Oh, how I wish this was in color.

Trigere's quirky looks

A picture of how to use plaid in a flattering way that won't make you look like a circus.

And now for the finale, my favorite item to look at and in which I imagine myself swirling about the room.

That is, if I were this model's height instead of barely 5 feet.  But it IS a dream.

Now, what designer do you like out of this group?

Do you think these are timeless or am I just living in the past?

The answer to who is this woman: Wallis Simpson who was the woman whom the Prince of Wales abdicated the title of King of England for. Later known as the Duchess of Windsor.

Also see: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/12/nyregion/sarah-tomerlin-lee-90-editor-at-vogue-and-harper-s-bazaar.html for more about the author

http://www.amazon.com/American-Fashion-Mainbocher-McCardell-Trigere/dp/0812905245 for the book