Cut from Different Cloth

I recently saw Cut from Different Cloth: Burqas and Beliefs, a documentary created by Cliff Orloff and Olga Shalygin. The film follows the journey of Serena, a 27-year-old dance teacher from California living in Afghanistan with Hasina, a 27-year-old doctor and feminist, and Hasina’s family. Cut from Different Cloth takes the viewer into the seldom seen world of Afghan women.

I cannot describe how powerful this film is and how important it is that everyone see it. This is a rare chance to see past the differences between us, to discover the lives that are hidden from us, to understand.

Please obtain a copy of this documentary and watch it, it’s life changing.

"Cut from Differnt Cloth: Burqas and Beliefs"

Flip Flops

I dream of summer… it was so cold today, very windy.

This is a presentation board of flip flops that I recently put together.  Really makes me miss the warmer weather. The holiday season will make the cold seem worth it very soon. For now I will bring color back to my life with design. Stay warm everyone.

Hobo Bag

I have been working on a new bag. The front and back of this zippered hobo bag are gathered for a full look. I made a muslin mock-up and adjusted the patterns; will be doing a lot of sewing in the next couple of days. Below are my mock-up, patterns, lining, material and hardware selection for the final, and a sketch.

H&M Your Art Here

I have entered the Your Art Here H&M contest. Please click here to vote for my piece by October 15. You don’t need to register, just follow the link and click five stars. Thank you.

An abstract print of a sunrise and silhouette of the Manhattan skyline act as a backdrop for mannequins displaying H&M fashions. Colorful painted portraits of real new yorkers are suspended in front of each mannequin.
New York is the fashion capital of the world, making each new yorker a participant in a daily fashion show. The portraits juxtapose each person’s individuality with mass produced fashion giving the clothing a new meaning.

- Thank you to everyone who voted for me, I really appreciate your support -

Rosette How to

Making your own rosettes is easy and they look very impressive. You can use one as a brooch or use a bunch to decorate a gown.

In order to make this you will need several strips of fabric cut on a bias (45 degree angle). The length and width of the strips will determine the size of your rosette (I am using a 3 x 18″ strip for my first layer). Fold the strip in half and overcast stitch around all cut edges. This stitch is good for gathering and will keep your rosette from fraying. I recommend millinery Hy-Mark #24 thread for this (it’s waxed and very strong). Make sure to use thread long enough for the job.

Tightly gather the strip, overlap the edges and stitch them in place. You have finished your first petal layer.

Take your second strip of fabric. It should be shorter and less wide than the first one (mine is 2 x 13″). Repeat all the steps you did to make the first layer. Place the second petal layer on top of the first one and overcast stitch them together. Continue making smaller layers using the same technique until your rosette is full.

I decorated my rosette with seed beads. I will make it into a brooch for a beret that is a part of my 1940-50′s inspired millinery collection.

Happy sewing.

ToyVoyagers

I recently began participating in the ToyVoyagers online community. It is a website that connects people from all over the world and allows them to travel vicariously through their toys. Users send their plush animals to hosts in other cities and countries who take photos of the toy’s travels and post them on a blog (think traveling gnome from Amelie). It’s a really fun and imaginative way to make friends, learn about other cultures and see places you otherwise might not get a chance to. Each ToyVoyager has a personal profile, travel map, wish list and blog. You can activate up to five ToyVoyagers free of charge, so you should definitely participate.

My ToyVoyager, Edward, is currently in the Czech Republic and has recently vacationed in Austria. His future destinations include Japan and Australia. You can follow his travels here.

I am currently hosting Luke, who is a part of the Special Police Division in Australia. He really wanted to see New York and meet some members of the NYPD. You can follow his adventures here.