Working at the Car Wash

Hi Everybody!  It’s so good to be back!  As we approach the end of the year, it’s probably inevitable that I review what we have done here at Featherstitch Avenue, and figure out where we want to go in the future.  When I started the blog, I wanted to give myself deadlines and a framework for my creative life.  It’s too easy to ignore my artistic side with all the pressures and responsibities of family life.  Looking back over the year, I am somewhat amazed at our productivity!  I don’t fully understand how that happened but most of the credit goes to the blog.  Now it’s time to make the blog work for me again.  I’m ready to really challenge myself and break through some creative blocks that are in my way.  The projects I’m going to take on require skills that I’m still learning and I will need A LOT more time to complete them.  It’s going to mean some changes in the way we present things, so expect to see a few tweaks here and there.  My productivity will be down in quantity, but hopefully way up on quality!  And of course, Santiago will be there to photograph it every step of the way.

First up!  A car wash skirt!  Call me crazy, but I love this skirt.  It’s all about taking something very lady-like and zapping it with a rock-n-roll edge.  Now that’s a trend I can totally get behind!  With this project, I get to apply the education that I’ve gotten from Julien Cristofoli in draping and Susan Khalje in couture sewing.  Using Christian Dior’s version as inspiration, I’ve sketched out what I’d like to try.  (To see more inspiration, go to my Pinterest page here.)

Here’s the fabric that I’ll be using.  I’ve had this in my stash for years.  And while I really love it, I haven’t been able to get my head around using it because it felt a little too girly for me.  But taking this fabric and essentially shredding it is going to give it enough of a punk feel that I think is going to make it feel more like me.

Photography by Santiago Vanegas

Next week, I’m going to introduce you to my dress form and we’re going to do some draping!!

One more thing before I go.  As many of you know, I was in Paris at the beginning of the month.  I have been sitting here at my computer typing and deleting, and typing and deleting, trying to process the horrible events that occurred.  The truth is, I don’t know what to say.  The only thing I know for sure is that I am heartbroken for the people of Paris and everyone affected by the attack.  My thoughts and prayers are with them.