How About Some Summer Colors Nostalgia?

1950's Suzy Perette

1980's Valentino

1960's Thea Porter

1980's Pauline Trigere

Vintage Scaasi

1980's St. Laurent





1970's sunburst pleat





1980's Halston

 


1980's  Laurent

 



1990's Laurent

  



 
 


1960's Cardin






1960's silk "garden dress"



Vintage Chanel denim

 



1970's Laurent

 


  

365gratitude: Thank you, Lynda ...

365gratitude: Thank you, Lynda ...: "Today I sent a thank you note to a woman named Lynda, who creates magic. Dear Lynda, About eight years ago, I walked down the aisle in wh..."

Marfy Patterns from Italy

I'm still amazed by the number of people (clients as well as seamstresses and dressmakers) who have no knowledge of Moda Marfy, a high fashion Italian paper pattern company.  I'm not denying that the designs require more than a passing knowledge of clothing construction - there are no layouts, no construction instructions, and a very strange translation of the few English words that do appear on the pattern pieces.  Added to these considerable hurdles, there is no picture of the garment included with the pattern and - horror of horrors - yardages are given in meters.  All of this is preceded by a long wait for the patterns to be shipped from Italy, though ordering, at least, is easy online.  But I gladly cast aside these issues in order to work with these interesting and often intricate Italian designs.  Take a moment to check them out sometime at the website below, or at http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/ under "other patterns".  If you're really wowed, spring the $50 for a seasonal catalog to see the additional patterns that are not available online.  The catalogs usually come with 10 free patterns - but be forewarned!  The 10 patterns are considerately printed with all available sizes, but they are printed one style over another with all 10 designs printed on just two sheets of pattern paper!  Sometimes a challenge is good.  Sometimes it's just a headache - literally.  But in the end, the desire to produce these beautiful styles wins out, and I know my clients are grateful.

Just four of the many Marfy styles I've used.

http://www.marfy.it/eng/activenews.asp?idcat=&idart=63007&azione=detailcataloghi&layout=&CID=A151L156L220110110230327DWHCXFKBBUO00840091

Clevelanders - Visit the Open House at Murray Hill Bolt and Spool

http://event.pingg.com/GrandOpeningOpenHo

For Those of You Asking for Rita Finn's Flickr Slideshow of My Work

And thanks so much for being interested enough to keep trying!  I know some of you have told me you're having trouble getting into my blog and/or signing up to be a follower.  I'll try to check into things to see what the problem is.  So sorry!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritafinn/sets/72157624908739311/show/
Remember - these photos represent just the tiniest fraction of my work (from two wonderful customers who were kind enough to lend me some things for a photo shoot).  I'm afraid I've always just let things slip away before I ever thought to have them photographed.  So let me know what I've done that you'd like to know about.

My First Visit to Murray Hill Bolt and Spool

Despite the icky gray day, I made it to a happy, sunny place - Murray Hill Bolt and Spool.  I found the address to be a wonderful old two-story school that has been refurbished to house lots of small "artsy" boutique businesses.  Bolt and Spool is a very cool space on the first floor in what looks like it could have been the school administration office once upon a time.  Though owner Nan Webb is not quite ready to be officially opened, I had a blast going through the stock that's in so far.  High quality stuff.  Hurrah!  Beautiful, unusual cotton prints and scrumptious silks.  Always in style wool tartans from Scotland as well as soft-as-butter wool solids.  A grouping of embroidered ribbons to die for and THE cutest little notions.  High end buttons for adults and children, tons of unique trims.  Not the usual (re: Simplicity, Butterick, McCall's) pattern brands for children with wonderful classic designs.  I'm making up some sample dresses for the store and will share them with you soon.  Stay posted at boltandspool.com and leave any ideas for Nan about what you'd like to see carried there.

Hey everybody - a new fabric source is on the way!

Here in the Cleveland and Columbus areas we are starved for REAL fabric stores.  Seems like every year has brought the closure of another fabric store until there are just none left anymore.  Through a really smooth (and kind!) move by my sister-in-law, Kathleen DePompei Santabarbara (by the way, check out Kath's gorgeous artwork on Facebook) I have had the good fortune to speak with new store owner Nan Webb.  Nan has the knowledge (and guts) to be opening a wonderful little shop In Cleveland's totally cool Little Italy.  Keep tabs on her website, http://boltandspool.com/. I'm sure she'd love to hear ideas and have you all visit.  And I'll keep you updated on what I know is going to be a great relationship.  Best of luck, Nan - we need you!