Another year has already rolled around and we’re also stationed in another part of the country! We moved coast to coast, basically 😄- we’re now in beautiful Monterey, Ca. My fave place to be.

Bead and Button is right around the corner and I wanted to give you guys a coupon for free admission you can print out to hand in at the door.

I’ll be table #24 for Tuesday night’s Moonlight Madness from 9-11pm on June 4th and Booth #1241 on the main show floor Friday-Sunday June 7-9th. Thursday afternoon will be open to show exhibitors and students before it opens to the public Friday morning.

Come by and say hi if you’ll be in the area, it’s a great show!

Last month was the Glasscraft Bead Expo and ISGB Gathering in Vegas and here are just a few photos:

Finally finished the vintage Butterick pattern that has been languishing on the table for MONTHS. This fabulous fabric was found at Hart’s Fabric in Santa Cruz, CA earlier this year when I taught at Kiss My Glass.  It’s an organic cotton shirting, in a crossweave of faded/burnt orange and white. Very lightweight, which made it great to use for this pattern since it required two layers. It was tricky to photograph due to the weave, and feels like butter and makes me think of washed silk.

The neckline has an odd pulling, must not have done enough relief snips..next time. Maybe I can steam it out.

I actually had to do the sleeves traditionally rather than in the flat, which I prefer. After sewing the (many) darts, you face the fabric right sides together and sew all around the neck, down the back and bottom, leaving a space on the back to turn it right side out. I won’t lie, the sleeves were a bitch.

Pardon that bit of fuzz, please.

I really hate setting in sleeves, and there are a few puckers that you see if you look closely. The shirt fits great, if a little loose. But if were much tighter, I’d have to unbutton to pull on the shirt. The length is pretty short for me, and barely hits my high hip. Thinking it’s meant for high-waisted pants and skirts. Gotta make sure I don’t inadvertently flash flesh that hasn’t seen the sun in more than a decade when I reach for something high.

The pattern has great promise and plan to change a few things before sewing it again: longer sleeves, longer hem and fitting the waist a leeetle bit more. Next from this pattern will be the skirt, hopefully. The jacket looks interesting, as well. So many projects, so little time.

Enter Code CYBERMONDAY14 to receive 20% off your purchase in the shop. Here are a few items that I just listed and plan to add more throughout the day. Code expires at midnight. Thanks!

This is the Top 64 from Merchant and Mills in a size 16.

I fell btwn size 14 and 16 and probably would’ve been fine with a 14 since there is a lot of ease built in the pattern. If you don’t want to pay shipping from the UK, some of the shops-mine was found at A Verb for Keeping Warm– on this side of the pond stock them.Here are a few shots of the interior, such a lovely shop- I even got some gorgeous Madeline Tosh yarn and I don’t even knit!

I’m still ambivalent about the fit on me- it’s meant to be boxy and loose-ish since it’s modeled after a fisherman’s top/artist’s smock.

The pockets are more of a design element than useful, as you can see with my hand as a reference.

The fabric is Robert Kaufman’s cotton double cloth in Indigo- soo soft and comfy.
It’s a pullover, so no worries about closures- the main trouble for me was getting my top-stitching just right. Definitely shows when you get off track.
It will get worn, especially since my winter garb inventory is sorely lacking. And I’ve already cut out fabric for my Camber Set T-shirt, in some lovely Nani Iro double gauze, from Miss Matatabi on Etsy. Lengthened the sleeves to make them elbow-length, just hope it works out.