June fashion screensaver

(Click here to download the June screen saver or to save it and print a hard copy.)

It's free, it fun, enjoy!

June is always so very lovely. Sunshine, gentle breezes, raspberries and flowers fill the air with the kind of special delight that's as quiet and astonishing -- as the activities and songs of the wide variety of birds one is finding everywhere. The fashion sketch in this month's screen saver is a mix of that light hearted and dreamy mood that seems to prevail all month long. After struggling through some rather serious sketches, I finally landed on this one, which has the big over sized denim weekend bag (long weekend journeys must start now!) from a few posts ago, and a spontaneous layering of old and new clothes, based on a peplum effect. Don't we all feel like shedding our serious clothes and having some fun, defining our individuality and self expression? The background this month is a collage taken from my desk -- with a favorite birthday card from a friend and wonderful artist, flea market finds, postcard stands made from re-cycled plastic (which I'm really having fun with and will post more about it soon) and much more. Isn't one's desk always an expression of thoughts, wishes and things to do and not to forget... .

Liberty of London style

The windows at Liberty, always have a story or a tale to tell,

...with their mix of vintage, retro and new, all combined with a fairytale magic that is so wonderfully imaginative. And along the way a tea-stop is a must,...
where they've covered lampshades, teapots, table legs, all kinds of housewares with their wonderful fabrics. Finally a pause to see what new scents are in their perfumery, that has been appropriatelly, lushly filled with an inviting, den-like coziness and their original furniture.

One simply can't resists their journals, their fantasy jewels, scarves, fabrics, kits of diy projects, bags and household accessories. It is all very daring and fun in that British voice that I so love from Liberty.

Browns and their mad hatted and masked mannequins

Browns on South Molton Street in London, has a unique love and understanding of the clothes that they sell. They don't just gather the chicest and prettiest clothes available with absurdly expensive price tags -- but they are convincingly honest about their enduring enthusiasm for them. They deeply appreciate the handwork, the textures, the creativity and force that went into their creation and delight in embellishing them with exquisite accessories. Even though there is a nonchalant attitude at the shop, they are serious merchants, and convinced about their understanding, their personal viewpoint and adoration for everything they cultivate in their shop ... and this has been going on for decades! Their window displays are artistic expressions of their creativity. The past week they were with masks and props, that stir your imagination, make you wonder, where and what, that take you on journeys to far off lands or big city events.

with a revolutionary and adventuress London style.

A New Magritte Museum

this sketch has been etched out of the white washed window front

of a shop under renovation, a few blocks from the museum

Yesterday, with great fanfare, a spectacular new art museum, devoted to René Magritte, the Musée Magritte Museum, officially opened in Brussels. Situated on Place Royale in the heart of the art and antique district, and an extension to the Brussels Royal art museum (filled with work from his illustrious Belgium colleagues), the Magritte Museum has gripped the city. Everywhere you look you find Magritte symbolism, which is not only amusing, but also creates the feeling that Magritte is amongst us, chuckling to himself ... Ceci n'est pas une musée… as you bite into an apple green macaron.

My personal introduction to Magritte was The Empire of Light II, hanging in the MOMA . Hanging next to a Salvidor Dali, I returned over and over again, week after week, in disbelief, trying to absorb the contrast of the magnificently painted blue sky and the lamppost lighting the dark street. The perfection was surreal and impossible to fit into my natural world. Permanently etched into my memory, the effect of this one painting, had such a demanding presence, even though it was a comparatively small work, in the far side of a large room filled with a stunning assortment of art, that I wonder if a whole museum devoted only to this artist, will make the same powerful impression? It will be a different kind of experience (the museum opens to the public in June) and why not, isn't that art?

From Biba to Blahniks, wonderful fantasy shoes

from the UK, about 1720, a green tapestry shoe with a rust bow

One would imagine that there could be nothing more perfect than a pair of shoes by Manolo Blahnik, but actually, it seems that wearing the perfect shoe, has been a passion, and that every decade, or century, has their stellar shoes, that can leave 2009 in the dust. At a tiny display at the V&A in London, I discovered some of the most diverse and best examples of shoemaker fantasy, creativity, originality and craftsmanship.

Biba, 1972, Satin Platform sandal with sequins A red silk boot, trimmed in bobbin lace from about 1870
a serious shoe with ribbons and a rosette from Oxford Street -

reminds me of the Penhaligons Bluebells bottleSalvatore Ferragamo, 1930, suede booty - look at the TOE!
Andre Courreges, Paris, 1965, leather boot They are all splendid and each in a world of it's own.

A sunny weekend bag

A soft, light bag, that can always squeeze in something else, and also fit into any airport overhead luggage rack, makes for a perfect weekend or trip to the outdoor vegtable market. This one is about 22" square and made with old jeans (always) and fabrics pulled from the pile of scraps. The bright orange webbing shoulder straps are practical and summery.

And it's been fully lined with another contrasting printed cotton for delight and durability.

Oriental sweets and rich gingerbread

These sweets were gathered together for a friend's birthday (who is not mad for chocolate, like me and my family) - and the freshness of another palette, rich in tradition and different from our usual dessert menu, simply enhanced the mood of the special occasion. From the top, there are assorted Moroccan sweets made with honey, almonds, and other nuts, followed by a gingerbread cake, that is so rich, we were advised by the baker to eat it smeared on thick slices of fresh bread...

... and finally, an almond cake. All handmade by different bakers, they are luscious specialties, rich in flavor, smells and tradition.

Wardrobe Refresh on Craftzine.com

click here for a tutorial on blog.craftzine

to make three eco-hip accessories from recyclable cast-offs

Blog.craftzine is a simply wonderful, free flowing, source of crafting possibilities and inspiration! They really do their research and comb the globe for ideas and trends. I am thrilled to also be a contributor, this time on their "Wardrobe Refresh" column.

Another blogger and creative "junk" artist I adore is Junkjewerly. She's a stylish crafter with an abundance of hip and easy ways to create your own jewelry.

Wishing you lots of fun - making, wearing and gifting your new summer jewelry!

HATS and Stephen Jones

Master hatter, Stephen Jones, opens his world and milliner secrets at the exhibit he curated in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Infused with charm and desire, for DIYers, this exhibit inspires you to pull out any old forgotten hat, and to dress it up and make it personal. Naturally, I loved SJ's "denim" hat sketched above, created with a patchwork of worn, rugged denim, and a big bunch of blue cornflowers and margaritas that seem to have been so carelessly and naturally tossed on the rim, that you can imagine the sunny, country lane where they were gathered.
The exhibit, though chiefly SJ's hats, included also plenty of other hats pulled from the extensive V&A archives, including this pretty hand stitched country bonnet, stiffened with cord and lined in undyed linen from the mid to later 1800s, ...

and a colorful straw boater from 1937, heaped with water lilies.

Except for some uniforms and a few exceptions, hats are worn today to entertain, for our own pleasure and to fulfill some dreamy thoughts. They are a medium to express yourself and your lifestyle. Today there are no milliner rules, you can freely use the most unexpected or unusual materials - and I hope you're inspired (like I've been) to start rummaging around, through all your crazy re-cycled junk, pluck some things from the garden, or mix in some fine delicate silks and ribbons - and experiment with shape, texture and color - remaking some old hat found in the back of your closet into a happy, or romantic, or hip creation, to add some whimsical fun to your day! Hats are the newest accessory.

May screensaver and the hip denim blues

(to download or print a copy of May's screen saver, click here)

When I start to sketch the monthly screen saver, I actually don't know what will happen, and it always turns into an unexpected surprise. This month was no exception. I've been busy with my calligraphy, and started with some new inks and new nibs, and the "Bleu Myosotis" ink led me to denim, and the list of different jeans on the sketch, which was where it started. Feeling that there is nothing more cool or comfortable, than plain old denim, I sketched it like a rebel who creates her very own individual jean statement - drawing baggy, boyfriend jeans, heavy runners, and a boyfriend's hat - all very tomboyish, which needed to be softened, which is how the pretty, totally simple, floral sun-top popped up with the dreamy floral background. The background is taken from a corner of the invitation to the Romanian artist, Carmen Marin's recent exhibition. I have pastels from her, which are dramatic, with great confidence and strong convictions, and love to meditate on her dreamy world and deliriously broad color palette. And now we're in May!

A garden photo

Lovely soft light and gentle breezes are gracefully leading us toward May.

Sewing a pretty spring dress

Spring dresses are especially lovely...and to sew them can be as much of a pleasure, as to wear or spin in them - at any age! When special occasions arise, it is a joy to imagine, plan and create a dress, just for that event, and then enjoy it and the memories associated with it, for years to come.
This breezy, dress started with some vintage yardage, with a soft, cottony, hand feel and a pretty 50s era print. The fabric was narrow, only 36” wide, so I had to do some figuring to achieve a luxurious sweep to the dress - which was how it grew into the flounced design. The top part is based on Burda's pattern #8347/C. Elastic was added, encased in the waist. It expands so that you can pull the dress over your head without a need for any zippers or buttons. The flounce, with a circumference of 120 inches, is a couple of inches longer than the upper skirt and a narrow self belt with a vintage buckle has been backed in a lime ribbon. I do hope it inspires you to look through your fabrics and notions, and think about sewing some pretty dresses with spring and summer blooms to carry you into the next season.

Two denim moods

Along the way of hunting for a photo ... I found this image of the one of the projects in my book with a piece of embroidery made by my Baba, all sweet, taffeta and lacy ... and then I found this other photo, of a denim bag with a clear vinyl shoulder strap and all kinds of funky patches ... in a totally different style. Some days doesn't one feel rather frou-frou and on other days dreamy about black leather and a rugged style ...
...and I still am hunting for the other photo.

Pretty denim slippers to make yourself

Here's a little sewing project, for a weekend morning, and an endearing way to re-cycle something old into something new...

All you need is a pair of old cast-off jeans, some wadding and a ribbon to decorate. The rough and softly worn colors of the denim combined with sweet pink gingham bows gives them an irresistibly stylish and cozy charm. Suggested for a sewer of intermediate level. And not to rush through it, but to take your time, and hand-stitch the details, to give a beautiful, professional finish.
List of Materials:
1 pair of jeans (any size)
½” x ¼” yard wadding
A piece of thin cardboard (not the corrugated type), about 12” x 12”
Click here, to print out the 2 pattern pieces
Note: Pattern is a ladies, medium adult size, or a size 8/38. To check the size, stand barefoot on the sole pattern. The edge of the pattern should extend about ¾” beyond your foot. Enlarge or reduce proportionally as needed (on a Xerox machine or with pattern making technique) to fit your foot.
5/8” x 1 yard pink and white gingham ribbon
White and blue thread (choose a blue shade that matches your denim)
Scissors, straight pins, sewing needle, pencil to mark notches, sewing machine

Assembly:
Cut the pieces:
1. Cut the legs off your jeans and cut the leg open along the inside seam. Press flat. Lay them flat on the table. Note: Notice and plan the color variations of the denim when you cut your pieces. I cut the pieces so that the uppers are in faded denim and the soles in the darker denim, and matched the shadings on the two slippers.
2. Cut 1 piece of the sole and 1 piece of the upper out of one leg. Mark notches with a pencil on backside. Flip the pattern pieces over and cut 1 more of each piece and mark notches.
3. Repeat for the other slipper.
4. Cut 2 pieces of the sole out of the wadding.
5. Cut 2 pieces of the upper pattern out of the wadding following the reduced cutting line marked on the pattern.
6. Cut 2 pieces of the sole from the cardboard, cutting 5/8” smaller all around.
7. Machine wash and dry the 4 pieces of denim uppers, to get frayed edges. Clip any really long frayed bits.
8. Press all denim pieces.

Sew It Together:

1. Sandwich the wadding upper between 2 denim uppers, with the right sides of the denim facing out. Pin, baste and stitch together, ¼” from the edge, around the perimeter, with the blue thread.
2. Stitch a running stitch between the notches (later it will be pulled to form gathers.)3. Stitch a running stitch between the top notches on all 4 denim soles (later they will be pulled to form gathers.)

4. Align one denim sole, right side up, on top of a wadding sole. Pin together. Baste from the top notch, down the side, and up to the other top notch. Remove pins.
5. Pin the denim upper on the sole, aligning bottom edge on bottom notches. Baste from notch to notch. Remove pins.
6. Now pin a denim sole on top, back side up. Baste from top notch, down side and around to top notch. Remove pins. Machine sew along basting line. Remove basting.
7. Clip seam allowance.
8. Turn it inside out. (You have to wiggle it a bit to get everything through the toe.) Then take something long like a chopstick, and slip it inside to push the seam allowance firmly to nudge it into a nice smooth edge along the seam, especially along the curve of the heel.
9. Slip the cardboard inside, between the two pieces of denim. (The cardboard will be the lower part of your slipper, and your foot will rest on the soft wadding.) It can be a bit of a struggle to slip the cardboard inside, but even if you fold it a bit in order to squeeze it through, don’t worry, it will re-flatten out and be supportive.
10. Now repeat with the other set of pieces.

Gather The Toe:
1. Pull the running stitch to from soft gathers on the bottom denim sole so the toe curves gently around the card board edge. Knot the thread. Pull the running stitch to form gathers along the top sole and upper so that they align with the shape of the lower sole and knot threads. With the seam allowance neatly tucked inside, pin the toe closed. Baste, remove pins, and with the blue thread, hand sew toe closed securely with little back-stitches.
Note: Take your time to sew neat little stitches and to keep the gathers evenly distributed. It is this attention to detail that will give your slippers a professional finish.
2. Repeat with the other slipper.

Adorn Your Slippers:
1. Cut the ribbon in 4 pieces of equal length. Take 2 pieces, pin on the slipper front, about 2 ½” apart with a ½” fold back. Hand stitch in place along folded edge. Tie into a snug bow. Cut ribbon ends at a diagonal.
2. Repeat with the other slipper.
Note: You can make many decorative variations on these slippers. Adorn them with saucy feathers and beads, with pretty buttons, different fabric mixes or fabric flowers. Just search through your sewing basket to find the right combination that reflects your personal style.

Knot all threads securely.

Voila! You’re finished!

Link for patterns:

April fashion sketch wallpaper

(click here to upload or print out a copy of the April wallpaper

Baby doll dresses, with all the trimmings like sweet hand smocking and little puff sleeves seem just right for April frolics. Sketched here with crazy patterned stockings, and chunky Mary Janes they conjure up the feelings of the sweet innocence of the 60s with gushing pink, fuchsia and purple, flower power fun! Enjoy a gorgeous April.

Bandanna and rhinestones

Pretty rhinestone jewelry passed from my Great Aunt Rose to my Mom and now to me, are so gorgeous - and wishing to wear them with a casual style that suits today, that's not retro - inspired me to edge another scarf, as I continue to update my scarf drawer with decorative crocheted edgings... ...this time, it's a cotton bandanna edged with a sparkly crocheted frill, worn with a black leather biker jacket and all the rhinestone glitter.

Spring's early blooms

Suddenly the home is full with pretty blooms on the inside and fresh buds sprouting on the outside. Then my travels bring me half way around the globe, to an unexpected warm sunny day in the northwest, where scattered patches of snow are unexpectedly mixed with the smells of spring around the corner. Everyone falls under the spell of the loveliness of it all.