I’ve been calling the Smithsonian’s fall show, ‘Craft2Wear,’ but it has a new name. They’ve added in artists from the home-dec world so have updated the name to ‘Craft: Fashion + Home.’

It’s coming up soon! October 5 – 8. I’ve been running up the down escalator getting ready. So much to do!

Here’s a couple pieces I’ll be bringing.

The fabric for this jacket had gorgeous Hokusai waves, which you must know I love. But alas, each wave crest was a different bright color, beautiful in the original kimono, but not at all the look I was after. I cut out the colored parts [saved for a future project!] and rearranged the rolling wave parts.

The back

Below, a long ‘trench coat,’ sewn from a very cool deep, deep purple with a floral design in deep reds, greens and oranges.

I cut the scraps into squares and appliquéd them along the bottom panel. I love how the floral images are abstracted by cutting the print into random squares.

The camera in my phone has its own very specific ideas of how to record colors. Sometimes its guesses are right on the mark, other times not so much. I spent a bit of time wrestling with it trying to accurately record the lovely subtle colors in this coat. They still weren’t right, so I tried to adjust it in photoshop. Although better, it’s still missing the mark.

If you’re near Washington DC October 5 – 8, please come to the show! And see this coat’s true beautiful and subtle colors. And all the other jackets, coats, skirts and scarves that I’ll be bringing.

A detail shot showing the appliqués.

Another way to have accurate images and colors. Hire a professional!

I had another fantastic photoshoot with Mario Gallucci last week. So much fun! He’s processing those gorgeous images and I’ll be posting them soon.

For more information about the Smithsonian show ‘Craft: Fashion + Home,’ check it out here.