Better Grey Than Never - Part 1

It all started with a cardigan...

When grey became a popular colour the past couple of seasons, I realized that I didn't have a single grey garment in my entire closet. So, jonesing for a quick fix, I went shopping with a friend. I know, I know, RTW is considered blasphemy in many circles, but I wanted grey and I wanted it now! At Mexx, I found a really cool piece that had a bunch of elements that appealed to me. Grey - check; argyle - check; cardigan - check; deep V-neck - check. So, I scooped it up and brought it home. There was only one problem - I had absolutely nothing to wear with it. So, in an attempt to remedy the situation, I purchased two beautiful wool gabardines from Fabric Mart - one in a light dove and another in a darker steel shade. Both these fabrics were made up into Loes Hinse Hepburn Pants. (Big surprise, eh? I think this is the fourth garment post in a row to feature this pattern. What can I say? Carolyn brain washed me into embracing TNTs!) See the results below:

As you may be able to see in the photo to the left, I had to do some repair work on the dark grey pants. I had almost completed the pants, when I noticed a tear in the fabric. I don't know how I missed it during the cutting out, construction and pressing, but there it was. Thankfully, it was located very close to the inseam, so it wasn't in a totally conspicuous spot. I debated about trashing the pants, but I figured I would try salvaging them. I pressed some fusible interfacing to the inside of the pant over the tear and then zig-zagged over it. In the picture, the flash brings out the shininess of the thread and makes it look more obvious than it is in real life. The first time I wore the pants to work I asked my friend to look them over with a critical eye and tell me if she saw any problems. It wasn't until I actually pointed out the repair that she noticed it. So, disaster averted!

In the picture to the right, you can see the dark grey pants paired up with the inpiration cardigan. I really like the way these two garments look together.

Up Next: Adding to the "Better Grey than Never" wardrobe.

Casual Friday

Today, I thought I'd show you an outfit that I put together a while back. I wanted an outfit that I was casual, yet pulled together. I don't like resorting to looking like a slob if I wish to be comfortable. I'm fairly certain that one of the signs of an impeding apocalypse is the public donning of pajama pants and flip flops by the masses. But, I have ranted on this very subject in the past, so I will leave it alone today.

Anywho...the pants are yet another pair of Loes Hinse Hepburns. This time I made them from some luscious heathered brown RPL fabric that I purchased from Timmel Fabrics (see at left). I absolutely love this stuff, it looks like quality tropical wool, it launders well, it wears like iron and it is a great colour. I truly wish I had bought more. (On a side note, I have been jealously hording my Timmel RPL ever since Julie closed down her business. I can't seem to find another source for it in my area. Does any one have any suggestions for online retailers of high quality RPL?)





The top is the Loes Hinse V-neck Tunic (view A with 3/4 length sleeves and a turn up cuff). The first time I made a muslin of this pattern, I used my typical mix of sizes - XXS for the shoulders, bust and waist, grading out to an XS for the hips. Unfortunately, I found the hips to be a smidgen tight, so on this go 'round, I sewed 1/4" seams in the hip region, instead of the prescribed 3/8" seams and that fixed the problem. The fabric I used is a Roots thermal knit that I purchased from Wazoodle several years ago (see above). From a distance it reads as forest green; on closer inspection, one can see navy yarns in the mix. It really is an interesting piece of fabric.

As the V-neck of the tunic is lower than I like, I usually pair it up with a brown sleeveless Loes Hinse Princess tank underneath (see this post for the details - it's the middle one in the picture at the bottom). In the photo to the left, you can also see that I accessorize with a great brown/green/cream striped scarf that I bought at a local clothing store. I toss on my brown mary jane Clarks and I'm good to go.

Shoe Business

As a teacher, I am on my feet several hours a day, whether I'm actively teaching a class, doing lunch duty or on hall supervision. My feet get quite the work out. I used to be able to wear sky high heels and never blink an eye. Well, apparently it's time to pay the piper. As of late, I have found that my feet are getting wider (countless hours of standing + gravity = clown feet) and many of my shoes are becoming tight and unbearable. So, I went on the hunt for some comfy, yet still fashionable shoes and I wanted to share one of my major successes.

Clarks Marilla from the Artisan Collection
* These shoes come in four colours: black, dark brown, vampire red and stone (taupe).
* I purchased my black and brown pairs from Soft Moc and the red pair from Walking on a Cloud (both Canadian retailers).



Originally, I purchased the black and the brown pairs since the colors are such wardrobe staples. I had heard good things about the comfort of Clarks shoes and I figured I'd give them a whirl around the house and if they weren't living up to my expectations, I could return them. Well, I was bowled over - I simply cannot say enough good things about these shoes.

First off, they are very well made - the leather is quite supple and rich looking. I hate paying a decent amount of money for shoes and then they look cheap or like they are ready to fall apart.

Secondly, the style is quite nice. Often, comfort and style don't tend to go together. Admittedly, they are not cutting edge high fashion, but the mary jane is in style right now. The double straps are interesting and add to the flair of the shoe. They have a platform base and a decent size heel (2.5 inches), which I need at school - I hate being the shortest person in the room! I have found these shoes to look great with pants and with skirts.

Lastly, the comfort, oh the comfort! I can wear these shoes all day long - walking around my classroom, up and down stairs, racing after students in the hallways - and I have no discomfort whatsoever. I find these shoes to be far more comfortable than my running shoes (I know that statement sounds like hyperbole, but it's not). The platform and the heel are like mini shock absorbers for my feet. The rounded toe allows ample room for my big ole wide feet, so no squished toes. The straps keep the shoes snug on my foot, so no blisters. I love these shoes!

As a matter of fact, I love them so much that I just bought the red pair and I am thinking about buying the taupe pair as well.


Please note that I am in no way affiliated with any of the companies mentioned above. I just wanted to share a great find with y'all.

Bolero me Over

I have several more garments made from Loes Hinse patterns to show you over the next little while. I figure I had better get them posted now, as the weather seems to be warming up and spring is approaching. So, I need to post the remainder of my winter sewing endeavours.

First up is another work combo - pants and a jacket. The pants are more Loes Hinse Hepburns (view A), made from some lovely dark caramel wool broadcloth I purchased from Fabric Mart. This pattern has quickly become a TNT for me this winter (at last count I have made five pairs). I can see myself making it up in linen for the summer as well.

The jacket is a Loes Hinse Bolero jacket (view A), created using some fabric remnants I had left over from other garment projects. This was my first attempt at making this jacket (although I have made other LH jackets) and even though I was pretty much certain of the correct size and I flat pattern measured carefully, I still wanted to check the fit. I grabbed the couple of pieces of leftover fabric and got to work. In the end, not only was the fit pretty darn good, I ended up with a great looking jacket. I got tons of compliments when I wore it to work, so I knew I had a winner. The next time I make this jacket, I will nip it in a smidgen to help define the waist area, as it is a little more boxy than I prefer. My favorite part of the jacket? The closure - it is a nifty vintage metal clasp that I found on eBay and it makes the jacket special.
















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As a final note, whenever I see the LH Bolero pattern, it reminds me of seeing Torvill & Dean perform at the 1984 World Figure Skating Championships in Ottawa. I was a huge figure skating fan in my early teen years and my aunt was kind enough to take me to the Worlds. I will never forget seeing their bolero performance live and in person - to say it was magical is an understatement. I can actually remember people around us holding back tears at the end of their performance.

Music Soothes the Savage Sewist

Often when I'm home alone, sewing up a new project, I like the serene silence of a quiet house. Better yet, if the weather permits, I love to open the windows and listen to the calming sounds of nature; the birds, the crickets, the breeze blowing through the trees...

Other times, I like to crank up the tunes and bust a move as I sew. At these times, I pop in the Jill Scott, India Arie, Eva Cassidy, Joss Stone, Annie Lennox or Robbie Williams. So, the CDs by these artists are played a lot and I was getting bored with my selection. So, off to Amazon.ca I went, looking for recommendations. You probably already know this, but Amazon will suggest CDs to you based on your prior buying habits. I often find interesting new (or perhaps new-to-me is a better description) artists this way. If I see something that looks promising, I bring up the YouTube and give a listen to a few tracks. If I like what I hear, I buy the CD.

My latest acquisitions include the following artists: Adele, Jully Black, Divine Brown, Melody Gardot, Sia and Lizz Wright. If you like bluesy, jazzy, soulful female voices, give these artists a listen - you might hear something you like.





On a final note (pun totally intended), I have to admit to one guilty musical pleasure that I have indulged in lately. I have been listening to Tom Jones incessantly - from his early years right through to his latest CD. The other day I had the CD cranking in my truck when my best friend got in and she asked who was playing. When I told her it was Tom Jones, she said, "Really? Isn't he kind of...ya know...cheesy?" Well, he may very well be, but he has one of the most amazing voices ever. This man can sing just about every modern male artist under the table and then some. And don't even get me started on those hips:

Lacquer Lundi

It looks like a great majority (78%) of readers are interested in nail polish reviews. So, without further ado, let me first tell you a bit about my nail polish philosophy:

* When it comes to nail polish, I am basically a magpie - the brighter the shade, the weirder the colour and the sparklier the polish, the more I'm drawn to it. I do have many traditional colours - reds, pinks, neutrals - but my heart always beats a little faster when I see a polish chock full of glitter!

* I don't freak out if I break a nail - I just file them all down to match.

* I keep my nails fairly short - anything too long and I can't function properly at work.

* I am not a polish snob - at this point, I own polishes that run any where in price from $1 to $17 per bottle. I have found that price is not necessarily an indicator of quality.

* I am easily distracted. I don't generally wear a polish for very long (I like to switch things up every 1 to 3 days).

* I am very hard on my hands - I don't baby them. Between all the chemicals I use at work (the joy of being a chemistry teacher) and all the gardening/housework I do at home, my hands get quite the workout in any given day.

Now, on to the pretties:

Rimmel Play Fast - Out of Control
- purchased at Zehrs (a chain grocery store) for $2.29 CDN

I love this polish. The consistency is good, not too runny, not too thick - so application is a breeze. The brush is easy to control and is a good size, so three swipes of the brush and the nail is covered.

It has decent pigmentation - these pictures are two coats, although three coats would have been more opaque. This is a fast drying polish - my first coat was dry in one minute and the second coat was touch dry within 2 minutes.

But, the best part - the colour, oh the colour! This polish is the most beautiful shade of dark orange, with light orangey-gold micro glitter. It is simply gorgeous.

I wore this polish for three days (during which I was tough on my hands) and I didn't suffer a single chip. The only evidence of a three day old manicure was some slight tipwear. This polish is a winner in my books.


BB Couture - Frosty Meadow
- purchased from overallbeauty.com for $8 US

I wanted something green for St. Patrick's Day and this bottle jumped out of my stash and into my hand. It is a beautiful rich green base with small gold glitter. I realize that green is probably out of the comfort zone for many people and may not be work appropriate for most. I'm lucky that I can wear wacky nail polish to work and no one bats an eye. For people still wanting to give it a go, it might merit consideration as a great weekend or pedicure colour.

The application is a little difficult for the first coat (it's streaky), but all subsequent coats are easy-peasy. Three coats were required to build up to the bottle colour, but it is well worth it in my opinion.

This line of nail polish boasts a "4 in 1 formula", which means that it has "base coat, top coat, nail strengthener and color in one bottle." However, I always use a basecoat to avoid yellowed nails, but I did not bother to use my usual topcoat.

I have had this polish on for two days with no signs of any chipping and only minimal tipwear.

Blast from the Past

I truly believe the old adage "nothing ventured, nothing gained." Especially as it applies to sewing. I'm always saddened (and rather annoyed, I must admit) by people that post on sewing discussion boards asking questions about things that they could easily figure out on their own, either through research or hands-on learning. Sometimes it's pure laziness, but more often than not, they seem paralyzed by the fear that they might do something wrong. To that I say, "Who cares if you're wrong? What's the worst that can happen?" So you wreck some fabric - there will always be more fabric. So you waste some time - learning something new, even if it's just how to avoid making the same mistake twice is valuable. So you have nothing to show for your efforts - well, maybe you don't have anything material, but you will have gained knowledge and experience. But, I think the more important lesson here is "What if you succeed?" Either way, taking a risk and venturing outside your comfort zone is always a good thing.

That is how I came to make my second Prom dress (my high school boyfriend was a year older than me, so I needed a dress for each of our senior years). I wrote about my first Prom dress in an earlier post.

By the early spring of 1989, I had been sewing for a full year and I felt confident enough to tackle another formal dress. I didn't want any old Prom dress though, I wanted a fabric fairytale. I would be a beautiful princess in a sumptuous gown, Prince Charming basking in my glory. At 18 years old this seemed like a perfectly logical desire and I had the means to achieve it. So, I set to work.

I found the perfect pattern - puffed sleeves, nipped in waist, full skirt. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the identity of the actual pattern now, although I have been on many searches through vintage pattern websites looking to jog my memory. Up next was the hunt for the fabric. I was unsure of the colour when I walked through the fabric shop's door, but when I saw the heavy pale pink satin, I was smitten. To really make this gown a show stopper, I picked out various beaded and sequined lace motifs to embellish the bodice - the small local independent store I shopped at was renowned for their amazing bridal lace selection.

I wanted this dress to fit like a dream, so I started by making a muslin out of some yellow cotton broadcloth. Then the real sewing began. I worked on this dress for two solid months and it became a labour of love. Often I had no idea what I was doing - I had never worked with a difficult fabric like satin before. So, I improvised and researched and figured it out as I went along. In the end, I created a garment that was a test of my tenacity and skill, but it was a completely fulfilling experience.

Here is a photo of the dress and a closeup of the embellished lace on the bodice. I have kept this dress for 20 years and about once a year, I pull it out of the closet as a reminder of how important it is to accept a challenge.







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Oh yeah and don't forget: "Beware the Ides of March." If you happen to know anyone named Brutus, don't turn your back on him today!

More Zesty Duds

Recently, I professed my love for orange and I was quite pleased to hear that I'm not the only one that adores this fab colour. Lately, I can't seem to get enough of this juicy colour - anything from rust to coral to pumpkin catches my eye and renders me speechless. Viva l'orange!

In that vein, I have another tangy outfit for your viewing pleasure. With the brown and orange herringbone RPL fabric that remained after making my skirt, I whipped up a pair of Loes Hinse Hepburn Pants (I used view B). I love this pattern! The fit is much more flattering on me than I expected. I figured the wide legs would overwhelm me (I am only a paltry 5"3" on a good day), but they are actually quite appealing. I used size S (small) for the entire pant and this proved to be exactly what I needed for a good fit. The only tweak I made was to use a sorter length of elastic in the waist to cinch it in a bit more.

The top I made to go with the pants is from a really cool knit fabric that has a mottled orange and brown design, as well as a random raised pattern knitted in. I purchased the fabric from RB Fabrics (a lovely little independent store that I would love to shop more, but it is a 45 minute drive for me). This fabric is heavy and drapey and gorgeous - I wish I had bought more. The pattern used is the Loes Hinse Bianca Top. I combined the long sleeves of view A with the body of view B. I love this pattern too! This top was a perfect fit with very little tweaking - I used XXS for the shoulder, bust and waist, then graded out to an XS for the hip. This top now fits exceptionally well and I know I will be making countless more versions of it.

When I wore this outfit to work the first time, it got rave reviews. It's amazing that the simplest patterns can be made up into eye catching garments, mainly through the use of unique fabric. I have really been embracing this mind set (subtle pattern - super fabric) as of late. It is a philosophy that I learned from Loes Hinse (see the Casual Elegance site for the Gallery pictures and the S Magazine articles for some inspiration) and it really has made my work wardrobe better. Over the next while, I will be posting more of my Loes Hinse garments, as I have been on a real LH pattern kick for the past several weeks. So stay tuned.