Sleeves are Better with Packets of Mustard

Her hair is really cool don't you think? Today is a day of reflection. In other words, no actual sewing performed yet today.  This pic is from View2 Textile my favorite resource for seeing what will be coming down the thread pike. Let's pay attention to sleeve detailia today. 

Last night it hit me when I was sifting through NM catalog that my Mary Poppins blouse sleeves were as good of an idea as placing the salad bar next to the men's shitter at this Italian place that went out of business *hmm wonder why?*.  Even though the ribbon is sewn on the sleeves, I must give the boot to those flouncy, i could store nuts for the winter, I could blow my nose in those sleeves! 

Mary Poppins needs an update.

Alexander McQueen did some sweet sleeves right here. I like this.  It's called don't cry on my sleeve honey buns. I do want to show some orange ribbon still though. I think I will go with the sleeves at the top that are mid length but straight and shleek, minus the buttons.

This zipper is made in Italy by Lanfranchi. I think I need to make a special trip to Milan to tour the facility, walk the marble thresholds, sip espresso standing up and buy lots of this hot sexy zippers.

This is my front walkway. These were my colors for today. Pink and green, very wasp of me.

This is what I wore today, still wearing as I am typing this. LLBean sweater, green cords by Ralph Lauren, necklace is from an Apache Native American who came to visit me at the RES. She said live on a reservation because my mom is my neighbor!

I had lunch with kindergartners today because once I make a promise to Lil I have to keep it or I will pay.  Get this: All the kids had stuffed animals on the playground except Tucker who had a large plastic dinosaur that he pounded into my green medallion.  I am convinced Tucker has a crush on Lil becuase he pokes her.

At lunch I opened about 20 packets of mustard.  This little boy skirted a catsup pack into his hair and another girl was waving a slice of watermelon and saying how she would not share with anyone. They all wanted to see my cat scratchs since Lil told them the story of how Skibu fell into my hot tub one night.  But you know what really made my trip sweet....Tucker held my hand on the way from the cafeteria to the classroom for story time. Future heart smasher.

We Are All In This Together

My mom is always right. Today's blog is dedicated to Chris my mom. She was at the Volvo dealership and decided to read the blog for the first time.  She called this morning *and after she said she read it, sweaty palms started - yeah* and she said that I shouldn't say that I don't care what people think. I knew I shouldn't have said that. Oh mom you caught me. I am coming clean. I do care what my peeps have to say. I mean that like I mean how it is important that there is oxygen for me to breath. Bottom line, we are all in this together. I need you. I appreciate what you have to say. I have fun creating with you.

I jacked up the cutoff look. Wolford tights *they are the best, not itchy*, Marc Jacobs top, Cole Haan bootage and you know about the cut offs already.

Hey check it - I did a zig zag stitch so they wouldn't come unraveled by summer. Pretty Shhhleeeeek ayyyy!

Pin tucks with orange ribbon in between. Debra Harris painting in the background.

Little update. This is my sketch of the top that I am working on. After I sew on the ribbon to all the pieces I can start putting it together. Red skirt I could sew together while I am sleeping. Did I tell you that I had a dream last night that Jeffrey, myself and my brother in law Ron and his wife Dawn were morooned on an island? There was this Jewish bubby lady's house on the island and it had a pottery barn teen bedroom totally matchy matchy but we couldn't use any of it cause we were worried she would come home. All through the dream I was so pissed we couldn't use the designer towels. I signed up for maintaining the garden and cooking *how original of me.  Dawn signed up for cleaning and Ron and Jeffrey were just playing frisbee the whole time. We don't need to go anywhere for that.

And wahlah - progress. Sherrie, that orange ribbon is for you my darling!

Pin Tucks That Rock the Soul

Hi Darlings!

Today really started out like a raging shit storm but then this bunny planted himself outside my sewing room for about 2 hours *really cute bunny too* and I felt like someone cared about what I was doing.  My room was transformed into this bambi-ish, Woody Allen couch rambling, waiting for a corndog on Main Street kind of feel.  I slowly started to feel better. I cracked the window and sniffed the fresh cold air. It was supposed to rain today - not a cloudy in the sky...

Ok I caved, here I am when I am sewing. I feel like hot shit when I am wearing the tape around my neck. I thought it be better if I never show pics of me sewing but you know what, I just don't care what you think anymore.

Wild bunny and I plunged into the abyss of  stitching pin tucks. I had to break out the manual for this folks.  This pin tuck stuff is going down the blouse I am working on for Mary Poppins photo shoot. I know none of this makes sense but you know what - I don't care.

I want to add pin tucks to everything I own. They add this wonderful three dimension to anything. I love how they pop. In my architect mind I would coin this effect - profiling. POP.

This is wild bunny at first glance.

Who doesn't like to be watched by an adorable wild bunny?

He was saying to me "See Lara, I told you to jump into your work and everything would be better.".   Thanks for hanging out with me. Love to all the wild bunnies out there!

Cutoffs in January

This is my favorite hair - when it is kinda greasy and flat. I can't stand my hair after I blow dry it, it is like that popcorn you cook in that foil pan over an open fire. I love my bed hair.  This jacket is from one of my favorite fashion couture junkies Cindy White, owner of Cici Biance right here is Arizona.  I traded 4 Minnie Jeanne bags for this jacket. This jacket is for ones who have the dough - you know!  I paired it with a Cosabella green tank, Joes jeans *which I butchered just before the photo shoot* , Wolford hosery and Paul Green mary janes.

My skin was doing nice yesterday. I didn't photo shop these at all!  I wore this outfit to H&R to pick up some fabric and go to Sprouts.  I did get some response from some perpetually smiling craftlings at Joanne Sewing store.  I think I will stitch the bottom of these cutoffs so they don't completely unravel by summertime.

My inspiration. I want those boots! Ok I want the top too!

Gibson Girl Monday

Cut out the muslins for my Mary Poppins inspired top.  I am still in the throws of deciding if the accent is going to be orange suede or orange gross grain ribbon.  I did manage to find some gorgeous white fabric that I bought from MOOD in LA about 2 years ago.  I am feeling very confident that this is going to kick ass! I am making this for the SAM HARVEY Spring Collection photo shoot. There hopefully you aren't completely bewildered.

Here is some brain dumpage. See the blue bag - huh? Still listening?  That is the MAN BAG but made for a woMAN in faded dim blue and bright orange piping. It is going to be so AMAZING!  I came up with this right before I went to play tennis yesterday.  Hey, I saw you laughing at my fashion figure. I am an architect, what do you want?!

Anyways, back to tennis. I have to share this with you. There is this guy named Mike and he just bought a monkey for a pet over the holidays *he does look a little like where the wild things are monster*. Well Monkey Mike shared his phone photos of him and his monkey skiing together. Yes, that's right - he put the monkey in his back pack and went skiing?! I will just let you think about that for a while.

Ready to Start Cutting

Well I managed to dodge the 4 hour drive to learn how to cook raw breakfast and desserts with mom.  This raw vegan chef *who i forced a honkin piece of meatloaf on* is teaching a class today.  I am not in the mood to listen to how the govt. is trying to kill us all and her way is the only way to salvation.  It would have been cool *yeah right* but my head cannot take anymore inspiration right now. Some people ask if I sleep at night.  I am a spin meister what can I say.  Yes, I am all over the place and that's how I like it!

I studied my friend Toulouse- Lautrec yesterday and he said don't get too costumy with the Mary Poppins.  He said to keep it chaulking and sketchy. Whatever that means.  The last thing I want is some lacy ribbon crap Victorian repeat. I will do it my way. I do love the way the pink crenaline peaks out of the kick up.  MMMMMMM.

I have a pattern for a Gibson Girl blouse. When I first bought it I was so scared I hid it in a hole in the desert. I am thinking doing this top in a pink *surprise* and then a red knit skirt.  I love my knit patterns, they are so easy.  I want a vintage black umbrella to go with it. I think I am ready to start cutting.

This is our contributing artist Lily! This is for who ever is having a birthday today! You are so lucky.

My Date with Ralph

Ok now this is love. I went to the Biltmore Fashion Park last night and cruised the Polo Store. The best thing in that honey of a shop was the silver grommet detail on this bag. I like it because it can be used so many ways. It can be a plaque front and center, detail on zipper pull or attachment for the strap. My mind is booting up.  I topped it off by going to Borders and sitting on the floor in the Fashion isle all by my lonesome. I opened the Ralph Lauren book which is so big I could make a coffee table out of it to put my books on. Short man's syndrome.  I love Ralph, he is a genius.  I never realized that he designed the clothing for Robert Redford in the Great Gatsby.  He took the man's suit in the 70's and tailored the hell out of it. He thinks women look sexier in a suit than a dress, I have to disagree there. I am so done with suits. I mean DONE!

The Silver Surfer. After paying 50 bucks to use the Marvel website I feel I have to actually use it now. I need a super heroe just to help me navigate it. I am not finding any anime on it. Nothing cute. Just crime stopping Cowgirls from Hell, Punishers blah blah blah. I guess this site will be good for color combinations.

Bag Design Updates

Goodmorning friends!

MAN BAG
The completed prototype is still sitting proudly on my work table. I have been showing it to a lot of friends.  It does need some refinement though. Since the logo complete, I can send it to AIS (this company does custom hardware for all the big bag designers) so they can custom make buckles, clips and zipper pulls.  I want the name SAM HARVEY set in the metal. I am really stoked about getting custom hardware.  I also changed the pattern pieces in Autocad yesterday.  The first prototype is caverness and hard to reach the bottom since the zipper only opens so wide. I am making the body 2 inches longer and then taking away 1" from the height of the bag. So far I really like what the bag is going to look like.  Should take about 3 weeks for the hardware to be ready, so they say.  Yesterday I also found a new vinyl for the MAN BAG. It is a surprise.

MINNIE JEANNE BAG

Janet my sewer came over yesterday and we talked about doing a different type of handle for the bags.  The handle is going to be this heavy fringe in black. We can do custom colors later but for now it is black.  We had to put this monkey tail looking fringe through the Bernina to see if we could even sew over it. We can!  I also want AIS to make a custom plaque for the quilted bag.

   

I owe this genius trim to Sherrie. She is the greatest! I am going to visit her today to chat and find some blue silk interior for my Mary Poppins inspired Minnie Jeanne bag.  Oh, I didn't tell you about the quarterly theme hmmmm.  Well you know Mary Poppins is one of my favorite movies probably becuase it makes me happy. I also love turn of the century Victorian fashion in day glow colors.

I love her pink shoes.  I have to order the vinyls for the MAN BAG and the MARY bag.  The MARY bag will be the same size as the MAN BAG but with brass hardware and of couse Mary Poppins colors.  I have to have some surprises. I can't tell you everything. When I get the vinyls, I will post.

Here is the interior fabric for the MARY bag. Doesn't it look like her!  I will use this floral for the outside of the Minnie Jeanne quilted bag. Mom wants the first one. She is on her way to Texas next week to see the real "Minnie", my grandmother!

I must get ready. I will be in Phoenix all day visiting with my Townies! Did I tell you I have a meeting at InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa today?  I am meeting with Sabrina the Spa Director about doing a custom Spa bag for Joya Spa. I took a tour through the place about a month ago and it is drop dead gorgeous.  Hugs.

I had 2 cups of PG Tips today and so I will annoy the hell out of you!   I put my computer nerd helmet on and created my own font yesterday. Isn't it TIGHT! I love the "E". I could live inside the "E".   The panther, tuxedo whatever logo is totally out. The name is enough already. Yesterday when I was picking up the girls from school, I saw my little grade school friend Jake riding his Razor home (I also out ran him playing football at is b-party at the park last year) and he had a Under Armour shirt on with that logo in the center. Everyone is wearing that logo thing. It is over done.  Nuff said.

Look what I found in my frig today. OH Lil!!!!!!

Fierce color combination. I wanted to look as bright as I could yesterday to confuse my opponent. All they saw was a flash of color. Top is Under Armour (Jake would be proud), Nike skirt and of course Babolat racket.

The Harv

Hi there!  I am blessed to have such a cool virtual design team. So far I have some great feedback about the logo and font.  I feel some element of cheese setting in after talking to Sherrie. Sherri works at H & R Sales and she is bag collector. I don't mean collecting cute bags like should I say Coach or Dooney. I am talking Ferragamo. This woman knows her stuff.  I agree when she says "What the hell does a panther have to do with SAM HARVEY!"

She wants to know who Sam Harvey is...  I do have my Zaida's photo. This photo of Harvey was taken in the 40's and he does embody what this name stands for.  Harvey, a Canadian, became a US citizen in 1946. Harvey, his wife Racille and their children Robert (my dad), Greg and Rita lived in the suburbish area known as Culver City, near the sprawling MGM Studios which fascinated the family on Sunday drives. Harvey’s first job was that of a meat cutter and he worked for King Cole markets, beginning a career as a butcher that would last six or so years until he began pioneering barbeque concessions in major supermarkets, specializing in chicken and ribs to take home. Harvey had a unique friendly manner and a knack for publicity which frequently resulted in his appearing in the papers.



Sam Harvey stands for vintage style with a modern edge, traveling to new places, hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim in a day, playing the net in tennis, putting it all out there, following your dreams, going on a jeep trip for a year around the world and having style while you are doing it. That's what I am talking about.

This is my Zaidi, Harvey Nep

I feel like yesterday I was piling again. Doing too much. Making this more than it needs to be. What do you think? I don't want to have bags with cheesy logos all over it.  What would the Harv do.  He would wrap it in bacon. I love his vintage tie here. I must dup this tie.

Revised Brand

Here is another option...I like that the logo is part of the name. Has more staying power. 

Move Over Minnie

Hello friends!  I laughed myself to sleep last night. It had something to do with me frying a pack of bacon before bed. Yeah, I know you had to be there.  I never laughed so hard. I couldn't stop. My bed was convulsing.  Today I had the answers for the logo development for SAM HARVEY.   For all of you who are familiar with the name Minnie Jeanne, well we are putting it to rest for good.  Thanks to my friends who helped propel me to design the MAN BAG, the thought occured to our design team that no man would buy a work-out bag called Minnie Jeanne.  Women will buy a masculine name but it doesn't work the other way around. 

Sam and Harvey are the names of Lara and Jeffrey's grandfathers.  As for the logo, I just brainstormed this morning. I thought of IZOD's alligator.   My black cat SKIBU.  I have always had black cats growing up.  Last weekend I met a black panther.  He really went out of his way to come over to me. It's like he was saying "Take me on.".

Panthers are the most adaptable of the great cats and have the reputation of being secretive.  Panthers will eat almost anything.  They are skilled hunters, stalking silently and nocturnal.  Let's just face it, this is a good symbol for power and courage.

This is me and Skibu going for our morning walk. I like to wear fur around my neck when it gets chilly.

Mogli has a black panther for a pet too!

I developed the logo in just a few hours today.  Seriously, first I was going for this black panther face but then I knew I wanted something like NIKE swoosh.  I then zoomed my atttentiont to the pouty cat face, that pinch where the nose and mouth come together. I enclosed it in a circle and wham  - logo is born.  Tell me what you think.

34 Trunk Fresh

Lily is 6 and Eva is 9. These are my girls and they compliment one another perfectly. Look at Eva my big girl who is in control. She is a true leader. She leads silently. She can see bullshit from a mile away. Eva won't roll the dice with you if she thinks you are insincere. Lily is my organizer.  She likes to use adult words like "seriously". She says whats on her mind. She doesn't give a rip what you think about it either.

This is Lily's night stand where she organizes her favorite friends.  I like the color combinations. She is so smart, last night she placed metallic elephant in the mix to add some bling.  The red, green, spotted dalmation are working for me.

Giraffe catching some shade under the umbrella. The polly pocket car with chunks of glitter on it.  Zebra bank is just saying "We are Lily's favorite toys, if you touch us well - I MUST BREAK YOU!".

Batty is governing any donations having to do with the land of Isreal.  The green rig is fresh too!

34 Trunk Fresh is the name for my Indie Rock cut.  Lily found the bunny and dalmation behind the dresser.  Don't you love when you move a piece of furniture and find some treasures?

Vintage Red Bag

I found the original Minnie Jeanne quilted bag. This photo on the right is vintage Lara in 1981. I freaked out when I came across this photo yesterday. I remember this quilted red bag. It was my favorite. I think Hello Kitty was on the other side.  Well it freaked me out because out of all the Minnie Jeanne quilted bags that were made in 2009 guess which one is my favorite. You guessed right, crimson sunset or True Red. It is really crazy that this happened. After all this time I have managed to re-create my favorite red quilted bag. I do think I paired it nicely with a faded pink cap sleeve t-shirt. Like my mom's jeans! WOW!  The outfit my dad is wearing was his favorite. He could wear this faded denim camp shirt and jeans everyday. Love you Dad!  Let's just say another WOW for Erik's hair.