Thursday, July 15, 2010

We Are Back

It was definitely too short a vacation.  We are back from our long weekend in Asheville, NC. for my MIL's 90th birthday.  She threw herself a very nice party at a new gluten free restaurant in Pack Square.  We got to see all the relatives we like and avoided the ones we don't.    I had forgotten how fabulous Asheville is in the summer, or maybe it's actually better.  There are a lot of people  downtown on a Saturday night; it's a big street party including street musicians and performers. During the summer they have music, Shindig on the Square, that always had a makeshift stage, now there is a gorgeous park that is  terraced down the center of town from Pack Square ending  at the new, permanent stage.  There are fountains and lush plantings and  grass. It's beautiful, but seems like they had more than one designer as it misses a feeling of cohesion, but it is still a lovely place and great addition to a tourist town.  They did however, as my mil pointed out, run out of money and neglected to  add any public bathrooms.

  This is a picture of me in my Saturday night finery in the  redone Pack Square.   It's Burda 143 6/10.  Yes, I actually made something from June's Burda during June.  Must be a record.  I did finish it in July, but still I started it in June.  The pants are Vogue 2948 from Sandra Betzina in a cotton lycra from Gorgeous Fabrics that was in my stash from last summers good intentions.  The top is a silk jersey from Emmaonsock from Cynthia Steffe I think, and was a nice buy as a roll end.  I cut this as a single lay, as I prefer doing with a big print like this.  It also lets you use a lot less fabric than called for.  It's a plus size that I redrafted from a 44 in the shoulders to a 40.  I blended it out to a 46 plus in the hips and used up some of my incase sas, so the hips are bigger than a 46.  I also did a sloping shoulder adjustment and took it up a bit more just at my shoulder point.  The left shoulder is the draped piece and hey, Burda actually tells you how to sew it and adjust the length.  I shortened it about a 3/4".  This is the pattern I asked about using facings.  It was fine and you really need them to hide the end of the gathered piece, but while they stay put when worn, you have to adjust them to get them inside after putting it on. The specified  zipper was not needed, even on this not very stretchy knit, it goes over the head easily.  I did have to take it in at the underarm a bit even though  I did not make an fba on this, but fudged by making the underarm wider.  There was plenty of room.  
I recommend silk jersey to anyone new to knits.  This had no lycra, didn't roll and was stable in the length. Easy to sew and luxurious to wear. 


 A few pictures of downtown Asheville.
This is another version of the Tom and Linda Platt dress from Vogue.1091http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/filebin/images/product_images/Full/V1091.jpg
I've already made this twice before, so not much to say. The fabric is a lovely cotton lycra knit from Just Cavalli that I bought at Mood this spring.  I wore it on Friday night. 

Oh and you'll notice the white hair?  Got lots of compliments and one of my favorite cousins looked right past me when I walked into synagogue with Seth.  She saw my dh and said where's Nancy?  She is not alone. I was meeting my best friend for lunch and she looked right past me when she walked in.  I'll still need about 3 haircuts before all the color is gone, but it's a great transition. 

I have a pants post waiting to be posted, but I still don't have photos.  Next time.

29 comments:

  1. Love the outfits and adore the hair. Wish I had the guts to let mine go white.
    Corinne

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  2. Great outfits! Your hair looks wonderful!

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  3. I like the hair! You look nice and cool.

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  4. Love the Cavalli print fabric and the color of your is is AMAZING.

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  5. You look fab-U-lous!!! Wow, how can gray hair look that cool, and the top and dress are just beautiful, perfect color and design.

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  6. The top and the dress are beautiful and I love your hair.

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  7. You look like a model in that last shot. Great dress, great pose, great hair color!

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  8. Love your pant/top outfit. The color of the top is divine. Your white hair looks terrific. It seems to go well with your complection.

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  9. You look so chic! I love the new 'do.

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  10. Great outfits and fabulous decision on the hair!

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  11. Great outfits! Your hair looks great. I've been thinking about letting mine go to its natural white! You are inspiring me to try it!
    Asheville is wonderful. Did you go to the Biltmore?

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  12. We didn't go to Biltmore this time, but we've been a number of times and our nephew had his Bar Mitzvah party there with a night time tour of the house including a below stairs tour not usually included. If you've never been it's worth a visit. We always have a lot of family obligations when we are in Asheville which obviously take up time. I did make a visit to Waechter's new digs. Much nicer space than the one on Charlotte Street.

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  13. Nancy, you look absolutely wonderful. Your white hair is stunning and the green silk compliments it beautifully. Sounds like a lovely vacation.

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  14. Oh that top turned out so nicely! It is gorgeous and your hair looks wonderful. Great color, great cut!

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  15. I knew your hair would grow out a beautiful color! You look younger with that 'do and color. Your silver hair and gorgeous complexion are so pretty. Oh, nice clothes too :-)

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  16. Nancy, love the hair - good for you :-) I did the same thing about 3 years ago (at the age of 41!) and although it took a lot of courage and ages to build up to it, it was the best thing I ever did. Like you I get so many compliments on my hair - some people even ask if it is coloured that way :-)

    Definitely a younger and stylish look.

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  17. I love your hair. I didn't recognize you either! LOL

    I really like the blouse. Looks very comfortable for a summer night.

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  18. Totally digging the hair. You look very sophisticated.

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  19. I love your hair too! The pics of downtown asheville are pretty cool too! I really need to make it over to that part of town next time i'm there....

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  20. Love the hair! (And the new clothes too.)

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  21. Nancy, thank you so much for the advice on fitting my pants as I lose weight. I'm going to keep working on this weight loss thing until I get down where I need to be so the advice will come in real handy. I usually cut the pants a few inches longer anyways because I'm 5:9, and I want to make sure I'll have enough length. Thanks again.

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  22. You look very good. The hair is very stylish (not the first one to notice I see). Combined with these beautiful garments you just look very elegant.

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  23. Wow! I really like these garments. They fit you nicely. I am interested now in getting my hands on some silk jersey.

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  24. You know it seems counter-intuitive but the silver hair DOES make you look younger.

    Story: a co-worker just made herself this kick ass tote bag and I mentioned that my mother sews. She asked me what and I said 'everything, really.' She looked slightly incredulous so I showed her your blog. She was blown away impressed!

    Point: Your sewing rocks but we knew this!

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  25. Great outfits! Perfect for travel, both chic and comfortable. At one of the parks in the DC area (in Virginia, I think) they are trying to get local businesses to sponsor the port-a-potties because they can't afford to keep them operating! It's not going so well.

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  26. It's so nice to vacation. I chuckle when I read the statement about the relatives you like..., You look fabulous, relaxed, and comfortable. And you are rockin' that new hairdo.

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  27. I am sooooo late to this party but I LOVE the hair! And the new Tom & Linda Platt dress is awesome too!

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  28. Like Carolyn I am a little late here...but I love your outfits and your hair looks great. It really suits you.

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