ANOTHER DAY AT THE MET MUSEUM - CHINA: Through The Looking Glass

If you have not seen this exhibit please get to the MET Museum (www.metmuseum.org/china-through-the-looking-glass) as quickly as possible.  All I can say is beautiful, jaw dropping fashion!

The exhibit looks at how China has inspired Western fashion designers, which is very interesting as well as breathtaking.  I found myself dreaming of having at least 5 of those silk embroidered gowns in my closet.  As I walked through the galleries with friends and family we were all in awe at the workmanship of these pieces.  , and tried to imagine the hours of work that went into some of the fashion pieces.

What I enjoyed second to the fashion was the Chinese films playing in the background of all the galleries.

I read an article in Fashionista (www.fashionista.com/china-through-the-looking-glass)
which said the attendance is coming close to the "Alexander McQueen" exhibit from 2011, which was the most attended of all time at the Costume Institute.  It is a large exhibit including 140 garments.  We walked from the 1st floor galleries, downstairs, then back up to the 2nd floor.  It seemed endless, but so wonderful.

 While I could not photograph everything I did manage to take a few photos, even with the dark background in all rooms.

2 of my favorite dresses/gowns above!

THE HAT THAT FITS

ABOUT THE HAT!
Not sure about you, but I have always had issues finding just the right size hat (yes right size/not right hat).   I should have known when I looked back at pictures of myself as a baby this would be a challenge throughout  life (Mom holding me).  While I am not a perfect hat size, my head is a little bigger than the standard.  Of course, my friends laugh when I say this, but it's true.

Over the years, I have tried on numerous hats and sometimes they fit but 9 times out of 10 they don't.   

  As I walk through department stores I glance at the hat racks sometimes trying one on, but most times not.  Why?  They never fit.    

In recent years, I started to knit and my first project was a knitted hat.  I then proceeded to knit more hats for myself, hubby and friends, etc.  What fun this was, but yet the real challenge was to make a woven hat that fit.

 Last summer I took my favorite woven hat, analyzed the construction then copied it onto newspaper.  I then proceeded with some modifications to suit what I wanted, then cut up an old pair of jeans plus new print from my fabric stash.  A few hours later I had a new, reversible hat.   Pleased with the results I proceeded to make a few more for some friends.

Hat on left is my original

Fast forward to June 2015.  Last month
 I took Dawn Edward's "Fantastic Felt Hat"  workshop at the NEFS (New England Felt Supply).   The class was fabulous taught by a wonderful instructor with a bubbly, fun personality.   We worked with hat patterns provided by Dawn adding our own twist in the form of fiber/color.   At the end of both days I had finished one hat completely, and come close to finishing a 2nd one except I needed to order another accessory to finish out the brim.  I will definitely make more of these as it gives me a bigger palette to play with color.

 After I returned home I tried another hat.  I'm comfortable now with this new artform, so now it's take to play around with new shapes and my signature bright colors. 
No more complaints about hats that don't fit.

Josie

LOVE A CHALLENGE

I got a request last week from a customer to make a Smartphone/eyeglass case similar to the one in the 2nd picture below, but using the print/design from one of my silk-merino wool scarves (1st photo below).    Since most of my scarves are created from scratch it's very challenging to recreate a print that's also created from scratch, but I was up for the challenge.   The case also needed to have a clasp to attach to belt loops, and a separate detachable strap.  Below are the results from this challenge.  How did I do?

Original silk scarf with merino wool accents to create print

Idea of existing Smartphone case 

Serenity nuno felt silk scarf with merino wool accents

 

 

 

 

Nuno felt scarf details

Building the Smartphone case from fiber up!