Seeing Spots: Cropped Vest

After work, just for fun, I pulled out some polka dot fabric I had in my fabric trunk and revisited my man-bolero pattern I drafted last week. I added a patch pocket, a double welt pocket and a back tie as well as fully lining it this time around. Not too bad of an outcome, I think I'll wear it tomorrow over one of my black deep v t-shirts. Just right for this pre-summer heat wave we're having here in NYC!

Beekman Bowtie

You may recall last summer I posted about the first time I met The Fabulous Beekman Boys (click here). More specifically the part about me making them matching bowties. Well on last night's episode "Beekmanpalooza Redux" Brent was sporting his at the Sharon Springs Harvest Festival looking extra dapper. They gave me a heads up the last time I saw them but to actually see my work on their show was an extra special moment. What made it even more meaningful was that it was worn by a man I have a huge amount of respect for.

Here are some screen captures...

I still get a little chill when I look at the pictures.

Rainy Day Draping

I started draping on my form yesterday, just for fun, to see if anything special would happen.

I liked what was going on with this sleeve drape so I went ahead and made a pattern.

Today I cut the pattern out and got to sewing.

The Outcome: A structured orange ostrich leather man-bolero. Why? Because I can! But in all seriousness I'm extremely pleased with the final garment. Not too bad for a a little time spent playing on the form.

Fringe Tote

A couple days ago I whipped up a new tote for spring out of some spare fringe trim and daishiki cotton I had in my fabric trunk.

I made it completely from scratch, no pattern, just a ruler and scissors. It's fully lined with a zip closure, I'm pretty pleased with the outcome. And lets just say... when it gets moving, it's a real attention grabber!

Stella Maris

Was flipping through one of my sketchbooks and decided to illustrate a gown I designed a few weeks back that I really liked. It was from a couture capsule collection I was fantasizing about which I named Stella Maris.

Just for fun.