Designers of Note

Check out DW-TVs piece on Scottish designer Howie Nicholsby's modern makeover of a very traditional garment.

Loveliness

I was having one of those sort of days, you know the kind were you start feeling a bit sorry for yourself, when I noticed these puffball mushrooms in the corner of my yard. Seeing them abruptly brought my self pitying to an end and even put a smile on my face.

Gorgeous Cookbooks

I can't say that I have just one favorite movie. I have a list of about 10 movies I will call my absolute favorite depending on my mood. One of these is  A Room With A View. Like an old friend, it never fails to lift my spirits on a bad day  Last week while perusing the cooking section in a used bookstore I came across this treasure, Ismail Merchant's Florence: Filming and Feasting in Tuscany. Cast and crew members of the film share their memories of Merchant's fantastic meals cooked during the filming. 70 of his recipes are included.  I am suitably inspired and impressed.

Fresh Goods from The Naked Frog

Vestina's carpetbag

"...as Vestina boarded the train she faced a dilemma."

Musings

The Philosophical Seamstress
I am often asked how I learned to design. People are often surprised to hear I did not attend design school. I took two years of sewing in high school. After that I just spent so much time sewing I absorbed much design basics from commercial patterns. I wanted to know more so I bought a drafting text that has been my bible. But what really made things click for me was reading. Reading constantly. Inter library loans galore. And not just recent books. Books that were 50 or more years old so I could analyze changes that occur over time. And not just books about drafting but sewing technique as well. Biographies of design world luminaries and learning what made them tick. Poiret. Edith Head. Mary Brooks Picken. Industrial techniques both modern and antique. How a home sewer would insert a zipper in the 20's or the 60's. Yes they are a little different. 10 different books about draping. After reading each book I take notes and think, think, think. So, does this make me a philosophical seamstress?

Fashion Tip of the Week

Enough with the exposed thongs and plumber crack! Enough I say! -Fashion Design Mom 

                                          

                         

The Best Iron Ever

I don't know if it's because I'm a libra or just my quirky side but I need my everyday functional objects to be just as beautiful as the the object d'art  I have cluttering up my house.  So I was very excited when I found this curvaceous vintage iron. I use it to press the skirts I create in my studio. It's much heavier than a modern iron which is a good thing for constructing garments and it's so beautiful I don't mind the pressing process as much as I use to.