The Summer of Skirts

Every year, July hits and I realize I don’t have any skirts! The thing about living in a four-season city like Toronto is that, in the dead of winter, you don’t think you’re ever going to reach for anything other than thick corduroys, and wooly socks. Then comes spring, and you begin to remember what the sun feels like on your arms. Finally, when summer gets here, you really want to bust out those skirts and go wheeling around on your bike in the city. But …graaah! No skirts; now what?

So this year, I bit the bullet and just made a bunch – okay, three – skirts. Done, done, and done. I used the Butterick Simplicity 2226 pattern (“Learn to Sew”). Continue reading The Summer of Skirts

Room with a View

This is one panel of my entry for the 2016 NeuroCentricArts competition at the University of Toronto, titled “Room with a View”. Technique-wise, the work probably moves more towards mixed-media. Elements of the panels make use of fabric appliqué, iron-on transfers, and – this was really fun – block prints made  of stamps carved from soft rubber blocks.

NCA was an art exhibit on 29 April 2016 and artwork featured themes related to the neuron, the brain and the mind. It was a

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Bond Girl: Gold Lamé Catsuit

Photo credit: Sachin Rao

My guy and I attended a 60s/70s costume party as Bond and Bond Girl. How many times in life do you get the chance to strut about in a gold lamé jumpsuit/catsuit? If you’re anything like me, once. Carpe diem, I say! Besides, it was either that or gold body paint, and this was a family event.

Another good reason to sew the catsuit (reason? you need a reason?) is that my proportions don’t work well with standard-issue pants. Finding the fabric at Fabrictown on the Danforth really cinched the project. This outfit was quite easy to make, which I find very, very surprising.

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Star Trek TOS uniforms: Quick-n-dirty

The kids wanted to go as Star Trek TOS officers for a 60s/70s costume party we attended; the 4yo was Spock while the 7yo wanted to be Uhura (“because her skin colour is the closest to mine”. Indeed.) . The design of these costumes is quite simple, almost pyjama-like. Quick to sew with a serger, and probably also with zigzag stitches on a sewing machine; sure beats shopping around for red and blue turtlenecks in the right size! These costumes were made mainly for one evening, so they are quite slapdash – no hems, no finishing, and the threads don’t match the fabric colour. 🙂

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