Saturday, August 1, 2015

A Shirt Dress and ACC San Francisco Report


TOC:

Shirt Dress

I seem to have button front shirts on the brain!

Yes, I've made another. Once again, I used Butterick 5526, view C, lengthening it by 10" and then cutting off 4", for a net gain of 6". I also extended the back yoke by 1" at the shoulders, removing that 1" from the front.

The plaid fabric is a handkerchief-weight, 100% cotton from Marcy Tilton. This fabric is amazingly soft and slightly sheer. The back yoke and cuffs are made from a beefy, 100% cotton double gauze from Britex.

I included the sleeve tabs on this version.

I don't have much else to add about construction of this dress. I plan to wear it with leggings, as a long tunic. I think I'll be getting a lot of wear out of it, but I probably need to set the pattern down, and slowly step away...


ACC San Francisco Report

One of my favorite shopping events all year is the American Craft Council San Francisco Show. I missed this event last year, so I was really ready this year!

I'll cut to the show and tell. I bought three things.

From Meghan Patrice Riley (a former San Franciscan who is now thriving as an artist in NYC), I bought a necklace. Like Kathleen Tucci, another favorite jewelry artist of mine, Meghan fashions jewelry from industrial materials, such as bicycle parts.

Megan Riley necklace

I was wearing my perforated pleather skirt, and Meghan offered to buy it right off me.


From Eileen Goldenberg, a local artist, I bought a mug. Is it weird that, when I had trouble deciding between two beautiful mugs, I was able to quickly decide when I looked in a mirror?

Mmmmmmmm


I was walking down one of the aisles with my friend Renee, when I spied a wonderful poncho displayed high on a wall.

I had to try it on.

Made from baby alpaca in a chartreuse color, I was in love!

I didn't want to take it off, so I had to buy it.

The artist, a lovely woman, crocheted this piece. She first crocheted an open mesh. Then she went back in, and embellished the mesh fabric with meandering, free form, double crochet. It was very labor intensive.

I love it!

It wasn't until I got home and looked up the artist's website, that I realized that she is Ping Wu, a very memorable contestant from season 7 of Project Runway!!!

Do you remember her? She was delightfully sweet on the show and in person! I am honored to own such a fabulous piece of her work!


Renee purchased a beautiful felted wool vest. It is perfect for our San Francisco climate!

I'm sorry that this pic is a bit blurry!

Renee and I finished up with a yummy lunch at Greens. It was another great show!