November........I'm already nostalgic....

for September!
darn you weird November sunshine....
70 degrees. wow.
you don't fool me tho. I've been at my sewing machine putting together the first of many pairs of mitts I'll make this fall and  winter.

I gathered up some acorns and leaves....and the tawny tones inspired me to make these.......

Just added to my that yountville girl shop

wooly stripes of navy, forest green, tree brown and camel with wine...

I made them in different sizes...used the knit upside down and added some vintage buttons for interest.

Cashmere too ? yes. 

Cold ? How about a jacket....Vintage 70s style ! nylon windbreaker slick fabric is packed full of natural goosedown. Goosedown is what you want....don't settle for a modern duck feather jacket. Duck feathers don't have the same insulating power as down....Tempco was a high-end brand back in the day. You know...if it was good back then...it's good now!
Quality lasts....and is worth recycling!

Time to adjust

Sometimes you feel like a short bag.
Sometimes you feel like a cross-body.
Translation.....
Dilemma solved!

If  you're  hanging out, seeing the sights.....shopping for a few things, you want a bag  you can put up on your shoulder...
If you're in a casual mood, being busy.....wanting to keep your hands free...to carry coffee, to carry stuff, to look thru piles of things.....well, you  want a cross-body bag. Er, uh, tote bag.

The long strap looped thru and buttoned.

then if you choose,  pull the strap farther thru the loop and button it shorter.
I made the straps wide...so they'll feel good resting on the shoulder.

a sunny day for sewing !

I've never been completely happy with those Yawn! metal slide mechanisms that every bagmaker uses...so, as per usual for me...in addition to using fun and  unique blends of mix and match fabrics and prints.....and of course...there is a lot of recycling going on........

so, not only did I give my anything-but-boring line of tote bags/purses a sense of humor, but I invented a simple changeability feature to go to from a shoulder to a long-strap tote...using buttons...
Vintage buttons of course!

always with the vintage buttons....

This is the road map fabric, lined in a weird novelty fabric. Some in this series have ticking stripes..some have solid moire. They're lined so they have body, yet aren't completely stiff.
They can carry the daily......or even a laptop...or your electronic book....(i  Pad)

Here's a typical view of the inside....pockets....and a loop that flips over the top and buttons closed.

The other side is a recycled pair of pants with big pockets.....the better to keep things in ..my dear!
Each in the series is slightly different....yet they're all roomy and easy to take care of....made of cotton or cotton blends.......They wash and dry by machine. Yes.

The next series will be wool and wool blend tweeds, vintage lace and leather-like synthetic. They'll have a more masculine air.....but perfect for the ladies too.

There's always a bit of lace and lots of topstitching too. I make sure it's all sturdy, and I really love my signature loopy stitching at the edges.

and....tho there are lots of pockets to keep the keys handy...to stash the transit card, the lipstick, the hanky.....
I made little zipper pouch purses to go with...
these are handy for a billion things!

each is a mix and match of cute, sweet, romantic, sharp and quirky cotton and cotton blend fabrics, laces and ribbon......some have vintage metal zippers....some have vintage nylon zippers.

my label in muslin....

They're about 7" x 7" or so. They're machine wash and dry...
or hang to dry......whatev'

oooh spooky...

Yard of fabric to sew...

The garden is done for...all that remains..is the remains.
unless you a lucky type that has the winter greens sewn already....the daffodils and crocus already buried...

The kind of sewing I've been doing the last day or so is gardening in the workroom....we can sew seeds and I can sew a gardening brooch. I think I can get about 30 in this series...then no more !

I have a yard or so (sew) of fabric with old-fashioned gardening motifs...they look like they came from an old gardening implement catalog....it's printed in black on ecru linen.
Yard.Sew.I can't stop.

These are in my etsy shop
That Yountville Girl

a few have a bit of green embroidered stitches...weeds and grasses.....everyone can grow that!
this one has a watering can...it sprinkles...

there's pitchforks for pitching hay....clippers, gardening forks for forking the weeds...and wheelbarrows for moving the manure.

I love the rustic punky feel....fun and simple.

Handmade...
with embroidered green grassy weeds.

It has a pin with a clasp on the back, that's covered. The grass-weeds are hand embroidered with green rayon embroidery thread.

It's both hand sewn and machine sewn with black thread.
each are about 2" x 3".

Some have felt backing ...some have wool tweed....all are perfect for the cold times of the year...when we really wish for the sun on our shoulders....the feel of warm soil...and a spray of water on a freshly turned bed...

Each brooch comes with a tiny fabric bag, randomly chosen, that rather matches the pin's color scheme.
Ready to give as a gift for someone special...or for yourself!

here's a sample I made to try the technique...another thing I designed. I was looking for something good for gift giving, stocking-stuffing...and fine for a guy or a gal. Well, I'm working on a more masculine pin...something with rust and leather, perhaps.

Back to the gypsy

I set up my new picture area....

It's white and a concrete floor....which I love. I'll fiddle around with the fabric. I love the White Box effect that splashes light around. I have only one light here...I also love the drama! I'll add more lights...but...
I love the ethereal....

I see a lot of online sellers use a plain grey paper background. Plain. I like to tell a story with the background and the light.... I like the pictures in my house too....but I really missed the white background and the concrete floor I had in the shop. Well, we also want to show you the widget fer sure....and detail shots will be easier out here also.

So mixing freedom with a little fear....

After I processed these few pics this song came to mind......it may be my favorite Stevie Nicks song....mmm  Look at the proto-steampunk-vintage-historical-industrial-economy-noveau-crafts effect....




or maybe it's this one..........

Catching up with The Stripes.

Stripes again.
Before the real cold and rain sets in for 6 months....I have a chance to wear things that are not warm, not cold....
Today was Wear Purple day so I did. 80s purple Laura Ashley dress and purple stripe tights and my fave little witch flats.
I wore purple ...not just for the gay kids, the gay soldiers..but for my brother Leland who didn't stick around to see that it got better.

And Like A Tree the day before. 50s wool sweater dress, b/w stripe tshirt under that (surprise!) and brown thi-hi's with...tall brown boots and a wide leather belt. I look like a jar of Chunky Peanut Butter. yum!

A few days ago....Black and White stripes and a black dress...cute flats...again...

I love the sunsets....it wears a lot of purple too......

Tie one On.

a selection of clip on bow ties has flown in....to join the plethora of owls in my etsy shop!

And the owls....2 vintage mugs and 2 pair of vintage earrings.