Blog

06 Feb Marfy + Mood = Love

Have you made your Marfy yet? Thanks to Leisa Stanton of A Challenging Sew, I had no more excuses to avoid the chic Italian patterns without instructions. Not only are three free patterns available for downloads on the Marfy website, but Leisa is providing sew-a-longs for the patterns on her blog and just completed the top sew-a-long. How do you like it?  The pattern is Marfy 1913, and after two muslins I was ready to cut my Thakoon silk crepe de chine from Mood Fabrics. When the silk arrived in July, I was tempted to make my 5th sleeveless ruffled top. “No! No! No!” exclaimed the...

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08 Jan Inspiration Defined

According to the Oxford dictionary the word inspiration is defined as: the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. An example is "Helen had one of her flashes of inspiration"  _________________ I have received many comments from readers who said they were inspired to sew after reading my blog, and I am always inspired (mentally stimulated) upon reading such comments. As a matter of fact, I believe living a creative life is the only way to live.  Recently, Cathy Rogers, a reader talented in her own right illustrated the epitome of flashes of inspiration by taking the Ribbon Skirt Tutorial (blogged here and here) to...

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07 Jan So Faux Futuristic Vest

When hubby left for work this morning the fur was flying. The metallic faux-leather with faux-fur backing spattered like confetti once cut and even stuck to the walls, my clothes and my hair.  Having just finished vacuuming the Christmas tree needles, I was not amused to watch the expensive fabric behave so poorly, but I was on a mission ….. and I had a vision to realize.  I selected the fabric from many faux-leather, faux-fur backed fabrics in the Garment District in October (2013).  More reasonably priced than most, I bought one yard to try out. I a pictured fur-trimmed vest,...

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02 Jan One More Day

Dear Readers, The positive response to the 2014 RTW Fast invitation is all things good in addition to a little overwhelming! I've had many requests from readers who want to join the 2014 RTW Fasters since yesterday's post. If you are interested in joining -  and did not shop for RTW yesterday -  and will send me ALL of the information today -  I will be delighted to add you to the list. Please send 1. Name 2. Online photo album or blog address 3. Photo - preferably a headshot 4. Send to goodbyevalentino@gmail.com I'm happy to extend the RSVP through today, January 2 and would love...

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01 Jan Happy New Year!

Ready - Set - STOP! Buying clothes that is…. It's time for me to stop shopping and start sewing for an entire year :) This time around I am in the company of nearly two hundred women who accepted my 2014 RTW Fast invitation. Click on any of smiling faces below to see the entire group of the 2014 RTW Fasters.        Aren't these 200 women amazing? They represent women across the globe and feature a diversity of skills and styles as well as a diversity of shapes, sizes, ages and races.  The new 2014 RTW Fasters page found at the top of the blog is designed so...

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24 Dec Vogue 8532

Santa Baby, Leave a sable underneath the tree for me…… :) While waiting for Santa, I sewed one more holiday dress, this one for a January wedding. I have never seen a Carolina Herrera I didn’t love which includes this cobalt blue paisley silk brocade from Mood Fabrics. Yum……. I was sold on the color alone until the fabric arrived. The quality of this brocade is unlike any I have seen or touched. It’s that good, and once again I found myself scared to cut my fabric. What would Carolina do? Santa baby……. give me an answer!  I made a muslin from an old Vogue pattern -  8532, now...

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