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and we're into deep summer . . .
July, 2014
 
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Update on the Collections Sale

We had a wonderful little silent auction and much of my favorite goodies found lovely new homes -- happy camper here!  Many thanks for participating.

There will be more Collections, see below, on a private auction site in the future (not crazy Ebay).  Current Collections like Barbies, Shoe lasts & Hat Trims are posted in Tools & Supplies.  A separate email will go out when the next auction is ready.  Check the Collection Categories below for information on inventory, pricing and minimums.  All are sold as a group (and as is), not individually.  Send an email if you have questions!

The Shoe Last Collection: 
Shoes: 10 last pairs, 5 singles, men's neoprene soles, 5 shoe forms, 7 stands, 1 iron stand.    $300.
 Hat Trim Collection:
French woven straw braids, narrow straw yardage, tubing, some enough for a complete hat. etc.  $100.
Vintage Tools: 
Rare antique wire skirt form for draping the skirts of the late 1800's, completely adjustable, expands like an umbrella for all waist sizes, skirt widths. One antique (& charming) table-top crank sewing machine and one electrified, all working and in good condition.
The Barbie MySize Collection:
They come with dress form covers and bases and are without heads, except for one. They are great for draping half scales and they have articulated arms and legs. $99 each, as is.  

This group will go up in the fall:

The Fabric Collection:
  About 10 double length banker's boxes of high quality vintage fabrics, all fibers and weaves.
The Trim Collection:  Several banker's boxes of trims on cards, most vintage, some rare, all very interesting (or I wouldn't have been tempted), including laces, cording, rick racks, etc.
Books, books, books on EVERYTHING -- they will be pulled and posted in categories like sewing, knitting, etc. -- stay tuned!

Meanwhile . . . not to miss!

Le Petit Th�atre Dior: 
If ever you were in the slightest doubt of the glory of half scale, fall into this Dior show.  On the site, keep scrolling down to the video.


A New Shingo Sato Book:  Volume 2 of Shingo's Transformational Reconstruction genius is due out this summer -- we're just finishing up the two CD's that go with and then off to the  printer.  This one is even more wild than the last one which no one could believe.  Shingo now teaches all over the world so if you wish to book a class up-close-in-person, please contact him.

The Bias Tier Coat:  Reviewed in Threads.  Looks lovely in strong stripes!  I know I  should write BIG instructions but there are not enough hours in the day.  Check it out here and enjoy.

 New Dress Forms from South Africa:  Who knew!  Figure Forms has some incredible forms -- articulated toddlers, plump ladies, strange arms and legs in foam and fabric -- with reasonable prices too, given their unusual selection and high quality.

Keikari & Rory Duffy:  For the tailoring world, here you go -- watching  Duffy's videos could make any number of young men decide the way of the cloth is for them.  Menswear is sizzling now, so think about brushing up on this form of construction -- it's another whole thing.  Watch for the new film, Men of the Cloth, in your area.

Zenni:  Fashion -wise, this is a must-share.  Gorgeous glasses for a pitiful sum.  You get your prescription, go online, order from zillions of frames and you get to wear lots of different glasses for the price of one pair!  I have 4 and counting.

Textile Art Center:  Happy to report that I was asked to join the 20 for 20 show of artists to help the Textile Art Center in Minneapolis celebrate their 20th Anniversary -- such a great place!  That show opens in September so a new pattern absolutely must be done -- I'm thinking a drama palazzo pant piece with wild seams in one piece + coat!
 
Pleats: The new class at Penwag is next month -- Wrinkles are Wonderful.  The pleating thing is everywhere in my studio so the class will be overload for students but I love the  whole thing -- there is just so much possible.

 A History of the Paper Pattern Industry:  A great book by my friend and the ONLY one who could have written it, Joy Emery, who runs CoPA, the Commercial Pattern Archive, at the University of Rhode Island. In the 1980's, Betty Williams, THE costumer in the New York theater world, began the collection and Joy gave it a home -- now it is truly legendary. Sign up & dive in.

Bias Cut Blueprints:  A terrific book, available at Fashion Harmony, by Julianne Bramson and Susan Lenahan, two more Vionnet fans, on bias geometric cutting.  They prove that it is easy and interesting every time!  And this one is great for those starting out -- most all cuts are straight grain but worn on the bias.

Bootstrap FashionThis is pattern downloading on steroids -- lots of great designs, low prices, custom sizing and the bugs worked out.  Hope it works and people will buy sewing machines and take lessons like crazy, completely overcome with the urge to make dreamy dresses real.  There's nothing like that feeling!

I think that's it! 

Now sally forth and help a woman get elected this fall.  Start now -- put up a little local website, sign up to help, print out some signs and put them in your windows.  Help the brave ones -- it all counts!  We can't all face the future without more women in office, heaven knows.

Sandy

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