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New Video

April 17, 2022 4 Comments

Just in time, only a few days before the Smithsonian Craft Show, my new video is finished and ready for its close-up. It’s under ‘videos’ in my website. I’m calling it, ‘At Holocene’ because that’s where we shot all the footage.

Please check it out here.

And check back in the next day or two, because we’ll be adding one more called, ‘Pink.’

No need to clear your schedule to watch them, they are both short, under a minute each.

Next up, the big show! Smithsonian Craft Show, this Thursday evening through the weekend, April 20-24. Can’t wait!

Real People

March 20, 2022 2 Comments

I love photos of real person in their real lives wearing my clothes. After all the time I take to design and sew a piece of clothing, it is fantastic to see it out in the world. What could be better?

For example beautiful Nina with her husband Clif, last September at the Metropolitan Opera’s 9/11 production of Verdi’s Requiem. She’s wearing the perfect top, a ‘Hitoe.’ Lightweight and soft, a comfortable addition over a knit top.

Nina is super about sending photos wearing my designs. Thank You Nina!

Recently, my friend Mary chose one of my scarves as a gift for her sister. Not too long after, she showed me this fantastic photo of Ann. ‘Not bad for 85!’ said Mary, I completely agree. Wow. She looks gorgeous.

And please take note of her shoes. Perfect.

The great thing about scarves, they make fantastic gifts. There are zero concerns about size or fit.

Below, the well known and celebrated sewing guru Sandra Betzina modeling her new scarf, a gift from a friend. She knew that red is most definitely one of Sandra’s colors. Gorgeous!

What an honor! Sandra is well known in the sewing community. Check out her website, Power Sewing, a fabulous place for sewing information, patterns, videos and more, here.

Looking quite stunning, Linda Hutchins, discussing her work with gallery visitors at her exhibit of drawings and etchings at Portland’s Nine Gallery.

She’s wearing my shawl collar coat in black and white, with a bright red under-collar. Fantastic!

Meanwhile, I’m sewing away on new pieces for the Smithsonian Craft Show. Coming up soon! April 20-24.

I can’t wait!

A Little Light

March 5, 2022 14 Comments

There are some frightening things going on. The war in Ukraine is beyond upsetting. It’s challenging to focus and think about pretty things. I’m on the other side of the world from the people who live there and cannot imagine their terror. My heart goes out to all Ukrainians, their families and loved ones.

I do what little I can and then turn to my work. I cut and sew, piece and stitch, and make things with the hope that they might somehow bring a little light to the darkness.

With that in mind, I’m posting pictures of some of my more recent pieces. Three jackets finished and ready to be shown at the Smithsonian Craft Show, April 20-24.

A new jacket, inspired by this beautiful black kimono silk with a woven, gold cherry blossom design. I’ve added gold appliquéd squares and beads.

I highlighted the design with the beads, trying to keep them at a minimum so as to not distract. Then I added the appliquéd squares to balance out the patterns.

The back. Depending on how the light hits, the gold glimmers between a total gold and a subtle green.

I think I’ve mentioned,… that I love these fabrics. I see the evidence of the human hands that made them. I save all the little leftovers from every project, then use them in new.

A jacket, pieced from the remainders from a couple of projects, including the first jacket in this post.

I enjoy the process of laying out the pieces, balancing the colors and patterns. This one used fabrics from two different kimonos, each with its own family crest. You can see one of them below.