My Favorite Color Palettes

Some of my favorite palettes from http://www.colorhunter.com. 
This is really fun. You pick a word or two to look up, like peacock or clown or coffee, and they skim photos off of Flickr, and you get a color palette.  I had to sign up for free so I could save my favorites, and sadly there doesn't seem to be a way to upload my own photos and save it to favorites. Caution: It's addicting.  

Blue Gone Mauve

I was looking for a great mauve color palette to show my boyfriend and couldn't find any, so I got bored and started playing with the app. I put in a photo of my eyeball, which is blue, and I'll be darned if it didn't come up with a mauve color palette. It's not like I have mauve eyeballs.

Here is the website I used. Color

I Heart Kilts

I used to think kilts were overrated. I didn't see what all the big deal was, that is, until I had a boyfriend that wears kilts. Now I prefer men in kilts, and I love Utilikilts. My boyfriend outgrew his, but I was just on the Utilikilt site and they have a very cool one in a brick red color and some other new colors, so hmmm. Tempting. I live in S. CA where a kilt can be worn year round, and I'm sure if he had 3 or 4 of them he'd wear them all the time. He likes to wear them while doing archery. He just seems to enjoy life so much more when he's wearing one.

Turning a Peasant Blouse Into a Dress

Saturday I ran into a woman that was wearing the Folkwear pattern Afghan Nomad Dress. I bought that pattern years ago and never got around to making it. So last night I'm trying to find one on line for less than $18.00 or so.

This morning I get up and log on and realize the pattern for a peasant blouse sitting on my desk that I just bought from Yardsellr is very much like that Afghan dress silhouette. (McCall's M808). I can lengthen it either by adding tiers, or just draw it longer into a maxi version.

I Need to Design a Messenger Bag

For years chiropractors have told me to stop wearing a heavy handbag on my right shoulder.  I have scoliosis, and the extra weight isn't doing a thing for my back or my posture. Now that I have this weird pinched nerve in my back under my left shoulder blade I've tried to figure out what kind of purse I can use that won't make the problem worse.  Carrying something in my hand like a clutch is out because I can't stand to have one hand full when I'm trying to shop or eat or do things.  And the chance of me setting it on a counter or something so I can free up my hands a moment will most likely lead to me leaving it on a bus or a bench somewhere.

A fanny pack would work, only it doesn't hold much and points out my already huge waist. So I'm going to try making and using a messenger bag and see if that helps any. For right now I'm going to adjust the shoulder strap on my store bought denim purse to see if I can wear it as a chest strap like a messenger bag. The other option is some sort of backpack but getting it on and off my sore arm might be as bad as carrying my purse the old way.  We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Summer Sewing Tutorials

Go forth and make something. If you start now it will be ready in time for summer. http://www.everythingetsy.com/2011/06/101-sewing-tutorials-for-summer/

Three Layers

I have two DIY projects going on right now. I'm crocheting a multicolored sweater inspired by a retro crochet pattern book from the 80's.

And I'm also knitting a multicolored vest. Once I worked at Macy's and their dress code said always wear 3 or more layers to look more professional, like pants, skirt and jacket or skirt, blouse and vest. That stuck with me all these years and I thought I'd go back to doing that, especially in the colder months.

Yesterday I also bought new blank t-shirts. I'll decorate them in a way that means something to me and use them as part of my wardrobe. I'm thinking of using Solvie (dissolveable fabric) and use it to do some machine embroidery on some of the shirts. Here is a tutorial on Threadbanger.

Red Sweater

I just bought a scarlet red cable sweater to go with my autumn wardrobe theme of pink, red, and gray. Since winter is already knocking at the door, I decided to wrap up the autumn thing and move on to my winter designs.

This Brings Back Memories

I was visiting my daughter and ran across some old photos of gypsy skirts I had made for them. My daughter scanned the photos for me so I could share them with you. They are all grown up now.