A very dumb mistake

This past Monday I received a beautiful package from fabric.com containing a bundle of red corduroy and Midwest Modern lovliness. This past Monday was also my first day of online classes at Regent University. Between work, reading, writing and miscelanious other errands and tasks, I had precious little time to dig into my new fabric. I managed to get it washed and cut out over the course of a few days, and stayed up late the other night sewing it all together. It was then that I realized that somehow I had forgotton to cut out the sleeves. The piece of fabric that I had meant to cut the sleeves out of was used to cut out the pockets, collar and cuffs. Stupid Bessie!

This is what happens when you are not organized and try to do things in a hurry. I have always been an advocate of taking your time when sewing, and now I am ashamed to say that I went against my own advice and in the excitement of the new project (and lack of creative time) cost myself a whole extra yard of fabric + shipping.

Thus, I am now humbled and shall take my time and work on all the little details (embroidering my name on the inside of the coat, making buttonholes and sewing on buttons, finishing edges, etc.) while I wait for my extra yard of red corduroy from fabric.com to come.

Ah well! Tis life.

The coat looks very good so far, despite the lack of sleeves. I really like it in the corduroy. I found some great buttons in my collection to use. The lining looks great, too! I'll post some pictures as soon as I get it all finished. ;)

Have a happy and blessed Sunday!
~Bessie

My Coat Fetish

I love coats. I especially love to sew coats. I wish I lived on the north pole so that I could wear my coats all year long (not really...well, maybe Alaska).

Since I don't have any great new sewing projects to post about right now, I thought I'd share some pictures of coats that I have made over the years. Please forgive the green summer trees in the background. Just imagine brilliant fall foliage or winter snow instead!

Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite coats that I've made. It is made from the same pattern that I am going to make that red corduroy jacket from (see this post). It is a little big on me, but I wanted to leave enough room for the bulky sweaters I like to wear. I made this out of a lovely wool melton fabric and used sherpa fleece to line the pockets and the cuffs. The corduroy version will be a little smaller and close-fitting, more of a jacket than a coat.

Obviously I am not finished with this coat yet! This is a recycled coat. I bought this old Ralph Lauren coat from a flea market for $2, ripped all the seams and cut it out again using a cute pattern from the 40's. I utilized the pockets and collar that were original to the coat. It is pretty much all put together now, though I need to line it, finish the hem and sew the buttons on. I like how it looks! I'll probably wear this a lot.

Ok, I can't take credit for this one. I know I said I was posting about coats that I made, but I am making an exception with this one. This is a coat that I found at the afore-mentioned flea market for $2. I bought it because I liked the color of the wool. I planned on disecting it just like the other one and using the pieces to make a new coat. That all changed, however, once I got home and put the thing on. Wow. It was a genuine 1980's, huge shoulder pads, tapering sleeves and body, flippy collar coat. How could I rip this apart? It looks so cool! Just thought I would share it with you. ;)

Yes, I have even made a turn-of-the-century victorian style coat. I have never and probably will never wear this out in public, but it was fun to make! I ordered the wool from Woolworths and lined it will a pretty light yellow brocade. Never did put the buttons on.

This is a classic late 1940's swing coat. I made this one out of soft, cozy fleece. The gray fleece is real thick and has a waffle texture. This coat is not quite finished yet---I still need to sew on the gray pockets and line it.

Last, but certainly not least, is another swing coat made from the same pattern as the white and gray one. I made this with a large brown wool herringbone and lined it with a pink floral brocade. I pick stitched along the front and pocket edges with some pink twist. I'm very happy with how this one turned out. You can see more pics of this coat here.

So there you have it! My mom tells me I should sell some of my coats, but I don't know if I have the heart to do it. Sigh. They do take up a lot of room in my dreadfully small closet, though...

Have a great day!

~Bessie

What do you think?

Is this wearable today? I really, really want it to be. Just picture the red version with the skirt shortened a little...

Don't you love the buttons on the peplum?

Look! Pockets!

I think I might just make this up and wear it anyway. Let the people laugh! Let them scoff! I don't care. Bwah-ha-ha-ha!

~Bess

Fall Fashion Inspirations

TO MAKE: FALL SEWING

1. Lovely Shirtwaist

I haven't figured out what kind or color fabric I want to use for this, but I am most definitely going to make it. Isn't it gorgeous?

2. Pocket Skirt

Have you ever seen such glorious pockets? Wow. I was thinking of making this up in a heavy-weight knit. What do you think?

3. 60's Jumper

I've never been much into jumpers, mainly because they are such a homeschooling stereotype. That has all changed, however. I watched a great old movie the other day called "The Petrified Forest" with Bette Davis and Leslie Howard. Bette Davis wore the cutest jumper and now I must have one too. This one is not the same style as Bette's, but I think it would work better in the modern wardrobe. And it has bigger pockets.

(Bette Davis. Sorry, it's the best image I could find!)

4. Wrap-around Skirt with BUTTONS!!!

Um, need I say more?

I'm thinking a big, brown plaid wool suiting.

5. Square-Neck Ruffle Blouse

I love this old McCall pattern. The other views are adorable as well, but short sleeved. I want to make a few for next summer. I think I will make two of these: one ivory and one blue.

6. Wide-lapeled Jacket

In a fabulous plaid boucle suiting (see below). I think I'll change the cuffs, though, and wear it with jeans.

7. 40's Coat

I am in the process of making this out of an old recycled wool coat. It looks great so far!

8. Red Corduroy Jacket

Be still, my beating heart. I love, love, love this coat pattern. I made it last year in a green wool melton (I'll have to post a pic!) and this year I am going to make it in red corduroy with Amy Butler cotton lining!

And last, but certainly not least...

9. Mod Coat

*Cough* Uhm...yeah, I have this obsession with making coats.

I think this one is amazing. I am going to throw creativity out the window here and make it just like the picture on the pattern envelope. Well, plus pockets.

Will I really make all of these things for this fall?

We shall see.....

p.s. sorry I don't have the pattern names and numbers up. I am didn't think to write them all down before I butchered the scans, and I am too lazy to go downstairs and get them right now. If you see one that you are curious about, just let me know. ;)

Beautiful Words: Thomas Jefferson

"I hold (without appeal to revelation) that when we take a view of the universe, in all its parts, general or particular, it is impossible for the human mind not to perceive and feel a conviction of design, consummate skill, and indefinite power in every atom of its composition. The movements of the heavenly bodies, so exactly held in their course by the balance of centrifugal and centripetal forces; the structure of our earth itself, with its distribution of lands, waters, and atmosphere; animal and vegetable bodies, examined in all their minutest particles; insects, mere atoms of life, yet as perfectly organized as man or mammoth; the mineral substances, their generation and uses; it is impossible, I say, for the human mind not to believe, that there is in all this design, cause and effect, up to an ultimate cause, a fabricator of all things from matter and motion, their preserver and regulator while permitted to exist on their present forms, and their regeneration into new and other forms."

~Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to John Adams, April 11th, 1823

Etsy

Cozy Green House Artworks now officially has an Etsy shop!

Perhaps this will inspire us to complete some projects? ;)

I will be listing our original artwork in our shop, as well as vintage patterns and sewing supplies from my personal collection. Check it out!

~Bess

Music, Old Movies, Books, etc.

I have not posted about sewing lately because I have not been very inspired to sew. I have a few projects begun, but I simply cannot muster up the will to work on them. Alas, that is how art is.

What have I been doing with my spare time, then? Working on music, reading Atlas Shrugged and watching old movies.

The music is coming along very well. The girls and I are going to perform three songs at the concert next week. I had originally planned to do five, but as we did not have any already learnt I felt that three would be wiser. ;) Atlas Shrugged is coming along well. I began reading it so that I could enter the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest (google it!). It has been an interesting read so far.

So! Old movie time. I watched a movie called "Pygmalion" (1938) the other night. The movie is based on a play by George Bernard Shaw and stars Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller. What a great movie!

Don't you love this art-deco poster?

"Pygmalion" is the predecessor of the 1964 musical "My Fair Lady", and is almost exactly the same, minus the musical numbers. Leslie Howard played a splendid Henry Higgins (I thought he was better than Rex Harrison), and Wendy Hiller was simply amazing in the role of Eliza Doolittle. As I watched the movie, I kept thinking that I had seen Wendy Hiller in something else. I realized about half-way through the movie that I had seen her about a bazillion times as a crotchety old lady (Mrs. Harris) in one of my favorite movies, "Anne Of Green Gables: The Sequel". Well whadda ya know? :)

Wendy Hiller as Eliza Doolittle

Wendy Hiller as Mrs. Harris

What did I like about "Pygmalion"? Well, the fact that I didn't have to listen to Mr. Doolitle sing "Get me to the church on time" for two hours was relieving. I also liked Mrs. Higgins character better than in the musical version. She had a slightly bigger part, and was a little more warm and motherly. The acting was all-around great. The kid who played Freddie was delightfully gooberish and swoony. Overall a pleasure to watch. Highly recommended.

Oh my goodness, it is so very late! Yikes. I ought to leave it at that for tonight (or this morning).

G'night,

Bess <><

I had to add this because it is such a cool poster. :)