A couple weeks ago we had the craziest, most awful, heat wave. 113 degrees said my phone, but the official temperature was 116.
I mean. Absolutely, no question, it was way too hot. It was like being in an oven. Above 100 is very rare here, so above 110? Just not ok.
So I stayed inside, hiding from the heat. AC blasting away, fans blowing. The silver lining? I had time to finish some projects.
Like this two layer coat. I’d shown pictures of it in process, it is now finished. A sheer layer of appliquéd and beaded strips over another coat appliquéd with more waving strips.
And, below, a pieced and beaded coat, in different textured white kimono silks, with white and cream pearl beads sewn along the seam lines.
Right now, I don’t have full-length shots of these pieces, only these snapshots. I’m holding out for professional photos. As soon as I have some taken, I’ll be sure and post them.
Next up, on my wall, little square appliqués pinned onto what will be a collar for a new Shawl Collar coat.
I wanted to disrupt the evenness of the dot pattern fabric that I used for the base, so I chose a meisen kimono silk with a graphic design that fractured into odd shapes when cut into smaller pieces.
Below, my process. I cut the fabric into strips, turn under two sides, then cut those strips into smaller pieces and fold the two remaining raw edges under. Voila! Little squares with no raw edges.
After the pieces are pinned onto the base fabric, I lay it out on my table so I can baste them in place.
Below, basted and ready to be hand stitched.
I’m now onto another applique piece. You can see it behind the first picture at the top. It’s a black kimono silk with waving red and white lines. I’m adding my appliquéd red strips between the printed ones. Can you see them? Behind the coat, on the left side of the picture, a piece of the silk as it came. Next to it, red strips pinned in place.
Stay tuned.
Ann, I just love these. They almost make me want to leave retirement and go to work again so I have a reason to buy them and wear them! Gorgeous. A reward for the heat, for sure.
Wow Lee, even a passing thought to leave retirement? I’ll take that as a compliment! Thanks Lee!
Loving the color combo in that top coat on a coat, Ann, and the collar, wow, looking forward to that one finished!!
Thanks Betsy! I’m looking forward to seeing the finished collar too. All of them finished!
So fun to see what you are doing these days. Keep up the FUN.
Thanks Ruth! Yes, I am doing my best to stay on the fun side.
beautiful!! so many ideas!! and not enough time
Thank You Nancy! Not enough time, yes, a definite problem. The answer is to prioritize, but that is so hard to do!
Wowza!
Thanks You Jeannette!
Ann, I am speechless! Your art is a wonder to behold.
Thank You Judy! Your comments are very much appreciated.
Thanks for sharing. On the shawl collar how do you hand stitch the squares? Also, do you always use silk as your top layer? What type of fabric do you use as your under layer?
Thanks for your questions Marion. I use a slip stitch to hand stitch my appliqué pieces in place.
Top layer, under layer, pieced or appliquéd, every piece of fabric I use is vintage Japanese kimono silk.