Odds and Ends

Like several other bloggers that I visit, my sewing mojo has been MIA. Not sure why--just has. I've done a few "finishings" and some organizing and mostly puttering without much to show for it all.

My sewing buddy and I did go shopping at some of our favorite places earlier in the week, and I didn't buy much. Something that I did find and couldn't pass up was this:



Silk Charmeuse for a sleep shirt for DGD as a Christmas gift. I think she will love the print.

On the way home from our shopping trip we talked about our visit to the Balenciaga exhibit some time ago. I told her that I was thinking of going to Amazon and finding a book about the designer even tho those type books could be quite pricey. When we got to her house, she disappeared and reappeared with this:



Wonderful photos of many of the dresses from that exhibit are in this book. Two of my favorites:



From Spring of 1955: Ball gown of cerise silk taffeta and white lace with a crinoline hoop petticoat. Owned and worn by Claudia de Osborne.



Balenciaga 1954. Evening gown of red velvet with pearl embroidery by Lisbeth.

"Divine" Dinner at home, gown in red velvet with white pearls in different sizes scattered all over it. This was my 'Christmas Party' gown for many years and I do love it." --Claudia de Osborne

My friend had been gifted with this book after the exhibit and said she wanted to regift it me. Wasn't that sweet of her?

Some sewing "finishing":



This scrub shirt from this


pattern. I picked up this pattern ($0.10) and the rayon fabric at the thrift store for $.50/yd. The colors are pretty bold, huh? Not sure how much I will wear it, but it goes well with the black scrub pants.

Then, I finished these:



finally! The emboidery has been done for several weeks. I just needed to sew in the ribbing. Finally today, I got to that. These are for a friend's first grandaughter. I will deliver tomorrow when I see her at church.

I've also been vintage pattern shopping and have a couple on the way in the mail. An e-bay book purchase arrived today--a Norma Hollen book of flat patternmaking. Haven't had a chance yet to peruse it.