Think Pink!

Readers, Dame Fortune smiled on us again today!

How often does one stumble upon like-new, vintage, opera-length, pink nylon gloves in a healthy Size 7?   Well, I did, this morning at the flea market. 

Yes, friends, pink.  I realized yesterday, after reflecting carefully on your many heartfelt comments, that I had been working against the obvious girly-girl-ness of this rose-print cotton dress.  Black gloves are simply not what this fabric calls for -- not ideally.  Plus there are rules about these things, I've discovered. Who knew?

Now, generally, I associate pink with fairy princesses, Barbie, and all things My-Little-Pony.  It's not a favorite color and certainly not one I would choose for my sophisticated cousin.  But as soon as I saw these gloves I knew this was the way to go and I hope you will agree.  I remembered, moreover, that at the bottom of Cathy's towering shoe pile was a pair of pale pink satin pumps she wore with the Elaine dress, now more than one year ago.  Remember them?



The result is just this side of Cinderella, but you have to work with what you've got, not against it.  Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!



Meanwhile, I rinsed out the orphaned petticoat I found in the street yesterday.   Can you say, ewww?  It's looking much better today.

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I finished hemming the skirt, turning the hem up two inches, pressing a crease, attaching polyester lace I bought a long time ago to the bottom, and hand stitching.





Remember the cheap plastic boning I'd bought last week?



I stitched that to the top of the bodice to reinforce the front edge, and it looks great.  No risk of gaping.



I also added the waist stay, which I anchored to the boning casings and seams.



The stay closes with two hook and eyes.  It was easy to attach and actually makes a big difference. 



So the dress is basically finished and, frankly, I'm ready to move on.  I still am undecided about the bolero, but I'm hoping to make a crinoline this week.  If the weather cools a bit perhaps we can put this baby to bed.

Oh, and I just got this for Cathy -- I hope she's not offended!



Friends, I hope you've had a pleasant and productive weekend, even if you didn't spend it shopping for opera length gloves and vintage Sarah Coventry jewelry.



Oh, I almost forgot: it's just two weeks to MPB Day on August 13th!

If you have steamer trunks to ship, beauty parlor appointments to schedule, or reservations at the Waldorf to make, prithee don't tarry.  Hope you can make it, but we'll take lots of pictures, promise.

Happy Sunday, everybody!

Exclusive: World Premiere of A+++ New Film "Burial" Starring Super Hot Super Model Noot Seear Directed By Karl Ford.... Pollock Theater, UCSB ...HH(:

Super Model turned Actress Noot Seear ("Twilight") stars in the action packed short "Burial"

Noot Seear and diretor Karl Ford

More pics and story to follow about the terrific action packed short "Burial" starring Noot Seear and directed by Karl Ford.  The film is like a modern day "Bonnie and Clyde" but without Clyde and beautiful, talented  Noot Seear owns the screen in this A+++ production.  Have A Great Day.....   HH(:

It's a Sign! or "Superstitious Sewing"

Readers, are you superstitious?  I'm not, I mean, not particularly.  But sometimes uncanny, synchronistic occurances do take place and who am I to say they aren't a sign from the great beyond and I don't mean the Bronx.

Not an hour ago I was heading home from the flea market, where I had gone to hunt for some last-minute trinkets for Cathy's strapless cocktail dress photo shoot -- I'm not sure when this photo shoot is going to take place, mind you; strapless or no, I don't think Cathy is up for temperatures in the upper eighties.

Anyway, after picking up a few baubles I'll share with you in a minute, just outside the flea market entrance, someone --  no doubt a flea market vendor -- had disposed of a moldy old Depression-era breakfront that looked to be missing a few drawers; truly a hunk of junk, just sitting there on the curb.  On the shelves were piles of -- I can think of no better word -- crap: everything from not particularly old brassieres to empty candy boxes.

Digging among the detritus -- I couldn't resist -- what did I discover but a vintage tulle petticoat!

I brought it home and took a closer look.  It was damp and a little dingy, but it had a Carolyn Schnurer label.
 

For those of you who don't recognize the name Carolyn Schnurer (I didn't), she was a contemporary of Claire McCardell and an important postwar designer based in New York City.  She designed the "Rice Bowl dress," which is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute collection.

She also designed some commercial sewing patterns, like this halter dress.

Something else really cool about this nylon petticoat is that safety-pinned to it is a piece of blue lace trim, undoubtedly the "something blue" a bride would have worn on her wedding day.





So now, superstitious friends, I ask you: just what do you think this all means?

a) I should hunker down and make a crinoline for Cathy's strapless cocktail dress given that I already have all the necessary materials to do so, and the pattern cries out for one.

b) I should disinfect this mildewy Carolyn Shnurer original and have Cathy wear that for her photo shoot.

c) Wedding bells are imminent for one -- or more -- of my beloved MPB followers!  Is it YOU?

Perhaps what you're really thinking is that I need to stop rooting around in the trash, and I should probably disinfect myself, and soon.  But seriously, don't you think it's odd I should find this tulle petticoat just now?  I mean, what's the probability?

Anyway, there's so much to tell about the cocktail dress that I think I'm going to have to break it up into two posts, so if you were hoping I was finally going to be talking about menswear this weekend, you're in for a disappointment and if you want to unsubscribe, I'll understand.

Before I left for vacation, I bought two yards of black grosgrain ribbon (seen here with a black flower I picked up in a beauty supply store for $1).



I hope you will agree that with the summery rose print, which has only a smidge of black in it, though there is some, the contrast is too severe.  Ix-nay on the ack-blay.

Yesterday I returned to Daytona trimming on 39th St., and bought green ribbon:



This might work for a box of Fanny Farmer chocolates, but I don't like it for Cathy.  I also bought pink ribbon, which I'll spare you (think Sandra Dee).  No, I think we're going to go with no ribbon.  Sorry, ribbon fans!



(I did find plenty of cheap, vintage bling at the flea market, however, so don't think my cousin will be unadorned. All this for $10!)



I also bought the correct size spiral steel boning for the front bodice (for a whopping 70 cents at Steinlauf & Stoller) -- a big improvement -- and hemmed for about three hours last night if you can believe it, and I'm still not finished, though nearly.  I'll have more construction details to share tomorrow.

In closing, friends, are you superstitious about your sewing, or anything else in your lives?  Are you constantly looking -- and finding -- signs that instruct you which color trim to use, fabric to buy, or person to marry?

Do you think it would behoove me to dig out my Magic 8 ball before going one step further with this project?  Is the truth staring me in the face but I'm unable to recognize it???  Yes?  No?  It is decidedly so!?

Have a great day, everybody -- and don't forget to heed those mysterious messages!

SceneAroundTown... Valerie Ortiz's "Material Girl" Birthday Party at Smiles in Sherman Oaks... HH(:

Valery wearing a gag birthday gift(:

Jason Rosell and Valery Ortiz(:



Michael Mantez and Valery Ortiz



 Jesse Carrion and Valery Ortiz






Starcam's Jennifer Tapiero

Valenzia Algarin and Proud Parents(:

Gabriella Christian, Aasha Davis, Marisa Lauren, Valery Ortiz, Mandy Musgrove and Matt Cohen

Jenny Ortiz and Alex Perkins

Renee Percy and Valery Ortiz star in the new movie "Dumbells"

Mandy Rain and Valery Ortiz

Best Friends and Cousins Jenny Ortiz and Valery Ortiz

Quentin Prescott Price and Valery Ortiz

Beautiful Celebrity Actress/Host Super Cool Person Valery Ortiz celebrated her birthday Friday nite in style at Smiles in Sherman Oaks surrounded by friends, colleages, family and alot of love....  her cousin/best friend Jenny Ortiz and bf Alex Perkins flew in from Florida to surprise her.  It's their first visit to L.A. and they are loving it and happy to see Valerie and husband Jesse again.  I met Valery about 7 years ago and was impressed with her sincerity, talent, personality, intelligence and great looks. It's always fun seeing her in the media as her star continues to rise and rise! Many Happy, Healthy Returns Valery! ....HH(:
PS. Cousin Jenny Ortiz's website is http://www.interviewher.com/ - check it out, it's very cool.

Michael Steger and wife Randee being interviewed by Starcam's Jennifer Tapiero(: