The words SA-FA-RI !!!!

FYI this post is OLD....I wrote it and forgot to publish it because I did not take some "inspiration" pictures off my wall. I'm actually a little further along but I'm in Philly with my Honnie bear, I'll update wen I'm back in the city :-)

My latest obsession is safari inspired clothing (it's probably yours too,lol...its so infectious), inclusive of animal prints, natural hues and masculine cargo details on feminine silhouettes...it is soo me the girly tom-boy.

I'm going to make a Mini Safari Collection. My sister encouraged me join the mini wardrobe contest on PR. I probably will not make the deadline but I will still want follow the guidelines. I'm trying to get the hang of sewing faster without compromising quality and sew items that work well together. This contest calls for 4 pieces, I think I can handle that. I'm aiming for 1 waistcoat, 1 dress, 1 skirt and 1 blouse. The first piece will be this BWOF waistcoat sans belt (well maybe I'll keep it, but a thinner version. It's pettie sizing, why the hizzie is the belt like 4" wide??).

BWOF 107-04-2008

I'm midway through the construction and sew far sew good. I used some more of the fabric I ordered from Gorgeous Fabric and I found this ancient animal print in my stash from when I still lived in the Bronx. How glad am I that I didn't use it until now! Here is what is looks like right now.



I will say that this pattern call for Vilene tape. Which is a German product that is kind of a non-woven fusible stay/bias tape. It's purpose is a stabilize seams and curves. As a substitute I used 1/4 inch "Steam 2 Seam" and clipped notches on my regular stay tape....I think it will work....I hope, lol.

Next Project - AKA Commemorative Coat!!

"I think that I shall never know, another love that thrills me so...dwells in my heart by night by day - as does my love for A.K.A. I think that I shall never fear, where hearts are Loyal, True and Dear...."

On January 15, 2008 my beloved Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated celebrates her 100th Anniversary. Founded by 20 phenomenal woman on the campus of Howard University, as the first Sorority for collegiate Black woman. 100 years later, thousands of phenomenal woman have taken the oath of sisterhood and supreme service to all mankind.

This year I also celebrate my 5th AKAversary with my 3 linesisters (I'm #3). This is a picture of us on campus the night after we crossed in the wee hours of the morning. Our big sisters had a surprise get together and invited local Greeks to hang with us.

4, 3, 2, 1

I was the crafter of the line. I made these padded photo albums with pink and green satin and sequins and calligraphed a poem inside. The front had an Ivy Leaf (our symbol) trimmed with 20 pearls. This was our line gift to our Dean and Assistant Dean and they loved it!

In commemoration of our 100th year and my line's 5th year I'm going to make this coat from the September BWOF - view 107. Although it is unseasonably warm in in NYC right now, I hope to get some good wears in before spring hits.
This fabric was purchased when I went shopping with Carolyn and I knew immediately it would be a coat one day. Salmon Pink and Apple Green are our colors, and the brown complements the two nicely. I haven't started yet. Mainly because this is my first BWOF and I'm terrified of tracing it all wrong. I'm also terrified of preshrinking this heavy wool. I don't know if I should steam it, soak then line dry, or just take it to the cleaners :-(
I better hurry up...I want to wear it now!

Digital Fashion Designer

Lil fact about me: I graduated NYU with a computer science degree, specializing in Computer Graphics research (nothing to do with my career, lol). To sum up what that means: you know your fancy photo editors that somehow fix your pictures a click of a button, or did you ever notice how each successive Shrek movie looks closer and closer to real life? I was the one of the many techies that researched and wrote the programs to make that stuff happen. My final project while working under the guidance of Kenneth Perlin was writing simplified mathematical equations to render seashells. See this bit of computer code made this pretty picture.

Ok, I hope haven’t totally bored you by now, I promise you I will get to the sewing part. I loved graphics programming because the same reason I love crafting – taking virtually nothing or simple and making something awesome from it. More specifically, taking something in 2D (letters/fabric) and turning it in to something in 3D (graphics/clothing). If I would have pursued graphics as a career I was going to work on developing pattern-making algorithms for crocheting and sewing. Fortunately Bernina beat me to it. They developed a pattern making software package. You put in your measurements, pick your garment, fit the garment on the virtual model, pick a fabric, print and sew! I’ve been tinkering with the free Demo product trying to push it to the limits. So far it’s so good, for what its worth. I’m going to pick the t-shirt (the demo is only a skirt and t-shirt) and give it a go. If real life fitting is not required after digital fitting, I might be impressed. Unfortunately it has to get the back of the project queue (which is about 6 deep right now). If anyone has tried this out and makes something fab from it please shoot me a note. I’m oh so curious about the possibilities of this product. Also, they are having a sewing software challenge. Check a screen shot of the software below.

I love when technology and crafts unite....It gives me warm fuzzies :0)