Shades of orange outerwear

I'm closing in on finishing 2 super whammidine raincoats, which I come to find are in honor of my friend & fellow artist Joni Yongkins- Herzog. The outer coat, trimmed in reflective orange piping, is a cantaloupe shade of orange, the inner lining hot neon coral. I found a load of beautiful cut glass czechoslovakian buttons for the outer coat, and darling orange mother of pearl for attaching the soft red, optional, floofy dress addition inside. It's designed to spill out of the coat at the bottom and from the wide bell sleeves she suggested. They are both size 6/8 & I really wish I had enough material to make two of different sizes. The 3 scraps I have left are about the size of a dessert plate. 

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 It's been kind of tricky to work in such a confined space on 2 complicated pieces. I really want a firm grasp on the skills required to make quality outerwear. To that end , all the buttonholes are welted. A great project for just being at the cabin while the puppies grow up.

The cotton fabric I made the bias seam tape with & the stacks of remnants of the bodies.

Upon completion I have to admit, I'm disappointed in my work. Over all I'm happy with the pattern. They have the fit shape I wanted, but I didn't have quite enough material to finish them the way I wanted to, and I should have fully interface the fronts so they don't look so rumpled. I also need to improve my top stitching & button holes finishing.  But, they are an improvement on the previous gray raincoat I made in terms of techniques, design and construction time. I'm sure my next attempt at outer wear will be better. Ultimately, I find this to be the case with everything I make. I always feel it could be better, and feel that my abilities hit a wall I can't easily get over. Consistently my ambitions outmatch my abilities.  

One thing is for sure, The fabric is very durable... Considering how many times I unpicked my work. Not once did the fabric get damaged, or show the stress of the stitches after I removed them. 

Activate Cozy Mode

We got our first solid snow of the seasons on the Sandia Mountains.  So nice to be sung and cozy in our little mountain cabin, watching the furry family, and working on inventory. 

 

New view at my new studio, a familiar scene for those who've seen Breaking Bad. Next batch of work will be the C2 collection, and the first 2 pieces will be shaped, double layered, orange, hooded rain coats with optional soft red floofy lining. I spent a whole week tweaking the pattern, ripped apart the mock-up made of bed sheets probably 29 times before I got it right. I wish I had enough to make 2 of different sizes, but I played pattern chicken with what nylon I have. I LOVE the color. In most light it is a soft cantaloupe orange, but in some light it's pumpkin. I picked up about twenty two yards of reflective, large seam piping last summer when I was in Canada at Dressew, a sewing supply place I've been going to for 20+ years. So, whoever gets these coats will be highly visible on a gloomy rainy day in the color, and highly visible at night too. 

And...a week later they are awake for more than just a few minutes at a time AND need barricades 🥰

Tenderness. Happy Birthday!

Congratulations to my dogs, Lil Mama Zsa Zsa & Zensu Papa-chan. I big storm blew over the mountain last night and she gave birth to her little litter. A girl and a boy. So proud🥰🥹 Welcome to planet 🌏 🐾🐾🐾🐾

So happy to keep my dogs company while they're enjoying their newborns as a bonded family.
 

Papa-chan has come close to chat to them after nursing several times through out the day.

Cuddling with her little boy

Cuddling with her boy in her arms and her girl in her legs.

Going for an ultrasound to make sure all the placental material is expelled. 

There were 3 puppies, but the 3rd was born with congenital deformities that were not compatible with life. The ultrasound

I got showed 4 or 5 puppies, according to the doctor two weeks ago.

 After she delivered the third puppy and it was in such a state I thought, Oh my! We must go to the hospital now. Turns out she only had 3 puppies... & only 2 are with us tonight.  The 3rd was born at 4:45 in the morning, and her heart was beating until about 12:30 in the afternoon. We all stay close together and a she got love from both her pawrents before she crossed over the rainbow bridge.  She had beautiful coloring. The white buddhist kiss on her forehead, a little white racing stripe and saddle, an all black body and little white socks. I named her Gyoza, our sweet little dumpling, with a Z inner name , like her mama and papa.

Here we all are together, me & Gyoza taking the picture. 

24 hours later:

Two little tamales 🫔 🫔 

Two little orca whales

Two little kungfu pandas 🐼 🐼 

Two little oreo cookies