If you are most fortunate in life, simple things can give you inordinate pleasure. For me, one of these things is monograms; in particular, letters hand engraved on coin silver flatware or pewter or embroidered on antique linens.
New Vision for the French Trousseau Embroidery Stamp Read More »
While your first thought of crochet in the past might have been of doilies on chair backs there has been a resurgence of interest in crochet lace and innovators such as Roisin Pierce and Magda Butrym are reinventing the art and creating storied and breathtaking clothing.
Crochet in Modern Fashion Read More »
The convenience of online shopping sometimes makes it possible for one to purchase an item for which they have no immediate need. The thought of a candelier (a chandelier using candles rather than electric bulbs) has always appealed to me. When I found one online it was purchased with the thought that a use for it would develop over time. Until then, it remained in the box behind a door in the studio.
Unique Candelier Enhances Library Read More »
While waiting at the cutting table at a fabric store in downtown San Antonio my attention was drawn to this pale griege rose covered lace. A closer look revealed scalloped edges; it had to come with me. The man cutting the lace remarked on its beauty and said he could see it as a full skirt in the style of the fifties – think Dior bar suit skirt.
Lace Skirt in a Bespoke Style Read More »
Stopping by the local bookstore to pick up a book one afternoon recently I was struck by the crowds of people gathered in the stacks; young parents with babies in strollers, couples whispering with books in hand, some who had slid to the floor and with backs against the bookshelves were perusing possible purchases. The
Shoes are fascinating from both an historical and an artistic perspective. These made of silk toile are simply irresistible. They were designed by Roger Vivier in 1959 for Christian Dior. Roger Vivier who originally studied sculpture before entering the world of fashion design often described his fanciful and ornate shoes as sculptures.
Roger Vivier and the Art of the Shoe (and the Hat) Read More »
To arrive at the making and framing of the leaf botanicals it is necessary to trace a small bit of the background to my unending passion for studying and preserving natural elements. David Attenborough (Amazing Rare Things: The Art of Natural History in the Age of Discovery) writes about the Egyptians who included paintings of plants on the walls of tombs and Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance artist who studied and drew plants to learn about how they grew and reproduced.
Gustavian Style Framed Leaf Botanicals Read More »
There is a growing interest in sustainability in fashion. For many this means using sustainable materials and methods in the manufacture of clothing. You might support the movement by wearing and/or restyling vintage clothing. Or in some cases, simply redesigning or restyling a piece of clothing you already own and have not been wearing.
Style Notes 2 – Boho Blouse Redesign Read More »
Summer is here and the perfect accompaniment to your summer sundress may be a straw handbag. There is a plethora to choose from. My search for such a handbag led me to think a bit about handbags in general and straw handbags in particular.
Summer Straw Handbags Read More »
Many of us may have an interest or passion we return to throughout our lives. For me, one of these is printmaking. My first experience with printmaking occurred right after high school at the Glassell School of Art in Houston. During the printmaking class we lived the learning as we explored a range of the intaglio printmaking methods; drypoint etching, chemical etching, and aquatint. Later during the sessions on lithography, we were assigned a block of Belgian stone and tasked with cleaning off the old image, creating one of our own and running it through a printing press.
Drypoint Etching on a Copper Plate Read More »
