Thursday, August 30, 2012

Fabric and a Movie...

After it took me three days to sew a dress...one dress...*sigh*  I knew I needed some quality time out of the sewing cave to get a new perspective.  So the Little Prince's mother, commonly known as my middle daughter, and I headed to NYC to pick up a few things on my sewing restocking list.  I really wanted to do this while I was on vacation so I didn't have to rush around the garment district on my lunch hour.

We hit up Mood Fabrics, SIL Thread, and Daytona Trimmings. Of course we took pics of both of us amongst the fabric at Mood...





...and this is my haul...


Hug Snug, thread & stitch witchery from SIL Thread

Tracing paper from SIL Thread

Invisible Zipper from Daytona Trimmings

10 yards of brown wool crepe from Mood 

2.5 yards of forest green double 
wool crepe from Mood

Then because I missed her birthday last week while vacationing, we took in an afternoon showing of the movie, Sparkle.  

Now I know the movie has been bashed by the critics, but the original Sparkle starring Irene Cara and Lonette McKee was one of my teenage years' favorite movies.  I own it in both VHS and DVD.  If anyone has seen the original, you know it was a cheesy story badly filmed with really poor acting.  But Irene Cara sang her butt off, Loretta McKee was such a convincing drug addict and Philip Michael Thomas was in his prime and sooooooo good looking...this was way before his Miami Vice days.

So Sparkle is an integral part of my childhood as well as my daughters...we were anticipating the remix even before Whitney Houston died.  I know Whitney's participation in the movie and passing hyped up the anticipation for the movie even more...and can I say first that the remix is so much better than the original. However, before I get to that, I have to say that I was annoyed to read a review about the movie saying that it was the poor man's Dreamgirls.  Ummmm, excuse me!  If the critic had taken the time to learn the history of Sparkle they would have realized that it was written and shot way before Dreamgirls even appeared on Broadway!  It actually was the black people's version of what was happening in their neighborhoods, versus the sanitized Broadway version of the music business with a black girl group.  There are some rough scenes in the original version of Sparkle that are totally gone from this remake.

On that note, I like what the director and producers did with the remake.  I like how they concentrated on Sparkle and her desire to sing more.  I like that the sisters are so much more well developed characters and I love the church aspect of the movie. To that end, I lost it in the movie theatre when Whitney Houston sang, His Eye is on the Sparrow. To realize that she was singing about being free and wrapped up in Jesus' arms after she had passed away, did me in.  I can't believe how much her death affects me even now... 

Anyway, if you haven't seen the movie you should. Jordin Sparks is adorable.  Mike Epps as Satin Struthers is just awesome, the music is great...especially since I never liked the Aretha Franklin soundtrack - what can I say I'm a purist! I thought Irene Cara and Lonette McKee did a great job of singing in the original movie. Finally the clothes from the 60s are just fantastic! If you only go for the clothes, the music and seeing Whitney sing her last song, EVAH, it is worth it!

So, I'm back home in the sewing cave...refreshed...renewed and with a whole lot of new supplies.  My next dress is a designer interpretation that if you follow me on Instagram you've already seen the components.  BTW, why aren't you following me on Instagram? I'm diaryofasewingfanatic and it's all about my sewing...

Now I know that you're looking for pictures of the finished V8799 dress but since I no longer live with my photographer and just can't get the hang of taking my own pictures, they will be taken at the end of the week...

Let me leave you with a Sparkle clip...



and the closing song with the cast...



...as always more later!

15 comments:

  1. So glad you had a fun outing with DD2! It sounds like a fabulous trip to NYC. It's been so long since I've been there and you make me want to go back! Good luck with the rest of your sewcation!

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  2. Compelling review, C. I will put it on my list. (I never get to see movies till they come to TV, but I sure do enjoy them in my own home with some kettle corn.)

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  3. Nice you had a good jaunt with your daughter. By the way, it's so good to see you in a more casual outfit! I was thinking you wore career wear 24/7 (not really!). :)

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  4. Your daughter looks a lot like you! (surprise) It's fun hanging out with daughters when they are grown!

    Last week I was in a movie mood, but I decided against Sparkle. Of course, I saw the original, (and fell in love with Philip Michael Thomas) way back when. I decided against Sparkle because of the Whitney Houston hype. I never was a big fan of WH when she lived and I felt a little ghoulish seeing the movie just to see her last performance. I'll wait until it is available in Redbox.

    (PS I saw Hope Springs instead. Snore!)

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  5. Sounds like a great vacay to me.
    What is hug snug???

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  6. I love your daughters dress. Did she make it? I am off to look for a pattern to copy it!

    I second Faye's question. How do you use snug hug?

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  7. Sounds like a perfect mother/daughter day. I'll watch out for Sparkle to come over here. I never saw it. It sounds like it would lend itself to being made into a Broadway/Westend musical. Sort of a reverse MamaMia!

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  8. Hope you enjoyed Mother Daughter day! Looks like you did! Your daughter is beautiful, she looks a lot like you too! I agree with the others here...I love your daughters' dress...did she make it? It's beautiful!

    I really enjoyed the movie sparkle and was very offended by the critics remarks too! They don't know anything about movies...and they're supposed to be the experts! That's why I never listen to them...I judge for myself or "real people" reviews!

    Also, I'm curious too...what is hug snug & how do you use it?

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  9. ....just googled Hug Snug, looks like it's a Rayon Seam binding! Never heard of that before...that could have many great uses!

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  10. At this stage of the game, I don't rely on critics for my movie choices. I can't wait to see Sparkle. I want to go with someone who will appreciate the music as much as me. Love Whitney, love Jordan.

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  11. Sounds like you are having a great vacation. Thanks for the review of Sparkle. Can't wait to see what you sew next!

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  12. i never knew sparkle was a remake! your post makes me want to see it. i'm a sucker for a movie musical.

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  13. Great haul! I spend most of my lunch break running to the garment district for supplies too.

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  14. Your daughter has the same sparkling smile you do! It's nice that you had a quiet day together, and were able to enjoy each other's company. Days like that are rare.

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  15. What the heck is "Instagram?"

    Based on your recommendation, because I admire your taste so much, I will watch "Sparkle." I had NO idea it was an earlier movie that was remade. Wow. Nothing new under the Sun, as Solomon said. So true. But bigger and better, I can dig that!

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