You Da Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

The most important woman in my life turns 86 today! WOOOOO HOOOO!!

Alas, what do you give a woman who has everything? Faced with that reality and a pledge to try to make as many gifts as possible this year (and beyond) I headed into my sewing room to think! And sitting there on top of one of my many " stacks of stuff" was a beautiful hank of hand-dyed and handspun wool that my mom had gifted to me last summer after she and my niece, E, visited the artisan's farm and studio! Voile - the makings of a heartfully-made gift! Hope you enjoy the pillow, Mom - I loved making it for you!!!!

Mom (showing off her daughter's latest creation), Edie Rokus (another incredible woman - - the one who taught me to sew), and me during a visit to Edie's house in Virginia!

The gift - a knitted panel made from hand-dyed and spun wool backed with a beautiful violet/blue and gold iridescent velvet - yummy.

The wool and tools!

The blocked square panel.

I interfaced the wool panel to reduce stretching and wear-and-tear.

Attaching the velvet backing. I love, love, love velvet but it is sometimes pesky to work with!

All finished and ready to be packed up for the trip south with XXOO!!!

I'm a Katharine and I am so HAPPY

I am procrastinating before I get started on my long overdue Guild challenge garment so I took Gorgeous Things Ann's suggestion and took this two question quiz to check my "icon alignment"....

Looks like I know where my wardrobe is headed - just when I thought it was going to be a Michelle Obama dress year!!!!

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Katharine!

You are a Katharine -- "I am happy and open to new things"

Katharines are energetic, lively, and optimistic. They want to contribute to the world.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Give me companionship, affection, and freedom.
• * Engage with me in stimulating conversation and laughter.
• * Appreciate my grand visions and listen to my stories.
• * Don't try to change my style. Accept me the way I am.
• * Be responsible for youself. I dislike clingy or needy people.
• * Don't tell me what to do.

What I Like About Being a Katharine

• * being optimistic and not letting life's troubles get me down
• * being spontaneous and free-spirited
• * being outspoken and outrageous. It's part of the fun.
• * being generous and trying to make the world a better place
• * having the guts to take risks and to try exciting adventures
• * having such varied interests and abilities

What's Hard About Being a Katharine

• * not having enough time to do all the things I want
• * not completing things I start
• * not being able to profit from the benefits that come from specializing; not making a commitment to a career
• * having a tendency to be ungrounded; getting lost in plans or fantasies
• * feeling confined when I'm in a one-to-one relationship

Katharines as Children Often

• * are action oriented and adventuresome
• * drum up excitement
• * prefer being with other children to being alone
• * finesse their way around adults
• * dream of the freedom they'll have when they grow up

Katharines as Parents

• * are often enthusiastic and generous
• * want their children to be exposed to many adventures in life
• * may be too busy with their own activities to be attentive

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

The Inaugural Dress

OH - BAMA!!!

Well, I think it's fitting that my first post, after a VERY long drought, is to celebrate the Inauguration!

I don't have much time to write as we are headed to the concert (with 750,00 of our closest friends!) but I wanted to share the dress (although my spouse continues to call it a costume!) that I made for J & J's "unofficial inaugural gala"!

I re-fashioned it from a XXXL commemorative T-shirt - using some dupioni silk that I had in my fabric stash for the yoke and sleeves. McCall's pattern - M5576 was my base pattern and tweaked it as I worked!

A great way to start an historic weekend!!!



YES WE CAN!!!