Saturday, February 8, 2014

Status Report & News


One beaudacious babe hanging out at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui
(I told her to give me a call if she needs an FBA.)

Sunset on Maui after a rainstorm

Shams, skip the gab and get to the gossip!

Aloha!

I miss you guys!

I hope to have some sewing to show soon. Nothing as awe inspiring and dramatic as Margy's studded jacket, of course. But something.

(By the way, Margy used the same fabric that I used for my vintage dress and Jillian used for her Balenciaga Bolero jacket. Also, when Sandra Betzina wandered into the fabric store one day while I was shopping, I pointed the same fabric out to her and she bought some for pants she was making up for an upcoming Vogue pattern. And, no, this fabric is no longer available.)

I did go on a quick team building trip to Maui a week ago. It was a great trip. My (mostly) self made clothing worked out well, given that I had to cobble a wardrobe together in short order, and that I own very little in the way of warm weather clothing.

I particularly enjoyed my Style Arc Alexi (harem) pants. (Selfie taken in the shiny elevator door near my room.)

Hibiscus henna tattoo against the Alexi pants

A colleague caught us taking selfies on the snorkeling cruise - we are on a 54-foot catamaran headed to Molokini. (The swimsuit and goggles worked out well.)

Resulting selfie

I also used my poly chiffon Burda top as a coverup

LOLOL.
Do you need any more proof of my uber-bustiness?
Hawaiian Islands, indeed.
Aprés Snorkel

We lost count of the many humpback whales we saw, but it was many.

Friends and colleagues, Kathy and Mary, and both superb tech writers

At the top of Haleakela

Not much to see but fog...

We also rode bikes down Haleakela. I highly recommend riding a bike down Haleakela. It is quite chilly at the top of Haleakela. And foggy. It was about 30ºF. For that we dressed in layers.

On the way up Haleakela and snuggly warm in my Sewing Workshop Cowl Sweatshirt and Flannel Lined Style Arc Cassie pants (One of my favorite pair of pants and definitely one of my favorite pants patterns!)

At rides end

I wore the maxi dress that I made, along with the tie top, to dinner and it worked out well.

News

A couple things I wanted to mention:

First, if you follow the comments on my Open Letter to Vogue blog post you have seen that Vogue reached out to me last week regarding my post. I was very impressed and will have something exciting to report in the near future. Stay tuned!

Also, I have heard some worrying news about a great fabric resource, Thai Silks in Los Altos. (Their retail business is Thai Silks and their wholesale business is Exotic Silks.) They recently laid off some long time employees and many are worried that they may close their doors. If you need any wonderful silk fabrics, please consider sending some business their way.

A few more Hawaii pics:

Le Fin(s)

30 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a fabulous time! I had to laugh at the picture of you lying down on the yacht - I'm the same, I can't possibly see my feet when I'm horizontal :) The upside is I'm very floating in water....

    Talking of which: thanks so much for the vertical-only FBA - I recently used it on a Renfrew to great success! http://cashmerette.blogspot.com/2014/01/stripes-upon-hudson.html

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    1. LOL. I am also very buoyant! Your Renfrew looks great, Jenny!

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  2. My (now ex-) husband and I spent a week at that resort about ten years ago. Don't they have some amazing sculptures? I am pea green with envy! Looks like you're having a great time.

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    1. I hear you, Gigi! My kids have been to this resort twice with my former in-laws. I loved the sculptures and the stained glass in the wedding chapel! I took many pics of both! (And I was only there for 3 nights - so quick and less envy-inducing. ;) )

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  3. I miss you too!

    You look like you had a marvelous time, I am so jealous, winter has finally arrived here. It was -20 C (-4 F) last night. Nasty horrible weather. Hawaii looks heavenly.

    Looking forward to hearing what Vogue patterns has to say for themselves, any tiny little hints? 8-)

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    1. Winter finally arrived here in San Francisco, too! It's been pouring rain yesterday and today. Yay! We desperately need it.

      Soon, soon. :)

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  4. Reminds me of the team building trips my old firm used to go to in the Northern Territory of Australia. Sigh….
    Keen to hear what Vogue has to say for themselves.

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    1. I think it will be very interesting, Vicki. In fact, I am very hopeful.

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  5. I love love love hearing about your updates and your work.
    I have been to Maui too with my ex-bf and we visited the resort you stayed at. So so so gorgeous there. I have pix of many of the same sculptures.
    We drove up to Haleakala for sunrise but it was cloud covered. And cold like you said!
    Aloha!

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    1. Kyle, I would love to meet you some day. :D

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  6. So glad for a blog post from you! Great to see more Maui pix, too...looks like a short but sweet trip.

    Breathlessly awaiting deets from the Vogue meet up.

    Looking forward to a few sewing projects from this weekend...

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    1. I hope you are feeling better, Margy! Please take care!

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  7. Your self sewn holiday clothes look perfect for Maui. Glad you had a great time and thanks for the fun update. I always enjoy your posts :)

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    1. Thanks, Sandra! So good to hear from you and I owe you an email! :D

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  8. Ah, it's so nice to see pictures of sun and warmth when we are piled under snow. Thank you for sharing...I'm happy to enjoy Maui vicariously through you.

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    1. Thanks, Truedogs. The weather was so perfect in Maui, that when I returned home it was quite the shock to my system. And I don't live in one of the freezing locations! I can see why people escape to warm climes in the winter.

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  9. Hawaii has always been on my bucket list so thanks for the mini tour. Excited about your vogue opportunity!

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  10. I love Botero sculpture!! His women look so comfortable and happy.
    Thanks for the Maui tour. It looks great. Looking forward to hearing about Vogue's response.

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    1. They have *so* many of his sculptures, Mary! In fact, the sculptures (by different artists) all over the grounds had me snapping lots of pics.

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  11. Wow, it looks like you've had an amazing time!! How gorgeous, and seeing whales is just amazing!

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    1. Thanks, Kelly. I went on a whale watching trip here in the San Francisco bay over 20 years ago and never saw one single whale. I did get sea sick, though, and had to suffer through because I was pregnant. ;)

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  12. So good to hear from you! I once asked a sculptor why he didn't sculpt full, round women. He said because they weren't pleasing to the public. Ha, I beg to differ, there she is!

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    1. Thanks, Jemstone! That is only one of their sculptures of full figured woman by that artist - they had many.

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  13. So much fun to read! I love the wardrobe details as you go from adventure to adventure. made me think of those J. Peterman catalog descriptions, as in. . . "They’re in their own world. She whispers something in his ear (her accent: French). They laugh. But who is she?" Great photos and great fun to tag along with you to Hawaii.

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    1. Thanks, Janie! LOLOL, that is a funny observation - I do remember the JPeterman catalog.

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  14. I do believe that first sculpture can be anointed the Queen of the FBA movement! She is bodacious! Loved your travelogue and can't wait to hear more about Vogue.

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  15. Great pictures - and as another bustiferous female I can relate to your 'Hawaiian Islands' picture! Glad you had a good time.

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  16. Thank you for sharing these wonderful pictures. Your remark on the first sculpture made me laugh aloud.

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