A Story With Legs

I was really happy to see this NY Times video clip this morning about the boots I am fascinated with this season: over the knee boots.

I saw the Christian Louboutin version below --- in purple! --- that looked really cool. Sigh, unfortunately, they probably aren't the best look for us petite types, but one can dream!

Image from here.

Chanel Everywhere

Coco Chanel is everywhere these days:

Video Chanel
This week's NY Times On the Street video highlights Chanel-attired women on the streets of Paris during the Paris shows. Amazing --- imagine strutting around Paris showing off your Chanel!

Blog Chanel
A number of talented participants in the Go Chanel or Go Home project are now just a plane ticket away from doing just that. Check out their gorgeous finished jackets and read about their experiences --- very inspirational. There is so much talent out there.

Runway Chanel
Spring 2010 collection ---the show setting has been referred to as "Marie Antoinette's Farm", complete with requisite rolls in the hay...



Literary Chanel
I finished reading The Gospel According to Coco Chanel --- what a fun and lighthearted book to read.

Cinema Chanel
Finally, I still haven't seen the new film, Coco Before Chanel, but it is on my list.

Background Music

I'm not an early adopter, so my recent find may be old news to many. I am now obsessed with Pandora, an internet radio site that allows you to create custom radio stations! I typed in "Duran Duran" and poof --- Duran Duran radio was created. In addition to that classic hit, Hungry Like the Wolf, I get a continuous stream of 80s classics that make for fantastic background music when I'm at the computer or when I move over to my sewing area (which just happens to be on the other side of the room). Check it out if haven't already --- very fun!

Rolling in Catnip

We finally have proof --- definitive proof --- that Simon hangs out on the kitchen counters when we're not around. Someone left a little baggie of catnip on the counter. When we returned, we found a scattering of catnip on the kitchen floor and a light trail leading to Simon's scratching post. There, we spotted a ripped baggie, more catnip on the rug and a very guilty --- yet disconcertingly contented --- cat who looked like he just had a quick roll in the catnip!

Techniques

As I've mentioned in the past, I've been taking design courses at my local community college for the last few years, generally a class here and there when time allows. Through these courses, I've had the opportunity to learn a tremendous number of new skills and meet wonderful people. I'm so fortunate to have a great program here in my area.

My course this semester covers sewing techniques, so it is really fun to learn new thngs as well as learn the "correct" way to do things that I've been doing for years. Sometimes I need classes to help challenge me to try new things rather than always going back to the same tried and true. We've covered the basics such as french, mock french, slot and flat felled seams, as well as seam finishes such as the Hong Kong and bias bound. I am now in love with a couple of new techniques that I can't wait to try on real garments. For an indispensable reference book for sewing techniques, the Reader's Digest guide is the best in my opinion. Mine is a zillion years old but I still refer to it for the basics.

Channel Seams
This is a variation on the slot seam, so it has a contrast strip of fabric that is sewn underneath the seam. With a traditional slot seam, the contrast fabric doesn't show unless the seam "spreads" apart at a curve or due to movement. With a channel seam, the seam is sewn to intentionally show a sliver (however wide you want) of the contrast fabric. This would be a cool technique for a pencil skirt or pants with vertical seams.



Decorative Seam to the Outside
This yields such a cool look if you have the right fabric that has different right and wrong sides. The seams are sewn to reveal the contrast look of the wrong side of the fabric. Sew a plain seam with wrong sides together. Press open to reveal the seam allowances on the right side. Press under the raw edges and topstitch the seam allowances down.

Pick-Stitched Zipper
I love this technique. I've heard from others that hand-sewn zippers are not difficult to do, but this was the first time I actually tried it --- and loved it! The finished seam looks beautiful on the outside --- a row of neatly done pick stitches --- and is extremely sturdy. Here's a nice tutorial on this technique.

Now Reading "The Gospel According to Coco Chanel"

I just returned from a trip to Boston and NY (again!) and, with no knitting allowed due to my hand issues, I was delighted to find this little gem at my local Barnes and Noble for the long cross-country journey.



I'm only about one-third of the way into the book, but so far, it is really a fun read, as it presents Chanel's philosophy and life story in a lighthearted style. The book is divided into chapters such as "On Style" and "On Embracing the Moment", and each is filled with biographical information that illustrates how Chanel exemplified the theme of a particular chapter. What really comes through for me is how extraordinary Chanel was as an individual and not just as a designer. The roots of her success have nothing to do with her skills as a seamstress (limited) or pattern maker --- her success came from hard work, tenacity, courage, the ability to recognize and seize opportunities, and most importantly an unwavering loyalty to her vision of style and taste. Very inspiring.