Mending and patching jeans - the "soho-boho" patch

click here to download tutorial

Welcome to chapter no. 3 and my project to write a series of articles about mending and repairing jeans. When mending jeans, different techniques come into play from mending other kinds of slacks. One needs to respect the special qualities of the fabric as well as understand the individual style of the wearer. There are many ways to incorporate these elements when you patch and mend. In chapter 3, you will find a technique for hard worn jeans, that need durable patches to endure continued hard wear. It’s been named “Soho-Hobo” patches, for how it is inspired by the look of the youthful rebel, the poor but resourceful artists, who founded Soho in the 60s in New York. It's a cool one.

February's heartfelt wallpaper sketch

click here to download this month's wallpaper calendar

Maybe, because I have always adored hearts, especially deep, rich, handmade chocolates that are sunk into lush red velvet heart shaped boxes, and all the other tempting things associated with Valentine’s Day – that this month’s calendar had to reflect all of it and more. I started painting and drawing red, violet and pink hearts with this heavenly, real gold, solid gold painted background, like a golden heart … and from there the sketch developed. How many hearts can you find in the sketch? Wishing you a most love-ly month of February!

Need help to fix my blog feed

Once again I am receiving emails from fellow bloggers that they are not able to follow my blog. It is so discouraging to hear this, since my reason to post is my wish that they will inspire or be enjoyed by this special community of bloggers whom I enjoy, and who inspire me!

I do know that my blog fee settings are sent to “full.”

If anyone can help me to technically overcome this problem, with pleasure I will send you a great big hand sketched thank you note!! With many thanks in advance.

Paris Couture Spring 2010 Madness

Dior Couture, Spring 2010

above photo from Chanel is from style rookie, who, don't you think, was Karl's muse ...

While I have been at home hemming my jeans, some people have been thrown into the twilight zone of the Paris Couture fashion fantasies, for the Spring 2010 shows. As I gaze through the images, while mending my jeans, I do feel a bit like Cinderella ... I mean, after all, we are on opposite sides of the moon and the stars, at this moment, as I'm trying to be resourceful and others are inventing magic and looks destined for fantasies. But how can one not love all the creativity and madness. Chanel's silver glitter is everywhere, stockings, nails, shoes and jewerly - silver highlights in the hair, the way it's been teased into a power shape accented with flowers and bows, is so 2010 and looking forward. Thank you Chanel!
Dior is also on the other side of the stars. The sumptuous flowers and fabrics drapped all over the runway, with the overly elaborate taffetas, make-up, hats and clothes, are simply out of this world literally. We must pause, enjoy the magic, the imagination, and the world of never never land...... realizing, that what looks outrageous at this moment, as fashion goes, is going to be on everyone tomorrow - just watch it happen! Hmm, can't wait for Spring, for the piles of flowers and sumptuous clothing. Photos from French Vogue, The Vine, Style Rookie and the Chanel site.

How to hem jeans with designer style

click here for tutorial

Even though hemming jeans is one of the most common clothing alterations, surprisingly, it is rarely sewn correctly (and when it’s wrong it’s truly glaring, like a billboard wrapped around your ankles.) The widespread mistake is to just fold the excess length back and stitch it like any other pants. This is in conflict with the stitching and washed details on the cuff that need to be seen and not hidden.
When jeans need to be shortened the hem should be durable, invisible and not change the style or look of the jeans. The hemming technique in this tutorial is designed especially for denim. I love to give names to techniques and this is named "For Your Eyes Only" due to how it blends so seamlessly, that only the seamstress knows it’s there. As you will discover, it is simple and easy to do, or, if you’re not a seamstress, then to explain, to the person who will shorten your jeans. Repairing jeans is a pleasure because the material sews beautifully and the wearer is so appreciative.
Click here to download or print the tutorial.

A handknitted vintage cardigan

A while ago I knit this sweater from a vintage pattern I found in my mother’s fabulous stash of patterns. It’s made from Rowan’s (now discontinued,) “Lurex Shimmer.” The yarn has a soft, lovely hand feel, and the copper color is particularly pretty. Lately I am wearing it with old, worn jeans and am searching for the pattern as I want to knit it again, this time in a super fine, pale pink, merino wool.
My mom, by the way, is an incredible knitter. I have many sweaters, ski sweaters, vests, hats, and various pullovers, that she has made for me over the years. Each stitch is beautifully, evenly formed with great skill. One of my favorite things to do is to browse through her pile of knitting patterns and books, of which she has gathered a personal and richly diverse collection. I know each one by heart, and they all have associations and memories. It’s similar to searching through a button box, and not unlike the intimate pleasure, of being with one’s own memories when one looks through a family photo album. Now, back to searching for that misplaced cardigan pattern!

Sweet,heart shaped sunglasses

10 Corso Como is not unlike a candy shop for adults. They imagine, invent, produce and select the most wonderful things ... such as these red, heart shaped sunglasses. Visit their website to discover their music, prints, designs, scents and beauty products as well as their tiny hotel, cafe and more. As I browsed around, I found these flowers, a one-of-a-kind, handmade bouquet a playful keepsake of their logo (to be found also on their tissue wrapping paper, which is too cool to be tossed.) Such a tangle of wire stems and bold blossoms - aren't they beautiful! 10 Corso Como is a whole world, situated around a lovely enclosed garden, in the heart of Milan.

Inspiring Valentine's ideas

The above "chunky cutting board made from French oak" seems like a special way to enjoy fresh bread on Valentine's Day and all year long ... from MAGAZYN, in Antwerp.In "Liberty's" newsletter, among other wonders, are cake decorating classes especially for Valentine's Day with Mich Turner of the Little Venice Cake Company. I hope you enjoy all the delicious, lovely and imaginative images, and maybe, someone will make it to the workshop!

Links for giving aid to Haiti

New York Times online has compiled a thorough list of links and information.
Google has also created a page with many links to aid organizations and information on how to SMS a donation (only within the U.S.):
SMS text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts
SMS text “YELE” to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts
SMS text "GIVE10" to 20222 to donate $10 to Direct Relief

Velvet slipper tutorial

If you want to make yourself a dreamy pair of slippers, click here for my tutorial posted on my most favorite crafting blog - craftzine. Craftzine has formatted the instructions with plenty of sketches, into an easy to use, nice to keep and to re-use or pass to a friend, pdf file. And once you make a pair in velvet -- you may start to make more ... ...such as the ones above made with a Liberty cabbage rose print, re-cycled denim soles and antique lace and fringe trims ... and when you finish, just put your feet up and gaze at your lovely handywork. Ahh, all is a day's work.

Desigual - why not disguise your jeans ...

For a wonderful way to re-think how you may recycle, patch, decorate or re-shape altogether your cast-off jeans, click this link which will take you to Desigual, the rebellious, streetwise Spanish clothier.

January 2010 fashion screensaver

Welcome to 2010 with the January 2010 calendar!

Click here to download and print a copy or use it as your screensaver.

It's already the 3rd of January - and I am filled with the giddy enthusiasm of entering a new decade. I'm already madly in love with 2010. The new inventions and goals of the last decade seem to have magically evolved into the wiser, better and more clear hopes of the future.

Today the ground is covered in fresh snow, so I've sketched the way the world looks -everyone bundling up, layers upon bulky layers, in their own individual way, to enclose themselves with the feelings of winter, the freshness of the air, surrounded by the faintest glow lingering from the fireworks that rang in the year only hours ago.

Cheers to all and one in twenty-ten!

A free December screensaver

Every month I sketch a screensaver.

As a fellow blogger, you are welcome to upload it.
Wishing you a wonderful December, may you enjoy and discover natural beauty wherever it may fall. Let the grand finale of 2009 be filled with dreams, hopes, winter bliss and more!

Shower Bonnets made from retro scarves or lace

"California Dreaming" is made from a retro scarf and some gingham ribbons.

Named "Coco" this version is made with white lace, layered on top of plastic lime plastic lining, and finished with pleated and polka dotted ribbons, black jet and crystal buttons.

It all started with a family heirloom, a fun, souvenir scarf printed with charming scenic spots in California. Even though it was colorful and intriguing, it was never worn because it is synthetic. Now it has been recycled into my every-morning-most-favorite-shower-cap named "California Dreaming" and as I write this post, is hanging on a peg in the bathroom! If you want to make one yourself, here are the easy steps. It only takes about an hour from start to finish.

Materials:

1 scarf (synthetic is best because the water just splashes off)

1 plastic shopping bag (this will be your waterproof lining)

1 yard of 1" wide, synthetic, turquoise ribbon

1 yard of 1" wide synthetic yellow ribbon

1 funky retro button

1 yard ¼" wide elastic

Red thread or another color that contrasts your scarf print

Your sewing basket and a sewing machine

How to do it:

-Cut a 20" diameter circle, out of the scarf and out of the plastic shopping bag.

-Pin the 2 circles together and stitch ½" from the edge, all around the perimeter.

-Sew the turquoise gingham ribbon around the perimeter with a zigzag stitch.
-Sew the yellow gingham ribbon, with a double row of zigzag stitches ½" apart, leaving an opening to slide the elastic through. And like in the photos, the turquoise ribbons in fluttering below the yellow ribbon.

-Attach a safety pin to your elastic; slip it through the opening, sliding it along, until you come out at the other end. Holding the elastic ends together, adjust the ease to fit your head, and then cut off excess and stitch elastic ends together securely.

-Form a loop from the turquoise ribbon (this is to hang your shower cap on a peg.)

-Pin the loop on top of the join point of your ribbon trims (so it hides the join.) Sew securely in place with a button. (My turquoise ribbon is a simple seam binding, pressed open, left with raw edges. )

Maharaja at the V&A

above, is an image of a Turban ornament, probably Murshidabad, 1730-55

gold, diamonds, rubies, emerabls, sapphire, pearl

The V&A has mounted a splendid exhibition, "Maharaja -The Splendour of India's Royal Courts." It is bound to inspire you to adorn yourself or your home with a dazzling array of everything that lushly twinkles or drips in gold, with exquiste and beautiful taste. Suzy Menkes (click here) shares every succulent detail. If you can make it to London, the fury that surrounds these shows adds to the fun, as the students sketching away and the outfits of the visitors are always imaginative. Above, is the "Procession of Ram Singh II of Kota," a watercolor painting from about 1850. Just click here, to discover extraordinary detail and beauty of this procession and the objects on display. as well as a competition for a trip to India! Hope you win! Or at least hope you enjoy the fun of sinking into the lap of overwhelming luxury and learning about another historical cultural and fashion influence on another part of the globe.

Charming flea market journal

I love and collect paper, in all sorts of configurations, especially as journals - from the most elementary newsprint ones that dazzle with their simplicity - to ones with poetry written around the edges or beautifully edged with gold leaf. Usually a few pages are filled with thoughts and sketches, sometimes they are never touched, and others get filled to overflowing. This one, spotted in a flea market is sooo wonderful sooo I wanted to share.

Spider webs and blasts of color

Ruben Toledo, is a masterful fashion artist, sketching ladies with a wispy light elegance that transcends any fashion clique, lightly lifting you into his naturally elegant world. Each drawing seems to have a whole world and event supporting the moment and one's imagination just drifts and wanders around as you follow his lead. A favorite of mine his "Fashionmachine." Which lady, which silhouette most captures your style?!? How would you create your own wheel of fashion? Isn't it fun, to spin the wheel around and let is carry you to a night out, a trip to the countryside or a garden party...

Black ink does feel very of the moment, especially when it is made into these wispy, lacy, Lacroix dresses, that are light and magical as spiderwebs.Then a blast of color with the tremendous Chihuly chandelier in the lobby of the V&A. Wow, I could sit all day in that room and just dream and sketch and think about whatever is on my mind while I wait for a friend ...Don't we all need a Biba suit, something head to toe in a wildly decorative pattern to wear and while sitting and waiting for our friend in the V&A atrium, marveling at the Chuilly and all the excitement in being there and being able to enjoy this spectacular and imaginative museum ... !

Free November fashion screensaver

click here to download or print the November screensaver

2009 is racing by and November is already upon us! I continue with my monthly sketches sharing my fashion thoughts and sketches with my fellow bloggers. This month’s calendar is about mixing the unexpected in highly personal ways. Sketched is a denim skirt from my book, Denim Revolution, that was cut and stitched with a sweep of red plaid insets. It is styled with over the knee boots, a lacey sweater and a retro, leopard printed bag. Hair is shaggy and the style is nonchalant, of the moment, fun. I hope you enjoy a wonderful November and freely discover and express your individuality in fashion and beyond!

Finally a new header for fall

We are already deep into the autumn and the summery header needed to go. Today's rainy day turned into the perfect excuse to create something more reflective of the fall leaves and the sprays of deep red berries. The Venetian mask catches one's imagination, and mixed with the textures of handmade, fantasy worlds, deep hued shades and hand printed papers from Italy, the header grew into a mix of personal memories and thoughts about the future.It's whimsical, romantic and also carries me to this sketch of the little Russian cape and long laced trimmed denim skirt, from my book of re-cycled denim. Wishing everyone a happy fall!

DIY a romantic Halloween mask

Venetian Carnival

This is one of my most fun projects - to make and to wear -

(click here for the step-by-step tutorial)

Made with a scrap of re-cycled denim, it was posted last year, and just as lovely this year.

And here it is sketched with a re-cycled denim cape. Happy Halloween!