The Great British Sewing Bee - My recent passion

Have you all heard about this wonderful BBC2 production called  " The Great British Sewing Bee"

The first episode aired this week and although not available in the US I was able to find it on YouTube.  

I am completely smitten.

The show is a competition between "amateur" seamstress's, of various backgrounds, ages, and sexes who are given reasonable projects and tasks to complete within a tight but again reasonable time frame.

The contestants although nervous seem to have a normalcy about them we rarely see in American reality show. 

 Sew Refreshing

The judges watch their process and educate as they dissect and judge each task.  In this first episode they speak about balance, pattern matching, zippers, facings, bias, seam tension, darts and fabric choice. In between watching cautiously panicked stitchers problem solve under pressure and press each seam we see illustrations of patterns how they work and where the challenges will lie in execution.  Cleverly done and quite engaging.

Beautifully photographed and an inspiring work environment make it a joy to watch as well. 

&

I find the challenges make we want to challenge myself this week in a similar fashion.  

A-line skirt anyone?

Couture Inspiration - Valentino

Last night my husband and I watched Valentino.  

It's beautiful, educational and inspirational.

A glimpse inside fashion history and an amazing working relationship

Fabulous scenes of France and Italy

It had me re-thinking almost every sewing plan I have and made me desperate to vacation somewhere with a fabric store and cafe-lol

We were snowed in again yesterday about 6" of a rain/snow mix which did allow me to get some cowls sewn up

 and dream about a winter white jacket I wish to make or slacks...

What about that blue silk batik top... the black leather spencer...the wool circle skirt with tear drop hem and oh yes I still need to finish my lovely butter colored silk chiffon revision blouse.

What will you be sewing today?

Congrats to Adam West - Our Favorite Caped Crime Fighter

Had to share this!

Adam West just received a star on Hollywood Blvd.  

Congratulations Adam!

We are honored as well to see our Replica Batman Cowl there as well.  

Thanks to our client Scott Sebring for representing:)

We have now been making these cowl for over 6 years and have had the pleasure of mailing them out all over the world to fans of the 66 Batman TV show.  

If you are not familiar with the series or have not seen it since its original airing in 1966 enjoy this first episode "Hi Diddle Riddle" and learn what "camp" is all about.

Fall Fabric Lovelies

My beautiful yarn was not my only splurge this past week.

It all really started at The Cutting Edge Sale, where some very committed women were waiting out in the cold to enter the building....so not going to do that.  I cannot even imagine what incredible fibers she would have to have on sale that would cause me to stand out in the wind for....I am trying...but....

Peg and I then bravely headed over to Jo-Anns where we found a very nice piece of linen.  Yes 100% linen, yarn dyed in this marvelous cafe au lait color.  We purchased enough for 2 shirts, one for her and one for me and we have plans on cutting them out and sewing them up together.

(It looks a little dark in this picture, but what's a girl to do, trying to photograph in the studio..it's touchy.)

That will be great fun, don't you think?

Do you sew much with others? 

Lynne Williams for Williams Studio 2 - linen blouse sketch

This is the shirt I designed and sketched for my linen fabric.  I will replace the darts at the front with tucks.  Use pin tucks on the front insert and trim it with some vintage lace from my stash.  A 3/4 length sleeve with a narrow cuff, and lots of little mother of pearl buttons for the front placket. 

Yummy!...if I do say so myself, and since this is my blog I guess I can do that....

Currently I do not know what Peg's plans are for her half of the linen, but I will be sure to keep you posted.

The chocolate colored stuff alongside the linen is a medium wale corduroy and I have plans to make some straight leg jeans to work in.  I am always a touch on the cold side so cozy pants will do just the trick this winter while I am in the studio sewing.  

We did return to The Cutting Edge later in the day where we stocked up on small rotary cutting blades and I purchased some fine cotton batiste for another blouse.  It is in white and I have plans to dye it using some Shibori technique.

Have you tried Shibori ?

Now did I need fabric?....certainly not, and I have been doing a fine job of attacking my stash this past year, but linen at JoAnns, a superfine cotton batiste, and some gorgeous yarn..simply irresistible.

Let's just hope I can get to these projects this year so that these gorgeous finds don't end up in my stash.