I Couldn't Wait...

I walked past the newsstand this morning on the way to the subway and I saw the September InStyle Magazine. *sigh*  I wanted it so bad but I have a subscription so I have to wait.  I also have a subscription to Bazaar, Allure and Marie Claire. The only September issue I've received is from Marie Claire...and I always like to buy the September Vogue from the newsstand...somehow it seems like that's the way it's suppose to be.

However, when I got to work today (after doing my civic duty and voting in the NJ Democratic Primaries), I whipped out my iPad and downloaded the new September Vogue and the September Bazaar.  Seriously I just can't wait for the US Mail to get their act together and get them to my mailbox.

I'm so glad that I did though...because the interactives in the September Vogue are awesome!  Anna actually narrates a piece that's included in the editor's letter. So if you haven't received your fave September fashion magazines and own an iPad or a Kindle - try downloading them!  It's worth it!!

Tomorrow I pull the name of the first winner of "The Fabric Giveway"...so stay tuned!

...as always more later!

Moving Tales - Part III

Of course there is no sewing going on in the new sewing room.  However, all the sewing machines are on my L-shaped table set-up because I now have the space.  The cutting table is up and ready to be used...and I'm working on the boxes.  But the one thing that moving does is that it makes you go through all the stuff that you've been holding onto.


I'm sure I should just toss magazines but if they've been around for any period of time, I realize that there was a reason for me to keep them.  My bedside nightstand was a treasure trove of magazines.  I wanted to highlight just two of the things I found.  


One is the January 2002 issue of Town & Country.  There is an article in the magazine on Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld and the making of a new RTW Chanel jacket.  This was a fantastic find and I actually sat down on my bed and read this article by Judith Warner.  I'm sharing the pictures of the article with you here:

I'm soooooo glad that I kept this!

The next thing I found that I probably should have thrown out...but after flipping through it I decided to keep for the ideas.  This company was a division of JJill and went out of business.  These are probably the last three catalogs that I received and they are dated 1999.  I probably didn't toss them because the clothing is classic...things that I could make/wear now by simply changing hem lengths.
  

I was curious about this company so I did an internet search and found the following blurb in a Direct Marketing News brief (probably why I was so attracted to the clothing and the styling of the catalog):


"The discontinued Nicole Summers catalog concept was targeted to a slightly older customer than J.Jill, affluent women ages 45 and older who have an active but formal lifestyle, according to a company overview.  J.Jill is designed to appeal to women ages 35 and older."


I'm getting use to the sewing room set-up.  I've moved a few things around since the first pics but I don't have any more to share just yet.  I've got to sew something to see if it will work for me before I call it done.  After I run some errands today, I'll be back to unpack a few more boxes...then it's back to work on Tuesday.


...as always, more later!

The "new" Vogue Pattern Magazine

Last night when I got home the new Dec/Jan Vogue Pattern Magazine was waiting for me. 

I saved it until I climbed into bed and was pleasantly surprised.  I love how they've continue to evolve and update the magazine.  But what surprised me the most is the similarities it shares with BurdaStyle Magazine.

First ~ all of the patterns not only have a photograph and a description but there is also now a line drawing right under the description so you don't have to flip to the back (as in prior issues) to see the line drawings.  They are right there and convenient!  Now this feature has been admired by Burdaphiles and now it's come to us Vogue lovers too!

Second ~ you know how Burda has all of those weird crafty articles that we all either complain about or silently moan over...really they are kinda corny...well VPM has great sewing articles which cover the spectrum from beginner sewist to advanced sewist.  Articles like "Luxury for Less, upscaled fur" how to recycle a much loved fur coat.  How about "Quick Tips for Mastering Stretch Tulle" by Sandra Betzina?  An article on pressing and irons, called "Iron Clad" and of course a column by Elaine (Selfish Seamstress) called "Delusional Holiday Gift Sewing."

While we've all seen and probably purchased our favorite patterns from one of Club BMV's awesome online sales, it was still wonderful to peruse the beautiful photography...

...and isn't this too reminiscent of Burda...well the old beloved English Burda site that is...before it morphed into what it is now...*sigh*  You know where you could see the new patterns in the magazine before the magazine showed up on your doorstep.  Well we've all seen and partaken of the new patterns from Vogue but the magazine still encourages and inspires.

Finally, they've changed the back view page - giving us the pertinent information upfront and at-a-glance.

Now I know this reads like a love letter and I guess it is a little.  Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised and hope that these changes are here to stay...now if they could include a few more fashionable and/or designer plus size patterns, I would just be over the moon!

If you haven't seen this issue, run right out and pick one up.  If you have a subscription, just wait until this goodness falls into your mailbox...you will see that I wasn't exaggerating.

...more later!

It's here!

Yes, in my hot little hands is the September Issue of Vogue Magazine...

I've had it for 24 hours now...bought off the newsstand as I was running to catch the bus in Port Authority.  I have a few pages earmarked...but there will definitely be some things added to my list (yes, I think I'm finally feeling fall!)...and some things added to my Sewcation sewing list!

Doing the snoopy joy-joy dance!  It's here!  It's here!

...more later!

I'm a copycat!

The October issues of the fashion magazines have been on the newsstands in NYC all week.  I know because they've been taunting me as I've walked by them daily.  And every evening I've come home and opened my mail box with much anticipation expecting them and they haven't been there.  Some days there's barely been anything inside and for a girl that loves mail...its devastating!

Last night, however, there were quite a few of the October issues waiting for me!  I won't bore you with how many magazines I subscribe to (Let's just be thankful that the mailman drives a truck!  BTW, do mailmen walk around and delivery mail anymore?) it's cheaper and easier tho' to subscribe than to truck magazines home on the bus with me.

So back to the magazines that arrived...InStyle - one of my personal favorites - showed up last night!  And it is a wonderful issue...especially because they had two sections that are near and dear to my heart.  One - an entire piece with photos on Michelle Obama's style.  I love how she dresses.  It is a clean, concise style using a lot of color to accent her personality but without frou-frou.  It works so well in corporate environments - I'm sure because she came from one - and her wardrobe showcases her figure.  Now while I don't have a Michelle Obama figure...I will never have those arms without surgery and leaving my day job to work on them...I can copy it!

Here are the pics from the article, "Power Dressing" InStyle Magazine (October 2009):

Dresses and coats

Bold Cardigans

Bright Sheaths

Textured Skirts

Key Accessories

The other article was about home sewing.  First Vogue Magazine and now InStyle!  You can tell the economy is in a recession because when was the last time you picked up a fashion magazine and they had a two page spread on home sewing!  Yeah...I know!  The article is called "Project Disaster" with the tag, "Are Home Ec sewing skills and a 10-year-old machine equal to the task of creating a three-piece designer outfit?  Columnist Faye Penn puts her fearless foot to the pedal"  It is a very funny article about someone diving back into sewing after a hiatus...a must read for anyone returning to sewing.  You will find you are not alone!

Anyway...pick up a copy of this month's InStyle...it is full of wonderful yet useful fashion advice...a homage to the sewist contingency...and just a very fun issue.  I do have two ideas as a starting point for this weekend's sewing adventure.  Neither one of them are instant gratification sewing...boy, I'm missing last week more than you know!  But both of them are pounding at my brain and insisting that they be released!  So  updates later!!!

Magazine-o-rama

Every morning when I get off the A Train at the Time Warner Centre, I walk past the Universal newsstand. Now let me explain, this is a store full of magazines, papers and tables where you can sit, read, drink a cup of coffee or hook up to the internet, not one of those little exposed stands on the street corners in NYC.

Several times during the month, I stop in and the morning manager always greets me and tells me what's in. Well, I guess I would greet me too if some mornings I slid up to the register with 3 or 4 copies of the Burda World of Fashion magazine...or when I pick up one of the Collections magazines...or let's not forget the day after the election when I picked up several papers and a couple of magazines...for my family! *LOL*

So this morning I roll in and he says the Marfys are in. Be still my heart! I love the Marfy catalogue as much as I love BWOF...at least years ago I did make something from my BWOF addiction...the same can not be said for the Marfys!!! Sick chick that I am, I pick it up, the People and Oprah (no subscription cause I buy her on a cover by cover basis) and my copy of the Vogue Magazine with the First Lady on the cover.

I hand him my debit card and he says $68 and something cents! WTF?! The Marfy catalogue is $49.95...now do I hand it back and say that will be okay...do I put it back and think maybe another day...Heck no! I bought the dayum thing with a big ole cheesy grin on my face! Just doing my part to stimulate the economy! *LOL* But to justify this purchase, Marfy is only published once a year now...and he only had 5 copies (Wendy if you're listening there were only 4 left this morning!!!)

So I am now the happy owner of a bunch of magazines, a few days off to sew, read and be inspired...and oh a list...yeah...after Marji posted about "the curse of the list" reminding me of what I said...I've decided to only share the two items I plan on making this weekend...

1. The Lisa Outfit

Felted Anna Sui fabric from Butterick 5187

Black wool crepe sheath from my TNT dress pattern with black piping

2. The First Lady Dress

From a royal blue wool crepe with a black wool crepe band in the center made from my TNT dress pattern. I am still deciding if I am going to put seams in the skirt and if I am going to add piping.

I have a few more items on the list...I don't know if they will make an appearance this weekend or in the future and to safeguard their actual construction...cause really how many projects have I discussed here and then they've never come to fruition...I'm gonna guard that list like KFC guards their fried chicken recipe...okay maybe not that closely! *LOL*

I'm off to relax with my new Marfy catalogue and get ready for three days of sewing...oh joy!!!

More later!

No Sewing Here...

It's a balmy summer day...the wind is blowing softly through my apartment...the sun is shining brightly and no sewing is going on here. Instead, I am buried nose deep in fall fashion as more and more September magazines arrive:



So I am spending the rest of this wonderful day laying across my bed (teenager style) flipping through magazines with my trusty Lucky "yes" strips with Fred Astaire movies playing on TCM in the background...and for those, who like Marji, don't know what they are...Lucky magazine includes a page of sticky Yes post-its in every magazine. I save mine to use in other magazines as well as the Lucky for interesting ideas.

Maybe I'll sew tomorrow or maybe I will still be buried in magazines dreaming, wishing and planning Fall 2008/Winter 2009!!!

It's Here!

Eagerly anticipated...always poured over...marked up and written in...it's the September issue of Vogue! Y'know the book that weighs a gazillion pounds because it has tons of advertisements before you get to any of the actual articles...

Well this year I had to carry this five pound monster home from the newsstand in NYC...Now why you ask? Because a certain friend let my comp'd subscription expire and forgot to renew me...now I could pay the $18 subscription fee or I can just wait until December (actually not that far away) and send them emails EVERY day so that they don't forget to add me back to the comp list...shew! Now that's off my chest...

I can tell you that this baby is so heavy that my knees were hurting halfway through the bus ride home since it was riding in my lap!! And I can tell you that I'm only a 1/4 of the way through and I already have like half a dozen of those Lucky "yes stickers" stuck to pages...

And do you remember this dress?

It was last year's major inspiration piece from the Vogue Wish Book...I love me some Tory...so I'm on the hunt for this year's piece! Well now that I've shared, I'm going back to lay on my bed and flip through my Wish Book...Do any of you remember Sears Christmas Wish Book? That's what my September Vogue is to me...the Wish Book! If you don't have a copy...I hope you get yours soon!