2.17.2014

grandmistress flash


the look on my face has everything to do with the sleeves on this jacket.  those white liiiiiiiiiiiiinesssss runnin through mah miiiii iiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiind!!!!!


you will excuse me please, i've been battling strep throat since wednesday of last week and my brain is a bit sunny side up at the moment.  i'm forcing myself to chill this president's day, perfect time to park my ass (pictured above) in front of the computer and share this month's MSN project.  


so!  i found this HOLYCOWFASCINATINGGLORIOUSTAKEMEHOMERIGHTNOW wool on mood fabric’s magical upper floor, immediately hugged it to my chest and guarded it with my life.   one other (very fashionable) lady snagged some as well, and like 80 people wanted to swatch it, WHICH MADE ME WANT TO SOB.  i went directly home with my treasure and spent the afternoon on the floor with it, laying it out every which way to come up with a placement for this burdastyle maxi coat pattern.  

never been so happy to be on the floor.


MY JACKET, SHE IS WATCHING YOU!  WATCHING YOUR EVERY MOVE!


EVEN THE SLEEVES HAVE A SIDE EYE ON YOUR MANEUVERS!!!


you’ll notice i didn’t go maxi, or even collared, with the jacket.   had enough to do the job, but i was just so happy with the print placement at that point, i thought more material would take away from the effect.  sometimes more is just more.

can’t believe I just said that.


the pattern called for darts at the shoulder, but i opted for tucks instead, as the wool is pretty thick. doesn’t fray too much though, so i finally tried a technique i’ve been wanting to wrangle, the blanket stitch.  i could stand to get better at it, but it’s fun!  i’d even call it therapeutic!  especially when done on a saturday morning, with spiked coffee and jazz, when the bulk of the weekend is rolled out before you like a glorious bolt of unfurled fabric....



as hugh grant circa notting hill would say, whoopsie daisies,  sorry about that major wrinkly in the lining, but i wanted to show you a bit of guts.  the jacket is fully lined in this metallic mystery blend, courtesy of my stash via hancock's.  it's folded under at all edges, and hand stitched down.  speaking of sleeves, my ricky was all HEY GIRL YOU WANNA TOPSTITCH SOME SET IN SLEEVES?  


I'M YOUR MAN.


yes, virginia, there is also a dress– you've spied her 'round these parts before, a princess seamed sheath from one of my favorite blue envelopes, simplicity 2337.  i went with a TNT for this medium-weight, safety cone orange wool (which has a slightly scratchy hand on the face, but is totes comfortable against the skin).  and this is a solid my closet desperately need--i've worn her to two auditions already. let's just say i stand out.  hoping that's a good thing.  between pounding the pavement, pattern placement, and project sewn, i needed a quickie!  

speaking of which, THANK YOU for you for all the love on my pink powderpuff alien overlord dress (aptly named by miss cashmerette)!  i live to stitch another day in project sewn!!  i'll be back tomorrow with challenge the third, and hopefully back to 100% stomping power.  does like half the country have strep throat?

this wooly ensemble was made using my monthly fabric "allowance" as part of the Mood Sewing Network.

69 comments:

  1. So much colour and so much love for this outfit! And those shoes... heart!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you clare! those kicks are actually plaid, but i liked all the colors together :)

      Delete
  2. Amaze-balls! I love that you made the jacket all short & cropped & minus detail - less is most definitely more in this case!

    ReplyDelete
  3. If you were my size I'd steal this jacket from you. THough it might be the only thing that would make people miss the hair. *the hair with superpowers*

    I owe you a parrot, too. But my pansy ass southern blood can't be bothered to carry shit to the post office in this penis shrinking cold. How the hell do northerner's do it?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh girl, i think about our exchange every time i look at my pins and my turquoise UFO. maybe we should wait till the sewists descend....we'll rock our curls together.

      Delete
  4. Amaze-balls! I love that you made the jacket all short & cropped & minus detail - less is most definitely more in this case!

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Sometimes more is just more?!" It's like I don't even know you anymore.

    Such a fabulous coat. I agree with all of your choices; it's delicious just as it is. Great job on the blanket stitch. Although now I've got Rockwell stuck in my head, thank you very much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I KNOW RIGHT?!

      and erm, rockwell sang about blanket stitching? TELL ME MORE.

      Delete
  6. O>M>G DIEing! If I saw you in this coat walking down the street I would be compelled to stalk you. ;) lol Great job, and you said one of my fave quotes of Hugh's. ;) xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha! i saw kenneth king in a print like this once and i almost stalked HIM!

      (best movie ever)

      Delete
  7. This is absurdly fabulous! I saw that wool and LOVED it, but had made the fatal mistake of bringing my man to Mood and I ended up spending all my pennies on him (!) instead of this glorious, glorious wool. Loving this look on you! I can't wait to see your shoe-inspired look!

    Feel better madam, and get some rest!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. noooooooooooooooo.

      NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

      (yes to feeling better.

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. YEP! that's the coat i saw the day karen & i met up!! LOVE that coat. i'm positive it was in the recesses of my brain during this...

      Delete
  9. Eye-searingly beautiful! Hope you feel better soon:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Excellent pattern placement, loving how 'all-seeing' you can be in this awesome jacket!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. like a mythical, slightly evil character in an indiana jones joint.

      Delete
  11. Grandmistress flash . . . fab blog title, I use to dance to one of their tunes, well Grandmasters . Fabulous funky Jacket.

    ReplyDelete
  12. And your shoes match! sigh.....

    ReplyDelete
  13. such a fantastic jacket!! love the blanket stitch on the edges--adds the perfect touch! of course the dress is killer as well, i'm sure you stand out in a good way! good luck with project sewn this week, and feel better!

    ReplyDelete
  14. You've got the eye of the tiger lady! Blanket stitch, such a good idea, and the whole outfit, shoes+skirt+jacket = Oona at her best! Can't wait to see what you've got in store for us tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  15. That jacket is definitely you. and the dress compliments it perfectly. Hope you feel better soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks kelroc! ruggy is pouring the coffee so i expect to feel better very soon.

      Delete
  16. This is a stunning outfit. Love the simplicity of the jacket pattern to let the fabric "shine" so to speak. And how is it that you even have shoes to match???You look fabulous. A real treat. Love those colours and shapes.
    Barbara

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks barbara! i have a few pairs of mulitcolored shoes, i must admit....and these kicks are actually plaid. which for me is matching :)

      Delete
  17. Woaaaah great! And does this mean you have loads of this wool left? Are we to see another make in this print?

    ReplyDelete
  18. You have amazing, amazing style!!! Love the burnt orange sheath dress!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh my God, if Ralph Lauren and Coco Chanel had a baby, it would be that jacket! And that's a scary thought! But it looks great and I'm glad to see you rocking orange, which goes with everything.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Where to begin?!?! My favorite color orange, especially with blue... your awesome blanket stitching... hot shoes... You have upped your game, lady!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that is exactly what i'm trying to do, clio, i thankyaverymuch for noticing!

      Delete
  21. I can't imagine a more perfect jacket design for this fabric. A+.

    Also, I thought of you last night in the sewing lounge when I, for the first time, sewed AFTER a cocktail. I have always been too scared of making major errors SUI. But everything worked out, no mistakes, I got plenty accomplished, and it was SO FUN. Now look what you've started.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YESSSSS. COME TO THE BOOZE SIDE. we got another one!!!!!! now we must drink & sew together. one day i'll have that crafty bar.

      Delete
  22. Yep, I shall call you Couturier Marce from this point on. You really are stepping up your game with all the beautiful hand stitching. What? You don't think it's beautiful? Well, I do!

    You know what this coat reminds me of? When I interviewed Kenneth King, he had just completed a coat using. carpet material (blogged about here: http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/32628/kenneth-d-kings-kilim-carpet-coat-the-big-finish/page/all). My favorite garments are the ones that are simple shaped but feature unique fabrics (i.e. home decor). Don't know why, but there's a hand to it that makes it interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i a d o r e the king's coats. i'm positive they influenced me! and i agree on home decor. so freaking intriguing.

      Delete
  23. FABULOUS!!! I am actually tempted to try out an ensemble like this one here. I am soooooo looking forward to what you will be making next. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  24. That is so funny ... it's one of the first records I ever bought - still have it - a coloured vinyl version - maybe it's worth something now!!! Anyway, love the blanket stitch detailing.

    ReplyDelete
  25. By the way ... I didn't know what the words meant when I bought it! Just thought I was being funky at the time!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. me neither! i thought it had to do with roads. HA.

      i bet that vinyl is worth something--you ought to check. what color is it??

      Delete
  26. Incredible! And how perfectly those little shoes work with the jacket. http://asaucystitch.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  27. love the outfit! that fabric is insane, i wanna lay it on my floor and hang out with it an afternoon or two.. and look at all those blanket stitches! so pretty! never done a single one of those stitches in my life, but if you say it's therapeutic, i must give it a try

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great outfit!!! Love the blanket stitch on that jacket. Totally inspired.

    ReplyDelete
  29. You legend. Also, I have major afro envy. Go, fro!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Love the colours! and of course the pattern placement is fabolous! Got me feeling a little (if not a lot) pale next to it... but nothin´ that can´t be corrected ;-) Thanks for sharing you quickie.... and fingers crossed for the next round of project sewn!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I. Love. It! You always find such great fabrics! Thanks for filling my blog feed with color :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. You totally should have taken the whole roll of fabric, like a brat... just so no one else could have any hahah!!!! Also, can I say, I really want to steal your orange dress - that's the most fabulous dress I've ever seen, like ever :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Amazing! That is such an incredible fabric. I don't think they sell Mexican cotton in England, it's just too fun. And the lace piecing - you've blown my mind.

    ReplyDelete
  34. the pattern in the back is perfectly placed!!! love it! a maxi would have probably made you look like the dolls they make in mexico with the sombreo and colorful poncho. ;-) this is the perfect length. did you make the dress for the jacket or the other way around?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ha, good call on the maxi!

      i made the dress for the jacket, for sure. that jacket had me under its spell!

      Delete

i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!