The Danskos won out and I went to the shoe store. A bit disappointing…sometimes you win, sometimes you lose…I had previously bought some pretty cool sandals at their summer sale so that’s why I didn’t welcome the cool weather.
Anyway, I found one pair that I really liked. I was wearing the skirt outfit so I’d know if they worked or not. It was a cute pair from Born but the sales person was emphatic about me not wearing them with a skirt. I was a bit put off and left without them. She didn’t have to state her opinion quite that strongly. Kind of makes me want to wear them with a skirt anyway-show a young woman what a 50 year old can pull off. Why cover them up with pants? Aren’t they sweet?
It’s so hard to make decisions when there’s no one to give opinions so I thought I’d seek your advice. Low booties are all the rage this fall but how to wear them when one doesn’t have a model’s figure. I have no answers but a few pictures that shed a little light on my personal outlook. What’s yours? The sleeker polished boot (how long are my feet?)
3Paris boots looking a bit wornFront view-nice ankle lineMy go-to shoes-Dansko's
I made it to the Junk Bonanza down at Canterbury Park in Shakopee. My registration for Creative Connection got me in free and a nice person gave me her $2 discount ticket for my friend. We wandered through on Friday morning. Three buildings of old furniture, stuff, jewelry, vintage everything. I find that it feeds my creative spirit. Seeing things that others do, their unique displays and some of the genuine characters who move from junk market to junk market across the US. I wish I would have taken pictures of a few of them.
So here are a few pictures of things that may feed your creative sewing spirit-the first one is of the treasures I picked up-cordial glasses and vintage button/jewelry from the junk market and the owl and headband from Handmade Market downtown. Handmade Market is over at 3 today and the Junk Bonanza is open till 5 today for $8. Today is the last day.
My Treasures *************** **************** ****************
Have I convinced you that wandering/shopping can be part of the creative process?
It was truly a great event for me-and it’s not over! If you want to take a crafting class you can pay at registration as long as it isn’t sold out and you bring the supplies. You can find supply information and some Sold Out info on their website. And then there’s the Handmade Market.
The market is good if you like the Stampington Art style. If you like making jewelry there are some great raw materials. A wonderful higher end jewelry designer-Bittersweet Designs-had many pieces that appealed to me. Crafty Planet is there; Eagle Creek Quilt shop has Amy Butler bags that are very reasonably priced. It’s fun to see the wide age range of the designers that are present. The Paris-inspired shop (door pictured below) got my vote for the best booth. Fun kids clothes and stuffed animal designs to see. I didn’t have much time between workshops to actually buy so I’m going to do some online shopping. It will be fun to see their etsy stores, too, after hearing so much about it.
So, yes, you must go if you like Stampington Art style or check the Creative Connection website and look at the stores that are there. And if you have another reason to be downtown, I’d definitely stop by.
The social media/how to launch a business panels I went to were very pertinent for my purposes. Small panels-mine was Social Media Metrics-are also helpful. Celebrities, table decorations and a full “swag bag” put the icing on the cake. I felt like the organizers created a special event just for me.
The word was that there will be another event next year, again in Mpls., because of the Junk Market.
I’m headed to the Junk Market this afternoon. I want to find an old chest of many small drawers for storing sewing notions.
French General BoothPassementerieThe Handmade MarketDinner Table Decorations-Fabric compliments of Amy Butler
I’m waiting for the first panel to start and have to say the uniform for the creative female is a great skirt and thin cardigan with a layer in between, of course. Fun jewelry is everywhere. Already exchanged business cards with Georgia, Chicago and a few locals. Sitting next to a young woman who has eight adopted/foster kids in a house with her mother AND she won a contest so her studio will be featured in Where Women Create. Makes me feel like withering.
My feet feel like they’re back on the ground and I think I could sleep for a whole day but, wow, what a wonderful month of weddings! Meeting new people, dressing up, going new places, watching life change before my very eyes… I am in awe of how full life can be.
So on to the pictures. The Colorado wedding was first so those pictures are first. This is also my youngest son-he proposed first so he got the earlier date. I wore the Vogue 1138 dress out of rayon from last month’s club (scroll down 3 posts to see Wedding Dress #2) to the groom’s dinner in Colorado but still haven’t found anyone that took a picture. The dress for that wedding was from Nordstrom’s and I really liked the neckline.
Then it’s the Milwaukee wedding and the eldest child. Can I still call him child? I double dipped for the groom’s dinner in Milwaukee because the cast of characters was mostly different. The dress for the wedding was KwikSew 3735 which is a copy of a Kay Unger dress that is carried by Nordstrom’s and also a Vogue pattern (but more on that at Fashion Sewing Club in September).
Bridal Couple, Siblings and Siblings-In-LawNephew and Dress #1Groom and Mother of Groom
Just in case you’ve been directed by the Hancock website Class Finder to come to this site for more information-please come back in a few days as they’re under construction. September classes should be posted here soon.
Yes, it says “July”. A bit of catching up to do. I’m back from the first wedding. Such a wonderful weekend! Pictures in next blog. But now I have to catch up with the garment pictures from July.
Remember-We’re not meeting in August!!! We’ll be meeting at Hancock Fabrics in Southtown (Penn and 494) in September. I also just received an email from Judy at Associated and they’ll be moving to St. Paul-their lease is up.
Here are July’s pictures: Laurel's blouse Laurel's Top Back View Laurel's Black Jacket Debbie's Blouse and Skirt Debbie's Jacket Back Detail Debbie's Bejeweled Tee Wedding Dress No. 1 Wedding Dress No. 2 Back View Peek-a-boo Pleated Skirt College Laundry Bags
Remember the mini wardrobe challenge? Well, we all found out how hard that is but will keep working at it. Our winner was Kay Dole from the Treadle group. She took home the designer Gingher scissors. Thanks for inspiring us always, Kay! Just a sample of Kay's Mini Wardrobe
Fit is always part of garment sewing and with all of the collective knowledge out there, maybe we can find an answer to this question. There are qualifications, though.
The tee must be:
fitted
feminine
long sleeve
an assortment of necklines is desirable but not mandatory
something like the Gap’s Favorite T’s
wearable under jackets, etc. in winter
I’ll start with my two cents-I love Marcy Tilton’s tees because of the cut of the bust and underarm. You may have to skinny up the waist and hips (of course, the extra room in that area is what I love). Arms are also a close fit. She has funky neck bands but those are simple to modify.
The other patterns are the Stretch and Sew tees. They seem body skimming on me and are shaped through the waist.
Now it’s your turn. Let’s see how much wisdom we can get into one website!
Material Girl Sewing 