Friday, July 29, 2011

Kermit's Fashion Show circa 1977

Kermit and I go way back- when I was a budding fashion designer and he was, well, a frog.  I was 10ish when I made my beloved friend this wardrobe.  My mom found his clothes not long ago and I knew he needed a photo shoot. 
 Here he is in his birthday suit.  You can see that with his large belly and skinny legs (I say this with utmost affection), fitting was tricky.
 He is dressed for his Hawaiian vacation in shorts and a native print tunic.
 Kermit goes western (or should I say Vegas) in gold chaps and a hat.

 I molded the cardboard and then spray painted it gold.
 His floral vest (he is very secure with his masculinity), actually has a dart in the neck for fit.  I think the rickrack adds something special too.
 He has many accessories.  He enjoys wearing his suspenders and tam.
 The tam even has a fabric button sewn on top.
 Every well dressed frog needs a pair of double knit trousers.  Kermit is sporting a hand knit scarf with his.
 My grandfather wore ties all the time so Kermit has 6 ties in his collection. 
 A day at the beach anyone?  Terry cloth swim trunks make frogs everywhere green with envy!
 His vest even has pockets.
 When he goes to the spa, he is looking good in a monogrammed robe and slippers.
 Kermit, a frog of many talents, plays the bagpipes while wearing a kilt.
 Detective Kermit gives a nod to Sherlock Holmes in this coat and hat.
 That hat was not easy!


Hope you enjoyed his fashion show!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Hip Pouch by Jan DiCintio

I missed the 3-day sew along at the beginning of July, but I really like this hip pouch by Jan DiCintio of Daisy Janie.  day 1 , day 2 , day 3  Very well done, Jan, thanks for sharing!  This goes on my list of projects to sew.  It would be very handy when I'm biking and walking!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Book Review: Fat Quarter Fun by Karen Snyder

 I have not sewn any of the quilts yet, but I really like Karen Snyder's Fat Quarter Fun.  The projects look fairly straight forward with clear instructions.  Each quilt has a  choosing fabric, cutting, piecing, assembling the top, adding borders, backing, and finishing sections.
She shows two versions for each quilt, making it easy to visualize different color schemes and sizes.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

A Feel for Color Exhibit by Sally Barker

I recently saw this exhibit at the Children's Museum of  Richmond.  Sally Barker recreated famous paintings as quilts full of texture for the visually impaired.  All of the quilts, roughly 20" (just an estimation!) were hung low because it was a children's museum after all.  I enjoyed the visual impact and then I went around again with my eyes closed so I could appreciate the tactile aspect.  Sally Barker not only used different fabrics, but she also used cardboard or something to make some areas recessed and others more prominent.  It was fun to actually be encouraged to touch the quilts because usually it is hands off!  Here are my favorites:
 A Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
 Jane Avril by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
 The Fall of Icarus by Henri Matisse
 Woman Seated in a Chair by Pablo Picasso
 The Red Poppy by Georgia O'Keefe
The Scream by Edvard Munch

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Easy T-Shirt Fix Up

So my daughter had this pink t-shirt that I really like (cute shoes!).  She out grew it and, with her permission, I cut the front off.  I centered it on top of a white t-shirt and stitched it down.  This would be great for covering up stains or just for enjoying an out grown shirt.